Why Visit Cairo?

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is a city of new and old. You’ll be amazed by the history at the Pyramids, in the Egyptian Museum, mosques, and in the neighborhoods. It’s also a bustling city where a New Cairo continues to build. The city is also the largest in Africa and the largest in the Middle East and Arab nations. All of this makes Cairo an important cultural place to explore!

Quick Tips for Cairo

• Water: Some say you can drink the tap water when you’re in Cairo center but not in the outskirts. We kept it safe and drank bottled water the entire time we were there.
• Currency: Egyptian Pound or LE. As of 2018, $1 USD is about 17 E£.
• Language: Arabic and there are a few dialects
• Tipping: If you see a service charge on your bill, this is for the restaurant. Usually tip 10% for wait staff. Keep small bills around for tips.
• Visas & Entry: For U.S. citizens, your passport must be valid for six months. When you arrive at the airport, you must get a visa from the bank window before going through immigration.
• Safety: As of 2018, Egypt has a travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State as “exercised increased caution” because of activities. Some may not feel comfortable traveling to Egypt because of this designation. See below my section about safety.
• Vaccinations: No special vaccinations needed.
• You’ll see a lot of pollution in Cairo.
• Religion: The majority of Egyptians are Muslim.
• Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the dates vary from year to year. During this time, Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown. Do not visit during this time or you may have trouble finding open restaurants. Also, drinking and eating in public while others are fasting could be seen as disrespectful.
• Women should bring their own sanitary products. Pads are expensive and tampons are hard to find.
• Book tours ahead of time. I’m glad we had several tours booked because they gave us a lot of knowledge and a peace of mind. We didn’t have to worry about transportation and we had a guide to help us navigate the city.
• Trust your instincts, be cautious, and stay safe!

Cairo Weather

Welcome to the desert! With lows in the 30s and highs in the 100s, Cairo’s climate is usually hot. June, July, and August are the hottest while December, January, and February will be the coolest. The best time to go is in September, October, or November. Remember, the desert doesn’t have a lot of shade, so expect plenty of sunshine.

Getting There

You’ll fly to Cairo International Airport. It’s a fairly easy airport, especially if you’re flying domestically. The domestic terminals were eerily quiet when we were there. The food options are dismal.

Be sure to get to the airport early when you fly out internationally. We had to go through three different security lines before getting on our plane. There is even one at the gate, so don’t plan on buying bottled water to take on your flight.

Getting Around Cairo

Using Uber made life a lot easier while in Cairo. We didn’t have to worry about negotiating rates and communicating our destination. We also didn’t worry as much about safety by using rideshare. It was also affordable. We took rides 20-40 minutes and our rides ranged from $3-6 USD.

We took a few taxis from the airport and hotel. Make sure they have registration and are marked. Clearly negotiate your price before the taxi starts driving and be wary of re-negotiation during the ride.

What to Wear in Cairo

The attire in Cairo is conservative and it is respectful to follow Egyptian culture while you are there. Visitors will feel more comfortable having covered knees and shoulders. Women may want to have a scarf to cover their heads when visiting mosques. I wore long, light pants with a plain t-shirt every day, as did my fiancé. Closed-toe shoes may make you more comfortable since streets can be dirty and you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Be sure to wear sunglasses, sunscreen, and perhaps a hat to protect yourself from the sun.

Is Cairo Safe?

Yes, Cairo is safe. I was nervous before our trip because I read that groping and catcalling is commonly experienced by female visitors. I experienced none of this and never felt uncomfortable, though I was also traveling with my fiancé, who is a tall, white male.

We did find many people coming up to us to offer their services as guides around tourist sights, which can be annoying. We gave them a firm no, sometimes more than once, and they usually left us alone. Because of the economy, I think locals will ask to help you out of the desire to make money, but they will also respect your wishes because they don’t want to hinder tourism.

The most unsafe I felt was when we got into a car we thought was a taxi. We later figured out he was a tour guide and he took us to two locations, but we were lucky. Don’t give in to pushy people! Taxis, in general, were questionable to me, so Uber is the way to go!

Of course, also use your senses and be a safe traveler! See my safe travel tips here. Do the typical things like not wandering around by yourself at night.

Where to Stay in Cairo

We stayed in two hotels in Cairo. City View Hotel is next to Tahrir Square. It was about $40 a night and not luxurious at all, but the location was great to explore the neighborhood. We also stayed in Le Passage Cairo, which is next to the airport, because we were flying out the next morning. It’s a longer distance from sights but it had a free airport shuttle.

I would have loved to stay at the luxurious Mena House, but since it is located in Giza and we had limited time, it would have made it harder to explore Cairo.

I also looked at this Airbnb and these hotels that were centrally located and ranged from $100-130 a night:

• Steigenberger Hotel
• Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
• Ramses Hilton

Where to Eat/Drink in Cairo

See this post for the types of food and drink you’ll enjoy in Cairo. Remember Cairo is a majority Muslim city and pork is rarely eaten and served.

Here are some restaurants you should check out in Cairo and Giza:

• Abou Tarek – located behind Tahrir Square, this is a well-known place for koshary
• Abu Shakrah – in Giza near Sphinx
• Felfela – great restaurant with traditional dishes like lentil soup and falafel
• Sequoia – on the Nile
• Abu Haidar – shawarma
• Fasahet Somaya – one of our favorite dining experiences in Egypt

What to Do in Cairo

Check out this post for more details on activities and sights. You don’t want to miss the pyramids and I highly recommend the Bellies En-Route food tour.

Conclusion

We enjoyed Cairo but we quickly realized there was much more to see as we hopped to another city. More about those destinations coming soon!

If you have any recommendations for Cairo, share them below! If you have any questions as you plan your trip, feel free to send me a message.

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Cairo, Egypt’s capital city, is a bustling place filled with good food and some amazing sights.

I hope this post can get you in the right direction of figuring out what to do. Here are some places you should check out when you visit Cairo!

Giza Pyramids Complex

It feels slightly silly to start off this post by directing you outside of Cairo but chances are, this is what you’ve come to Cairo to see. The famous pyramids are awe-inspiring. Located about 30 minutes outside of Cairo in the city of Giza, they’re fairly easy to get to and explore. Even if you don’t stay long or go inside, it’s a bucket list item to see it with your own eyes. I tell you all about our visit and tips in this post.

Egyptian Museum

Another site you can’t miss is the Egyptian Museum. They are currently building the new museum complex near the Giza Pyramids Complex and it’s projected to be done in 2020. We drove by it on the way to the pyramids and it will be incredible when it is finished!

However, the Egyptian Museum is still open in Downtown Cairo near Tahrir Square and you’ll easily spend a few hours exploring all the rooms. It is a little chaotic since there is little signage for so many statues and artifacts. They have clearly outgrown the space but that adds to the intrigue of the number of items you can view.

Tahrir Square

Tahrir Square is near the Egyptian Museum. Most recently, it was the place of political demonstrations in 2013 and during the 2011 Revolution. Hundreds of thousands gathered here to protest.

Bellies En-Route Food Tour

We did this food tour on our first night in Cairo, and I’m so glad we did! We tried many of the dishes in my eating and drinking in Egypt post and was a good introduction to the dishes we would be enjoying.

Khan El-Khalili

If you’re looking for souvenirs or want to experience a crazy market, this is the place! Blocks and blocks of this bazaar are filled with shops and tourists. Located in Islamic Cairo, you’ll get a glimpse of old architecture and wander the maze of shops.

Citadel of Cairo

The Saladin Citadel of Cairo is a historic Islamic complex that was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1976. Here you’ll find a few museums and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, and the Mosque of Sulayman Pasha.

Mosques

If you’d like to visit older and more beautiful mosques than those in the Citadel, consider these options.

• Al-Azhar Mosque – one of the oldest mosques, it is also considered one of the most beautiful.
• Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan – one of the biggest mosques, its Islamic architecture is a sight to see.
• Mosque of Ibn Tulun – the oldest mosque in Cairo, it’s recognized by its flat square roof.
• Al-Hussein Mosque – located near Khan El-Khalili, this mosque is considered one of the most sacred Islamic sites and is the burial place for the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

The Nile River

You can’t miss the Nile River. You’ve probably read about it in history books, so seeing it in person is a little surreal. Walk along the streets near Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum and you’ll see it. A popular activity is taking a felucca ride along the Nile.

Cairo Tower

Shaped like a lotus flower, the Cairo Tower was once the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa. The funds to build the tower came from a U.S. bribe to the Egyptian president in the 1960s. Taking the bribe as an offense, the president used the money to build this tower. The tower has an observation deck and restaurant.

Coptic Cairo: The Hanging Church, Coptic Museum, Babylon Fortress, and More

Coptic Cairo is in Old Cairo and was the place where Christianity thrived among the Islamic and Muslim majority. Here is where you’ll find The Hanging Church, Babylon Fortress, and Church of St. George, to name a few historic sites. The Coptic Museum holds the largest collection of Coptic artifacts.

Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art holds the largest collection of Islamic art in the world. More than 100,000 artifacts of intricate designs, manuscripts, and craftsmanship will have your head spinning with creativity.

City of the Dead – Not Recommended

One local kept telling us that we had to see the City of the Dead, so I wanted to include information about this here so you know what it is. The City of the Dead started as a cemetery and parts of it still is that. Poverty in Cairo has pushed the poorest out and many have ended up living in the mausoleums of the cemetery. While it might be interesting that 500,000 people are living next to tombs and some of the tombs are beautiful, it’s also one of the worst slums in the country. In my opinion, it is not somewhere travelers should go to sight-see.

Want to see more about my Egypt trip? See the posts here.

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It’s the (unplanned) year of the pyramids! Less than a year ago, I was exploring Xunantunich in Belize and then we visited Teotihuacan in Mexico a few months ago. Of course, we couldn’t visit Egypt without a visit to one of the seven wonders of the world – the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of Egypt – WOW!

Before the Eiffel Tower was built, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,000 years at 481 feet. The Great Pyramid of Giza, built over twenty years, is also known as the Pyramid of Khufu. It’s now 450 feet tall.

Pyramids were built for religious reasons as a pathway to the afterlife. The pyramids’ chambers were built according to the cardinal directions of east and west. As the sun rises and life begins in the east and the sun sets and life ends in the west, so the pharaoh will be able to walk east to west inside the pyramid into the afterlife. Pyramids also served as a monument for the king to represent his legacy.

The efforts to build the Great Pyramid are baffling. How did they build this humongous structure without modern technology? What did their blueprints look like? Researchers have estimated over two million blocks, and the average size of the blocks is two tons! The theory of how it was built includes ramps, water, and many skilled workers.

The pyramid was a beacon and probably unusual to see in a desert, so it attracted attention. This means the tombs were looted and even mummies disappeared. The tombs were stocked with riches, tools, and anything the pharaoh would need when he entered the afterlife.

Should I Go Inside the Great Pyramid?

While climbing the pyramid (past the first landing) is now prohibited, you can still enter the tomb. It’s a fairly quick trip but don’t do it if you get claustrophobic or don’t like being hot. It can also be hard for tall people. The pathway in and out are the same and it’s a narrow journey under short spaces, on steep walkways, and with no ventilation.

It’s cool to say you’ve been inside the pyramid but it’s not life-changing. The final destination inside is a dark, empty room. If you want to see more impressive tombs, go to the Saqqara pyramids about 20 minutes away or the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

But There is More Than One Pyramid Here

The Giza Pyramid complex includes five additional pyramids and the Sphinx. (Fun fact: there are 118 discovered pyramids in Egypt.)

Khufu’s son Khafre built the second pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza. His is the only pyramid with the facade still existing at the top. While his pyramid is shorter than his father’s pyramid, at certain viewpoints, the optical illusion makes it look taller. Sneaky son! (It’s the middle pyramid in all of these photos.)

The third and smallest pyramid was built 30 years after the second by Pharaoh Menkaure. Nearby, there are also three small pyramids built for Khufu’s wives.

The Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a giant statue with a human head and a lion’s body. This one is thought to be guarding the pyramid.

At the Sphinx, you’ll get a sense of how close the city of Giza has built up around the complex. A short walk and across the street from the Sphinx is the neighborhood and the Pizza Hut with the most epic view.

How Do I Get to the Pyramids?

The pyramids are located in Giza, a city about 15 minutes (without traffic) and 10 miles outside of Cairo. We arrived around 8 a.m. and it was already getting busy, though most of the tours arrive by 9 or 10 a.m.

There are many tour buses and private tours that will take you here. We did a 5-6 hour private tour to Giza and Saqqara with Love Egypt Holidays and our guide Shereif was FULL of information. I also browsed through Viator when searching for a tour. We chose to do a tour because it made transportation easy and guides can enhance the experience, especially in Egypt where history runs deep. They also show you the best poses, such as the below photo.

Our tour stopped at three different spots around the complex for different views. If you’re not a part of a tour, you’ll need to walk from the entrance or find a camel!

There are many hotels in Giza, including the luxurious and award-winning Mena House, but we elected to stay in Cairo since there is more to do there. If you don’t mind hotel-hopping, you could easily get a hotel in walking distance from the Giza Pyramid Complex for one-night and head back to Cairo for the rest of your trip. I estimate a rideshare from downtown Cairo to the pyramids is no more than $5 USD.

Quick Tips for Giza Pyramid Complex

• Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring water. There is little shade at this site. A hand or battery-powered fan might be handy too.
• I recommend wearing closed toe shoes, especially if you’re going inside the pyramid.
• Costs: 50 LE (about $2.79 USD) to get into the complex; additional 100 LE (about $5.58 USD) to go inside the Great Pyramid; additional 20 LE (about $1.12 USD) to go inside Khafre’s pyramid
• Solar Boat Museum: Behind the Great Pyramid is this museum that houses the huge boat found near the pyramid. It was to be used by the pharaoh to get to the afterlife. Admission is 50 LE (about $2.79 USD).
• Camel rides: if you want to ride a camel in Egypt, this is probably the most scenic location. If you do a camel ride, choose a camel that looks healthy and well cared for. The cost will be around 50 LE (about $2.79 USD).
• Hassles and Scams: Know what you’re getting into. If you take a photo of a camel, if someone offers to take a photo for you, or if someone offers to guide you, it is likely not for free. Give a small tip for photos, and for a guide or camel ride, agree on a price and be clear on the terms before you start.

Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara

If you want to see the first pyramid, go to Saqqara, which is about 20 minutes away. The Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid is here along with many other ruins. Since most people only go to the Giza Pyramid Complex, this archeological site is pretty quiet. The admission fee is 60 LE (about $3.35 USD).

Don’t forget a selfie with a camel!

Conclusion

The Great Pyramid and Egyptian pyramids, in general, were on my life list but not high on my priority list. It was incredible to experience!

It only gets better from here. While the pyramids were high on my list of memories from this trip, can you believe this was my least favorite?! I’m hustling to share everything in the next two months, so more posts on Egypt coming soon!

What sight or landmark is number one on your life list?

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