Tips:

• At Cairo International Airport there can be unruly crowds outside the terminals. In addition, unauthorized chauffeurs and “set fare” taxis are common.

  • Best advice - have your hotel arrange transportation from the airport to your hotel or take a tour which offers airport pickup and avoid the headaches. If that’s not possible, take an Uber.

• Safety concerns in Cairo.—Egypt is nearly crime-free and you’re generally safe walking around anytime.

  • The incidence of crime, violent, solicitated or otherwise, in Egypt is negligible compared with many Western countries. ”Most” of the crime is petty theft, with little violent crime. Still, you need to keep alert when walking through densely populated areas of Cairo.

• Harassing concerns by street vendors & hawkers—depending on location and type of market it can be a bad experience.

  • In general, you should DO NOT feel threatened, they are easy going and sometimes even funny in their ways. Nobody will never touch you, they will simply walk with you for a while and try to convince you to buy their items. Just kept on walking, shake your head and politely say “no thank you”. If you don’t like being approached, avoid eye contact.

  • Learn to haggle: There's no such thing as a set price in Cairo. Depending on how good your bargaining skills are, you should be able to save 20 to 25 percent on everything from souvenirs to taxi rides.

• Check for vaccine recommendations.

• USA and Canadian citizens with a valid passport must apply for an eVisa to travel to Egypt.

• Travel Adaptors: Type C and Type F.

• Do not rent a car in Cairo. The roads are congested and chaotic.

• Taste the local food. Traditional dishes like the Kushari and Mulukheya and Feteer (pie) are some of the best things to try.

  • Kushari - a Egyptian staple, mixing pasta, rice and brown lentils, and topped with a zesty tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions.

  • Mulukheya - is a classic Middle Eastern dish, a delicious soupy vegetable dish made with Jew’s Mallow, a distinctive tasting leafy green. It’s cooked with chicken broth.

  • Feteer - is a flaky layered pastry. It consists of many thin layers of dough and ghee and an optional filling. Sweet fillings may include cheese, coconut, mehalabiya, malban, nutella or chocolate, while savory fillings can be anything from ground beef to sausage.

• Where to stay: considered an affluent area, Zamalek is a district on Gezira Island popular with international visitors. Accordingly, the island boasts many embassies, boutiques, shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes.

  • Zamalek offers travelers superb five-star hotels, such as the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino and the Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences.

  • If you want a view of the Pyramids, consider the Marriott Mena House. The hotel is set at the base of the Pyramids, allowing hotel guests to walk there.

• Cairo Travel Guide: Lonely Planet Egypt and Cairo Travel Book.

Highlights:

• Cairo is one of the world's great cities. However its sheer size, noise, pollution, and traffic can make it difficult to navigate on your own.

  • We highly recommend a tour. One of the long-time tour operators in Egypt is Memphis Tours.

• Visit the remarkable Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza. <Satellite view> You’ll get to experience one of the most iconic and mysterious seven wonders of the world. The pyramids have remained intact for over 4,500 years.

  • The must-visit pyramids are Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure and the Queens Pyramids of Giza.

  • Great Sphinx of Giza—situated by the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx impresses with its size – it measures 66 feet high and 234 feet long – and a unique appearance. The monument depicts a part pharaoh, part lion being.

  • Experience the Pyramids at night. The Sound and Light show is unforgettable.

• For a more convenient and practical experience, it is strongly recommended to opt for a guided Pyramid tour. Guided tours can be arranged by all the hotels.

  • However, if you prefer to visit independently, you can take a taxi, bus, or metro.

• When visiting the Pyramids, you have the option to negotiate a camel ride lasting between 30 to 60 minutes, providing a memorable photo opportunity. Be prepared for the camel guides to ask for an outrageous price. However, it is recommended not to pay more than $20 per person.

• Remember to bring a hat, wear comfortable shoes, and apply sunscreen.

• Visit the Egyptian Museum and discover the vast collection of antiquities.

  • View more than 12,000 ancient antiques. The museum can be overwhelming, it’s best to hire a guide so to explain so much more. —Do not miss the priceless collection of King Tutankhamun treasures.

• Visit the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization which holds the Royal Mummies.

• In the evening, visit the Cairo Tower located on Zamalek island to observe a panoramic view of Cairo.

  • Climbing up the 187-meter tower at night will allow you to see the city lights reflecting over the Nile.

  • Or opt for a relaxing felucca (a small sailboat) ride on the Nile River.

• Visit Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo) - explore the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (Salah El-Din Citadel) and the Hanging Church.

  • The Citadel of Cairo <video> - here lies one of Cairo’s most prominent mosques, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. You can experience breathtaking views from above.

  • The Hanging Church, which was built into the walls of the water gate of the Roman fortress is believed to be the first Basilica-style church built in Egypt and should not be missed.

• Afterwards, make your way to Al-Muizz Al Deen street and go back in time. Located in the area of the greatest concentration of sights in Islamic Cairo, it was the main street through the city when it was built back in the 11th century.

  • Al-Muizz Al Deen is one of the most picturesque parts of Cairo.

• Experience Egyptian culture at the Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar.

  • The Bazaar (avoid the weekend) is the oldest open-air market in the Middle East. The street is full of souvenirs, cultural garb and spices. You’ll find belly dancing outfits, jalabeyas for men, pharaonic monuments and much more.

  • Once you’re done shopping, relax at El-Fishawy Cafe, a traditional coffee shop that offers a variety of local drinks and a good spot for people watching.

Weather summary:

Cairo has only two (2) seasons: approximately seven (7) months of summer and five (5) months of a mild winter.

• Historical Weather Data.

• In the hottest of the summer months—June, July, and August—the average daily maximum temperature is 95 °F (35 °C), and the average daily minimum is 70 °F (21 °C). The summer temperature has reached as high as 117 °F (47 °C).

• During winter the strong Tropic of Cancer sun makes for warm, dry days, but nights are cool and humid, often freshened by breezes from the Nile. The average daily maximum temperature in January–February is 67 °F (19 °C), and the average daily minimum is 47 °F (8.5 °C).

• Sunrise/Sunset time.

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