Tourist Attractions in Cairo

Since Egypt is a Muslim culture, it's wise to dress appropriately in more traditional areas and mosques. Women should take care to cover their upper arms, cleavage, midriff and legs when visiting a mosque. A hair covering isn't necessary, however. Except for in tourist resorts, modesty is the best policy, or women may attract unwanted attention.

Since Egypt is a Muslim culture, it's wise to dress appropriately in more traditional areas and mosques. Women should take care to cover their upper arms, cleavage, midriff and legs when visiting a mosque. A hair covering isn't necessary, however. Except for in tourist resorts, modesty is the best policy, or women may attract unwanted attention.

If you wish to go inside a pyramid, then our guide advised us to go into the second pyramid.

For 100 L.E. you can go into the main pyramid.
For 30 L.E. you can go into the second pyramid.

We were told that there is little difference between the two.

To be honest, going into the pyramid was a little disappointing - it wasn't like The Mummy film or the Tomb Raider games, but if you have a burning desire to venture into one anyway then it is better to have only spend 30 L.E. rather than 100.

Also, if you are very large, have back/walking difficulty or are claustrophobic then you should give going inside the pyramid a miss.

Fun Alternatives: To be honest, going inside the pyramids is more of a 'box ticked' kind of event than a 'must do'.

Crossing the road in Egypt can be a nightmare if you let it.

Just looking at it, it looks a very hit or miss affair. But actually, if you step out and keep a steady pace the drivers will drive round you.

If in doubt, get next to a local that is going to cross and cross with them.

The Rosetta Stone has a great deal to answer for.

When Ancient Egypt was discovered by Europe one of the most exciting things for scholars was the huge amount of inscriptions: there's nothing a historian likes more than a contemporary written source.

Hieroglyphs are not only visually intriguing but also form a most complicated writing system. It's contrived for purpose of monumental masonry , offering multiple ways of representing the same words and so allowing artistic latitude. While the majority of the hieroglyphs have a phonetic value some convey meaning in a more pictogram-like manner. It all offers a splendid puzzle, and in those far-away days before the Times published a crossword......

Hence the traditional Egyptologists preoccupation with texts.

The result....this is the TOURIST TRAP... is a tendency for guides to witter on about king-lists and the ridiculously complex theology of the people, with a bit of anecdotage thrown in without actually looking at things. This is particularly obvious in the Egyptian Museum. There are some stunningly beautiful things here, but most tour groups huddle round their guide as he or she spouts banalities in the little time left from shepherding duties and DON'T LOOK AT A THING. It's generally only kids who have the wit to hook off and actually examine the stuff.

Which is, after all, what you have come all this way for. You can always read up on it afterwards.

As Cheesy as it sounds. It isn't half bad. It's like an assembly line where to get to experience Egypt of Old to Present Day, each era within 10 feet of each other. While I will admit it isn't the best way to experience Cairo or Egypt for that matter, you will get a lot of information and it's a good starting point to decide what you want to see while in the Country. There is a museum in the village with "mini" models of many of significants places around Cairo which also serve as a good Informational point to decide if you would like to visit the "actual" monument.

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I was traveling along Cairo by bus with a group of tourists. While making an excursion around Old Cairo as usual we were lack of time to see all its sights. After visiting the Hanging Church, St. George Church of the Greek Orthodox Convent, St Barbara Church, Church of St. George and Abu Serga I was looking forward to see the Church of the Holy Virgin, Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum. But I failed!

Our guide carried us to the souvenir shop and gave free time for shopping. He said we had 15 minutes… But we spent there almost an hour! If I knew I would make my own excursion during this time. But I had to wait for other tourists who wanted to buy souvenirs instead of watching sights. That’s one of the main tourist trap while traveling with a group.

Almost every visitor of Cairo will at some point be taken in by a perfume seller. They take you right into their homes, show you around, offer you a drink and a smoke. Then they get all their perfumes out and try to sell you them and they are not cheap. I ended up buying a bottle of perfume for my mum which i managed to haggle down to £20 for a 20ml bottle. It is quite good quality perfume though and lingers a long time on the skin.

Unique Suggestions: Don't feel pressured into buying anything. If you want to buy perfume by all means buy but if you don't you can politely say no thanks and get up to leave. I also found that the chairs were slightly leaning back so it was difficult to make a stand without them knowing you were about to and coming up with another wonderful offer. You could try making out you are allergic to perfume.

Fun Alternatives: If you are going to walk out without the help of a tour guide and someone asks you where you are going don't say you are looking for a shop or a bar. They will see it as an excuse to get you into their perfume shop and give you a little drink.