Cairo Travel Guide

 
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  •   Cairo
    by poons
  • Sufi dancing - Wikala Al Ghuri
      Sufi dancing - Wikala Al Ghuri
    by chizz
  • Sufi dancing - Wikala Al Ghuri
      Sufi dancing - Wikala Al Ghuri
    by chizz
  •   Le Meridien Pyramids
    by KShezz
  •   Le Meridien Pyramids
    by KShezz
 

Pro

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  An overload of history where the ancient and modern are juxtaposed seamlessly. 


Con

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  Traffic, congestion, pollution, touts 


In a nutshell

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  Mixing Old & New Together To Make One Awesome City! 

 

Explore Cairo

Things to Do  

Egyptian Museum

Egyptian Museum, Cairo

 238 Reviews  One of "must see" places, regardless there are more findings in other countries museums (f.e. British). It is good idea to take official guide trough museum. There are experts and there are not to expensive. If they offer you visit to "Papirus Institute" that mean souvenir shop and try to avoid... 

Gizeh Pyramids

Gizeh Pyramids, Cairo

 352 Reviews  We have just returned from our honeymoon in Egypt and we only spent two days in Cairo, and believe me, it was more than long enough! The moment I saw a poor dog lying dead at the side of the road which must have been there some time, I realised we were in for an interesting time, but just how... 

See all 1,840 Things to Do in Cairo

Hotels  

Four Seasons At The First

 4 Reviews and 205 Opinions  You must go through a street barrack and through metal detectors just to get to the elevator and get... 

Mena House Oberoi Cairo

 23 Reviews and 847 Opinions  This is the best hotel I have been. It was Sultans Palace and it was renovated and started to be... 

See all 177 Hotels in Cairo

Restaurants  

Felfela Restaurant

Felfela Restaurant, Cairo

 38 Reviews  Almost an oasis in the bustle & pollution of Cairo, it's set in a relaxing garden. You have the choice of eating inside or at one of the garden tables. The customers are almost exclusively Egyptian, so you can be assured it's authentic food, and there are some 'international' items on the menu too.... 

Fast Food

Fast Food, Cairo

 11 Reviews  Kushwari is a mixture of rice, pasta and pulses served with a sprinkling of crispy fried onion and a dollop of a spicy tomato sauce and then dressed to taste with hot chilli oil and lemon juice, and is simply one of the great dishes of the world. I know it doesn't sound that exciting but it tastes... 

Nightlife  

Dancing

Dancing, Cairo

 28 Reviews  Beside the nile river in a very nice boat called (Blue Nile) At El Morocco you can listen to Arabic, English, French, Italian, Latino, and much more and dance till 4am Minimum age is 25 Minimum charge is 75 Egytian pounds = 14 $ It is decorated in the Moroccan style 

Belly Dance

Belly Dance, Cairo

 11 Reviews  The hotel were useless and wouldnt recommend a good place for bellydancing - the guide book recommended the Palmyra, but in the end we didnt go. We ended up on a Nile cruise and they offered dinner and music and a belly dancer. Ask in your hotel but there was one of several that left from in front... 

See all 160 Nightlife in Cairo

Transportation  

Taxis

Taxis, Cairo

 85 Reviews  By now, you must have learned that White Cabs are the best bet to avoid the 'perfume shop' scam, a characteristic tourist trap, in Cairo! This is mostly true. White Cabs are usually run on 'meter' so one has a chance to strike a fair deal without being ripped off. However, don't take that for... 

Subway/Metro

Subway/Metro, Cairo

 29 Reviews  Not that difficult if you're staying in the downtown - which more likely that you will be - or around the Tahrir Square or any other places near the Metro Station, especially the Line 2 - Shubra to ElMounib route. There are only 2 Metro Lines in Cairo, the other one is Line 1 New El Marg to Helwan.... 

Shopping  

Khan el Khalili

Khan el Khalili, Cairo

 72 Reviews  It is the place to buy typically oriental souvenirs and handmade crafts. Atmospheres of this traditional market with the labyrinth layout of the streets gives visitors o lot of pleasure and impression what medieval markets once were like. This is the place to train your negotiation skills, traders... 

Supermarkets

Supermarkets, Cairo

 15 Reviews  There are two main supermarkets, or "Markets" as they're called in Cairo. In my area of Zamalek, I visit the two main suppliers of Metro and Alpha. These are typical supermarkets with aisles and many international brands. Don't expect any items to be organised in specific areas as one would expect,... 

See all 206 Shopping in Cairo

Local Customs  

Dress Codes for Women

Dress Codes for Women, Cairo

 19 Reviews  Egypt is supposed to be one of the most modern country in entire Middle East & Africa.Contrary to the belief the all women here use veil( Hizab), I found almost every where married and un married work freely with or without the usual head scarf, speak English, mix freely and speak very politely.... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Women

Women, Cairo

 24 Reviews  My cuz and I are both Cypriot muslims and are quite aware of the culture to a certain extent although we are born in London. We had the most uncomfortable week both in our hotel, the Pyramisa and outside. There were two pools both of which only have locals. The women are all covered up so when we... 

Hawkers and hassle

Hawkers and hassle, Cairo

 46 Reviews  My husband and I decided to take a short walk to the wonderful Cairo museum and, as mentioned by others here, we were stopped by someone as we looked at our map. He spoke very good English and was smartly dressed in a suit and tie. He asked could he help us with directions, we said no thank you. He... 

Tourist Traps  

Camels

Camels, Cairo

 27 Reviews  If your going to get a camel then there is one thing you have to remember. Camels are not horses. Do not try to sit astride it like it is one. Watch the way your guide rides. Scoot all the way up to the saddle horn so it is flush against your abdomen and place your legs towards/on the downward... 

Money/Prices

Money/Prices, Cairo

 25 Reviews  Be careful when buying small stone carvings and papyrus. They will always tell you that those are authentic but most of the items they sell in cairo are fake ones. They are not real stones and definitely not real papyrus..so try to pay the price for a replica. 

What to Pack  

Clothes

Clothes, Cairo

 27 Reviews  In winter, especially January, the temperature drops and becomes quite cold. the locals don sweaters and jackets and wear something on their heads, whether a scarf, ski cap or hood. Inside it can be bitterly cold because the floors are usually tiled and the rooms are built so as to be cool in the... 

Toiletries/Medical Supplies

Toiletries/Medical Supplies, Cairo

 15 Reviews  Most medication is available without prescription from pharmacies. Malaria prevention is not necessary as there is no danger usually from malaria in Egypt. Tablets for diarrhoea or gastric upsets can be found, or bring your own brand. Most other prescription drugs for high blood pressure or... 

Off The Beaten Path  

City of the Dead

City of the Dead, Cairo

 13 Reviews  City of the Dead (Qarafa, Arafa) is a four mile long cemetery from northern to southern part of Cairo, Egypt. To the people of Cairo and other Egyptians, it is simply el'arafa which means "the cemetery". It is a bustling grid of tombs and mausoleums where people live and work amongst their dead and... 

Other Destinations in Egypt

Other Destinations in Egypt, Cairo

 41 Reviews  I now have been in the Western and White Desert for the third time and it is just breathtaking and absolutely worth it! Our tour guides (www.westerndeserttours.com) were always very friendly, they cooked great meals and treated the environment with a lot of respect, which isn't normal for Egypt. A... 

Favorites  

Gizeh Pyramids

Gizeh Pyramids, Cairo

 48 Reviews  We've been to Cairo twice. The Pyramids and Sphynx are awesome sites. Remember it is a tourist spot so peddlers will come from everywhere. Enjoy the sites first, then bargain for souvenirs. Stay in site of the bus parking. Visit the Cairo Museum. It is amazing. The history of the site. 

See all 296 Favorites in Cairo

The Place

Plan a Cairo vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Cairo locals

Experience Cairo
  •   4,504 Tips and Reviews
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Map of Cairo
 

The People

884 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 3 decades living in Cairo and yet exploring more - Greeks, Romans, Frensh, British, Arabs, Africans, Asians, Christians, Jewish, Muslims. Those are just some of many who have been here at a point of time, some stayed and some left , some were happy... 

884 members live in Cairo

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi, Im planing to travel in Egypt. I would like to know about the Taxi fares in Cairo. Can I walk and see the important places?... 

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A: In general, I don't think people have a problem with taxis in Cairo. It's quite common to ask the driver to come and pick you up later after visiting places. If the... 

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Top Cairo Writers

1

القاهرة

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 Cairo is a city of many cities. Throughout its many millennia and several names, Memphis, Babylon, Fustat, or Cairo, Africa's largest city has been a centre of great importance to many civilisations,... 

2

Cairo`s yellow pages!

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 The picture above is taken from Sequoia* 

3

Cairo- Umm el Dunya

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 The first thing that struck me when I arrived in Cairo was the chaos. The airport itself, depending on whether you arrive at the old or new terminals, has nothing to welcome you. If there is a health... 

4

CAIRO... still thinking of...

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 Without a doubt my visit to Cairo was unforgettable. Months passed since my return home and I'm still thinking of the beautiful moments spent there, wishing to be back and explore more. When I wrote... 

5

Cairo

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Cairo. I'd love to share with you the 104 tips I've written, the 137 photos uploaded, and 5 travelogues I've created. 

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Travel Editors for Cairo

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