Cairo things To Do - activities, hotels, golf courses & car rental


The Cairo hotel and activities guide offers stay over guests and cruise ship visitors information and discount reservations for hotels, villa rentals, car rentals, activities and shore excursions in Cairo.

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Cairo is the capital of Egypt and consists of the governorates of Cairo, Qaliubiya and Giza. The city has about 12 million inhabitants. However, the unofficial population of Cairo is much higher, partly due to the high number of immigrants without legal residence in the city. The entire metropolitan region of Cairo, with a population of about 20 million, is the largest city in Africa and the Middle East and one of the largest cities in the world. The city is also one of the most polluted cities in the world and has enormous traffic chaos.

Cairo is located on the east bank of the Nile in northern Egypt, south of where the river branches into the delta into the rivers (also place names) Rosetta and Damietta. In the west lies the city of Giza with the Pyramids of Giza. To the south is the site of the classical Egyptian city of Memphis.

Sights
The old heart of Cairo has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Cairo International Book Fair is held annually at the end of January.
  • Pyramids of Giza: Pyramid of Cheops, Pyramid of Chefren, Pyramid of Mycerinus
  • Bazaar Khan El-Khalili
  • Cairo Tower
  • Citadel
  • Nilometer
  • Gezira
Museums
  • Egyptian Museum
  • Coptic Museum
  • Mahmoud Khalil Museum
  • Museum of the Abdeen Palace
  • Museum of Islamic Art
  • National Museum of Egyptian Modern Art
Churches
On the edge of the Coptic Quarter are the old Coptic Hanging Church (al-Mu'allaka) and the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. George. The seventh-century Coptic church of Abu Sarga is located in the center. Other special churches are: the Co-Cathedral of Our Lady of Heliopolis, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima and the Basilica of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.

Mosques
  • Mosque of al-Aqmar
  • Mosque of al-Azhar
  • Mosque of al-Hakim
  • Mosque of ar-Rifai
  • Mosque of as-Salid Talai
  • Mosque of Ibn Tulun
  • Mosque of Mohammed Ali
  • Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein
  • Mosque of Suleiman Pasha
  • Mosque of Sultan Abu al-Ila
  • Mosque of Sultan Hassan

Cairo Travel Information


Cairo. The capital of Egypt is Cairo.

Since the revolution in 2011, the tourists have fled Cairo to a large extent. This has created an opportunity for unique experiences of Cairo's and Egypt's cultural treasures without the crowds. Finding yourself alone inside a pyramid is now a real possibility. Prices are also lower.

Understand

Situated along the Nile, Cairo has ancient origins, located in the vicinity of the Pharaonic city of Memphis. 

Understand

Situated along the Nile, Cairo has ancient origins, located in the vicinity of the Pharaonic city of Memphis. 

Climate

If visiting during winter, be aware that many buildings, including some hotels and hostels, are equipped with air conditioners but no heaters.

Visitors should always pack a warm jacket for evening wear.

Respect

Greeting people

Forms of greeting include "SàbâH el-xēr" ("good morning"), "masā' el-xēr" ("good evening"), or the more casual "izayak" addressing a male, or "izayik" addressing a female, which means "hello" or "how are you?".

When leaving, you can say the same "Es Salamu Aleykom", or simply "Maa Salama", literally: "with safety" or "with wellness" which is used to mean to say "goodbye". More educated Egyptians will say "bye-bye" derived from the English "goodbye" or "buh-bye" when leaving others.

Meeting Etiquette

It is best to follow the lead of the person you are meeting. For no confusions to happen.

Expressing your opinion

Your best option is to not discuss religion or politics from a Western point of view at all as this could lead to a series of unfortunate events.

Dress code

Women and men should wear modest clothing. It is considered disrespectful to the mainly conservative Muslim inhabitants to see visitors walking around wearing clothing which reveal thighs, shoulders, bare backs or cleavage, except at beaches and hotels. Men should also not walk about bare chested or wearing very short shorts outside of hotels or beach resorts.

By plane

If you are planning a trip to Cairo whilst you are on holidays at the seaside, Nile Air and Egyptair offer connections between Cairo and Hurghada or Sharm el Sheik.

Public transport

The most convenient way, however, is by one of the numerous "limousine services". Pick-Up points are in front of the terminals (curb side). The prices are fixed depending on the destination and the car category. Category A are luxury limousines (Mercedes-Benz E-Class), Category B are Micro Busses for up to 7 passengers and Category C are midsized cars (e.g. Mitsubishi Lancer). Since 2010, London Taxis are available from Sixt as a new Category D.

By train

Visitors wishing to connect with trains to Luxor , Aswan , and the rest of upper Egypt should take the Metro from Midan Ramses Mubarak Metro Station, on line one to Giza Metro-Train Station which should take approximately twenty minutes.

Trains also depart to the canal cities, but buses are much faster.

By bus

From Midan Ramses and Cairo Gateway it's a quick 5 LE taxi cab ride to downtown, 7-10 LE to Zamalek. Cairo Gateway is a new, modern indoor station located approximately 500m from the Orabi Metro Station, within the new Cairo Gateway Plaza.

By metro

The Cairo Metro has stations in Dokki and Maadi, among other places. The Metro is also a hassle-free way to get to Giza to see the Pyramids, although you'll need to complete the trip taking a bus all the way (change to bus for "Al-Haram" at the Giza train station). Plans have been made to add new lines to include Mohandiseen and Zamalek, as well as the airport; however, little progress seems to be made on this.

What to do

Coffee & shisha

Have a coffee, mint tea or Cola at El Fishawy's coffee shop in Khan El-Khalili. Smoke a shisha water pipe and watch the world go by. Great cheap entertainment.

Parks

Desert Park. Wadi Digla Protected Area is a 60 square kilometer environmentally protected park near Ma'adi, that offers opportunity for taking a trek, jogging, rock climbing, and cycling. Wadi Degla is also a good spot for bird watching, and viewing the various reptile species, plants, and deer that reside there. You can take a cab from Ma'adi to the entrance at Wadi Delga. Cab drivers in Ma'adi should know where to go.

Cairo Activities Guide


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