Study ancient history
- If you are fascinated by the secrets of the past, did you dream to see a miracle? Then you should definitely visit the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops – one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Previously located on the outskirts of Cairo, now an overgrown city envelops the Giza plateau, where the pyramid is located. Go explore the landmark in the morning to avoid the scorching sun. Go through the tunnel that leads to the burial chamber of the pharaoh Khufu.
- After the long-awaited opening, the Great Egyptian Museum will become an integral part of the must seen route.
- Saqqara is a complex of beautifully painted tombs, pyramids and temples. At the moment, more than fifteen burials and many artifacts have been found. But the sands of the desert of Egypt hide a lot more interesting secrets. All the main attractions of Saqqara are hidden from sight and are underground.
- Having overcome several kilometers along the Nile canals, you will find the royal necropolis in Dakhshur and its “Pink” and the so-called “Broken” pyramids. Situated between Saqqara and Dahshur, for several millennia the city has been a cultural, administrative and commercial center that attracted merchants and pilgrims from all over Africa and Asia. Now it is an open-air museum Memphis . Here are the impressive sphinx and colossus of Ramses II.
Explore Surrounding on foot
Every tourist in Cairo needs to walk along Al Muiz – a street located in the heart of the old city – at the foot of the hill where the Citadel rises (Salah ad-Din’s fortress) – it connects the southern city gates of Bab al-Zuweil and the northern Bab al – Futuh.
The uniqueness of the street lies in the various architectural monuments of the Middle Ages. Twilight is the best time for walking. When night falls on the city, medieval houses, palaces and mansions sparkle with colorful lights and are absolutely mesmerizing. In just half a day, the atmosphere reigning on Al-Muiz will charm you. You will discover mosques, madrassas, caravan houses and other historical buildings, sometimes combined into whole complexes.
Eat Street Food
A hungry tourist in Cairo can try the main dishes of the Middle Eastern cuisine: jacket, kebab and falafel – are quite popular in Egypt. Falafel in Egyptian called taameya consists of fava beans instead of peas. In truth, the Egyptian dish is koshari . This carbohydrate bomb is made from pasta, rice, vermicelli and chickpeas, all covered with crispy fried lentils and onion chips. Restaurant Koshari Abu Tarek in the center of Cairo is a favorite place for most tourists, and a portion of koshari costs about 50 cents. If you want to have a snack, not looking up from contemplation of landscapes of pyramids, glance in Abou Shakra.
Go on a Nile Felucca or Nile Cruise
Peace in this crazy city can be found in an unexpected place – in its center. More precisely, in Felucca in the middle of the Nile, watching the sunset over a bustling city. At your choice a comfortable yacht or motor boat. Cruises take from an hour to several days. Traveling the Nile is truly relaxing. Birds hovering overhead, the sound of water and the rustle of coastal reeds, flickering historical monuments, which are not always easy to reach by land. Prepare the phone’s memory – you will want to take a lot of amazing photos. It is best to go on a cruise from October to mid-April. At this time, all the gateways are open and the weather is favorable for travel (there is no scorching sun). This journey will delight you, enrich you with new knowledge.
Know Cairo More
What to do in Cairo in the evening? Do not sleep! At night, Cairo comes to life as people, resting from the heat, go to the brightly lit streets of the city. Locals love to spend evenings in cafes and restaurants , from modest and cozy to dazzling and high-profile. Check out the upmarket Hayda Restaurant , located next to the Giza Zoo. The rooftop Crimson Cairo or the Nox Bar with incredible Cairo views from the rooftop of the Ritz-Carlton. In one of the best nightlife in the city of Cairo Jazz Club, you will want to stay longer. This place is popular with locals and tourists. Moon Deck on the Blue Nile Boat – a restaurant-bar on a ship moored on the Nile where night shows are heldbelly dance .
Practice Bargaining skills
In Cairo, there are lanes reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and the pyramids of the time of the Pharaohs, and cafes that have retained their appearance from the XIX century. Impressive urban architecture fascinates with its diversity. Khan Al-Khalil is a real maze, with many streets and alleys. The market has been operating for 700 years. The abundance and identity of the product delight Europeans. Here you can buy King Tut coffee mug, Nefertiti statue and dancer outfit. Among the high-quality goods, one can find leather goods, brass lampshades, Egyptian signature jewelry boxes inlaid with mother of pearl and much more. Finish off the promenade with Turkish coffee or mint tea at Fishawy Cafe.– one of the oldest cafes in Cairo. This institution brings together people who come here to chat, drink a cup of tea . Cafe gained fame thanks to the famous writers, poets and politicians who were frequent visitors to the cafe.
Smoke Hooka
You can smoke hookah in Egypt in almost any cafe, but if you call this process smoking hookah, you may not be understood, since the Egyptians smoke shisha.
Shisha is not just a device for smoking tobacco, it is a ritual that is universally respected throughout Egypt.
When smoking a hookah, there are two things to remember: it will not affect your consciousness and, yes, it contains nicotine. Choose a taste : double apple, peppermint with lemon, mango or even chocolate and enjoy an exotic ritual. Many hookahs have disposable mouthpieces and tubes. Hookah in the institutions of Cairo is designed primarily for men, but many five-star hotels are ready to accept each client.
Go On adventure
The Giza Plateau is part of the desert, hiding in its endless sands a real miracle: evidence of the greatness of the culture of Ancient Egypt. One of the most memorable trips for tourists can be wild horse riding in the vicinity of the Giza Pyramids. If your tongue is well suspended, you have the means, you can negotiate with the Bedouins who work near the tombs to spend the night in their camp and meet the dawn near the pyramids. A safari or a hot air balloon ride will definitely increase the level of adrenaline in the blood, as well as discover magnificent views in its picturesqueness.
See Cairo from Above
To form an idea of the city, it is necessary to rise above the crazy rhythm and bustle of Cairo . For a small fee, you can go up to the roof of Qalawun on Al Muiz Street or the vikalu Al Ghuri on Al Azhar Street to enjoy stunning city views. A special fabulous atmosphere is created by the call to prayer from hundreds of muezzins before sunset. You can see Cairo from a bird’s eye view from the observation deck of the Cairo TV Tower with a height of 187 meters. Also at the top of the tower there is a revolving restaurant, the waiters of which, by the way, work in costumes of the pharaohs. To visit the Cairo Tower it is better to choose a clear and, preferably, calm day, then you can enjoy the scenery and even see the Giza pyramids.
Buy Oriental Handcrafts
In Cairo, you can buy everything that the East is famous for: spices, carpets, gold, silver, perfumes, copper and bronze products, leather, glass, ceramics, as well as unique handmade products. Go to the Fair Trade Egypt store (1st floor, Sharia Yehia Ibrahim 27, Zamalek) or visit the cozy Oum El Dounia handicraft store in downtown Cairo. In the Coptic Cairo district, Souq al-Fustat, you can often meet artists and their amazing work. If you find yourself in one of Cairo’s modern shopping centers, take the time to shop for cosmetics Nefertari . This store features products based on traditional Egyptian ingredients (such as milk and honey). For real oriental sweets, head to one of Samadi ‘s specialized stores ., they sell dozens of varieties of popular sweets by weight.
