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Cairo Travel Guide & Information


A bit of charm, oodles of history laced with exoticism, and some adventure as top-up- this is Cairo for you! Housing the world`s oldest civilization, this sprawling Greek city is the ultimate destination for the history lovers. Not your oft beaten tourist destination, Cairo has slowly and steadily developed into a tourism hub for the tourists with a taste for the mystique.

Cairo, known by the sobriquet of `The Triumphant City` is a land of ancient temples and tombs. Being one of the largest cities in the world, it is home to some magnificent Muslim monuments and Christian churches, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the famous Egyptian Antiquities Museum. A cultural potpourri, the city perfectly blends the two eminent cultures of the world. A land of deep interest for the connoisseurs of art and music, Cairo is world renowned for the scintillating Cairo Opera House, which is an architectural wonder with evident Islamic influences.

Chaotic one moment and confusing at another, you need days too many to discover the real Cairo. The panoramic view of this beautiful and historical city invites tourists- both western and traditional- in large numbers. Flying from all known world destinations and on all major airlines, cheap airfare to Cairo is no longer difficult to find and access. Best flight deals to Cairo are now within your reach with consolidators like Globester catering to all your travel needs at the most affordable price.

Things to do in Cairo

Cairo has ample places of interest and offers hordes of interesting `things to do` to travelers having multifarious interests. The must visit list includes:

The Egyptian Museum: This museum is home to the sparkling treasure of King Tut. It`s a unique showcase of the extremely interesting Egyptian history and displays valuables behind protective glass and in a chronological order.

The Pyramids: Amongst the 7 wonders of the world, the Pyramids top the itinerary of every tourist entering Egypt. The sound and light show after dark is spectacular and helps you explore this historical structure in a new perspective. A camel ride is the best option when it comes to getting around the Pyramids.

Sphinx: Sphinx is another alluring Egyptian structure that is replete with historical significance and is a must visit place. The Sphinx guards the city of Giza and is frequented by photographers, anthropologists and history loving tourists from across the globe who frequent this greatest man made architectural wonder.

Khan Ali-Kalili:Biggest open air market in Egypt, Khan Ali-Kalili is part of Islamic Cairo and has been the major shopping center for perfumes, exotic jewelry, spices and Souvenirs. Test your bargaining skills here as prices are not fixed!

The Citadel:The Citadel in Cairo, crowned as the mosque of Mohammed Ali offers tourists an amazing view of the entire city, including the pyramids! Built in 12th century, this mosque has great historical significance and is best explored through a walking tour.

Where to Stay in Cairo

Downtown:This are is the penultimate destination for tourists wanting a stay near the Egyptian Museum. Witnessing a heavy traffic, it is quite a busy area with lots of banks, shops and hosts of travel agents catering to all your tourist needs. In close proximity to the railway station at Ramsis, downtown area has quite a large number of popular hotels such as Paris Hotel, Let Me Inn, Victoria Hotel, Windsor hotel and Cairo Khan Hotel to name just a few. The selection is wide, so select a place that suits your budget and needs.

Gezirah:Quite a green and serene residential area, Gezirah is centrally located and boasts of some great places to eat and stay. Choice here is quite limited but elite. The Marriott Cairo & Omar Khayyam Casino are the two most sought after five star hotels are located in this area, with other budget options such as Hotel Longchamps, Mayfair hotel and Golden Tulip Flamenco.

Giza:With Pyramids at the center, Giza is quite a hot destination for tourists who`d love to catch a glimpse of them while sipping a cool drink from the balconies of The Mena House. The Meridien , Sofitel Le Sphinx and Intercontinental Pyramids Park hotel are the other great options nearby to the Pyramids.

Passport & Visa Requirements

All tourists and travelers to Egypt need to have a valid passport to enter the country.

Entry Visa to Egypt can be obtained from the Egyptian diplomatic and consular missions in your countries or from the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA).. Egypt issues three types of visas:

  • Tourist Visa: Granted on either single or multiple entry basis, your stay under tourist visa should not exceed 3 months.
  • Entry Visa: This is granted to anyone entering Egypt for purposes other than tourism.
  • Transit visa:

When to visit Cairo

It`s the Cairo weather that determines when to visit this city. The cool season from September to March is the best time to visit Cairo. It would be advisable to avoid the summer months as it gets unbearably hot during that time.

Cairo Weather

Cairo heat is quite notorious and the comparatively cooler times in Cairo are the best for tourist excursions. September till March is the best time to visit Egypt. With temperature ranging between 15-25 degree Celsius, tourists get the most pleasant and comfortable weather to tour this otherwise hot city. Mid November till end of February is the winter time with temperatures dropping to as low as 7 degree Celsius at night.

From March till end of April is the dusty time in Cairo. The winds blow over the western desert and bring a along the dust that blows over the city during these months.

Currency and Language

  • Currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Cairo has many ATMs but you might be charged for cash withdrawals. Currency exchange can be done at banks hotels and official bureaux de change.
  • The native language of Cairo is the Egyptian Arabic, which is a branch of the Arabic language. Arabic and the Sudanese Arabic are also spoken in Cairo. Dom inhabiting the north of Cairo speak an Indo Aryan language called Domari.
  • Most of the languages spoken in Cairo are derived wither from Arabic or ancient Egyptian, which no longer exists.
Getting to Cairo
Map of Cairo