The capital of Egypt is a chaotic fascinating city difficult to describe in a few words.
During the day you can enjoy the markets and the street sellers everywhere but especially suggested is the bazaar Khan el-Khalili where you can find beautiful marquetry boxes, semi-precious stones, rugs and all kinds of souvenirs.
Of course, you HAVE to bargain. It's part of the culture and the fun for the seller. Try also the tea offered in many of the shops as a courtesy for the customers.
To move across the city, if you are the kind of person who likes to drive relaxed, Cairo is not your place, unless you have previous training from having lived in Mexico City or Tegucigalpa.
Otherwise... strongly recommended to take a cab or the metro service that carries 1,000,000 people daily between Choubra el-Kheima in the north and Helwan in the south. The city is safer than most of the capitals in the world. There are many beautiful and interesting islamic monuments to visit. The admission is not free.
For women it is not necessary to wear a scarf to cover the head or special clothes (as it is commonly believed...) since it is a city where tourists are everywhere. But to enter to the islamic buildings proper clothes are required. That means that neither shorts nor vest tops are allowed and heads have to be covered in all mosques but they provide the necessary items at the entrance.
Very beautiful the mosque Muhammad Ali although is very difficult to choose one in the "city of a thousand minarets”.
A few km.from Cairo you find Gaza Gaza Egypt Border, where the archaeological site with pyramids receives every day thousands of tourists. Obviously, you can't miss that.
At night, Cairo is completely alive. Between the exotic dancers shows and the totally European discos you have a wide offer. But since you can find discos everywhere else, it's best to go for a very "local" one where you can experience the electronic local music which, by the way, is really good.
Shisha and good drinks all over the place.
5 Places to visit in or near Cairo
- The Great Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramids of Giza are the most famous tourist attraction in Cairo and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These massive pyramids were built as tombs for Pharaohs and their consorts during the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt and are the only remaining of the Seven Wonders. The Great Pyramids are located on the Giza Plateau, just a few miles from central Cairo, and offer visitors a chance to step back in time and marvel at the engineering marvels of ancient Egypt. Visitors can also take a tour inside one of the pyramids, including the famous King's Chamber.
- The Sphinx
The Sphinx is a massive statue that sits in front of the Great Pyramids and is one of the most iconic images of ancient Egypt. The statue depicts a human head and the body of a lion and is believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre. The Sphinx is over 240 feet long and 66 feet tall and is carved from a single piece of limestone. Visitors to the Sphinx can climb to the top for a panoramic view of the pyramids and surrounding desert landscape.
- The Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum is one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world and is a must-see for any history or archaeology buff. The museum houses over 160,000 items, including the famous treasure of King Tutankhamun, and offers visitors a chance to learn about the history and culture of ancient Egypt. The museum is located in central Cairo and is easily accessible by taxi or public transportation.
- The Citadel
The Citadel is a fortress that sits atop a hill in central Cairo and offers stunning views of the city. The Citadel was built in the 12th century by Saladin and was used as a military fortress for centuries. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction that offers visitors a chance to explore the history of medieval Cairo and learn about the role the Citadel played in the city's history. Visitors can also visit the Al-Gawhara Palace, which is located within the Citadel, to see a stunning example of 19th-century Egyptian architecture.
- The Islamic Cairo District
The Islamic Cairo District is a neighborhood in central Cairo that is home to some of the city's most iconic Islamic landmarks. Visitors can explore the Al-Azhar Mosque, one of the oldest and most important mosques in the world, and the Sufi shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, which is dedicated to the granddaughter of the Prophet Mohammed. The district is also home to the historic Al-Hussein Mosque, which is one of the oldest and most revered in the city, and the Bab Zuweila, a 10th-century gate that is one of the last remaining pieces of medieval Cairo's city walls. The Islamic Cairo District is a great place to explore the rich history and culture of Islamic Egypt and get a sense of what life was like in medieval Cairo.
