Home to the first ancient wonder of the world. The beauty and aww of the pyramids lands you in Giza where you feel that time stands completely still. The silence doesn’t last for long though, as adventure is around every corner. Discover the ancient wonders of tombs, temples, camel rides, the lively sounds & vibrant colours & smells of the Souk Khan Al-Khalili market and the unfathomable hieroglyphic stories of mummies and pharaohs. Get ready for a bucket list experience of a lifetime!
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+ Egypt’s currency is called the Egyptian Pound. Egyptian money is gorgeous but its monetary value is considered to the English Pound, Euro, and US Dollar is very low. Egyptian currency can be abbreviated as EGP. If you need to exchange money or use your bank card to withdraw money from an ATM, only use the ATMs at an official Bank.
+ Inform your own Bank that you will be travelling to Egypt and for how long so your bank & credit cards are not blocked. But again be safe with where you use your card. I found it much easier to use my Google Pay or Apple Pay on my Phone.
+ Always have Cash on you for the local market, tipping and small Kiosks. The small stores will only take cash. Otherwise, in all restaurants & the malls, you can use your mobile pay.
+ Best to use either Euros or US Dollars. But for tipping it is better to use EGP and no more than 2-5 USD each time. Locals ask for tips for everything they offer to help you with, from helping to take a photo of you at the Pyramids to your airport transfer. So be careful with what you ask help for from a local.
+ The dominant religion is Islam, making Egypt’s population 90% Muslim and around 10% Christian, with the Muslims being mostly Sunnis and the Coptic Orthodox Church being the largest Christians.
+ Egypt is safe to travel to. The new government has implemented very strict rules on sexual harassment and the crime rate is very low and even though you will feel safe if traveling on your own, for the language purpose Egypt is best enjoyed with the presence of a tour guide who knows the area and can speak Egyptian Arabic & English well.
+ Since Egypt summer can get really hot with temperatures rising as high as 50 Celsius, the best time of the year to visit Egypt is between September and May where you will be able to enjoy the outdoors of Egypt with a nice cool breeze and not too much heat, just enough of it.
+ Is it OK to visit Egypt during Ramadan?
Many establishments in Egypt may have shortened hours or partial closures during Ramadan, However, tourist places in Egypt classic tours remain open during Ramadan times. It's also crucial to keep in mind that during Ramadan, some activities like drinking and eating in public might not be allowed. Just be considerate & respectable as a tourist, during Ramadan to not eat in front of locals during fasting hours or while in a car with your whole day chauffeur. I was in Egypt during Ramadan and for tourists everything was open, however our hotel did let us know if our drivers were fasting or not.
The hotel is new, very clean and all staff are very polite and extremely helpful. I stayed in a single suite with a large double bed. Very comfortable bed and fantastic pillows with an amazing pool view. Also, the hotel always smelt great with light incenses in the morning. Our room always had fresh water bottles, coffee in our coffee bar and large marble bathroom with both a bath tub & shower separate. The hotel also has 3 restaurants with great quality food at reasonable prices, if not much cheaper then at outside restaurants. I can't say enough about this hotel. I stayed for 4 nights for a work conference and would definitely recommend this hotel
Classic Egyptian Dishes like a Local
Location: Zamalek, Heliopolis, 6th of October and New Cairo.
Dress code: casual
Price range: 300-600 EGP per person
Alcohol served: yes
Nile view: no
Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes
Location: New Giza
Dress code: casual
Price range: 300-800 EGP per person
Alcohol served: yes
Nile view: no
Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes but very limited
Location: Zamalek, Maadi, Sheikh Zayed, Madinaty, Heliopolis, New Cairo
Dress code: casual
Price range: 50-100 EGP per person
Alcohol served: no
Nile view: no
Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes
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Khan El Khalili Restaurant et Naguib Mahfouz Coffee Shop
Location: Khan el Khalili (Old Cairo)
Dress code: casual
Price range: 200-600 EGP per person
Alcohol served: no
Nile view: no
Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes
Location: Giza, just outside Cairo, Egypt
Timings:
Summer (April - September): 8 AM - 5 PM
Winter (October - March): 8 AM - 4 PM
Best Time to Visit: October to April, Early morning or late afternoon
Getting There: Taxi, Bus/Minibus, Organized Tours. Ask your Hotel Reception, they may have their own tours and are normally cheaper then buying day tours online.
Entrances:
Great Pyramid Entrance: Near the Marriott Mena House hotel.
Sphinx Entrance: Further down from the pyramids, in front of the Sphinx.
Recommended Duration of Visit: Half a day (3-5 hours)
This famous museum houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyption artifacts (more than 120,000 items on display) featuring the famous Tutankhamun collection with its beautiful gold death mask and sarcophagus and the royal Mummy room, which houses an additional eleven Pharaonic dignitaries.
The "GEM" Grand Egyptian Museum - Will be open to the general public in late 2023. But you can visit The Egyptian Museum.
The Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) is one of the most iconic monuments in Islamic Cairo, and among the most impressive defensive fortresses dating to the Middle Ages.
Coptic Cairo is a part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites.
The one-stop shopping destination is no ordinary mall. Cairo festival city mall is one of the best in Cairo that allows people to tuck into some of the finest cuisines and drinks served at the 95 restaurants and cafes. It doesn’t end just here. Since it’s a one-stop shopping mall, people can splurge on things like furniture, fashion, and a movie. So, when are you planning to burn a hole in your pocket? The mall in Cairo is waiting for you!
Location: 108.04 km، Cairo Festival City Mall, Cairo Festival City, Ring Road, New Cairo، Cairo Governorate 11385, Egypt
Timings: 10 AM – 11 PM
Top Attractions: Shopping, Restaurants, Cafes, Cinema Complex
If you want to spend your whole day shopping go to the City Stars Mall with various shops having several national and international brands. Discover here one of the best restaurants and cafes where you can try lip-smacking food and coffee. Also, from electrifying musical performances to exciting movie premieres, City Stars Mall always entertains the guest with a bunch of surprises. This amazingly huge mall is well known for its 22 screens cinema complex. So, get ready to enjoy the biggest mall in Cairo for a diverse shopping experience.
Location: Citystars, Cairo Governorate 11771, Egypt
Timings: 10 AM – 12AM
Top Attractions: Shopping, Restaurants, Cafes, Movie Premieres, Cinema Complex
Touring the Islamic souk of Khan Al-Khalili is one of Cairo’s “Must See” sights in order to understand the Egyptian transition to its present day Arabic traditions. Much like souks in many Middle East & North African cities, but with the preserved architectural structures, massive city walls & gates. Fun to walk thru for local colour & visit spice shops, fruit & vegetable sellers, Nut merchants, antiquaries, coffee houses & restaurants. See young teens in headscarves, jeans & bright tennis shoes + older women all covered in black - I even had young girls touching my hair as I was walking through the market and giggling because they wanted to feel if my hair was real! Definitely a very strange experience.
You’ll enjoy the stroll
Discover the beauty of the Egyptian Desert, witness the alluring Wadi El Rayan waterfalls, and marvel at the majestic Mudawara Mountains. Then, enjoy action-packed dune bashing, sandboarding, and a delightful camel ride on a full-day tour from Cairo.
If you’ve taken a history lesson or watched the news in the last few years, you’ll know that every corner of downtown Cairo has a story to tell. Hear these stories and much more on this local Cairo experience that you won’t soon forget.
Best to ask at your hotel reception for any city guided tours available through them.
You can do a 2 day visit from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh.
Set sail from Sharm El Sheikh to Ras Mohamed National Park and White Island, and stop to swim and snorkel in the bright blue waters of the Red Sea. Enjoy an on-board buffet lunch and hotel transfer.
The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan is a monumental mosque and madrasa located in Salah al-Din Square in the historic district of Cairo, Egypt. It was built between 1356 and 1363 during the Bahri Mamluk period, commissioned by Sultan an-Nasir Hasan.
Al-Rifa'i Mosque is located in Citadel Square, adjacent to the Cairo Citadel. Now, it is also the royal mausoleum of Muhammad Ali's family. The building is located opposite the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, which dates from around 1361, and was architecturally conceived as a complement to the older structure.
foreign nationals from most countries - bar 10 - must obtain a visa before travelling to Egypt. For most nationalities, organising a visa for Egypt can be done on arrival at Cairo International Airport or online via the Egyptian government's official e-visa portal.
The Egypt e-Visa is processed in about seven days, which is why it is advisable to apply at least seven days before you intend to travel. If you're applying through an embassy or consulate, the processing time changes depending on the specific office.
How Much Is an Egyptian Visa on Arrival? The cost of the single-entry Egyptian visa on arrival is 25 USD.
Arrange a Meet & Greet
Meet and Greet Fast Track Service (Non-Egyptians only) includes: All formalities Claims & luggage
You can also add the Meet & Greet service with your Hotel Reservation and Airport transfer service.
I added this with my hotel reservation and it was a great hassle free service upon arrival at the airport and transfer to my hotel. Especially great if you will be arriving during peak rush hour arrivals.
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