Cairo is the capital of Egypt and a city that receives millions of tourists from all over the world to admire the huge pyramids of Giza.
With more than 25 million inhabitants, Cairo is the largest and most chaotic city in Egypt.
In Cairo the climate is warm tropical desert climate, but with plenty of humidity as the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile are close by.
From Cairo you can arrange several excursions, such as day trips to the desert or Alexandria.
Travel documents you need for Cairo
To travel to Cairo you need a passport. If you hold a Greek passport you will also need a visa, which you buy once you arrive at the airport and costs $25. You can pay in euros, dollars, and also by card.
Be careful: If you are returning from Egypt with airlines like Aegean, when you do online check-in for the flight, they will not sent you a Mobile Pass.
To get your ticket you will have to go to a kiosk at the airport. You will be able to get the ticket 3 hours before the flight, not earlier, so don’t go to the airport earlier, you will waste your time.
Transportation in Cairo
To get around Cairo, I recommend using only Uber, as we did. Rides range from around 0.50-5€, with the most expensive route being the one from the airport to the city centre.
There are taxis and drivers everywhere in the city who constantly ask you if you want a ride, but they charge at least twice as much and may scam you.
Plus keep in mind that the traffic on the roads is huge. For trips of a few kilometers you can spend a lot of time on the road. So don’t plan to see a lot of things in one day, because you should expect to spend a lot of time on the roads. People in Cairo drive like crazy, with no rules and no traffic lights, so don’t try to rent a car.
Accommodation in Cairo
Hilton Cairo Grand Nile
Next to the Nile is the huge Hilton Cairo Grand Nile, the best choice for accommodation in Cairo.
The rooms are spacious and nicely decorated, and have great views of the Nile and the city from above.
The bed is huge and perfect for the most comfortable sleep.
At the hotel, besides breakfast you can book a stay that includes lunch, dinner and snacks in between. All meals have countless options to satisfy all tastes.
Inside the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile you will find shops, restaurants and even a cinema, among other things. In short, you don’t even have to leave the hotel, if that’s what you want for your holiday!
Attractions in Cairo
Giza Pyramids
Of course first on the list of attractions are the famous pyramids in Giza, as these are the reason for visiting Cairo.
The pyramids are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that survives to this day.
The pyramids are located in the Giza area and with the traffic in Cairo it takes about 40-50 minutes to get there.
Entrance to enter the Giza Necropolis costs 700LE (about 13.40€) and you only pay with card.
There are a total of nine pyramids on the Giza plateau, and there are over 130 pyramids in Egypt in total.
The most famous pyramids are the pyramids of Cheops and Hefrey. Apart from the pyramids, in the Necropolis of Giza you will also find the famous Great Sphinx.
To enter each pyramid you pay a separate fee. In my opinion it is not worth going inside, as the space is very narrow and there is nothing to see inside.
Once you enter the pyramid area you will be approached by countless locals who will offer you a tour, carriage ride etc for a fee of course. To get around the whole area no cars are allowed, so you can either walk or use a carriage or camel from the locals there.
The locals can be quite persistent until you agree if you don’t have a guide to chase them away, so you have to be absolute and avoid them. Don’t sit down to have a conversation with them.
If you don’t feel like walking all over the place to explore the pyramids, then you can negotiate from the beginning with a local the price to take you on a carriage or camel ride. They only accept cash.
Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum is a must-visit place in Cairo and you may need to spend a whole day there alone!
It is located near the Pyramids of Giza and covers an area of about 500,000 square meters. It is the largest archaeological museum in the world, dedicated to a single culture.
The museum houses over 100,000 objects from ancient Egyptian history, including treasures that have never before been on display to the public.
One of the main exhibits is the complete collection of Tutankhamun’s tomb, with more than 5,000 objects. The museum also includes modern technologies, such as interactive exhibits and virtual reality, to help visitors explore history in innovative ways.
Admission to the museum costs 1,200LE (about 22€).
Al Khalili market and Islamic Cairo
One of the most famous markets in the Middle East, and in the whole world, is the Al Khalili market.
There you will find countless souvenirs such as papyrus, jewellery, spices, textiles, clothes and shoes. Of course you will bargain for better prices. To buy souvenirs from Al Khalili you will need to carry cash with you.
Across the street from the entrance to the Al Khalili market, you’ll find another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Al-Azhar Mosque.
The impressive mosque with its distinctive architecture is home to one of the world’s most important Islamic universities.
Al-Azhar Park
A beautiful place to take a stroll is Al-Azhar Park, where you’ll find fountain gardens, a lake, cafes and restaurants. Entrance from Sunday to Wednesday is 40LE (€0.76) and from Thursday to Saturday 50LE (€0.96).
Cairo Citadel
An imposing fortress and wall which were built by Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi in the 12th century for protection from crusaders.
The Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) is one of the most iconic monuments of Islamic Cairo and one of the most impressive defensive fortresses dating back to the Middle Ages.
Many monuments have been added to the Citadel over the centuries, providing visitors today with a number of attractions to visit, such as the Mohammed Ali Pasha Mosque, which dominates the Citadel.
Entrance costs 550LE (approximately 10.50€).
Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan
The Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan is one of the largest and architecturally exquisite mosques in all of Egypt
The Mosque and Madrasa are distinguished for their elaborate domes, stone and plaster carvings, and marble mihrab works.
Entrance costs 220LE (€4.20), and is free for Egyptians and Arabs.
Ibn Tulun Mosque
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun is a historic mosque in Cairo, Egypt. Built between 876 and 879 by his namesake, Ahmad ibn Tulun, it is the oldest well-preserved mosque in Egypt.
You can visit it for free.
St. George’s Church
In Cairo you’ll find the Greek Orthodox Church of St George and the Greek flag flying in the heart of the city.
It is considered the seat of the Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria, and this form of the church is not the original form because it has suffered many fires in the past.
Entrance is free so if some sneaky people ask you for money for a tour, refuse.
Coptic Museum and Hanging Church
Next to St. George’s Church is the Coptic Museum, a 1908 building that houses a collection of ancient Egyptian-Christian artwork, artifacts and manuscripts.
The museum comprises 26 rooms in addition to another room called the Hall of the Churches of Old Cairo to exhibit the pieces extracted from the churches in the Old Cairo area, and the museum consists of two wings.
Entrance costs 100LE (about 1.90€).
Next to the Coptic museum you will find the hanging church. The church is one of the oldest Coptic churches, dating back to the 3rd century AD, and displays a rich collection of Coptic artefacts and manuscripts.
Entrance is free of charge.
Necropolis of Saqqara
In Cairo, in addition to the pyramids at Giza, there are also the pyramids at the Necropolis of Saqqara. They may be less popular, but they are older than the pyramids in Giza.
It is located about 30 kilometres south of Cairo and was the main cemetery of the ancient city of Memphis.
Saqqara is famous for the Pyramid of Joser, the first carved pyramid and the oldest monument made entirely of stone.
The site also includes many other pyramids, tombs and temples, spanning millennia of ancient Egyptian history.
Entrance to the necropolis of Saqqara costs 600LE (about €11.50).
Food in Cairo
Naguib Mahfouz Coffee Shop
In El Halili market among the countless souvenir shops you will find Naguib Mahfouz Coffee Shop, one of the most famous restaurants in Cairo.
Once inside you’ll be amazed by the unique decor, and you’ll find traditional Egyptian dishes such as stuffed pigeon (I’m not brave enough to try it). To eat in the restaurant there is a minimum charge of 600LE (about 11.50€) per person.
We tried various dishes such as pita bread, hummus, fried traditional meatballs with minced meat, beef with rice and a seafood mix with brown rice. For all this we paid about 35€.
9 Pyramids Lounge
The most Instagram-worthy place you’ll find in Cairo is undoubtedly the 9 Pyramids Lounge, which has a panoramic view of the pyramids.
You can drink your coffee or eat food at the upstairs tables, and there are traditional couches on another floor in front of the restaurant, where you can just have a drink.
The prices here are higher than in the other places in Cairo, but that’s normal since it’s a completely touristy place, not aimed at locals.
Koshary Abou Tarek
If you want to try traditional food then go to Koshary Abou Tarek, which exclusively serves Egypt’s national food Koshari and is open 24 hours a day.
It is made from rice, lentils, pasta and a tomato and dried onion sauce. It is suitable for fasting and vegan people. Each ingredient is made on its own and then you mix them all together.
Each dish there won’t cost you more than 5€.
il Nilo
If you are looking for something more… European, then I suggest il Nilo on the Nile to enjoy Italian cuisine.
It has great decor and you can have pizza and pasta with a view of the Nile.
Things to know before you travel to Cairo
- Mobile data is not available for roaming in Cairo, nor are call minutes. You can buy eSim to get internet. You can download the Airalo app and with the code ELENI4690 you can get -3€ on the package you choose.
- The weather is warmer than in Greece. I would avoid travelling May-September in the country. We went in January which is the coldest month and I wore short T-shirts during the day.
- You definitely need to change currency, as many shops only accept cash and if you pay in euros/dollars they will charge you more. You can change the local currency at the airport once you arrive in Cairo.
- To travel to Egypt from Greece you need a passport and visa.
- In my opinion you need at least 3 days to get around Cairo.
- To get around choose Uber, it is the safest way and it is quite cheap.
If you want to see more of my trip to Cairo, visit my Instagram profile.
