Cairo & Surrounding Region People & Culture

Extraordinary!!! Like travelling in another dimension! Colours, smells, sounds, people....

It's been a while since I was there but locals were fab. We met some really honest people who just wanted to show us their city. Enjoy a turkish coffee and a flavored smoke near the markets. Go to the citadel and be amazed at how you can feel quite alone in this crowded city. Rent a taxi for the day and visit Giza and other close Pyramids and historic areas. You can get good deals on this from some cheap hotels. For a special treat if you are backpaking pay to use the pool at the Mena House Hotel, you can see views of Gisa, this is where Churchill and Roosevelt discussed WWII so is an interesting place to spend a day. Enjoy the food and the peoplel, I loved Cairo!

Cairo is a wonderful (though very dirty and very buzy) city. It is a shame that so many people only come here to see the Pyramids (and perhaps a quick peek at the Egyptian museum) and then go, when there is so much more to see. Take a stroll through the Islamic quarter and the Coptic quarter for instance. Check out modern Zamalek and the busy streets of central Cairo. Visit the Al-Azhar mosk. Modern-day Cairo is at least as fascinating at the thousands-of-years-ago one!

Cairo is one of the most interesting cities I've ever been to.
The different parts of the town, show each another century and religion. The 'suq', the market is one of the must-sees! But I recommend to go a little further than most tourists, so you'll actually see one of the authentic egyptian suqs.
What I liked most is - of course - sitting in of the street cafes, drinking tea and smoking a shisha (waterpipe). It seems as this is the favorite activity for every egyptian man.
I definitely felt very safe and most of the Egyptians are pleased to talk to tourists and help them. However, take care, they definitely expect a tip or try to sell you something, no matter how much they come to like you during 15 seconds.
As safe as it is, there is one important point. Me being a man, I had a great time. But for women it's definitely exhausting. And I wouldn't recommend a woman to travel alone. Either a group of people or another man are probably the safest options.

When travelling in Cairo and the more cultured parts of Egypt it is important to have your wits about you. I would suggest that women never travel alone and travel between cities/districts on transport that has an armed guard. It has been known that passengers on night buses have been held at gunpoint. People will also ask to see your passport when travelling between cities.
There are many beggars in Cairo, some of which have removed their own limbs to encourage donations, it is very sad but true unfortunately.
People will expect you to haggle with them. If you pay what is being asked, you have definitely been done!
The streets are lined with markets and bizarres, selling more or less anything you can think of. Market traders will pester you so much that you may become frustrated and annoyed. It is best to just ignore these people, rather than get stressed out. Its not worth the hassle!
The pyramids at Giza are an essential expedition when in Egypt. They are quite spectacular. Do not believe pessimists who suggest that they are not as good as they expected. These people obviously do not appreciate their glory. Make sure that you have guided tours where possible to gain an in-depth appreciation of these magnificent structures. There is access into 2 of the pyramids for a small charge. It is very claustrophobic inside and is not suitable for asthmatics or people with back problems. There is not a great deal to see inside, no tombs or hieroglyphics, however it is a very humbling feeling to be inside such a structure, having known its history.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is absolutely amazing. Take lots of time to have a good look round and if nothing else, pay the extra few pounds to see the 'Mummy Room'! The room contains several real mummies, preserved in glass cabinets. These remains are thousands of years old, some of which still have their hair, fingernails, and eyeballs.
There are floors in the museum dedicated to Tutankhamun . Anyone expecting his mummy to be here will be disappointed as his remains are at the Valley Of The Kings, South West Egypt. However, there is an extensive collection of his jewellery, headdresses etc and the numerous sarcophagases/tombs he was buried in to keep his body protected.
The Citadel is also a place to visit while in Eygpt. This is the most famous mosque in Islam as it contains the body of Mohammed the prophet. Visitors have to prepare themselves before entering the building. Shoes have to be removed and women need to cover any naked pieces of flesh with large sheet-like pieces of material. The building is made from alabaster which was taken from the Great Pyramid of Giza. The alabaster was used as a protective covering, yet was taken to build the mosque. The pyramid has a small tip of alabaster remaining, which looks like snow from a distance.
The best piece of advice I can give is to have a tour guide wherever possible, and sample as much culture in this city as you can possibly digest. Tour guides provide masses of information and take you to places you could not possibly find if travelling on your own. Cairo is the 3rd most populated city in the world (18 million citizens) and definitely deserves to be explored in detail.
Would I go back?????
At the drop of a hat!!!!!

very nice, very dynamic, very cultural

A busy place, really lets you experiance the culture. Pyramids, Museums are definatly a must.

When travelling in Cairo and the more cultured parts of Egypt it is important to have your wits about you. I would suggest that women never travel alone and travel between cities/districts on transport that has an armed guard. It has been known that passengers on night buses have been held at gunpoint. People will also ask to see your passport when travelling between cities.
There are many beggars in Cairo, some of which have removed their own limbs to encourage donations, it is very sad but true unfortunately.
People will expect you to haggle with them. If you pay what is being asked, you have definitely been done!
The streets are lined with markets and bizarres, selling more or less anything you can think of. Market traders will pester you so much that you may become frustrated and annoyed. It is best to just ignore these people, rather than get stressed out. Its not worth the hassle!
The pyramids at Giza are an essential expedition when in Egypt. They are quite spectacular. Do not believe pessimists who suggest that they are not as good as they expected. These people obviously do not appreciate their glory. Make sure that you have guided tours where possible to gain an in-depth appreciation of these magnificent structures. There is access into 2 of the pyramids for a small charge. It is very claustrophobic inside and is not suitable for asthmatics or people with back problems. There is not a great deal to see inside, no tombs or hieroglyphics, however it is a very humbling feeling to be inside such a structure, having known its history.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is absolutely amazing. Take lots of time to have a good look round and if nothing else, pay the extra few pounds to see the 'Mummy Room'! The room contains several real mummies, preserved in glass cabinets. These remains are thousands of years old, some of which still have their hair, fingernails, and eyeballs.
There are floors in the museum dedicated to Tutankhamun . Anyone expecting his mummy to be here will be disappointed as his remains are at the Valley Of The Kings, South West Egypt. However, there is an extensive collection of his jewellery, headdresses etc and the numerous sarcophagases/tombs he was buried in to keep his body protected.
The Citadel is also a place to visit while in Eygpt. This is the most famous mosque in Islam as it contains the body of Mohammed the prophet. Visitors have to prepare themselves before entering the building. Shoes have to be removed and women need to cover any naked pieces of flesh with large sheet-like pieces of material. The building is made from alabaster which was taken from the Great Pyramid of Giza. The alabaster was used as a protective covering, yet was taken to build the mosque. The pyramid has a small tip of alabaster remaining, which looks like snow from a distance.
The best piece of advice I can give is to have a tour guide wherever possible, and sample as much culture in this city as you can possibly digest. Tour guides provide masses of information and take you to places you could not possibly find if travelling on your own. Cairo is the 3rd most populated city in the world (18 million citizens) and definitely deserves to be explored in detail.
Would I go back?????
At the drop of a hat!!!!!

Cairo, Egypt, the Triumphant City, known officially as al-Qāhirah is one of the world's largest urban areas and offers many sites to see. It is the administrative capital of Egypt and, close by, is almost every Egypt Pyramid, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza on the very edge of the city. But there are also ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and of course, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum all either within or nearby the city.
Cairo, Egypt is an amazing city full of life and movement, and it is that way almost 24 hours every day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and merchants selling their wears and services. And here, the Egyptians are most at home in this powerful, modern and ancient city

Cairo, Egypt provides great culture, including art galleries and music halls, such as the Cairo Opera House, as well it should, being one of the largest cities in the world. It also provides some of the grandest accommodations and restaurants in the world, such as the Four Seasons and the Cairo Marriott.

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife activities. Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions. All the bounty of the East can be here. Particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street for musical instruments and, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip. This is, and has been for over a thousand years, truly a shopper's paradise.

If you want more information please go to

http://www.cairotourist.com

Women, please respect the culture and at least cover your shoulders and thighs. It makes it a lot easier for you. You will generally get harassed if alone, but dressing modestly is just respectful. No mini skirts and halter tops to Cairo. It's okay for beach places like Hurgada and Dahab.

Cairo, Egypt, the Triumphant City, known officially as al-Qāhirah is one of the world's largest urban areas and offers many sites to see. It is the administrative capital of Egypt and, close by, is almost every Egypt Pyramid, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza on the very edge of the city. But there are also ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and of course, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum all either within or nearby the city.
Cairo, Egypt is an amazing city full of life and movement, and it is that way almost 24 hours every day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and merchants selling their wears and services. And here, the Egyptians are most at home in this powerful, modern and ancient city

Cairo, Egypt provides great culture, including art galleries and music halls, such as the Cairo Opera House, as well it should, being one of the largest cities in the world. It also provides some of the grandest accommodations and restaurants in the world, such as the Four Seasons and the Cairo Marriott.

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife activities. Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions. All the bounty of the East can be here. Particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street for musical instruments and, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip. This is, and has been for over a thousand years, truly a shopper's paradise.

If you want more information please go to

http://www.cairotourist.com

I’ve travelled a lot around the world – my country counter is now over 30. One thing I’ve noticed throughout my travels is that the quality of driving around the world varies considerably. I’ve devised my own award for the worst offenders – the Juan Manuel Fangio Award for Outstanding Defensive Driving . Let me explain. Case Study Number One: Italian Drivers I have a theory that the amount of religious paraphernalia on a car’s rear view mirror is a reliable indication of how crap the drivers are. The more crucifixes, rosary beads, or evil eyes wrapped around the mirror, the more dangerous the driving is. I first tested this theory in Italy . By heritage, I am half Sicilian (on my mother’s side) and half Northern Italian (my old man’s side). A recent visit to Italia was a home-coming of sorts for me, even though I had never been here before in a physical sense. However, my first encounter with my Italian heritage was to be – the traffic. The city of Rome was my first exposure to the chaotic Latino driving that was the bane of the Italian stereotype; however, there was no myth to bust – the drivers are completely bonkers. The roads are an extension of the Monza Formula One race track. Collisions result from a reckless apathy for general traffic laws and probably from gawking at gorgeous women walking down the street. Merging is a competition, not a mutual effort; road signs and traffic lights are merely ornamentation. Moped riders manoeuvre in ways that I would not attempt on a Play Station. Drivers will tailgate, wildly waving their hands as if to signify an emergency – as if there is always a pregnant woman about to deliver a baby that would spoil the immaculately-kept interior of the Fiat, that was probably about to fall apart from poor build quality. I thought maybe Italians were fearful of being late for the latest christening, hot date or lunch at mama and papas. I concluded that they simply enjoyed dicing with death for kicks. Italy ’s rating on the Crazy Driver Index (out of 10) – 7. Case Study Number Two: Egyptian Taxis Here is some great advice – one should refuse to enter a Cairo taxi, even if one really needs to. I learnt this fact the hard way within a day of arriving in Cairo . The essential activity of trying to see the city unfortunately necessitated the use of unregistered and barely-roadworthy vehicles to complete this task successfully. I’m not sure what side of the road these taxis drive on, because they use the ENTIRE road. From this harrowing experience, I have devised my own facts about Cairo taxis: My previous stated theory that high volumes of religious paraphernalia decorating a rear view mirror directly relates to the driver’s recklessness was indeed confirmed once again – Egyptian taxis seemed to have enough evil eyes and prayer beads to reduce the car’s centre of gravity below the potholed tarmac; A high number of car dents or bent panels is an indication that someone of a higher plane is looking after the taxi driver; It is a lineball decision to leave ones’ nose inside or outside of the taxi – your nose will be wiped out by either a collision with another taxi, or by the drivers’ nose hair-singing body odour; Seat belts are optional, unworkable or not available; Pedestrians must give way to taxis at all times and locations, even at zebra crossings and when the green-man light is on; and The seemingly trance-like and repetitive term of ‘Am-shallah’ (god willing) will suffice as an insurance policy. Egypt ’s rating on the Crazy Driver Index (out of 10) – 9.5. Case Study Number Three: Minibus Taxis in Southern Africa My favourite! Ever tried to work out the logic of waiting four hours for a minibus taxi ride until it's full, for it to blast onto a neglected highway system at 140 km/hour for an 11 hour journey to Johannesburg , South Africa , sitting next to a person with the biggest backside in the world? During a trip to Zimbabwe in 2002, I arrived at Bulawayo Train Station at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning after an overnight trip from Victoria Falls . I wandered around the grimy streets of Bulawayo asking for the presence of the bus station. After discovering that none of the bus offices were open that day, it frightfully dawned on me that there was only one option to return to South Africa that day – the dreaded mini-bus taxi. I had previously seen the mini-bus taxis everywhere in Africa , but never had the privilege of being transported within one. Mini-bus taxis in Africa seem to work on the principle of not leaving the car park until they are full, to maximise the income gained per seat per trip. This wait may last from four minutes to four hours, or possibly even four days - which is probably insignificant in African time terms. I proceeded to the local car park where the mini-bus taxis were collected, all neatly arranged like a miniature Matchbox collection. There were about 10 mini-buses herded into the car park, waiting for silly punters like myself willing to risk their lives for the sake of travelling from Point A to Point B, or maybe to Point Gravesite. I had heard all sorts of horror stories about these taxis in South Africa – the vast majority of them are clapped-out pieces of corrosion that would not pass a roadworthy at a demolition derby. The best story was one where a driver had replaced the aged and worn steering-wheel by attaching two plumbing wrenches on the steering column to ensure maximum manoeuvrability around the numerous potholes that probably almost matched the area of road. However, this was my (relatively) lucky day. After the driver had graciously accepted my money, I only had to wait for a grand total of four hours for the mini-bus to depart the Bulawayo bitumen. I hung around, taking the mandatory siesta and sometimes chewed on a non-descript snack from the nearby corner store that emblazoned a sign stating crazy Cairo was 3500 miles away from this point. A steady trickle of people would arrive at the driver’s side of the mini-bus to pay their money and use their luggage as a makeshift bed, like I did, while waiting for the signal to leave. At midday, the mini-bus had reached its quota (that is, three times the legal carrying capacity of the vehicle) and everyone piled their luggage in the trailer. The mini-bus left the car park and it was from this point that I was abruptly introduced to the rather absurd four/one forty rule – waiting four hours for the mini-bus to fill up in the car park, only for this lost time to be compensated by screaming along the woefully under-resourced Zimbabwean Highway system at the top speed of 140 kilometres per hour all the way back to South Africa. How the mini-bus managed this considering the dire fuel shortages and without falling apart, I will never know. I concluded that Africa does not need a Formula One Grand Prix as there is enough high speed action on its highways. My brain had selected an obscure Hoodoo Gurus song to play during the attempt to break the land speed record – called I Was a Kamikaze Pilot from one of my favourite Hoodoos albums, Stoneage Romeos. I was a, was a kamikaze pilot They gave me a plane – I couldn’t fly it home. Taught how to take off, I don’t know how to land. They say it doesn’t matter and I just cannot understand. I was a kamikaze pilot, They gave me a plane – I couldn’t fly it home. The mini-bus taxi may as well have been a suicidal Mitsubishi Zero, ready to honourably take out a pylon of a precisely targeted overpass. What had added to the mini-bus thrill theme ride was that I had miserably lost the dreadful game of mini-bus musical chairs – I had managed to pick the seat next to the person with the largest arse on the mini-bus, and possibly, southern Africa. She was a large, dark woman who wore a colourful headscarf and seemed friendly enough. She did not communicate with me in words – but instead with various facial expressions. She tried her best to make room for me from her window seat, but when combined with my arse, it was inevitable that one of my butt cheeks would pathetically lose out. My right butt cheek was not prepared to overhang the seat for the 11 hour trip back to South Africa . I still have the mental and physical scars of that trip - especially the one dissecting my right butt cheek. During this doomed trip, I had thought that Johannesburg was probably not the most ideal place to scramble for suitable accommodation at an estimated arrival time of midnight. At the Zimbabwe/South African border post at Beitbridge, I had arranged beds (note, plural) for myself and another minibus taxi journeyman, a Belgian man called Jan, at a Pretoria backpackers. This phone call was made after successfully dodging the swarms of aggressive peanut merchants loitering around the phone boxes. I noticed that my recently purchased South African phone card displayed the helpful advice of ‘Don’t Cut Your Lifeline’ complete with pictures of a public phone handset and a set of open bolt cutters. Since my lifeline was not yet broken, I received an assurance from the Backpackers that they would wait for us until we arrived. Once I had finished drinking a gut-rotting Coke out of an ingeniously marketed AfriCAN, it was time to brace myself for another supersonic test ride. However, after continuing his kamikaze mission for another few hours, the mini-bus driver probably had another mini-bus taxi car park that was more important than mine and had completely bypassed Pretoria and was on the way to Johannesburg . After informing the death wish pilot, he exited the freeway at the midway suburb of Centurion and we said our humble goodbyes at the nearby service station. This may have sounded uneventful, but I received an eerie feeling when I spotted the ‘Hijacking Hotspot’ advisory sign at the top of the exit ramp. In an unconvincingly reassuring voice, I said to Jan ‘It mustn’t be THAT bad – the Hijacking Hotspot sign hasn’t been hijacked yet!’ I only received a slight, uneasy smile from this corny joke – we were both tired from too many kilometres and hours on the road. We called a less suicidal taxi with some Rand shrapnel and managed to reach Pretoria without being hijacked, where we pleaded for the Backpackers to let us in at midnight. To our delight, a muddled voice answered on the intercom and a buzzer sounded to release the thick steel bar security gates. We were stuffed and there was only a queen bed available in the entire hostel. After 12 hours on the Victoria Falls train, four hours lounging on backpacks in a hot Bulawayo mini bus taxi car park, and 11 hours on the supersonic mini-bus, I did not give a rats. The queen bed was the most comfort I had encountered in days, and it didn’t matter who I shared it with. I was quite prepared to endure an unconscious man-hug from Jan at three o’clock in the morning if I had to, but I really needed to sleep. And so did Jan. After washing off the slimy African grime from the previous two days, we both crashed in an exhausted slump, grateful to still be alive. The minibus taxi rating on the Crazy Driver Index (out of 10) – 11. In conclusion, crazy drivers are one of the joys of travelling, and are part of the authentic travel experience. Just make sure your life insurance is up to date and of a considerable amount!

Cairo, Egypt, the Triumphant City, known officially as al-Qāhirah is one of the world's largest urban areas and offers many sites to see. It is the administrative capital of Egypt and, close by, is almost every Egypt Pyramid, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza on the very edge of the city. But there are also ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and of course, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum all either within or nearby the city.
Cairo, Egypt is an amazing city full of life and movement, and it is that way almost 24 hours every day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and merchants selling their wears and services. And here, the Egyptians are most at home in this powerful, modern and ancient city

Cairo, Egypt provides great culture, including art galleries and music halls, such as the Cairo Opera House, as well it should, being one of the largest cities in the world. It also provides some of the grandest accommodations and restaurants in the world, such as the Four Seasons and the Cairo Marriott.

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife activities. Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions. All the bounty of the East can be here. Particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street for musical instruments and, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip. This is, and has been for over a thousand years, truly a shopper's paradise.

If you want more information please go to

http://www.cairotourist.com

fish market is the best u can find!!

You have to go first to pyramids ,try to go inside,even they say is not aloud .after go to the National Papirus Institute,you can buy hand made papirus and gold ''cartus'' 18 k with your name in their old language.

Gizah, or Giza or however you want to spell it is one of the oldest tourist destinations in the world. Home of the Great Pyramids of Giza. When I visited, I went in the late afternoon (mostly because we couldn't get directions...no one seemed to know where the pyramids were and how to get to them), but the setting sun was amazing against the pyramids. Taxis are overflowing as are souvenir shops. They're selling exactly what you're looking for. Don't believe me? Just ask them and they'll tell you the same thing.

Things to see in Giza - The Great Pyramids Sphinx Best time to visit - sunrise, sunset or evening when it's not so hot

Zeker in de pyramide van Chepos gaan! Overweldigend!!!! zo kolossaal!!! Ik krijg er nog 'kiekenvlees' van als ik eraan denk!

If you walk up in the middle of the night to the Mount Sinai you need light (headlight). We had luck and we saw everything because of the full moon, but there's no street lights. :o)

Great place to see! Visit early in the morning or late afternoon because its EXTREMELY HOT! Take lots and lots of water with you!

--- Napoleon ---

Napoleon and Europe
The French, under Napoleon Bonaparte, came to Egypt in 1798. They had come ashore, confronted the army of the Mamluks in the battle of the Pyramids, and soundly defeated them. Napoleon sought the cooperation of the native Egyptian leaders.
He tried to convince them that he was a friend to the muslims and that he invaded Egypt to free the people from the oppression of the Mamluks, not to destroy Islam.
As well as creating governmental changes, Napoleon and the French founded the Institut Francais, a seat of learning to work for the advancement of science, economics, arts, literature, and other disciplines. French scientists and engineers also worked on improving roads, building factories, and constructing arsenals. Napoleon also introduced the Arabic printing press to Egypt.
The Ottoman government worked against Napoleon, and the British, under Lord Nelson, destroyed the French ships, cutting off the French in Egypt. Rebellion erupted, especially in Cairo, and was quickly put down. However, with Ottoman attacks and British help, the French were forced to leave Egypt and the Ottomans were in charge again.

--- The Egyptian Prince --- Ali Bey, was able to rise to his position of authority as Shayk Al Balad, or the governor of Cairo in 1763 because of the governing system imposed on Egypt by the conquering Ottomans. But he was forced to flee to Arabia.

Becoming the strongest of the Mameluke beys, Ali Bey won back his position of Shayk Al-Balad. When war broke out between Russia and Turkey, Ali Bey declared Egypt’s independence and proposed to fight on the Russian side and refused to pay any more money to the Ottomans. Next, he invaded Syria. But he was betrayed by his rival Ismail Bey and killed in 1773. Ismail returned Egypt to the Ottoman control, but it still remained in the hands of the Mamelukes.