Cairo - The City of the Thousand Minarets
An ancient city built alongside the Nile River, Cairo also happens to be a modern day metropolis. A splendid place to explore Egyptian history and culture, Cairo is one of the biggest cities in the Middle East - with over million people in population and the traffic and noise to prove it.
Look beyond the sheer noise, pollution and confounding traffic that makes this city half dilapidated and you'll find a history that spans centuries. As vigorous as this city is, Cairo is where you really get a feel for Egyptian street life. Find the best places to visit and interesting things to do and fun facts about this buzzing metropolis with this review of Cairo!
When traveling to Egypt, ensure you have all required documentation such as passport, local and foreign currency and identification. Tip: Bring $25 USD to purchase a visa. No other forms of payment are accepted.
Tours and attraction passes were booked through Mr. Brown Sugar Egypt Tours - owned by the most famous tour guide in all of Egypt - Mr. Brown Sugar aka Mr. Walid Abo Karama! From airport transfers to purchasing a visa and sim to hotel check-in and group tours, his company ensured I was well-taken care of! Highly recommend this company for anyone planning a trip to Egypt in the future!
The four-day adventure commenced with a long 45-minute drive from the airport to my hotel. Along the way, we made a stop on a bridge crossing the Nile River to celebrate my victorious achievement of finally visiting Egypt! As any tourist, I took plenty of selfies and scenic photos for my keepsake - soaking in all of the sights along the way such as mosques, schools, skyscrapers - even witnessed a few high school soccer matches.
The 5-star hotel of choice was the Cairo Pyramids Hotel.
Just footsteps away from the Great Pyramids of Giza, it was the perfect starting point for sightseeing and relaxation.
Set in lush gardens, it offers various bars, restaurants and small shops to choose from, two swimming pools and stunning views over the Pyramids.
Consider this hotel as an option during your stay on any visit to Cairo! Lounge around at the bar and unwind with a drink or take a dip in one of the two pools on location. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning during your stay! Even for business trips, take advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi and Internet access found all around in public areas.
As sunset slowly approached, the night began with a light dinner at El Giardino, an Italian restaurant with an international a la carte menu located in the Garden Wing of the hotel. The chicken cordon bleu with lamb, salami, chicken and veal and french fries and veggies as sides made for a great delicious choice!
Next on the agenda was the Nile River Dinner Cruise aboard the Andrea Memphis, a floating restaurant riverboat. The three-hour cruise included a buffet-style dinner, live entertainment and music, a belly dancing show and on-site photographers to capture the entire moment! Prints were readily made available for purchase, with souvenir booths set up on each floor and the top level offering outdoor dining and city views.
The Egyptian Museum
With more than 120,000 artifacts, the Egyptian Museum is home to an extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities.
Inside lies glittering treasures of King Tutankhamen among other great pharaohs along with mummies, jewelry, pottery, and sarcophagi of Egyptians who names are lost to history.
A walk through this museum is an adventure through time! No Egypt tour is complete without a visit to the Egyptian Museum.
Note: Egypt is building a new museum called the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), set to open in January 2020. On record to becoming the world's largest museum, it will be showcase more than 5,000 artifacts from King Tutankhamen's tomb.
The Great Pyramids at Giza
Cairo's most popular tourist attraction, the Great Pyramids of Giza is a half-day trip and must see ancient Egyptian landmark for everyone's itinerary. Being one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, it is the only one still standing to this day! Located on the Giza Plateau, these funerary temples from the 4th Dynasty continue to be one of Egypt's major highlights.
- The Pyramid of Cheops, also called the Great Pyramid or Pyramid of Khufu, is the largest and greatest pyramid of the complex. Visitors are able to explore its narrow paths and steps and visit its plain tomb chamber with an empty sarcophagus.
- Farther south is the Pyramid of Chephren, also known as the Pyramid of Khefre. It has an internal tunnel area in which visitors are able to enter it.
- The smaller Pyramid of Mycerinus, also known as the Pyramid of Menkaure, is closely located near the Pyramid of Khefre.
- A few steps to the east you will notice three small piles rumbles: the queens' pyramids, tombs of Khufu's wives and sisters.
- Guarding these mortuary temples lies the lion-bodied and pharaoh-faced Great Sphinx, one of the ancient world's most iconic monuments, and Solar Boat Museum. This site is also where the Sound & Light Show at Giza takes place.
A great option for first time visitors, camel riding is also a popular thing to do at the Pyramids of Giza. Many companies offer guided tours with hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch and a 25-minute camel ride. This location is popular for tourists to take candid photos, enjoy horseback and carriage rides and souvenir shopping.
The Fragrance Factory
When you think of Egypt, most people think of the Pyramids, Nile River, Red Sea and pharaohs. But they are not letting in on the real secret - Egypt's sensuous history through its perfume.
Most Egyptian guides will invite you to a perfume factory, where you can experience the perfumery like never before. As guests, you will be offered a shopping list of all the perfumes offered where you can also take notes while the guide explains. It is also likely that you will be offered a drink and it is gracious to kindly accept.
Perfume factories in Egypt offers a list of aromas such as natural oils like the famous lotus flower, papyrus and jasmine oil. All of these oils are fresh, strong and 100% natural without alcohol to dilute them. Other types of aromatherapy oils and essence blends are also tested and offered for purchase as well. Below is list of many oils and blends offered:
Lotus Flower - national flower of Upper Egypt; means love, happiness and immortality.
Papyrus - a light cologne suited for men
Jasmine - common scent that is feminine and seductive
Mint - aromatherapy oil great for clearing colds
Black Cumin - aromatherapy oil that aids in digestion
Aloe Vera - aromatherapy oil for smooth and young looking complexion
Lettuce - aromatherapy oil that aids in weight loss
Ramses II - blend for men that is heavy and seductive
Secret of the Desert - blend for women that is sweet and great for evenings
Do not balk at the prices as Egyptian oils are not exported, rare to own and last longer. It is uncommon to find these perfumes with a more exotic smell than those you find back home on the shelves. Keep in mind it is a once in a lifetime experience!
Key of Life Papyrus Museum
The last stop was a visit to the Key of Life Papyrus Establishment. Here, we received a demonstration of how papyrus - the first form of paper first used by the Egyptians - is actually made and listened to three famous Egyptian stories told from old papyrus paintings.
The next half hour was spent admiring the artwork of many local Egyptian artists. Even checked out the gallery room showcasing glow in the dark paintings! By the end of the visit, I had purchased three papyrus paintings and even received a certificate of authentication from the Egyptian government stating the legitimacy of the paper.
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Stop here for one of the world's greatest shopping experiences. This Middle Eastern souq is a labyrinth collection of alleyways surrounded by tiny stores, cluttered workshops and some of the best places to pick up traditional products - from antiques and lampshades to woven textiles, papyrus and souvenirs. The main souq road starts at Al Muski Street and the entry to the area is across the road from the Al Azhar Mosque.
Al-Azhar Mosque
The culminating event for this trip was the Al Azhar Mosque. It is one of the world's oldest universities and leading theological center of the Islamic world. It is practical to leave your shoes at the entrance before proceeding into the courtyard. A prayer niche is to your right with the best views of the mosque's five minarets seen from the courtyard and the main prayer hall directly across from it.
Whether you're off for a romantic vacation, family trip or all-inclusive holiday, step into the ancient world and discover the history of the Egyptian culture and chaos of the city of Cairo as any trip here will be a time to remember!
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