City Name: Cairo
Where is it located?: Cairo hugs the fertile Nile river on the Suez Canal in northern Egypt.
Why do people go there?: If you weren’t paying too much attention in history class, Egypt is perhaps home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world – and has the most impressive antiquities, tombs, and historical sights to make a Louvre in Paris look like it got the leftovers. Historical city-states, such as Thebes and Babylon, have become modern day Luxor and Cairo. Distinguished rulers like King Tutankhamen,Queen Nefertari, and Cleopatra all have left impressive marks on Egypt. And, even places such as the Nile River and Valley of the Kings still hold the allure it did centuries ago.
How do travelers get there?: International flights service Cairo. You can catch trains, buses and boats to other parts of the country.
Currency: Pound
City Code: 2
Population: 6.7 million
Languages: Arabic
Attractions: Egyptian Museum, Great Pyramid of Giza & the Sphinx
Accommodations: Cairo Hostels
Tourist Office: Egyptian Tourist Authority, Misr Travel Tower, Abbassia Square, Cairo, Cairo Tourism Office
Off-the-beaten-path: Heliopolis, Old Cairo
Health Issues: Pollution
When to go: If you don’t want to get scorched, September to April is your best bet.
Common Phrases: Greetings: Salam Aleikum, Greetings (response): wa aleikum as-salam, Thank You: Shukran, How much?: kem?, Yes: nam, No: nam
City Specific Events: Nitaq Festival: February, International Experimental Theatre Festival: September, Pharaohs’ Rally: October, Cairo International Film Festival: December
How to get around?: If you get tired of walking through the chaos of Cairo, then jump on the Metro. Taxis are abundant and affordable. Never pay first price!
Good to know: Loads of backpackers are trying to scale the Pyramids at nightime. Don’t try! Help with historical preservation, not climbing it.
Cheapest airport to fly into: The main airport for travelers taking flights to Cairo is the Cairo International Airport
Need more information?: Check out the Cairo travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.
