Answers:
mnadi
Basingstoke
I am sure it will be a lovely trip. Here is a Cairo tours recommendation that I’ve published on my website http://travel.el-shella.com , I thought it might be helpful as a reference if you are planning to stay one more day in Cairo.
Cairo is a big city with many cultural, historical and shopping venues to visit. I’ll do my best to give you some ideas to think about depending on your interests.
I highly recommend that you book all your tours through a reputable agent from your hotel, go for an organized tour by air conditioned bus, which will include a professionally trained tour guide for the full experience.
If it is your first time in Cairo and you are interested in history and culture, you should book at least 3 hours for the Egyptian museum in Tahrir square, to enjoy many historical artifacts and statues from different eras including Tut’s mask, and golden furniture. Don’t miss the jeweler rooms and mummy room which requires an extra ticket.
Of course you should also visit the Pyramids area, sphinx and if you are lucky you can go inside the pyramid if it is open for public visits this year. There is a very interesting open air sound and light show around the pyramids and sphinx that you should book in advance taking into consideration the language you speak which play in different dates each week.
Book one day for the old Islamic/Coptic Cairo and Khan Elkhalily bazaar which might be closed due to the unfortunate incident this week.
Other options would include Saqqara pyramid and Harranieya Wessa Wasef village for hand made rugs and terra cotta vases. Also the pharonic village theme pork where you sail in a boat to see a replica of an ancient Egyptian village.
If you are into shopping (like most women :-), I recommend the first mall in Giza, CarreFour and City Stars and City Center in Nasr City.
For authentic Egyptian food, go for Felfella in down town (falafel), and Andrea (BBQ chicken) in Haram, you can also eat excellent fish in Khresto in Haram, and Omda for Koshary in downtown, Abu Shakra (Kebab and Kofta). At night go for Abul Seed in Zamalek for a classy but expensive authentic food in a nice atmosphere.
Go to http://www.chefmoz.org/Egypt/Cairo/ for all the restaurant contacts and ratings.
You can also go for a traditional Felouka boat on the Nile before sunset, or take one of the 4 star air-conditioned boats on the Nile, Topaz, Nile Pharao comes to mind. (some of those boats are in front of First Mall.
If you are into music you can check the Opera house for open air Jazz concerts or cultural shows in the big theater.
I wish you a happy and safe stay in Cairo my friend.
Cathy
Metzingen
He is only in Cairo for 1 day, he won’t have time to do all this!
Pyramids in Giza, the Sphinx, National Museum of Egypt = that’s going to take up a big chunk of the day, as it’s probably going to include an organised lunch.
I agree that you should pay the extra for the mummy room in the museum.
Sound and light = no need to book in advance. Just check with your hotel, what time on your evening the English version is playing. Bring a jacket, it’s still quite fresh at night, although it’s been warming up in the past week.
Khan el Khalily you can do in the evening, after your tour. There is a small restaurant in the Khan, where they serve typical Egyptian food. If you haven’t been to Egypt before, you should stay away from street food. In the Khan is a very famous and old tea shop called Fishawy’s. You should try to find it and have some mint tea (“chai nana”).
Whatever you do, haggle a lot! Do not start off by asking for a price and when you eventually gat a price, knock off at least 40% of that!
Felfela is for tourists, but it is nice enough, although the food is only average. The mentioned Abu El Sid in Zamalek on the other hand is excellent, plus it serves alcohol. Be early, they tend to fill up fast. Walking distance from the Marriot in Zamalek. The outside garden of the Marriott in Zamalek is quite nice to sit in for a snack and a drink.
I live in Cairo, if you have any more questions, let me know.
Bring medication for diarrhoea and mosquito spray. Lots of suntan lotion! The sun here is much stronger than at home, plus in Hurgahda, with the wind from the sea, you won’t feel a thing until it’s too late.
Edfu temple is beautiful! Close to there your cruise boat will go through the Esna lock, i.e. it wil be stuck for hours, waiting to go through. Peddlars will come along to offer scarves and all kinds of other things. Have some Egyptian money with you, it’s a lot of fun buying from them.
