Cairo offers beauty at its finest and no one can deny its magnificence. Cairo is where ancient sites mix with a modern city’s buildings. If you’ve never visited Egypt before, exploring its capital city is a must! Egypt’s largest metropolis, with its perpetual tumult and commotion, is not a location that entices visitors at first glance. Cairo can be obnoxious, domineering, and aggravating. However, despite its dust and glory, Cairo has a plethora of intriguing locations to visit. Visiting Egypt in the Spring is the best time to visit the country. The weather is warm but pleasant, the attractions aren’t too crowded and rates are slightly cheaper too. Avoid visiting during Ramadan and during the months of June and August; the temperature in Egypt during the summer is too hot to see the attractions properly and they are often very busy at this time too. The high season in Egypt is December to February; so expect higher prices and busier attractions. Head here in November or March to get cheaper rates.
Things to know and prepare before you visit Egypt
You will need a tourist visa to enter Egypt for travel. These cost $25USD and you can buy a visa at the immigration counter at the airport. Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP) previously Lira, and 1 British Pound = roughly 22 Egyptian pounds.
Water – You can use the tap water to brush your teeth but you won’t want to drink it, it is heavily chlorinated. Instead, stick to bottled water that costs as little as 5 EGP ($0.30).
Hydration – On a similar note, keep hydrated. It gets incredibly hot in the desert so make sure to drink plenty of water and we recommend bringing electrolyte tablets to give you that extra boost during your visit.
Expect to pay – Make sure to bring plenty of change with you, especially when visiting popular attractions. There are many opportunities to take photos with camels or in front of various temples but most animal owners will ask for payment if you do try to get a photo.
The language here is Arabic. It may be useful to learn a few phrases before you visit:
Hello = Salam Alaikum
Thank you = Shukran
How much? = Kam Althaman
This is what NOT to do in Egypt and mistakes to avoid
1. Not hiring a guide for certain tourist sites
Okay, so you don’t technically need a tour guide for the attractions. It’s more than easy to pay at the kiosks at the temples and guide yourself around.
But, having a tour guide will help you avoid a lot of harassment while you travel around the site. I saw a lot of tourists losing their temper at the temples as people were bugging them the whole time, trying to sell them stuff or offer guide services. I didn’t have any of that. At the pyramids, I hired a guide and felt like I had a much better time than if I went solo. I mean, you only get to see a wonder of the world for the first time once and I didn’t want it to be spoiled by people annoying me all the time haha.
2. You forget to tip
A tip or a ‘baksheesh’ in Egypt is part of the culture. You’ll be tipping EVERYONE here. A Cleaner tidied your room? tip. Used the toilets? tip. Someone took your photo? tip. You get the picture! But, it’s to be expected. Now, how much do you tip while you’re here? Well, while I was travelling in Egypt, my first hotel told me to reserve bigger tips for tour guides, cabin crew, drivers, and hotel staff. But, save the smaller change for toilet attendants, photo takers etc. I would personally budget for tips in your travel spending and make sure you always have small notes and coins at your disposal for these situations.
3. Telling people you’re an atheist or discuss politics
95% of Egyptians identify as Sunni Muslim and the rest are Coptic Christians. So, to say that you’re not religious is kind of like saying the sky is red. They may not understand that concept as religion is a big part of their culture. In terms of identifying your religion, if you’re a Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, there will be little to no prejudice in that. But, to say you don’t believe altogether, is quite hard to comprehend. I just told people I was a Christian as it’s easier. I would also avoid discussing politics of any kind about current relations in Egypt with locals. It is not your place and although your opinion may be valid, it’s best to stay out of it.
4. Keeping an eye out for scams
Like with most countries, scams are everywhere in Egypt. So, it’s best to be aware of them as to avoid them.
Here are some examples of tourist scams in Egypt;
A massively overpriced taxi from the airport – use Uber
Terrible rates for currency conversion – always take a currency converter app
Selling fake merchandise like Banana leaf as papyrus, or fake alabaster – always go to a reputable workshop
Following or buying unlicensed tour guides – always check their government license.
I know that you guys love chocolate, so let me tell you a small secret, in Cairo you can find your favourite Cadbury chocolate bar. 2019 was hence the year of Egyptian-exported chocolate: the market had become one of the country’s top exports, with those sweet treats gaining an impressive export value increase of double the preceding year’s figures.
1. Visit the Pyramids of Giza
This is probably the part you’ve been waiting for the most. The Giza Pyramids and their surrounding attractions. This is a staple when visiting Cairo and cannot be missed even on a short visit of three days. The magnificent Pyramids of Giza, which date back approximately 6,000 years, have captivated the imaginations of travellers and scholars for millennia. However, their tremendous popularity comes with a cost. Since Giza pyramids are the most popular ones in Cairo, prepare to explore it with hundreds of other tourists. The site can get too crowded and is most definitely not as relaxed as the Saqqara pyramids from day one. You need to especially be aware of possible scams for tourists. Nevertheless, exploring the Pyramids of Giza is a once-in-a-lifetime Egyptian experience. The Pyramid of Cheops (also called the Great Pyramid or Pyramid of Khufu) is the largest pyramid of the Giza group, and its interior of narrow passages can be explored, although there isn't much to see, except a plain tomb chamber with an empty sarcophagus. As travelers, we’ve seen so many tall buildings across the world. But did you know that the Great Pyramid held the title for the tallest building in the world from 2560 BC to 1311 AD? It is amazing when you put it on a timeline and realize that this was building that was not built with today’s modernized machinery. There’s more. Thing about how many years that this structure has survived! It is incredible. Till today, people haven’t been able to figure out how the ancient Egyptians managed to move the huge stones required to build the pyramid. When you stand next to a pyramid (any pyramid), you invariably will feel dwarfed. So, if marvels of the world are part of the reason you travel, then the pyramids of Giza certainly need to be on your 3 days in Cairo itinerary. This is an incredible achievement, especially given the ancient Egyptian's relatively rudimentary knowledge of construction and engineering. Even today, building such a structure would be a massive engineering task. Would you believe us if we told you that some of the stone blocks used to build the pyramids weigh in excess of 70 tons? The average weight of each of the 2.3 million stone blocks in the Great Pyramid is around 2.5 tons. However, many weigh as much, if not more, than your average elephant. We may never really know all of the details of how these rocks were moved, but some ancient Egyptian documents and wall paintings do offer clues. For example, stones appear to have been maneuvered on sleds, likely over wetted sand. But, there is much more to learn, and this continues to be a highly interesting area of experimental archaeology.
No structure in the world is more mysterious than the Great Pyramid. But who first broke into its well-guarded interior? When? And what did they find? There is a story, regrettably apocryphal, about Napoleon and the Great Pyramid. When Bonaparte visited Giza during his Nile expedition of 1798 (it goes), he determined to spend a night alone inside the King's Chamber, the granite-lined vault that lies precisely in the centre of the pyramid. Having ventured alone into the pyramid's forbidding interior and navigated its cramped passages armed with nothing but a guttering candle, Napoleon emerged the next morning white and shaken, and thenceforth refused to answer any questions about what had befallen him that night. Not until 23 years later, as he lay on his death bed, did the emperor at last consent to talk about his experience. Hauling himself painfully upright, he began to speak—only to halt almost immediately. "Oh, what's the use," he murmured, sinking back. "You'd never believe me."
The pyramids appear to be aligned with the stars The Ancient Egyptians appear to have used two constellations to align their pyramids in a north-south direction – the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. This alignment is so precise that their north-south positions are within an accuracy of up to 0.05 degrees. However, it is important to note that the alignment of stars is constantly changing, albeit at a very slow rate.
The pyramids used to shine like diamonds At the time of its construction, the Great Pyramid at Giza was covered with a well-polished casing of limestone blocks. Some have suggested that when the sun struck the casing, it would have shone like diamonds and been visible from many miles away. Over the millennia, most of the blocks were pried off and used on other building projects.
CAN YOU CLIMB THE PYRAMIDS?
NO!!! Visitors are not permitted to climb the pyramids.
2. The Great Sphinx
The Sphinx is Egypt’s oldest known monument, dating to be from around 2500 BC. It’s 20 meters high and more than 70 meters long. This limestone structure will definitely be impressive once seen in person! The huge statue of the Sphinx was built near the great pyramid, by some estimates, 4,500 years ago. It famously has the body of a lion and the head of a human. Its current likeness is believed to be that of Pharaoh Khafra, but this may not have always been the case. According to some researchers, the Sphinx may have undergone quite a few facelifts throughout its lifetime. Residues of red pigments on the face of the Sphinx suggest the statue may have been painted. Today, most Egyptologists hold the view that the Great Sphinx was built in approximately 2,500 BC for the pharaoh Khafre, the builder of the Second Pyramid at Giza. While its purpose is not fully understood, some theories suggest that it was meant to guard the pyramid.
5. Shop amid the Maze of Khan el-Khalili
Khan el-Khalili is one of the world's great shopping experiences. This bazaar is a labyrinthine collection of skinny alleyways established as a shopping district in 1400 CE, which still rings with the clang of metal workers and silversmiths. The main streets have long ago given themselves over completely to the tourist trade, but divert off the main drag into the surrounding alleyways, and the tiny stores and cluttered workshops are some of the best places to visit to pick up traditional products in Egypt. Here, you'll find everything from antiques and gorgeous metal lampshades to locally woven textiles. This is a great place to shop for souvenirs - most vendors speak some English and you can try out your haggling skills and a few words of Arabic. Even if you don't want to buy anything, the market is an incredible place to walk through and experience the craziness of daily life in Cairo. Most stalls are open from around 9 am until well after nightfall - although some may be closed on Friday mornings and Sundays.
11. Jalsa Club & Lounge is were the party's starting
.Jalsa Club is one of the Best Night Clubs In Cairo. This place is a perfect spot to hang out with friends or as a couple. They offer you a beautiful open terrace where you can enjoy the ambiance. The overall atmosphere is pleasant and conducive to a relaxing experience. The staff members are polite and attentive, ensuring a positive interaction. In addition to the good food, they also provide a variety of soft and hard drinks, as well as Hookah.
Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts also assured the people that death was not the end of one’s soul; rather it was simply a mechanism the soul uses to transition into the afterlife. They also show us the extent to which ancient Egyptians revered their kings and queens. The monarchs were literary the embodiment of the gods in this life and the Afterlife. In some cases, they were depicted as more powerful than the gods, capable of devouring the gods.
The most important works done by king Unas
● In fact, Pharaoh Unas had built a pyramid in the Saqqara region, and it was at that time the smallest of those royal pyramids that had already been fully built during the periods of rule in the Old Kingdom.
● It also helps in decorating the funerary complex, which was associated with or located near the elevated temples and that valley linked to the existence of a long causeway that reached a length of about 750 meters (2460 feet).
● As Unas was the first pharaoh known to humanity, he carved the texts in the pyramids area, and then succeeded in drawing them on the walls in the rooms of the pyramid.
Ancient Egyptians believed that the Pyramid Texts facilitated the deceased pharaoh in his quest to become an Akh, a worthy being who sits among the gods.
From an architectural point of view, Unas' pyramid offers little to no surprises. The rooms underneath the pyramid follow the same basic arrangement as Djedkare's pyramid before or Teti's pyramid after Unas. The pyramid of Unas, however, is the first since Netjerikhet’s to have had decorated rooms. All the rooms underneath the pyramid were built with fine limestone, except for the west wall of the burial chamber and the western halves of its north and south walls, (thus the walls immediately surrounding the sarcophagus) where alabaster was used, on which a false door and an elaborate pattern design representing a reed mat and wood-frame enclosure have been carved and painted. The ceiling of the burial chamber was painted with golden stars in a dark blue sky. Unas was thus buried in a black basalt sarcophagus, representing the (fertile) earth, in an area closely resembling his living quarters, underneath the dark nightly sky. Even more important, however, is the decoration of the remainder of the burial chamber, the antechamber and part of the horizontal passage, which consists of vertical columns of meticulously carved hieroglyphs painted in blue. These columns contain the earliest known example of the so-called Pyramid Texts, and even more the oldest collection of religious texts known to mankind! They are a collection of spells and formulae meant to protect the deceased in the afterlife. The pyramid of Unas contains only 283 of the more than 700 known spells of the Pyramid Texts.
I recommend adding this outing on your list of things to do in Saqqara. Keep in mind you will be in cramped space for a time, as you make your way between chambers.
The ancient Egyptians invented one of the earliest known writing systems used from around 3000 BC. The symbols they used were called hieroglyphs, which comes from a Greek word meaning ‘sacred carving’. The ancient Egyptians believed that hieroglyphs had been invented by the gods. The Rosetta stone was discovered in 1799 AD. It is a three-foot high stone containing hieroglyphs, everyday ancient Egyptian language and a Greek translation. Since Greek was understood, the hieroglyphs could then be translated into modern European languages, so the Rosetta stone was the key to the hieroglyphic code.
In Ancient Egypt, the people who wrote hieroglyphs were called scribes.
A scribe had to go to a special school because it was very complicated.
Hieroglyphs included around 700 different signs of objects and animals.
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