Luxury4Play.com banner

Tips for trip to Cairo, Egypt?

9K views 32 replies 21 participants last post by  RAWMEAN 
#1 ·
Have any of your guys been to Egypt before?

My wife has a conference for work that's going to be in Cairo during the last week of January. I think I'm going to tag along for the trip and do some sight-seeing while I'm there. I've never really looked into an Egypt trip though, so have no clue what to do outside of the Pyramids :confused: My wife will be working during the day at the conference for the most part, so I'm going to need to find things to do on my own during the daytime.

So, anyone visited before? What are all the can't miss things to do in Cairo? Obviously, I'm planning to go and see all the pyramids, sphinx, and the like. I know there are a few awesome Mosques and buildings to check out. I'd love to do some Scuba diving in the Red Sea, but I'm thinking that'll be too far to go for a day trip. I'm pretty big into photography, so I'll probably spend a lot of my free time taking pictures.

Any tips for good places to visit, places to eat, regular events to watch?

With the hotel and most of our meals covered by her per diem, it's seems like a great chance to check out somewhere new :clap: Thanks guys!
 
See less See more
#3 ·
I'll definitely add the museum onto my list. They must have some interesting stuff there with all the ancient egyptian history.

I'm looking forward to trying some of the local foods and markets. Did you get sick from the food any or is it generally pretty safe to eat? I'm assuming it'll be a lot of flat breads, hummus, and spicy foods - can't wait.
 
#4 ·
DONT DRINK THE WATER.

I watched bizzare foods with andrew zimmern when he was there lol. He refused the water when he was walking around the markets.

Egypt is great, very innexpensive too. A lot of people i know vacation there.
 
#6 ·
Yeah, I pretty much avoid drinking the local water anywhere outside of the US, unless it's like Canada.

Good idea about Andrew Zimmerman - I'll have to see if I can find that episode with him, and I'll also look up Anthony Bordain episodes from Egypt; that man has my dream job...

Thanks for the ideas thus far!
 
#7 ·
Cairo museum - Cairo nile tower - Giza pyramids - Al-Azhar park ( very nice place to take photos ) - Cairo citadel.

- u have to bargain while buying anything as u can :)
- it's very safe.
- good weather in January.
- Nice ppl. loves all :)
- if u wanna live an oriental time ..must GO to Khan el-Khalily...smoke shisha..buy sm souvenirs to yr family n' friends...
- drink mineral water
- Have a nice time :)
 
#10 ·
haha same. Just wander down alleys and talk to people. They always wanted to take me places so we just said fvck it and went random places with people and drank tea and stuff. Super fun.
 
#12 ·
its funny isnt it?

a muslim country that produces half a million gallons of wine a year.

my wife (the wino) loves egyptian wine. most of it it are rose or pinot blanc....their sparkling wines are supposed to be good as well.

but go try it..i dont drink so take this with a grain of salt. :D
 
#13 · (Edited)
.

we were there in june. stayed at the new Fairmont on the Nile. very nice.. with rooftop pool.. every vehicle gets sniffed for bombs and metal detector, security etc. inside the lobby.

we had a guide and a driver. if you want to go into the Great Pyramid of Giza, get there early. we just missed the morning viewing and insead went inside Pyramid of Khafre. (i think)

the sphinx was cool and seeing it at night, lit up with the laser light show was fun.

we also did a dune buggy trip into the desert. even at 3 pm in was HOT but very cool. we visited some other dilapidated pyramids.

the Citadel, The Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the market bazar are places to go. maybe a boat cruise up the Nile.


we had some minor stomach discomfort but it was worth it.

egypt is a poor country. EVERYONE is looking for a tip or handout. there are tourist police everywhere to "protect" tourists but we always felt safe..

next time we will visit Abu Simbel

.

.
 
#15 ·
I was just in Egypt earlier this year.. I had a GREAT TIME! besides the pyramids and museum i enjoyed the Bazaar (kahn kallili)? Im not sure how it is spelled. i noticed it someone said it before but just walk around....that was one of the best times I had in egypt, was just walking around downtown, Also try some new food, I dont think i had anything that tasted bad while I was in Cairo.
 
#18 ·
Awesome! Thanks for all the tips guys, sounds like I'll have plenty to keep me busy during the week there. I'll start pulling together the list of museums and try to plan a few days out. I usually enjoy wandering the streets also, so I'll see about finding a few spice markets for some cool street photos.

A Dune Buggy trip sounds like a ton of fun, I'll definitely look that up

I had know idea Egypt produced that much wine either?? I'm pretty big into wine, but I guess most of the european countries overshadow them and get all the press and books. Might have to look up some wineries or something, and it'll be neat to try their style of wine and taste any differences.

I think you guys have sold me on having enough to do while my wife is at her conference. I'll post up pics when I get back, of course. Thanks guys!
 
#19 ·
Looks like I picked a rough week to visit Cairo!!

First half of the week was incredible though. Saw the pyramids at Giza, Saqqara and Dashur, Memphis temple/area, Egyptian Museum was great, got some nice local food - Koushari - and sheesha/hookah, and returned today from a 3-day red sea scuba trip down in Hurghada.

Now to make it through the next few days and weave my way through all the protesting. Have to take a down day tomorrow since I was planning to visit Coptic Cairo, but that's going to be one of the hot spots for the protesting. Hopefully I can find some stuff to do around our hotel in Zamalek.

Hitting up Luxor on Saturday though to see the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temples, and Karnak Temples.

Just wanted to update though - it's been an amazing trip thus far, and I wanted to thank you guys for some of the recommendations!
 
#21 · (Edited)
Been reading about everything going on there. Be careful. Everything seems to be aimed at the government so I don't think you will run into trouble. Just stay safe.

UPDATE:

I suggest packing up and getting out of there as the U.S. is urging all citizens to leave the country. It is still said that the violence has not been targeted at Westerners, but I would not stick around to find out.
 
#22 ·
Finally was able to get home late last night. Got out of there on Sunday evening into Amsterdam, then back to the US late yesterday evening. I had to leave a day before my wife (which was insanely difficult to do), but she had diplomatic security supporting her and was safe since she was on Gov't orders there. They evacuated her into Cyprus on Monday morning, and she was flown out on Air Force 2 (vice president's plane). She should be back in the states tomorrow morning.

What a weekend....
 
#23 ·
Glad you made it home safely! I'm sure you won't rest comfortably until wifey makes it home - here's to a safe trip for her as well.
 
#27 ·
:readthethread: Haha! He said he just got back. :lol:
 
#28 ·
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top