The Great Pyramids of Giza...as seen on TV, in Movies, on Postcards, you name it...one of the most easily recognizable landmarks on earth. Here is some inside information on what you can expect when visiting.
On my first evening in Cairo, I arranged a tour of the city and was taken to the Cairo Tower which is a definite must to take in a great scenic view of the city. From there you can see a few major landmarks as well as the Nile River that runs thru the city.
Something that will either shock or amaze you is the driving in Cairo. I will preface this by saying that I am a native of New York, where traffic and erratic driving is well known and expected. Also, I have now traveled to some places in the world such as Peru and India where the driving is aggressive as well...but I believe Cairo now holds the crown in my book! lol. You need to keep your head on a swivel when driving and or walking the streets of Cairo. One thing that blew my mind was, if you look closely while being chauffeured, you will notice some of the street lines are so faded they are nonexistent! It is a free-for-all when driving and jockeying for pole position to get to your destination.
So, once you get to your destination and the reason you came to Egypt in the first place, I believe you will not be disappointed. I was very fortunate to have a great tour guide that was able to articulate the history of the Pyramids as well as put me in a position to take the best pictures possible of me at the Pyramids and the Sphinx.
My tour of the Pyramids also included lunch at a local restaurant, a trip to the Bazaar, and the NMEC (National Museum of Egyptian Civilization). A great time and very informative.
Another thing that you may not be aware of, Cairo is a foodie's paradise. I wish I can be more specific as to all the places you can visit and dishes you can try, but 1 place I can recommend is Café Riche. Other than that, venture out on your own and try different things. You can't go wrong.
In closing, I spent 2 nights in Cairo which was just enough to do everything I detailed above.
If you want to see more museums and do some shopping, I would recommend a 3rd night for sure to get it all in.
Additional Note: This being my first visit to Egypt, I was excited yet taken aback by a few things. The downtown Cairo area looks great and has been built up over the years with new museums displaying Egyptian culture and artifacts, as well as landmarks like the Cairo Tower. However, outside of the immediate downtown area, in my opinion, most of the city looks war-torn. Now one of the things that concerned me was the amount of police or military presence all over the city. The hotel I stayed at was the El Steinberger...the hotel itself was barricaded with a large solid gate you would need a catapult to get over. Also, there were metal detectors I had to go thru to enter the hotel each time. Overall, I felt safe everywhere I went and you will too if you take the necessary precautions you would anywhere else while traveling.
Additional Note: Also, be aware you will need a Visa to enter the country, which costs USD 25 (cash). Whether you are planning an overnight stay in Cairo, or have a long layover and you just want to see the Pyramids, that is also possible. There are tour companies that can pick you up directly at the airport and take you to Giza to visit the pyramids and back in time for your flight.
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