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Bars, pubs, clubs, oh my! 99% of Cairo’s nightlife used to be found on the island of Zamalek , and while it’s still the city’s night spot epicenter, bars and clubs are popping up like daisies all around the capital now. We’re going to walk you through some of our favorite local nightlife spots in Cairo, no sketchy hotel bars for us, thanks! For a breakdown of best bars per neighborhood, you can check out: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek 12 Chill Places in Maadi to Get Dinner & Drinks 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars and Pubs 12 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Sheikh Zayed & 6th October City Best Bars & Nightlife in Downtown Cairo - Baladi Bars, Historic Bars & Rooftop Bars Cairo Jazz Club Locations : Agouza Type of venue: club Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Cairo Jazz Club has been a Cairo nightlife staple for 15+ years. While the name might lead you to believe it’s all about jazz, that’s not exactly true. CJC has different music on a nightly basis, ranging from live music to hip-hop, DJs, jazz, Egyptian folkloric music and way more. The great thing about CJC is that they have a monthly schedule, so you can figure out in advance if the music that night is up your alley or not. The music usually starts around 10-10:30 pm, so if you’re hungry or want to have a conversation with someone when you can actually hear each other, go a little before then. It's about a five minute car ride from Zamalek. You can find their music schedule here . CJC 610 Locations: Sheikh Zayed Type of venue: club Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Cairo Jazz Club's bigger, more expansive branch on the west side of Cairo, in Sheikh Zayed. Whereas the original Cairo Jazz Club is on the smallish and crowded side, 610 has a large open-air terrace and bar connected to the inner club, to either kick back in or escape to when you need a breath of fresh air. Indoors they have two large bars, a stage for DJs and live performers, and tables dotted around the dance floor. They too have their own weekly schedules of music, and it's pretty much the top place in Cairo to dance. You can find their music schedule here . L’Aubergine Locations: Zamalek, Heliopolis Type of venue: pub/bar Dress code: casual Reservations needed: no L’Aubergine is another long-time heavy hitter in the Cairo bar scene. What’s awesome about them is they also serve great food, so it’s a good option if you want to kick back with a beer but also want some food in your system -- and they have a big vegetarian menu too, if that's your thing. Another thing we love about L’Aubergine is the casual-ness of it -- you don’t need to worry about suffering the night away in heels or dressing to impress. The Tap Locations: New Cairo & 6th of October Type of venue: pub Dress code: casual Reservations needed: it’s always better to be on the safe side This light-hearted, indoor/outdoor pub comes complete with foosball tables and a jovial vibe. They play live music on some nights so it’s always worth it to hit up their IG/FB page and see what’s cooking. Speaking of cooking, they also have an extensive menu of pub food -- they’re famous for their wings, so no need to indulge in a heavy dinner (or any dinner) before you head over there. For more info: Tap East's FB page . Tab West's FB page . Crimson Location: Zamalek Type of venue: restaurant/bar Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Crimson is an open-air rooftop restaurant and bar in Zamalek and has some of the best Nile views in the city. It's a great spot to go get dinner and drinks, or just a beer or cocktail at the bar. Their cocktail list is impressive, but warning - they're expensive! Their food is good as well, landing them also on our list of best Cairo restaurants for locals and tourists alike . For more info, you can check their FB page . Sachi Location: Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed Type of venue: restaurant/bar Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Sachi is an upscale Mediterranean fusion and sushi restaurant and bar by Baky Hospitality, the restaurateurs who brought you Lexie’s, one of our favorite places for dinner and drinks in New Cairo . When Sachi first opened its doors, it was one of the only restobars of its kind in terms of impeccable aesthetics and service - and has continued to stay a powerhouse since, with Sachi By The Sea operating in the North Coast during summer months, and Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed . Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed also has a beautiful rooftop terrace for when the weather is nice. For more info, check out their FB page . Pier 88 Location: Zamalek Type of venue: bar/lounge Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Pier 88, like Crimson, graces both our ‘best bars’ and ‘best restaurants’ list (look at you, Pier 88!). Pier 88 is a great dining destination during the day and most weekday nights, then on weekend nights and Tuesday nights it segues into a sexier lounge/bar feel, with people standing and socializing by the bar or their table, and the owner occasionally dancing on the bar himself. Pier 88 overlooks the Nile in Zamalek and has a small outdoor area if you want to catch the river breeze. Pier 88's FB page . You might also like: 9 Best Rooftop Bars in Cairo

Cairo is a sprawling city, with its fair share of traffic (to put it politely). So it makes all the sense in the world to try to stick to the neighborhood you live in/work in when it comes to kicking back with a drink after a long day - after all, you’re trying to de-stress, not add to it by being stuck in traffic for an hour and a half. The western suburb of Sheikh Zayed and (6th of October City as a whole) is about half an hour from central Cairo (Downtown & Zamalek), and has recently started to have a hood amount of both casual pubs and upscale restobars. Below we list some of our personal favorites, in no particular order. Read also: 12 Chill Places in Maadi to Get Dinner & Drinks Read also: 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Read also: Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars and Pubs Cairo Jazz Club 610 The sister venue of Cairo’s longest-lasting and most beloved bar/club, Cairo Jazz Club in Agouza. ‘610’ is how we locals usually refer to the 6 October venue, and what’s great about it is that not only do they have an indoor section for live music, DJs and a happening bar, but a large outdoor terrace where you can enjoy a boozy brunch or dinner as well. Location: El Guezira Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Call to reserve: 01008111330 Sachi Park St. The original Sachi in Heliopolis has been a staple of Cairo fine dining and nightlife for over a decade now (for more Heliopolis night spots, head here ). So it was only a matter of time before they brought their famous Mediterranean fusion, sushi menu and cocktail list to the west of the Cairo - which they did with Sachi Park St. Both indoor and outdoor dining available. Location:  Park Street, El Bostan, Sheikh Zayed Call:   01278666185 Clstr 11 Touted as Cairo's first "bar-hopping experience", Clstr 11 is a big courtyard in Guezira Plaza that has multiple adjacent bars and restobars all sharing the same communal courtyard space. Two of Cairo's most renowned nightlife spots, L'Aubergine and Pub 28, opened branches there, as well as other venues like Zouni, Ouzeri, Sotto, Casa de Farida and Chestnut. The pros are that there are a lot of different choices of where to get a drink and a nice communal feeling, but the con is that the places all start to feel sort of the same. Nice and calm during the day, pretty crowded on weekend nights. Pier 88 Pyramid Hills In the mood for Italian food and wine? Pier 88 rarely lets us down, whether it’s the original El Gouna branch, the Nile-side Zamalek branch or Pier 88 Pyramids Hills in 6 October. Cheap this lounge and restobar is not, but we’re still fans. They offer brunch on weekends from 1 pm (and have a great outdoor section if you want some sun) and dinner and drinks on weekdays and weekends from 7 pm onwards. Location: Pyramid Hills compound Call to reserve : 01208111130 Izakaya Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant. What’s Nikkei, you ask? It’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion, born from the migrant Japanese community living in Peru and over decades adding their touch to traditional Peruvian dishes. It’s become so beloved and recognized that not only does this fusion have its own name -Nikkei- but it’s actually spread half a world away, all the way to Egypt, thanks to Izakaya. It’s also a beautiful place to chill and have a cocktail. Location: Palm Hills compound, Sheikh Zayed Call to reserve: 0 1271116223 Gigi This place is far more casual than its two predecessors on this list, in terms of both food and setting. Gigi is a place to kick back with a burger, beer and friends, whether in their inside section or outdoor patio. Location: Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Call to reserve: 02 37966344 Read more: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza Carlo’s What started as a favorite restaurant on Zamalek’s famous Le Pacha 1901 boat, home to several of Cairo’s very best restaurants , became its own breakaway star (the Justin Timberlake of Le Pacha restaurants if you will). The Carlo's in Arkan is a great place for a drink, some good mezze, a shisha, and to watch a football match. Location: Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Call to reserve: 01122208881 The Tap West Cairo's favorite modern pub. The Tap is known and loved for its live music nights, wings, pub food and laid-back setting. Check out their social media for a heads up on their all-you-can-eat-wings days and happy hours. Location: Galleria 40, Sheikh Zayed Call to reserve: 0 1060000867 Crimson This famous Zamalek restobar opened a second branch in Arkan Plaza, on a rooftop of sorts, with both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a seated bar. They have the same menu upscale international dishes and an array of cocktails. Location: Arkan Plaza Call to reserve: 01222174270 Esca Cueva Perched atop the New Giza plateau, this design award-winning restaurant and bar serves upscale international food and drinks from 4 pm until 2 am. If you're just going to enjoy the view and food, then try to book a dining slot before 10 pm, when a resident DJ takes over and the restaurant turns into more of a nightspot. Reservations needed (local tip: they're notoriously annoying about answering their reservation line, fingers crossed they get it sorted out soon). For more info: Esca Cueva IG The Smokery Palm Hills Overlooking the golf course in Palm Hills, The Smokery offers an international menu as well as sushi. This indoor/outdoor space offers both high tables for a more cocktail bar feel for night, and lower tables for those in the mood to eat and drink overlooking the view. Location: Palm Hills compound Call to reserve: 01211270078 Mayrig On the joint rooftop of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the commercial Arkan Plaza, is Egypt's first Armenian restaurant (with lots of Lebanese flair). Mayrig, which means 'little mother' in Armenian, first opened its doors in Beirut, Lebanon and went on to be a smash hit with other Mayrigs opening in Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Maldives and most recently, Egypt. You can order a drink from their bar and enjoy their extensive menu, all with a refreshing breeze that comes from being on a rooftop in Cairo. They're also open for lunch from 1 pm. Location: Crowne Plaza, Sheikh Zayed You might also like: 7 Best Bars, Pubs, Clubs and Other Nightlife Spots in Cairo

If you’ve ever decided to go eat or grab a coffee at Arkan Plaza in Sheikh Zayed, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This commercial center on the west side of Cairo is full to the brim with dozens of restaurants, cafes, restobars, shops and booths – and what seems to be something new opening every day.  So if you find yourself in Arkan Plaza and are unsure of what’s a hit and what you can miss, here are ten of the best restaurants and cafes there (in no particular order). We also listed at the end of the article other restaurants and cafes that you'll find there that didn't make the list, for discovery's sake!  1. Mayrig This Armenian restaurant (yes, Armenian - the first Armenian restaurant in Egypt!) is on the rooftop of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Arkan extension. If you’re not familiar with Armenian food, you should probably give it a try if you’re a fan of Lebanese or Turkish food – it has a lot of overlap with the two other cuisines, but with its own flair.  Mayrig has indoor and outdoor dining, with heaters available in the winter. Alcohol and shisha are also served, and they’re open daily from noon until midnight. Mayrig’s menu . 2. Willow's First and foremost, Willow’s is known for being one of the best breakfast places in town (read more: 30 Best Breakfast Spots in Cairo ). Second of all, their decor is all that is comfy and cozy. Thirdly, their all-day menu is massive, so there’s something for everyone – a great family spot. For more info, pictures and menu: Willow’s IG 3. Carlo’s Carlo’s is always a great option when you’re a group of people and everyone wants something different. Instead of standing in the middle of Arkan and arguing over eating sushi or eating hawawshi, just head to Carlo’s where their extensive menu includes Egyptian and international classics from all over the globe – and they’ve consistently done it all well for decades now, back since Carlo’s flagship restaurant in Zamalek led the charge as one of the best restaurants in Cairo . They also serve shisha and alcohol, and have plenty of screens for football matches. Be warned though – on match nights, it’s both crowded and noisy and reservations are needed. Carlo’s menu .  4. Gigi Right across from Carlo’s is Gigi, the place to go if you’re craving burgers, pizza, tons of appetizers and other good comfort food. They have indoor and outdoor seating, a big bar, and lots of cold beer on tap.  Gigi is a nice weekend day spot as well as a ‘drink and burger after work’ kind of place, but it gets crowded quickly so reservations are recommended. 5. Granita Granita is a "concept cafeteria" that's a nod to the 'grand cafes' of Egypt back in the 1930s and 1940s - think   Groppi and other vintage cosmopolitan cafes . They have both an indoor and outdoor area perfect for sunny brunches, work meetings and or just enjoying a coffee and pastry solo. They offer breakfast, sandwiches, salads, pienirli (Greek pizzas), appetizers, main plates and homemade desserts. Granita’s menu .  6. Casa Talia In the mood for something tasty but not quite sure what it is exactly you want? Casa Talia’s large and eclectic menu will sort you out. Aside from their breakfast and brunch menu, they have your usual pastas, burgers, pizzas etc., plus unexpected menu items like bao buns, Turkish pide, sandos and robata-grilled appetizers. Massive dessert menu as well! Casa Talia’s menu .  7. Crimson Arkan If you’re looking for a rooftop date vibe even though you’re in the middle of a commercial center, then Crimson is the place for you. Set above and away from all the hordes of other restaurants and cafes in Arkan, it’s easy to forget you’re essentially in a mall and not on a chic urban rooftop away from the hustle and bustle. Crimson of course is known for its Zamalek branch with sweeping Nile views , but they share the same ambient atmosphere, elevated international menu, and large cocktail list. 8. Koffee Kulture One of the breakfast and coffee stars of Arkan Plaza. Koffee Kulture's menu features all sorts of omelettes, eggs Benedict, tortilla egg wraps, sandwiches, bagels, open-faced sourdough loaves, a bakery, and a ton of coffee options. Even if you stop by later in the day, they have an all-day menu for all your favorite brunch items. Koffee Kulture’s menu . Read more: 30 Best Breakfast Spots in Cairo 9. Al Beiruti This Lebanese resto-cafe has already made its mark in Beirut and Dubai, so it makes sense that Cairenes love it as well. It’s a mix of indoor and outdoor as well as a full-fledged restaurant but with a casual Lebanese cafe feel – think tawla, shisha and Lebanese mezzeh.  Al Beiruti’s menu . 10. Bittersweet   Looking to elevate your morning coffee? Look no further than pairing an espresso with Bittersweet's insane O'Smores. If that shot of caffeine and sugar won't wake you up, probably nothing much will! (They also have other 'normal' breakfast selections for those who don't want to be wired for the rest of the day). Bittersweet doesn’t just do coffee breakfast though – they’re also known for their pizzas and pastas. Other restaurants in Arkan Plaza: Caracas Lucida Crave Charwood's JJ's Texas Longhorn BBQ Chicken & Ribs Butcher's Burger Tres Bon Coco Le Relais de l'Entrecôte Ralph's German Bakery Maison de Paris Tiger's Diner Mistiqa Darjeela Lee Loo in the City Clams and Claws Baladina Garnell Gracias Latin Kitchen Tabali Qahwa Hareer La Scala Maze Restobar Mista Other cafes in Arkan Plaza: Aubaine Blooms and Beans Moishi Ladurée Lychee Specialty Būn NAF Coffee Berry Starbucks Seven Fortunes Chouchou Twenty Grams You might also like: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Resto-bars in Sheikh Zayed and 6 October

If you're like us, when you visit a new country, you sometimes check out online recommendations of the best places to eat. We’re usually great fans of TripAdvisor and use them pretty regularly, but what gave us pause recently though was when we checked Cairo’s “best” restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Cairo page. No. Just... no. Don’t get us twisted, TripAdvisor is a great resource. But sometimes you just need a local to steer you in the right direction, someone who’s eaten at practically every restaurant this city has to offer. So that's why this list includes places that we locals love going to, whether it's fine dining or street food, overlooking the Nile or the Pyramids or just a random Cairo street - we're sure visitors to Cairo will enjoy these spots just as much as us. (Also: check out the 10 best nightlife spots in Cairo right here .) So without further ado, let’s get started with the best restaurants in Cairo because we’re getting hungry. 1. Khufu's Location: Inside the Pyramids of Giza Plateau Alcohol served:  yes Nile view:  no Vegan & vegetarian options available:  yes If you're looking for incredible food with incredible Pyramid views (and who isn't?), then you're in luck -- both are to be had at Khufu's, serving contemporary elevated Egyptian cuisine. Khufu's is one of the only two restaurants actually inside the Pyramids of Giza plateau , and that comes with an upside and a downside. The upside is that no other restaurant outside the plateau has a view quite like it, but the downside is that you have to buy an entrance ticket to the Pyramids to access the restaurant, and they close at 5 pm daily when the Pyramids of Giza close. It's also about 10-15 minutes away from the Grand Egyptian Museum . At Khufu's, you can either go for breakfast or lunch, and you have your choice from set menus (including a vegetarian menu), all featuring beloved Egyptian classics but with a contemporary twist. Reservations are needed. For reservations and the menu, you can check out Khufu's website . 2. Le Pacha 1901 Location : Zamalek Dress code: smart casual Alcohol served : yes Nile view: yes Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes We're actually killing several birds in this one listing with Le Pacha 1901, because it’s technically not one, not two, but a handful of great restaurants, all in one Nile-docked boat. Le Pacha offers 6 different restaurants and two bar/lounge/nightspot-ish venues. Our absolute favorites are: Carlo’s, where the menu is a mix of all different cuisines (including local Egyptian favorites) and you can order shisha; L’Asiatique, their pan-Asian restaurant; and Piccolo Mondo, which is Italian overlooking the Nile. Let us be the first to tell you -- their food is good, always . And while that might seem like a given, in Egypt it really is not. Most restaurants fail to deliver consistency (it’s pretty sad when you can tell when there’s a different chef), but Le Pacha’s restaurants deliver Every. Single. Time. The other restaurants they have: Le Steak (French), Maharani (Indian), Le Tarbouche (Egyptian), Le J.Z. (lounge) and Cloud 24 (panoramic lounge). For more info and the menus: Le Pacha's website 3. Abou El Sid Location: Zamalek, Heliopolis, 6th of October and New Cairo. Dress code: casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Abou El Sid is the must-go-to restaurant if you want classic Egyptian dishes (check out our article 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try ) in a super ambient atmosphere (the decor, music, and wall art is enough to make it worth it). They also offer shisha and Egyptian twists on alcoholic cocktails, like vodka with fresh sugarcane juice. Dishes of theirs that are definitely worth trying: the sharqisseya, a chicken dish with walnut sauce; stuffed vine leaves; the Egyptian moussaka, which is an eggplant stew served with rice; and a mix and match of all their various Egyptian mezzes. Drool . For more info and the menu: Abou El Sid website . 4. Koshary Abou Tarek Location: Downtown Dress code: casual Alcohol served: no Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: koshary itself is vegan, so a resounding yes This restaurant is by no means fancy, no means ambient, and by no means a romantic dining destination (unless your idea of romance is very very quirky, and in that case, rock on). Koshary Abou Tarek is a brightly-lit, fast-foodish or street food type of restaurant in Downtown, and it’s known for having some of the *best* koshary in town. What is koshary, you may ask? We’d be delighted to tell you. Koshary in one of Egypt’s proud national dishes, comprised of rice, macaroni, lentils, chickpeas and fried onions all topped with a garlicky, vinegary tomato sauce. While it might sound like a clusterf*ck of ingredients, trust us when we say it’s the clusterf*ck you never knew you both needed and wanted in your life. It’s super cheap, it’s fast (try to watch the men who work the koshary line, it’s amazing), it’s 100% vegan, aaaand it’s filling, with the word ‘filling’ underlined seventeen times. Light, it is not. But it’s a great power dish that will carry you right through the day. For more info: Koshary Abou Tarek's IG Read more: 7 Best Places to Try Street Food in Cairo 5. Pier 88 Location: Zamalek Dress code: Smart casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: yes Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Pier 88 started as a restaurant/bar in the seaside town of El Gouna on the Red Sea, and its food and overall vibe became so popular that the owners decided to take the plunge and open up shop in Cairo. Pier 88 sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and during the day it’s one of those quietly sophisticated restaurants, complete with an open kitchen and drinks overlooking the water. At night it gets more of a nightlife feel to it, and reservations are recommended. On weekend nights the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables (we don’t recommend eating when the dancing gets started, because you won’t find much room to wield your knife and fork). For more info, reservations and menu: Pier 88's website Read more: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek 6. Esca Cueva Location: New Giza Dress code: smart casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes If you're looking for an absolutely stunning restaurant with city views overlooking the wide expanse of Cairo, then Esca Cueva is for you. Perched atop the New Giza plateau, this design award-winning restaurant and bar serves upscale international food and drinks from 4 pm until late. If you're just going to enjoy the view and food, then try to book a dining slot before 10 pm, when a resident DJ takes over and the restaurant turns into more of a nightspot. Reservations needed (local tip: they're notoriously annoying about answering their reservation line, fingers crossed they get it sorted out soon). For more info: Esca Cueva IG 7. Zooba Location: Zamalek, Maadi, Sheikh Zayed, Madinaty, Grand Egyptian Museum, Heliopolis, New Cairo Dress code: casual Alcohol served: no Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Zooba's an excellent option for all newcomers to Egypt who want a 'light' introduction to Egyptian street food , ie. get a feel for different local fare but without running the risk of actually eating literal street food (aka: bougie street food). Locals love Zooba for being the fancier, more gourmet version of our every day favorites like fuul, taameya and koshary (here's our breakdown of all the local Egyptian foods you need to try ). Zooba has become so popular over the years that not only has it opened a bunch of branches throughout Cairo (including the Grand Egyptian Museum ), it's actually opened in NYC as well as across the Middle East. For more info and menu: Zooba's IG 8. Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant & Cafe Location: Khan el Khalili (Old Cairo) Dress code: casual Alcohol served: no Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Deep in the famous Khan el Khalili market (head here for our full guide), is a little restaurant & restaurant named after one of Egypt’s most beloved writers. Its official name is Khan el Khalili Restaurant and Naguib Mahfouz Cafe , but locals shorten it to Naguib Mahfouz just to make our lives easier. The restaurant & cafe is a nod to Egypt’s modern history (one has to be specific when referring to Egypt’s history, lest they think we’re talking about pharaohs and pyramids all the time). While you might be hesitant about eating in a restaurant in Khan el Khalili, rest assured that Naguib Mahfouz Cafe is run by Oberoi Hotels, and thus not only has AC but a kitchen you can trust. Their restaurant section serves Egyptian and international classics, and their cafe offers shishas, myriad of fresh juices and desserts. For more info and menu: Naguib Mahfouz Cafe's IG 9. Crimson Location : Zamalek Dress code: smart casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: yes Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes If you're looking for an unbeatable Nile view from above, a river breeze, a drink and a great meal, look no further than Crimson. Crimson is on the roof of a Zamalek building overlooking the Nile, with both indoor and outdoor terrace seating. The view is spectacular and the food is nothing to sneeze at either. Their menu has a lot of great appetizers, pasta and grill dishes, and their cocktail list is one of Cairo’s more extensive. They also serve breakfast and brunch (they're one of the few restaurants in Cairo that open at 8 am), but their morning fare isn't as good as their evening fare. For more info, reservations and menu: Crimson's website For more of the best rooftop bars in Cairo, head here . 10. 139 Pavilion Location: Next to the Pyramids Alcohol served: yes Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes This open-air restaurant in the iconic Marriott Mena House hotel is a breath of fresh air from the crowds and bustle of Giza. Have breakfast, lunch or dinner fountain-side, surrounded by flowers and greenery and, you know, THE PYRAMIDS. What a view! There’s an a la carte menu, but also the option of an all-you-can-eat buffet. At night you lose some of the Pyramids view because they’re not always lit up, but there’s something peaceful and serene in the darkness. For more info and menu: 139 Pavilion's website Read more: 7 Best Restaurants with Pyramid Views You might also like: Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

For years now there’s been a huge buzz about the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo – a museum several decades in the making, which, when finished, will be the largest archaeological museum in the world . It’ll be the permanent home for over 100,000 Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the complete King Tut treasure collection, for the first time ever. And we're here to tell you that we're NOT being biased when we say it's one of the most spectacular museums in the world. But we're not trying to sell it on you -- read about it yourself, see the pictures, and better yet, visit if you get the opportunity. It's 100% a bucket list item for anyone interested in Ancient Egypt. Is the Grand Egyptian Museum open yet? Yes, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM for short) is open. It's pretty much finished, but it's still in its soft opening phase, meaning there's still a few galleries and exhibitions not opened yet. However, what you CAN see there will easily take up the better part of a whole day, so it's hard to imagine how much time you would need there once it's reached full completion. You can currently see the Grand Hall, the massive Grand Staircase, the 12 main galleries, the commercial area and outside gardens, but the long-awaited King Tut Galleries are still closed to the public. It’s predicted that once fully open, the Grand Egyptian Museum will receive 15,000 visits daily - 5 million a year, which is triple what the current Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (Cairo Museum in Tahrir Square) receives annually. GEM Admission Tickets & Guided Tours Visitors to the GEM have two options: they can either purchase an admission ticket to explore the open galleries themselves, or they can book a 90 minute guided tour (which includes the admission ticket price). The guides are incredibly well-versed in not only the history of the museum, but the history of Egypt as a whole. Not only will they explain clearly to you everything you’re looking at, but also will be able to answer any questions you may have. Here’s the most important information about the tickets and tours: You can book and pay for the admission tickets and tours from the Grand Egyptian Museum’s booking site: www.visit-gem.com (don’t be weirded out if the website looks a little dated; it is in fact legit and safe to use) Tickets are available to be purchased at the museum itself, but because tickets and tour slots are limited, it's always safest to book online in advance If you're buying your ticket at the museum itself, please note that they only accept payment by credit cards, cash is not accepted GEM's operating hours are from 8:30 am to 6 pm (with the galleries open from 9 am to 5 pm) Last available time to buy a ticket on-site is 4 pm There are seven daily Grand Egyptian Museum guided tour slots a day: 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm Each tour lasts about 90 minutes The guided tours are either in English or Arabic, and you select which language you prefer upon buying your ticket. If you would like a different language besides English or Arabic and you’re a big enough group, please contact: legacy.booking@hassanallam.com There's on-site parking for a fee There’s free museum entry for children under 4 years old There’s a Children Museum Tour for kids ages 6-12, with its own programs and tickets (more info about this below) You’re not allowed to bring in food or drinks into the museum (you can purchase from the Grand Egyptian Museum’s restaurants and cafes, we listed the different restaurants they have below) You can only take pictures with your phone or small handheld camera, professional cameras, tripods, etc. are not allowed (and there are certain areas where you’re not allowed to take pictures at all, but a museum attendant will inform you of those places) So what WILL you see in the Grand Egyptian Museum? This is a summary of what you’ll see in the Grand Egyptian Museum (reminder that the King Tut Galleries are still closed: The Grand Egyptian Museum’s outer gardens , where you can take in the beautiful architecture of the museum and its surrounding courtyard – including a hanging obelisk The museum’s inner Grand Hall , where you will see a 3,200 year old statue of Ramses II towering at 11 meters high The Grand Staircase with over 60 ancient statues and artefacts flanking both sides. There's also a moving walkway that will take you to the top of the stairs, so that you can still see the giant statues without having to actually climb the 6 storey stairs if you don't want to Stunning view of the Great Pyramids at the top of the Grand Staircase 12 Main Galleries : these galleries (with over 15,000 pieces!) each feature a different era in Ancient Egyptian history, from prehistoric times up to the Greco-Roman era. The exhibitions of each era showcase the daily practices, architecture, industry, spirituality, royalty and personal lives of these extraordinary Ancient Egyptians The galleries are in chronological order, and further divided into Society, Kingship and Beliefs for each era. -Galleries 1-3: Prehistoric Period, Predynastic Period, Early Dynastic Period, Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period -Galleries 4-6: Middle Kingdom, Second Intermediate Period -Galleries 7-9: New Kingdom -Galleries 10-12: Third Intermediate Period, Late Period, Greco-Roman Period Children's Museum : more info below You can get something to eat or drink at the Grand Museum’s food court/dining establishments You can browse the gift shop and curated Egyptian goods stores, and buy everything from Egyptian cookbooks to souvenirs to locally made clothes and bags. *Note if you're part of a guided tour: You’ll meet your tour guide in the museum’s outer courtyard past the ticket gates. He or she will introduce themselves, and distribute headphones (free of charge) so that you can hear them clearly throughout the tour. Grand Egyptian Children's Museum GEM offers different tours and programs made especially for kids, ages 6 to 12. These aren’t daily however, so make sure to check their website to see what children tours or programs are coming up. These programs are usually themed and based on the age of the kids, so for example there’s a program about learning about Pyramid engineering (where kids learn the principles of how the Pyramids were built, and then get to build their own with blocks), and this is for the younger kids, ages 6-9. For the older kids (ages 9-12), there’s a program about discovering archaeological sites via robots, and the kids learn how to actually use functional robots. There's also been other children's programs themed around chariot making and gaming in Ancient Egypt. All programs include a guided tour of the museum dedicated just for kids (and their guardians). Please note though that the kids’ programs change so make sure to check GEM’s website for their current running programs. GEM Admission Ticket & Guided Tour Prices Ticket prices for non-Egyptians: GEM admission (adult): 1,200 EGP GEM admission (child, age 4 - 12 years old): 600 EGP GEM admission (student, age 13 - 21 years old): 600 EGP Guided tour including admission ticket (adult): 1,700 EGP Guided tour including admission ticket (child): 850 EGP Guided tour including admission ticket (student): 850 EGP Children Museum Tour (age 6 - 12 years old): 500 EGP Ticket Prices for Egyptians: GEM admission (adult): 200 EGP GEM admission (child, age 4 - 12 years old): 100 EGP GEM admission (student, age 13 - 21 years old): 100 EGP Guided tour including admission ticket (adult): 350 EGP Guided tour including admission ticket (child): 175 EGP Guided tour including admission ticket (student): 175 EGP Children Museum Tour (age 6 - 12 years old): 150 EGP Please note that ID and student ID will be required on site. Restaurants & Cafes in the Grand Egyptian Museum Your purchased tour ticket allows you access to GEM’s commercial area, which includes a selection of small restaurants, cafes and shops to relax, have something to eat or drink, and shop for souvenirs. Here’s a list of the restaurants that have opened or are opening soon in GEM: Zooba (upscale Egyptian street food ) 30 North (cafe) Beano’s (cafe) Starbucks (no explanation needed) Dolato (ice cream) Bittersweet (restaurant & cafe) Ladurée (world-famous pâtisserie) Read also: 7 Best Restaurants with Pyramids of Giza Views Should You Stay in the Area & Neighborhood Around the Grand Egyptian Museum? So now that we filled you guys in on what exactly GEM is and what to expect when you’re actually there, let’s talk a little bit about the area where GEM is and whether or not you should pick your hotel or accommodations there. Like we said above, GEM is right next to the Great Pyramids of Giza (for our full guide to the Pyramids, head here ). The area is called Haram (translating to ‘Pyramids’), or Nazlet El Samman. Honestly it’s not a great neighborhood currently, but there’s huge development plans for the area over the next few years. Staying near the Pyramids or GEM makes sense if you want to dedicate more than one day to the Pyramids of Giza, or if you want to also go visit nearby sites like the Step Pyramid at Saqqara or the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid at Dahshur . However if you’re only going to see the Pyramids of Giza and just do the 90 minute GEM guided tour, then it’s not necessary to actually stay in the area; all the good restaurants, bars and other spots of sightseeing interest are more towards central Cairo, so it makes more sense to stay there. Hotels Nearby to the Grand Egyptian Museum If you do choose to stay near the Pyramids and GEM, there are a couple 5 star hotels there. Our personal favorite is the Marriott Mena House (which is on our list of 7 best hotels in Cairo as well as our list of 11 Historical Hotels in Egypt You Can Still Stay In Today ). There’s also the Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel close by with great views, but it can in no way compete with the Mena House. A new fad that we’ve witnessed thanks to Instagram and Tiktok, is people getting great Pyramid view content from little hole-in-the-wall ‘hotels’ in that area. These are definitely a case of something looking better on social media than they do in real life; while these motels DO have great views, some are actually shabby as hell and the area around is not great. A lot aren’t even registered as official hotels or motels with the government, so do your research before you book anywhere that seems a bit iffy. Other Museums To Check Out in Cairo If your guided tour of GEM got you all excited and wanting more, then you’re in luck! There are other museums in Cairo that you can peruse to your heart’s desire; the main ones being the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (Cairo Museum) in Tahrir Square in Downtown Cairo, where the King Tut Room is; and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization where the Royal Gallery of Mummies is. Here’s a full list of 9 Cairo museums you should visit at least once . We hope this extensive guide to the Grand Egyptian Museum was helpful, and we’ll be sure to update it as soon as we have new information about the opening – and when of course, we can actually visit it in its entirety, because it truly looks like it’ll be spectacular. You might also like: 8 Important Egyptian Museums To Really Understand Egypt’s History

So you’re planning to visit the Pyramids of Giza? Lucky you! Whether it’s your first time or 10th time, the Pyramids will literally leave you awestruck *every* time. We local Cairenes drive past them on a daily basis and we still stare at them as if we hadn’t grown up with these ancient giants in our backyard. You’d think we’d get used to it after a decade or two or three, but nope! For most people, seeing the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx is just a far-off dream. But if you get the chance to actually do it, then you want to do it right and make the most of it, so this is why we put together this jam-packed guide of everything you need to know to enjoy the hell out of your Pyramids trip. Because like most things in Egypt, things can get a tad confusing if you’re not a local, so we’re going to sort you out. But first, a smidgen of history It’s not hyperbole or exaggeration to say that the Pyramids of Giza have been on travelers’ bucket lists for thousands of years -- we’re talking about LITERAL thousands of years! More than 2,000 years to be exact, although the Great Pyramid itself is over 4,500 years old. But around 2,000 years ago was when the Greeks through their conquests introduced the world to amazing feats of architecture in ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Persian civilizations. This was when the first written references to the ‘7 Wonders of the World’ was born (which to be fair, are very Greek-centric but understandable considering the time). The original ‘7 Wonders of the World’ (now called the ‘7 Ancient Wonders of the World’) weren’t formalized as a list until the Renaissance era over 500 years ago, but you get the idea of how long people have been hearing about and wanting to visit the Pyramids. And yep, even though the Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest entry on the list, it’s the only one still standing! That’s some ancient Egyptian engineering for you (and also a mystery). The history of the Pyramids themselves… but like, super briefly Because we don’t want this guide to be roughly a million words long, and because there are so many detailed academic sources online about the history of the Pyramids of Giza, we’ll keep ours short and cute and focus on the information that *isn’t* so readily available online - like what to expect when you visit and local tips and tricks. But in a nutshell, the Pyramids of Giza were built as tombs for three different Egyptian pharaohs, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, in the 4th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, between 2600 and 2500 BC (so more than 4,500 years ago!). Khufu’s is the Great Pyramid, the oldest and the largest. They, alongside the Great Sphinx and smaller subsidiary pyramids, are all on the same plateau in Giza, now part of modern-day Cairo. How exactly these pyramids were built still have modern historians, engineers and architects scratching their heads to this day, although theories are abundant (including being built by aliens, but the less we say about that, the better). One theory was that it was slaves who built the Pyramids, but the discovery of the Workers’ Village and tombs on the same plateau as the Pyramids provided evidence that it was actually around 10,000 paid and skilled laborers working in three-month shifts (over 30 years for a single pyramid!) who built them. The exact ‘how’ they built them though still remains a mystery. You may also like: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Day Egypt So where are the Pyramids exactly? This sometimes throws people for a loop, because they’re called the Pyramids of Giza but are actually in Cairo. Giza is a governorate on the west side of the Nile while the Cairo governorate is across on the east, but Cairo the city has grown so immensely over the past century that it's spilled over into Giza and is now called ‘Greater Cairo’. So the Pyramids, while technically still in the Giza governorate, are now a part of Greater Cairo. They're about a 45 minute drive from Downtown Cairo with traffic, which is pretty standard for most places in Cairo. What also a lot of people don’t expect is just how close to the city the Pyramids really are. In pictures they seem to be off in a remote desert somewhere, but nope they’re right there smack next to modern buildings and Pizza Huts, no joke. The neighborhood around the Pyramids is called Haram and it’s not the nicest, but the Grand Egyptian Museum (you can find out all about it at Grand Egyptian Museum: A Local's Guide To Everything You Need To Know ) is right next door and the perfect addition to your Pyramids visit, so hopefully things in that area will take a turn for the nicer in the coming months and years. You may also like: The Best (and Worst!) Cairo Neighborhoods to Stay In How to get to there Assuming you’re not going by an arranged tour bus, then the only way to get there is by car, whether a cab, Uber, hired car, etc. Don’t even bother with any articles that say take the metro or take a microbus, just no and no. These people don’t know what they’re talking about. The metro doesn’t go anywhere near the Pyramids so you’d need to take a cab in any case, and like we said, the area isn’t the nicest so don’t go stressing yourself out before you even get there! And microbuses for tourists who don’t speak Arabic is just a terrible idea, so save yourself the hassle and hop in a car that will take you from your starting location straight to the entrance door of the Pyramids. Local tip: the first ‘entrance’ is a security checkpoint in front of the Mena House Marriott Hotel, where they’ll briefly do a security check on the car. Don’t make the mistake of getting out here because you’ll still need to trek up a hill to the plateau to the ticket booth and main entrance, and touts will start hassling you to ride a camel or a horse or a donkey or them themselves up the hill and then try to rip you off. Make sure to get out where the ticket booth is on the top of the hill. Local tip #2: to get around the Pyramids once you buy a ticket and enter, you can either walk around yourself if you don’t mind long stretches of sand and sun, or you can pay for a car ticket and have the car (or cab or Uber) enter the plateau and drive you between sites. This is recommended for those who don’t want to exert themselves too much, get too hot/burned, or waste too much time walking. Each main sight (the 3 Pyramids, the Sphinx and the panoramic viewpoint) have easy parking spots for a car and driver to wait for you to explore and take pictures. Different car options: Private car (provided by a tour guide or someone you know, or a hired car & driver or transportation provided by your hotel/airbnb) Uber or Careem (you can ask the driver who took you there to stay with you inside the Pyramid complex for an extra fee) London Cab (you can either book a ride to/from the Pyramids or book the cab and personal driver from 2 hours to 8 hours, all from their website). A white cab (just make sure its meter is working, and you can ask the driver to stay with you in the complex) You may also like: Different Modes of Transportation for Getting Around Cairo, Egypt Pyramids of Giza Opening Hours Opening hours: 7 am - 5 pm (ticket office closes at 4 pm) * Ramadan hours differ and usually close before 3 pm. Local tip: if you want to go inside the Great Pyramid (Khufu), please note that it’s closed daily from noon to 1 pm. Local tip #2: while technically you can can explore the inside of all three of the Pyramids, sometimes they’re closed for one reason or another and you won’t find out until you get there (for example, last time we were there, the Pyramid of Menkaure was closed - the smallest of the three). The good news is that the real awe-inspiring views are from the outside, and that’s never randomly closed! Local tip #3: if you want to avoid the tour buses, they usually start showing up around 10 am, so aim for early morning or later in the afternoon. Also avoid weekends (Friday & Saturday) and public holidays if you want the complex to be as crowd-free as possible. Ticket Prices for General Entrance, Khufu Pyramid, Khafre Pyramid & Menkaure Pyramid General entrance (mandatory): 540 EGP for non-Egyptians (this includes outside access to all the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the funerary temples, the cemeteries, the Queens’ pyramids and the panoramic viewpoint). 270 EGP for students. General entrance for Egyptians: 60 EGP. Students: 30 EGP. Extras: Ticket to go inside The Great Pyramid (Khufu): 1500 EGP (student: 750 EGP) Ticket to go inside Khafre Pyramid: 220 EGP (student: 110 EGP) Ticket to go inside Menkaure Pyramid: 220 EGP (student: 110 EGP) Ticket for Meresankh III Tomb: 120 EGP (student: 60 EGP) Car entrance ticket: 20 EGP Local tip: you have to decide which pyramids you want to go inside of from the beginning when you purchase your general entrance ticket, because there’s no place to buy tickets from once you enter the Pyramid Complex and you can’t return to the ticket booth. Local tip #2: make sure to hold on to your general entrance ticket once you enter the plateau because they’ll check it again when you go to see the Sphinx. Local tip #3: at the main ticket booth is where you’ll also buy the ticket for your car to enter the plateau (20 EGP). What will I be able to see in the Giza Pyramid Complex? With your general entrance ticket, you’ll be able to drive/walk around and see the following in the complex: Pyramid of Khufu (The Great Pyramid) (internal access via separate ticket) Pyramid of Khafre (internal access via separate ticket) Pyramid of Menkaure (internal access via separate ticket) The Great Sphinx Pyramids of the Queens and other subsidiary pyramids Tomb of Meresankh III (internal access via separate ticket) Valley Temple of Khafre en route to the Sphinx Panoramic viewpoint (a designated spot complete with parking where you have the iconic view of all 3 Pyramids lined up) The cemeteries although there’s not much to see There also used to be the solar boat museum, where there was the ancient boat believed to belong to Khufu, but that has recently been moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum Do I need a tour guide for the Pyramids? We’re asked a lot if a tour guide is needed to visit the Pyramids, and the honest answer is: it depends. On what? On what kind of experience you want to have, so let us go into more detail: First of all, we’re against large organized tour groups. For the reason that there’s very little flexibility, you’re horded around in a small crowd and thus it’s less personalized, with less time to see things at your own pace, ask questions and take those embarrassingly cheesy pictures you know you want. So if you’re going to go down the tour guide route, we suggest hiring one for just you and your travel companions so that you really benefit from their expertise and they also give you room to absorb everything at your own pace. Pros of having a tour guide with you: There’s no explanation or plaques with the history of what you’re looking at once you’re inside the Giza Plateau, so a tour guide helps provide information and context and really bring the experience to life You can ask follow-up questions about anything that catches your fancy They help keep the touts and vendors at bay They know the quickest, most streamlined route throughout the Giza Pyramid Complex You can ask them for tips or advice for other Egypt-related things that you plan to see on your trip They can take pictures for you so you don’t have to bother other visitors or be forced to ask touts Cons of having a tour guide: The extra cost The extra hassle of contacting, arranging and meeting up with them Some of the guides aren’t necessarily the best and will just give you a bare minimum tour because you don’t know better They sometimes (not all of them!) have deals with different shops and restaurants and will try to sell you the idea of buying something/eating there because they later get a cut Tips for getting a tour guide: Ideally research online and choose someone who has multiple good reviews from travelers similar to yourself, then you can contact them directly There will usually be a few random ‘guides’ milling about at the entrance to the Pyramids complex, so if you decide last-minute you MUST have a guide, you can go with one of them but make sure you negotiate a fee you feel comfortable with and look out for the points mentioned below. But for the most part we recommend going with a pre-chosen and researched guide you found online with good reviews. Agree on their personal fee beforehand and ask if there will be any extra fees needed (besides your own tickets) - sometimes they ‘surprise’ you with ‘added services’ like a car and driver, which isn’t always a bad thing but just make sure you know about it first. Also if you would like a car & driver, just ask the guide in advance and they can easily sort it out for you. If you ended up with a last-minute guide you met in front of the ticket entrance, politely decline if they offer camel, carriage or horse rides (unless you want them) - they’re usually in cahoots with the camel & horse people and get a cut. If during or at the end of the tour, they offer to take you to any shops or restaurants, just politely decline (unless you want to). They’ll make these shops/restaurants/cafes seem very appealing but they’re usually tourist traps where you feel pressured into buying/ordering something because everyone is being so friendly and helpful. That’s how they get you, because they’re so nice that you feel bad not buying anything, lol. So save yourself the trouble and just politely decline from the beginning and part ways with the guide at the exit of the Pyramids Complex. Is it worth it to go inside the Pyramids? Similar to the tour guide question, this is something that differs from person to person so there’s no definitive answer we can give. But here’s all the info you need to make an educated choice: There’s actually not much to see inside the Pyramids. All those gorgeous tomb pictures you see with the art and hieroglyphics are mainly in the New Kingdom tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens in Luxor . Inside the Pyramids, you’ll climb up extremely narrow passageways until you reach the burial chamber, which is empty except for a granite sarcophagus in the Pyramid of Khufu and Khafre. The real appeal of going inside the Pyramid(s) is just that - you’re inside the Pyramids! It’s definitely about the experience, and not about what you’ll actually see. There’s no need to go inside all three; if you’ve been in one pyramid, you’ve kind of been in all. Local tip: if you’re claustrophobic, or have back and/or knee issues, then we would recommend not going inside. The passageways are both very narrow and not high enough to stand up straight - so you’ll be climbing/descending while hunched over, with people climbing down while you’re climbing up, etc. Plus it gets hot! Local tip #2: if you plan on going inside, wear comfortable shoes and nothing too short! We know you want to look cute for your pictures, but like we said above, you’ll be bent and hunched over with people in front and in back of you, so you don’t want to worry about having to pull your skirt/dress down the whole time. Local tip #3: if you want to go inside a pyramid but are hesitant about the passageways, stick to the Pyramid of Khafre (the 2nd biggest one). The climb is easier than Khufu’s. Local tip #4: you’re not allowed to bring cameras inside, but you can take pictures with your phone with no flash. Seeing the Great Sphinx Make sure you hold on to your entrance ticket once you enter the Giza Plateau, because you'll need it again when you go to see the Sphinx (you leave the compound and then re-enter). You'll access the Sphinx through the Valley Temple of Khafre, which leads to the causeway of the Khafre Pyramid, with the Sphinx on your righthand side. Unfortunately you can't access the Sphinx from its front, only from its side (ironically enough, one of the best full-on front view of the Sphinx is from the Pizza Hut rooftop, outside the compound and across the street). Although the exact history of the Sphinx is uncertain, many Egyptologists believe it to be built by Khafre over 4,500 years ago, with the body of a lion and the head of the pharaoh. For centuries it was buried under the sand, with only its head visible. Riding Camels and Horses at the Pyramids We’re going to be honest with you – we’re against riding camels, horses and horse-drawn carriages at the Pyramids. This is purely due to our love for animals and our stance that they shouldn’t be exploited for tourism. The treatment of some of these animals is circumspect, and we can’t in good conscience give tips or advice on the best ways to ride these animals. We understand that getting that camel picture at the Pyramids is practically a bucket list picture - and if you need to do it, then you do you. But we urge you to think twice :D Dealing with vendors and touts at the Pyramids A common complaint that both visitors and even locals have when they visit the Pyramids (or any tourist hotspot really), is the constant hassling from vendors and touts to buy whatever it is they’re peddling - souvenirs, camel rides, ‘100% original handcrafts’ (they’re usually not), and so on and so forth. It can get really annoying, honestly. They’ll also try to finagle money out of you by any creative means possible: offer to take your picture and then ask for money, offer to take you to see the ‘secret panoramic view’ and ask for money after (it’s not a secret and you don’t need to pay anyone to see it), tell you they’ll let you climb the Pyramids (this is not allowed by the way, so please don’t pay someone to let you do this), etc. Local tips for dealing with touts: Be polite but firm in your decline of whatever it is they’re trying to sell you. You’ll find yourself playing a constant record of ‘no, thank you’ but unfortunately that’s a small price to pay to see the last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World. They all speak English, so you don’t necessarily have to tell them “la shokran” (no, thank you in Arabic) Don’t accept any offers for them to take your picture, ask another tourist to do it Don’t accept any free ‘gifts’ even if they try to wrap a bracelet around your wrist or a scarf around your neck, claiming it’s ‘free’ Don’t accept any offers for them to take you to ‘secret or special’ viewpoints Don’t accept any offers to climb the Pyramids Don’t accept any offers to take a picture with their camel ‘for free’ …all this will cost you money. Just keep saying no thank you and keep it moving. Where to eat and drink at the Pyramids There are limited places to eat or drink in the Pyramid Complex once you enter past the gates except for these restaurants: 9 Pyramids Lounge, Khufu's, Khufu's Bistro and Ladurée, but usually they need a reservation in advance unless you’re very lucky. Alternatively you can grab a coffee or soft drink (and view!) at one of the two coffeeshops. 9 Pyramids Lounge: a casual breakfast and lunch spot, serving up standard Egyptian and international fare. Alcohol is not served there. They take walk-ins if there's availability, but it's safer to reserve (reservations details are here on their FB page ). Khufu's: a more fine dining experience, with set menus of elevated Egyptian classics, and alcohol is served there. You can reserve through their website . Khufu's Bistro: on the top floor of Khufu's, their bistro has a small but carefully curated a la carte menu of re-envisioned Egyptian and Mediterranean cuisine. You can reserve through their website . Ladurée: the famous international patisserie, where you can get macrons and pastries. They also have a small breakfast, brunch and lunch menu. Coffeeshops: Mulliri Coffee Island Important note: these restaurants and coffeeshops have insanely awesome pyramid views, but close by 5 pm, due to the Giza Pyramid Complex closing by sunset. Besides the restaurants, dotted around the plateau you’ll find vendors selling overpriced drinks and snacks, so bring your own, especially if you’re going to be drinking a lot of water. Local tip: Speaking of drinking a lot of water, because there are limited restaurants and bathrooms inside the plateau, the last surefire place for you to go to the bathroom is at the entrance where the ticket booths are, so make sure you empty your bladder before you enter - or else you might find yourself having to pee in the middle of the desert (with a one-of-a-kind view though, to be fair!). There are a few bathrooms scattered around, but can be a hassle to find. Keep in mind though that there are a lot of places where you can eat or have a drink with spectacular Pyramid views that aren’t in the actual complex. For example, right outside the complex is the Marriott Mena House Hotel, which not only is a historical Egyptian hotel but one of our personal local favorites. It’s literally RIGHT next to the complex (where the security gates are), and our favorite place to relax with a beer and some food right next to the Pyramids. If you’re looking for something quicker/cheaper, ironically enough there’s a Pizza Hut and KFC with stunning Sphinx and Pyramid views right outside the complex. Ah, globalization. Leaving the Pyramids If you don’t have a car with you, then leaving the Pyramids Complex is as easy as ordering an Uber. Once you leave the complex gates, people will continuously offer you “Taxi? Taxi?” but an Uber is always easier just because you don’t have to worry about negotiating the fare or explaining to the driver where exactly you’re going. Some parting local tips: Bring water with you so that you don’t have to buy overpriced bottles inside Even in the winter, the sun is extremely strong, so make sure you have sunscreen or some kind of hat if you’re sensitive to the sun Wear comfortable shoes! But most of all, just take your time and let it all soak in… we promise you, you will never see something similar anywhere else in the world! You might also like: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid & Black Pyramid of Egypt Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs

The Pyramids, the Nile, mummies, mosques and churches more than 1,000 years old… to say there’s A LOT to see and do in Cairo would be an understatement. But we tried to streamline the best of what Cairo has to offer in terms of sightseeing and break down the top 10 things to do in Cairo. Read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Cairo for Both Tourists and Locals Alike Read more: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Clubs in Cairo Now, ready to explore Cairo? Let’s go! 1. See the Pyramids of Giza & The Sphinx. This obviously goes without saying. Whether you’re in Cairo for a day or a week, this needs to be your number one thing to do. A lot of famous places worldwide are overhyped via things like Instagram etc., but trust us when we say the Pyramids and Sphinx DO NOT disappoint. We have a LOT to say about everything you need to know before visiting the Pyramids for the first time, and we compiled it all here in our local’s guide to the Pyramids . 2. Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum. Overlooking the Great Pyramids, The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is something we 100% recommend incorporating into your Pyramids visit, even if you're not the museum type. GEM is the largest archaeological museum in the world, and a lthough the long-awaited King Tut treasure collection is not open to the public yet, GEM is home to over 100,00 Ancient Egyptian artifacts equally worth visiting. For more cool museums in Cairo, read 9 Museums in Cairo You Need to Visit At Least Once. 3. Walk down El Moez Street in Old Cairo. Cairo as a city is more than 1,000 years old, and there’s no better place to see remnants of what we call Old Cairo or Historic Cairo (which is a UNESCO World Heritage site by the way) than the pedestrian street of El Moez. El Moez Street is 1 km long and filled with everything from medieval houses, mosques and palaces to shops and Cairo’s famous tentmakers’ bazaar. To quote the UN, El Moez Street has “the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world”. Here’s our full local’s guide to everything you need to know about El Moez Street before visiting . 4. Shop for souvenirs at Khan El Khalili. You can’t go to El Moez Street without wandering through the alleys of the adjacent Khan el Khalili, Cairo’s most famous souk or bazaar. Khan el Khalili is the perfect place to find a great souvenir or gifts for people back home. This labyrinth of shops and vendors sell everything from high quality gold and silver to kitschy plastic trinkets. It’s beautiful at night when all the lights and lanterns are lit up, but expect crowds and a lot of bargaining. Here’s our detailed guide to Khan el Khalili . 5. Go to the Cairo Citadel & Mohamed Ali Mosque. The Cairo Citadel is a medieval fortress almost 1000 years old, and used to be where Egypt’s rulers ran the government as well as resided for almost 700 years. It still dominates Cairo’s eastern skyline until now and houses several mosques and museums, including the iconic Mohamed Ali mosque. Because of its elevation, it’s a great place to also see panoramic views of Cairo (if you’re lucky and it’s a clear day, you can see clear across the city and Nile all the way to the Pyramids of Giza. 6. See the neighboring Sultan Hassan & Al Rifai Mosques. Close to the Cairo Citadel are two of Egypt’s most beautiful mosques, Sultan Hassan and its close neighbor Al Rifai. Although the two mosques are of similar size with only a lane separating them, they were in fact built 500 years apart. Sultan Hassan, established in 1359 AD, is considered one of the most important monuments in the Islamic world, and was home to four different madrassas (religious schools) as well as a mosque. Islamic historians referred to it as a “wonder of construction”. Al Rifai was commissioned 500 years later by Khoshiar Hanem, the mother of Khedive Ismail, to house the royal family’s tombs as well as be a place of worship. Read more: 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in Egypt 7. Explore Coptic Cairo. Coptic Cairo is known as the stronghold of Christianity in Old Cairo, home to places of worship that date back to the time when the pharaonic religions of Ancient Egypt had died out and Islam had not yet arrived. Some of Egypt’s earliest churches remain standing in Coptic Egypt to this day - some dating back to the 4th century AD. It’s also believed that the Holy Family lived here for a short period during their flight into Egypt to escape Herod. Coptic Cairo as a whole is a pedestrian complex, so you can walk around and explore the churches, Roman fortress, synagogue, cemeteries and Coptic Museum as well as alleys full of books, postcards and other souvenirs. You can read more in our jam-packed Coptic Cairo guide here. 8. Take a Nile felucca ride. The Nile has been Egypt’s lifeline since the beginning of recorded time, and you’ll find yourself crossing the Nile several times a day to get from one side of Cairo to the other. And while it’s cool to see the Nile from above, there’s nothing like taking an actual sail on a felucca, Egypt’s little sailboats. It’s an instantaneous disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Cairo’s chaotic streets, and sunset especially is a perfect time to catch that river breeze and see the twinkling lights of the city light up the water. Feluccas are available to rent from half an hour to as long as you want. 9. See Egypt’s oldest pyramid at Saqqara. If you’re fascinated with pyramids (rightly so), then you should definitely visit the necropolis of Saqqara and see the Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid. It’s the oldest pyramid in Egypt, and its step design is considered an initial pyramid prototype before the smooth-sided Pyramids of Giza. It also houses around a dozen fascinating tombs. Saqqara is about an hour from Downtown Cairo and a very easy half-day trip by car. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 10. Have lunch or dinner with a Pyramids view. You’ve probably already seen the Pyramids up close and personal at this point (or at least we hope so), but you can’t just be one and done when it comes to seeing the Pyramids! Come on people, we’re talking about the last ancient wonder of the world. This time, instead of trekking around in the sand and sun to see them, kick back and relax with a drink and a meal and the ancient giants as your view. Local tip: try to go during the day or around sunset time, because once the sound & light shows are over for the evening, the Pyramids aren’t lit up so you’ll struggle to see them in the dark. Here’s a list of our favorite restaurants with Pyramids views . Happy exploring Cairo! You might also like: Cairo Sightseeing For Free - 9 Awesome Sites That Don’t Cost Anything To Visit

We have two relatively safe assumptions to make: a) most of the world knows about the Great Pyramids of Giza and b) most of the world has very little idea about the 100+ other pyramids that Egypt is home to. Yup, when they started calling Egypt the Land of the Pyramids, they really weren’t kidding (not very sure who ‘they’ are but that’s besides the point). All of these pyramids are thousands of years old, and are tombs to different pharaohs and their consorts. ( Read: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Egypt ) And while no one is trying to compete with the Giza Pyramids’ majesty, there are a few lesser-known pyramids that are most definitely worth a visit. 1. The Step Pyramid Pharaoh: Djoser Built: ~2670 BC (almost 4,700 years old) Necropolis: Saqqara Starting off with the next most-recognizable pyramid after the ones at the Giza plateau. This beauty is the oldest Egyptian pyramid to date -- ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The architect was Djoser’s vizier Imhotep, thought of now as the founding father of Egyptian pyramids, and the design is six mastabas of decreasing size atop one another. Mastabas were how pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty and VIPs were buried before the invention of the pyramids -- mastabas were rectangular, flat-roofed tombs. While there are other pyramids at the Saqqara necropolis, Djoser is by far the jewel in Saqqara’s crown. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 2. The Red Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2585 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur Not very far from the Giza and Saqqara pyramids you’ll find the necropolis of Dahshur, home to three different pyramids on this list. Read more: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide The Red Pyramid received its moniker due to its reddish hue, although it wasn’t always red. The entire pyramid used to be encased in white limestone, which you can still see at the base. The white limestone was actually stripped from the pyramid in the Middle Ages (can you believe it?) to construct buildings in Cairo. The layer underneath was red limestone, which you can see until today. The Red Pyramid is believed to be the first successful attempt at creating a smooth-sided pyramid, and was Pharaoh Sneferu’s third pyramid. 3. The Bent Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2600 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur Another of Sneferu’s Dahshur pyramids, the Bent Pyramid was built right before the Red Pyramid. Archaeologists believe that the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between the step pyramid and smooth-sided pyramid. The ‘bent’ appearance is due to its base having a 54 degree inclination, but the top section having a narrower 43 degree angle. There are different theories as to why it was built this way: one was that as the builders reached the top, the top section started to show instability, so they narrowed the angle. Another theory is that they anticipated Sneferu’s death approaching, so they wanted to finish his pyramid as soon as possible. A third theory is that they were trying to avoid the same colossal disaster that occured with Sneferu’s first pyramid, the Meidum pyramid (below), which collapsed mid-construction. 4. The Black Pyramid Pharaoh: Amenemhat III Built: ~1860 AD (around 3,800 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur This pyramid, while technically ruined, is still definitely worth seeing when you head to Dahshur to see the Red and Bent pyramids, just because it looks so different and vaguely creepy. The Black Pyramid is believed to be the first pyramid in Egypt that was intended to house both the pharaoh and his queens. It’s called the Black Pyramid due to is “dark, decaying appearance”. It collapsed partially due to it being made out of mudbrick instead of traditional stone (although it was encased in limestone), and partially due to its low elevation allowing Nile water to seep into the walls, ending with the structure cracking and sinking into the clay ground. 5. Meidum Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2600 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Meidum Meidum is believed to be the second oldest pyramid, after the step pyramid of Djoser. It was Sneferu’s first attempt at building a pyramid and unfortunately not a successful one -- the top collapsed pre-completion. Archaeologists have a theory that the pyramid’s architect was trying to implement Imhotep’s step pyramid design (as seen in the step pyramid of Djoser), but tried to modify the original design halfway through. 6. Fayoum Pyramids Pyramids: Hawara and El Lahun Pharaohs: Amenemhat III (Hawara pyramid) and Senusret II (Lahun pyramid) Built: ~1860 AB (Hawara) and ~1897 BC (El Lahun) This entry is a two-for-one. Not many people, including Egyptian locals, know that not only is Fayoum Egypt’s oldest city (and one of the world’s oldest) , but is also home to several pyramids (the nearby Meidum pyramid, while in Beni Suef, is usually part of the Fayoum pyramid tour as well). While Hawara and El Lahun were built at two different times for two different pharaohs, they were both made of mudbrick with limestone casing, and the casing was stripped off of both pyramids, leading to their final deterioration. 7. Abusir Pyramids Pharaohs: Niuserre, Neferirkare Kakai & Sahure Built: 5th Dynasty (around 4,500 years ago) If the above listing was a two-for-one, then this is your lucky day, because Abusir is a three-for-one. Technically, Abusir is home to fourteen pyramids, but only three of them are considered the “major” pyramids of Abusir. They were styled after the Great Pyramids of Giza, but due to their lower-quality local limestone casing, they haven’t stood the test of time as well as their predecessors. Theories around why the construction of these pyramids was inferior to those of the Giza plateau vary from a declining economy to the decrease of the absolute power of Pharaoh. Interesting local tip: there are two pyramids in North Sudan, built when a Kushite (Nubian) pharaoh ruled Egypt. While these pyramids are geographically in Sudan, they are historically considered Egyptian. You might also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List - 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

If we’re going to be honest, Luxor as a city needs no introduction. Formerly the Ancient Egyptian capital Thebes, modern-day Luxor is now one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) inhabited cities in the world. Home to a lion’s share of still-standing Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs, you haven’t really gotten a taste of Ancient Egypt until you’ve visited Luxor. Read : 7 Modern Egyptian Cities More Than 5,000 Years Old A lot of people when visiting Luxor tend to do and see things the traditional way - via tour groups and cruise guides, with set agendas where you don’t really have to think or decide on what you want to see. And while that’s one way of doing it, some people like to explore and follow their own personal, flexible itineraries. So if you’re someone who’s visiting Luxor and want to discover this ancient city on your own, here are ten things you should most definitely see and do while there. Local tip: Because we pride ourselves on our honesty, we want to prepare you for a lot of annoying money-demanding by different personnel at the tourist hotspots. They’ll offer to take your picture, give you special access, or other little ‘favors’ and then demand a tip afterwards. The best way to handle it is just to give a firm but polite ‘no, thank you’ to anyone who offers you anything, no matter how small. Local tip #2: Cash is king around here, so make sure you have Egyptian pounds on you throughout – most sites don’t accept credit cards or cash in other currencies. Local tip #3: It almost goes without saying that Luxor during any time of year besides winter is hoooooot, so make sure you take that into consideration – because almost everything there you’ll be doing is outside. So grab a hat and some sunscreen and happy exploring! 1. Karnak Temple The temple complex of Karnak is the largest religious building ever built, and was constructed over a span of 2,000 years (it’s around 4,000 years old in total!). Construction started in the Old Kingdom and was continuously added to until the Ptolemaic era, with approximately 30 different pharaohs contributing. It’s the second most visited site in Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza . Keep in mind that Karnak is massive. Some people enjoy having a guide there to explain backstories, but others prefer to explore at their own pace - there’s no way a guide could explain everything in Karnak in a few hours. The temple complex is also home to the Open Air Karnak Museum (for more important museums in Egypt, head here .) If you’re heading to the Luxor Temple (below) after Karnak, make sure to walk down the Avenue of the Sphinxes which has connected the two temples for thousands of years. This 3 km pedestrian path is newly opened to the public, and some of the 1350 original human-headed sphinxes still line the avenue until today. Local tip: Karnak closes at sunset, but they’re open super early. Worth considering if you’re visiting during one of the hotter months. At night they have a Sound & Light Show there, and it looks beautiful lit up, but if you want our honest opinion, we’re not huge fans of our local Sound & Light Shows. They’re kind of stuck in the ‘80s and just a tad bit cringe :D 2. Valley of the Kings Where did they bury pharaohs after they stopped burying them in pyramids? That would be in the famous Valley of the Kings. For a period of 500 years in the New Kingdom (1550 BC - 1069 BC), pharaohs were buried in rock-cut tombs in the Theban Hills, hidden from plain view. 62 tombs have been excavated to present day, with King Tut’s tomb being the most famous (but ironically, not the most impressive). Local tip: not all the tombs are open to the public, and some are on rotation. The general ticket allows you into three tombs, but you don’t get to choose which ones. You can also buy an extra ticket for the “special tombs”. By far the most impressive is Seti I’s tomb, but it’s also by far the most expensive. King Tut might be the most famous in name, but his tomb is slightly underwhelming in our humble opinion. Local tip #2: Guides aren’t allowed with you into the tombs, so try to read up a little before you visit to make it even more fascinating. 3. Luxor Temple Constructed around 1400 BC (more than 3,400 years ago), Luxor Temple differs from most other ancient Egyptian temples due to the fact that it wasn’t built for worship of a particular god or pharaoh. It was mainly used as a place where pharaohs were coronated and crowned, sometimes even conceptually (for example, Alexander the Great claimed he was crowned there but no evidence suggests he was ever there). During medieval times, the Muslim community built on the Luxor Temple site, and until now a functional mosque remains part of the temple complex (you can read more about Egypt’s most beautiful mosques here ). Local tip: Luxor Temple is open until 10 pm, so a great time to go is before sunset so you can see everything clearly, and then experience the temple all lit up at night when it gets dark. Keep in mind however that this shrewd tip is not a secret one, and sunset and nighttime is sometimes when the temple is at its most crowded. Hey, you win some, you lose some. 4. Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri Known primarily for the mortuary temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut of the New Kingdom, Deir el Bahri was originally chosen as the location for the mortuary temple of the pharaoh who founded the Middle Kingdom, Mentuhotep II. Hatshepsut’s temple though is the star of the show, even after a lot of it was defaced by her salty stepson in an attempt to erase her from history. He obviously, you know, failed. The massive terraced monument is surrounded by a steep cliff, and it was in this cliff that archaeologists found a cache of royal mummies, moved in antiquity from the Valley of the Kings. Many of these recovered mummies are now at rest in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo , where you can go see them in the Royal Mummy Gallery. Local tip: there’s a little electric tram at the entrance that will take you up to the temple if you don’t feel like walking in the sun - once at the temple itself, there’s not much shade. 5. Hot Air Balloon over Luxor Talk about a bucket list item! Riding a hot air balloon anywhere in the world is exciting in and of itself, but riding one in Luxor is even more spectacular for the following reasons: a) you’ll see the temples, monuments and of course the Nile from above - talk about a bird’s eye view of Ancient Egypt! And b) riding a hot air balloon in Luxor is significantly cheaper than elsewhere, with prices as low as around $50! A quick Google search will pull up dozens of hot air balloon trip providers in Luxor and you can see which ones you like the best in terms of reviews and prices. Honestly though, the trips are pretty much the same no matter which provider you go with - you’ll be picked up from your accommodation very early in the morning when it’s still dark out; hot air balloons depart right before sunrise, so you see the sun coming up over the ancient city. Each trip is about 45 minutes to an hour and a half, averaging an hour, depending on weather conditions. If the weather is not cleared for flight, then your trip will be refunded. Pretty straightforward! 6. Valley of the Queens Nearby to the Valley of the Kings is the Valley of the Queens, where the wives of the pharaohs were buried during the same period. The main valley has 91 tombs discovered to date, and they’re generally smaller than the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Honestly, if you’ve already been to the Valley of the Kings (as you should), then the main reason to visit Valley of the Queens is to see the tomb of Nefertari, the Great Royal Wife of Ramses II. Her tomb is debated to be the most spectacular not only in Valley of the Queens, but Valley of the Kings as well! Unfortunately whoever sets the ticket prices agrees with us that Nefertari’s tomb is the most superior, hence the high ticket price (on top of the standard Valley of the Queens entrance ticket, which allows you access to three other tombs). Another small annoyance is that you only get to spend 10 minutes in this tomb, so try to make the most of it. Local tip: the ticket office only accepts cash and in Egyptian pounds, and there’s no ATM nearby. So if you’re planning to visit Nefertari’s tomb, make sure you have enough on you! 7. Medinet Habu While the Temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu doesn’t get as much airtime as Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, it’s most definitely worth seeing. While smaller, this temple has some of the most vividly colored art and deeply-engraved hieroglyphics of all the temples - and another upside, it’s usually much less crowded than the more famous temples! Ramses III is widely considered the last truly powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, and his mortuary temple dominates the archaeological site of Medinet Habu. The temple is especially known for the depictions of Ramses III defeating the ‘Sea Peoples’, invaders of Ancient Egypt whose origins are unknown. Local tip: because of the doable size of the temple and all the interesting painting and hieroglyphics, this is a good temple to have a guide with you to explain the backstories. Like most sites in Luxor, you’ll find several guides there offering their services for an agreed-upon fee. 8. Deir el Medina (Valley of the Artisans) This lesser-known (and thus less crowded!) necropolis is often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, but you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by not visiting Deir el Medina while in Luxor. Also known as the Valley of the Artisans, it’s home to the tombs of the artists, builders and craftsmen who worked on the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. It’s a good look into the daily lives of regular Egyptians who lived thousands of years ago – they weren’t all pharaohs after all! Some of the tombs in Deir el Medina (like Sennedjem and Pashedu) are some of the most best-preserved and colorful tombs in all of Luxor. 9. Felucca on the Nile The Nile is just as important a part of Ancient Thebes (and modern Luxor) as any temple or tomb – it was their lifeline thousands of years ago, and remains Egypt’s lifeline now. And not to get too existential on you, but there probably wouldn’t even be an Ancient Egyptian civilization if not for the Nile, so hop aboard a felucca (small Nile sailboat) and sail the same calm waters that countless others sailed down for millennia. A felucca ride is always pleasant, whether in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan, and all distinctly different in regards to what you’ll see, but all a great way to experience the city you’re in away from the crowds and chaos. 10. Luxor Museum Had enough sun, sand and massive temples where you’re not quite sure what you’re looking at? Well, take a break and head for the Luxor Museum, which will be sure to delight due to both its a) clear signage and explanations of the displays, and b) air conditioning! While the museum isn’t as structurally big nor has as extensive a collection as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo (aka the Cairo Museum), the pieces on display in the Luxor Museum are of great quality. Plus the museum is open until 10 pm every night, so it’s something to do in the quiet Luxor evenings to make the most of your limited time. Local tip: to be fair though, if you’ve been to both the Cairo Museum and the National Museum of Civilization (also in Cairo) where the Royal Mummies are, then you can probably skip the Luxor Museum. Unless you just want to be where that AC is :D You may also like: 7 Best Restaurants in Luxor, Egypt

Before booking a hotel, hostel or apartment, make sure you have an idea of the area first. Cairo is a sprawling city, and like you probably noticed in other big cities, not all neighborhoods were created equal. Obviously it’s beyond important to stay in an area that you a) feel comfortable in, and b) isn’t five million miles away from points of interest. A lot of tourists love to walk around a new city, and while Cairo does have some awesome spots to take a stroll, that’s not the case for all neighborhoods, so it’s important to have a general gist of where you want to book your hotel or apartment. Below we listed the neighborhoods in order of most recommended: 1. Zamalek An island in the middle of the Nile river, Zamalek is home to some of the most beautiful views in Cairo. It’s also host to most of the city’s embassies, and thus has plenty of security on the street, which makes it great for walking around and feeling super secure. Zamalek is also known for being a walkable nightlife hub , with plenty of bars, restaurants and shisha joints. It’s our local favorite neighborhood mainly because it’s pretty hard to go wrong with Zamalek -- it's in central Cairo, which means any site/destination, whether the airport in east Cairo or the Pyramids of Giza in west Cairo, isn't too far. Recommended for: solo travelers (including solo women), couples and families Stay in Zamalek if you want: nightlife and lots of places to eat/hang out, and a safe neighborhood to walk around in Read: 7 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Zamalek Read: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek Read: 8 Best Cafes in Zamalek for Coffee, Work or Just to Chill 2. Garden City Perched on the right bank of the Nile, Garden City used to be home to Egypt’s elite, and some of the beautiful architecture still stands today, albeit slightly worse for wear. Garden City also hosts some of Cairo’s nicest hotels, and while it’s not home itself to many restaurants or bars outside of the hotels, Garden City is in walking distance of Zamalek. It's central Cairo, so not too far from any point of interest in the city. Recommended for: solo travelers (including solo women), couples, families and business trips Stay in Garden City if: you want to stay in a nice hotel with spectacular Nile views 3. Maadi Maadi is known as the green oasis in Cairo (greenery is a scarcity in Cairo, and you’ll find locals speaking of trees, grass and parks in hushed, adoring tones), a favored neighborhood by expats. Old Maadi, Maadi Sarayat and Degla are all known for their leafy streets and refuge from the chaotic Cairo traffic. While not as much of a nightlife spot as Zamalek, Maadi’s Road 9 is full to the brim with restaurants, shops, cafes and a bar or two, and Degla has a lot of little good hole-in-the-wall type restaurants. Recommended for:  Airbnb, solo travelers (including solo women), couples and families Stay in Maadi if you want:  greenery and to be slightly away from the hustle & bustle of central Cairo, a good walking neighborhood as well Read: 12 Chill Places to Have Dinner & Drinks in Maadi Read: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi 4. Heliopolis Heliopolis is a good area to stay in if you need to be close to the airport. There’s a quaint little area called Korba which is nice to walk around in, and Heliopolis has its fair share of restaurants and bars. Great hotels in the neighborhood and close to the airport are the Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Cairo Heliopolis. The one con is that with the usual Cairo traffic, it will take a while to get to the city center and even longer to get to the Pyramids. Recommended for: solo travelers (including solo women), couples, families and business trips Stay in Heliopolis if: you want to be close to the airport Read: Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars & Pubs 5. New Cairo (also known as Tagamo'a el Khames) This Eastern suburb in Cairo is a kinda far from the usual sightseeing spots, but it’s calmer and less chaotic than central Cairo and closer to the airport. You’ll find here Cairo Festival City, a huge mall full of stores, restaurants, shisha cafes and cinemas, as well as a bunch of other commercial centers (like 5A By Waterway and Garden 8) hosting a slew of restaurants, bars and cafes. Also home to the American University in Cairo. New Cairo is all recently built, so it's definitely not where you should stay if you want to experience Egyptian heritage, culture or history. Also cars/cabs needed to get around -- New Cairo is massive. Recommended for: couples and families. It might be a bit far for solo travelers from where the culture/action is Stay in New Cairo if: you want space and to be away from Central Cairo Read: 9 Best Restobars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Read: 7 Best Restaurants & Cafes in 5A By Waterway, New Cairo Read: 7 Best Restaurants in Garden 8, New Cairo 6. 6th of October City/Sheikh Zayed The Western equivalent of New Cairo. This Cairo suburb is home to Mall of Egypt, Mall of Arabia, and other commercial centers (like Arkan Plaza) full of restaurants and stores. 6th of October City/Sheikh Zayed might be the most sensible area to stay in should the main focus of your Cairo trip be the Great Pyramids of Giza and/or the Saqqara pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum ; it’s considerably closer traffic-wise than our other recommended Cairo neighborhoods. It is however the furthest Cairo neighborhood from the airport. Cars/cabs needed; this is another place that will be hard to get around on foot unless you’re masochistic. Recommended for: couples and families Stay in 6th of October City/Sheikh Zayed if: you’re going to dedicate most of your time to the Giza , Saqqara , Dahshur or Memphis sites Read: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Restobars in Sheikh Zayed and 6th October City Read: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed 7. Downtown Downtown is a bit (and by a bit we mean a lot) chaotic, so we recommend it for those who are adventurous and looking for a real slice of Cairo life. Shop after shop after shop line the old streets of Downtown, and at night sidewalk shisha cafes dominate the landscape alongside the bright fluorescent lights of the countless window displays. It’s crowded and not always the best walking location for solo female travelers, but has a quirky charm. Most of Cairo’s notable hostels are in Downtown. It’s also the closest neighborhood to the Cairo Museum , Khan el Khalili and Islamic and Coptic Cairo . Recommended for: backpackers Stay in Downtown if: you want to stay in a cheap hostel and experience “real” Cairo Read: 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown, Cairo Read: Best Bars & Nightlife in Downtown Cairo *Not* recommended neighborhoods: · Haram (Pyramids area) While in theory it might seem like a smart idea to stay near the Pyramids, unless you plan to stay in a nearby 5 star hotel (like the Mena House or Steigenberger) and not leave it except to go to the Pyramids, then don’t stay here. The area isn’t the safest and it’s a long drive to get to the action and activities of Central Cairo. · Mohandiseen Think super crowded, super hectic, and just not worth it. Dokki is a slightly better area of Mohandiseen. · Manial While it does have Nile views, Manial doesn’t offer much else and isn’t the most pleasant for tourists, especially solo women. · Nasr City Another crowded, congested area in Cairo that’s not worth staying in. Local recommendation: if you’re staying in a hotel, then aim for a Zamalek or Garden City one; if you’re looking for a hostel, hit up Downtown, and if you’re Airbnbing it, Zamalek and Maadi have some good options. You can check out our full recommended hotel list right here . You may also like: Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

So you want to enjoy a meal with one of the best views the entire world can offer you: the Pyramids of Giza. Who can blame you? (Pst: here's our full guide to the Pyramids ). One small issue though: the tourist trap restaurants in that area can be a nightmare; underwhelming at best and inedible at worst. So we’re here with our local guide of which restaurants are worth both your money and your appetite, without having to give up on that once-in-a-lifetime view. You might also like: Grand Egyptian Museum - A Local's Guide To Everything You Need To Know 139 Pavilion Cuisine: International Serves: 24/7 Serves alcohol: yes This open-air restaurant in the iconic Marriott Mena House hotel is a breath of fresh air from the crowds and bustle of Giza. Have breakfast, lunch or dinner fountain-side, surrounded by flowers and greenery and, you know, THE PYRAMIDS. What a view! There’s an a la carte menu, but also the option of an all-you-can-eat buffet. At night you lose some of the Pyramids view because they’re not always lit up, but there’s something peaceful and serene in the darkness. Khufu's Cuisine: Egyptian Serves: breakfast, brunch & lunch Serves alcohol: yes Brought to you by the culinary minds of one of our favorite restaurants , Pier 88, Khufu's is at the King Center on the Giza Plateau, meaning this is about as close and personal as you're going to get to the Pyramids while enjoying a meal and a drink. There's also an adjacent Khufu's Bistro on the top floor. Khufu's serves 'upscale Egyptian' cuisine, ie. more gourmet versions of Egyptian classics (you choose between two set menus). The view is obviously spectacular, but keep in mind that it's not cheap and closes at 5 pm, so only breakfast, brunch and lunch are available. Reservations needed. For more info: Khufu's IG 9 Pyramids Lounge Cuisine: Egyptian Serves: breakfast, lunch and early dinner Serves alcohol: no 9 Pyramids Lounge was the first restaurant to actually be on the same Giza plateau as the Pyramids themselves -- so the unobstructed views of all three pyramids plus the smaller queens' pyramids are OUT OF THIS WORLD. Serving Egyptian food, 9 Pyramids Lounge is open from 8 am to 5 pm, but last entry is 4 pm. A local tip though: their food is average so don't have super high hopes; here it's all about the view. For more info: 9 Pyramids Lounge IG Moghul Room Cuisine: Indian Serves: lunch and dinner Serves alcohol: yes Also found in the Marriott Mena House is one of Cairo’s best Indian restaurants, the Moghul Room. This restaurant has been a firm Cairo favorite for decades now, and it never falters when it comes to quality, taste, ambience… oh and that view isn’t anything to sneeze at either. Cheristo Cuisine: seafood Serves: lunch and dinner (noon to midnight) Serves alcohol: yes One wouldn't expect Cairo's oldest seafood restaurant (founded in 1930!) to necessarily be at the foot of the Pyramids, but there you are. Cheristo, located across from the Marriott Mena House , has spectacular Pyramid views to enjoy from their second story outdoor terrace (in colder months, try to nab a table by the window instead). For more info: Cheristo's IG Zeeyara Cuisine: Egyptian Serves: breakfast, lunch and dinner (6:30 am to midnight) Serves alcohol: no Zeeyara, on the rooftop of the 'Elite Pyramids Boutique Hotel', is the place to hit up if you want some authentic Egyptian fare to match your authentic Egyptian view; you'll find local Egyptian favorites , plus more adventurous dishes like camel meatballs. They also open early, so it's a great place to have breakfast -- they have an extensive 'countryside menu' as well as a standard Egyptian breakfast and continental breakfast. For more info and the menu: Zeeyara's IG Pizza Hut Cuisine: fast food I guess? Serves: lunch and dinner (11 am to midnight) Serves alcohol: no Strange, but true. If you want to have an open-air, world-class view of the Pyramids over lunch/dinner but want to avoid the exorbitant prices at hotel restaurants, then look no further than the nearest Pizza Hut to the Pyramids. This is perfect for people on a budget or those who have picky kids. This famous chain is on the 2nd floor (above KFC) and has an outdoor balcony with one of the best views in the city. During the day, you can see the ancient giants in all their glory , and at night you can witness them lit up during the Sound & Light Show. Bonus entry: Ladurée Ladurée, the famous French patisserie, is more of a dessert place and not a restaurant per se. But they do have a small breakfast, brunch and lunch menu alongside their spectacular view, so we decided to add them as a bonus. You may also like: 12 Places To Go For The Most Beautiful Views in Egypt

A common local complaint is that Alexandria falls significantly short in comparison to Cairo when it comes to bars, pubs, clubs and other watering holes. And while this is true to a certain extent, Alex *does* in fact have more than a dozen spots where you can kick back with a drink. Are they all worth going to? Well… we’ll let you decide for yourself. Note: we didn’t include restaurants that served alcohol (Greek Club, Chez Gaby, Santa Lucia, Zephyrion, etc) because they’re more restaurant than a night spot. So here are the main players in Alexandria’s nightlife, in no particular order: 1. Spitfire Dating all the way back to 1883, Spitfire is Alexandria’s oldest bar with decades of paraphernalia on the walls (but have moved from their original spot to the Corniche). 2. Cap D’Or (Sheikh Ali) Another vintage Alexandrian bar, the Cap D’Or (also known as Sheikh Ali) opened circa 1900 and is still owned by the same family. 3. Jeeda's Touted as Alexandria's first ever tapas bar, Jeeda's is where you should head if you want to have a drink in a beautiful indoor/outdoor space with handcrafted cocktails. 4. Eros Eros is a restobar on the second floor of the Alexandria Syrian Club (the club itself was founded back in 1967!). Rooftop Hidden atop a nondescript commercial/residential building on Alexandria's Corniche is a bar/cafe called, aptly, Rooftop or Alex Rooftop, with gorgeous sea views. They serve both beer as well as coffee and other non-bar drinks. 6. The Pint Located in the Eatabe Alexandria Corniche Hotel, this steakhouse & bar is adjacent to a lounge that serves shisha. 7. Cigar Bar A bar true to its name in the Hilton Alexandria Corniche , the Cigar Bar has beautiful sea views as well as an extensive array of cigars. The Hilton Alexandria Corniche also has NEO Lounge if you're looking for some music after the Cigar Bar. They host weekly themed nights like House Night, Latin Night, Oriental Night, etc. 8. Sky Roof On the rooftop of the Windsor Palace Hotel , this very purple bar and lounge serves up blasting music (albeit with great sea views). 9. Calithea Styled after a Greek tavern, Calithea has been open since 1937. While they serve food, most people opt to drink a beer or wine there instead. 10. Monty Bar The vintage bar at the famous Cecil hotel (now Steigenberger). It was named after Field Marshal Montgomery who visited the bar during World War II. Hooligans Indoor and outdoor seating at this sports bar (and DJ venue at night) at the Sunrise Alex Avenue Hotel, near Stanley Beach. 12. The Kraken A Viking-themed bar and restaurant in the Africana Hotel in King Mariout, on the outskirts of Alexandria, complete with a pool table and bar games. 13. Le Bar A beautiful lounge and bar at the Four Seasons San Stefano which will make you nostalgic for Alexandria’s belle epoque -- with Four Seasons prices, of course. 14. Nyx Bar & Lounge On the second floor of Elite, a Greek restaurant in Mehatet el Raml, you'll find Nyx Bar and Lounge, where they have DJs, karaoke nights and happy hours. Il Punto A restaurant and pub in the Downtown area of Alexandria. It’s small, so reservations are needed. You might also like: 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Alexandria

Egypt, understandably, has its fair share of museums; 7,000+ years of civilization will do that to you. Cairo alone has over a dozen really interesting museums covering different aspects of Egyptian history, civilization and culture, so imagine how many the country as a whole has. That being said, not all museums were created equal, and while they’re all most definitely worth a visit, some are crucial to truly understanding Egypt beyond just the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Egyptian history is vast: you have prehistoric, Ancient Egypt, Greco-Roman (and the introduction of Christianity), medieval (and the introduction of Islam), Ottoman Egypt, the French occupation, the Muhammad Ali dynasty and Khedivate, the British occupation, the Sultanate of Egypt followed by the monarchy, the revolution in 1952 and its following republic and the revolution on January 25th, 2011. Whew! Obviously visiting a few museums won’t be making you an Egyptian scholar but it’s a good place to start to try to wrap your head around Egypt’s mind-boggling history. 1. Grand Egyptian Museum Location:  Giza, next to the Great Pyramids Type of museum:  Ancient Egyptian history The largest archaeological museum in the world, and truly impressive both in architecture as well as exhibitions. It’ll be the permanent home for over 100,000 Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the complete King Tut treasure collection, for the first time ever. It's truly spectacular in both its sheer size as well as overall experience. You can currently see the Grand Hall, the massive 6 storey Grand Staircase with 60+ statues, the stunning 12 main galleries, the commercial area and outside gardens, but the long-awaited King Tut Galleries are still closed to the public. 2. Egyptian Museum Cairo Location: Cairo Type of museum: Ancient Egyptian antiquities Before the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opened its doors, the Egyptian Museum at Midan Tahrir in Downtown Cairo was the best one-stop-shop for becoming acquainted with different aspects of Ancient Egyptian history. It's still home to over 170,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts! Local tip: it’s worth going with a guide (there are also relatively knowledgeable touts there who will offer to work as a guide for a negotiable fee), because many of the exhibits don’t have descriptions. 3. Alexandria National Museum Location: Alexandria Type of museum: Alexandrian history Alexandria, the ancient Mediterranean city and capital of Ptolemaic Egypt, is of paramount importance in Egyptian history. If you’re fuzzy about the story of Alexandria, its National Museum will help sort you out. The museum itself from an architectural standpoint isn’t that impressive, but don’t judge a book by its cover -- its contents definitely make up for what its facade lacks. Its exhibits are divided chronologically into eras to help you flesh things out a bit: pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Christian, Islamic and modern. There’s also a section for underwater monuments (some monuments still exist till present day in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria!). Read: Sightseeing in Alexandria - 15 Best Things To See And Do 4. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization Type of museum: historical Location: Fustat, Old Cairo This large museum hosts over 50,000 artefacts from all eras of Egyptian civilization, from prehistoric times, through the pharaonic era up until now - and good news, because it's been recently renovated, all displays have clearly stated information, so no guide needed! The museum is divided into two sections: chronological and thematic. The chronological runs through Archaic, Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Medieval, Islamic, modern and contemporary Egyptian eras, and the thematic covers Dawn of Civilization, The Nile, Writing, State and Society, Material Culture, Beliefs and Thinking and the Gallery of Royal Mummies. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is also touted as the first museum of civilization in the Arab world. The gallery of the Royal Mummies is definitely one of the highlights of this museum - in this quiet, tomb-like space, you can see 20 royal mummies that are thousands of years old, including some of the most famous pharaohs of all time like Ramses II. For more info, here's their website . 5. Museum of Islamic Art Location: Cairo Type of museum: Islamic heritage This art museum holds over 100,000 pieces of Islamic heritage from not only Egypt but also Arab and non-Arab countries alike, and is important in understanding Egypt’s Islamic history. Many of the pieces were gathered from the first Islamic capitals of Egypt (Fustat and Askar), prior to the rise of Cairo. Pieces were also selected from the Delta, Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan . Other collections of note: their wooden collection, which has some of the most beautiful and intricate woodwork from the days of early Islam, as well as beautiful ceramics and lamps. 6. Coptic Museum Location: Cairo Type of museum: Coptic Christian heritage Known as the best place to learn about Coptic history in Egypt, this museum hosts over 1,600 pieces, dating back to the early days of Coptic Christianity in the 3rd and 4th century AD. This museum is known for its bibles written in the 11th and 13th centuries in both Arabic and the Coptic language on deerskin, as well as Christian writings on papyrus dating back to the 6th century.Other collections of note: its icon display, as well as pottery, glass, metal, wooden and textile collections. Local tip: the museum is located in an area of Old Cairo called Coptic Cairo, walking distance from some very worth-seeing churches such as the Hanging Church and Mar Girgis church. Read: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide 7. Nubian Museum Location: Aswan Type of museum: Nubian heritage Nubians hail from southern Egypt and northern Sudan, and their history is as old as Ancient Egypt’s. The preservation of Nubian culture is extremely important, because the heartland of Nubia was destroyed due to the flooding of the Nile. The museum tells the story of Nubia from its start as a prehistoric Nile Valley civilization, through the pharaonic era and introduction of Christianity and Islam to Egypt, up to the building of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. Read more: Aswan, Egypt: A Local's City Guide 8. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Museums: Sadat Museum, Manuscripts Museum, Antiquities Museum and History of Science Museum Location: Alexandria Type of museum: varied The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the new Library of Alexandria, built in 2002 as a nod to the ancient library and its spirit of knowledge and learning. The original was an ancient wonder of the world, but was sadly destroyed in the Roman conquest of Alexandria around 2,000 years ago. The library is home to four different and important museums: the Sadat Museum , dedicated to the former Egyptian president and also a look at modern Egyptian history; the Manuscripts Museum , which focuses on the conservation and restoration of ancient Egyptian manuscripts; the Antiquities Museum , with special focus given to Alexandrian and Hellenistic collections; and the History of Science Museum , which highlights the historical aspect of science in Egypt during three major periods: ancient Egypt, Hellenistic Alexandria, and the Arab-Muslim World. You might also like: 7 Beautiful Palaces You Can Still Visit in Cairo Today

When people think of restaurants in East Cairo , they mainly think of places like Garden 8 or 5A By The Waterway in New Cairo. But there’s a dining and entertainment center that’s slowly making a name for itself, and that’s none other than District 5 by Marakez.  Read more: 7 Best Restaurants & Cafes in 5A By The Waterway, New Cairo Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in Garden 8, New Cairo District 5 is on the Cairo-Ain El Sokhna Road, in an area of East Cairo called New Katameya. Besides their restaurants and cafes, they also have retail stores, a cinema and an arcade – so there’s more to do than just eat (although that will always remain our favorite thing to do). But like we always like to say, not all restaurants are created equal. We’ve listed below our local recommendations for the best restaurants in District 5, and below that is a list of the other restaurants and cafes there if you’re curious. Enjoy and happy eating! Best restaurants in District 5: 1. Kokomo This restaurant and bar is known for its smoking and grilling over a wood-fired flame; everything from slow-cooked cuts of meat and brisket to grilled seafood and artisanal pizza (some of the best pizza we’ve had recently, we might add).  They have a branch in Soma Bay  during spring and fall, and one in Sidi Heneish in the summer. Their District 5 venue is their first in Cairo, and it has beautiful interior design and a great spot for dinner.  They open at 1:30 pm and on weekends it’s best to reserve: 01200007333 For more info and pictures: Kokomo’s IG 2. Mo Bistro Mo Bistro has been beloved since back in the day in 2002 when it was known as Cafe Mo in Mohandiseen. Fast forward more than 20 years later and Mo Bistro is still going strong, with multiple branches in District 5, Garden 8 and Capital Promenade in Sheikh Zayed. Mo Bistro has an eclectic menu of dishes both classic and creative, and they never skimp on flavor or quality ingredients. They’re especially known for their flank steak and bone marrow. For more info, pictures and menu:   Mo Bistro’s IG 3. Willow’s First and foremost, Willow’s is known for being one of the best breakfast places in town (read more: 30 Best Breakfast Spots in Cairo ). Second of all, we dare you to enter their District 5 branch and not fall in love with the decor. Thirdly, their all-day menu is massive, so there’s something for everyone – a great family spot. For more info, pictures and menu: Willow’s IG 4. Mista Another great option if you’re a big group or a family with picky eaters, because Mista’s menu is huge with tons of options, and even shareable dishes for two like the lamb shank and beef chateaubriand. They also have an extensive bakery with freshly-baked breads, croissants and sweet and savory pastries. For more info, pictures and menu: Mista’s IG 5. BRISK Haute Cookout Their tagline is that they serve "American delicacies with a French twist." We're still not sure what that French twist is, but in any case they have great smashburgers as well as brisket in all sorts of ways -- smoked brisket platter, brisket taco, brisket sandwich and brisket toast. They also have a breakfast menu, with items like a smoked roast beef bagel or an egg & brisket English muffin. For more info, pictures and menu: BRISK's IG So while the above were our current top favorite restaurants in District 5 (and who knows, they might change in the future), they’re by no means the only restaurants and cafes there.  Other restaurants in District 5: Carlo’s Pattini Lokali The Wheelhouse Don Eatery Butcher’s Burger Chicken & Ribs Jimmy's Pizzeria Between The Buns Tabali Cafes: 30 North 1980 Coffee CAF Cafe Dipndip Dancing Goat Goffee Breadfast Coffee Antakha Le Flandrin Ni Caffe Nude Bakery Beano’s You may also like: 12 Chill Places to Have Dinner & Drinks in Maadi

If you’re looking for a white sand beach holiday in Egypt  and considering booking in Soma Bay, then good for you – why? Because it’s still somewhat of a Red Sea hidden gem, which means YOU are one of the lucky ones in the know.  For those NOT in the know, Soma Bay is an up-and-coming luxury resort town about 45 minutes south from the popular beach city of Hurghada on Egypt’s mainland Red Sea Riviera . Soma Bay’s claim to fame is its enviable location on a peninsula jutting into the Red Sea, which means you get open sea with an extremely vibrant and thriving reef on one side, perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling; and the other side is a calm shallow bay with crystal-clear water and soft white sand; a nirvana for swimmers, sunbathers and kitesurfers.  So what’s the difference between Hurghada and Soma Bay? Hurghada is an actual city, so there’s the regular hectic local Egyptian life and hustle and bustle interspersed with hotels, restaurants and touristic activities. Taxis are needed to go from one part of Hurghada to another. Read more: Hurghada, Egypt: A Local Guide For First-Timers Soma Bay on the other hand is a quiet and gated resort town; a mix of private residences, 5 star hotels, beaches, and a handful of restaurants/bars. The only people who have access to Soma Bay are residents and visitors who’ve booked in one of Soma Bay’s hotels or have rented a beach villa or apartment there. All of Soma Bay can be explored by foot, golf cart or bike; no taxis needed. Go to Soma Bay if you want : a 5 star luxury hotel or rental experience; stunning beaches;  outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling; a quiet and safe destination where you can leave your hotel and explore via walking or golf cart; a slew of different activities for both kids and adults Don’t go to Soma Bay if you want: vibrant nightlife or a ‘city’ feel; backpacker hostels or budget hotels Quick Facts About Soma Bay It’s easily accessed from abroad via Hurghada International Airport, with most flights from Europe averaging 4 hours, and domestic flights from Cairo averaging 45 minutes It’s then about a 45-50 minute drive from Hurghada International Airport (45 km) Soma Bay is on the Ras Abo Soma peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Red Sea, with a backdrop of Egypt’s eastern mountains Soma Bay has five hotels: Kempinski, Sheraton, Cascades, Robinson and Breakers It’s known for some of the best scuba diving in Egypt There’s an 18 hole championship Gary Player signature golf course overlooking the sea It’s home to one of the best spas in the region, the Spa & Thalasso at Cascades Hotel Best Time To Go Soma Bay is a year-round destination, with almost 365 days of beach sunshine, even in the winter. Spring and fall are considered Soma Bay’s ‘high season’ -- it’s when the weather is at its most ideal (beach weather without soaring temperatures) with warm breezy nights. Summer is a great time to go too obviously because the water is nice and warm, but only if you can handle daily temperatures in the mid-to-high thirties (Celsius) or the nineties (Fahrenheit) and super-strong sun. During summer months, most people prefer to go to the beach in the morning or the later afternoon to avoid peak heat. Late December through to February is considered Soma Bay’s ‘winter’ – but we use that term loosely because the weather is still sunny and warm during the day, although cold at night. We’ve also seen many visitors even swim during the winter months, although the water then is a tad too chilly for us personally.  Getting There If you’re coming from abroad  (or even planning to fly domestically), then just fly into Hurghada International Airport, which is about a 45 minute car ride from Soma Bay. Once you land, it’s easy to either grab a taxi from outside the arrivals hall or pre-arrange with a car service (like London Cab  or ABC Taxi ) to pick you up. If you’re staying at a hotel, you can also easily arrange pre-arrival for your hotel to send a car to pick you up. If you’re coming from Cairo , then you have one of three options: a) drive, b) take a bus, or c) fly. Driving from Cairo is now a super-smooth trip thanks to the new Galala Road which allows you to bypass the scary two-way twisty mountain roads of Ain el Sokhna. It takes about 4.5-5 hours by car from the Cairo toll station to Soma Bay. If you’re coming by bus , then GoBus  has a bus stop at the Soma Bay Marina, with daily buses from Cairo. As for flying, the domestic flight from Cairo Airport to Hurghada International Airport takes about 45 minutes. Where To Stay in Soma Bay As we mentioned briefly above, Soma Bay itself (the private resort town) has 5 hotels and numerous rentals. But if you google ‘Soma Bay hotels’, you’ll find more than 5 hotels showing up in your search results. How come? Because there are also a handful of hotels outside the gates of Soma Bay, stretching south on the coast towards Safaga, but still name/list themselves as ‘Soma Bay’. Some of these hotels are very nice, but keep in mind you won’t have access to all the amenities and activities in Soma Bay proper like you would if you stayed in Soma Bay’s 5 official hotels. But let us break everything down further, and you can decide on where to stay based on your personal preferences. Hotels in Soma Bay: Kempinski  - 5 star beach and pool luxury all the way. They also have the best restaurants of all the hotels Cascades Golf Resort, Spa & Thalasso  - `5 star resort overlooking the golf course and home to the famous Thalasso spa Sheraton  - a great 5 star resort for families, with almost 1 km of gorgeous beachfront Robinson  - 4 star hotel ideal for German speakers  Breakers  - a 4 star diving and surfing lodge for those mainly interested in watersports and activities, adjacent to the Orca Scuba Diving Center Apartment and villa rentals in Soma Bay: If you’re looking for something larger or just more personal than a hotel room, then there are a lot of great rental homes you can book depending on your preferences. There are apartments, chalets and massive beach villas, and most feature great sea views. Renting a home in a residential neighborhood also means you get access to that neighborhood’s pool (and some of the homes even have their own private pool). Stayr  is the official vacation rental provider in Soma Bay, and they offer concierge service as well. Alternatively you can find a lot of great rental listings on Airbnb too.  Hotels outside of Soma Bay: As we mentioned above, there are a handful of really nice beach resorts nearby Soma Bay, but they won’t have access to all the extra activities, restaurants and amenities that the gated community of Soma Bay and its inner hotels have. But if you’re not planning to leave your resort anyway, then it doesn’t really matter. The best hotels near Soma Bay are: Steigenberger Resort Ras Soma Palm Royale Resort Soma Bay Solymar Soma Beach Main Areas & Points of Interest in Soma Bay So we’re just going to briefly explain the main areas and points of interest in Soma Bay, so you have an idea of the overall layout. Residential neighborhoods (where the home rentals are) The current finished residential neighborhoods are: Mesca, Baywest, Baycentral, Soma Breeze, Reef Town, Wadi Jebal, Golf Residences, Marina Residences Hotel Area  Next to the Soma Bay Marina, you’ll find a stretch of 4 adjacent beachfront hotels (Kempinski, Robinson, Sheraton and Breakers), stretching from the Marina all the way down to the jetty at the tip of the peninsula and connected via a promenade. The only hotel that isn’t directly on a beach is Cascades due to it being on the golf course, but it has its own beach accessible via shuttle bus.  Soma Bay Marina This is where you’ll find restaurants, coffeeshops, shisha, Cheers (an alcoholic beverage shop), the supermarket, pharmacy, fitness center, beauty salon, local shops and souvenirs and a medical center. This is also where boats and yachts dock. Play Park Behind the Marina is the Play Park, fun for both kids and adults alike. Here they have the Soma Splash Aqua Park, the Soma Raceway for go-karts, paintball, footgolf and a kids’ playground. Seaside Promenade Ideal for walking, bikes, scooters and golf carts. This path takes you from the Breakers Hotel next to the jetty all the way past the main hotel area to the Marina and onwards to Wyte Beach Club. If you don’t feel like walking it, there’s also a free shuttle that goes up and down the boardwalk.  The Jetty A 420m long jetty that allows you to walk above Soma Bay’s spectacular house reef. At the end of the jetty, there’s designated areas for both snorkeling and scuba diving, and the amount of sea life to be seen there is wild – dolphins, turtles, rays and barracudas are frequently spotted, and every now and then you can even spot Wally the whale shark! Orca Dive Club Soma Bay is one of the best spots in Egypt for scuba diving , and this diving center is ideal for both beginner and advanced divers alike; certified SSI and CMAS instructors offer diving and specialty courses in several different languages. The beautiful house reef is a mere minute’s walk away, and there are around 20 different dive sites by boat around Soma Bay. Orca Dive Club also has a beach bar to relax after a long day of diving. Wyte Beach Club It’s on a picture-perfect spot on the shallow bay, with crystal clear water and zero waves – ideal for swimming. They have umbrellas, sunbeds, beanbags and hammocks, and you can also rent canoes and other beach equipment. There’s also a beach bar and restaurant, and they offer shisha in the afternoons. On most weekends during the high season, they’ll have a DJ playing music throughout the day. 7BFT Kite House  This kitesurfing center was ranked one of the top three in the world. Soma Bay is ideal for kitesurfing with its flat water and 300 days of wind ( off-shore and side-shore winds ranging from 4 to 8 Bft). The 7BFT Kite House has training for beginners as well as advanced kiters and licenses up to ‘instructor’ level. Read more: 7 Best Kitesurfing Spots in Egypt Gary Player Signature Golf Course Designed by world-renowned Gary Player, this 18 hole championship golf course is right next to the sea. Spa & Thalasso At Cascades Hotel, they have the only spa on the Red Sea that uses thalasso-tonic seawater for therapy, as well as hundreds of other treatments for both mind and body. Even if you’re not a guest at Cascades, you can book the treatment of your choice and enjoy the spa’s wellbeing programs and amenities. How to get around Soma Bay Like we mentioned above, once you’re past the gates of Soma Bay and situated at your hotel or rental, getting around is pretty easy and there’s no need for taxis. If you do want to explore outside of your hotel/rental and don’t have a car, here are the best ways to get around Soma Bay: Walking:  if you’re staying in one of the hotels on the beach and want to reach the Marina or the jetty, it’s a pleasant walk on the boardwalk.  Free shuttle : there are free shuttles that will take you up and down the boardwalk.  Bike or scooter rental:  you’ll find at the Marina and down the boardwalk little kiosks that say ‘Hopper’ on them; there you can rent out regular bikes, e-bikes, and scooters either for a few hours or a few days.  Golf Cart rental:  Hopper also rents out golf carts, ideal for people who are staying in rentals in the residential areas and don’t have a car. There are designated golf cart paths all throughout Soma Bay.  Golf cart taxi services:  if you need just a ride from one place in Soma Bay to the other and don’t want to rent out anything, Hopper also provides golf cart taxi services. Best Things To Do in Soma Bay There are lots of things to do in Soma Bay, whether you’re active or just want a lazy vacation, with kids or flying solo. And luckily all are very easy to do!  Enjoy the beach, whether at your hotel or Wyte Beach Club Explore the jetty Scuba diving Snorkeling Boat trip (whether sunset boat trip or a snorkeling trip) Golf Desert safaris (provided by Alex Safari at the Marina) Tennis/Squash/Padel tennis Spend an afternoon at Utopia, a beach bar on nearby Tobia Island, completely surrounded by sea Horseback riding on the beach with Jasmine Stable Go-karting Take the kids to the water park Paintball Shisha at sunset overlooking the bay at SoBar Work out at the fitness studio Kitesurfing Windsurfing Windfoil Relax and decompress at the spa & thalasso Join the monthly full moon parties at the kite house Day trip to Luxor Dining & Nightlife Each hotel has their own roster of restaurants and beach bars, but if you’re looking for something outside of your hotel, then the Soma Bay Marina is where you’ll find most of your dining and nightlife options. Here’s the best restaurant/bars in the Marina: SoBar:  this restaurant and bar is one of the best and most dependable in Soma Bay, with beautiful views over the Marina and indoor/outdoor dining depending on your preference. Their rooftop terrace is great for sunset drinks, and on weekends they usually have a DJ. They also have a section for shisha and set up big screens for football matches and other big sporting events. During the high seasons, there’s a party or performer of some sort on the weekends as well. Kokomo:  this grill and smoked BBQ restaurant and bar is only open during spring and fall, but they serve some fantastic dishes cooked over an open fire. Excellent pizza as well.  Bamboo Shoot : this pan-Asian restaurant is run and managed by the Kempinski, but you’ll find it at the Soma Bay Marina on Wednesday through to Saturday nights.  Baladina:  want to indulge in some local Egyptian food ? Baladina has an extensive menu of all the Egyptian classics, from breakfast to feteer to late night grills.  Other dining options in the Marina: Maison Thomas - a pizzeria Burger Factory - burgers and fried chicken sandwiches For coffee: Seven Fortune - coffeeshop Parting Local Tip Just to summarize everything we spoke about above – if you’re looking for a relaxing Red Sea vacation on a world-class beach, and want all the perks of staying in a luxury hotel or rental but also have the ability to leave the hotel and enjoy safe resort town life, then Soma Bay is 100% for you. You may also like: Sharm El Sheikh - A Travel Guide For First-Timers

Egypt’s Red Sea has had the international diving community buzzing recently due to its continual high ranking as one of the best diving destinations in the world . It also doesn’t matter if you never dived before a day in your life -- Egypt is chock-full of PADI-certified, professional diving centers, instructors and liveaboards that will propel you from snorkeler to advanced diver in no time. Here’s a list of some of the very best diving destinations (and specific dive spots!) we have here in the Egyptian Red Sea . 1. Marsa Alam Best dive spots: Elphinstone Reef, Daedalus Reef, Abu Dabbab, Dolphin House Reef Marsa Alam might not be as well known or frequently visited as Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada when it comes to diving, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less impressive (it might be even more so!). This coastal town is more off the beaten track for both Egyptians and foreigners alike, so it’s an excellent place if you want to relax and focus on diving and other sea activities. Beginner divers: the shallow bay of Abu Dabbab is perfect for newbies -- there’s no current and the water is around 18 m deep. It’s also there where you can sometimes see Egypt’s very rare dugongs, cousins of the manatee. Advanced divers: Famous dive sites like Elphinstone and Daedalus are must-sees for more advanced divers -- you can see anything from hammerhead sharks to manta rays in these open sea sites. They’re accessible by either day trips from Marsa Alam or liveaboards. Local tips: Around April and May, water visibility is reduced slightly because of plankton, but that’s what attracts whale sharks and manta rays Whale sharks can be spotted in May & June, and hammerheads from May to August It’s possible to dive year-round, with the coldest water being 24°C in January and warmest being 30°C in the summer (which some find to be too warm, especially when the air temperature regularly hits 40+°C). How to get there: you can either fly into Marsa Alam airport or drive from Cairo (around an 8-10 hour drive) Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Marsa Alam 2. Sharm El Sheikh/Ras Mohammed Best dive spots: SS Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Kingston, Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef According to Dive Magazine , “Sharm El Sheikh has been, for many years, the favourite Egyptian destination for scuba divers, and has probably contributed more to the European dive business than any other resort in the world.” It’s also the starting point for most dive expeditions into Ras Mohammed, an Egyptian national park at the southernmost tip of Sinai, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez and the mixing of water leads to brightly-colored, healthy coral reefs. Beginner divers: Dive sites like Ras Um el Sid are ideal for beginners; easy reef diving in a shallow bay with no currents. Advanced divers: Sharm has some amazing wreck diving, like the SS Thistlegorm, a British ship that was sunk by Germans in WWII. Other great wreck dives are Dunraven and Kingston. Local tip: There’s no specific diving season in Sharm, but if you want to avoid the crowds both on shore and off, try to avoid the high tourist season (September-November and March-May), and go either during summer (if you can stand the soaring temperatures), or winter. How to get there: fly to Sharm El Sheikh airport or drive from Cairo (6-7 hour drive). Read more: 12 Best Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh 3. Hurghada/El Gouna Best dive spots: Giftun Islands, Abu Nuhas reef and wrecks, Rosalie Moller The coastal towns of Hurghada and El Gouna might be around 25 km apart, but they share many of the same diving sites. Hurghada, which used to be a small fishing village only a few decades ago, is now the biggest Red Sea resort town on the Egyptian mainland. Beginner divers: Hurghada and El Gouna are actually ideal for beginner divers because most of their reefs are shallow and easily accessible but still crammed full of marine life, like the Giftun Islands (home of the famous Mahmya beach restaurant/bar on the shore ). Advanced divers: the deep wreck of the Rosalie Moller is closer situated to Hurghada than to Sharm El Sheikh, where its sister ship, the SS Thistlegorm is. Rosalie Moller was a coal ship so it’s not as impressive as Thistlegorm with all its relics, but still an awesome wreck dive. Local tip: Same as Sharm. There’s no specific diving season in Hurghada, but if you want to avoid the crowds both on shore and off, try to avoid the high tourist season (September-November and March-May), and go either summer or winter . How to get there: fly into Hurghada airport and take a cab/car hire from there if you’re going to El Gouna. Or you can drive from Cairo (around a 5 hour drive). 4. Dahab Best dive site: Blue Hole, The Canyon, Eel Garden The Blue Hole in Dahab is probably the most famous dive site in all of Egypt, known even by non-divers, but it’s definitely not the only diving spot Dahab has to offer. Beginner divers: most of Dahab’s coral reefs are right off the shore and easy for beginner divers to reach and explore, including The Blue Hole’s reef (but not the arch!). Advanced divers: the deep arch of the Blue Hole is a 70m archway and passageway in the reef, and is popular with advanced divers and freedivers, but is also extremely dangerous -- dozens of people have passed away there (the onshore tribute to the fallen divers is both moving and somber). The Canyon is also another favorite spot for advanced divers. Local tips: It’s rare to see sharks in Dahab It’s not a destination for wreck diving It’s awesome for snorkeling if you have non-diver friends with you Diving is year-long, and most people go between July-December, so try to avoid those months if you don’t want to the reefs to be crowded with divers How to get there : fly into Sharm el Sheikh then make the drive to Dahab (around an hour away), or drive from Cairo (7-8 hours). 5. El Qoseir Best dive sites: El Ikhwa Islands (Brothers’ Islands) Most would be surprised to see El Qoseir on the list, but it’s true -- if you’re looking for great diving away from it all and untouched coral, then look no further. This 5,000 year old town is home to several ecolodges and diving camps on the cliffs overlooking a pristine stretch of sea between Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and there are lots of diving centers to choose from. Beginner divers: most of the diving is close to the shore, easily accessible to the diving camps and shallow. Advanced divers: El Ikhwa Islands is one of the undisputed best diving spots in the whole of the Red Sea, and a good place to see sharks and other big fish, since it’s 70 km off shore from El Qoseir. Local tip: Qoseir as a town has almost nothing going on when it comes to restaurants or nightlife, so you’ll be spending most of your time in a hotel or Nuweiba-style beach camp, which is ideal for those who want peace and quiet How to get there: you have three options: 1) fly into Hurghada and drive south, 2) fly into Marsa Alam and drive north, 3) drive from Cairo (6 hours). 6. Soma Bay Best dive sites: Ras Abo Soma, Abu Kafan, Tobia Reefs (aka Seven Pillars/Seven Pinnacles) and Panorama Reef South of Hurghada is the nearby resort town of Soma Bay, on the same coastline between Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Whereas El Qoseir is the destination to go if you want primitive camps and a more back-to-basics feel, Soma Bay offers 5-star resorts and all-inclusive luxury hotels. Beginner divers: the reef of Ras Abo Soma and its adjacent areas are great for beginner divers, and you even have the chance of happening upon reef sharks. Advanced divers: there’s awesome wall and drift diving, and the Tobias Reefs are well-loved. You can also visit the Salem Express wreck, a controversial dive spot because of the sad story attached. The Salem Express was a passenger ferry between Egypt and Saudi Arabia that sank in 1991, killing over 400 passengers. Some divers choose not to visit the wreck, but other divers do and pay their respects to the remains of the ship and the lives lost. Local tips: This stretch of the Red Sea is ideal if you want to have a luxury vacation aside from just diving The area is close to Hurghada, but is not as crowded with diving boats How to get there: either fly into Hurghada airport and drive south, or drive from Cairo (5 hours). Read more: Soma Bay, Egypt - Travel Guide for First-Timers 7. Hamata, Wadi Lahami and the Deep South Best dive spots: St. John’s, Fury Shoals and Rocky Island Ever wondered about the stretch of the Red Sea between Marsa Alam and Sudan? It’s known as the Deep South, where the tiny coastal towns/villages of Hamata and Wadi Lahami are, right before you reach the Shalateen and Halayeb protected areas. This pristine stretch of Red Sea is completely untouched and unspoiled. Beginner divers: because of the strong wind conditions, it’s not always the best place for beginner divers, but St. John’s has a few easier dives. Advanced divers: the strong current leads to amazing drift diving, with an increased chance of seeing hammerhead sharks, pods of dolphins and manta rays. Local tips: There’s not many places to stay in Hamata and Wadi Lahami, just a few sparse diving villages. If that’s not your thing, then you can take a liveaboard from Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam (about 3 hours away by car). The best time to dive is from May to October, when the wind is less strong, but it’s also during the hottest months. Winter months have more agreeable weather in general but the wind and current can sometimes postpone dives. How to get there: fly to Marsa Alam and either take a liveaboard from Port Ghalib, or drive down to Hamata/Wadi Lahami. You might also like: 9 World-Class Beaches in Egypt

El Moez Street (also spelled Muizz or Muiz) is the shorthand version of its proper name: El Moez Li-Deen Allah Al-Fatimi Street. You can probably see why we locals shortened it. So what exactly is Moez Street? It’s a 1 km long pedestrian street, and to quote the UN, it has “the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world”. It might not be the Pyramids , but it’s a definite must-see to get a true feel for the history of Cairo as a city, and to see some frankly mind-blowing medieval Islamic architecture and art. And not in a stuffy, museum-type behind-the-glass environment -- it’s a free pedestrian street with the architecture all around you, so you don’t have to worry about paying money to stare at super curated things that you a) don’t really understand, and b) are kind of boring. One thing we can promise about Moez Street -- it’s not boring, that’s for sure. A little background first: El Moez Street is found in an area of Cairo known officially as Historic Cairo, but we locals refer to it as ‘Old Cairo’ ( masr el adeema in Arabic). Cairo was officially founded in 969 AD by the Fatimids (a North African Shi’ite Muslim caliphate) and the modern-day area of Old Cairo consists of the remnants of the pre-Cairo cities (Fustat, Al Askar, Al Qatta’i), as well as Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo. Moez Street is named after the 4th caliph of the Fatimid dynasty. You might also like: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Local's Guide Old Cairo/Historic Cairo was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and it was called "one of the world's oldest Islamic cities, with its famous mosques, madrasas, hammams and fountains" and "the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching its golden age in the 14th century." Read more about Egypt’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites here . Cairo’s Islamic History Briefly explaining the Islamic history of Egypt and Cairo in particular isn’t easy, what with all the different Islamic dynasties, but it’s important to have an idea of what we’re talking about when we reference something as being Fatimid, Mamluk, Ottoman or what have you. Egypt was conquered by Arab Muslims in 641 AD, led by Amr ibn Al-As, who proceeded to build the first mosque in Egypt and all of Africa (a reconstructed mosque still stands in Cairo today). Although the capital of Egypt at the time was Alexandria , Amr ibn Al-As created a new capital where his mosque was, and named it Fustat. More than 300 years later, in 969 AD, the Fatimid Caliph El Moez Li-Deen Allah Al-Fatimi built his new capital Cairo ( Al Qahera in Arabic) north of Fustat, and later absorbed it. When Cairo was first built, it was a walled enclosure for the royal caliphs, and part of that wall still remains today -- El Moez Street runs between two different gates of the wall. Since the foundation of Cairo, it was under several different Islamic dynasties: Fatimid (969 - 1171 AD) - originally Arab, they had a North African Shi’ite caliphate Ayyubid (1171 - 1250 AD) - a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins, led by Salah El Din Mamluk (1250 - 1517 AD) - a sultanate ruled by military slaves of Turkic and Circassian origins Ottoman (1517 - 1867 AD) - part of the Ottoman Empire. Egypt became an autonomous Khedivate under Ottoman influence after 1867 Egypt wouldn’t achieve full independence from outside powers until it became a republic in 1952. Pheeeeww ok we are now officially done with the history lesson. Moez Street Today: What To Expect Moez Street today is a mix of medieval mosques and buildings alongside modern vendors and shops in an Old Cairo neighborhood called Gamaleya, and the street is adjacent to the world-famous bazaar Khan el Khalili (for more info, you can read our full Khan el Khalili guide here ). The street starts at the northern Bab El Fotouh (one of the original gates to the old walled city), then meanders south for a bit until it intersects with Al Azhar street. Cross Al Azhar, and El Moez continues through the El Ghouri Complex ( El Ghoureya in Arabic), ending at Bab Zuweila and the Tentmakers’ Market in the south. You can either walk down the street and admire the buildings just from the outside, or you can explore some of them from the inside. Most of the mosques have free entry, but some of the other medieval buildings require a ticket and have working hours. Starting from the El Ghouri Complex, the street gets pretty chaotic with all the different shops and vendors, so just don’t expect a calm stroll and you’ll be fine. How To Get There The easiest way to get to Moez Street is to have a taxi or Uber drop you off at Bab el Fotouh in Gamaleya. Just plug in the destination on your Uber app, or tell the cab driver (just make sure he knows where it is first -- some Egyptian cab drivers really need to give up their day job). From Bab el Fotouh, you just walk through the gate and there you are! Moez Street Tickets and Working Hours The street itself is free of charge, and is just as popular at night as it is during the day, mainly because of how the buildings are lit in the dark. Mosques: most of the mosques are free to enter, but if you’re a woman make sure that you have something to cover your hair (and aren’t wearing something too short/revealing) and both sexes need to take off their shoes at the entrance (you can bring them in with you though). Places like the Qalawun Complex and Beit el Seheimy need a ticket to enter, and you can either buy an individual ticket or a combination one that lets you into different spots of interest on Moez Street, including historical houses, palaces and mausoleums. Combination ticket price: 180 EGP (non-Egyptian), 60 EGP (Egyptian). This ticket gives you access to Qalawun Complex, Sulayman Agha Al-Silahdar Mosque and Sabil, Al-Kamil School, Al-Nasir Muhammad Ibn Qalawun Mosque and School, Sultan Barqouk Mosque, Maimonides Synagogue, Hammam Inal and Amir Beshtak Palace. Where to buy the combination ticket: at Qalawun Complex The combination ticket doesn't include Beit el Seheimy (180 EGP and you buy it at the entrance of Beit el Sehemy itself). It also doesn't include climbing Bab Zuweila (100 EGP). Working hours for places that need tickets: 9 am - 5 pm (shortened hours in Ramadan), closed on Sundays. What You’ll See There’s *a lot* to see while walking down El Moez Street, but we narrowed down the main sites and listed them in the order of what you’ll see walking from Bab el Fotouh at the north entrance down south to the Tentmakers’ Market where Moez officially ends. Ready? Take a stroll with us: Bab El Fotouh Built: 1087 AD Islamic era: Fatimid One of the last three remaining gates to the original walled city of Cairo, built by a Fatimid caliph. It has arrow slits and shafts for pouring boiling water or oil on attackers. Bab El Nasr Built: 1087 AD Islamic era: Fatimid Before entering Moez Street from Bab El Fotouh, you can check out Bab El Nasr to the left of Bab el Fotouh. It’s one of the three remaining gates mentioned above, translating to Gate of Victory. Al Hakim Mosque Built: 992 AD Islamic era: Fatimid Once you enter Moez Street, the first site you’ll find is the Al Hakim Mosque, short for Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah. Its minarets are the oldest surviving minarets in Cairo. During certain periods after its construction during the Fatimid dynasty, it was used as a prison for Latin Crusaders, a fortress for Napoleon and a school before returning to its original function as a mosque. Mosque-Sabil of Sulayman Agha Al-Silahdar Built: 1839 AD Islamic era: Ottoman This religious complex of Sulayman Agha Al-Silahdar is a mosque, sabil (a building with the purpose of providing free drinking water to the public) and kuttab (a religious elementary school). Its design is known as ‘Ottoman baroque’. Beit El Seheimy Built: 1648 Islamic era: Ottoman Translating to ‘House of El Seheimy’, this historic house turned museum is a beautiful example of Ottoman residential architecture. It needs a ticket to enter (you can either buy a single ticket or a combo Moez Street one), but is definitely worth it. It’s found on Darb el Asfar, a lane intersecting with Moez Street which was an extremely expensive and affluent area of Islamic Cairo. Al Aqmar Mosque Built: 1126 AD Islamic era: Fatimid Translating to ‘Moonlit Mosque’, this mosque served the residents of early Cairo as well as the Great Fatimid Palace (no longer standing). It was the earliest mosque to have such an elaborate exterior facade and decoration. Beshtak Palace Built: 1339 AD Islamic era: Mamluk This palace turned museum was built in the 14th century by the Mamluk emir Beshtak (an emir was a powerful official or lord in the Mamluk dynasty). He built the palace to be his home and stables, and it’s a rare example of residential architecture at the time. Only part of the palace still exists, and is accessible via a ticket. Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda Built: 1744 AD Islamic era: Ottoman This public water fountain/building (sabil) and religious elementary school (kuttab) was built by Egyptian architect Katkhuda, and differs from the rest of Moez Street’s architecture in the sense that it’s free standing from 3 sides -- it’s in the middle of the street. Although it was built during the Ottoman era, the design is Mamluk. Hammam Inal Built: 1456 AD Islamic era: Mamluk This medieval hammam (public bathhouse) was built by the Mamluk Sultan Inal. It's one of the last remaining preserved historic hammams in Cairo; by the end of the 19th century there were around 80 hammams but now have dwindled down to just a few. Al-Kamil School Built: 1229 AD Islamic era: Ayyubid Adjacent to the Hammam Inal is Al-Kamil School (also known as the Mosque-Madrasa of Al-Kamil Mohamed Ayyub or Kamileya School). It was one of the greatest theology schools in Egypt in the 13th century, but the building was largely destroyed in later centuries. It was restored during the Ottoman era, which shows through the Ottoman architecture (for example, the mashrabeya windows) that you can still see today. Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Barquq Built: 1386 AD Islamic era: Mamluk This religious complex was built by the Mamluk Sultan Al Zaher Barquq and houses not only a mosque but a ‘madrasa’ -- a religious school dedicated to the four Islamic schools of thought. It’s adjacent to the madrasa of Al Nassir Mohamed , an earlier sultan. These two structures are thought to be some of the greatest Mamluk architecture in Cairo, alongside the Qalawun Complex (below). Qalawun Complex Built: 1285 AD Islamic era: Mamluk The funerary complex of Sultan Al-Mansour Qalawun was built over the ruins of one of the two original but no longer standing Fatimid palaces of Moez Street (giving this section of the street the name of ‘ Bein el Qasrein ’ -- ‘between the two palaces’). The mausoleum at Qalawun Complex is considered to be the second most beautiful mausoleum in the world, second only to the Taj Mahal. Entrance is via ticket. Sultan Al-Ashraf Barsbay Mosque Built in: 1424 AD Islamic era: Mamluk Also known as Al Ashraf Mosque, the Barsbay mosque was part of Mamluk Sultan Al Ashraf Al Barsbay’s complex, alongside a mausoleum and Sufi lodgings (now destroyed). This mosque is known not only for its size but its marble mosaics and stained glass windows. El Ghouri Complex Built: 1505 AD Islamic era: Mamluk Cross Al Azhar street and you’ll continue Moez Street through the El Ghouri Complex, known as El Ghoureya in Arabic. El Ghoureya is a funerary complex for the second-to-last Mamluk sultan, El Ghouri. What makes this complex so different from anything else on the street is that it’s situated on both sides of Moez Street, with a wooden roof above connecting the two sides. It’s home to a mosque, mausoleum and religious school, but the main thing you’ll see are all the modern stalls and vendors peddling all kinds of clothes and textiles. Al Muayyad Mosque Built in: 1421 AD Islamic era: Mamluk Close to Bab Zuweila (below), the Al Muayyad Mosque is considered the last great hypostyle mosque in Cairo. The interiors of the mosque were some of the most richly decorated at the time, although it’s said that some pieces were illegally taken from other mosques; Al Muayyad Mosque’s door and chandelier is said to come from the famous Sultan Hassan mosque. Bab Zuweila Built in: 1087 AD Islamic era: Fatimid The last remaining southern gate of the old Fatimid walled city of Cairo. Executions would sometimes take place here, with the heads of executed criminals displayed on the wall (which reminds us, RIP Ned Stark). Bab Zuweila is where Moez Street officially ends, but most explorers continue directly south to the tentmakers’ market. Tentmakers’ Market ( El Khayemeya ) A covered market (one of Cairo’s very last) selling all different kinds of beautiful textiles: carpets, pillow cases, tapestries and colorful tent material that’s used all over Egypt in mosques, weddings, homes and holidays. The market itself is a small alley with a high roof with skylights for sunlight and ventilation. The goods sold at the different stalls are great examples of Egyptian handicrafts, and are super reasonably priced. Extra: the Maimonides Synagogue Built: 10th century originally The Maimonides Synagogue (also known as Musa ben Maimoun Temple or Rav Moshe Synagogue) is kind of a bonus site for El Moez Street, mainly because it's not actually on the street itself -- it's on a small side street about a 10 minute walk away, in what used to be known as the Jewish Quarter (Haret el Yehood). However, entry to the synagogue is included when you buy your combination Moez Street ticket. The synagogue had fallen into decay but was restored by the government in 2010. Where to stay on Moez Street If you're interested in staying in a hotel right in the heart of Moez Street, then look no further than Le Riad de Charme, a boutique hotel that embraces the history and architectural beauty of the area. Read more: 8 Boutique Hotels in Egypt for a More Unique, Personalized Experience The pros of staying in a hotel right on Moez Street are that you'll be able to explore the street and Khan el Khalili for as long as you want without worrying about fitting it all in one day or having to make several trips. It's a good base in general if your main interest is Islamic Cairo as a whole: which includes not only Moez Street and Khan el Khalili but the Citadel, Sultan Hassan & El Rifai mosques , Ibn Tulun and City of the Dead as well. The cons of staying in a hotel on Moez Street are that it gets pretty crowded and busy, and traffic is a hassle if you want to explore Cairo outside of that area. Also Old Cairo/Islamic Cairo in general doesn't have a plethora of good restaurants, plus they don't serve alcohol, so you'll be a distance away from any nightlife. Where to eat on Moez Street While that area is known for having either tourist trap restaurants or just mediocre food in general, here are a few we recommend: Naguib Mahfouz Cafe & Khan El Khalili Restaurant This is actually one restaurant, but we locals mainly refer to it just as Naguib Mahfouz Cafe. It's not technically on Moez Street, but very close by in the Khan el Khalili market. It's run by the Oberoi group, which ensures that the quality of food never dips, and in fact it's one of our favorite restaurants in Cairo to bring foreign friends . The menu has all the Egyptian classics, the inner decor is ambient and fits its surroundings and they have live music most nights - but make sure you reserve before you go though, they're always fully booked! 2. Zeeyara The boutique hotel on Moez Street that we mentioned above, Le Riad de Charme, has a very cute rooftop restaurant called Zeeyara that overlooks several of the medieval monuments. 3. Tekiyt Khan Khatoun (Beit Zeinab Khatoun) This restaurant/cafe isn't on Moez Street itself, but is nearby behind the Al Azhar Mosque (on El Azhar street, which intersects with Moez Street). You'll find the restaurant in the courtyard of Beit Zeinab Khatoun, a historical Mamluk house built in 1486. Read more: Oldest Restaurants, Bars and Cafes in Cairo This spot is recommended more for a snack, coffee or shisha during your Moez Street visit, although they do have a full menu of Egyptian and international dishes (we recommend ordering the Egyptian options). And that’s a wrap for Moez Street! But before you leave the area, make sure you check out the world-famous souq and bazaar Khan el Khalili which is adjacent to Moez Street (you’ll have to double back a little back from Bab Zuweila). How to leave: You can catch a cab from the narrow street right outside Bab Zuweila, but it’s probably easier to head back to Al Azhar street (where El Ghoureya is), and get a cab from there or have an Uber pick you up. Or if you’re exploring Khan el Khalili before you leave, hop in a cab from El Hussein Square. You might also like: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide

When thinking of Egypt and pyramids, most people automatically think of the Giza Pyramids. But what most people fail to realize is that they’re not the sole pyramids in Egypt, and not even the oldest! Read more: 9 Different Egyptian Pyramids (That AREN’T The Giza Pyramids!) That You Need To See One of the things that makes the Pyramids of Giza so fascinating is their sheer size, plus the neighboring Great Sphinx. But not too far from the Giza Plateau is the necropolis of Saqqara, which is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in the world (and also the oldest complete stone building in the world, by the way), as well as a fascinating array of smaller pyramids and Old Kingdom and New Kingdom tombs. Wait, what exactly is Saqqara? Saqqara (also spelled Sakkara) was the royal necropolis of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom capital, Memphis. The remains of the necropolis today include the Step Pyramid of Djoser (aka Zoser), smaller pyramids, tombs and other Ancient Egyptian monuments. Outside of the necropolis that’s sectioned off for sightseeing, Saqqara is still an active archaeological dig site, with almost yearly discoveries. Is Saqqara worth visiting while in Cairo? If you have the time, then definitely. For several reasons: The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest pyramid in Egypt, and is considered the initial prototype for the smooth-sided pyramids of Giza (you can see more of that evolution with the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur) Saqqara actually has more to see than the Giza Plateau, between the different pyramids, mastaba tombs, Serapeum, etc. Continue reading down below for a more detailed guide to what you can see in Saqqara Saqqara isn’t far at all from Downtown Cairo, around an hour maybe. Paired with the Dahshur Pyramids and maybe the remnants of Memphis, it’s a really nice half-day trip that’s easily put together by any tour agency if you don’t want to do it solo Saqqara is much emptier and quieter than the Giza Pyramids. You can wander around the site without any annoying touts and vendors, and there are actually plaques to describe what you’re looking at it, which is a rarity in Egypt What to See in Saqqara Like we said above, Saqqara is divided into both a tourist site open to visitors and an active dig site. You won’t be able to explore the dig site for obvious reasons, but there’s still TONS to see. Local tip: not all of the following are always open to the public, sometimes they’re closed for restoration or are on rotation. Unfortunately the only way to find out what’s open and what’s not is to actually go, lol. So here are the main spots in the necropolis, and they’re all a very quick drive away from each other by car, or you can hoof it but beware all the sand and sun: Main Saqqara Site #1: Step Pyramid of Djoser Complex Ok so first off, you’ll hit the Step Pyramid of Djoser Complex. There’s lots to see and explain, but we’ll only get briefly into the main points or else we’ll be here all day. The main things to see there once you walk in are: i) Colonnaded Entrance of the Djoser Step Pyramid Complex You’ll enter the complex through here (same as ancient days, by the way). The colonnade is 20 pairs of columns with 24 small chambers between each, which are thought to maybe represent the nomes of Upper and Lower Egypt, and may have once held statues of the pharaoh or the gods. ii) The Step Pyramid of Djoser This beauty is the oldest Egyptian pyramid to date – it was built c. 2670–2650 BC, so it’s about 4,700 years old, if you can believe that. The architect was Djoser’s vizier Imhotep, thought of now as the founding father of Egyptian pyramids, and the design is six mastabas of decreasing size atop one another. Mastabas were how pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty and VIPs were buried before the invention of the pyramids -- mastabas were rectangular, flat-roofed tombs. You can enter the Step Pyramid with an extra ticket. You’ll enter through the Southern Passage, where you’ll walk down a stone corridor ( local tip: it’s nowhere near as narrow or steep as the Giza & Dahshur Pyramids, so if you want to go inside a pyramid with the least amount of claustrophobia/physical exertion, this is the one to enter). At the end of the corridor you’ll reach a railing where you can look down and see the burial chamber where Djoser was laid to rest, deep in the belly of the pyramid. Note: the Northern Passage into the Step Pyramid is not currently open to the public, which is a bummer because it leads to tunnels with some fascinating tiling, engraving and wall imagery. iii) South Tomb The South Tomb is a good place to see what you’re missing within the Northern Passage of the Step Pyramid. Because this tomb is too small to actually hold Djoser’s body, Egyptologists have several theories about the function of the tomb: one is to house the pharaoh’s ka in the afterlife, and a second theory is that this is where the pharaoh’s organs were kept in canopic jars (although future pharaohs were always buried with their canopic jars in the same burial chamber, so it’s a mystery). In either case, the South Tomb has a 30m tunnel that descends into a pink granite burial chamber. It then leads into further chambers that have blue tiling (like the non-accessible Northern passage of the Step Pyramid) as well as wall decoration. Note: you need to buy an extra ticket to enter the South Tomb. iv) Serdab The serdab is a small, enclosed chamber from the Old Kingdom that houses a statue of the deceased (in this case, Djoser) with just a small hole in the wall. It’s believed this statue was for the Pharaoh’s ka, and the sealed off space allowed the soul protection within its walls. You can peek into the hole and see what’s left of Djoser’s statue. Like we said above, there’s loads more to see at the Step Pyramid Complex so make sure to read up on the nitty-gritty before you go. There’s also signage there if you’re not going with a guide. Saqqara Main Site #2: Pyramid of Unas & Old Kingdom Mastaba Tombs While the Pyramid of Unas is not much to look at externally anymore, it’s what’s inside the collapsed pyramid that makes it so interesting. It’s the smallest remaining pyramid of the Old Kingdom, but notable due to the discovery of the ‘Pyramids Texts’ inscribed inside on its walls. The Pyramids Texts were funerary texts and spells for the pharaoh’s afterlife, which would later become the basis of the Book of the Dead. Nearby the Pyramid of Unas are other Old Kingdom mastaba tombs such as: Tomb of Mehu, a royal vizier Tomb of Ti, known for its wall depictions of daily life in the Old Kingdom, including scenes of farming, boat-building and poultry-fattening Tomb of Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotelp, an unusual ‘double tomb’ mastaba. It’s not common to find a tomb for two people, so it’s theorized that these two men were brothers, and perhaps twins (one theory is that they were actually conjoined twins) Tomb of Irukaptah, also known as Tomb of the Butchers Saqqara Main Site #3: Pyramid of Teti & Tomb of Mereruka This pyramid doesn’t even really resemble a pyramid anymore – you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a sandy hill. But it is in fact the remains of the Pyramid of Teti, and underneath the rubble is worth seeing too – it’s the second known pyramid to have Pyramid Texts on its walls. Nearby the Pyramid of Teti is the Tomb of Mereruka, the biggest and most elaborate tomb of all the non-royals buried in Saqqara. It has 33 chambers in total, with wall paintings and a life-like statue of the vizier Mereruka himself. (Note: going inside the Tomb of Mereruka needs an extra ticket). There are also other Old Kingdoms tombs near the Pyramid of Teti worth visiting, like the Tomb of Kagemni. Saqqara Main Site #4: Horemheb Necropolis (Tombs of the Nobles & New Kingdom Tombs) and the Bubastieion This site is for the “newer” tombs of the New Kingdom (and by newer, we’re talking 3,000+ years old lol). Although during the New Kingdom the Ancient Egyptian capital was at Thebes (now modern-day Luxor ) and the pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings there, the generals were still buried in Saqqara. Horemheb was a general during the time of Tutankhamun and built his tomb in Saqqara, but then became pharaoh after King Tut died childless. The Bubastieion (or Bubasteum) was a temple dedicated to Bastet, the cat goddess. It’s a cat necropolis where over 100 cat mummies were discovered and thousands of cat bones found. 5 lion mummies were also found there. Saqqara Main Site #5: Serapeum So we covered the feline necropolis, but did you know there’s also a burial ground for bulls in Saqqara? It’s true, the Serapeum was for a sacred Ancient Egyptian bull called the Apis, and more than 60 bulls were found to be buried there, with 24 sarcophagi still remaining at the site. How to Get to Saqqara The most direct and hassle-free way of getting to Saqqara is arranging with a local tour company for them to pick you up and take you there (you can also add on whatever sights you’d like, for example the Dahshur Pyramids or Memphis. You can also include the Pyramids of Giza and have one big Pyramids day). You can also go solo, via Uber or taxi, but these are our local tips: The Saqqara necropolis is off the beaten track a bit and in agricultural land, so it’s not always straightforward to get to and sometimes the GPS will lead you astray. It’s better to make sure your driver knows how to get there without relying on GPS The Saqqara necropolis is pretty big and ideally would need a car to drive you from one main site to the other; it’s doable on foot but ultimately a big hassle It’s almost impossible to get an Uber back from Saqqara, so if you go with an Uber or taxi, make sure that they wait for you to finish and you can leave with them Saqqara Opening Hours 8 am - 5 pm (closes earlier during the month of Ramadan) Saqqara Ticket Prices Standard Entrance to Saqqara Necropolis Ticket: Non-Egyptian ticket: 450 EGP Non-Egyptian student ticket: 230 EGP Egyptian ticket: 30 EGP Egyptian student ticket: 10 EGP Local tip: this ticket includes the Step Pyramid of Djoser complex, Unas and Teti Pyramids and the tombs of Kagemni, Nikauisesi, Ankhmahor, Nefereshemptah, Ptahhotep, Ti, Idut, Unasankh and Iynefert – but keep in mind the tombs are sometimes on rotation so you’re not guaranteed these will be the same tombs open on the day you go. Entry into the Step Pyramid via the Southern Passage Ticket: Non-Egyptian ticket: 220 EGP Non-Egyptian student ticket: 110 EGP Egyptian ticket: 40 EGP Egyptian student ticket: 20 EGP South Tomb in Step Pyramid Complex Ticket: Non-Egyptian ticket: 240 EGP Non-Egyptian student ticket: 120 EGP Egyptian ticket: 40 EGP Egyptian student ticket: 20 EGP Nobles Tombs & New Kingdom Tombs in Horemheb necropolis and the Bubastieion Ticket: Non-Egyptian ticket: 330 EGP Non-Egyptian student ticket: 170 EGP Egyptian ticket: 20 EGP Egyptian student ticket: 10 EGP General Local Tips About Visiting Saqqara: As you can probably tell by now there’s a ton to see, so if you’re interested in visiting all the sites and entering all the tombs, this will take the better part of half a day. If you want to visit as part of a larger Giza Pyramids + Saqqara + Dahshur tour, you’ll have to streamline your Saqqara visit There aren’t any restaurants or cafes there, so make sure to bring your own snacks/water (there are a few touts selling water & sodas, but for exorbitant touristic prices) The sun is strong, so make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat if you’re sensitive to the sun Saqqara is a great spot to be able to see in the distance the rest of the pyramid fields: Giza, Dahsur & Abu Sir Pyramids Happy exploring and enjoy! You might also like: Dahshur Pyramids – A Local’s Guide to the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid & Black Pyramid

If you’re visiting Cairo, then chances are you have plans to visit the Pyramids of Giza (as you should!). The Great Pyramid of Giza is the last standing Ancient Wonder of the World and definitely is a highlight of any trip to Egypt – it is absolutely not overhyped or overrated, as so many travel destinations now are in our Instagram-obsessed world. Read more: Visiting the Pyramids of Giza – A Local’s Guide To Everything You Need To Know But you know what is UNDERhyped and UNDERrated? The pyramids at Dahshur! To the extent that most visitors coming to Egypt have never even heard of them, which is a crying shame because the Bent Pyramid especially is one of the coolest-looking pyramids in the world. But before we get ourselves all hot and bothered, let’s quickly break down what exactly IS Dahshur, why exactly you should visit, and everything else you need to know about this hidden gem in Egypt. So what is Dahshur? Dahshur is an Ancient Egyptian royal necropolis in the desert on the outskirts of greater Cairo, and home to several pyramids, two of which (the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid) are even older than the Pyramids of Giza. Is it worth visiting Dahshur if I’ve already seen the Pyramids of Giza? If you’re not super tight on time in Cairo, then the answer is definitely yes! Visiting Dahshur will actually give you more insight into how exactly the Pyramids of Giza were made and the transition from the step pyramid shape (like Djoser’s pyramid at Saqqara ) to the smooth-sided shape of the Giza Pyramids. Pharaoh Sneferu (the father of Khufu, the pharaoh of the Great Pyramid) first attempted a smooth-sided pyramid at Dahshur but failed, resulting in the Bent Pyramid (more info below). He then got it right with the Red Pyramid, leading his son to use his engineering know-how to later build the greatest pyramid the world has ever seen, in Giza. Also because Dahshur is off the beaten path, the necropolis is much less crowded than the Giza pyramids, and there are no touts (just a couple of security guys who will offer to take your picture). Plus the entrance ticket is a quarter of the price of the Giza Pyramids! What can I see in Dahshur? The Bent Pyramid Built 2613–2589 BC (so over 4,600 years ago!) by Sneferu, archaeologists believe that the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between the step pyramid and smooth-sided pyramid. The ‘bent’ appearance is due to its base having a 54 degree inclination, but the top section having a narrower 43 degree angle. There are different theories as to why it was built this way: one was that as the builders reached the top, the top section started to show instability, so they narrowed the angle. Another theory is that they anticipated Sneferu’s death approaching, so they wanted to finish his pyramid as soon as possible. A third theory is that they were trying to avoid the same colossal disaster that occured with Sneferu’s first pyramid, the Meidum pyramid in Beni Suef, which collapsed mid-construction. The Red Pyramid The Red Pyramid is believed to be the first successful attempt at creating a smooth-sided pyramid in Egypt, and was Pharaoh Sneferu’s third pyramid (after the Bent Pyramid & Meidum Pyramid). It’s also the third biggest pyramid in Egypt, after the Khufu and Khafre pyramids at the Giza Plateau. The Red Pyramid received its moniker due to its reddish hue, although it wasn’t always red. The entire pyramid used to be encased in white limestone, which you can still see at the base. The white limestone was actually stripped from the pyramid in the Middle Ages (can you believe it?) to construct buildings in Cairo. The layer underneath was red limestone, which you can see until today. The Black Pyramid This pyramid, while technically ruined, is still definitely worth seeing when you head to Dahshur, just because it looks so different and vaguely creepy. The Black Pyramid is believed to be the first pyramid in Egypt that was intended to house both the pharaoh and his queens. It was built by Pharaoh Amenemhat III in the Middle Kingdom, so around 3,800 years ago. It’s called the Black Pyramid due to is “dark, decaying appearance”. It collapsed partially due to it being made out of mudbrick instead of traditional stone (although it was encased in limestone), and partially due to its low elevation allowing Nile water to seep into the walls, ending with the structure cracking and sinking into the clay ground. Can you enter the Dahshur pyramids? Yep, you can enter the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid, for no extra price (unlike the Giza Pyramids, where you have to buy an extra ticket to go in them). To be fair though, there’s not much to see in them and it’s not recommended if a) you’re claustrophobic, b) not in the best shape or get winded easily, c) have back or knee problems, or d) you’re afraid of bats :D To enter either pyramid, you climb up long (and sometimes steep) stairs to get to the entrance. Then it’s a series of very low tunnels (as in, you’re completely hunched over) to get to the lower pyramid chamber. There are also high wooden staircases to take you to upper chambers. All in all, it’s a workout and not easy on the back or legs by any means. The adventure element is fun, but don’t expect to see treasures at the end of it – the pyramid chambers are all just empty rooms (save a few bats, lol). How to get to Dahshur While Dahshur isn’t far from Downtown Cairo (maybe an hour’s drive), getting there isn’t very straightforward so here’s where our local experience on the ground will come in handy. Because like we said before, Dahshur is off the beaten track and not known to most visitors – the main people there were part of tour groups who came via tour bus, which obviously is the most straightforward way of going about it. If you’re interested in going solo though and not part of a tour group, then here’s some important things to keep in mind: If you’re going with an Uber or using GPS to get there, it gets really tricky because the GPS will want to take you there via the quickest route (Fayoum Road), but it doesn’t realize that that route will cut through the Dahshur military base (which you obviously can’t go through). So then it’ll force you to take a really long circuitous route through questionable neighborhoods and roads. So basically what we’re saying is that it’s best if you hire a car & driver for a day who actually knows how to get there and doesn’t need to depend on GPS (the best way there is through the Saqqara Road). Or hire a tour guide who will be able to give directions to the driver. Basically just someone who knows where they’re going lol. Once you arrive at Dahshur, it’s best to have some kind of vehicle with you because it’s a trek through the desert from the entrance to the Red Pyramid, then to the Bent Pyramid after that, and so on and so forth. With a car or tour bus, you just drive from spot to spot and then can walk around and take pictures as much as you like. If you do end up going with an Uber driver, make sure you hold on to him there because it’s extreeeeemely difficult to get another Uber or even a regular taxi on the way back. Dahshur is desert surrounded by agricultural land, so it’s not like the Pyramids of Giza which are right on a bustling Cairo road. Dahshur Opening Hours: 8 am to 5 pm (they close earlier in Ramadan, so make sure to double check – it’ll probably close by 3 pm then but Egyptian opening hours can change with the wind) Dahshur ticket prices: Non Egyptian ticket: 150 EGP (75 EGP for students) Egyptian ticket: 10 EGP (5 EGP for students) Car ticket: 10 EGP And now a few parting local tips about Dahshur: If you’re not going with a guide, there’s no signage there with explanations of the pyramids, so it’s best to read up before you go to really get a feel for how interesting Dahshur is There aren’t any restaurants or cafes inside the necropolis, so make sure to bring your own water and/or snacks There are very few shaded areas (unless you’re inside the pyramid, that is) so make sure you’re equipped with sunblock and a hat if you’re sensitive to the sun There aren’t any bathrooms, so emptying your bladder before heading to Dahshur is always a good idea If anyone offers to take your picture or to show you different spots in the necropolis, they’re looking for a tip. Feel free to just say no thanks and keep it moving, they’re not pushy like the touts at the Giza Pyramids It’s a good idea to also visit the Saqqara necropolis (where the Step Pyramid of Djoser and other cool tombs are) because it’s close by and along with Memphis (the remnants of the Ancient Egyptian capital), make a really fun day trip. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs You may also like: Top 10 Things To Do in Cairo, Egypt

While it’s true that Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera is home to some amazing coastal cities, towns and beaches, we have to confess: El Gouna is one of our personal favorites. Sharm El Sheikh and El Gouna’s neighbor Hurghada might be way more famous and popular with tourists (and for good reason), but El Gouna has a special place in our hearts (we are totally aware that other people will fight us to the death over which Red Sea Riviera destination is best, but at the end of the day, they’re all amazing so no point arguing over apples and oranges). You might like: 8 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations Some quick facts about El Gouna It’s a resort town spanning over 10 km of pristine Red Sea coast, with lagoons throughout It’s 25 km from the city of Hurghada (for our full Hurghada guide, head here ). It’s a 4 hour flight from most European cities and around a 4 hour drive from Cairo The architecture throughout is inspired by traditional Egyptian homes in the countryside and Upper Egypt It was the first destination in the Middle East and Africa to receive the Global Green Award, which is given by the UN to cities making substantial efforts, progress and improvements in the field of environmental sustainability Best Time To Go El Gouna is technically a year-round destination, but it really depends on your personal preferences. Spring and fall are El Gouna’s ‘high season’ -- it’s when the weather is at its most ideal (beach weather without soaring temperatures), so that’s when you’ll find Gouna at its busiest. Considering it’s a coastal resort town, summer is a great time to go too obviously, but only if you can handle daily temperatures in the mid-to-high thirties (Celsius) or the nineties (Fahrenheit) and super-strong sun. The great thing about El Gouna is that it never gets too crowded -- with the exception of public holidays and certain annual events like the Gouna Film Festival or the Sandbox music festival. How To Get There If you’re coming from abroad (or even planning to fly domestically), then just fly into Hurghada International Airport, which is about a half an hour car ride from Gouna. Once you land, it’s easy to either grab a taxi from outside the arrivals hall or call a car service to pick you up (like London Cab, Budget or ABC Taxi, more info about both below). If you’re staying at a hotel, you can also easily arrange pre-arrival for your hotel to send a car to pick you up. If you’re coming from Cairo , then you have one of three options: a) drive, b) take a bus, or c) fly. Driving from Cairo is now a super-smooth trip thanks to the new Galala Road which allows you to bypass the scary two-way twisty mountain roads of Ain el Sokhna. It takes about 3.5 hours from the Cairo toll station to the Hurghada toll station (which is right before El Gouna), and about 4 hours from central Cairo. If you’re coming by bus , then GoBus offers over 15 buses daily between Cairo and El Gouna (they drop you off at their bus stop in Downtown El Gouna). They offer different types of buses according to what kind of ticket you buy (for example, the Elite Plus bus has individual LCD screens for each seat). You can find more info on: https://go-bus.com/en As for flying, the trip from Cairo to Hurghada takes about 45 minutes. Where To Stay The two main areas in El Gouna are Abu Tig Marina and Downtown -- that’s where most of the restaurants, nightlife, shops and beach bars/pool clubs are. You’ll find a handful of hotels in both areas, but the bigger resorts have their own real estate and beachfront in El Gouna. The rest of the town is mainly residential, divided into different neighborhoods on lagoons. Ok, cool. But still, where should you stay? This totally depends on personal preference. Here are your options: A big resort hotel like Movenpick , Sheraton or Steigenberger (pros: they have lots of activities for both adults and kids, and have pools, beachfront and restaurants, meaning you don’t have to leave your resort unless you want to). A hotel on Abu Tig Marina (pros: being in walking distance of the marina’s restaurants and nightlife. The hotels range from 3 star to 5 star, and the ones that don’t have a pool or beachfront are given access to Moods and Marina Beach on the marina). A hotel in Downtown (pros: you’re close to the restaurants and cafes of Downtown, and yet are simultaneously on a lagoon). An exclusive, private (but pricey) boutique hotel like La Maison Bleue or Casa Cook An apartment/villa rental , either through a broker or Airbnb (pros: it’s your own place and some have private pools). Each option has its advantages, but it depends on your personal circumstances. And we can say with confidence, that there’s no *bad* place to stay in Gouna. To book a hotel , you can go to: www.hotels.elgouna.com For a rental , we recommend Airbnb. Getting Around/Transportation in El Gouna The thing we love about Gouna is that there’s enough space to never feel crowded, but at the same time it’s contained so that things are never too far from anything else. If you don’t have a car in Gouna, that won’t pose a problem whatsoever. You can either get around by tuktuk, a car service or shuttle bus (or bike if you’re the athletic type, good for you!). Tuktuks Tuktuks take up to 3 people, and you can either order one by phone from the Gouna hotline (16550) or you can ask your hotel reception to do this for you, and they arrive at wherever you are in about 10 minutes or less. There are also tuktuk stands in Downtown and at the Marina where you can hop in the first available one. Car service If you’re more than three people or just prefer cars to tuktuks, then you can call Budget, Gouna’s limousine service. You can either request a car ASAP or book one for a later time. Budget limo service: +20122 734 0166 Shuttle Bus (within El Gouna) If you’re staying at one of El Gouna’s bigger hotels or in the West Golf neighborhood, there’s 5 different shuttle bus lines that ferry guests between the hotels and Downtown. Ask your hotel reception for timing and bus stop details. Transportation to/from Hurghada If you’re heading to/from Hurghada airport or anywhere else in Hurghada, there’s easy ways back and forth. One is London Cab, a roomy and comfortable way of getting from the airport to your accommodation or vice versa. You can book them through their website or their app. If London Cab seems too pricey, then ABC Taxi is a personal favorite of ours. They’re metered taxis based in Hurghada but you can order them from El Gouna. You can request one right away or book one for later, and they’re cheaper than Budget car service for going between El Gouna and Hurghada. There are also other similar private taxi services that serve Gouna from Hurghada, but ABC Taxi is the one we use the most personally. ABC Taxi: +20100 222 8294 You can also take the GoBus from Downtown Gouna to their stop in Hurghada (doesn’t go to the airport). Things To Do There’s tons of fun activities in both El Gouna and nearby Hurghada, and as is the recurrent theme here, it really depends on your preferences. Beaches/pools where you can spend the day: Moods Beach Zouni Beach Mangroovy The Clubhouse Club 88 Smokery Beach Makani Beach Club Zeytouna Beach Island Marina Beach DuPort Pool Club Water sports: Diving Snorkeling Kitesurfing Windsurfing Sliders the cable park Water-skiing/waterboarding Boat trips: Day excursion island boat trip, eg. Giftun Islands (Mahmya/Orange Bay) or Tawila Island (more details at: Red Sea Islands Perfect for a Boat Trip ) Catamaran Glass bottom boat Sailing Fishing Diving/snorkeling Daytime party boat (returns to the marina at sunset) Chartered mini-yachts for weekends or specified amount of days Regular sports: Tennis Squash Horseback riding Golf Go-karting Mini-golf Biking For more details , read 25 Fun Things To Do In Hurghada and El Gouna . Where To Eat El Gouna has a ton of great restaurants serving all different kinds of cuisines. One of our personal favorite things about this coastal town is that all the restaurants are small local affairs owned by Gouna residents of all nationalities -- you won’t find Mcdonald’s or Pizza Hut here (they do have a Nathan’s though for some reason). You’ll find the majority of the restaurants in either Downtown or the Marina, with the exceptions being hotel restaurants. Best places for breakfast: Malu’s Deli Seventh Star The Bagel Tree For our favorite breakfast spots, read this: 8 Best Breakfast Places in El Gouna Best places for lunch/dinner: Saigon Zia Amelia Pier 88 Our full list of the 7 Best Restaurants in El Gouna . Restaurants with an open sea view: Smokery El Bahr Morgan’s Beach Bistro El Sayadin Nightlife Ok, so you swam, tanned, ate… now time to party a little. The most popular night spots in Gouna are: The Tap South (live music and DJs in a casual pub atmosphere on the marina) Pier 88 on weekends after 10 pm Villa Coconut (early in the evening it's ambient music for dinner and drinks, but then a DJ starts around 10/11 pm until 2 am) Aurora (the main club in Gouna) Barten (a cocktail bar on Abu Tig Marina) Duport on select nights Rush Sports Bar In Downtown they also have shisha cafes that serve alcohol open until 3 am. Leaving It’s just as straightforward as arriving. If you came by GoBus, then you board your return bus at the same stop in Downtown where they dropped you off. If you came by plane and need to go to Hurghada Airport, either Budget limousine or ABC Taxis can take you. Looking for more local guides? Check out: Hurghada, Egypt: A Local Guide For First-Timers Soma Bay, Egypt - A Travel Guide For First Timers Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt: A Detailed Guide For First-Timers Khan El Khalili: An Egyptian Local’s Guide Egypt's Red Sea Riviera: Where To Stay North Coast, Egypt - A Complete Travel Guide For First-Timers Aswan, Egypt: A Local's City Guide

Alexandria may be the second-biggest city in Egypt today, but that’s the least of its claims to fame. The namesake city of Alexander the Great, the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt, the once largest city in the world, the battleground of Cleopatra and the Romans, the home of two ancient wonders of the world and a leading center of learning… those are just a few things that make Alexandria a city worth visiting. And we haven’t even gotten started on its modern history! Alexandria today is a faded version of what was once called ‘the jewel of the Mediterranean’, and the modern city sometimes imposes on its old dated beauty, but it’s still a quirky mix of old and new/beautiful and ugly that’s worth seeing and learning about. Here are some things you should definitely see and do while in Alexandria: 1. Citadel of Qaitbey This medieval Islamic fort has stood sentry on the western coast of Alexandria since 1480, built by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbey to protect the Mediterranean port. But before this spot of Alexandrian real estate was associated with the citadel, it housed something even more famous -- the world-renowned Lighthouse of Alexandria, Pharos, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. The lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake in 1303 and Qaitbey used its rubble 150 years later to build the citadel. 2. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Speaking of ancient wonders of the world, Alexandria used to be home to two of the seven (Egypt as a whole had three of the seven, and the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only ancient wonder to still exist). Besides Pharos the lighthouse, the ancient Library of Alexandria was another marvel that put the Mediterranean city on the map. The Great Library was destroyed during the Roman conquest of Egypt, but in 2002 the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built as a nod to the ancient library and to recapture the spirit of knowledge and learning. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has a main library, six specialized libraries, four museums, permanent and temporary exhibitions, a planetarium, an exploratorium, twelve academic research centers and four art galleries. Their official website . 3. Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa These catacombs are a rare mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman architecture and monuments and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Dating back to the 2nd century AD, these catacombs are three subterranean levels made out of rock (the deepest level is now totally submerged in water). It was discovered in 1900 when a donkey accidentally fell through the access shaft at ground level (a great discovery, but poor donkey). The second level of the catacombs is described as “eerily alive” due to all the sculptures there. It’s believed that it was originally intended as a tomb for a single family, but bones of other individuals and horses were also found there. 4. Pompey’s Pillar and Serapeum First off: the name is kind of a lie. The ancient column, built in ~300 AD, actually had nothing to do with Pompey, who was a Roman general and Julius Caesar’s rival. It was built in honor of the Roman emperor Diocletian, who provided food for the starving city when Alexandria was under siege. The Serapeum, which today is just ruins except for the pillar, used to be Alexandria’s acropolis dedicated to Serapis, Alexandria’s patron god. Legend has it that when Christianity gained strength in Alexandria, they destroyed the Serapeum and other symbols of paganism, around 400 AD. There are also the remains of underground storerooms where they used to keep extra texts and manuscripts from the Great Library of Alexandria. 5. Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque Or as the locals call it, Mursi Abu Al Abbas. This mosque was built over the tomb of the Andalusian Islamic scholar and sheikh, Abu El Abbas Al Mursi. He left his home country of Spain in 1242 for Tunisia, before moving to Alexandria, where he spent 43 years up until his death. In 1307, the then-ruler El Sheikh Zein El Deen built a mausoleum, dome and a small mosque over the tomb. It became a popular pilgrimage spot for Muslims passing through Alexandria on their way to and from Mecca. The present, much larger mosque that stands today was built in 1775 by Algerian sheikh Abu Hassan el Maghreby. It was renovated and ‘beautified’ multiple times since then, and remains to date Alexandria’s largest mosque. For more beautiful mosques in Egypt, head here . 6. Montazah Park Montazah Palace Complex and its royal gardens are situated on the Mediterranean Sea on the eastern side of Alexandria. The former summer palace and residence of the Egyptian monarchy, the Salamlik palace was first built as a hunting lodge in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II, then its sister palace Haramlik was added in 1932 by King Fuad. The palaces now aren’t open to the public, but you can explore the gardens, enjoy the sea views, picnic and ride bikes. Local tip: avoid public holidays! 7. Royal Jewelry Museum Speaking of former palaces, the Royal Jewelry Museum lives in the former palace of Princess Fatma El Zahraa in the Alex neighborhood of Zizenia, built in 1919-1923. The palace is an architectural gem in and of itself, and the royal jewelry collection houses more than 11,000 pieces, some dating back to the rule of Mohammed Ali Pasha, who became Khedive of Egypt in 1805. Besides jewelry, the museum also has on display centuries-old coins, golden clocks, watches, portraits of the royal family in golden frames, dazzling crowns and King Farouk’s walking stick in ebony and gold. 8. Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el Dikka) Discovered by coincidence in 1960 when workers were removing rubble to build a governmental building, the Roman Amphitheatre dates back to the 4th century AD and was used not only in the Roman era for performances, but the Byzantine and early Islamic eras as well, for public assemblies and summits. To the north of the amphitheatre are the ruins of Roman baths dating back to the 2nd-4th century AD, and to the east are the remains of a 2nd century AD Roman villa, known as the Villa of the Birds due to its mosaic floor depicting birds. Both the baths and the villa are worth seeing when visiting the amphitheatre. 9. Alexandria National Museum If you’re a bit fuzzy about Alexandria’s history (no shame -- it’s confusing even to us locals), the National Museum will help sort you out. The museum itself from an architectural standpoint isn’t that impressive, but don’t judge a book by its cover -- its contents definitely make up for what its facade lacks. Its exhibits are divided chronologically into eras to help you flesh things out a bit: pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Christian, Islamic and modern. There’s also a section for underwater monuments (some monuments still exist till present day in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alex!). 10. Walk down the Corniche The heart of Alexandria is truly in its Corniche, the coastal road that hugs the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the city on the other. It’s by walking down the Corniche and seeing the fishing boats bobbing on the water that you can really imagine what the ancient city was like in its heyday over 2,000 years ago. It’s also a great place to people-watch: you’ll see street vendors peddling all kinds of random stuff, parents pushing babies in their strollers, couples walking hand-in-hand, fishermen, and teenagers doing… well whatever it is that teenagers do. 11. Explore Fouad Street While we’re on the topic of walking, make sure you take a stroll down Alexandria’s historic Fouad Street. Although you’ll find it under ‘El Horeya Road’ on Google Maps (Fouad Street’s new name after the 1952 revolution), locals still refer to it as Fouad Street, named after the former Egyptian king. Fouad Street is a dated piece of Alexandria’s belle epoque, when the city was comprised of harmonious Egyptian, Italian, Greek, French, Armenian, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. The architecture, art, shops and even food were a unique melting pot of all the diverse communities, all of whom were Alexandrian first and foremost. 12. Try Alexandria’s famous patisseries Alexandria is known throughout the country for its cafe and patisserie culture, with some of their beloved dessert shops dating back over 100 years, like Trianon near El Raml Station. Or Délices, which is still owned by the same Greek family since 1922. For more beloved old Alexandrian patisseries, you can read 14 Egyptian Dessert Shops & Patisseries More Than 50 Years Old . 13. Ride the tram If you want to feel like a real local, hop on the Alexandrian tram, which has been in operation since 1860. It was the first collective means of transport not only in Egypt, but the whole of Africa. It’s one of the oldest tram systems in the world. Today they’re a cheap and safe (if not particularly speedy) way of seeing the city and they’re one of the few trams in the world that uses double-deck cars. Similar to the metro in Cairo, they have women-only cars for any solo women who feel more comfortable in an all-women environment. 14. Have a drink at the Windsor Palace rooftop The Windsor Palace Hotel, now Paradise Inn Windsor Palace, was established in 1906 and was in quite the enviable location back 100 years ago -- it was close to the Raml train station and Alexandria’s old port harbor, as well as the shopping district and seaside promenades. The current hotel that stands today has seen much better days, but holds on to a timeless claim to fame -- the view from their rooftop restaurant and terrace, called Blue Harbor. Local tip: if their 7th floor Sky Roof is in 'club mode' with obnoxious lighting and music, just stick to their restaurant terrace on the 6th floor -- equally good view. You can read more about Alexandria’s iconic old hotels at 11 Historical Hotels in Egypt You Can Stay At Until Today . 15. Enjoy Alexandria's fresh Mediterranean seafood. Seeing as you're in a seaside city, it only makes sense to indulge in the fresh seafood that Alexandria is known for. Whether you want to have it upscale with a drink and a harbor view like at famous Greek Club (official name is Blue & White Restaurant), or something more local and authentic like the restaurant Negro, Alexandria's seafood is not to be missed. Read more: 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Alexandria You might also like: Where To Stay In Alexandria: 7 Best Hotels In The Mediterranean City

Accommodation in Aswan is a mixed but limited bag of nuts -- you have your 5 star hotels, budget motels, Nubian guesthouses and random B&Bs… but just not that many. And not all are worth your hard-earned dinero. So we took it upon ourselves to sort through the hits and the duds and give you the real truth -- the pros and the cons-- about the best places to stay in Aswan. Local tip: because getting around Aswan and arranging cars and boats isn’t the easiest, your hotel/guesthouse will be doing most of this for you, so it’s important you pick a place where you find it easy enough to communicate with the front desk/reservations manager. Or if you’re a shrewd one, you can strike up a friendship with a local driver or boatman who will probably give you cheaper rates. Local tip #2: make sure you have cash on you because some of the smaller establishments like Nubian guesthouses either don’t accept credit cards or have issues with their credit card machines, and ATMs are hard to come by in certain parts of Aswan. Cash makes everyone’s life easier. You can read more at our full city guide for Aswan . Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Type of accommodation: 5 star hotel It would be almost sacrilegious to start off this list with any other place. This world-famous hotel was built in 1899 by Thomas Cook and Sons, after the Cairo-Aswan railway was built in 1898 and there was a sudden influx of visitors and and not enough hotels. It was an instant hit and quickly garnered a lot of famous guests over the years, including Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill and Princess Diana. It became literally the stuff of ‘legends’ as its current name suggests, when Agatha Christie used it as the backdrop for her famous novel, Death on the Nile . The 1978 movie they made out of the book was shot there too (so was the famous Egyptian TV series ‘Grand Hotel’). For more historical hotels in Egypt you can stay at until today, head here . Pros: the history, the architecture, the views… it’s 5 star all the way. Cons: THEIR PRICES. If you want to stay here, you better be ready to pay for it. Their website . Kato Dool Nubian House Type of accommodation: Nubian guesthouse One of the colorful Nubian guesthouses you see lining the Nile in the Gharb Soheil area of Aswan, where the Nubian Village is. Meaning ‘Big House’ in Nubian, Kato Dool offers 18 rooms, so it definitely has a more homey feel than a larger hotel. They have a Nubian restaurant that serves up traditional Nubian dishes, grills, and other more standard Egyptian favorites. They also serve shisha but not alcohol. Pros: the beautiful Nubian architecture and being right on the Nile. Cons: it’s not close to anything besides the Nubian village, which means transportation by car or boat is constantly needed and for relatively long distances, which is a considerable added price. Their website . Mövenpick Resort Aswan Type of accommodation : 5 star hotel Located on Elephantine Island, this 5 star hotel provides everything you would expect from a high-end hotel: several restaurants and bars (some right on the Nile with views of the Tombs of the Nobles and Aga Khan Mausoleum), a beautiful pool and amenities like a free and fast ferry to and from the island. They also have a tower restaurant called Panorama with 360 degree views of Aswan which are just insane. Pros: the service, amenities and being in close proximity to many of Aswan’s sights . Cons: the food at the Panorama restaurant was severely lacking last time we were there -- they under-delivered and overpriced. Stick to just drinks and enjoying the view if you’re there. Their website . ECO Nubia Type of accommodation: ecolodge ECO Nubia is an ecolodge on the remote river island of Bigeh, located between the Aswan Dam and the High Dam (all the other places on the list are north of the Aswan Dam). Besides single, double and triple rooms, ECO Nubia offers day-use at their Bigeh Beach, and a Nubian restaurant called Solaih that overlooks the nearby Philae Temple . Pros: their dedication to developing the island for both tourism and locals alike in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner. Also the view of Philae! Cons: how remote they are. Their FB page . AnaKato Type of accommodation: Nubian guesthouse Probably the most famous of the Nubian guesthouses in Aswan, AnaKato (meaning ‘our home’ in Nubian), is located in the Gharb Soheil area of Aswan, where Kato Dool (above) and the Nubian Village is, right on the Nile. What started as a small guesthouse has now expanded into several AnaKato properties spread out over Gharb Soheil, and you can choose what kind of room you want: they have basic rooms, family guesthouses and superior chalets. They have an in-house restaurant and are known for their Nile-side New Year’s Eve parties. Pros: the views from their superior chalets are incredible, and their reservations manager is very helpful in sorting out transportation and activities. Cons: their service can be slow, so either give them looots of prior warning (for example, order lunch 2 hours before you’re hungry) or just acclimate yourself to the go-with-the-flow vibe. Gharb Soheil again a bit of a distance from Aswan’s main sites . Their FB page. BenBen by Dhara Hotels Type of accommodation: boutique hotel & ecolodge Located on Heissa Island surrounded by the Nile, this adults only boutique hotel and ecolodge has views of not only Philae Temple, but the Aswan High Dam as well. The hotel as 24 rooms, each with an outdoor jacuzzi. The hotel is built in the eco-friendly Nubian style, with strong focus on its natural surroundings and best ecological practices. Besides their own restaurant and leisure activities, the hotel can also arrange different Aswan excursions for you. Pros: the unbeatable views of Philae Temple (and the jacuzzis of course!) Cons: it's pricey and fully-booked quickly during high season For more details and booking: their website The Zen Wellness Resort Type of accommodation: resort Aswan isn't just a touristic destination for those interested in Ancient Egypt or Nubian culture -- it's also a place that people have gone to for decades to seek out climatic therapy and natural healing . The Zen Wellness Resort brings those two aspects together -- you can experience the beauty and history of Aswan while also partaking in holistic health and wellness. First off, let's talk about accommodation. They offer 3 floor private villas as well as garden view rooms, deluxe rooms and superior rooms. As for wellness, they offer experiences for the mind (eg: CBT, mindfulness meditation and art therapy), for the body (eg: fitness classes, yoga, pilates, biking, water activities, Tai Chi), and for the soul (eg: meditation, mindfulness and expert-led workshops). They also offer holistic 4 day programs that cater to your 360 health and wellbeing. Pros: the ability to intertwine tranquility and wellness into your Aswan trip; as much or as little as you want. Cons: if you don't particularly care for the 'health' part and just want to stay in a beautiful hotel, you might be bothered that their restaurant mainly focuses on seasonal, organic and mainly plant-based meals (meaning you probably won't find your classic vacation favorites), and they don't serve alcohol. For more details and booking : their website You might also like: 7 Best Hotels in Cairo, As Told By Someone Who’s Actually Stayed in Them All

For a long time, Egypt’s North Coast on the Mediterranean Sea and its pristine white sand beaches were Egypt’s best kept secret from the rest of the world. And why is that, you may ask? Let us explain. The North Coast (called Sahel el Shamali  in Arabic, or Sahel for short) wasn’t getting as much international recognition as Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera , which is best known for its resort cities Sharm El Sheikh  and Hurghada . This was mainly because the Red Sea area was developed with year-round tourism in mind, while the Mediterranean North Coast started off as mainly summer beach homes for Egyptians.  Egypt has a ton of beaches , but what made the North Coast such a desired place to buy a pricey seaside home is that the beaches there are nothing less than SPECTACULAR. No seriously, just look at the pictures. A common statement you’ll hear from Egyptians at world-famous beaches across the globe is: “This is nice, but not as nice as our beaches in Sahel ”. And while we may be biased, we invite you to visit the North Coast yourself and see if we’re wrong! And the good news is, the North Coast has slowly begun developing over the years to allow for more tourism, more hotels, more restaurants and just easier and better beach access for visitors to Egypt to really experience it for themselves!  A Few Quick Facts When we refer to the North Coast, we’re specifically talking about a stretch of coastline on the Mediterranean Sea in the north of Egypt, stretching from the city of Alexandria westwards to the town of Marsa Matrouh, about 230 km Well-off locals flocking from Cairo and Alexandria have been ‘summering’ at the North Coast for decades, but the real development boom for summer homes happened in the 1990s and 2000s, continuing on to present day Private gated residential compounds or ‘villages’ were built directly on the coastline, making beach access for non-owners difficult until recently These days, hotels and beachfront restaurants in different compounds have been built with the express purpose to boost tourism for both visitors and locals who don’t own property there New Alamein City, smack in the middle of the stretch of the North Coast, will be a year-round, open-to-the-public seaside city by 2030. It’s not fully finished or operational yet, but one of the North Coast’s best hotels, the Rixos Premium Alamein, is already up and running there, as well as a few malls and entertainment venues where summer concerts are held Best Time To Go The North Coast is a summer beach destination, with ideal beach weather from June through to September. The water is warm and it’s sunny all summer long, but not scorching like in Cairo or other Egyptian destinations due to the temperate Mediterranean breeze.  Summer is also when the restaurants, shops and general services will be open. From October through to May (especially during the winter months), 90% of what’s open during the summer months will be closed, and some of the hotels might close certain amenities. Transportation between different spots on the coast will be difficult during the winter unless you have a car with you, because most taxi and car services run during the summer months only. Don’t get us wrong – you can still go to the North Coast outside of the summer months, but in that case just make sure you’re staying at a hotel (and know that the water will probably be cold!). Getting There By car:  Driving to the North Coast from Cairo or Alexandria is pretty easy and direct via main highways. Depending on where exactly you’re staying at the North Coast, it’s anything from a 2.5 hour to 5 hour drive from Cairo.  By bus:  there are several different bus companies (eg. Go Bus, Superjet and West & Middle Delta) that run bus routes daily between Cairo and the North Coast. They don’t stop at each village on the coast though, so you might have to take a taxi from the closest North Coast bus stop to your final destination.  By limousine service/car service/ride hailing app:  there are several different services/apps that can take you from Cairo to the North Coast, such as Uber, Careem, InDrive or London Cab, but you need to book in advance. You can also hire a limousine or car service through a limo company or travel agency; just do a Google search for “limousine service to the North Coast” and a bunch will pop up. By plane:  if you’re not already in Egypt, the closest international airport to the North Coast is the Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria. You’ll then drive westwards along the Mediterranean to your final destination. New Alamein City for example is about an hour’s drive from the Borg El Arab Airport, while the far ends of the North Coast are about two and a half hours away by car. Starting July 2024, there's a twice weekly domestic flight between Cairo Airport and El Alamein Airport. North Coast Accommodation Tips First, let us be clear when we say that choosing carefully where to stay is very important, because getting around the North Coast without your own car is a huge hassle – you don’t want to have to be jumping around different compounds/villages and waiting forever and a day for an Uber to show up. You should aim to spend most of your time in the same compound that your hotel or rental is in. Like we explained briefly above, the North Coast consists of a series of gated residential compounds/villages. Because they’re gated, you can only enter via QR code or gate entrance permission sent by the hotel or rental owner.  Each compound/village has its own beach that you’ll have access to if you’re staying there, and usually a handful of shops or places to get food (the bigger/more popular compounds obviously have more restaurants and shops than the smaller, quieter compounds).  Local tip #1: our personal recommendation is that if you’re a non-Egyptian visiting the North Coast for the first time, your best bet is staying at a hotel instead of a rental. At a hotel, you’ll have everything you need and won’t have to worry about tracking down the nearest restaurant, and they can arrange any kind of transportation you need. After all, you’re there to enjoy the incredible beach, not worry about logistics! Local tip #2: If you do decide to go down the rental route, make sure to read reviews and ask the owner or property manager a lot of questions about what restaurants and services you’ll have easy access to. Also ask how far a walk it is to the beach if you don’t have a car with you. Best Hotels at the North Coast There aren’t a ton of hotels in the North Coast (yet), but we recommend going for one that’s established and has a high rating and good reviews, because you’ll be spending most of your time at your hotel’s beach, pool and facilities. If you don’t like it or it’s not up to snuff, then there won’t be much else to distract you! Read more: 7 Best Hotels on the North Coast of Egypt How To Get Around We touched on this above, but we’ll summarize it all here as well: The easiest way is obviously if you have a private car with you or access to one During the summer months, there will be Uber, Careem and InDrive (all riding hailing apps) to go between compounds, but keep in mind the distance isn’t short so you might have to wait for a while for the driver to arrive. You can book in advance to be on the safer side Your hotel can arrange transportation for you There are car and limousine services you can book to and from your accommodation to the Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria, or to Cairo Best Activities and Things to Do at the North Coast Enjoy the beach, obviously! The North Coast is 100% a relax-at-the-beach kind of destination. It’s not an adventure spot, or a cultural spot, or an Ancient Egyptian historical spot  – Egypt has plenty of those. The North Coast is all about spending several stress-free, guilt-free days on an unbelievable beach, without feeling like you should be getting off your beach lounger or FOMO over not seeing this or that landmark.  So our recommendation is to wake up early, have some breakfast, and nab the best spot on the beach – and just spend the day swimming, tanning, reading, relaxing, eating and just enjoying one of the best beaches in the world! 2. Water activities If you’re the type that gets antsy if you sit still for too long, then never fear: there’s still things you can do to get your body moving. The North Coast isn’t much of a diving destination, but there are other more low-key water activities you can partake in.  (Read more: 7 Best Diving Destinations in Egypt’s Red Sea ) Many of the hotel beaches will have a water sports center, where you can rent kayaks, boogie boards, banana boats and more.  3. Spend a day at a water park If you have kids with you (or even if you don’t, honestly) waterparks are always fun for all ages. Marassi Water World (in the Marassi compound/village) has 12 massive slides and water chutes, rafts, a surfing pool, a kids’ complex, a lazy river and more. For more info and to buy your tickets: https://marassiwaterworld.com/ 4. Visit the Alamein War Memorials and Military Museum El Alamein, an area on Egypt’s North Coast, was the battleground in 1942 for two of the most important fights in World War II between the Allies and Axis forces. Thousands of lives were lost, and today stands several vast cemeteries and memorials, such as the Commonwealth War Memorial and the Italian War Memorial, for the fallen soldiers both named and unnamed. There is also a military museum nearby for those interested in learning about the El Alamein Battles. 5. Day trip to Alexandria If you’re spending an extended stay in the North Coast and find yourself with a free day on your hands, then a day trip to Alexandria is a nice way to inject some Egyptian history and heritage into your otherwise pure beach vacation. Alexandria is only an hour or two away by car, and worth a visit if you’re interested in the ancient city’s illustrious history. Read more: Sightseeing in Alexandria, Egypt - 15 Best Things to See and Do Restaurants and Nightlife on the North Coast There are some beautiful restaurants and beach bars peppered along the North Coast in different compounds/villages. They’re only open during summer months, so that means that they’re in high demand and prior reservations are usually needed.  Sachi by the Sea (in Almaza Bay and Marassi) The Lemon Tree and Co (in Hacienda White) Tap North (in Almaza Bay) White and Blue Restaurant/Greek Club (in Ghazala Bay and Almaza Bay) Pier 88 (in Almaza Bay) The Smokery (in Bianchi) Izakaya (in Marassi) Kiki’s Beach Bar (in Hacienda White) Also there are usually various musical concerts by both international and Egyptian singers, bands and DJs held throughout the summer in different locations across the coast, so keep a look out online for those! Seacode , a beach club and musical venue in New Alamein City, has held concerts by Jennifer Lopez as well as parties for world-famous DJs recently. Parting Local Tips In summary, Egypt’s North Coast is a place that’s dearly loved by locals, and slowly but surely opening up to visitors. What it looks like now is very different than what it’ll look like in a few years – but with one thing in common: its ridiculously beautiful beaches. Here are a few of our last local tips: Try to go to the North Coast on weekdays as opposed to weekends; it’ll be less crowded Book your hotel in advance as much as you can, because during the summer things get fully booked quickly Bring a book, cards or games with you to entertain yourself at night  Speaking of nights, mosquito spray is always a good idea But mostly, just sit back, relax and enjoy the sun and Mediterranean Sea from Egypt’s own little stretch of paradise. You may also like: 9 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations

Maadi is home to quite a few restaurants and cafes (Road 9 is just about ready to burst at the seams with them), but how many of them can you actually have a laid-back beer or a glass of wine at while having lunch or dinner? So if you’ve had a long day at work and want to eat, unwind and avoid chaotic cafes or seedy bars, these Maadi destinations are for you. 1. Estro Cuisine: Italian Also known as the ‘Sicilian Rooftop’, this restobar is found on the 9th floor of the Royal Maadi Hotel on Road 18. Opened by the same owners of Frank &Co, Maadi’s favorite tapas bar (below), Estro delivers the same quality but this time in the form of Italian favorites. Local tip: go right before sunset, the views are awesome. Reservations needed. 2. Bua Khao (now called Sala Thai) Cuisine: Thai Owned and spearheaded by a Thai family for the past 20 years, this award-winning little restaurant is hidden off of one of the many midans of Maadi. Bua Khao's menu is large but not too large, with straightforward and sensible Thai dish descriptions instead of the generic “fish soup” menu entries found in many of Cairo’s other Asian restaurants. Beer and wine are served as well. As of 2023 they changed their name to 'Sala Thai' (although everything else remained the same), but they'll always be Bua Khao to us <3 3. Frank & Co Cuisine: International As mentioned above, Frank & Co has the same owners as Estro, so it makes sense that they’re right next to each other on Road 18 (albeit Frank & Co is street level while Estro is a rooftop). Frank & Co opened a few years back as a much-needed tapas bar in Maadi, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. 4. Tipsy Camel Cuisine: international This sports bar in Maadi is the perfect place to go if you want to watch a match or play some pool but also grab a post-work meal and drink. They have numerous screens, a pool table, babyfoot, an outdoor terrace and all the bar food you'd expect -- pizza, burgers, wings, tacos and more. 5. Kokio Cuisine: Korean Ah, Kokio, the king of fried chicken (sorry KFC). This little Korean restaurant is known by all those Maadi-savvy (and chicken-savvy) for having literally some of the best fried chicken in the country. They have original, spicy, soy (flavored with onion, garlic and crushed red pepper), garlic fried, onion fried, and you can order half a chicken or full chicken (or chicken tenders). You can also wash down all that fried goodness with beer. 6. Villa Belle Epoque Cuisine: International This converted villa-turned- boutique hotel is hidden down one of Maadi’s little leafy streets, making it the perfect spot for dinner and drinks away from crowds. Villa Belle Epoque ’s restaurant serves its meals next to their small pool, surrounded by trees and flowers. They have an extensive food menu, but don't serve alcohol. You are however allowed to bring your own liquor bottles or wine with you, which they'll then serve you. 7. Tawlet Yvonne Cuisine: Lebanese In a corner courtyard nestled away from the honks of the streets is Tawlet Yvonne, a little restaurant and cafe that celebrates home-cooked Lebanese food. They have an extensive menu of Lebanese classics, as well as shisha and local Egyptian wine, beer and arak. 8. Bistro Paris Cuisine: French/international Above Tawlet Yvonne and Caribou Coffee on the same leafy street in Maadi is Bistro Paris, a restobar with a small but to the point menu, as well as local wine, beer and cocktails. Undoubtedly Bistro Paris' claim to fame is its outdoor balcony, which is open as early as 9 am every morning if you want a shady outdoor spot to have breakfast, or somewhere ambient to have dinner & drinks at night. 9. Lan Yuan Cuisine: Chinese Lan Yuan has been open for the past 25 years at least, so what does that tell you about its staying power? It’s small and cozy and has all the Chinese staples you’d expect, for reasonable prices as well -- and the food is good. They also have a full (local) bar so while some people go for dinner and a drink, some just go for a quiet drink. 10. Gaya Cuisine: Korean Gaya is known for being one of the best Korean restaurants in Cairo as a whole, not just Maadi. They've been open for over 20 years, and have a massive menu of Korean dishes (unlike Kokio which just sticks mainly to Korean fried chicken). Gaya also has a 'grill on the table' option, where you can cook up your bulgogi (grilled beef) or other meats of your choice yourself. Beer is served. 11. Sakura Sushi Cuisine: Japanese A tiny place in Degla serving up all your sushi cravings -- and if you have a friend who isn’t the fondest of sushi, they also have teppanyaki, rice, noodle dishes and soups. And like the rest of the restaurants on this list, beer is served. Closed on Sundays. 12. Swiss Cottage Cuisine: Swiss Swiss Cottage is a Maadi staple during winter and the Christmas season when they deck themselves out in holiday cheer. But their fondue, raclette, and 'cook your own meat' are just as good year-round. They don't serve alcohol themselves but you can bring your own bottle and pay a corkage fee. Reservations recommended because the restaurant only has a few tables and fills up during dinner. You might also like: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi