What not to miss in Cairo??

neelpeel

I'm heading to Cairo for a week on Saturday.
As its a very last minute holiday I haven't had the chance to do my usual extensive research! So does anyone have any suggestions on things not to miss?
We intend to see the pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum, but after that we're stumped.

Any other Cairo specific advice would be much appreciated.

SparklyPrincess

Just arrived back from Sharm el Sheikh and did the 2 day trip to cairo.
The sights we saw were: (apologies for spelling)
The pyramids at Giza
The Sphinx
The egyptian Museum
Step Pryamids at Sakarra
Old town of Memphis
Nile River Cruise with an evening meal
A mosque (forget the name)
Khan el Khili bazaar for shopping

Think that was it, it if remeber any more will re post.
We had a fantastic two days so i'm sure you will really enjoy it

lisyloo

Also I would say

The citadel
Sounds & light show at the pyramids (commentary is a bit cheesy but they look amazing lit up).

We took at taxi. Was about £30 per day but very good value compared with the tours on offer. We could go exactly where we wanted when we wanted.
Also didn't get hassle (you will get hassle from people with donkeys, camels and taxis if you go to the pyramids on your own).

It's worth getting a guide (or go on a tour) of the museum if you can as it's not very well labelled and not a lot in English (or get a good book).

Downsides to taxing a taxi is that they will want to take you to the Papyrus museum (shop) to see the professor (sales assistant) and the perfume palace (shop). You may also get this on tours.

We have some picture here (I think there are 4 lots).

https://www.foxtrot2.demon.co.uk

Michaela44

HI!
Having travelled to Egypt a number of times, my top tips are:
Change your money when you get there as you get a better rate - if you can't find a bank all the hotels have bureau de change.

If you want to get a taxi anywhere ask the hotel receptionist what is a fair price for where you are going, and when you are out on the street do not haggle about the price before you get in, just get into the taxi confidently, tell the driver where you want to go and pay him on the way out. That is what an Egyptian would do. And don't ask anyone on the street, even in uniform, where to get a taxi or let them take you to a taxi, as the driver will pay that person a tip (baksheesh) that you will end up paying when you get to your destination!

If you go to the Khan-el-Khalili you should probably pay about a third of the original price quoted for most things so you need to haggle, it is expected and they will think you are daft or loaded otherwise!

This is a good phrase to get shopkeepers laughing - 'Kollo tamam', which means 'all for nothing', and also 'ma feesh felouse' which means 'my purse is empty'

If you have a go at talking any arabic it is really appreciated!

Have a fab time, I am really jealous!

neelpeel

Thanks a lot. Some great advice.

Any ideas where best to get a Nile cruise for a day (including evening meal would be great) ?

Steve_xx

You can go on an organised trip to the Pyramids, cost will be around 250 egyptian pounds.

Or, get a tube train to Giza station, cost is just under 1 egypt pound and then get a cab to the Pyramids, cost should not be more than 15 egyptian pounds. Entry to the Pyramids is 20 egyptian pounds.

You will be driven nuts by men wanting to take you into the pyramids and take you on camel rides and to papyrus shops. Do not engage them, put your hand out towards them, giving a sort of stop sign, and say NO, then continue on your way. Do not promise them that you might take a camel ride later, in order to get rid of them, because later they will remember and they will come back and haunt you. So, do be forthright and firm in your resolve to resist them.

Also, if anyone offers to take your photo at the pyramids or elsewhere, you will be expected to pay for the pleasure of it. These guys follow you and try to get you to wear arab headgear and then want to take your photo. It all costs if you fall prey to it. Some of them press bits of ceramic "lucky scarab" beads into your hand. Don't accept them, because again, they're rubbish and you will have to pay for them.

lisyloo

Yep good point.
Try not to take hold of any goods.
They may insist you buy it if you have "handled it".
Automatical reaction is to take something if someone thrusts it at you.

Keep some small change for toilets so you don't end up using a large note when desperate.
I felt that 1 egyptian pound (aout 10p) was adequate as we aren't talking western standards or western running costs.

MissBehaving

I must admit that the Stepped pyramids of Sakkara were by far the most interesting. The Giza pyramids are a must see, but I was dissappointed. There are to many tourists and 'hawkers' there.

Dont let anyone take a picture of you... they will try and charge you... also, dont take a picture of anyone else, for the same reason.
And if you are going to ride a camel, make sure you agree the amount first! Otherwise you may have a long walk back from the desert.

Enjoy Egpyt... it is different, interesting, scary (Traffic / Roads /Cars ) but most of all ... enjoyable.

Oh, if you can, ask the hotel manager / receptionist to recommend a restaurant that caters for locals and not tourists. We went to one in the middle of a residential area, and it was by far the best meal of our holiday.

MissBehaving

neelpeel wrote:

Thanks a lot. Some great advice.

Any ideas where best to get a Nile cruise for a day (including evening meal would be great) ?

Ask your hotel / tour operator to advise you on this. I went on one about 6 years ago and I have to admit, it wasnt the most spectacular evening.
Which hotel are you staying in?

Gary_zero

When we went there I paid to enter the pyramid and had to pay to get out again, also took a photo of my wife with two local police with rifles, and they needed paying but its always one egyptian pound so not expensive. I reckon Cairo is the biggest pound shop in the world.

neelpeel

More great advice!
We're staying in the Hotel Talisman de Charme or something like that.
Its in downtown Cairo and got great reviews on tripadvisor. I'll let you peeps know what I think when I get back.
We booked the hotel and flights ourselves so we'll not have a tour rep to advise us.

Any idea what the rough price should be for a taxi from the airport to downtown Cairo??