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Cairo

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is a crowded city that has ancient history with modern energy. The city is also known as the “City of a Thousand Minarets“ due to its Islamic architecture. Cairo has more than 10 million population and a gateway to the wonder of world ancient pyramids. It is a hub of culture, history, and commerce. 

History of Cairo: From ancient to modern times

Cairo was founded during the Fatimid dynasty back to back to 969 CE. The city roots are connected to ancient Fustat & Memphis back to 5000 years ago but during the Fatimid dynasty a general named Jawhar developed a new city named Al Qahirah. Evolved into a modern city from time to time under the rule of the Mamluks and Ottomans. Today, Cairo is known due to his historical treasures, ancient landmarks and modern skyscrapers. 

Landmarks of Cairo

The landmarks in Cairo holds an history as:

• Pyramids of Giza : On the outskirts of Cairo, the UNESCO world heritage site, there is a Great Pyramid of Khufu. This is the one from the seven wonders of the world.
• Museums in Cairo : Cairo has the oldest archaeological museum in the middle east as it has more than 170,000 artifacts along with the golden mask of Tutankhamun. The grand egyptian museum which is the largest archaeological museum in the world is also in Cairo.
• Khan El Khalili Bazaar :  The souk is the oldest and largest in the Middle East as it was established in 1382, by a mamluk ruler. The best souk from where you can buy handmade crafts, jewelry and spices. 
• Islamic Cairo : There are many mosques like Al-Azhar, Muhmmad Ali and Sultan Hassan mosque that reflect Cairo islamic values. 
• Coptic Cairo : Cairo has also coptic landmarks like Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue that were developed during the 7th century. 

View of Pyramids from Cairo:

Pyramids are just 13km away from the central cairo. So, many of the hotels, restaurants and even some streets of Cairo pyramids can be seen. Mostly at sunrise and evening light shows it gives a breathtaking view. 

Some Interesting Facts:

• Cairo has an Al-Azhar university that is the oldest degree providing institute in the world.
• Tahrir Square is also in Cairo where the 2011 Egyptian revolution took place. 
• Cairo is an African largest city which is a hub of tradition, cultures and religions.

Famous Foods of Cairo:

Cairo has rich culture history as well in food, some famous foods of cairo are:

• Koshari ( Comfort Dish )
• Ful Medames ( Breakfast )
• Molokhia ( Traditional Dish )
• Mahshi ( Vegetables with rice )
• Basbousa and Konafa ( Sweet Dish )

Tips For Visitors:

• While traveling in cairo you can use taxi services or online apps like uber and metro but choosing private cab service from different companies is recommended. 
• The best time to visit Cairo is between October to April as the weather is cooler in these months.
• Although Cairo is fully safe, it is always a little bit crowded. So, the bad people are everywhere in the world, keeping valuable things secure in busy areas.
• Always respect the local cultures not in Cairo all around the world. Especially when you visit the religious sights in Islamic countries.
• Special tip is to keep the change of small currency to give tips to service providers as is common in Egypt. 

Best day excursions from Cairo:

You will have many options for the day excursions from Cairo during your stay. 

• There is a lush area with waterfalls “Faiyum Oasis” which is about 100 km away from Cairo that is worth visiting especially during hot days. 
• Day tour to Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur pyramids are also ancient sites that are almost 30 km on the south of Cairo. 
• You can have a day trip to Alexandria, Luxor & Hurghada from Cairo for visiting temples and the Red sea. 
• You can visit Wadi El Natrun from Cairo which is almost a 2 hour drive and you can explore coptic monasteries.

Excursions

From Cairo

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Nightlife in Cairo

Cairo city holds a vibrant culture as you can have entertainment like music & dance at Cairo Opera House or Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center. You will have an option to enjoy your dinner with music and dance on nile cruise. Some hotels offer dinners at stunning rooftops which give views of pyramids and the city.

Nile: Lifeline of Cairo

As Nile has an important role in cairo economy as it was the source of growing crops in ancient time. You will have an option to do a felucca boat ride on a traditional boat. 

Hidden Gems oF Cairo

There are many landmarks in cairo but cairo has also hidden gems like The City of the Dead, Bayt Al-Suhaymi, Abdeen Palace and Bab Zuweila.

Weather of Cairo

Weather in Cairo is quietly hot as there is summer for 8 months and 4 months of winter. In winter the weather is cooler as temperature remains between 18°C to 24°C and 35°C to 44°C during the summer months. 

Conclusion:

Cairo city is full of vibrant culture, traditions, ancient landmarks, religious sites (islamic & coptic), ancient bazaars ( Khan e khalil ) and nile which make it worth visiting.