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If you’re looking for a place to have a meal and a good time in the Sheikh Zayed/6 October area but don’t feel like being overwhelmed by the big commercial centers like Arkan Plaza, then Park St. is a good choice. This dining and shopping hub is on a much smaller scale than Arkan, thus less crowded, but equally as pleasant with their indoor/outdoor restaurants and quirky interior design (anyone who’s seen those little statues scattered about will know what we’re talking about!). Read also: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza But as always, there’s the forever question of: which restaurant do I choose? Here are some of our personal Park St. West favorites (ps: at the bottom of the article, we list the other restaurants & cafes in Park St. in case anything catches your fancy). Best restaurants in Park St. West: Sachi Park St. Hidden away on the rooftop of Park St., Sachi is an award-winning fine dining restaurant and bar (regularly ranked amongst the top 50 restaurants in MENA). This Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant has both ambient indoor seating as well as a large outdoor terrace, always a favorite on warm nights or breezy afternoons. Pricey, but you get what you pay for. Impeccable service and great cocktails as well. For reservations, menu and more info: Sachi’s website Bebabel Looking for a casual Lebanese dining vibe, complete with shisha and beer/wine, but still delivering actually good food? Then look no further than Bebabel. Located on the ground floor of Park St. next to Brunch & Cake, this restaurant is a great spot for breakfast, sunny weekend lunches or dinner and drinks with friends. For the menu and more info: Bebabel’s IG Em Sherif Cafe One of the most famous restaurants in Beirut has found a home in Park St. West. Until recently, Em Sherif was a must-go for Egyptians visiting Beirut, to get a taste of traditional, homestyle Lebanese food. But now we don’t have to go any further than Cairo’s suburbs (Em Sherif is currently in White by Waterway in New Cairo as well as Park St.) They’re open from noon until midnight, and also serve shisha. For the menu and more info: Em Sherif Cafe’s IG Sushimi By K If you’re tired of overpriced, mediocre sushi places (and who isn’t), then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Sushimi by K. What started as a small sushi catering business quickly grew in popularity to an actual brick and mortar restaurant in New Cairo, with its second branch in Park St. Read more: 7 Best Sushi & Japanese Restaurants in Cairo Sushimi by K prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, including non-frozen salmon and bluefin tuna. Their sushi menu is massive, alongside a few Japanese main courses for anyone in your group who isn’t on the sushi train. For the menu and more info: Sushimi by K’s IG Norma If you're in the mood for some good Italian food, specifically Sicilian with Moorish influences to be exact -- then head to Norma, named after a famous Sicilian opera. Their menu focuses on slow-cooked, seasonal items incorporated into their homemade pasta, gnocchi, risotto, pizza and other main courses (with a huge variety of antipasti too). Some of their signature Sicilian dishes are: Panella di Sicilia (crispy chickpea fritters served with a fresh, zesty lemon and salsa verde dip), La Pizzetta Palermo Sfincione (thick fluffy pizza crust topped with slow-cooked tomato sauce, caramelized onions, anchovies and breadcrumbs) and Casarecce al Trapanese (Sicilian pesto pasta). Norma has indoor seating complete with comfy couches and chairs. They also have an outdoor dining area and are open from breakfast (9 am) onwards. For the menu and more info: Norma Marzipan So far we've covered everything from Lebanese to sushi to Sicilian restaurants in Park St. West -- but if you want to bring it back to basics with just some really good, traditional Egyptian food , then Marzipan is for you. We're talking molokheya, koshary, fattah, feteer, the works. They have indoor/outdoor dining, nostalgic Egyptian music crooning in the background, and are open for breakfast as well (9 am). For the menu and more info: Marzipan Brunch & Cake If you’re one of those people who eats with their eyes first, then Brunch & Cake will leave you thrilled. This very Instagrammable restaurant will leave you impressed with not only their food presentation but their interior decor aesthetics as well. They have a really creative menu of breakfast and brunch options, but never fear, this restaurant doesn’t go poof when the sun goes down – they also do dinner as well.  For the menu and more info: Brunch & Cake’s IG Other restaurants & cafes also in Park St. West: Bocca Qahwa Ni Cafe BRGR CAF Pickl Nola Dolato Le Flandrin You might also like: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Restobars in Sheikh Zayed & 6 October City, Cairo

Whether you’re a local Cairene strapped for cash at the end of the month, or a visitor to Cairo on a backpacker’s budget, never fear -- there’s a lot of fun, interesting things you can do in Cairo without paying a bomb. Here's ten ways to enjoy some of the best sights in the city, for cheap. 1. Have a world-class view of the Pyramids over lunch or dinner at… Pizza Hut 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. You may also like: Visiting the Pyramids of Giza - A Local's Guide To Everything You Need To Know 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. You may also like: 7 Best Restaurants with Pyramid Views 2. Explore Khan El Khalili and Moez Street Both Khan el Khalili and Moez Street are open pedestrian areas, where you can wander around, explore and take pictures for free. Khan El Khalili may be a world-famous bazaar, but nothing is stopping you from just window shopping if you're on a budget (they actually have extremely affordable stuff there if you’re a good bargainer though). Read more: Khan El Khalili - A Detailed Local's Guide Adjacent to Khan el Khalili is Moez Street, where you can see the highest concentration of medieval Islamic architecture in the world. Walking Moez Street, going into the mosques and seeing the beautiful buildings (whether during the day or lit up at night) also won’t cost you a thing, but if you want to go inside some of the more elaborate buildings like Beit El Seheimy or the Qalawun Complex, you can buy an affordable ticket. For more details, here's our detailed guide to Moez Street . 3. Visit the sites in Coptic Cairo for free A great Cairo destination when you're on a budget is 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. Entrance to Coptic Cairo is free, as is entrance to its famous churches, such as Mar Girgis (St. George's) and the Hanging Church. The only site in Coptic Church that requires a ticket is the Coptic Museum. Read more: Coptic Cairo - Everything You Need to Know 4. Downtown Cairo food-hopping Starving but don’t want to spend a fortune on food? Downtown has *all* the answers. Having a diverse, several course meal is extremely affordable in Downtown Cairo. You can either hit up just one establishment for nourishment (in that case we recommend Abou Tarek for koshary , it’ll fill you up for seemingly a year for around $1), or you can hop from street vendor to street vendor , most of them unnamed but all of them feeding dozens of happy customers at any given moment. Types of food carts, food vendors and little hole-in-the-wall ‘restaurants’ to be found in Downtown: kebda & sogoq (liver & sausages), hawawshi, feteer, fuul & taameya, kabab… and way more. There are also places like 'Fasahat Somaya’ that’s open for only a couple of hours a day and you eat whatever it is that Somaya has cooked up for you that evening, in huge portions. Read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown Cairo Then you can move on to the dessert portion of the evening, and wind down with a cheap shisha and cup of tea in any of Downtown’s ubiquitous cheap sidewalk ahwas. You may also like: 7 Best Places to Try Egyptian Street Food in Cairo 5. Join a walking tour through City of the Dead Cairo's City of the Dead tends to be off the beaten touristic path, but that makes it even better! The City of the Dead ( El Qarafa or El Arafa  in Arabic) is a 6.4 km (4 mile) stretch of necropolises and cemeteries in the original core of the city, in an area known as Historic Cairo. Read more: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Detailed Local's Guide What makes it so interesting is that peppered throughout the City of the Dead are some truly beautiful historic mosques, mausoleums and other medieval Islamic architecture. There are remnants dating back to the Arab conquest of Egypt back in the 7th century, and whole buildings still in their entirety dating back to the 12th-15th centuries! You can explore it via guided walking tours for very affordable prices (check our article mentioned above for all the walking tour information). 6. Shisha, tea and a view on the Moqattam hills Instead of going to another overpriced cafe, next time you’re in the mood for a hot drink and a shisha, try heading up the hills of Moqattam. At the top on the Moqattam Corniche, you’ll find not only one of the best views of the city, but several makeshift ahwas scattered around -- basically plastic tables and chairs set up on the cliff and someone who will gladly bring you a shisha or make you tea or coffee for cheap. For the best views in Egypt, check out these 12 places . 7. Disconnect on a felucca. This is a good option if you’re a group, because it makes it more affordable. You can book a felucca sailboat for as short as half an hour, or as long as you'd like. Prices vary greatly due to your negotiation skills (they tend to charge tourists more as well), but divided over a group it's a cheap and peaceful way to enjoy the city. You can bring your own snacks and just kick back and relax, away from the usual crowds in the usual places. 8. Discover all the hidden little shops, art spaces and random beautiful spots in Zamalek. Zamalek is one of the very few Cairo neighborhoods that’s ideal to explore by foot. Besides the fact that the parking is a nightmare, Zamalek has a lot of little blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shops and interesting spots that we usually zoom right past in a car. Exploring the whole island of Zamalek by foot could take the better part of a whole day if you take your time and explore at your own pace. Make sure you stop in the vintage stores, antique shops and art galleries as well as peep at the beautiful villas that house the various embassies and ambassadors’ homes (what you can see behind those massive gates and road blocks, that is). 9. Wadi Degla Protectorate This is a great one for those who want to escape the city while still technically being in the city. The Wadi Degla Protectorate is a 30 km stretch of untouched desert and rocky little cliffs and is open to the public during the day for a small entrance fee (25 EGP per person and 10 EGP per car). It's the perfect place if you want to hang out somewhere different with your friends/dog/alone, whether for a picnic, barbecue, hiking, biking or just sitting in the sun. You can bring all the food, games and sports stuff you want or need for the day, but bear in mind there’s no bathrooms or places to buy water, etc from beyond the entrance gates. It's open daily from 7 am to sunset. 10. Azhar Park Another option for a picnic & chill kind of day, but this one is in an actual *green* park and not the desert. It also has an awesome panoramic view over the city, so try to go around sunset. Also try to avoid weekends, because it tends to be overcrowded when the weather is nice (also avoid public holidays, obviously). If you don’t feel like bringing your own food, they have several restaurants/cafes in the park that can hook you up. You may also like: Top 10 Things To Do in Cairo, Egypt

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 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), the molokheya, the Egyptian moussaka (an eggplant stew served with rice) and a mix and match of all their various Egyptian mezzes. Drool . Local tip: they also have other branches in the City Stars Mall and Mall of Egypt, but they are not to be compared with the Zamalek branch at all. 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

If you’re at all interested in Ancient Egypt (and why wouldn’t you be!), there’s absolutely no better place in the world to really immerse yourself in the remnants of that unfathomable ancient civilization than in Luxor, Egypt. Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Read more: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Day Egypt Luxor is still home to the remains of some truly mind-boggling temples, and no visit to Luxor is complete without visiting the below five. 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 - 6 am! 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. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. Ramesseum The Ramessum is the mortuary temple of Ramses II, believed to be the most powerful pharaoh of all time. He ruled for 67 years and was known for not only being a conqueror, but an ambitious builder as well. He’s the visionary of Abu Simbel in Aswan , and before its ruin, the Ramesseum in Luxor (then-Thebes) was thought to be the most awe-inspiring temple complex on the west side of the Nile. The Ramesseum was built with the intention of being a place of worship after Ramses II died so his memory would be kept alive; it was referred to as his ‘house of one million years’. Today the remaining ruins of the Ramessum are not as impressive as the other better-preserved temples in Luxor (centuries of Nile flooding, plundering and using the site as a church for early Christians has all taken its toll), but it’s a great place to learn more about the greatest pharaoh of all time. You may also like: 10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals 7 Best Restaurants in Luxor, Egypt

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. Lokali Lokali is a concept restaurant that focuses around fresh, clean ingredients from local Egyptian farms, with an eclectic indoor dining area as well as outdoor space (and we give them extra points for being pet-friendly!). Their breakfast items all come with a twist -- for example, they have a brioche pastrami scramble, a unique rendition of the classic eggs and basterma. For more info, pictures and menu: Lokali'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 Ovio Pattini The Wheelhouse Don Eatery Butcher’s Burger Chicken & Ribs Jimmy's Pizzeria Between The Buns Tabali Salon Caracas Hara Hachi Bu Garnell Sushi and Poke Howlin' Birds KBM Fried Chicken Cafes/Dessert: 30 North 1980 Coffee CAF Cafe Dipndip Dancing Goat Coffee Breadfast Coffee Antakha Le Flandrin Ni Caffe Nude Bakery Beano’s Valu Cafe Lazy Lads Pao Sno Fati's Moko You may also like: 12 Chill Places to Have Dinner & Drinks in Maadi

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 Four Seasons Nile Plaza in 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 Read: 7 Best Luxury Hotels in Cairo, Egypt 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) Cairo Festival City 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, plus dozens of other commercial centers (like 5A By Waterway, Garden 8, Point 90, U Venues and more) 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; if you want to be close to the airport; or if you want to shop and make the most of all the commercial spaces 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, or the Grand Egyptian Museum Read: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Restobars in Sheikh Zayed and 6th October City Read: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Read: 5 Best Restaurants in Park St., Sheikh Zayed 7. Downtown Cairo 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 obviously none of us ever *intend* to break the law ( well…) , but when it comes to foreign countries especially, it’s always a smart idea to be on the right side of the legal system. Below are a few things that tourists might not think twice about, but are actually illegal in Egypt. It’s good to always be aware of these things just so you don’t find yourself doing something that gets you into a very unnecessary bind. We’re here to have fun, people!!! 1. Drones Unless you have explicit permission from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, you unfortunately won’t be able to get those sweet aerial views of the Pyramids that you had your eye on. It’s a bummer, but oh well. It’s also probably a good idea to leave your drone at home completely (even if you’re heading to another destination before/after Egypt) because there have been numerous reported incidents of drones being seized at Cairo Airport. You might be able to wrangle out of them seizing it, but only after an hour or two of intense questioning, and ain’t nobody got time for that. But I NEEDED that aerial shot And while fancy video equipment isn’t illegal, you’ll probably be stopped at Customs for extensive questioning regarding the equipment, so it’s best to just keep your electronic equipment limited and sweet. If you desperately need a drone for whatever reason, you can contact the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority here: info@civilaviation.gov.eg 2. Sharing an apartment or hotel room with an Egyptian of the opposite sex if you’re not married Egyptian regulations require that any Egyptian man or woman sharing a room or apartment with a member of the opposite sex have a marriage certificate. This also applies to citizens of some other Arab countries. If you’re a non-Egyptian/non-Arab (ie. you hold another passport that isn't Egyptian) and your partner is non-Egyptian/non-Arab too , then you don’t need a marriage certificate and you’re totally fine. Nationality is obviously proven by passport. For example, a hotel in Egypt won’t allow an Egyptian passport-holder and a foreign passport-holder couple to share the same room, but they would allow two foreign passport-holders. You can also share hotel rooms & apartments with Egyptian friends of the same sex without any issue. 3. Photography near military facilities If you’re wandering around with your camera, make sure you keep an eye out for military buildings or sites because photography there is prohibited for national security. If you find yourself accidentally taking pictures near a military facility (in your defense, you probably had no idea that’s what it was), you might find officers come up to you suddenly and demand that you stop shooting/filming. They also might require you to show them the pictures you took and delete them. Usually the problem won’t be escalated beyond that, but make sure you comply with their demands to stop shooting and to delete the pictures taken so that you’re left to continue on your merry way as soon as possible. 4. The rainbow flag In 2017 there was an uproar in Egypt over the raising of the rainbow flag at a music concert. Homosexuality isn’t *technically* illegal in Egypt, but many of the LGBTQ community have been questioned and arrested under “debauchery laws” . Many Egyptians view homosexuality as immoral and a crime, and after the 2017 concert the rainbow flag was banned alongside any media statements that supported homosexuality. This does not mean at all that gay or LGBTQ tourists shouldn’t come to Egypt. It just means that vocally supporting homosexuality or waving the rainbow flag in a public setting isn’t the smartest thing to do. PDA between gay couples in public spaces is also something you should definitely try to avoid. 5. Bringing certain medications into the country There have been legal incidents before regarding bringing in certain medication, especially in large amounts, like when a British tourist was arrested in Hurghada Airport for bringing in 290 tablets of the painkiller Tramadol. While Tramadol is legal in the UK, it’s banned in Egypt due to the large amount of people who abuse it as a substitute for heroin. If there’s certain prescription medications you *must* bring with you into the country, make sure that a) you don’t bring in a large quantity, just the amount you need, and b) that you have a medical certificate from your doctor. Egypt offers a huge array of medication over the counter so it’s very easy to procure basic meds, painkillers, antibiotics, heart medicine, etc. 6. Drinking on Islamic holidays (except in hotels) During the month of Ramadan and a couple other days of the year (Islamic New Year, for example), the restaurants and bars of the city become dry, meaning it’s illegal for them to serve alcohol to anyone, including foreigners. Even retail shops like Drinkies will be closed for the full month of Ramadan; for the singular days, the ban on alcohol usually lasts for 24 hours, from sunset to sunset. The exception to this is hotels. If you’re a foreign-passport holder, you’re allowed to drink alcohol in hotel restaurants, bars, the lobby, your room, etc. 7. Severely criticizing Egypt publicly or on social media (while you’re in the country) This is a relatively fluid case so we’re not sure to what extent the government cracks down on public bad-mouthers, but we’ll give you the heads up anyway. In June 2018 a Lebanese tourist was sentenced to 8 years in prison because she posted a Facebook video calling Egypt a “son of a bitch country”. She was arrested at Cairo Airport prior to her flight home. So our advice to you would be, that no matter your *personal* thoughts on the country, keep it cute while you’re on Egyptian soil and then let it rip once you’re back home (but hopefully that won’t be the case!!!) Local recommendation: while the above “illegal things” might make you feel worried or anxious about walking the straight and narrow while in Egypt, there’s really no reason to be worried. 99% of tourists have zero brushes with the law, and officers tend to be understanding towards accidental offenders.

Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or just any regular day of the week (the best option, in our opinion!), sometimes it’s nice to have dinner and a drink with your partner far away from the usual Cairo chaos of most restaurants. Cairo has thousands of places to eat, and most are crowded, loud and brightly-lit – not exactly the ambiance you’re going for if you’re on a date. And while we still love some of those chaotic restaurants (Hagoga, anyone?), today we’re focusing on where to go if you’re looking for good food, wine AND a great date vibe. So without further ado: 1. Sachi Sachi Park St. Location: Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed While we love the terrace of Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed, honestly either of Sachi’s two branches (the original being in Heliopolis) would make a great date spot. They deliver upscale Mediterranean fusion and sushi in gorgeous dimly-lit interiors. For more info and to reserve: Sachi Read: Nightlife in Heliopolis - 10 Best Restaurants, Bars & Pubs 2. Crimson Location: Zamalek If you want your date spot to incorporate a view, then look no further than Crimson, which has one of the best sweeping Nile views in the city. It’s equally as nice for a day date as it is for a night one - and they even serve breakfast! Make sure you snag one of the tables right at the end of the terrace. For more info and to reserve: Crimson Read: 7 Best Bars, Restobars & Pubs in Zamalek 3. Estro Location: Maadi This Italian rooftop restaurant & bar in Maadi is the perfect place to go during the day right before sunset - if you’re lucky and the skies are clear, you can actually see in the distance not only the Pyramids of Giza , but the Saqqara AND Dahshur Pyramids too! For more info and reservations: Estro Read: 12 Chill Places in Maadi for Dinner & Drinks 4. Kazoku Location: New Cairo This Japanese-inspired restaurant and bar in the Swan Lake Compound of New Cairo is brought to you by the same restaurateurs that brought us Sachi. This indoor/outdoor restaurant is known for its sushi and creative cocktails. For more info and reservations: Kazoku Read: 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner and Drinks in New Cairo 5. Villa Belle Epoque Location: Maadi This converted villa-turned-boutique hotel is hidden down one of Maadi’s little leafy streets, making it the perfect spot for a date away from crowds. Villa Belle Epoque’s restaurant serves its meals next to their small pool, surrounded by trees and flowers. For more info and reservations: Villa Belle Epoque 6. Izakaya Location: 6 October City Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) is a great date spot for nights when the weather is warm enough to sit outdoors in their wooden terrace lit up by fairy lights. Avoid weekend nights though if you’re looking for a quieter vibe. For more info and reservations: Izakaya 7. Pier 88 Location: Zamalek This Nile view restaurant & bar is not only one of our Cairo favorites, but Gouna favorites too. They also have a branch in 6 October, but our favorite is the Zamalek one - it's a great spot for day date or weeknights (not Tuesday though!). Tuesday and weekends get loud and more dancey, so keep that in mind unless that's the vibe you're looking for. Try to score a table on their outdoor deck if you can! For more info and reservations: Pier 88 You may also like: 7 Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

Sachi Park St. Cairo has literally thousands of restaurants, and while sometimes you’re in the mood for something casual (read: 7 Best Places to Try Egyptian Street Food in Cairo ), sometimes there’s a special occasion or you’re just looking for something ambient and elevated. Cairo didn’t used to be known for its fine dining scene, but that’s really changed over the past few years. There’s a good handful of ‘fancy’ restaurants, but not all of them give you bang for your buck, so we filtered through the overpriced and underwhelming to bring you the very best of Cairo’s fine dining scene, in terms of both food and overall experience. Local tip: while some of the 5 star luxury hotels in Cairo have some great fine dining options, we decided to stick to the restaurants that manage to thrive outside of the usual hotel scene. So get your appetite and wallet ready, and here we go: Sachi Park St. Located on a rooftop in Sheikh Zayed is Sachi Park St., sister restaurant of Sachi in Heliopolis (both frequently ranked in the annual MENA Top 50 Restaurants list ). This expansive restaurant is divided into indoor and outdoor seating, each beautifully decorated with its own bar. The menu is international fusion, so you’ll find everything from sushi to duck linguine to Chilean sea bass. The service is impeccable and they have a signature cocktail menu. For more info and reservations: Sachi's IG Pier 88 Pier 88 is a high-end Italian restaurant and bar that sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and is equally pleasant for both daytime and nighttime dining. 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, with Tuesday nights being the ‘in nights’, when the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables. Local tip: there’s also another branch of Pier 88 in Pyramids Hills in 6th October, and its original branch in El Gouna on the Red Sea. For more info and reservations: Pier 88's IG Khufu's 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 actually right in the Giza Pyramid Plateau, making its views truly unbeatable. 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. For more info and reservations: Khufu's website 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, which is in Palm Hills in 6th October. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and it’s a beautiful place to chill, eat and have a cocktail. For more info and reservations: Izakaya's IG Moghul Room We know we said we'd stay away from hotel restaurants, but this one is special! 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 and ambience. Oh and by the way – did we mention that it has Pyramid views through its windows? Granted, eating Indian cuisine at the foot of Ancient Egyptian pyramids might seem incongruous, but if you’re in the mood for your favorite Indian classics, there’s no better place to enjoy it. They also have an extensive (albeit expensive) international wine list. You may also like: 7 Best Pyramid View Restaurants The Lemon Tree & Co If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now). Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion, and is by far one of the most beautiful restaurants and bars in Cairo, with indoor/outdoor vibes and overlooking the park at the One Ninety compound. For more info and reservations: Lemon Tree's IG Kazoku Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their menu features everything from sea scallop nori tacos to salmon steak in a wasabi beurre blanc to slow-cooked glazed short ribs in teriyaki sauce. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 2 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Reservations recommended. For more info and reservations: Kazoku's IG You may also like: Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

A few years ago New Cairo was a neighborhood known for its malls, not its pubs or alcohol-serving restaurants. Residents who wanted dinner and a drink would usually have to seek them out in greener pastures in Zamalek and Maadi - but rejoice eastern Cairenes! Things have been picking up recently when it comes to New Cairo; there’s now more than a handful of really good restaurants that also serve alcohol, so gone are the days when you'd be stuck with either a mall restaurant or a bar with dubious food. You might also like: 7 Best Restaurants in Garden 8, New Cairo Our local favorite places in New Cairo to get dinner and a drink are the following, in no particular order: Lemon Tree & Co If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now -- more about TLT Bistro below). Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion in a massive venue, and they have DJs and music on weekends and certain nights. They're open from 5 pm if you want to have a sunset meal with a breeze. Good for: nights out with friends Location: One Ninety, New Cairo Call to reserve: 01120999290 Cucina This long-loved Italian restaurant at the JW Marriott hotel in New Cairo has been a crowd favorite for decades now. Split into two storeys around an open rotunda with a ceiling that’s painted to look like you’re outdoors, it’s a bit kitsch but we can’t be too mad at it when Cucina has been delivering great service and great food forever. Good for: dates, family lunches, business dinners Location: JW Marriott Hotel Call to reserve: 02 24115588 The Smokery Overlooking the green expanse of the golf course in Katameya Heights, The Smokery is hard to beat when it comes to dinner and drinks with a view in New Cairo. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and serve a variety of upscale international dishes, with everything from sliders to seabass quinoa to sushi. The Smokery became so popular that it opened other branches in 6 October, Heliopolis, El Gouna and Marassi. Good for: family lunches, business lunches, dinner dates Location: Katameya Heights Call to reserve: 0102 601 9175 Kazoku Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their menu features everything from sea scallop nori tacos to salmon steak in a wasabi beurre blanc to slow-cooked glazed short ribs in teriyaki sauce. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 2 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Reservations recommended. Good for: family lunches, dinner with friends Location: Swan Lake Compound Call to reserve: 0127 000 4877 TLT Bistro TLT Bistro is an upscale restaurant and bar by The Lemon Tree Concepts is known for its inimitable interior design, cocktails and overall vibe. It's a smaller, cozier version of The Lemon Tree and Co. Good for: lunch and dinner dates, dinner with friends Location: Katameya Heights Call to reserve: 02 27592599 The Tap East This light-hearted restobar, complete with foosball tables and a jovial vibe, is the ideal place in New Cairo to grab a casual beer and some food. They play live music on some nights so it’s always worth it to hit up their FB page and see what’s cooking. Speaking of cooking, they have an extensive menu of pub food -- they’re famous for their wings, but also have great burgers and a wide variety of other dishes. There's both indoor and outdoor dining. Good for: laidback nights out with friends Location: Stella Compound, New Cairo Book online to reserve: The Tap East Tao In the Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel you'll find Tao, a multi-Asian restaurant and bar. They serve Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian cuisine and pride themselves on their native chefs in the kitchen as well as their expert sommeliers. They also have a live teppanyaki station, and who can resist that! They're open from 1 pm to 1 am daily, and on Thursdays and Fridays they're open to 3 am (but 1 am to 3 am is bar service only). Good for: an upscale lunch or dinner when you're in the mood for Asian classics Location: Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel Call to reserve : 02 2614 0080 Osteria This 'modern European bistro' is tucked into a corner of the Square One commercial center, so it's hard to spot unless you're looking for it. It has indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, and most importantly - great food. They have a different menu for all times of day: a 'brunch and lighter bites' menu, a 'snacks' menu and a main course menu for dinner. Good for: family weekend lunches, dinner with friends Location: Square One, New Cairo Call to reserve: 01103991537 Esca Terrenal Esca Terrenal is a fine dining restaurant and bar that serves an eclectic Mediterranean menu as well as sushi. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a great industrial aesthetic unlike anywhere else in Cairo.   Good for:  early dinner or music with drinks later on. O n weekends there’s a DJ in the later evening and the music gets significantly louder.   Location:  5A by the Waterway, New Cairo   Call to reserve:   01006056055 Babel There’s no other restaurant in Cairo with the same striking interior design that Babel has – from its dramatic pendant lighting and soaring ceilings to the grand piano, Babel’s ambience immediately elevates your lunch or dinner experience. It’s a Lebanese restaurant with a handful of locations around the Middle East, and its 5A branch in Cairo has been impressing diners since its opening.  Good for: upscale Lebanese lunch or dinner in a spot that also serves wine and shisha Location: 5A by the Waterway Call to reserve: 01103888972 You might also like: 7 Best Restaurants & Cafes in 5A By The Waterway, New Cairo

While Cairo itself isn’t a coastal city, it’s close enough to both the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea for us to be able to readily access a wide variety of fresh and tasty seafood. Egyptians in general really enjoy our local seafood, but because it tends to be expensive, we save it usually for special occasions or big family lunches at a restaurant every now and then. Cairo has a handful of seafood restaurants, and like anything else, some are hits and some are misses. Here are what we consider the best seafood restaurants in Cairo, in no particular order: Bahary Locations: New Cairo & Nasr City Serving up seafood to the east side of Cairo since 1995. Some of Bahary’s specialities: fried butterfly shrimp, dynamite shrimp, signature seafood soup, crunchy fried calamari, shrimp pesto pasta, grilled sea bream with zesty lemon oil, and lots of great seafood casseroles. For the menu and more info: Bahary Catchy Location: Zamalek Catchy is a hidden gem on the Nile Maxim Boat in Zamalek (across from the Marriott). You wouldn’t know it’s there unless you go looking for it, and you’ll be glad you did. Besides their great seafood and service, they also have beautiful Nile views because they’re right on the water. Alcohol and shisha is also served there. For the menu and more info: Catchy Seagull Locations : Dokki, New Cairo, Madinaty, Sheikh Zayed Seagull has been a family favorite seafood restaurant since 1985! Their Dokki branch is our personal favorite, considering it’s also on a docked boat right on the Nile, across from the Cairo Tower. Their Madinaty and Sheikh Zayed branches are more ‘upscale’ however when it comes to decor. Same solid seafood throughout though. For the menu and more info: Seagull   El Rayes Ibn Hamido Locations: Heliopolis, Nasr City, Mokattam, Sayeda Zeinab Another seafood player that’s been in the game for over 30 years. El Rayes Ibn Hamido is known more commonly by its original name, Ibn Hamido, but they officially changed it once unaffiliated restaurants started popping up in Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh with the same name. El Rayes Ibn Hamido originally started as just a small takeaway spot, then grew enough to be able to provide home delivery, and now they have multiple dine-in branches.  For the menu and more info: El Rayes Ibn Hamido Fish & Chips Location: Downtown This is another hidden gem seafood restaurant as opposed to the other big chain names. Fish & Chips is a small taverna-style restaurant in Downtown Cairo. The restaurant might be small, but it’s really cute and kitschy on the inside and very Instagrammable. Try their shrimp molokheya! For the menu and more info: Fish & Chips Asmak Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Mohandiseen, Giza One of the most popular seafood restaurant chains in Cairo, with a wide variety of seafood that you can choose yourself from the fresh catch on ice and have cooked in whichever way you prefer. They’re so beloved that they opened two different branches on Egypt’s Mediterranean North Coast as well (read more:  10 Best Restaurants in Marassi, Egypt ). For the menu and more info: Asmak Flying Fish Location: Agouza Ah, the oldest Cairo seafood restaurant on this list. Flying Fish originally opened its doors in 1979 – so we’re talking almost 50 years at this point. Any restaurant that’s been open and thriving for almost 50 years deserves a spot on any ‘best’ list, and Flying Fish is no different. They’re still known for their high quality seafood, service and iconic stained glass windows. For the menu and more info: Flying Fish You may also like: 7 Best Sushi and Japanese Restaurants in Cairo

It’s not news to anyone that sushi and other Japanese cuisine have taken the world by storm in the past few decades, and Cairo, Egypt is no different. Sure, it took us Egyptians a minute to warm up to it when we were first introduced, but fast forward to present day and sushi restaurants are a dime a dozen here in Cairo.  Two of the biggest sushi restaurant chains here in Egypt are Mori Sushi and Garnell, which is where most locals get their sushi, but in our humble opinion it’s not the best. The highest quality, most enjoyable Japanese cuisine in the city isn’t at a chain restaurant, but usually way smaller establishments with actual Japanese chefs and authentic ingredients.  Local tip: because you get what you pay for, most of the restaurants on this list aren’t cheap – but you’ll be getting your money’s worth at least. Makino Location: Zamalek Tucked away into the side of the Hilton Zamalek, hidden from sight unless you’re looking for it, is Makino. Makino is very well-known with Japanese expats living in Cairo, but remains a hidden gem  to Egyptian locals and tourists. Their kitchen is staffed by Japanese chefs who not only serve up authentic sushi, sashimi, makimono and daily bento, but also udon, ramen and curry katsu. Alcohol is served. Local tip:  They’re open daily from noon to 11 pm, but close for an hour every day from 4-5 pm. For the menu and more info:   Makino Reif Kushiyaki Location: New Cairo Reif Kushiyaki is a restaurant famous for its "unconventional Japanese street food" in Dubai, and it opened its first Egyptian branch in 5A by Waterway in New Cairo ( read more:   7 Best Restaurants in 5A ). It’s named after Reif Othman (owner and celebrity chef of the Dubai branch) and kushiyaki , which is grilled meat on skewers. They have indoor and outdoor seating and their menu is a fun mix of appetizers, gyoza, sandos, different kushi skewers, makimono, yakisoba, claypot rice bowls and other Japanese street food faves. Alcohol served and reservations recommended for the weekend. For the menu and more info:   Reif Kushiyaki Sapporo Location: Dokki Sapporo has been the Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino’s most famous restaurant for decades. And they were so well known for their teppanyaki, that when we were much younger, we actually thought the restaurant’s name was ‘Teppanyaki’! We were young and dumb, what can we say. Fast forward 20 years later, and you can still order excellent teppanyaki at Sapporo (either a set menu or a la carte) for dinner AND a show. They also have a large variety of sushi, which you can order either in ‘combinations’ or by piece. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Sapporo L’Asiatique Location: Zamalek Similar to Sapporo above, any restaurant that can stand the test of time for decades and still be loved is truly a testament that they’re one of the best in the game. The award-winning L’Asiatique on the Le Pacha 1901 Nile boat in Zamalek has been serving sushi and other Far Eastern dishes for over 20 years. The restaurant is calm with lanterns and low Japanese tables, and kids aren’t allowed after 7 pm. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Le Pacha 1901 Kazoku Location: New Cairo Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their menu features everything from sea scallop nori tacos to salmon steak in a wasabi beurre blanc to slow-cooked glazed short ribs in teriyaki sauce. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 2 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Reservations recommended. For the menu and more info:   Kazoku Shogun Location: Nasr City You can find Shogun at the Intercontinental City Stars Hotel, but it’s also accessible through the City Stars Mall. This long-time favorite has a quiet and soothing atmosphere, complete with a fish tank in the middle of the restaurant for even more zen vibes. They have separate teppanyaki and yakitori menus, and their a la carte menu has izakaya style tapas, don, soba, udon and of course their signature sushi rolls and sashimi. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Shogun Sushimi By K Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed If you don’t want to spend hotel or fine dining prices, but are tired of all the mediocre casual sushi restaurants Cairo has to offer (and there are many), then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Sushimi by K. What started as a small sushi catering business quickly grew in popularity to an actual brick and mortar restaurant in New Cairo, with its second branch in Park St.  Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in Park St. West, Sheikh Zayed Sushimi by K prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, including non-frozen salmon and bluefin tuna. Their sushi menu is massive, alongside a few Japanese main courses for anyone in your group who isn’t on the sushi train. For the menu and more info:   Sushimi by K You may also like: 7 Best Seafood Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt

Listen, Egypt is a country with a 7,000 year old civilization, 5,000+ year old modern cities , 1,000+ year old mosques , and some of the oldest functional monasteries in the world . And while our hotels might not be quite that old, they bear witness to many decades of modern Egyptian history -- and are still around to tell the tale. Here are some of Egypt's most historic and fascinating hotels: 1. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino Location: Zamalek, Cairo Established: 1869 Original name: Palace Al Gezirah This modern-day Zamalek favorite was built by Khedive Ismail over 150 years ago to be a guest palace for foreign royalty and other VIPs visiting during the Suez Canal’s inauguration celebrations. Khedive Ismail decided to design the palace in the neoclassical style which was popular in Europe at the time. He signed on Austrian architect Julius Franz (later known as Franz Bey) and French architect De Curel Del Rosso, who had also designed the Abdeen Palace (for more awesome Cairo museums you need to check out, read our article here ). The interiors were done by German architect Carl von Diebitsch. Interesting story: the building’s own architect, Franz Bey, a man apparently not known for his modesty, said the Palace Al Gezirah was “the most beautiful building of modern Arabic style in its category”. Its first royal guests, the Prince and Princess of Wales, called the palace “uselessly extravagant” (lol). The palace operated as the exclusive Gezirah Palace Hotel until it was seized by the government in 1879 for unpaid debt and acquired by the Egyptian Hotels Company. It was later nationalized in 1969 during the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser, and became the Omar Khayyam hotel, later to be taken over by Marriott International in the 1970s. They were the ones who undertook the project of adding two large Nile-facing towers to the palace. The Cairo Marriott today The Cairo Marriott that stands today is still the same palace that housed Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, and hosted the wedding of Khedive Ismail’s son which lasted for 40 days; many of the original artwork and furniture can be found in the hotel’s reception rooms and lounges. Cairo Marriott's website . 2. Marriott Mena House From a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com Location: Giza Plateau, Greater Cairo Established: 1869 Original name: Mena House Family Hotel 1869 must have been a busy year for Khedive Ismail, because not only did he build the Gezirah Palace we spoke about above, but he also created the hunting lodge at the foot of the Pyramids which would later become the famous Mena House hotel . A drawing room, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com When Empress Eugenie came to Cairo for the Suez Canal inauguration, it wasn’t enough that Khedive Ismail built a whole guest palace for her and other royalty to stay at; he also built a road that led from Cairo to the Great Pyramids of Giza, and built a royal hunting lodge for her to rest and have lunch at during her Pyramids trip. The dining hall, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com The hunting lodge was then bought by a wealthy English couple on their honeymoon, Frederick and Jessie Head, because Frederick thought the air there to be beneficial (one living in modern-day Cairo can only laugh and/or cry at the irony). The couple enlarged the lodge into an estate and named it Mena House, after the first pharaoh of Egypt. Egypt's first swimming pool, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com After Frederick died, the house was bought by another English couple and turned into a hotel in 1887 --- the “Mena House Family Hotel”. A swimming pool was added a few years later, becoming the first swimming pool in Egypt. The hotel changed hands several times throughout the years before its management was acquired by the Marriott. Mariott Mena House today Interesting story: tons of famous politicians, celebrities and royalty stayed at the Mena House over the years, including Frank Sinatra, who performed at a charity event at the Pyramids in 1979 and sang “ Strangers on the Nile ”. Marriott Mena House's website . 3. Sofitel Winter Palace Winter Palace, circa 1910. Photo credit: hotelphotoarchive.com Location: Luxor Established: 1886/1907 Original name: Winter Palace Hotel Interesting story: so, the official hotel website for the Sofitel Winter Palace states that the hotel opened in 1886, and they went so far as to literally name one of their restaurants ‘1886’ -- talk about doubling down. But apparently, according to historians, that’s false -- the hotel actually opened its doors in 1907, according to, among other things, the announcement of its opening in the Egyptian Gazette newspaper in 1907. Today’s modern management might have gotten its founding date confused with the Luxor Hotel, another historic hotel that used to be right next to the Winter Palace. Oops. An S-23 Empire class flying boat delivering mail to the Winter Palace. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com / Gaddis Collection The Winter Palace Hotel was created by Cairo hoteliers in collaboration with Thomas Cook and Sons, and its construction was done by an Italian company. In January 1907, they celebrated its inauguration by a picnic at the Valley of the Kings. Lord Carnarvon with local dignitaries on the terrace of the Winter Palace. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com What really put the Winter Palace on the map was Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Reporters, foreign press and interested visitors from all over the world poured into Luxor and the Winter Palace was used as Carter’s newsroom to keep everyone up to speed on the discovery. Sofitel Winter Palace today Sofitel Winter Palace's website . 4. Windsor Hotel Location: Downtown Cairo Established: 1893 Original name: Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse **Editor's note: Sad news -- the Windsor has recently permanently closed. We'll keep this listing though for those who are interested in its history. RIP Windsor. The Windsor in Downtown Cairo was built back in 1893 as part of a baths complex for the royal family, and its architecture is very reminiscent of the interior courtyards of the caravanserai Wekalet el Ghouri in Old Cairo, next to Khan el Khalili . People call it ‘colonial-era neo-Mamluk architecture’ which is a mouthful, but there you go. Windsor Hotel, today. Photo credit: Jacobs Cindi Windsor was mainly known for being a British Officers Club during the First World War, and little had changed decor-wise since those days, albeit much older and more faded. Until recently, their vintage ‘Barrel Lounge’ was popular with Downtown bar-hoppers -- it got its name due to the seats being made of old wooden barrels. The Barrel Lounge, today After its stint as the British Officers Club, Windsor was bought by a Swiss hotelier with plans to make it an annex of the world-famous Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo (RIP). It was named the Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse until it was taken over in 1962 by the Doss family. Interesting story: the Windsor’s manually-operated wooden elevator (which was still in use until it's closing) was the oldest elevator in Egypt and one of the oldest operating elevators of its type in the world. Windsor Hotel's website . 5. Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com Location: Aswan Established : 1899 Original name: Cataract Hotel 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. They bought nine feddans from the government and hired architect Henri Favarger, the same architect who designed the Mena House. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com 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 series ‘Grand Hotel’). Interesting story: when the construction workers were leveling the ground to build the hotel, they came across 200 mummies buried there. The sad part is that they destroyed them with their shovels. The Sofitel Legend Old Cataract today Sofitel Legend Old Cataract's website . A full city guide to Aswan is here. 6. Paradise Inn Le Metropole Le Metropole facing the square, 1937 Location: Alexandria Established: 1902 Original name: Le Metropole Even though the hotel Le Metropole was built in the early 20th century by Greek and Italian architects, the history regarding the piece of land where the hotel was built is *much* older. Like, around 2,000 years older! Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who probably needs no introduction, built the Caesareum of Alexandria, a temple to honor her lover Julius Caesar. After her suicide, Roman emperor Augustus turned the Caesareum into his own cult temple, and brought over two obelisks from Heliopolis to adorn the exterior. Even though it was Augustus who had brought them over, they became known as ‘Cleopatra’s Needles’. The temple later became a church in the 4th century AD, and was destroyed in 912 AD. Cleopatra’s Needles were given away in an economic and political move by Khedive Mohammed Ali in 1879 -- one obelisk now stands in Central Park, NYC, and the other on the Thames embankment in London. The hotel that was built where the obelisks once stood is none other than Le Metropole, and instead of the Caesareum, there’s now a statue of Saad Zaghloul, a nationalist leader. The hotel today is dated but still carries a lot of its original turn of the 20th century charm, as well as original paintings and antiques. Paradise Inn Le Metropole today Interesting story: the Greek-Alexandrian poet Constantine Cavafy, who was one of the most prominent poets of the 1920s and 1930s, spent the last 25 years of his life in Le Metropole, writing poems. A suite in his name remains there until today. Paradise Inn Le Metropole's website . 7. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace Location: Alexandria Established: 1906 Original name: Windsor Palace This classic Alexandrian hotel is not at all related to the Windsor Hotel of Downtown Cairo -- apparently we just really like the name around here. When it was built in 1906, it was named after John Windsor, one of the ten partners in the new hotel. They thought 'Windsor Palace’ sounded aristocratic, which is the vibe they were aiming for. The Windsor Palace, 1934 The Windsor Palace was in quite the enviable location back 100 years ago -- it was close to the Ramleh train station and Alexandria’s old port harbor, as well as the shopping district and seaside promenades. Since it was right on the Mediterranean Sea, it was definitely more of a ‘resort hotel’ back in the day than it is now. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace today Like Le Metropole and The Windsor in Cairo, the current hotel that stands today has seen much better days, but holds on to its original paintings, antiques and choice furnishings, to give modern guests a feel of what the hotel was like back in its golden days. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace's website . 8. Semiramis Intercontinental Semiramis in 1940 Location: Garden City, Cairo Established: 1907 Original name: Semiramis If you want to get technical, the Semiramis Intercontinental that stands today isn’t the same Semiramis that was built in 1907 -- that one got demolished in 1976 to make way for the current, modern hotel. But it’s the same location and bears the same name, so we’re going to consider it historical just the same. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com The Semiramis was built by Swiss hoteliers and named for an ancient queen of Babylon, and was actually the very first hotel built on the Nile in Cairo -- most others were built in the Ezbakiya area or Downtown Cairo. It was four floors and had views of the pyramids, the Citadel, the Moqattam Hills, and obviously the Nile (this was before there was even a Nile Corniche!). The Semiramis was nicknamed ‘the queen of the Nile’. Semiramis and the Shepheard Hotel, half a mile from the original world-famous Shepheard's Hotel that burned down in 1952 Interesting story: T.E. Lawrence (you know, Lawrence of Arabia) stayed there in 1921 and wrote to his mother that the Semiramis was “very expensive and luxurious: horrible place: makes me Bolshevik.” Rupyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book , also stayed at the Semiramis several times, and wrote “The Swiss are the only people who have taken the trouble to master the art of hotel-keeping. Consequently, in the things that really matter – beds, baths, and victuals –they control Egypt”. Semiramis Intercontinental today Semiramis Intercontinental's website . 9. Steigenberger Cecil Hotel Location: Alexandria Established: 1929 Original name: Cecil Hotel The Cecil Hotel was originally a ‘romantic’ colonial-style hotel opened by a Jewish French-Egyptian family, the Metzgers, on the same square near the sea where Cleopatra’s Needles were (yes, the Cecil and Le Metropole are neighbors). Ramleh Station and Cecil Hotel, 1930s It was extremely popular in its heyday and hosted everyone from Umm Kalthoum to Josephine Baker and Al Capone. During World War II, it was used as headquarters for British Intelligence (not so romantic anymore, we guess). The Metzger family were expelled from the country in 1957, and 50 years later in 2007 won a court case over ownership of the Cecil Hotel, which they then sold to the Egyptian government. Interesting story: the Cecil Hotel is written about in Naguib Mahfouz’s famous novel Miramar , as well as Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet . Steigenberger Cecil Hotel today Steigenberger Cecil Hotel's website . 10. Helnan Auberge Auberge in 1945 Location: Fayoum Established: 1937 Original name: Auberge du Lac Fayoum, about an hour and a half from Cairo, has always been known as a great nature retreat and break from the city. And that was probably what King Farouk had in mind when he built a hunting and fishing lodge in Fayoum in 1937. The lodge, which was built on the shores of Lake Qarun, was used as a base for his hunting expeditions and parties, and King Farouk built an old port there as well. The lodge later became the Auberge du Lac Hotel, and the old port still stands. And while the hotel was always popular with hunting and fishing aficionados, it also was the setting for important political meetings, such as King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud and Winston Churchill in 1945. Winston Churchill and King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud in Auberge Du Lac, 1945 Interesting story: the Auberge was also the darling of the Egyptian film industry back in the day, and many Egyptian black-and-white (and regular) movies were shot there, like هذا هو الحب ( That’s Love ) in 1958, شمس لا تغيب ( A Sun That Never Sets ) in 1959, سر امرأة (A Woman’s Secret) in 1960, ست البنات ( The Girl of All Girls ) in 1961, and الكل عاوز يحب ( Everyone Wants Love ) in 1975, among many others. Movie filmed at Auberge Helnan, a Scandinavian hotel group, took over Auberge du Lac in the 1980s and renamed it Helnan Auberge. Helnan Auberge today Helnan Auberge's website . 11. Helnan Palestine Hotel Location: Alexandria Established: 1964 Original name: Palestine Hotel This hotel located in the former royal palace of El Montaza in Alexandria was built in 6 months in 1964 under orders from President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He wanted to build a hotel specifically to house all the Arab royalty, heads of state and dignitaries who were flying to Alexandria to attend the second ever Arab League Summit, and needless to say, he wanted to provide the very best in luxury, comfort and views; he handpicked the location of the hotel himself. Anwar Sadat at the Palestine Hotel It was at this summit that they formally approved the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (hence the name of the hotel). El Montaza is 350 acres of gardens on the Mediterranean Sea, and was the summer palace of King Farouk; its ownership was transferred to the government in 1952. Helnan took over the Palestine Hotel’s management in 1987. Interesting story: for the 2002 opening of the new Library of Alexandria, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina, presidents, royalty and celebrities flew in to attend and stayed at the Helnan Palestine, including Jacques Chirac, Sofia the Queen of Spain, and Rania the Queen of Jordan. Helnan Palestine's website . Interested in more modern historical spots in Egypt? Check out these 14 Egyptian dessert shops and patisseries more than 50 years old .

First, let’s be clear about something -- there’s adventure, and then there’s extreme adventure, and Egypt offers both. Regular adventure is things like sand-boarding or a hot air balloon or camping in Fayoum -- all fun, but nothing that will *really* get your heart pounding. But if you’re one of those people who needs that adrenaline rush, who’s comfortable being uncomfortable and actually seeks it out -- well then we have just the activities for you. 1. Gilf El Kebir Expedition Photo credit: Wilderness Ventures Egypt Duration: 14 days Not a trip for the faint-hearted. Gilf El Kebir is a massive limestone plateau deep in the remote wilderness of the southwestern corner of Egypt, around 150 km from the borders of both the Libyan and Sudanese deserts. The area is considered uncharted territory, and historic and prehistoric discoveries are being made there until present day. People visit Gilf El Kebir to see its caves with rock art dating back 10,000 years , like the Cave of the Beasts and Cave of the Swimmers. It’s also considered the last ‘undiscovered’ stretch of Egypt. Cave of the Beasts To reach the plateau, you have to drive off-road deep into the Great Sand Sea, past the far-flung oases of Farafra and Dakhla and away from all human civilization. Keep in mind that once you approach Gilf El Kebir, it’s total wilderness -- no phone signal, no place to buy water, no place to buy gasoline, hours upon hours away from a hospital, so you’ll need to prepare your trip far in advance. Details: 4x4 vehicles need to be stocked with food and water that outlast your trip in the case of emergency, gasoline needs to be bottled and packed, and you’ll need medical supplies, satellite phones and special GPS systems. You also *must* have a guide with you and in some cases, security as well. How to do it: Destination 31 arranges expeditions along with other adventure tour groups like Wilderness Ventures Egypt. 2. Kayaking from Aswan to Luxor Duration: 7 days Yep, that’s right. You can actually paddle the 200 km down the Nile between these two ancient Egyptian cities -- but it takes time, physical fitness and an extreme sense of adventure. The Nile Kayak Club arranges regular Aswan- Luxor kayaking expeditions, for seven days (five of those will be kayaking). You’ll make different stops throughout the trip to check out and explore the world-famous monuments and other lesser-known points of interest, and camp/sleep and eat on a boat for 5 of those days. Details: You’ll be paddling for around 5 hours a day, divided into a longer morning session and a shorter late afternoon/sunset session. If this extreme adventure seems up your alley, then make sure first that you’re physically able to paddle for hours at a time, because it’s quite a workout. How to do it: get in touch with The Nile Kayak Club and register for their next kayaking trip. 3. Skydiving at the Pyramids Photo credit: Bruno Brokken Duration: the event lasts 3 days If you’re one of those people who gets a rush from the idea of throwing yourself out of a plane, then this is a level up for you: you can throw yourself out of the plane while looking down over a great wonder of the world . Details: Skydive Egypt organizes a drop zone over the Pyramids once or twice annually, but you need to be a certified skydiver with a valid and current B license (over 100 jumps). If you’re not certified but want to be, Skydive Egypt also arranges skydiving trips in places like Kenya or Morocco throughout the year for Egyptians, so you’re ready for when it’s Pyramids skydiving time. SkyDive High however is an international extreme adventure tour company that can arrange for tandem jumps for beginners at the Pyramids, but are also charging $10,000 for it, so… How to do it: register on Skydive Egypt’s Facebook page or contact them for more details/questions. 4. Diving with sharks in the Red Sea Duration: variable When you think of shark diving, you might picture being lowered into the ocean in a cage with Great Whites attacking you from all angles in South Africa. And while this is appealing for some, the reality of diving with sharks in the Red Sea in Egypt is a lot more peaceful and safe, while still giving you that extreme adrenaline rush you crave -- and really shows why we need to do our best to protect Egypt’s sharks. Non-Egyptians aren’t usually aware of the *amazing* diving and aquatic life we have in Egypt, even though we top international dive site rankings year after year. Read our article about the best Egyptian dive sites for all levels . If you want to see these beautiful fish in their natural habitat and get your heart beating a little faster, there are several different dive sites dotting the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast known for their shark sightings. Whale shark at El Ikhwa Islands Details: There are over 30 types of shark found in the Red Sea, and most are not dangerous to humans, although you want to obviously give these large fish the respect and space they deserve -- don’t get too close and don’t try to touch them. You can see sharks ranging from reef sharks to hammerheads to even whale sharks if you’re lucky -- you can research the best seasons to see which type of shark and where. Famous shark dive sites include El Ikhwa Islands and Daedalus Reef among many others. How to do it: research which area suits the season you’re in, and contact a diving center there. Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam are all good starting points. 5. Rock climbing and bouldering in Dahab Photo credit: Desert Divers Duration: half day or full day If you love being outdoors and working up a sweat but in an extreme kind of way, then rock climbing and bouldering in Dahab’s desert mountains might be for you. Rock climbing is pretty self-explanatory, but don’t expect the easy indoor gym kind you might be used to -- we’re talking real crags and mountain faces. The good news is that in Dahab there’s the option of taking rock climbing courses for beginners, intermediate levels and experts; something for everyone. Details: Most rock climbing in Sinai happens in the winter months because of the moderate temperatures, but if you’re in Dahab in the summer, it’s still possible to climb, but just in the very early morning before the sun starts sizzling. Bouldering in Sinai As for bouldering, what is it exactly, you may ask? Essentially bouldering is almost like a real-life obstacle course; you have to get from Point A to Point B by climbing over immense boulders obstructing your way. There’s no equipment for bouldering, so it’s basically you scaling these huge stone obstructions using your body alone. How to do it : contact a tour company like Desert Divers , who can arrange everything from instructors to rock climbing rental equipment to transportation. 6. Dirt biking in the desert Duration: 1 day If you’ve always wanted to let loose on a dirt bike away from paved roads, cars and people, then head over to Hurghada (full guide here ) where you can go wild off-roading in the desert on a dirt bike (or quad bike if a dirt bike is a little too intense for you). You’ll go over dunes, valleys and varied desert terrain with a guide who decides the route based on your experience. It’s sandy, dusty and you’ll be sore for days after, but the adrenaline rush is real and hours will go by in a flash. You can also read our post about 25 fun things to do in Hurghada and El Gouna for more activity ideas. Details: You can rent the motorbikes (KTM 530) along with helmets and other protective gear from the adventure tour company. Local tip: scarves are essential unless you want to inhale a ton of dust. The tour company can arrange pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Hurghada and will take care of the bike, equipment and guide. How to do it: contact Bike Egypt for reservations and any questions. 7. Long-distance hiking and trekking in Sinai Duration: from 12 days to 38 days If enjoy hiking but are looking for the extreme version of it, then look no further than the Sinai Trail. This wilderness trek is no joke -- it’s for serious hikers only who are willing to live the Bedouin, desert nomad lifestyle for extended periods of time. Details: The Sinai Trail has different route options: there’s the Serabit el Khadem circuit, which is for 12 days, and covers hundreds of years of history. You’ll be hiking for hours led by Bedouin guides, and sleep under the stars and eat by campfire. There’s also the incredible 38 day Sinai Thru hike, which is divided into 3 parts (Part 1 and 2 are for 12 days, and Part 3 is for 14 days. You can sign up for any part of the hike... or even do the whole thing). According to the Sinai Trail website: “The first part is from Ras Shetan on the Gulf of Aqaba coast to Ein Kidd where there is a beautiful oasis with palms and bamboo. This first section of the route will be guided by the Tarabin and Muzeina tribes. On the second part the route continues from Ein Kidd to the highlands of St. Katherine. You will walk through narrow wadis, cross high passes and climb some of the highest peaks in Egypt with the Awlad Said and Jebeleya tribe. The third part runs from St. Katherine to Serabit el Khadem via some of the Sinai’s most remote wadis and mountains, with the Jebeleya, Awlad Said, Gararsha, Hamada, Sowalha and Alegat tribe.” Keep in mind that throughout these hikes, you’ll be far from settlements, bathrooms, electricity, running water and other creature comforts. They provide 3 meals a day and you can bring your own snacks, but it’s not for picky eaters. There are no beds -- it’s camping all the way -- and you *must* be physically fit so you can keep up for more than a week of intense trekking. Update: you can now also do a similar hiking trip in the Red Sea Mountains in the eastern desert near Hurghada, called the Red Sea Mountain Trail . It was ranked one of Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Places . If this sounds like heaven on earth to you, then you’re in for one of the best experiences of your life. How to do it : contact Sinai Trail or Red Sea Mountain Trail for full itineraries, prices, details and reservations. You may also like: 7 Best Kitesurfing Spots in Egypt

Khan El Khalili, the sprawling market/bazaar/souq in the heart of Old Cairo, is a massive hodgepodge of old and new, from beautiful centuries-old Islamic architecture to cheap made-in-China Ramadan lanterns with Mo Salah’s face on them. And while it’s indeed a tourist attraction , most of Khan El Khalili’s patrons are Egyptian locals, so the market is bustling at almost all hours of the day and night, in all seasons. Now, first things first: before we get into the nitty-gritty, let us just tell you one thing first: Khan el Khalili is *a lot*. Whether it’s a lot in a positive way or a lot in a negative way really depends on the eye of the beholder. It’s crowded, chaotic and loud, which can either be fun or overwhelming, but in most cases, usually a mix of both. Brief History of Khan El Khalili The khan in Cairo, by Charles Roberston (1887) In the 14th century, the then-Sultan Barquq’s (his mosque is one of the 10 most beautiful mosques in Egypt ) Master of Stables, Jaharkas El Khalili, built a large caravanserai (khan) where Khan El Khalili now stands -- it was essentially a building that housed merchants and their different goods. In later years, other sultans added their own khans/ wekala s (another word for caravanserai) until the whole area became a center for trade, both local and foreign, in the late 15th century. Khan El Khalili today is an integral part of Old Cairo, and the remaining medieval architecture and surrounding areas like Moez Street are reason enough to go (a UN study found that Moez Street has the highest concentration of medieval Islamic architectural treasures in the world). This area, called Historic Cairo, is one of Egypt's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Read our detailed local's guide to Moez Street here. You may also like: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Local's Guide Today’s Khan El Khalili: What to expect Imagine a labyrinth of tiny alleys stuffed to the brim with shops and vendors peddling all kinds of treasures and all kinds of crap. You’ll find everything from great quality gold and silver jewelry and painstakingly intricate Egyptian handcrafts to plastic bob-headed dogs (who buys those things, anyway?) and everything in between. It’s the best place in Egypt to buy a gift for someone (or, you know, a gift for yourself) and to stock up on kitschy cheap souvenirs for everyone back home in the office. There are also weekly whirling dervish shows and other cultural/folkloric events . Getting There Al Hussein Mosque & Square Khan El Khalili is in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo , and you can get there easily by either cab or Uber (expect a lot of traffic in this area though). Another way of getting there is taking the metro and getting off at the Ataba stop, but then it’s another 20 minutes or so walk from there and not the most pleasant, especially for women, so you’ve been warned. The easiest, most direct entrance is at the Al-Hussein Square where the Al-Hussein Mosque is, so if you just tell your cab driver to drop you off there or plug it into your Uber destination, you should be able to orient yourself quickly once there. Buying/Bargaining If we were to list all the different and sometimes very random things you can buy in Khan el Khalili, we’d be here all night. Suffice to say they have something for everyone, so budget in a couple hours at least to roam around and shop. Shop owners and other touts will call out to you all sorts of things, including the always popular “How can I take your money today?”. Some are a bit pushy, but if you’re politely firm in your refusal of whatever it is they’re trying to push on you, they’ll keep it moving pretty quickly. There are also people who roam around trying to sell you trinkets, mugs with names on them (but not yours), henna tattoos, leopard-print lingerie (don’t ask), used books and essentially anything a person can carry around. In the case of buying anything from either a shop or a roaming trinket hawker, feel free to bargain. If bargaining isn’t your sharpest skill, then just think of what amount of money you feel you would be ok spending on whatever you’re negotiating over and stick to that. Also don’t be afraid to turn around and leave if the price they’re asking for is too much -- they sometimes try to guilt you into paying their price by quickly wrapping up the item as if you already bought it even before you settle on a price. If you ever feel like the shopkeeper is being too pushy, then just leave. Don’t let anyone intimidate you into buying something you don’t want. Types of people you’ll find there Besides the vendors and shopkeepers, you’ll also find random ‘performers’, and we’re using the term loosely. From loud (very loud) singers to tabla drummers, these energetic people wander the alleys and will unabashedly ask for a ‘tip’ from anyone who seems to be enjoying their performance. Sadly, a fact of life in Egypt is that you’ll see beggars, including children, and Khan El Khalili is no different. Roaming food vendors -- we like these guys. Indulge in some Egyptian street snacks like roasted peanuts, baked sweet potatoes or termes (lupin beans) while you shop. Sweet potato vendor Egyptian locals. While this might seem a bit ‘duh’, for the many visitors to Cairo who spend most of their time at tourists spots and their hotels, this is one of the few times that you can really immerse yourself with Egyptian locals. Most locals in Khan El Khalili are busy going about buying this-and-that from so-and-so, herding their kids through the crowds, negotiating prices in booming voices, or laughing, talking and smoking (probably a combination of the three) in one of the various cafes. Just random fun weirdos. People-watching in Khan El Khalili is a cross between the circus, New York City, and 1001 Arabian Nights. Cafes and Restaurants Naguib Mahfouz Cafe Khan El Khalili has quite a few restaurants and cafes, but don’t bother looking for anything that looks familiar -- the fare here is decidedly Egyptian. Khan El Khalili Restaurant & Naguib Mahfouz Cafe (or just Naguib Mahfouz Cafe for short ) is the most famous restaurant and cafe in the market due to its being run by the Oberoi hotel group -- they have consistently good food and swankier surroundings then most other restaurants in the area. On weekends and other high traffic times there might be a wait though, and it’s pricier than other cafes in Khan El Khalili. For more restaurants in Cairo recommended for both tourists and locals alike, head here . El Fishawy is another extremely famous cafe, due to its being open for more than 200 years. Expect to be squeezed into any open chair they have in the alley, even if you end up sharing a table with a stranger, because this place gets crowded, fast. Stop here for a shisha or a quick drink, and we do mean quick, because the waiters will try to hustle you out as soon as you’re finished drinking. A good spot for people watching. Read: Vintage Cairo - 17 of the Oldest Restaurants, Cafes & Bars in the City In the outer square, overlooking Al-Hussein mosque, you’ll find a bunch more restaurants and cafes. Local tip: if you’re a meat lover, try the kebab and kofta from El Dahhan, followed by rice pudding for dessert at El Malky. Do not and we repeat ~do not~ expect anything fancy -- if chaos and questionable hygiene standards put a damper on your appetite, then maybe stick to Naguib Mahfouz cafe (or skip eating in Khan El Khalili in general). Safety The good news is, Khan El Khalili is a lot of bark and no bite -- meaning, it looks crowded and chaotic (and is), but there is very little actual danger posed to tourists. Just use normal common sense and keep your bags close and money/valuables zipped somewhere safe. There are also touristic police (both in uniform and in plain clothes) roaming the alleys at all hours, so if for any reason you run into any trouble, just head in their direction. Leaving Leaving is as straightforward as arriving -- head to the main square next to Al-Hussein mosque, where you’ll find one big entrance/exit. There are a bunch of cabs there (be sure to either agree on a price before you hop in, or make sure the meter is running) and it’s also an easy location for an Uber to pick you up from. You might also like: Moez Street in Old Cairo: A Detailed Local's Guide Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide Happy shopping!

Whenever you travel to a new country, one of the most important things is trying their local cuisine. And for beer lovers, trying new local beers can be just as interesting – or even more so, depending on who you’re asking! Read more: 15 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try While Egypt is a Muslim and relatively conservative country, alcohol is indeed legal and beer has been flowing here for literally thousands of years – the Ancient Egyptians absolutely loved their beer, and it was consumed daily from pharaohs to farmers (and even by children!). Modern-day Egypt’s drinking laws are not as lax as back 5,000 years ago (the legal drinking age here is now 21), but beer is easily bought in Egypt, whether from local alcohol shops such as Drinkies or Cheers , or bars, restaurants and hotels. Disclaimer: not all restaurants in Egypt serve beer, but many in Cairo and the beach cities do, and they have bars galore. Keep in mind though that alcohol is not served during the month of Ramadan or other Islamic holidays except at hotels if you’re a non-Egyptian. So let’s dive right into our local Egyptian beers: Stella Stella is by far the long-time darling of local beer drinkers. It first hit shelves in Egypt back in 1897, making it almost 120 years old (and has no relation to the Belgian beer Stella Artois). The Egyptian Stella’s presence in the past century’s old movies, shows and pop culture has made the bottle and its star logo (Stella means ‘star’ in Latin and Italian) a national drinking icon. Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 4.5% Sizes available: 330 ml & 500 ml Taste: Stella is (in our humble opinion) our favorite local beer. It’s not heavy at all, but not too light that you feel like you’re drinking something watered down. It’s especially excellent when you drink it outdoors in the heat and it’s ice cold. Sakara Sakara is a close second when it comes to the preferred beer of Egyptians. Named after the Saqqara necropolis (although using different spelling), the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt’s oldest pyramid, stands proudly on the bottle so it’s always a nice photo opportunity if you’re the type who likes to take pictures of your international beer-ing. Sakara comes in 3 different variations: 1) Sakara Gold Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 4% Sizes available: 500 ml Taste: Sakara Gold claims it has a more ‘European’ taste (whatever that means), but to us it tastes pretty similar to Stella. Its alcohol content is a bit less so it’s a tad on the lighter side, but overall a really good and refreshing beer with not much fuss. 2) Sakara El-King 10 Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 10% Sizes available: 500 ml Taste: In general we’re not a fan of high alcohol content beers, and while Sakara El-King 10 is drinkable, to us it’s by no means enjoyable. Give it a try though if you’re looking for something with quite a kick. 3) Sakara El-King 15 Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 15% Sizes available: 500 ml Taste: no… just no. Meister Max For those looking for a beer with more of a bite than Stella and Sakara Gold, Meister Max might be up your alley. It’s higher in alcohol content and although it’s a lager, it has more of an IPA feel to it. Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 8% Sizes available: 330 ml & 500 ml Taste: Meister Max is definitely more bitter than Stella and Sakara, so if you like the taste of IPAs, then you might like this one. The taste tends to start out pretty strong, but mellows out a few sips in. Egyptian beers that were discontinued: Luxor Classic Luxor XXX Sakara Weizen Meister Max Mango Meister Max Pineapple Sphinx In the case that you tried local Egyptian beer and it didn’t do it for you (how could you??), you’ll also find two international brands widely distributed (but produced in Egypt): 1) Heineken Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 5% Sizes available: 300 ml & 500 ml (and on draft in certain bars) 2) Desperados Type of beer: tequila-flavored lager Alcohol content: 5.9% Sizes available: 330 ml So now that you know a thing or two about Egyptian beer, here are the best bars and nightspots in Cairo to try them, divided by neighborhood: Best Bars in Zamalek Best Bars in Maadi Best Bars in Downtown Cairo Best Bars in Sheikh Zayed & 6 October Best Bars in New Cairo Best Bars in Heliopolis

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. Getting Around the Pyramids To get around the Pyramids plateau: you can either buy a ticket and enter on foot, with the choice to either walk around yourself if you don’t mind long stretches of sand and sun, or take the internal buses that can also take you between the different points of interests or 'stations' on the plateau. Another alternative for getting around the Pyramids is to 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 Serviced Stations If you're looking for a place to sit in the shade, go to the restroom, peruse gift and souvenir shops or get something to drink, then head to one of the plateau's serviced stations. Each main place of interest in the Pyramids complex has its own station, so you'll find: King Khufu Station King Khafre Station King Menkaure Station Panorama Station Sphinx Station There's also the King Khufu Center, where you'll find the world-renowned Khufu's restaurant (more about that below). Pyramids of Giza Opening Hours Photo credit: earthtrekkers.com Opening hours: 8 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 Khufu's There are limited places to sit and have a proper meal 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 coffeeshops at the different stations. Restaurants & Cafes at the Pyramids of the Giza: 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 CAF Abdel Rahim Koueidar (desserts) Dolato (ice cream) Mazmazza (Egyptian eatery & cafe) Semiramis Pastries Moko (chocolate) 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 and coffeeshops, 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 restrooms 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 restrooms at the different stations, but can be a hassle to get to if you're already a trek away. 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

Make sure you know what to expect when it comes to visas, customs, landing cards and more before you land in Egypt all in our one handy arrival guide. We'll mainly be discussing arriving in Cairo International Airport, considering that's where most people land (plus it's the most confusing), but we'll put add-on information when needed for the other international Egyptian airports such as Hurghada , Sharm El Sheikh  and Marsa Alam . Visas for Egypt So your flight’s booked, your room is reserved , and all that’s left on your to-do list is to count down the days. Right? Well, maybe. Depends on where you’re from. Egypt, like most other countries in the world, has a stratified visa system. Some visiting nationalities don’t need a visa at all; some buy it upon arrival; some get an e-visa issued; and some have to make a weary trip to the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate and apply for one. So, how do you know which of the above is you? We could go into a lengthy and boring breakdown, or you can just check this map (but please also double-check with your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate in case there’s been any sudden changes): Ok, so now you know which visa group you are. Here are our insider tips for you depending on your visa group: Those who don’t need a visa : feel free to skip this whole visa section of the article, you lucky thing you! Those who plan to apply for an e-visa: whatever you do, please make sure to buy it from the official Egyptian Ministry of Interior’s website and NOT the dozens of other Egyptian e-visa websites that are not affiliated with the government (although they might look pretty snazzy). The price on the Ministry’s website is $25 for a single entry visa, and this is the same price as a visa on arrival. The other non-government pages (usually tour agencies) will charge you more for the visas – this is how they make a buck. They’re basically ripping you off, so make sure you stick to the official site. Don’t pay more than $25 for a single entry visa. Regarding multiple entry visas, you can buy them at the Ministry of Interior’s website as well for $60. They’re not available on arrival. Visa on arrival: Buying a visa upon arriving at Cairo International Airport (or any of Egypt’s other international airports) is both straightforward and kinda not at the same time. Once you disembark the plane, you’ll find yourself approaching passport control without any direct or easily-noticed signage regarding visas, and when you see everyone lining up without a second thought, it might seem to make sense to join the line yourself. You didn’t see any place to get visas, right? Well don’t bother getting in line unless you want to be sent right back to get your visa, after you just spent 20 minutes waiting in line. We’ve witnessed this happen to many a frustrated tourist, so we’re here to help you avoid just that. Where to get your visa: you’ll find little bank kiosks on the side of the passport control area. They’re open 24/7. It’s from here you can buy the visas. They accept cash in dollars, euros and sterling. IMPORTANT: they do NOT accept credit and debit cards. Visa price: $25 Validity: 30 days Passport expiry : your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Once you buy your visa, they’ll stick it to an empty page on your passport and you’re free to join the line now to pass through passport control. The whole process of buying the visa doesn’t take more than five to ten minutes, and having the exact amount of cash you’ll need (in the right currency) will make things move even faster. Getting the visa issued from the embassy: if you’re one of the unfortunate souls that has to get their visa issued from their nearest embassy or consulate, sorry ‘bout that, but c’est la vie we guess. Think of it this way -- once you get it, you can cruise right off the flight and into passport control without having to worry about buying the visa. Important note for those arriving in Sharm El Sheikh Airport (Sinai Stamp): If you’re flying directly into Sharm El Sheikh (ie., Sharm is your entry point into Egypt) and are a EU, UK or US citizen , and if you're not staying in the Sinai peninsula for more than 15 days, then you don’t need to buy an entry visa at the airport. You can ask for something called a 'Sinai Stamp' for free on your passport -- emphasis on the 'free' part, don't believe anyone at the airport who says they'll get you a stamp for the "low price" of a couple of euro - this is a scam, just ignore them and go straight to an airport official. This Sinai Stamp If you plan to go to Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, or any other Egyptian destination outside of the Sinai peninsula, or plan to stay longer than 15 days, you’ll need to get the visa. It’s $25 upon arrival. Entering Egypt through other Egyptian international airports such as Hurghada or Marsa Alam require visas on arrival. Other Useful Information Landing Cards Usually before landing in Cairo Airport or any other international Egyptian airport, flight attendants will start distributing landing cards. There’s one for Egyptians (in Arabic) and one for non-Egyptians (in English). You fill out pretty standard info -- name, birthday, passport number, address of where you’re staying in Egypt, etc. If you’re a married couple or a family, you only need to fill out one card. Hang on to the card because you’re going to need it to get through passport control, but if for whatever reason you lose or misplace it, don’t freak out -- just ask the flight attendant for a new one or airport personnel in the airport once you reach passport control. Lots of times they have a bunch at counters before the passport lines, and if they don’t, someone will get one for you. Absolutely no need to panic -- Egyptians are both laid-back and helpful. Just hand the passport official the card along with your passport and that’s it. He/she keeps it and you don’t need it to exit Egypt after your trip. Insider recommendations: Don’t listen to anyone who says to follow them so that they can take you through “the fast track”. These people are simply looking for tips and their “fast track” is usually not much faster than the queue, so nope big nope. Also, while you’re at the bank getting your visa, it would be wise to exchange some money into Egyptian pounds. Most of Cairo uses cash solely, so it’s best to always have some on hand. Bring a pen! Or actually preferably bring more than one pen, and make sure you’re not particularly attached to them because you’ll find numerous fellow travellers asking to borrow one to fill out their landing cards and God knows pens are easy to misplace or forget with someone. Baggage Claim Visa -- check. Landing card -- check. Passport control -- check and check. Last step before you’re a free bird in Egypt is getting your bags and going through customs. The baggage claim area is pretty straightforward, and the baggage trolleys are for free. They’re not set up in a specific spot so just be eagle-eyed and you’ll spot an available one sooner or later. Customs Right before you pass through the doors into sweet, sweet freedom, there’s one more roadblock. Customs. This usually consists of a few haphazard lines leading to baggage x-ray machines. Travelers are asked to place their bags in the x-ray machine. They’re basically looking for the following: goods that are subject to taxes, illegal substances or items (like drones, FYI -- for a full list of unexpected illegal things in Egypt, head here ), large amounts of cash (above the allowed amount, which is $10,000 -- anything more has to be declared) and basically anything fishy. To be on the safe side, make sure when packing you think of the following: Open any new electronics and remove them from their original packaging prior to packing them so it doesn’t look like you’re bringing them in to sell Foreigners are not allowed more than 2 liters of alcohol (basically 2 bottles) when entering the country. You're allowed 1 liter from the Duty-Free at Cairo Airport and 1 liter purchased prior to arriving in Egypt (eg. from your country of origin or from a transit airport) Your clothes shouldn’t have price tags on them -- a lot of people smuggle in clothes purchased abroad and then sell them on the black market in Egypt Any item in bulk amounts will probably have them asking you questions If your bag is as boring as ours usually are, you’ll go through the whole x-ray thing in a minute flat (once you reach the front of the queue, that is). If your bag is flagged on the machine, then expect the officials to go through it briefly, but it shouldn’t take time unless they find something that requires further inspection. Duty-Free Depending on which airport and terminal you arrive in, the Duty-Free is either next to the baggage claim, or past custom control. Alcohol is totally legal in Egypt, and if you want to indulge in hard liquor over your trip, the Duty-Free is the best place to buy it, considering imported liquor is only available at hotels and certain bars/restaurants; the alcohol available for purchase outside the airport is all local and not to everyone’s taste (stick to the local beer & wine). The Duty-Free also has a wide range of candy, perfume, cigarettes and the other mainstream items you'd expect to see, as well as a selection of Egyptian souvenirs and local products. Leaving The Airport You got your passport stamped, your bags collected and your Duty-Free purchases made. FINALLY!!! Off into the city you go! Walking out of the arrivals hall, you’ll suddenly be bombarded with a lot of hopeful touts continually asking “ Taxi? Taxi? ”, on repeat, forever. So it’s good to have your transport method already figured out before your brain cells are overwhelmed in less than a minute of being on Egyptian Arrival Hall soil. If you’re staying at one of the big 5 star hotels , you can pre-arrange with them to send you an airport pick-up for a fee. If not, here are your options for arriving at Cairo International Airport: 1. Airport shuttle services You can book online or go to their desk at the arrivals hall, but it’s preferred to book in advance so you’re guaranteed a waiting car. They have flat fees for different types of cars and different destinations, so you don’t have to worry about bargaining or negotiating. The price is per car, not per person, so it’s ideal if you’re a couple or small group. Airport shuttle prices are here . 2. London Cab Similar to the airport shuttle, you can book this roomy cab online (as the name obviously suggests, they are indeed like the taxis in London). You fill in your pick-up/drop-off info and date and they’ll show you the fare. Another good option if you’re more than one person, but pricey if you’re flying solo. London Cab prices are here . 3. Uber/Careem If you’re arriving solo, it’ll probably be cheaper to hop in an Uber or Careem (the Middle Eastern version of Uber) as opposed to a shuttle bus. Ubers/Careems are available 24/7, so you’ll rarely have to wait more than 10-15 minutes for one to arrive. The one downside of Uber/Careem is that they have to wait in the parking lot and are not allowed to drive up to the arrivals door, so it can be a little tricky to find the car sometimes. A lot of drivers won’t speak much English, so it’s best to always put your exact destination in the app so that they just follow the GPS. 4. Limousines/”taxis” As soon as you step out into the arrivals hall, several men will come up to you and ask “Taxi? Taxi?”. These taxis are not really cabs , but shabby limousines that will take you to your destination for a negotiable price. Whatever price the touts give you, feel free to bargain. You’ll also find a few kiosks for limousines, also feel free to bargain with them. 5. Car rentals Cairo Airport is home to big brand car rentals like Sixt, Avis and Europcar . Their kiosks are 24/7 and located in Terminal 3. It’s recommended that you book online and read through all the fine print so you know exactly what you’ll pay and the insurance and safety deposits that are required. Please note: if you’ve never driven in Cairo before, you might want to think twice before renting a car. The driving is extreeeeemely harrowing and Cairo drivers have vaguely impressive sangfroid when it comes to road rules. Transportation that is not available: train & metro. There are some buses but to very specific destinations. Local recommendation: the airport shuttle and London Cab are probably the most hassle-free, but if you’re on a budget, Uber/Careem is your best bet. If you arrived at Hurghada International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, or Marsa Alam International Airport: You can prearrange with your hotel to pick you up. There are usually taxis waiting outside of the arrival gate but they're usually overpriced, so make sure you negotiate. There will be kiosks for limousines, transfers and tour operators in the arrival halls. You can pre-book a taxi service online from the different operators in each city, for example you can try London Cab, ABC Taxi or 123 Taxis in Hurghada. You can book an airport transfer from the different online travel platforms. Whether you're landing in Cairo or a beach city, in any case prepare to have an unforgettable trip - Welcome to Egypt! 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Tomb of Wahty. Photo credit: Mohamed Abdel Ghany/Reuters No question about it -- Egypt is just one of those bucket list countries , with sights that are impossible to fathom unless you see them for yourself. But as we all know, sometimes crossing something off your bucket list is easier said than done! So whether you’re stuck at home with no travel plans in sight, or are just curious to see some of Egypt’s most famous historical, religious and cultural sites, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has done us all a solid and created 3D virtual tours where you can explore these mysterious, intriguing places for free from the comfort of your own home. Local tip: if the virtual tour page says it's unable to load the first time, just refresh the page. King Tut Hall Imagine this but without the crowds. See the iconic King Tut burial mask in the Cairo Museum’s King Tut Hall, alongside his golden coffins and other treasures from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. King Tut Hall virtual tour link . Museum of Islamic Art This art museum in Cairo holds over 100,000 pieces of Islamic heritage from not only Egypt but also Arab and non-Arab countries alike. 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 . Museum of Islamic Art virtual tour link . Abu Serga Church The Abu Serga church in Coptic Cairo is believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus Christ) stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. The spot is now the crypt of the church, 10 meters deep. Abu Serga virtul tour link . Tomb of Ti The mastaba tomb of the ancient Egyptian official Ti in the Saqqara necropolis outside of Cairo. Ti's tomb is known for its wall depictions of daily life in the Old Kingdom, including scenes of farming, boat-building and poultry-fattening. Tomb of Ti virtual tour link . Manasterly Palace & Nile Meter The palace of Hassan Fouad Al Manasterly Pasha, the governor of Cairo in 1854 AD, located on the Nile River island of Al Rawda in Cairo. On the grounds is also a Nilometer built in 1861 AD, to measure the Nile during the annual floods. Manasterly Palace and Nilometer virtual tour link . Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotep Tomb An unusual ‘double tomb’ mastaba in the Saqqara necropolis. 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). Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotelp's tomb virtual tour link . Mohammed Ali Pasha Mosque Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Cairo Citadel is one of Cairo’s landmarks and dominates the Eastern skyline, both during the day and then at night when it’s lit up. It was commissioned by Mohammed Ali Pasha, an Ottoman Albanian military commander who became Khedive of Egypt. Mohamed Ali Mosque virtual tour link . The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser - Colonnade Photo credit: Aidan McRae Thomson The entrance colonnade to the pyramid complex of Djoser. The oldest Egyptian pyramid to date , ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The colonnade is 20 pairs of columns with 24 small chambers between each, which are thought maybe to represent the nomes of Upper and Lower Egypt, and may have once held statues of the pharaoh or the gods. Step Pyramid Colonnade virtual tour link here . Gayer-Andersen Museum The Gayer-Andersen Museum is found in a beautiful historical house in Old Cairo, built in 1631. It’s a great remnant of Islamic architecture at the time. The house belonged to several different wealthy families over the years, but gained its name during its stint as home of British officer Gayer Andersen in 1935. He amassed a stunning collection of art, furniture, carpets and Egyptian handicrafts that remain in the house until present day. Gayer-Andersen virtual tour link . Unas Pyramid 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. Unas Pyramid virtual tour link . Al-Fath Mosque The Royal Al-Fath Mosque is annexed to Abdeen Palace in Cairo, built in the 19th century in an Ottoman style similar to the mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha. The Al-Fath Mosque virtual tour link . Tomb of Menna Menna was an ancient Egyptian official, and his tomb is one of the most colorful and best-preserved in Thebes (modern-day Luxor). Tomb of Menna virtual tour link . Red Monastery This 1,400 year old Coptic Orthodox church in Sohag was once one of Byzantine Egypt’s most beautiful monasteries. It was in ruins for decades, but was recently restored to its former glory. Red Monastery virtual tour link . Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq The mosque-madrassa of Al Zaher Barquq (also known as the Sultan Barquq mosque) is a medieval religious complex in the Moez street area in Old Cairo, adjacent to Khan el Khalili (for our full Khan el Khalili guide, head here ). It’s comprised of a mosque, madrassa, mausoleum and khanqah (a building for Sufi spiritual retreat). Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq virtual tour link . Tomb of Queen Meresankh III Photo credit: The Giza Project at Harvard University Meresankh III was the granddaughter of Khufu (the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid), and is believed to be the wife of either Khafre or Menkaure (the pharaohs of the other two Pyramids of Giza). One of the most beloved features of her mastaba tomb is the ten large statues of women that are carved out of the northern wall, thought to represent Meresankh III, her mother and her daughters. Tomb of Meresankh III virtual tour link . Ben Ezra Synagogue Originally a Coptic Church established in 882 AD, Abraham Ben Ezra from Jerusalem bought the church and converted it to a synagogue. It’s believed to be the spot where the baby Moses was found. The synagogue went through a series of renovations over the centuries, with the current structure dating back to 1892. It’s built in the style of a basilica, with two floors: the first floor dedicated to men, and the 2nd dedicated to women. It now functions as a museum. Ben Ezra Synagogue virtual tour link . Beni Hasan A necropolis dedicated to ancient military leaders and provincial rulers, today found in the modern city of Minya in Upper Egypt. There are about 39 tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2050 BC to 1710 BC). Beni Hasan virtual tour link . Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa These catacombs in Alexandria are a rare mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman architecture and monuments and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa virtual tour link . Tomb of Ramses VI Also known as KV9, this tomb (originally built by Ramses V but used by Ramses VI) is one of the best-preserved in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Tomb of Ramses VI virtual tour link . Coptic Museum 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. Coptic Museum virtual tour link . Tomb of Wahty Photo credit: Mohamed Abdel Ghany/Reuters Recently discovered in 2018, Wahty (also spelled Wahtye) was an Old Kingdom priest and royal official, and his 4,400 year old tomb was found mainly intact in the Saqqara necropolis. Tomb of Wahty virtual tour link . Tomb of Mehu Not far from the Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara is the Old Kingdom mastaba tomb of Mehu, a royal vizier. Tomb of Mehu virtual tour link . You may also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List: 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

Malaika Linens It’s one of those ironic things in life: Egypt is known the world over for its top quality, luxury bed linens and famous extra-long staple cotton, so you would think the best place to splurge a little and buy them would be… Egypt, right? Well, yes, but it’s not as easy as you would think! The truth of the matter is most of Egypt’s high-quality cotton is exported overseas, so the cotton used in regular everyday life here is usually the same cheap Chinese polyblend everyone else wears around the world. Despair not however, because it *is* possible to find the quality linens and cotton you’re looking for (and way more affordable than buying its exported equivalent), you just need to do a little hunting. LOCAL TIP: if you’re in the market for good quality Egyptian linens or cotton, you WON’T find them in Khan el Khalili or other touristic souqs and markets. The vendors might tell you they are, but that is *very* debatable. So where can you actually find great Egyptian linen and cotton products in Cairo? We got you: Malaika Linens Founded over 15 years ago by two Ecuadorians living in Egypt, Malaika Linens saw the lack of high-quality Egyptian bedding and home linens in the local market. They paired that with their background in design and embroidery to create some of the best locally-made linen and cotton beddings and homeware in Egypt. They established their own factory in 2009 to have total control over quality and craftsmanship, and recently opened an embroidery school to help underprivileged Egyptian women develop their skills and improve their economic standing. Where you can find Malaika Linens: they have their own flagship shop in El Gouna, but also sell in different shops around Cairo and Alexandria. You can find a full list of where to buy them here . For more info: Malaika Linens website Nillens Looking for top-quality Egyptian bedding, towels, loungewear, beachwear or even super-soft items for your baby? Then Nillens is the way to go. They have an extensive product list, all of which use the highest 100% Egyptian materials and fabrics, including their famous cotton bedding. Their sheets range from 300 thread count percale to 800 thread count sateen, so you can choose depending on your taste. Some people prefer the lower TC (thread count) due to its being lighter and airier; others prefer the silkiness and density of higher thread counts. In either case, all bedding is made in Nillens with 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton. Where you can find Nillens: District 5, Mall of Egypt, Degla (Maadi), City Stars, Zamalek and Marassi and Diplo 3 (North Coast) For more info: Nillens website CottonBall Back in 2013, the founders of CottonBall also sensed a need in the local market; but their focus was on the lack of quality cotton basic apparel. They also wanted to focus on simplicity and comfort -- no big logos or distracting designs, just simple, quality Egyptian cotton pieces like t-shirts, tank tops and other daily staples, in an array of colors, sizes and cuts. The end result: a line of products that they call "Quality Necessities and Bare Apparel". Where you can find CottonBall: you can shop online or visit their Zamalek store, on Ahmed Heshmat street next to Seoudi Market. For more info: CottonBall website Lilly Home Launched in 2012, Lilly Home started off as a range of premium bedding, using famous Egyptian flax linen - duvets, bed sheets, quilts and more. They were such a hit that the brand started incorporating other collections, such as bathroom (towels etc), dining, and ‘Lillywear’ (loungewear, beachwear and nightwear). All collections focus on artisan-woven Egyptian cotton textiles. Where you can find Lilly Home: City Stars, Downtown Katameya, Mivida and Arkan For more info: Lilly Linen website Mobaco Cottons The oldest player in the game (or at least on this list), Mobaco Cottons has been in business since 1974, selling quality but affordable Egyptian cotton, linen, wool and other natural material clothes. Their t-shirts, polos and jeans are all comfortable and durable, and their stores have opened in almost every neighborhood in Cairo, plus other Egyptian cities (and they also have two stores in Paris!). They have a wide range of clothing and a juniors section as well. Where to find Mobaco Cottons: you’ll find a list of their stores here . For more info: Mobaco Cottons website Heba Linens One of the leading luxury Egyptian home linens manufacturers since 1995, Heba Linens focuses on quality, embroidery and craftsmanship, and uses 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton. Their products range from bedding to towels, bath mats, dining linens, toiletry bags, robes and even custom pieces. Where to find Heba Linens: City Stars, Zamalek, Intercontinental Semiramis Hotel, Four Seasons First Residence, Arkan, Downtown Katameya. You can also buy directly from their website . For more info: Heba Linens Facebook page Bed&More If you want great quality Egyptian cotton bedding or bathroom linen delivered straight to your door (whether you're in Egypt or abroad), then Bed&More is a good choice. They're based in Cairo but they sell online their premium Egyptian and organic cotton and linens, with a focus on eco-friendly production and packaging and sustainability. Domestic deliveries in Egypt take 3-5 business days, and international deliveries take 7-14 business days. Where to find Bed&More: you can order from them online For more info: Bed&More website You may also like: 5 Best Egyptian Natural Skincare, Haircare and Beauty Brands

Red Pyramid & Bent Pyramid at Dahshur 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 Abusir pyramids with their shinier Giza predecessors in the background 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

Marassi is the biggest and most visited beach compound on Egypt’s North Coast (Sahel). We’re talking 23 residential neighborhoods, 6 beaches, multiple hotels, an international marina, a waterpark and a golf course, all spread over 6.5 million sqm. So if you were to assume that they also have a lot of restaurants and dining options, well you’d be correct, that’s for sure!  Read more: North Coast, Egypt - A Complete Guide For First-Timers The Marassi Marina especially is full of restaurants and cafes, many of which have beautiful water views. But because it’s so popular, lots of the restaurants need reservations and QR codes, so it’s not as easy as just breezing in anywhere when you get hungry. So which restaurants are actually worth putting in the effort? Here’s our list of the best restaurants in Marassi: Sachi Sachi is known as being one of (if not the ) best fine dining restaurants  in Egypt, and their Marassi branch does not disappoint. Their menu is Mediterranean Asian fusion and they have great cocktails as well. Open from 5 pm. For menu and reservations: Sachi Izakaya Peruvian-Japanese fusion is to be found at Izakaya SHL, adjacent to the Vida Marina Resort. Enjoy sushi and Nikkei plates on the water from 5 pm onwards. For menu and reservations:   Izakaya Reif Kushiyaki Led by celebrity chef Reif Othman, Reif Kushiyaki is all about innovative Japanese cuisine, from its signature kushiyaki (grilled meat skewers), to yakisoba, sandos and maki rolls. They’re also right on the marina, to enjoy your dinner with a drink and a breeze. For menu and reservations:   Reif Kushiyaki Stanley Fresh seafood, Mediterranean mezze and signature cocktails is what Stanley is all about. They’re open from breakfast onwards at the Marassi Marina. For menu and reservations: Stanley San Carlo This restaurant from the UK teamed with the Smokery Group to bring you San Carlo, a fine dining Italian restaurant. Their signature dishes are their tender slices of prime beef fillet, pan-seared sea bass in lemon caper sauce and homemade ravioli. Open from 4 pm. For menu and reservations: San Carlo Ovio This European restaurant has a hefty breakfast and brunch menu: pancakes, crepes, different egg styles by the dozen, sourdough toast and morning sandwiches; Ovio’s got it all. They also offer lunch and dinner obviously, but it’s particularly popular in the morning. For menu and reservations:   Ovio The Smokery Beautiful restaurant and bar right on the water. The Smokery has branches throughout Egypt, from Cairo to El Gouna and the North Coast, and they’re known for their pastas and sushi. For menu and reservations: The Smokery Asmak Considering you’re spending time on the Mediterranean Sea, it would be almost sacrilegious to not have a seafood feast at least once before you leave. Asmak has a huge variety of seafood dishes, and you can order right off the menu or choose yourself from the fresh catch of the day and have them prepare it in your preferred style. For menu and reservations: Asmak Indira If you’re bored of the usual pizza, sandwiches and beach-style food, then head to Indira for some great Indian cuisine. Besides having all our favorite Indian classics, they also have a nice spot right on the water and serve shisha too. For menu and reservations: Indira Zaza Cuisine If it’s your first time in Egypt and you want to experience all sorts of Egyptian food without leaving Marassi (read more: 15 Egyptian Foods You Must Try ), or you’re a local and just craving some of our traditional favorites, then head to Zaza. They have a massive menu from breakfast onwards with all the classics: fuul, taameya, feteer, tagens, grills, fattah, the whole nine yards. They also have pizza and international dishes as well as shisha.  For menu and reservations: Zaza Cuisine Other restaurants in Marassi: Eatery Qahwa Crave Ted’s Maison Thomas Lodge Seaside Carlo’s Piccolo Mondo L’Asiatique Loris Salt EL&N Cafe Paul Sax Chili’s Lunch Room Ahwet Zeitouna Boulevard Pizza Bar IOI Vapiano Fish Market Tabali Pipa Villa Caracas Suzette’s Desoky and Soda Laduree Le Flandrin Arabica 1980 Koffee Kulture Brown Nose Marassi hotel restaurants: Bayroot (Address Beach Resort) Myra (Address Beach Resort) Nooraï (Address Golf Resort) Blé (Address Golf Resort) Melts & Mains (Address Golf Resort) Socal (Vida Marina Resort) Origins (Vida Marina Resort) B’Haar (Al Alamein Hotel) Food trucks/Dessert: Krispy Kreme BRGR Dolato Baskin Robbins Churrito Dara’s Ice Cream Copa Acai Pao Yole Semman & Co Takosan Barbar Pink Palms Chez Koukou Nathan's KB's Cake Studio Duck Donuts Panzini Hameed Taiyaki *Note: these are all besides the usual fast food suspects, like KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. Happy beaching and eating! You may also like: 10 Best Restaurants and Beach Bars on the North Coast (Sahel)

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 Credit: Mada Masr. These are some of the biggest compounds/villages on the North Coast but not all of them 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 late 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. During the high season, there's a twice weekly domestic flight between Cairo Airport and El Alamein Airport. El Alamein also receives a few limited international flights. 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). For example, Marassi is the biggest compound and has over 50 restaurants. Smaller compounds might only have one or two. Read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Marassi, Egypt 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 Rixos Alamein 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! We wrote a whole article separate article on the best hotels in the North Coast: 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 Lemon Tree & Co 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.  We listed the ten best here: 10 Best Restaurants & Beach Clubs on Egypt's North Coast Also there are usually various musical concerts and beach parties 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

Al Alamein Hotel If you’ve heard of Egypt’s North Coast before (known as Sahel el Shamali  in Arabic or just Sahel  for short), then it’s safe to say you’ve heard about its insanely beautiful beaches, some of the very best in the Mediterranean region (if not the world). But because tourism hasn’t fully taken off there yet, you might not be sure which are the best hotels or places to stay to truly partake in some spectacular sun and sea.  Read more: North Coast, Egypt - A Complete Travel Guide for First-Timers So we’ve put together for you a list of some tried and true North Coast favorites; these 5 star hotels will deliver the best of what hotel hospitality on the Egyptian Mediterranean has to offer. But we also have a few local tips/caveats. Local tip #1: These hotels are all 5 star and in high demand during the summer season - so they’re pretty expensive. It’s best to book far in advance if you’re planning on going in the summer months, and keep an eye out for any deals/discounts they might be offering so as to snag the best price.  Local tip #2: Try to book weekdays and not weekends. First of all, with some of these hotels the nightly price on a weekend is more than double the nightly price of a weekday. Secondly, summer weekends usually are fully booked in these hotels, so aside from the price, try to book in advance before summer starts to make sure you can nab the room of your choice.  Also peppered along the North Coast are various three star and four star hotels; those will be cheaper obviously, but they can also be hit and miss, so we wanted to just focus on the very best North Coast hotels. So with no further ado, here they are in no particular order: Rixos Premium Alamein Location: New Alamein City This soaring hotel is reminiscent architecturally of the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, and its height makes it different from all the other hotels on this list. Guests are able to get incredible sea views from above in their rooms from a variety of angles. All-inclusive packages are available. New Alamein City is still a work in progress, with the goal of it being a year-round touristic city by 2030. While there’s currently not much around the hotel, the hotel itself has a handful of restaurants, bars, pools and other amenities. For more information and reviews: Rixos Premium Alamein Rixos Alamein Location: Ghazala Bay Another Rixos on the North Coast, but this one is the original in Ghazala Bay, about a 40 minute drive from the Rixos Premium Alamein in New Alamein City.  Rixos Alamein, besides its spectacular beach, has five swimming pools and a spa. They also have six restaurants and several bars, and an all-inclusive option, so it’s a great place to stay if you want luxury and not to leave your hotel.   For more information and reviews: Rixos Alamein Address Marassi Beach Resort OR Address Marassi Golf Resort Address Marassi Beach Resort Location: Marassi This entry is a two-for-one depending on your preferences. The Address hotel chain has several different sister hotels in Marassi, and two of the best are the Address Marassi Beach Resort and the Address Marassi Golf Resort. The main difference between the two is that the Beach Resort is right on the beach, while the Golf Resort is on an 18 hole signature golf course, with beach access at the nearby Al Alamein Hotel (transportation between the hotel and the beach is via golf cart). Read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Marassi, Egypt Address Marassi Golf Resort So if you’re a golfer, then it’s an easy choice. But if you’re more into sea views and direct beachfront, then Address Marassi Beach Resort is a better fit.  For more information and reviews: Address Marassi Beach Resort  and Address Marassi Golf Resort Jaz Almaza Beach Hotel Location: Almaza Bay The Jaz hotel group actually operates 5 different hotels in Almaza Bay, with four of them called Jaz so-and-so – so it can be a bit confusing. The four Jaz hotels (Jaz Almaza Beach, Jaz Oriental, Jaz Crystal and Jaz Tamerina) are all 5 star, while their fifth sister hotel Almazino is 4 star.  There’s not a huge difference between all the Jaz hotels, but we selected Jaz Almaza Beach simply because it’s the biggest and with the most amenities.  For more information and reviews: Jaz Almaza Beach Resort   Al Alamein Hotel Location: Marassi This hotel is one of the highest ranked by guests, with rave reviews on all platforms. Al Alamein Hotel also regularly features in travel influencer content, with their memorable beach sculptures set against a stunning stretch of sea. Al Alamein is in Marassi, and it’s a good option if you don’t want to just stick to your hotel. The Marassi compound is extensive and it’s easy to get to the Marassi Marina with its restaurants and bars, the Marassi mall and even the waterpark. For more information and reviews: Al Alamein Hotel Casa Cook North Coast   Location: Hacienda White If you’re looking for an adults only hotel, away from kids shrieking and splashing in the pool and sea, then Casa Cook is for you. It’s a beautifully designed boutique hotel, with focus on natural materials and elegant simplicity.  Casa Cook doesn’t have all the amenities or bells and whistles that the bigger hotels on this list have, but because it’s in Hacienda White, it’s in walking distance of two of the North Coast’s most popular beach bars and party destinations: The Lemon Tree & Co and Kiki’s Beach.  For more information and reviews: Casa Cook North Coast Caesar Bay Resort Location: right before the Caesar compound If you’re looking for a kid-friendly resort for you and your family, and don’t care about not leaving your hotel, then Caesar Bay Resort is a good option. They offer big family rooms that can take up to four people, whether all adults or adults and kids.  They also have a kids club where professionals lead kids in a series of activities throughout the day, so if you’re looking to keep your kids occupied while you relax. For more information and reviews: Caesar Bay Resort You may also like: 10 Best Restaurants & Beach Bars on Egypt's North Coast