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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. There's also El Alamein Airport, which is even closer than Borg El Arab Airport, but they receive far fewer flights than Borg El Arab. 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 and cafes, as well as malls, arcades and lots of other entertainment venues. 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. You can also pre-book London Cab. 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 Most compounds will have their own commercial/dining area of sorts, where you'll find fast food chains, coffee shops, and a few restaurants, depending on how big your compound is. Like we mentioned above, Marassi for example is its own mini-city with dozens upon dozens of restaurants. But besides Marassi (which is a hassle to get in and out of if you're not staying there), 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 if you're the type who doesn't want the hassle of going out 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

6 October City, the western suburb of Cairo, has become so massive recently that you can drive for half an hour and still be in the same neighborhood -- and who has time for that in this day and age? For those living in the area of Palm Hills and New Giza, it used to be that you would have to take the aforementioned 30 minute drive to go to places like Arkan Plaza or Park St. West in Sheikh Zayed, where all the restaurants and cafes are... but no longer! Good news: the plateau that’s home to Palm Hills, New Giza, and multiple other compounds now has its own fair share of restaurants, cafes, bars and food trucks, so no more unnecessary long drives! But which nearby dining spots are the best? Here’s some of our favorite restaurants near Palm Hills and New Giza, with something for every mood: Izakaya Location: Palm Central The first Nikkei restaurant in Egypt (Peruvian-Japanese fusion), Izakaya offers everything from ceviche to omakase, in a beautiful bar and outdoor dining area. They’re open from brunch onwards, so it’s a great spot if you want to have lunch in the sun or sushi under the stars. For the menu and more info: Izakaya Andrea Mariouteya Location: New Giza A casual family-favorite classic for decades now, Andrea Mariouteya serves up the same great grills it has since 1958. Their menu is limited to grilled chicken, grilled quail, fresh pita bread straight from the oven, homemade fries, some starters and some dips, but what more does anyone need? (They also serve an equally great breakfast!) The restaurant is on an iconic open-air terrace with views over the city. For the menu and more info: Andrea The Smokery Cairo West Location: Hyatt Centric Cairo West Overlooking the Pyramids of Giza at the Hyatt Centric hotel, The Smokery offers an elevated international menu as well as sushi. This indoor/outdoor space has both high tables for a more cocktail bar feel at night, as well as lower tables for those in the mood to eat and drink while looking out at the Pyramids and the sprawling city below. For the menu and more info: The Smokery Cairo West Scalini Location: Palm Central In the mood for Italian? Scalini was first established in London in 1988, so this Italian restaurant has been going strong for awhile, and it’s definitely the best Italian food in the Palm Hills and New Giza area. They have indoor and outdoor dining as well as a beautiful bar, and open from lunch (3 pm) onwards. For the menu and more info: Scalini Gigi Location: Golf Central Gigi is a restobar known for its upscale comfort food – think pizza, burgers, potato skins, quesadillas, mac n cheese – all the things we love to indulge in. They also have TV screens for when there’s any big sports match going on, and a fun, jovial feel with beer and wine at night. For the menu and more info: Gigi Esca Cueva Location: New Giza Esca Cueva by far has the most stunning interior design and ambient layout of any of the restaurants on this list – pair it with its cityscape views and opulent menu, and it’s the type of restaurant you’d take your friends from out of town if you want to impress them. It’s quiet and calm during the day, but at night it becomes more of a nightlife hotspot and reservations are required. For the menu and more info: Esca Cueva Mamina’s Location: Palm Central A warm family-run restaurant, Mamina’s focuses on their culinary legacy through their own beloved recipes. Their menu is a mix of Egyptian, Italian and Mediterranean fusion, with everything from roz meammar with pigeon to ossobucco to pizza. For the menu and more info: Mamina’s Takumi Teppanyaki Bar Location: Hyatt Centric Cairo West Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love teppanyaki? Takumi is a high-end Asian fusion restaurant with not only a lively teppanyaki station (with very skilled chefs), but also an assortment of dim sum, noodles, beautifully-crafted main courses and even a live saxophonist on weekend nights. For the menu and more info: Takumi Amici Garden Location: New Giza If you’re looking for a place that’s super casual but still with good food, where you can easily go in your workout clothes and don’t have to worry about anyone looking at you sideways, then Amici Garden is where you should head. Adjacent to the New Giza Sporting Club, at Amici Garden you’ll find people chilling, working at the sunny outdoor tables, or just enjoying a meal, drink or shisha in their laidback garden area. The food is fun pub-style food – think appetizers, pizza, burgers, tacos, etc. For the menu and more info: Amici Garden Galambo Location: Palm Central If you’re longing for a beach vibe, but unfortunately you’re stuck with the rest of us deep in suburban Cairo, then head to Galambo for a change of pace. Not only do they serve seafood as if you were on the coast, but their overall vibe is light and airy and reminiscent of sunny beach days. For the menu and more info: Galambo Mexi Cali Location: Golf Central Mexi Cali is touted for its tacos and tequila, with an indoor and outdoor bar and booth seating. They also have live DJs on weekend nights, sometimes with their adjacent Italian restobar Mimi Milano, opening up into one big party area where you can sip drinks and dance until late. For the menu and more info: MexiCali Izmir Saray Location: New Giza Turkish food with a view? Yes, please! Known for their fantastic breakfast and brunch trays, Izmir Saray also equally delivers when it comes to their grills at night overlooking the twinkling lights of Cairo. Read more: 7 Best Turkish Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt For the menu and more info: Izmir Saray You may also like: 12 Best Bars, Restobars & Pubs in Sheikh Zayed & 6 October City

Cairo is a sprawling city, with its fair share of traffic (to put it politely). So it makes all the sense in the world to try to stick to the neighborhood you live in/work in when it comes to kicking back with a drink after a long day - after all, you’re trying to de-stress, not add to it by being stuck in traffic for an hour and a half. The western suburb of Sheikh Zayed and (6th of October City as a whole) is about half an hour from central Cairo (Downtown & Zamalek), and has recently started to have a good amount of both casual pubs and upscale restobars. Below we list some of our personal favorites, in no particular order. Read also: 12 Chill Places in Maadi to Get Dinner & Drinks Read also: 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Read also: Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars and Pubs Cairo Jazz Club 610 Location: El Guezira Plaza The sister venue of Cairo’s longest-lasting and most beloved bar/club, Cairo Jazz Club in Agouza. ‘610’ is how we locals usually refer to the 6 October venue, and what’s great about it is that not only do they have an indoor section for live music, DJs and a happening bar, but a large outdoor terrace where you can enjoy a boozy brunch or dinner as well. For more info and reservations: Cairo Jazz Club 610 Sachi Park St. Location: Park St. West Sachi has been a staple of Cairo fine dining and nightlife for over a decade now, and has been featured numerous times on MENA's Top 50 Restaurants list. Sachi Park St. is not only known for its famous Mediterranean fusion, sushi menu and cocktail list, but their beautiful rooftop terrace as well. For more info and reservations: Sachi Esca Cueva Location: New Giza compound Perched atop the New Giza plateau, this design award-winning restaurant and bar serves upscale international food and drinks from 4 pm until 2 am. If you're just going to enjoy the twinkling city 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. For more info and reservations: Esca Cueva The Smokery Cairo West Location: Hyatt Centric Cairo West Overlooking the Pyramids of Giza, The Smokery offers an international menu as well as sushi. This indoor/outdoor space offers both high tables for a more cocktail bar feel for night, and lower tables for those in the mood to eat and drink overlooking the view. For more info and reservations: The Smokery Cairo West Gigi Locations: Arkan Plaza & Golf Central This place is for when you want a more casual feel, in terms of both food and setting. Gigi is a place to kick back with a burger, beer and friends, whether in their inside section or outdoor patio. They have two different locations in Sheikh Zayed: Arkan Plaza and Golf Central. Reservations are preferred for weekends and at night. For more info and reservations: Gigi Read more: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza Pier 88 Pyramid Hills Location: Pyramid Hills compound In the mood for Italian food and wine? Pier 88 rarely lets us down, whether it’s the original El Gouna branch, the Nile-side Zamalek branch or Pier 88 Pyramids Hills in 6 October. Cheap this lounge and restobar is not, but we’re still fans. They offer brunch on weekends from 1 pm (and have a great outdoor section if you want some sun) and dinner and drinks on weekdays and weekends from 7 pm onwards. For more info and reservations: Pier 88 Izakaya Location: Palm Hills compound Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant. What’s Nikkei, you ask? It’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion, born from the migrant Japanese community living in Peru and over decades adding their touch to traditional Peruvian dishes. It’s become so beloved and recognized that not only does this fusion have its own name -Nikkei- but it’s actually spread half a world away, all the way to Egypt, thanks to Izakaya. It’s also a beautiful place to chill and have a cocktail. For more info and reservations: Izakaya Carlo’s Location: Arkan Plaza What started as a favorite restaurant on Zamalek’s famous Le Pacha 1901 boat, home to several of Cairo’s very best restaurants, became its own breakaway star (the Justin Timberlake of Le Pacha restaurants if you will). The Carlo's in Arkan is a great place for a drink, some good mezze, a shisha, and to watch a football match. For more info and reservations: Carlo's The Tap West Location: Galleria 40 Cairo's favorite modern pub. The Tap is known and loved for its live music nights, wings, pub food and laid-back setting. Check out their social media for a heads up on their all-you-can-eat-wings days and happy hours. For more info and reservations: Tap West Crimson Location: Arkan Plaza This famous Zamalek restobar opened a second branch in Arkan Plaza, on a rooftop of sorts, with both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a seated bar. They have the same menu upscale international dishes and an array of cocktails. For more info and reservations: Crimson Mexi Cali Mexi Cali is touted for its tacos and tequila, with an indoor and outdoor bar and booth seating. They also have live DJs on weekend nights, sometimes with their adjacent restobar Mimi Milano, opening up into one big party area where you can sip drinks and dance until late. For more info and reservations: Mexi Cali You might also like: 7 Best Bars, Pubs, Clubs and Other Nightlife Spots in Cairo

If it’s your first time in Egypt, then you’re probably already feeling a little overwhelmed, and we feel ya -- it’s a lot to take in and get acclimated to. But fear not -- Egyptian food is not something else that will stress you out. Au contraire, most of our local Egyptian favorites are a) extremely tasty and not frightening, b) cheap, c) nutritious and d) vegetarian and vegan friendly. Who would’ve thought? Now because the foods below are our local favorites, you can find at least one provider literally on every block in every main Egyptian city, whether in the form of a little hole in the wall, a street cart or a more established stop-and-eat kind of joint. If, however, you’re wary about eating ‘street food’, then these comfortable and 100% vouched for restaurants provide an awesome array of Egyptian street food. (For more of Cairo’s best restaurants, head here). So are you ready to dive in? We hope you’re hungry: 1. Koshary Vegetarian: yes Vegan: yes It’s hard to find a single Egyptian who doesn’t love koshary (and keep in mind we’re over 100 million people, so that’s saying something). Koshary is a dish comprised of rice, lentils and macaroni, topped with chickpeas and crispy fried onions, all covered in a spiced tomato sauce. It’s always served with garlic vinegar sauce and hot sauce on the side, because each Egyptian has their own preferred garlic-vinegar-spicy ratio. It’s extremely filling, and very high in protein and fiber due to the lentils and chickpeas. The most famous koshary restaurant is Abou Tarek, but you can find other koshary providers in just about every neighborhood -- for super cheap. 2. Fuul Photo credit: thishealthytable.com Vegetarian: yes Vegan: yes Ah, the number one, uncontested Egyptian breakfast staple (although to be fair, we Egyptians also eat it at any time of day or night too). Fuul is essentially fava beans stewed for hours over a low flame, and the most ubiquitous type of fuul (the plain cheese pizza of fuul) is mixed with some olive oil, lemon and cumin. It can be served either in a sandwich (don’t forget to try our fresh Egyptian ‘baladi’ bread; a whole wheat pita bread), or in a dish where you scoop up each bite of fuul with a piece of that same baladi bread. And just like there are dozens of different toppings you can add to your pizza, the same goes for fuul: onions, garlic, tomatoes, chili pepper, tahini, vinegar, parsley, a ton of spices, you name it. Fuul is obviously extremely nutritious due to its protein and fiber, and will fill you up for hours on end. You can get fuul at any street cart in the city, or can order it from big fuul powerhouses like Gad or El Shabrawy Arabiata. 3. Taameya Vegetarian: yes Vegan: yes Move over, milk and cereal -- there’s a new breakfast duo on the scene: fuul and taameya. Taameya (Egyptian falafel) is almost always found in the same places where you can get fuul, because nothing makes fuul better than a little taameya and vice versa. The main difference between Egyptian taameya and other falafel elsewhere is the main ingredient -- falafel is usually made out of chickpeas, while taameya is made out of fava beans (we Egyptians just can’t get enough). The soaked beans are mixed usually with parsley, coriander, garlic and onion and then fried with a light coating of sesame on top, leading to a taameya that’s crunchy on the outside and soft and signature green on the inside. We locals either eat the taameya in a sandwich with some tomato and tahini, or just plain straight from the plate. 4. Molokheya Photo credit: Omar Ehab Vegetarian: yes (if served without chicken/meat) Vegan: no This dish is hard to describe because you really have to see it to understand it. It’s essentially a vegetable soup or stew eaten over rice, made out of the leaves of a plant called Jew’s Mallow or jute. The leaves are chopped finely with garlic and coriander and then cooked until it’s a soupy consistency. It always smells amazing but what some people, non-Egyptians especially, have an issue with is the consistency. When cooked, the leaves develop almost a slimy quality to them that some people don’t like. Molokheya is always eaten over rice, and lots of people like to add chicken, meat or some other animal protein to the mix (rabbit is actually pretty popular over here). Obviously if you want to keep it vegetarian, just order your molokheya sans animal protein. Molokheya is usually a home-cooked dish best prepared by someone’s Egyptian grandma, but if you’re interested in trying it, Abou El Sid does it justice. 5. Mahshi Vegetarian: yes (if without minced meat) Vegan: no Most Mediterranean countries love themselves a stuffed vine leaf or vegetable, and we’re no different. Stuffed vine leaves are apparently a rung higher than the rest of the stuffed vegetables here in Egypt, because they have their own name: waraq einab, which just translates into ‘grape leaves’. Any other stuffed vegetable is referred to as ‘mahshi’, which basically just means ‘stuffed’. We apparently favored straightforwardness over creativity when it came to naming the dish. Our favorite vegetables to stuff besides grapes leaves are zucchini, peppers, cabbage and eggplant, and sometimes tomatoes and onions to a lesser degree. They’re stuffed with a mixture of rice, tomato sauce, dill, cilantro, onion and spices galore and then cooked in a tomato broth until the vegetables are soft. Heads up to the herbivores amongst us: while mahshi is usually vegetarian, some people like to add minced meat to the rice mixture, so you might want to double-check with the restaurant you’re ordering it from. 6. Om Ali Photo credit: cleobuttera.com Vegetarian: yes Vegan: no Ah, the first dessert of the list. Making up for the lack of creativity in the naming of mahshi, Om Ali literally translates to ‘Ali’s mother’. We’re not exactly sure who the Ali in question and his mother are, but some stories say Ali’s mother was the first wife of a 13th century sultan. All righty then. Either way, the Om Ali of modern day is essentially a bread pudding of sorts made with puff pastry, milk, cream, sugar, coconut flakes, nuts and raisins. It’s baked in the oven until the pastry soaks up the sweetened milk and the top gets crispy and brown, which is our personal favorite part. The nuts are usually a mix of hazelnuts and pistachios, and the raisins are the sweet white kind. If you see Om Ali on a dessert menu at a restaurant, we strongly urge you to try it. 7. Fattah Photo credit: Omar Ehab Vegetarian/vegan: no While fattah is a popular dish across the Middle East, each country gives it their own twist, so if you’ve tried it before in Lebanon or in Morocco, ours is a bit different. It’s also traditionally eaten during the national holiday of Eid El Adha, but obviously you can eat it whenever throughout the year. Egyptian fattah is essentially a dish of four layers: the first layer is crunchy pita bread, followed by rice, followed by meat, and then a garlicky, spiced tomato sauce pulls it all together. During Eid, most people use mutton for the meat, but otherwise usually beef shank is used. This is another dish best done by an Egyptian grandma. 8. Shawerma Vegetarian/vegan: no A food that needs little introduction. Grilling meat on a vertical spit and slicing off pieces while it cooks first started in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, and evolved into modern-day doner kebab, shawerma, gyros and even tacos al pastor. The Egyptian version of shawerma is either chicken or beef, which are marinated and spiced then grilled for hours. They’re sliced off the spit and served with thin grilled peppers, onions, tomatoes, parsley and either a garlic sauce (tomeya) or tahini in either a wrap or a bun (kaizer). Most shawerma places are to-go joints on the street; you won’t find many sit-down restaurants. They’re also a very popular after-hours food in Cairo, so you’ll find a lot of the shawerma spots open until the early hours of the morning. 9. Stuffed pigeon Photo credit: Ehab Omar Vegetarian/vegan: no This is one beloved Egyptian food that gives a lot of tourists pause, because of the misconception that pigeons are winged rats. The pigeons we cook here are raised and fed in specific towers, so not dissimilar to chicken. Taste-wise, if you like duck, then there’s a big chance you’ll like pigeon too -- go ahead, try it! Stuffed pigeons (hamam mahshi) are filled with rice, or fereek (Google tells me that this is bulgar wheat). The filling mixture is usually spiced with cinnamon, nuts, cumin, onion and pepper, and then the whole pigeon is grilled until the skin is a crispy golden-brown. Because the bird is so small, most restaurants will serve you two. Again, Abou El Sid is a good place to try it (we’re not sponsored by them, we swear!). 10. Feteer Photo credit: cooked.com Vegetarian: depends on the toppings you add to it Vegan: no Feteer, or its longer name, feteer meshaltet, translates to ‘cushioned pies’. It’s essentially a flaky layered pastry that can either be savoury or sweet, depending on what you stuff the feteer with. For some bizarre reason, they called feteer here both ‘Egyptian pizza’ and ‘Egyptian pancakes’, which in my personal opinion is just… not true lol. So if you see that written on a feteer shop, take it with a grain of salt. For savoury feteer, Egyptians love layering the feteer with mixes of cheese, sausage and ground beef. For sweet feteer, you can find it as simple as feteer with honey or molasses, or as extravagant as feteer layered with Nutella, bananas, clotted cream and sugar. 11. Kebab & kofta Kebab Vegetarian/vegan: no Now obviously we’re not claiming that kebab and kofta are originally Egyptian or anything like that --grilling meat on skewers is prehistoric-- but modern-day Egyptians really embrace and love their local kebab and kofta. So if you’re a meat-lover, make sure you try our grilled meats (a restaurant like Abou Shakra or El Dahan is good for that). Kebab and kofta are usually served in the same places, with small differences between the two. Kebab are small pieces of meat on a skewer, alternated with chunks of vegetable, and grilled. Kofta is more a ground, mixed-meat meatball which is also grilled on a skewer, and sometimes served in a type of sauce (usually tomato). 12. Roz bil laban Vegetarian: yes Vegan: no Roz bil laban is an Egyptian rice pudding, and pretty simple but very tasty -- it’s essentially cooked rice in a sweet milk pudding, flavored with vanilla and coconut and served chilled. For some reason, you can always find them in any koshary shop; apparently roz bi laban is the preferred dessert post-koshary. But a local favorite place to get roz bil laban from is El Malky, a dessert shop that’s been open for 50+ years and serves some of the best in town. Hawawshi Vegetarian/vegan: no Hawawshi is one of Egypt's favorite 'sandwiches', equally as good as street food as it is when made at home. Raw minced meat is mixed with onions, peppers, parsley and chili and seasoned well, then stuffed into Egypt's beloved eish baladi pita bread and baked. While the meat cooks, it releases its juices into the bread, resulting in a crispy flavor-packed pita pocket with crunchy bread on the outside and hot spiced beef on the inside. Hawawshi was first created in 1971 by an Egyptian butcher named Ahmed El Hawawsh who had a food stall in Cairo. It quickly gained popularity throughout Egypt and then the Middle East, and the Levantine version is called arayes. Kahk Vegetarian: yes Vegan: no Kahk (also sometimes known outside of Egypt as ka'ak) is a shortbread biscuit popular throughout the Middle East, especially during Eid El-Fitr, but Egyptians take pride knowing it originally dates back all the way to Ancient Egypt. This biscuit/cookie is circular in shape, and you can either eat it plain or with powdered sugar. It can also be stuffed with honey, nuts or dates. Here in Egypt, kahk is usually seen as a dessert served to celebrate something -- whether it's Eid El Fitr, Easter or a wedding for example, and it's also a popular gift to bring when visiting someone's home. Local tip: it goes excellently with tea. Macarona Bechamel Vegetarian/vegan: no This is a real personal favorite of ours, so we were saving one of the bests for last. Macarona Bechamel is one of those dishes that's made in practically every Egyptian household across the country on a regular basis, and each family puts their own little spin on it, so obviously every Egyptian thinks their mom's Macarona Bechamel is the best. Macarona Bechamel is essentially a baked pasta dish. Penne pasta is layered with spiced minced beef (sometimes in a tomato sauce, sometimes not), then covered in a rich bechamel sauce and baked until the top is a crispy brown. Some people mix cheese into their bechamel, or some add mozzarella on top, while others are purists and don't add any cheese. The dish is similar to the Greek pastitsio, but of course we Egyptians are extremely loyal to our version. You might also like: 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown Cairo

Karnak Temple If you’ve been to Egypt before, it might have felt like a whirlwind of temples, tombs, monuments, pyramids and artifacts that probably wowed and confused you in equal measure. We know, it’s hard to remember all the different tombs and temples and... what was the difference between them again? We’re going to try to make things as nice and simple as we can. We already spoke about the awesome pyramids (besides the Pyramids of Giza) that you need to see in Egypt, so today we’re going to talk about the most awe-inspiring temples. Temples were a huge part of Ancient Egypt, and luckily we still have some mighty impressive ones still standing in Egypt today. Ceiling of Temple of Hathor at Dendera So what’s the difference between a temple, tomb and pyramid? A tomb is where a person in Ancient Egypt was actually buried, and the types of tombs varied throughout the different kingdoms: they evolved from mastabas to pyramids (yep, pyramids are tombs) to underground chambers like at the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Read: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern-Day Egypt So what’s an Ancient Egyptian temple? A temple was an official place of worship dedicated either to a god (or gods) or pharaoh. At the temples dedicated to the gods, priests would perform rituals and people would leave offerings, all with the purpose of maintaining maat, which was divine peace and order and which the Ancient Egyptian religion was built upon. The mortuary temples of the pharaohs were memorials to sustain their spirit in the afterlife. It’s kind of a simplistic explanation but we don’t want to lose you before we get to the juicy stuff… the temples themselves. 1. Karnak Temple Location: Luxor The temple complex of Karnak is the largest religious building ever built, and was constructed over a span of 2,000 years. Construction started in the Old Kingdom and was continuously added to up until the Ptolemaic era, with approximately 30 different pharaohs contributing. It’s the second most visited site in Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza. It’s also home to the Open Air Karnak Museum -- for more important museums in Egypt, head here. 2. Abu Simbel Location: Aswan Abu Simbel is comprised of two massive rock temples, about 3 hours from Aswan. The twin temples were constructed in the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom as an everlasting monument to Ramses II and his Great Royal Wife Nefertari. The massive temples were relocated from their original spot in an international effort to save the ancient monuments from Nile flooding, and are one of Egypt’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 3. Luxor Temple Location: Luxor 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). 4. Temple of Seti I at Abydos Photo credit: Paul Smit Location: Sohag The Temple of Seti I is one of the most impressive temples found in Abydos, an ancient sacred city in the modern Egyptian governorate of Sohag. It was built as a memorial to Seti I, a New Kingdom pharaoh, and is famous for being where the ‘Abydos King List’ was carved; it was a chronological list of pharaohs (that Seti recognized), starting from Narmer/Mena, the first Egyptian pharaoh, up to Ramses I (Seti’s father). 5. Ramesseum Location: Luxor The Ramessum is the mortuary temple of Ramses II (the same pharaoh who built Abu Simbel, and Seti I’s son). It was built with the intention of being a place of worship after Ramses II died, so his memory would be kept alive; this was of the utmost importance in the Ancient Egyptian religion. 6. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri Location: Luxor 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, and the massive terraced monument is surrounded by a steep cliff. It was in this cliff that archaeologists found a cache of royal mummies, moved in antiquity from the Valley of the Kings. 7. The Temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu Location: Luxor 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 in Luxor. The temple is especially known for the depictions of Ramses III defeating the ‘Sea Peoples’, invaders of Ancient Egypt whose origins are unknown. 8. Kom Ombo Location: Aswan Kom Ombo, about an hour’s drive from central Aswan, is an unusual double temple dating back to the Ptolemaic era. A ‘double’ temple means it has two sets of halls, sanctuaries and rooms dedicated to two different gods; in the case of Kom Ombo, the two gods were Sobek (the crocodile god) and Horus (the falcon god). Over 300 crocodile mummies were found at the site, and they’re now in the adjacent Crocodile Museum. Kom Ombo also has engravings of what it is believed to be the first representation of medical tools and surgical instruments in the world. 9. Temple of Horus at Edfu Location: on the Nile between Aswan and Esna Built during the Ptolemaic times, the Temple of Horus at Edfu (or Edfu Temple) is one of the best preserved temples in all of Egypt. It’s also the largest temple dedicated to Horus. The wall inscriptions provided archeologists with important information about Ancient Egyptian religion and language during the Hellenistic/Ptolemaic era. 10. Temple of Khnum at Esna Location: south of Luxor Khnum was the Ancient Egyptian ram-headed god who created the world on his potter’s wheel, and this temple to him was built during Ptolemaic times but added to by the Romans. Because it was such a deeply religious site, inscriptions on the temple walls instruct visitors that to enter they must have trimmed fingernails and toenails, wear linen, remove body hair, wash their hands with natron (a type of salt) and not have had sex for several days (makes modern-day places of worship seem like a walk in the park). 11. Temple of Hathor at Dendera Location: Qena Known for its still-startling blue more than 2,000 years later, the Temple of Hathor is the most impressive site at the temple complex at Dendera. Built in the Ptolemaic era, it shows Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman influences and has several shrines to different gods. It’s also known for the clear depictions of Cleopatra and her son Caeserion, fathered by Julius Caesar. 12. Philae Location: Aswan The temple complex at Philae was primarily built during Ptolemaic times, and finished during the Roman conquest. It’s known for being the last place where hieroglyphs were written, and the last place where the Ancient Egyptian religion was practiced. Christianity became present in Philae starting the 4th century, where it first was practiced alongside the Ancient Egyptian religion and then solely. Today you can see both the original Ancient Egyptian temples and the temples that were converted into churches. You might also like: 7 Modern Egyptian Cities More Than 5,000 Years Old

One of the greatest existential questions of all time: why dine indoors when you can dine outdoors? Well, for most places, that is – Cairo is a tad different and the reasons for staying indoors are numerous: the heat, the noise, crowds. You get the idea. But what about when the weather is nice? Nights in Cairo weather-wise are always pleasant, and what if we could guarantee you’d be away from the noise and the crowds of Cairo streets? So just for you, because you asked nicely, we put together a list of our very favorite open-air restaurants where you can enjoy a breeze, eat and drink well, and kick back and relax. Read more: 9 Best Rooftop Bars in Cairo Read more: 7 Best Restaurants with Pyramid Views Khufu's Location: Giza Pyramids Plateau The award-winning restaurant Khufu's is at the King Center on the Giza Plateau, meaning this is about as close and personal as you're going to get to the Pyramids while enjoying a meal and a drink. There's also an adjacent Khufu's Bistro on the top floor. Khufu's serves 'upscale Egyptian' cuisine, ie. more gourmet versions of Egyptian classics (you choose between two set menus). The view is obviously spectacular, but keep in mind that it's not cheap and closes at 5 pm, so if you'd like to reserve dinner in the evening, it will be upstairs in Khufu's Bistro (with a different menu). For reservations and more info: Khufu's IG Read more: 7 Best Pyramid View Restaurants in Giza 2. 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 when you want to eat or drink alfresco but still in relative privacy. Villa Belle Epoque’s restaurant serves its meals next to their small pool, surrounded by trees and flowers. For reservations and more info: Villa Belle Epoque’s FB. Read more: 7 Boutique Hotels To Stay at in Egypt for a More Unique, Personalized Trip 3. Crimson Location: Zamalek Crimson is an open-air rooftop restaurant and bar in Zamalek and has some of the best Nile views in the city. It's a great spot to go get dinner and drinks, or just a beer or cocktail at the bar. Their cocktail list is impressive, but warning - they're expensive! Their food is good as well, landing them also on our list of best Cairo restaurants for locals and tourists alike. For reservations and more info: Crimson’s FB. Read more: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek 4. 139 Pavilion Location: Pyramids 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 reservation and more info: Marriott Mena House website. 5. Al Khan Location: Azhar Park Cairo unfortunately isn't home to many parks, but one of the nicest and most famous is Azhar Park -- perched on a hill, overlooking both the Cairo Citadel as well as the city itself. And that's where you'll find Al Khan, the gorgeous open-air restaurant on Azhar Park's lake. They're open from breakfast onwards, and their lunch and dinner menus are a mix between Egyptian, Levantine or vegetarian set menus, or you can order a la carte. For their menu and to book: Al Khan 6. Andrea Mariouteya Location: 6 October City On the west side of the city and looking for an outdoor brunch, lunch or dinner? Then Andrea Mariouteya is one of the best. Besides the fact that their position high up on the New Giza plateau gives you great city views, but Andrea Mariouteya has been serving up some of our favorite grilled chicken and meat for decades now (you can read more at Vintage Cairo: 17 Oldest Restaurants, Bars & Cafes in the City). For reservations and more info: Andrea Mariouteya’s FB. 7. Kebabgy Oriental Grill Location: Zamalek Another great grill restaurant, but this time Nile-side. Kebabgy is on the outdoor terrace of the Sofitel Gezirah (one of our favorite hotels in Cairo), and has been a staunch favorite since 1985 - back when the Sofitel used to be the Sheraton! And make sure to try their fresh baladi bread that’s baked in a clay oven right on spot. Local tip: on weekend nights they have a live ‘takht’ performance (a Middle Eastern instrumental ensemble) from 6 pm to 10 pm. For reservations and more info: Sofitel Gezirah’s website. You may also like: 7 Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

Sofitel Gezirah If we're all being honest here, who among us doesn't truly appreciate a 5-star luxury hotel? Very few of us, we imagine. And if you're planning a trip to Cairo, then you're in luck because Cairo has a plethora of 5-star luxury hotels, which are not only a great experience in and of themselves, but also a very welcome calm oasis from the hustle and bustle and chaos of Cairo's streets. And there's more good news: compared to the US and Europe, these high-end hotels in Cairo are definitely more affordable. So if you’ve always wanted to have the 5-star hotel experience but found it just too damn expensive (we hear you) then Cairo just might be the place where you can indulge cheaper than you would anywhere else. We compiled a list of our 7 favorite luxury hotels in Cairo based on which places produce the most bang for your buck, whether it comes to experience, location, view, restaurants, etc. Here they are in no particular order: 1. Sofitel Gezirah Location: Zamalek Sofitel Gezirah is one of our favorite hotels in Cairo for several reasons. First off, it’s an actual tower smack on the tip of the island of Zamalek in the middle of the Nile, so there’s no such thing as a bad view there. No looking out at the side of a brick building for you. Secondly, most of their restaurants are literally on the water -- all you need to do is reach down from your dinner table and stick your hand in the river (not sure if you would want to, though). Thirdly, because Zamalek is considered central Cairo, it's not too far from anywhere you would want to go in Cairo. Amenities: Indoor/outdoor infinity pool overlooking the Nile Fitness center Spa Dining: Kebabgy Oriental Grill (Egyptian BBQ) La Palmeraie (Moroccan) Le Sud (international) La Madeleine (French patisserie) Window on the Nile (lounge) Sunny Bar (pool bar) Star Area (international) Aqua Rooftop Lounge Local tip: La Palmeraie and Kebabgy have nightly live Egyptian music (and sometimes a belly dancer!), so it's a fun addition alongside your dinner, shisha or drink by the Nile. What we love: how everything is on the water, including their infinity pool, plus their location (close to Zamalek nightlife and the Cairo Museum simultaneously). 2. Four Seasons Nile Plaza Location: Garden City We don’t know about you, but whenever we think of Four Seasons, we feel all fancy. Four Seasons Nile Plaza is everything you’d expect of 5-star hotel -- great restaurants, shopping (they have a department store called Beymen), Nile views, awesome service, etc. If you always wanted to have the Four Seasons experience, Cairo is a good place to start. Amenities: Outdoor pool Indoor heated pool Spa Fitness center Health club Shopping Dining: Riviera (Italian) Byblos (Lebanese) 8 (Chinese) Zitouni (Egyptian) Bullona (Mediterranean fusion) Le Galerie (international) Upper Deck Lounge (Asian-Latin fusion) The Bar (sushi & small bites) The Pool (pool bar) Beymen Cafe Local tip: there’s also another Four Seasons in Cairo called the Four Seasons First Residence (in Giza), but Four Seasons Nile Plaza is the clear winner in our eyes. What we love: their restaurants are all worth their salt. For more info and reservations: Four Seasons Nile Plaza website 3. Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis Location: Heliopolis If you're looking for world-class luxury close to Cairo Airport (or just near the East Cairo/New Cairo suburbs in general), then the Waldorf Astoria Heliopolis is for you. Because it's only 10 minutes away from Cairo Airport, but further from the touristic sights than the other hotels on this list, it's an ideal choice for someone traveling to Cairo for business. Amenities: Outdoor pool Spa Personal concierge Dining: Brasserie Ayda (Mediterranean) Peacock Lounge (a tribute to the famous Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria New York) Le Jardin (pool bar) Bar Raa (jazz bar) What we love: their beautiful atrium! 4. Marriott Mena House Location: Pyramids You guys real talk, this hotel has *the* best view of the Giza pyramids of all hotels in the area. We also aren’t big fans of the other hotels in the Pyramids area but that’s a different story for a different day. It's also very close to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Who wouldn’t want to swim with an ancient wonder of the world in the background? We’ll wait. Amenities: Outdoor pool (heated in the winter) Spa Fitness center Dining: 139 Pavilion (international) Moghul Room (Indian) Alfredo (Italian) Pool Bar Lobby Lounge M Club Lounge What we love: the Mena House started out as a royal lodge for the Khedive Ismail for when he or his guests wanted to rest after hunting in the desert or spending time at the Pyramids. It was then sold to a British couple in 1869 and turned into a hotel in 1887. It also has a lot of modern history: it was the setting for peace conferences between then-presidents Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Begin. You can’t pay for that kind of history, folks! (Or actually, yes you can). 5. Kempinski Nile Hotel Location: Garden City Kempinski, while not an actual boutique hotel, has a cute boutique-y feel to it compared to the other heavy-hitters on this list. It's located close to where all the action is, but still feels like you're above it all. It too is situated right on the river Nile in Garden City, close to Tahrir Square and the Cairo Museum. Amenities: Rooftop pool overlooking the Nile Fitness center Concierge services Dining: Osmanly (Turkish) Blue (Italian & Mediterranean) Jazz Bar The Rooftop Chocolate Lounge What we love: their rooftop pool, while small, has an awesome view. Their Turkish restaurant Osmanly is also a crowd favorite. 6. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino Location: Zamalek A former palace, this now-hotel has the most stunning interiors and original architecture of any hotel in the city. Quick history run-through, because this hotel has a lot of it: the Cairo Marriott used to be the Palace el Gezirah, built by Khedive Ismail in 1869 (yup, same year he built his royal lodge, the now Marriott Mena House). This palace was a “guest palace” for the Suez Canal inauguration celebrations, and later on housed names you might recognize like Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. For a deeper look at the hotel’s history, check out 11 Historical Hotels in Egypt that You Can Still Stay At. Amenities: Omar El Khayyam casino Outdoor pool Fitness center Spa Dining: JW Steakhouse (international) Saraya Gallery (French) Ristorante Tuscany (Italian) Roy's Smokehouse (American) Torii (Japanese) Egyptian Nights (Egyptian/Middle Eastern) Garden Promenade Cafe (international) Omar Khayyam Restaurant (international) Billiard Bar Lobby Bar The Bakery What we love: besides the architecture and history, the Marriott’s gardens are a great place to kick back with a drink and people-watch. 7. St. Regis Cairo Location: Corniche El Nil Recently opened in the past few years, St. Regis is a great option if you like your luxury hotels shiny and new. The St. Regis is right on the Nile and about a five minute drive from the Cairo Museum at Tahrir Square in Downtown Cairo; it's also a close drive to Old Cairo and Khan El Khalili bazaar. Amenities: Outdoor pool Indoor pool Kids' pool Spa St. Regis athletic club Kids' club Astor Library Butler service Private dining Dining: J&G Steakhouse (international) La Zisa (Italian) Tianma (Singaporean) Sirocco (Mediterranean) St. Regis Bar & Water Garden What we love: besides the spectacular Nile view, it's truly 5 star luxury and service across the board at the St Regis Cairo. You might also like: Where To Stay in Alexandria, Egypt: 7 Best Hotels In The Mediterranean City

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

Maadi is home to quite a few restaurants and cafes (Road 9 is just about ready to burst at the seams with them), but how many of them can you actually have a laid-back beer or a glass of wine at while having lunch or dinner? So if you’ve had a long day at work and want to eat, unwind and avoid chaotic cafes or seedy bars, these Maadi destinations are for you. 1. Estro Cuisine: Italian Also known as the ‘Sicilian Rooftop’, this restobar is found on the 9th floor of the Royal Maadi Hotel on Road 18. Opened by the same owners of Frank &Co, Maadi’s favorite tapas bar (below), Estro delivers the same quality but this time in the form of Italian favorites. Local tip: go right before sunset, the views are awesome. Reservations needed. 2. Bua Khao (now called Sala Thai) Cuisine: Thai Owned and spearheaded by a Thai family for the past 20 years, this award-winning little restaurant is hidden off of one of the many midans of Maadi. Bua Khao's menu is large but not too large, with straightforward and sensible Thai dish descriptions instead of the generic “fish soup” menu entries found in many of Cairo’s other Asian restaurants. Beer and wine are served as well. As of 2023 they changed their name to 'Sala Thai' (although everything else remained the same), but they'll always be Bua Khao to us <3 3. Frank & Co Cuisine: International As mentioned above, Frank & Co has the same owners as Estro, so it makes sense that they’re right next to each other on Road 18 (albeit Frank & Co is street level while Estro is a rooftop). Frank & Co is a much-needed international tapas bar in Maadi, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. 4. Tipsy Camel Cuisine: international This sports bar in Maadi is the perfect place to go if you want to watch a match or play some pool but also grab a post-work meal and drink. They have numerous screens, a pool table, babyfoot, an outdoor terrace and all the bar food you'd expect -- pizza, burgers, wings, tacos and more. 5. Kokio Cuisine: Korean Ah, Kokio, the king of fried chicken (sorry KFC). This little Korean restaurant is known by all those Maadi-savvy (and chicken-savvy) for having literally some of the best fried chicken in the country. They have original, spicy, soy (flavored with onion, garlic and crushed red pepper), garlic fried, onion fried, and you can order half a chicken or full chicken (or chicken tenders). You can also wash down all that fried goodness with beer. 6. Villa Belle Epoque Cuisine: International This converted villa-turned-boutique hotel is hidden down one of Maadi’s little leafy streets, making it the perfect spot for dinner and drinks away from crowds. Villa Belle Epoque’s restaurant serves its meals next to their small pool, surrounded by trees and flowers. Note: They have an extensive food menu, but don't serve alcohol. You are however allowed to bring your own liquor bottles or wine with you, which they'll then serve you. 7. Tawlet Yvonne Cuisine: Lebanese In a corner courtyard nestled away from the honks of the streets is Tawlet Yvonne, a little restaurant and cafe that celebrates home-cooked Lebanese food. They have an extensive menu of Lebanese classics, as well as shisha and local Egyptian wine, beer and arak. 8. Bistro Paris Cuisine: French/international Above Tawlet Yvonne and Caribou Coffee on the same leafy street in Maadi is Bistro Paris, a restobar with a small but to the point menu, as well as local wine, beer and cocktails. Undoubtedly Bistro Paris' claim to fame is its outdoor balcony, which is open as early as 9 am every morning if you want a shady outdoor spot to have breakfast, or somewhere ambient to have dinner & drinks at night. 9. Tenaya Cuisine: international If you're in Maadi and hankering for some dinner and drinks with a beautiful Nile view, then look no further than Tenaya. With a beautiful spot right on the river, Tenaya offers an eclectic international and Egyptian lunch/dinner menu, as well as sushi. Alcohol and shisha are also offered. 10. Gaya Cuisine: Korean Gaya is known for being one of the best Korean restaurants in Cairo as a whole, not just Maadi. They've been open for over 20 years, and have a massive menu of Korean dishes (unlike Kokio which just sticks mainly to Korean fried chicken). Gaya also has a 'grill on the table' option, where you can cook up your bulgogi (grilled beef) or other meats of your choice yourself. Beer is served. 11. The Rec Room Cuisine: Asian The Rec Room is known mainly for its late nights, upscale speakeasy vibe and music, but if you go earlier on in the evening before the crowds start coming it, you'll find a pleasant spot for dinner and drinks. Their menu is contemporary Asian and they have great signature drinks. 12. Swiss Cottage Cuisine: Swiss Swiss Cottage is a Maadi staple during winter and the Christmas season when they deck themselves out in holiday cheer. But their fondue, raclette, and 'cook your own meat' are just as good year-round. They don't serve alcohol themselves but you can bring your own bottle and pay a corkage fee. Reservations recommended because the restaurant only has a few tables and fills up during dinner. You might also like: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi

Considering that Türkiye is right across the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt, as well as having some cultural overlap due to both countries belonging to the Ottoman Empire historically, it’s no wonder that Egyptians love Turkish cuisine and vice versa. Whether you’re in the mood for their famous Turkish grilled meat and skewers, their familiar-but-with-a-spin mezzes or the massive breakfast platters, these are some of the best Turkish restaurants to visit in Cairo. Osmanly Location: Garden City Osmanly, the Turkish restaurant tucked away inside the Nile Kempinski hotel, is a great mix of a fine dining restaurant while still being warm and cozy. It also has impeccable service without any of the pretentiousness you’d find in some 5 star luxury hotels in Cairo. Open for lunch and dinner, Osmanly has a varied menu of traditional Turkish dishes, with lots of vegetarian options as well for non-meat eaters. Their signature dish is the Hünkar Beğendi, braised beef tenderloin in a rich tomato sauce served with creamy eggplant puree and Çerkez cheese. For the menu and reservations: Osmanly EV Location: New Cairo By far the most aesthetically beautiful restaurant on this list, and luckily their food matches the high score their decor and ambience gets. EV is located in the Dusit Thani hotel, with indoor and outdoor seating, a large bar and beautiful greenery surrounding. Their menu is full of elevated Turkish classics, with their signature dishes being the Kuzu Tandir (slow-cooked lamb with rosemary and herbs) as well as their Tuzda Balik (salt-baked seasonal fish). Also try their Kazandibi for dessert (burnt Turkish milk mastic pudding). Shisha is also available. For the menu and reservations: EV Izmir Saray Location: New Giza, 6 October We’re now leaving the luxury hotel Turkish restaurants and heading across town to the plateau of New Giza, overlooking the city. (Izmir Saray is also open in ENDC in New Cairo, but we much prefer the New Giza branch because of the amazing view). While Izmir Saray is obviously beautiful at night with all the twinkling lights, they’re also known as a great breakfast and brunch spot, with a huge variety of choices. For more info and reservations: Izmir Saray Nişantaşi Location: Cairo Festival City, City Stars Named after an elite district in Istanbul, Nişantaşi is a crowd favorite when it comes to Turkish restaurants in Cairo, but for those who want a more casual vibe and don’t want to spend hotel prices. Located in both the malls of Cairo Festival City and City Stars, Nişantaşi also offers home delivery to New Cairo, Heliopolis and Nasr City (read more: Cairo Festival City Restaurant & Cafe Guide). We recommend eating there though, because their signature tajins are brought out tableside, where they slice through the piping hot bread crust to reveal the mouthwatering meat inside. For more info and the menu: Nişantaşi Bosporus Location: Cairo Festival City, City Center Almaza, City Stars, Open Air Mall Madinaty Another casual dining Turkish restaurant, Bosporus can be found in all the main malls on the east side of Cairo. They’re a popular chain throughout the Middle East, with a huge menu, reasonable prices and shisha as well. Bosporus’ branch in Open Air Mall Madinaty is particularly popular because of its prime location in the middle of the ‘lake’. For more info and the menu: Bosporus CZN Burak Location: New Cairo The famous restaurant of Turkish chef and personality CZN Burak, with over 20 locations worldwide. Their first restaurant in Egypt (located next to the Triumph Hotel in New Cairo) is actually their biggest restaurant so far in the Middle East. CZN Burak is known especially for their grills and meats, and while the restaurant isn’t in a hotel, it does come with some hotel prices. Shisha available. For more info and the menu: CZN Burak Sultan Saray Location: Madinaty Found in the East Hub Mall of Madinaty is Sultan Saray, a family-friendly Turkish restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s known for its open buffet weekend breakfasts, as well as the opportunity to dress up in traditional Turkish costumes and take pictures. It’s a good choice for big families, those with kids, or those who want to indulge in some good Turkish food but for reasonable prices. For more info and the menu: Sultan Saray You may also like: 7 Best Thai Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt

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? IMPORTANT NOTE: these restaurants are only open seasonally, usually opening at some point in late May/June through to early September. 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 SHL 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)

Soma Bay Fact #1: Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east, plus two gulfs. Fact #2: we have around 360 days of sunshine a year and swimmable water temperatures year-round. When you add those two facts together, you equate for pretty ideal beaches. Call us biased, but we’ve travelled around the world and we’re convinced that some of Egypt’s beaches can easily compete -- and even win-- against other world-famous beaches. Don’t believe us? Visit them yourself! Disclaimer: we’re obviously not including all famous Egyptian beaches, we included the ones that we think offer the most when it comes to color and quality of water, soft white sand, picturesque views and overall beach experience. For the best beach vacations (hotels, restaurants, activities, etc.), read our 8 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations. North Coast Location: Egypt’s north Mediterranean coast, west of Alexandria Best time to go: June through September How to get there: Car or bus from Cairo/Alexandria, or flight from abroad Egypt’s North Coast, called Sahel el Shamali in Arabic (Sahel for short), stretches out for hundreds of kilometers on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast and has arguably some of the most pristine white sand beaches in the region. It’s currently comprised mainly of private residential beach compounds with a few sporadic hotels, so it’s mainly the summer playground of moneyed locals. Recently though more tourism development has taken root, so those who don’t own beach homes can still enjoy Egypt’s (hands down) best summer beaches. Read more: Egypt's North Coast - Complete Travel Guide For First Timers Giftun Islands Mahmya on Big Giftun Location: Red Sea off of Hurghada Best time to go: April through to November How to get there: by boat from Hurghada or El Gouna, which are reached by car/bus/plane Off the coast of Hurghada are the two Giftun Islands in the Red Sea: Giftun El Kabeer (Big Giftun) and Giftun el Sagheer (Little Giftun). While both are surrounded by equally dazzling clear azure water, Big Giftun is the one where the real action is at because it’s home to beach havens Mahmya and Orange Bay. Mahmya on Big Giftun These daytime destinations offer beach restaurants, bars and water activities as well as bathrooms and showers for those who’ve spent a long day diving or snorkeling and want to kick back and relax. For more tropical islands in Egypt, head here. Wadi El Gemal National Park Location: Red Sea coast south of Marsa Alam Best time to go: year-round, but it gets a tiny bit chilly in winter and very hot in summer How to get there: drive down from Marsa Alam, which is best reached by plane Wadi el Gemal (Valley of the Camels) is an Egyptian national park that encompasses both desert and sea. The biodiversity of its large mammals, reptiles, birds, plants and untouched marine life make it unlike anywhere else in Egypt -- and its coastal area alone is home to 450 species of coral and over 1,200 species of fish. One of the most beautiful beaches in Wadi Gemal is Sharm el Luli (also known as Ras Hankoreb). For a small entrance fee, you can spend the day on the coastal beaches of the park, with the comfort of a local guide nearby (the park is massive!). Most visitors spend the night in nearby lodges or in Marsa Alam, and then enjoy the day on the untouched beaches of the national park. Read more: 10 Best Things To Do in Marsa Alam Marsa Matrouh Agiba Beach, one of Marsa Matrouh's most famous Location: Mediterranean Sea coast, 240 km west of Alexandria Best time to go: June through September How to get there: car/bus from Cairo or Alexandria Marsa Matrouh is a small port city to the west of the North Coast we talked about above. Unlike the North Coast, Marsa Matrouh is an actual coastal city with year-round inhabitants and not just seasonal private residences. If you want to experience Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea but don’t want to deal with exclusive compounds or ridiculously high hotel prices, Marsa Matrouh offers equally beautiful beaches, albeit in a more crowded and less chi-chi atmosphere. Local tip: if you’re in Marsa Matrouh, it might be a good idea to also spend a few days in Siwa Oasis to the south. It’s about a 4.5 hour car trip, which sounds like a lot, but imagine tacking on the extra 5 hours it would take to get from Cairo to Marsa Matrouh, PLUS the 4.5 hours from there to Siwa (via Marsa Matrouh is the safest and easiest route to Siwa). Ras Um Sid Location: Sharm el Sheikh Best time to go: spring and fall (summer too if you can handle the heat) How to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh (or drive, but we prefer to fly) While all of Sharm el Sheikh is a resort beach-goer’s dream, the beach at Ras Um Sid takes the cake in our personal opinion. While it's home to several hotels, you can also access the beach via entrance ticket. Besides having umbrellas, sunbeds, a restaurant, bar, shisha and spectacular views, it’s also one of the best beaches in Egypt for snorkeling -- swimmers sometimes see more marine life than divers do! For the best diving destinations in Egypt, head here. Read more: 12 Best Things to Do in Sharm el Sheikh Blue Lagoon Photo credit: @bluelagoondahab Location: north of Dahab Best time to go: year-round How to get there: hiking, by camel or by boat from Dahab The Blue Lagoon is a beautiful but remote beach camp spot north of both Dahab and the Ras Abu Galum national park. It's very bare bones -- huts on the beach and no electricity, so perfect for unplugging. Daily activities range from windsurfing, snorkeling, swimming, kitesurfing, hiking, sunbathing, reading or just relaxing by the beach. At night you can watch for shooting stars by the fire and revel in the fact that there’s no one else for miles around. Because it’s so remote, you can only get there by either hiking/camel from Dahab (for the more adventurous) or by boat. Qulaan Islands Location: in the Red Sea off of Wadi El Gemal National Park Best time to go: year-round, but it gets a tiny bit chilly in winter and very hot in summer How to get there: boat from Hamata harbor Qulaan Islands are an archipelago of four islands in a protected bay in the Wadi El Gemal National Park area that we talked about above. These empty, remote islands are known for their mangrove trees and ecosystem built around the mangroves; marine life flourishes under the trees and it’s a great bird-watching spot. Photo credit: Farida Bustani (@faridabustani) You can take a boat from the Hamata marina and spend a few hours picnicking, swimming and snorkeling on the islands. Soma Bay Location: 45 km south of Hurghada Best time to go: April through to November How to get there: driving or via Hurghada Airport A peninsula jutting into the Red Sea, Soma Bay is a small resort town 45 minutes south of Hurghada. Because it’s surrounded by the sea on three sides, not only does Soma Bay have some of the clearest, most azure water in its bay, it's also famous for its water sports, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing due to the ideal wind conditions. It's also a world-famous diving and snorkeling destination, due to its house reef and nearby diving sites. Because Soma Bay is an exclusive resort town, it’s a good place to go if you want to avoid the crowds found in other popular Red Sea Riviera destinations (Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, etc). Read more: Soma Bay, Egypt - Travel Guide for First-Timers Sahl Hasheesh Photo credit: Omar Refaat (@omar__refaat) Location: About 20 km south of Hurghada Best time to go: April through to November How to get there: Drive or fly to Hurghada airport Another resort town built on a bay in the Red Sea south of Hurghada, known for its beautiful stretch of coastline and long boardwalk. It’s home to some of the most highly ranked beach resorts in the country, such as Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh and Baron Palace. Photo credit: Omar Refaat (@omar__refaat) Another claim to fame that Sahl Hasheesh has is its man-made sunken city -- a partially submerged city that acts like a reef and attracts both marine life and snorkelers galore. You might also like: 8 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations

Whether you’re looking for an adventure or just need to escape the crowds and clear your mind in nature for a little bit, camping in Egypt can provide just that. From vast, timeless deserts to remote beaches hidden between mountains and the sea, Egypt’s best camping spots will show you a side to the country that you probably didn’t expect. Like, at all. 1. White Desert & Black Desert The White Desert. Photo credit: Dany Eid Location: Western desert, near the Bahariya and Farafra Oases Without a doubt, camping in Egypt’s Western Desert is a must-do at some point, whether now or later. The Western Desert is enormous (it’s two thirds of the country, after all) and the barren remoteness will make you feel like you’re at the ends of the earth. The White and Black Deserts are only about an hour and fifteen minutes apart, so you can easily camp in both on a 2 night trip (or just camp in one and visit the other). What makes the White Desert in particular so popular for campers are the massive white chalk formations, which are some of the coolest natural wonders in Egypt. They were formed over millennia of wind and sandstorms, and it’s among these alien-looking formations that you’ll set up camp. The Black Desert gets its name from a layer of black volcanic material concentrated on top of the yellow sand dunes, a remnant of ancient eruptions. The Black Desert. Photo credit: thementalyst.net Things to do: 4x4 safaris over sand dunes, stargaze, visit the Crystal Mountain and Aqabat valley, swim in natural springs at the oases How to arrange the camping: you’ll need a guide and 4x4 vehicles, so the easiest way is through a local tour company who takes care of everything: they pick you up in Cairo, drive you to the White & Black Deserts, set up the tents, provide food and water and even nighttime music at the campfire. They’ll also be your guide and source of information about the area and activities. You can find online a bunch of different tour companies who arrange camping in the White & Black Deserts, research a little for the one that appeals the most to you. How to get there: the tour company will pick you up from Cairo and drive to Bahariya Oasis (about 4.5 hours), where they’ll usually stop and switch to a different car (a 4x4). From there, it’s about half an hour to the Black Desert, or two hours to the White Desert. 2. Siwa Oasis Location: Western Desert, 50 km from the Libyan border Also located in the Western Desert but much closer to the Libyan border is Egypt's most famous (and most remote) oasis, Siwa. Thousands of Egyptians and foreigners alike visit each year to experience Siwa's unique history, heritage and culture (they even have their own language which is closer to Berber than Arabic). And culture aside, Siwa's natural charms alone are worth visiting, from the vibrant greenery at the edge of the Great Sand Sea to their crystal-clear salt lakes and wide expanses of olive and palm trees. Read more: 10 Most Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis Siwa to a large extent is untouched by modernity and all its tech-y trappings (Siwa was isolated from the rest of Egypt up until the 1980s when a road connecting it to Marsa Matrouh was built), so it's an ideal place to camp and get away from it all. Camping under the Milky Way in the Great Sand Sea is something that you won't be forgetting any time soon! Photo credit: hakemphotography.com Things to do: visit Shali Fortress, Mountain of the Dead, Cleopatra's Bath, the Temple of the Oracle of Alexander the Great, swim in the hot springs and ride the sand dunes on a desert safari. Siwa is also known for its natural climatic therapy. How to arrange the camping: there are tons of different local tour companies or adventure companies that will easily arrange everything for you, from transportation to camp set up to food. There are also permanent camps in Siwa you can book at. How to get there: drive from Cairo to Marsa Matrouh (about five hours), then from Marsa Matrouh down to Siwa (another 4-5 hours). 3. Ras Mohammed National Park Location: tip of the Sinai Peninsula, about 45 minutes from Sharm el Sheikh Ras Mohammed is usually mentioned in the context of its awesome diving -- which obviously is true (more details at: 7 Best Diving Destinations in Egypt’s Red Sea for Divers of All Levels), so lots of people go for day trips to dive or snorkel in the national park before it closes at sunset. What a lot of people don’t know however is that there’s a designated area of the park (Marsa Bareika) which allows overnight camping on the beach (keep in mind you can’t camp just anywhere -- if you’re camping outside the permitted area, you’ll be fined, and cars aren’t allowed in or out of the park after 5 pm). In the camping area run by local Bedouins, you have the option of bringing and setting up your own tents, or staying at one of the permanent campsites in the area, where for a fixed nightly price you get a tent complete with blankets and sheets, plus meals and tea. From these more established campsites, you can also buy bottled water and soft drinks (they don’t serve alcohol but you’re allowed to bring your own). Keep in mind there are no bathrooms or electricity, so come prepared! Bedawi Eco Camp Things to do: swim, dive (for diving equipment, you need to pre-arrange with a dive center in Sharm el Sheikh to bring you rental equipment for a fee), snorkel (also bring your own equipment), explore the park. How to arrange the camping: one of the most popular camps there is Bedawi Eco Camp, You can book online from their website. How to get there: It’s about a 6 hour drive from Cairo (more if the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel is crowded or you’re stopped for long periods of time at the security checkpoints). If you don’t have a car and are coming from Sharm el Sheikh, you can get a taxi to bring you. 4. Fayoum Magic Lake Location: 2 hour drive from Cairo Fayoum has a lot of great camping spots, like on sand dunes right on the shore of Magic Lake (named for its changing water color according to time of day), or near Lake Qarun (Fayoum’s oasis, the biggest in Egypt) or close to the Wadi el Rayan waterfalls. Fayoum itself is an ancient city (read more about it at 7 Modern Egyptian Cities More Than 5,000 Years Old) and is an interesting mix of desert, water, greenery, urban and rural life and modern and ancient life. When it comes to types of camping, you can either arrange with a tour company who will pick you up, drive you to Fayoum, set up camp for you and spearhead activities and tours in the area, or you can drive to Fayoum yourself and stay at one of the permanent campgrounds and they can provide a tour guide for any activities in the area you’re interested in. Photo credit; Mohamed Hakem (@moh_hakem) Things to do: sandboard, swim, explore Tunis Village, visit the Wadi el Rayan Waterfalls, see the ancient whale bones at Wadi El Hitan (Whale Valley), which is one of Egypt’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, see the petrified forest, discover Fayoum’s ancient ruins. How to arrange the camping: online you’ll find both permanent campsites and tour groups that offer camping and you can book a place (or you can just show up at the campsite). How to get there: it’s about a 2 hour drive from Cairo. You can drive yourself or have a tour agency arrange a ride for you. 5. Sinai Mountains Photo credit: Jen Rose Smith Location: Sinai peninsula If you’re interested in camping in the mountains of Sinai, you luckily have several different camping options to choose from: Camping near the St. Catherine Monastery. At the foot of Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Moses or Gebel Moussa in Arabic) is the Orthodox St. Catherine Monastery, which was founded in the 6th century and is the oldest Christian monastery in the world still used for its original function. It’s believed to be built on the place where Moses encountered the Burning Bush. (Read more about the amazing monasteries Egypt has here). There are several lodges near the monastery which allow you to stay in basic rooms or pitch your own tents. Spend the night at the summit of Mount Sinai. You hike to the top (around a 2.5 - 3 hour hike, and you’re required to have a guide, but you can find one easily at St. Catherine), and at the top you can rent mattresses and blankets from the Bedouins. Go on the Sinai Trail trek. 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). Things to do: visit the St. Catherine monastery, hike to the top of Mount Sinai, trek through the Sinai mountains. How to arrange the camping: to stay at one of the camps at St. Catherine, you can book a spot at a place like Desert Fox Camp or Sheikh Mousa Bedouin Camp. To camp at the summit of Mt. Sinai, you can arrange it with a Bedouin guide at the foot of the mountain (St. Catherine area), or with a hotel/hostel or tour agency in Sharm el Sheikh or Dahab. To participate in the Sinai Trail, you can find booking info on their website. How to get there: drive from Cairo (about a 6 hour drive), or fly to Sharm el Sheikh and drive from Sharm el Sheikh (3 hours) or Dahab (2 hours). 6. Ras Abu Galum Location: near Dahab on the Gulf of Aqaba Ras Abu Galum is an Egyptian national protectorate, about 15 km from Dahab. There’s a small Bedouin settlement on the beach at the edge of the national park, and you can either camp on the beach under the stars or stay in one of the primitive beach huts -- and when we say primitive, we mean no doors or windows or anything inside the hut kind of primitive. There’s no electricity and limited running water, but the Bedouins provide fresh and local fare and water for extremely reasonable prices. Local tip: bring your own sleeping bags! Photo credit: Mohamed Badawi Things to do: dive, snorkel, swim, kitesurf, hike, sunbathe, read or just relax by the beach. At night you can watch for shooting stars by the fire and revel in the fact that there’s no one else for miles around. How to arrange the camping: you can contact any of the hotels/tour agencies/dive centers in Dahab and they’ll arrange a guide for you and a camel/boat to bring any diving equipment you may need. How to get there: From the Blue Hole in Dahab, you can reach Ras Abu Galum either by hiking by foot next to the water (it’s rocky terrain) or by boat. If you want to stay on land but the hike is too much or you have too much diving gear, you can also ride a camel. 7. Marsa Alam & the Deep South Marsa Shagra Village. Photo credit: Harimao Lee Location: Egypt’s eastern Red Sea coast If you want to camp on a beach but ‘glamping’ is more to your liking, then Marsa Alam and the Deep South of Egypt offer a few good options -- Marsa Shagra Village, Marsa Nakari Village and Wadi Lahami Village all offer different types of camping. Read more: 10 Best Things To Do in Marsa Alam, Egypt You can either stay in a basic beachfront tent (2 single beds, lighting, an electric socket, communal bathroom and daily housekeeping), a ‘royal’ tent (same as regular tent but bigger and with a fan & mini-fridge), a beach hut or a chalet (which at this point is not really camping lol). Marsa Shagra is near Abou Dabbab Bay in Marsa Alam, Marsa Nakari is about a 40 minute drive south from there, and Wadi Lahami is another hour or so south from Marsa Nakari, past Wadi el Gemal -- also known as Egypt’s Deep South. Marsa Nakari Village Things to do: dive, snorkel, water sports, sunbathe, boat trips to Red Sea islands, day trips to Wadi el Gemal national park. How to arrange the camping: you can book online on the villages’ website. They can also sort out car transfers for you. How to get there: you could drive, but it’s a reaaally long drive (around 8 hours to Marsa Alam and 9 hours to Wadi Lahami) or you can fly to Marsa Alam airport and get a car transfer from there. 8. Ras Shetan Photo credit: Ramy Ibrahim Location: between Nuweiba and Taba on the Gulf of Aqaba One of the most popular places to camp on the beach in Egypt. Nestled between mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba is a strip of coastline called Ras Shetan, between the towns of Taba and Nuweiba on the Sinai peninsula. Ras Shetan is known for its bohemian beach camps, usually run by local Bedouins. The camps are a mix of beach huts or bare-bone chalets, and you’re more than welcome to set up your own tents right on the beach. If you’re staying in a beach hut or tent, then you’ll have access to a communal bathroom. Most of the camps have simple menus and you can eat your meals in the shared main hut right on the water. At night, there’s usually a large campfire where the Bedouins and guests from all over the world talk, play instruments and sing. Moon Island camp Things to do: swim, snorkel, sunbathe, hike in the nearby Colored Canyon (check out more natural and historical sights in Egypt that most people don’t know about), visit Castle Zaman How to arrange the camping: you can research the different Ras Shetan camps online and see which one strikes your fancy, then just give them a call. How to get there: most people drive from Cairo, but it’s a long drive and the most direct way there (Nekhel Road) is only open during daylight hours. For security reasons, the government requires foreigners and Copts to take the longer Sharm el Sheikh road to Ras Shetan. Another option is flying to Sharm el Sheikh and arranging a car transfer to bring you to your beach camp (about a 2 hour drive). You might also like: 7 Extreme Adventure Experiences in Egypt for Adrenaline Junkies

If you’re familiar at all with Egypt’s North Coast (Sahel El Shamali in Arabic), then you know it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And while we love to just chill and eat gandofli and freska on the beach (albeit they get a bit sandy), it’s always nice now and then to go to a really nice restaurant or beach bar on the North Coast and indulge ourselves. Read more: North Coast, Egypt - A Complete Travel Guide For First-Timers Egypt’s North Coast has some great restaurants peppered throughout the different compounds, both in terms of food and aesthetics as well. The caveat however is that they’re pretty expensive and need reservations and QR codes, which is why we decided to list only the very best ones that are worth both your hard-earned time and money! Read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Marassi, Egypt Note: these restaurants on the North Coast are all seasonal, and operate only from late May/June through to early September. They each vary with their opening/closing dates, so make sure you double-check! Sachi by the Sea Sachi Marassi Location: Almaza Bay and Marassi Sachi is so popular that it has not one but two different North Coast restaurants, one in Almaza Bay, just steps from the beach, and the other on the water in the Marassi Marina. The Sachi by the Sea in Almaza also has sunbeds and a separate beach menu than the actual restaurant, for a more laid-back vibe. For menu and reservations: Sachi by the Sea The Lemon Tree and Co Location: Hacienda White Not only is The Lemon Tree and Co a stunning-looking restaurant, it’s also one of the most popular nightspots in all of the North Coast. During the day and early evening it’s mainly a restaurant and beach bar, but at night it turns into a beach club with DJs and great music. For menu and reservations: The Lemon Tree and Co Pier 88 Location: Almaza Bay Another beautiful restaurant and bar right on the shores of Almaza Bay. They’re open from breakfast onwards, and are especially known for their pizza. They do frequent ‘Sunset Sessions’ with music and ‘Dine and Groove’ nights with live music. For menu and reservations: Pier 88 Izakaya SHL Location: Marassi Peruvian-Japanese fusion is to be found at Izakaya SHL, adjacent to the Vida Marina Resort on the Marassi Marina. Enjoy sushi and Nikkei plates on the water from 5 pm onwards. For menu and reservations: Izakaya The Tap North Location: Almaza Bay A fun pub-style destination for when you’re in the mood for some wings and live music. They have a foosball table and regular game nights. For menu and reservations: Tap North White & Blue Restaurant (Greek Club) Locations: Ghazala Bay and Almaza Bay The famous Greek Club restaurant in Alexandria (read more: 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Alexandria), has two different locations on the North Coast. They’re known for their fresh seafood as well as a few signature Greek dishes. For menu and reservations: White and Blue Restaurant/Greek Club The Smokery Beach Location: Bianchi A laid-back, peaceful restaurant for when you don’t want the hassle of a ‘club’ scene. You can also enjoy your meal right on the beach itself, and they’re open from lunch onwards (sushi is available after 4 pm). For menu and reservations: The Smokery Kiki’s Beach Bar Location: Hacienda White One of the most famous beach bars and nightspots on the North Coast. It’s open from breakfast until late, and there’s beach access as well but for an extra fee. Due to Kiki’s popularity, it comes with a lot of rules and regulations, and entrance to the compound as well as the bar itself can be a crowded hassle, so please read all the fine print on their website and socials before you reserve. For menu and reservations: Kiki’s Beach Bar Lucida Location: Hacienda Red Restaurant in the evening and club by night, Lucida brings all kinds of different entertainment – DJs, live music, belly dancers, you name it. Their menu is Mediterranean-inspired, but they’re also known for their pizza and sushi. For menu and reservations: Lucida Reif Kushiyaki Location: Marassi 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 You may also like: 7 Best Hotels on Egypt’s North Coast

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

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

Listen, we all love Haagen-Dazs and Baskin-Robbins and the likes, but if you’re in the mood for some ice cream with some local Egyptian flavor, then look no further than these frosty favorites of ours. Here's some of our favorite Egyptian ice cream shops and brands, in no particular order: Dara’s Ice Cream The most buzzed-about ice cream shop that took Cairo (and the rest of Egypt) by storm is Dara’s Ice Cream. This uber-popular, Instagrammable spot is known for not only their made-from-scratch ice cream and ice cream cakes, but cookies straight from the oven too. You can also find their packaged ice cream at different grocery stores like Gourmet. Our favorite flavor: honeycomb For more info: their website Stavolta Gelato Artisanal, homemade gelato the Italian way. One of our favorite things about Stavolta is that you’ll always find something new and fun on their menu -- their gelato always features different fruit flavors based on what’s fresh and in season (teen shoki/prickly pear in summer for example), and during Ramadan and other holidays they get creative (othmanleya gelato, anyone?). They also offer vegan ‘seyami’ flavors. Our favorite flavor: lemon sorbet For more info: Stavolta Mandarine Koueider This beloved dessert shop has been open in Cairo since 1928, and while its main claim to fame is its oriental desserts (especially during Ramadan), locals know that Mandarine Koueider also has some great ice cream year-round. Our favorite flavor: tangerine For more info: Mandarine Koueider Dolato Dolato has all the regular flavors and cones and cakes you would expect from a local ice cream shop, but our personal favorite offering of theirs is the ice cream minis on sticks. Perfect for when you're craving ice cream but don't want to commit to just one flavor. They also have sugar-free ice cream, vegan and gluten-free varieties. Our favorite flavor: their ice cream mini variations For more info: Dolato's IG Rigoletto Ah, the ice cream of our childhood. Rigoletto opened its first shop in 1987 under the name Dolce Vita, and officially became Rigoletto two years later. They pride themselves on being Cairo’s “first ice cream parlor” and a place where you could actually hang out, not like the grab-and-go ice cream of today. Our favorite flavor: vanilla croquant For more info: their website Gelato Mio Similar to Stavolta, Gelato Mio serves up homemade gelato and sorbet the Italian way. Their flavors range from the traditional like Belgian chocolate and Oreo to the quirky like karkade (hibiscus), ricotta and figs, cinnamon and dates, and carrot orange. Our favorite flavor: it changes each time! For more info: Gelato Mio Sultana Another old-is-gold entry in our ice cream list. Sultana has been open for more than 30 years, first opening its doors in 1989. Since then, they’ve absolutely exploded, with around 15 branches in Cairo and ten in Alexandria, plus their ice cream is now even packaged and distributed in big supermarket chains like Metro. They’ve come a long way since our childhood, that’s for sure. Our favorite flavor: mixed berry yoghurt For more info: Sultana You may also like: 14 Egyptian Dessert Shops and Patisseries More Than 50 Years Old

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 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.

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

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 specialties: 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 Instagram-able. 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

Looking for a place to sip a coffee and work, but far, far away from your desk? Or maybe you want to read a book and decompress by yourself - even better. Zamalek in general is an ideal neighborhood for just that; most of its cafes are small and cozy and away from the hustle and bustle of the usual crowds. Below we put together a list of our favorite Zamalek cafes: some shine because of their aesthetics, others because of their food and/or coffee, and some because they allow you to be outdoors and still relax, which is no easy feat in Cairo. Note: Zamalek is home to other big coffee shop chains like Beano’s, Starbucks and Costa Coffee, but for our list we stuck to our favorite less-franchisey cafes. So next time you’re on the island with your laptop or your book and not sure where to go, head to one of these chill cafes. Granita Opening hours: 7 am - 10 pm Nestled next to the All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek is Granita, a "concept cafeteria" that's a nod to the 'grand cafes' of Egypt back in the 1930s and 1940s - think Groppi and other vintage cosmopolitan cafes. They have both an indoor and outdoor area perfect for sunny brunches, work meetings and or just enjoying a coffee and pastry solo. They offer breakfast, sandwiches, salads, pienirli (Greek pizzas), appetizers, main plates and homemade desserts. For more info: Granita Cake Cafe Opening hours: 8 am - 11 pm Cake Cafe has now become a Cairo phenomenon, with multiple branches in Sheikh Zayed, 6 October, New Cairo and even Hacienda on the North Coast. But it all started in Zamalek in 2013 when a tiny cafe with a few sidewalk tables opened next to Gezira Club - the start of Cake Cafe. Fast forward over 10 years later and it’s still a Zamalek favorite for those looking for a spot to have coffee, dessert, work, or even bring their dog (more dog-friendly spots, please!). Besides the cakes and desserts they’re named for, they also have breakfast, sandwiches, flatbread and pizzas & pasta. For more info: Cake Cafe Holm Cafe Opening hours: 8 am - 11 pm Close by to Cake Cafe but even smaller, is Holm, which touts itself as your “neighborhood potluck cafe” (we’re not particularly sure what that means). Holm has one little outdoor table, and inside there’s comfy couches and chairs to work or sip your coffee as well. Their menu has baked goods, desserts, sandwiches, salads and of course coffee and juices galore. Its second floor is particularly pleasant, with windows overlooking trees and flowers (and the occasional passing car, this is still Cairo after all). For more info: Holm Cafe L’Aroma Opening hours: 9 am - 1 am Ah, the OG of Zamalek cafes to work in. We don’t remember exactly how long L’Aroma has been around for exactly, but it’s definitely the oldest on this list. For years L’Aroma has served up coffee and a workspace for all the companies and media agencies in its vicinity. It’s comfortable and spaced out enough that you can have a meeting or be on a call without feeling like you’re announcing everything on a megaphone to the coffee shop at large. L’Aroma has also gained in popularity since its inception, with a citywide presence now outside of Zamalek. For more info: L’Aroma Antique Khana Opening hours: 9 am - 1 am Tucked away from sight on the second floor of a residential building, Antique Khana is a hidden gem in Zamalek unless you’re one of the wise ones in the know (and if you are, come work with us lol). It’s a beautifully decorated cafe/restaurant with a nod to all that is nostalgic and vintage. It’s run by a family that loves music, books, antiques and the good ol’ days, and it reflects in Antique Khana. Besides their coffee and drink menu, they have a wide range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options - everything from pasta to salmon teriyaki. For more info: Antique Khana 30 North Opening hours: 8 am - midnight This is a good option for all those who are looking to sit outdoors without having to battle it out for the limited outdoor seating at places like Cake Cafe or Holm. 30 North is in the Iconia courtyard (the building that used to be the AUC dorms), and ¾ of it is open air (with a small indoor section as well). In the winter they provide heaters for the outside area. Besides 30 North’s own menu (which excels especially in coffee and breakfast), adjacent in the courtyard is Chicken & Ribs and Butcher’s Burger, alongside Stavolta gelato. Local tip: not all the outdoor tables have electric outlet access, so make sure your laptop is charged or try to nab a table next to an outlet. For more info: 30 North Amor Perfecto Opening hours: 7:30 am - 11:30 am This one is for all the coffee aficionados out there. Amor Perfecto is a branch of a Colombian specialty coffee shop based in Bogota that has been winning awards since 1997, and they’ve started to spread globally. They especially pride themselves on their baristas who will help you pick your cup of specialty joe based on your personal coffee preferences. The specialty coffee there is definitely the star of the show, and you can buy the coffee beans as well. Don’t go if you’re hungry though; they have a few desserts to go alongside the coffee but not much beyond that. For more info: Amor Perfecto Sip Opening hours: 8 am - 11 pm This cafe hails all the way from Lebanon, and is known for their specialty coffee. Sip’s Zamalek branch is close to the Marriott (that area seems to be good real estate for cafes), and has not only outdoor seating but also great indoor aesthetics. Besides your standard coffee menu, Sip has a range of house blends and they also sell coffee by the 200gm bag (with beans from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Ethiopia). You can also buy a bag of their house blend. Their food menu has the expected cafe fare of breakfast, sandwiches, salads and desserts. For more info: Sip You might also like: 7 Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

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

The Royal Savoy Hotel in Sharm. Photo credit: Diana De Lorenzi Aside from Cairo and maybe Luxor, Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most famous destinations in Egypt, and has been for decades – and it has nothing to do with the Pyramids or Ancient Egypt, but is all about that idyllic beach life. Sharm el Sheikh on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula (or just Sharm as we locals call it) is mainly known for its year-round warm Red Sea beaches and spectacular diving and snorkeling. While in years past it was known to be a nightlife hub, it’s now more of a resort destination – we’re talking dozens upon dozens of all-inclusive, fully-serviced beach resorts and hotels where you can kick back and enjoy that Egyptian sun and sea, even when it’s freezing back in your hometown. (Local tip: if you’re looking for a Red Sea destination that has a bit more action outside the resorts than Sharm, then check out Hurghada or El Gouna). But don’t think Sharm being a resort destination means you’re just going to be sitting by some pool the whole time, no sir! Sharm el Sheikh is packed full of things to do, and here are some of the best things to do in Sharm: 1. Experience some of the best scuba diving in the world. And that’s not us being biased. PADI, the world-renowned scuba diving experts, released their annual 10 best dive sites in the world and Sharm el Sheikh and its adjacent Ras Mohamed National Park constantly rank high on the list. Sharm’s Red Sea diving offers everything from wreck dives to shark dives to an insane abundance of vibrant marine life. Read more: 7 Best Diving Spots in Egypt’s Red Sea For Divers of All Levels 2. Snorkel year-round in Sharm’s warm waters. If diving is too time intensive or maybe the concept makes you wary, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on seeing Sharm’s gorgeous aquatic offerings. Boats can easily take you to the best snorkeling spots, where you end up seeing almost as much as divers do (you might even be able to see and swim with a dolphin or turtle if lucky). There are also a ton of easily-accessible shore reefs, and lots of resorts have jetties from the beach that you can walk along until you reach the deeper waters where an abundance of fish are. Even when the water in the winter is a tad too cold for bathing suits, just rent a wetsuit from your resort’s activities hub and you’ll be good to go. 3. Boat trip to White Island. Around 10 km from Sharm el Sheikh, in the protected Ras Mohamed marine park we mentioned above, is a white sandbar island called (for obvious reasons) White Island. This plateau is where the waters from the Gulf of Suez meet the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea, and sitting on the island you can see Africa to your left and Asia to your right. It's a great spot for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing and you can easily reach it by boat from Sharm or Ras Mohamed. Read more: 7 Red Sea Islands in Egypt Perfect For a Boat Day Trip 4. Relax at serviced beaches. Sometimes a beach holiday is just that - a holiday, meant for not moving from your sun lounger with the exception of getting up to cool off every now and then in the sea or pool. Sharm is chock-full of resorts that have fully serviced beaches, meaning everything from umbrellas, towels, food, drinks and entertainment is brought right to you while you recline on the beach. Read more: 9 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations 5. Enjoy your resort’s activities and amenities. Besides just relaxing by the beach or pool, the great thing about Sharm El Sheikh’s resorts and hotels is that they usually have a plethora of different activities and facilities for you to try; everything from water parks to spas to various sports to daytime excursions. There’s also a lot of great activities for kids and animation teams to keep the vibe lively. 6. Day trip or camping in Ras Mohamed National Park. Like we mentioned above, Ras Mohamed National Park is adjacent to Sharm el Sheikh and is a natural protectorate with spectacular diving and snorkeling. You can either spend the day there or stay at a camp on the beach in the park’s designated camping area. Read more: Camping in Egypt - 8 Beautiful and Remote Places to Camp 7. Al Sahaba Mosque If you’re interested in seeing a different side of Sharm el Sheikh besides the beach and resort life, then check out Al Sahaba Mosque at the Old Market. This mosque looks like something straight out of One Thousand and One Nights, both inside and out. It’s open to visitors but women have to be relatively covered to enter (no beachwear or skimpy outfits). If you’re not interested in going inside, it’s also beautiful at night when it’s lit up from the exterior. Read more: 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in Egypt 8. Heavenly Cathedral If Al Sahaba is Sharm’s most beautiful mosque, then the Heavenly Cathedral is Sharm’s most stunning church. While it’s not as impressive from the outside as the Sahaba Mosque, its interior is a different story. Its frescoes, murals and artwork led it to be considered one of the most beautiful churches in the world upon its completion in 2010. Read more: 9 Egyptian Churches, Cathedrals & Monasteries You Need to Visit At Least Once 9. Go on a desert safari If you’re itching for some desert adventure, then a desert safari is the best way to do it. You have the option for going dirt biking in the desert, driving a quad/ATV or even camel riding if you want to go old school. Your hotel can arrange it for you, but if you find their prices too steep, there are a ton of travel companies in Sharm that offer all sorts of different desert safaris. 10. Day trip to St. Catherine’s Monastery About 2.5 hours from Sharm el Sheikh is St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, or as called in Egyptian Arabic, “Gebel Moussa” (Moses’ Mountain). It’s here that the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), believe that Moses encountered the Burning Bush and received the 10 Commandments. St. Catherine’s Monastery was founded in the 6th century and is the oldest Christian monastery in the world still used for its original function. It’s open to visitors 5 days a week. And if you’re feeling adventurous, St. Catherine’s is also the starting point of a 4 km hike you can do up to the summit of Mt. Moses (guides needed). Read more: 7 Most Beautiful Coptic Orthodox Monasteries in Egypt 11. Evening activities & nightlife at Soho Square Bored of your resort at night? Then head over to Soho Square, where you’ll find a plethora of restaurants, bars, cafes and activities like bowling, ice skating (yep, in Sharm of all places lol), a kids arcade and a dancing fountain. Local tip: The promenade in Naama Bay (about 15 minutes from Soho Square) used to be a really popular nightlife spot in Sharm el Sheikh (and to be fair, is still home to myriad restaurants, shisha cafes and bars), but has become more shady as of late, with shop hawkers and restaurant touts hassling people to sit at their venue or buy from their store. It's worth checking out at least once if you're interested, but overall Naama Bay isn't as pleasant as Soho Square (where everyone leaves you alone lol). 12. Have a drink at Farsha You know how some places are simply screaming for an Instagram moment? Well Farsha Mountain Lodge (also known as Farsha Cafe) is one of those places. This restaurant/bar/cafe sits on a cliff overlooking the Faraana Reef Beach in the Ras Um Sid area of Sharm, and the aesthetics plus the view are simply spectacular and not like anything else you’d see elsewhere in the world. Read more: 12 Places to Go for the Most Beautiful Views in Egypt You may also like: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - A Travel Guide For First-Timers

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 Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in U Venues, New Cairo Read more: Cairo Festival City Restaurant & Cafe Guide 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. Hara Hachi Bu Translating to 'eat until you're 80% full', Hara Hachi Bu not only serves Japanese cuisine, but their mindful eating philosophies as well. They believe in quality over quantity, meaning their sushi is always fresh and never frozen, their ingredients are always top-notch, and that your meal should be an experience, not just something to satiate hunger. For more info, pictures and menu: Hara Hachi Bu 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 Asian Corner Butcher’s Burger Chicken & Ribs Jimmy's Pizzeria Between The Buns (BTB) Gracias Tabali Salon Caracas Garnell Sushi and Poke Howlin' Birds Dawgs n Shakes Kansas Buffalo Burger Sandwich Room McDonald's Hunger Station BRGR Kufta Kilo Kabab Desoky & Soda Cafes/Dessert: 30 North 1980 Coffee CAF Cafe Dipndip Dancing Goat Coffee Breadfast Coffee Koffee Kulture Vasko Antakha Le Flandrin Ni Caffe Nude Bakery Beano’s Valu Cafe Lazy Lads Pao Sno Fati's Moko Fou Espresso Lab Minimelts Coldstone Amorino Mandarine Koueidar Dark Solution Eden Bakery Eight Ounce Specialty Coffee You may also like: 12 Chill Places to Have Dinner & Drinks in Maadi