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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

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

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

El Moez Street (also spelled Muizz or Muiz) is the shorthand version of its proper name: El Moez Li-Deen Allah Al-Fatimi Street. You can probably see why we locals shortened it. So what exactly is Moez Street? It’s a 1 km long pedestrian street, and to quote the UN, it has “the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world”. It might not be the Pyramids , but it’s a definite must-see to get a true feel for the history of Cairo as a city, and to see some frankly mind-blowing medieval Islamic architecture and art. And not in a stuffy, museum-type behind-the-glass environment -- it’s a free pedestrian street with the architecture all around you, so you don’t have to worry about paying money to stare at super curated things that you a) don’t really understand, and b) are kind of boring. One thing we can promise about Moez Street -- it’s not boring, that’s for sure. A little background first: Cairo from above by Jean Leon Gerome (1824-1904) El Moez Street is found in an area of Cairo known officially as Historic Cairo, but we locals refer to it as ‘Old Cairo’ ( masr el adeema in Arabic). Cairo was officially founded in 969 AD by the Fatimids (a North African Shi’ite Muslim caliphate) and the modern-day area of Old Cairo consists of the remnants of the pre-Cairo cities (Fustat, Al Askar, Al Qatta’i), as well as Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo. Moez Street is named after the 4th caliph of the Fatimid dynasty. You might also like: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Local's Guide Old Cairo/Historic Cairo was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and it was called "one of the world's oldest Islamic cities, with its famous mosques, madrasas, hammams and fountains" and "the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching its golden age in the 14th century." Read more about Egypt’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites here . Cairo’s Islamic History Moez Street by Carl Wuttke (1849-1927) Briefly explaining the Islamic history of Egypt and Cairo in particular isn’t easy, what with all the different Islamic dynasties, but it’s important to have an idea of what we’re talking about when we reference something as being Fatimid, Mamluk, Ottoman or what have you. Egypt was conquered by Arab Muslims in 641 AD, led by Amr ibn Al-As, who proceeded to build the first mosque in Egypt and all of Africa (a reconstructed mosque still stands in Cairo today). Although the capital of Egypt at the time was Alexandria , Amr ibn Al-As created a new capital where his mosque was, and named it Fustat. More than 300 years later, in 969 AD, the Fatimid Caliph El Moez Li-Deen Allah Al-Fatimi built his new capital Cairo ( Al Qahera in Arabic) north of Fustat, and later absorbed it. When Cairo was first built, it was a walled enclosure for the royal caliphs, and part of that wall still remains today -- El Moez Street runs between two different gates of the wall. Since the foundation of Cairo, it was under several different Islamic dynasties: Fatimid (969 - 1171 AD) - originally Arab, they had a North African Shi’ite caliphate Ayyubid (1171 - 1250 AD) - a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins, led by Salah El Din Mamluk (1250 - 1517 AD) - a sultanate ruled by military slaves of Turkic and Circassian origins Ottoman (1517 - 1867 AD) - part of the Ottoman Empire. Egypt became an autonomous Khedivate under Ottoman influence after 1867 Egypt wouldn’t achieve full independence from outside powers until it became a republic in 1952. Pheeeeww ok we are now officially done with the history lesson. Moez Street Today: What To Expect Moez Street today is a mix of medieval mosques and buildings alongside modern vendors and shops in an Old Cairo neighborhood called Gamaleya, and the street is adjacent to the world-famous bazaar Khan el Khalili (for more info, you can read our full Khan el Khalili guide here ). The street starts at the northern Bab El Fotouh (one of the original gates to the old walled city), then meanders south for a bit until it intersects with Al Azhar street. Cross Al Azhar, and El Moez continues through the El Ghouri Complex ( El Ghoureya in Arabic), ending at Bab Zuweila and the Tentmakers’ Market in the south. You can either walk down the street and admire the buildings just from the outside, or you can explore some of them from the inside. Most of the mosques have free entry, but some of the other medieval buildings require a ticket and have working hours. Starting from the El Ghouri Complex, the street gets pretty chaotic with all the different shops and vendors, so just don’t expect a calm stroll and you’ll be fine. How To Get There The easiest way to get to Moez Street is to have a taxi or Uber drop you off at Bab el Fotouh in Gamaleya. Just plug in the destination on your Uber app, or tell the cab driver (just make sure he knows where it is first -- some Egyptian cab drivers really need to give up their day job). From Bab el Fotouh, you just walk through the gate and there you are! Moez Street Tickets and Working Hours The street itself is free of charge, and is just as popular at night as it is during the day, mainly because of how the buildings are lit in the dark. Mosques: most of the mosques are free to enter, but if you’re a woman make sure that you have something to cover your hair (and aren’t wearing something too short/revealing) and both sexes need to take off their shoes at the entrance (you can bring them in with you though). Places like the Qalawun Complex and Beit el Seheimy need a ticket to enter, and you can either buy an individual ticket or a combination one that lets you into different spots of interest on Moez Street, including historical houses, palaces and mausoleums. Combination ticket price: 220 EGP (non-Egyptian), 20 EGP (Egyptian). This ticket gives you access to Qalawun Complex, Sulayman Agha Al-Silahdar Mosque and Sabil, Al-Kamil School, Al-Nasir Muhammad Ibn Qalawun Mosque and School, Sultan Barqouk Mosque, Maimonides Synagogue, Hammam Inal and Amir Beshtak Palace. Where to buy the combination ticket: at Qalawun Complex The combination ticket doesn't include Beit el Seheimy (180 EGP and you buy it at the entrance of Beit el Sehemy itself). It also doesn't include climbing Bab Zuweila (100 EGP). Working hours for places that need tickets: 9 am - 5 pm (shortened hours in Ramadan), closed on Sundays. What You’ll See There’s *a lot* to see while walking down El Moez Street, but we narrowed down the main sites and listed them in the order of what you’ll see walking from Bab el Fotouh at the north entrance down south to the Tentmakers’ Market where Moez officially ends. Ready? Take a stroll with us: Bab El Fotouh Built: 1087 AD Islamic era: Fatimid One of the last three remaining gates to the original walled city of Cairo, built by a Fatimid caliph. It has arrow slits and shafts for pouring boiling water or oil on attackers. Bab El Nasr Built: 1087 AD Islamic era: Fatimid Before entering Moez Street from Bab El Fotouh, you can check out Bab El Nasr to the left of Bab el Fotouh. It’s one of the three remaining gates mentioned above, translating to Gate of Victory. Al Hakim Mosque Built: 992 AD Islamic era: Fatimid Once you enter Moez Street, the first site you’ll find is the Al Hakim Mosque, short for Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah. Its minarets are the oldest surviving minarets in Cairo. During certain periods after its construction during the Fatimid dynasty, it was used as a prison for Latin Crusaders, a fortress for Napoleon and a school before returning to its original function as a mosque. Mosque-Sabil of Sulayman Agha Al-Silahdar Built: 1839 AD Islamic era: Ottoman This religious complex of Sulayman Agha Al-Silahdar is a mosque, sabil (a building with the purpose of providing free drinking water to the public) and kuttab (a religious elementary school). Its design is known as ‘Ottoman baroque’. Beit El Seheimy Built: 1648 Islamic era: Ottoman Translating to ‘House of El Seheimy’, this historic house turned museum is a beautiful example of Ottoman residential architecture. It needs a ticket to enter (you can either buy a single ticket or a combo Moez Street one), but is definitely worth it. It’s found on Darb el Asfar, a lane intersecting with Moez Street which was an extremely expensive and affluent area of Islamic Cairo. Al Aqmar Mosque Built: 1126 AD Islamic era: Fatimid Translating to ‘Moonlit Mosque’, this mosque served the residents of early Cairo as well as the Great Fatimid Palace (no longer standing). It was the earliest mosque to have such an elaborate exterior facade and decoration. Beshtak Palace Built: 1339 AD Islamic era: Mamluk This palace turned museum was built in the 14th century by the Mamluk emir Beshtak (an emir was a powerful official or lord in the Mamluk dynasty). He built the palace to be his home and stables, and it’s a rare example of residential architecture at the time. Only part of the palace still exists, and is accessible via a ticket. Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda Built: 1744 AD Islamic era: Ottoman This public water fountain/building (sabil) and religious elementary school (kuttab) was built by Egyptian architect Katkhuda, and differs from the rest of Moez Street’s architecture in the sense that it’s free standing from 3 sides -- it’s in the middle of the street. Although it was built during the Ottoman era, the design is Mamluk. Hammam Inal Built: 1456 AD Islamic era: Mamluk This medieval hammam (public bathhouse) was built by the Mamluk Sultan Inal. It's one of the last remaining preserved historic hammams in Cairo; by the end of the 19th century there were around 80 hammams but now have dwindled down to just a few. Al-Kamil School Built: 1229 AD Islamic era: Ayyubid Adjacent to the Hammam Inal is Al-Kamil School (also known as the Mosque-Madrasa of Al-Kamil Mohamed Ayyub or Kamileya School). It was one of the greatest theology schools in Egypt in the 13th century, but the building was largely destroyed in later centuries. It was restored during the Ottoman era, which shows through the Ottoman architecture (for example, the mashrabeya windows) that you can still see today. Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Barquq Built: 1386 AD Islamic era: Mamluk This religious complex was built by the Mamluk Sultan Al Zaher Barquq and houses not only a mosque but a ‘madrasa’ -- a religious school dedicated to the four Islamic schools of thought. It’s adjacent to the madrasa of Al Nassir Mohamed , an earlier sultan. These two structures are thought to be some of the greatest Mamluk architecture in Cairo, alongside the Qalawun Complex (below). Qalawun Complex Built: 1285 AD Islamic era: Mamluk The funerary complex of Sultan Al-Mansour Qalawun was built over the ruins of one of the two original but no longer standing Fatimid palaces of Moez Street (giving this section of the street the name of ‘ Bein el Qasrein ’ -- ‘between the two palaces’). The mausoleum at Qalawun Complex is considered to be the second most beautiful mausoleum in the world, second only to the Taj Mahal. Entrance is via ticket. Sultan Al-Ashraf Barsbay Mosque Built in: 1424 AD Islamic era: Mamluk Also known as Al Ashraf Mosque, the Barsbay mosque was part of Mamluk Sultan Al Ashraf Al Barsbay’s complex, alongside a mausoleum and Sufi lodgings (now destroyed). This mosque is known not only for its size but its marble mosaics and stained glass windows. Al Azhar Mosque Built in: 972 AD Islamic era: Fatimid When you come to the intersection of Al Azhar Street with Moez, you can take a slight detour and check out Al Azhar Mosque (on your left down Azhar Street), then double-back to continue El Moez Street. Al Azhar Mosque is one of the most famous in the Islamic world, and is attached to Al Azhar University, the second oldest continuously-run university in the world. It's known today to be one of the most important --if not the most important-- university in the world for Islamic theology and law. Al Azhar Mosque was the first mosque to be commissioned in the new Fatimid city of Cairo, over 1000 years ago. The mosque that you can visit today has been expanded and renovated numerous times over the centuries. El Ghouri Complex Built: 1505 AD Islamic era: Mamluk Return to the intersection of Al Azhar street and you’ll continue Moez Street through the El Ghouri Complex, known as El Ghoureya in Arabic. El Ghoureya is a funerary complex for the second-to-last Mamluk sultan, El Ghouri. What makes this complex so different from anything else on the street is that it’s situated on both sides of Moez Street, with a wooden roof above connecting the two sides. It’s home to a mosque, mausoleum and religious school, but the main thing you’ll see are all the modern stalls and vendors peddling all kinds of clothes and textiles. Al Muayyad Mosque Photo credit: Guilhem de Cooman Built in: 1421 AD Islamic era: Mamluk Close to Bab Zuweila (below), the Al Muayyad Mosque is considered the last great hypostyle mosque in Cairo. The interiors of the mosque were some of the most richly decorated at the time, although it’s said that some pieces were illegally taken from other mosques; Al Muayyad Mosque’s door and chandelier is said to come from the famous Sultan Hassan mosque. Bab Zuweila Built in: 1087 AD Islamic era: Fatimid The last remaining southern gate of the old Fatimid walled city of Cairo. Executions would sometimes take place here, with the heads of executed criminals displayed on the wall (which reminds us, RIP Ned Stark). For an extra ticket, you can climb to the top and see the beautiful views of Moez Street and Old Cairo from above. Bab Zuweila is where Moez Street officially ends, but most explorers continue directly south to the tentmakers’ market. Tentmakers’ Market ( El Khayemeya ) A covered market (one of Cairo’s very last) selling all different kinds of beautiful textiles: carpets, pillow cases, tapestries and colorful tent material that’s used all over Egypt in mosques, weddings, homes and holidays. The market itself is a small alley with a high roof with skylights for sunlight and ventilation. The goods sold at the different stalls are great examples of Egyptian handicrafts, and are super reasonably priced. Extra: the Maimonides Synagogue Built: 10th century originally The Maimonides Synagogue (also known as Musa ben Maimoun Temple or Rav Moshe Synagogue) is kind of a bonus site for El Moez Street, mainly because it's not actually on the street itself -- it's on a small side street about a 10 minute walk away, in what used to be known as the Jewish Quarter (Haret el Yehood). However, entry to the synagogue is included when you buy your combination Moez Street ticket. The synagogue had fallen into decay but was restored by the government in 2010. Where to stay on Moez Street If you're interested in staying in a hotel right in the heart of Moez Street, then look no further than Le Riad de Charme , a boutique hotel that embraces the history and architectural beauty of the area. Read more: 8 Boutique Hotels in Egypt for a More Unique, Personalized Experience The pros of staying in a hotel right on Moez Street are that you'll be able to explore the street and Khan el Khalili for as long as you want without worrying about fitting it all in one day or having to make several trips. It's a good base in general if your main interest is Islamic Cairo as a whole: which includes not only Moez Street and Khan el Khalili but the Citadel, Sultan Hassan & El Rifai mosques , Ibn Tulun and City of the Dead as well. The cons of staying in a hotel on Moez Street are that it gets pretty crowded and busy, and traffic is a hassle if you want to explore Cairo outside of that area. Also Old Cairo/Islamic Cairo in general doesn't have a plethora of good restaurants, plus they don't serve alcohol, so you'll be a distance away from any nightlife. Where to eat on Moez Street While that area is known for having either tourist trap restaurants or just mediocre food in general, here are a few we recommend: Naguib Mahfouz Cafe & Khan El Khalili Restaurant This is actually one restaurant, but we locals mainly refer to it just as Naguib Mahfouz Cafe. It's not technically on Moez Street, but very close by in the Khan el Khalili market. It's run by the Oberoi group, which ensures that the quality of food never dips, and in fact it's one of our favorite restaurants in Cairo to bring foreign friends . The menu has all the Egyptian classics, the inner decor is ambient and fits its surroundings and they have live music most nights - but make sure you reserve before you go though, they're always fully booked! 2. Zeeyara The boutique hotel on Moez Street that we mentioned above, Le Riad de Charme, has a very cute rooftop restaurant called Zeeyara that overlooks several of the medieval monuments, with good food. Saheb El Sa'ada This is where you should head if you're interested in watching a live show while having something to eat. They have musicians, tanoura shows and other folkloric performers, and it gets jam-packed on Ramadan nights. All in all, it's a bit touristy but still fun. They have indoor seating as well as an open-air rooftop. 4. Tekiyt Khan Khatoun (Beit Zeinab Khatoun) This restaurant/cafe isn't on Moez Street itself, but is nearby behind the Al Azhar Mosque (on El Azhar street, which intersects with Moez Street). You'll find the restaurant in the courtyard of Beit Zeinab Khatoun, a historical Mamluk house built in 1486. This spot is recommended more for a snack, coffee or shisha during your Moez Street visit, although they do have a full menu of Egyptian and international dishes (we recommend ordering the Egyptian options). Read more: Oldest Restaurants, Bars and Cafes in Cairo And that’s a wrap for Moez Street! But before you leave the area, make sure you check out the world-famous souq and bazaar Khan el Khalili which is adjacent to Moez Street (you’ll have to double back a little back from Bab Zuweila). How to leave: You can catch a cab from the narrow street right outside Bab Zuweila, but it’s probably easier to head back to Al Azhar street (where El Ghoureya is), and get a cab from there or have an Uber pick you up. Or if you’re exploring Khan el Khalili before you leave, hop in a cab from El Hussein Square. You might also like: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide

Al Alamein Hotel If you’ve heard of Egypt’s North Coast before (known as Sahel el Shemali  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). 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: 7 Best Hotels in Alexandria, Egypt

Zamalek is by far one of the most popular Cairo neighborhoods when it comes to eating, drinking and being merry; locals, expats and tourists alike are regularly found kicking back in the Nile island’s numerous restaurants and bars. That being said, there are some great restaurants flying under the radar in Zamalek; hidden gems of sorts frequented usually only by the people who live nearby and who are in the know. We were of two minds actually before writing this --why expose our hidden gems, they’re great hidden!-- but then we realized that’d be selfish of us, plus in covid-19 times, our favorite spots need all the support they can get. So let’s hop right into it before we change our minds: O’s Pasta This tiny little pasta place is very easy to miss unless you’re specifically looking for it. Located across from Abou el Sid off of 26th July Street (super convenient if you’re staying at the Cairo Marriott in Zamalek ), this little place offers up around 20 different pasta dishes, ranging from southeast Asian inspired to local Red Sea seafood pasta, as well as a few soups, salads and antipasti. The pasta is all fresh and homemade, and the sauces are made right in front you. Alcohol is not served. O's Pasta variations Local tip: try their lemon bar for dessert Makino Cairo has some decent sushi, some ‘okay?’ sushi and not much else by way of Japanese food. The exception to that is the little-known Makino, found in the Hilton Zamalek. Makino is very well known with Japanese expats living in Cairo, but remains a hidden gem to Egyptian locals and tourists. Their kitchen is staffed by Japanese chefs who not only serve up authentic sushi, sashimi, makimono, daily bento, udon and ramen, but also occasionally give an Egyptian twist -- molokheya cold noodle anyone? Alcohol is served. Makino’s menu (keep in mind though they have daily, weekly and monthly specials which might not be on the menu). Local tip: They’re closed daily from 3 pm to 6 pm, so head there either for lunch starting 12:30 pm, or dinner from 6 pm on to 10:30 pm. Sapori di Carlo Translating to ‘Carlo’s flavors’ in Italian, the Carlo in question would be Chef Carlo Adib, who had his own Michelin-recognized Italian restaurant in Paris. Sapori di Carlo is a hidden gem due to its small size (it can take only up to 20 people), so most people cruise right past it on Mohammed Mazhar without even seeing it. They mainly focus on Neapolitan pizza, with their pizza oven being the star and focal point of the restaurant, but also have a handful of pasta and bruschetta dishes. Alcohol isn’t served. Sapori di Carlo’s menu . Local tip: if you’re in the mood for Neapolitan pizza but too lazy to actually leave your house to procure it, Sapori di Carlo delivers. La Trattoria This restaurant is a Zamalek classic and it always puzzles us that so many locals don’t know about it. To be fair, their guests are so loyal that they don’t really need to advertise or market themselves but here we are doing it for them anyway! La Trattoria is upscale but without being pretentious or stuffy ('casual fine dining' is how they describe themselves), and has built its intensely loyal fanbase on its warm ambience, consistently good quality Italian fare, wine and attentive service. La Trattoria's salmon fillet with beurre blanc and hazelnut Local tip: the restaurant is almost invisible from the street with no obvious signage; it’s right next to the Mit Rihan gallery on Maraashly Street and has a large wooden door. Al Ku5 (pronounced Al Kukh) Feeling nostalgic for the good ol' days of Egyptian cinema and art, aesthetics and expression? Then no look further than Al Ku5, hidden away on a rooftop of a building off of 26 July Street. Similar to their sister restaurant in Downtown Cairo (read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown Cairo ), they have a massive menu of Egyptian classics, and are especially known for their breakfast. Local tip: since it's on a rooftop, Al Ku5 is hidden from plain sight, but you'll find it if you search on Google Maps. Sabai Sabai Another long-term Zamalek heavy hitter, Sabai Sabai is a Thai restaurant hidden in the same shabby building as Metro Market in Zamalek, near Flamenco Hotel. It’s a real shame that most Cairenes and foreigners haven’t heard about Sabai Sabai -- you’re missing out (except on the horrible parking, that is). Staffed by Egyptians but headed by a Thai chef, almost all of Sabai Sabai’s rave reviews mention the authenticity of the food, and their menu even has a few nods to Chinese cuisine (their dim sum is awesome) and Vietnamese. Alcohol is served. You might also like: Thai in Cairo: 7 Best Thai Restaurants in the City Granita 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. You might also like: 7 Best Bars & Pubs in Zamalek

Sharm El Sheikh has been THE international beach destination darling of Europeans, Middle Easterners and domestic Egyptian tourists for decades now, and for very good reason. It has year-round warm weather, azure water, soft sand beaches, a plethora of hotels and resorts and some of the most spectacular diving in the world (according to international divers, we’re not being biased!). Recently other Red Sea beach towns like Hurghada , El Gouna and Marsa Alam have been giving Sharm El Sheikh (or Sharm as we locals call it) a run for their money in popularity, but Sharm remains the OG of the Red Sea beach resort scene. Read more: Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera - Where To Stay Go to Sharm if you want: affordable resort luxury. Sharm El Sheikh is very much an all-inclusive hotel package destination – this is where to go if you want to stay at affordable but still 5 star luxury beach resorts, with everything you need for a great beach vacation all within your hotel. Don’t go to Sharm if you want: a backpacker’s type of beach holiday or anything off the beaten track. Up the Sinai coast of Sharm El Sheikh is the bohemian beach town of Dahab, which is far more suited for that kind of trip. Nuweiba and Ras Shitan also are home to dozens of camps right on the beach. Concorde Al Salam Resort Sharm El Sheikh Quick Facts About Sharm El Sheikh Sharm is on the tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula where the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba meet the waters of the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea, leading to its wildly diverse marine life Sharm El Sheikh used to be a fishing village before it was turned into a port due to its strategic naval positioning. Israel invaded and occupied the Sinai Peninsula, including Sharm, from 1967 to 1982. When Egypt reclaimed it in 1982, it was deemed the ‘City of Peace’ and development ensued to make it an international tourist destination Best Time To Go To Sharm Sharm El Sheikh is a year-round destination, but its ‘high season’ is the spring and fall, with average daily temperatures of 25-30 degrees Celsius and cloudless skies – aka, ideal beach weather. From June to August it’s significantly hotter, with temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s Celsius. If you love the sun and heat, then summer is a good time to go because you’ll find more affordable deals and less crowds than the high season. Even in the winter, Europeans and Brits still escape to Sharm to enjoy the sun and warmth. From December to February, the daytime temperature averages around the early 20s Celsius, and even if the sea might be too cold for you, lots of resorts have heated pools, so you can still enjoy swimming. How To Get There 1. Flying (recommended): Sharm El Sheikh has an international airport which receives dozens of international and domestic flights a day. Sharm is around a 4.5 hour flight from many European cities and around 5.5 hours from British cities, and there are tons of budget flights with really cheap airfare or combo airfare/hotel packages. If you want to fly domestically, most flights within Egypt going to Sharm el Sheikh will originate from Cairo, with multiple flights a day. There are also direct domestic flights from Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Luxor, but less frequent than the Cairo flights. 2. By Car: No matter where you are in Egypt, your hotel or anyone in the know can arrange to hire a private car and driver to take you to Sharm El Sheikh. The drive from Cairo is around 6 hours. 3. By Bus: Several different bus companies serve Sharm, most originating from Cairo. The most popular are Go Bus, Superjet and East Delta. They’re air-conditioned buses and the trip averages around 8 hours. Important local tip: if you’re entering Sharm (or the Sinai peninsula as a whole) via car or bus, then make sure you have proper ID on you because there are A LOT of security checks on the road. They’ll ask to look at your passport and ask where you’re going, and might search your car and bags. Make sure that any alcohol bottles you have are unopened and that you have a receipt for them (to prove they’re not bought from the Egyptian black market). In general, flying into Sharm is much easier just because you skip the hassle of the Sinai road security checks which can take a long time, adding hours to your overall journey. Once you’re actually in the city of Sharm (where the airport is), getting around is much easier. Is there a ferry between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh? No, there’s currently no ferry available for travelers between Hurghada and Sharm, even if you find confusingly vague information online. Do You Need A Visa For Sharm El Sheikh? If you’re flying directly into Sharm El Sheikh (ie., Sharm is your entry point into Egypt), and if you're not staying in the Sinai peninsula for more than 15 days, then certain nationalities don’t need to buy an entry visa at the airport. You'll get something called a 'Sinai Stamp' for free on your passport -- emphasis on the 'free' part, don't believe anyone at the airport who says they'll get you a stamp for the "low price" of a couple of euro - this is a scam, just ignore them and go straight to the airport official at Immigration. Important note: this Sinai Stamp only covers the resort areas of Sinai, meaning Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. It doesn't include any Sinai destination outside of those. Important note #2 : this Sinai stamp is only eligible for EU, UK and US citizens. If you plan to go to Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, or any other Egyptian destination outside of the Sinai peninsula on your trip, or plan to stay longer than 15 days, you’ll need to get the visa. It’s $25 upon arrival. Where To Stay In Sharm El Sheikh Which hotel in Sharm should I choose? Sharm has really boomed as a beach destination since 1982 – there are now over 350 hotels! Choosing a hotel out of so many can feel overwhelming, but it’s really just about your personal preferences. There’s everything from adult-only hotels to hotels created specifically for families with kids; all-inclusive hotels (all meals and drinks included), to more budget stays; hotels right on the beach, and others that need a shuttle to bring you to the beach, etc. You get the idea – there’s everything lol. Movenpick Sharm El Sheikh Lots of people come to Sharm via preset flight/hotel packages provided by different travel agencies, whether in Egypt or their home country. But if you’re more of an independent traveler, then we recommend making a list of things that are important for you during your Sharm trip and then searching for hotels that match your criteria on the usual online hotel booking sites. Example: heated pools, in-house diving centers, or specific facilities/amenities. A little research goes a long way and can really make a difference – and of course, make sure to read guest reviews and the fine print! You can also find cheap flights on sites like Skyscanner and the likes, so you don’t need to depend on a travel agency. Which area in Sharm is best to stay in? For the most part, Sharm is divided into 3 main areas: Nabq, Naama Bay and Hadaba (also known as Ras Um El Sid or Old Sharm). Nabq is northeast of Sharm Airport and is the quietest, with long stretches of beachfront luxury resorts (not to be confused with the Nabq Protectorate, which is next to the neighborhood of Nabq in Sharm but protected from development). Rixos Sharm El Sheikh in Nabq Between Nabq and Naama Bay are Knights Bay, Sharks Bay, and Coral Bay, also home to lots of 5 star resorts like the Four Seasons. Between Coral Bay and Naama Bay is Soho Square, a nightlife spot run by Savoy Hotels. Naama Bay Promenade Beach Resort Naama Bay used to be known as ‘central Sharm’ because of its myriad hotels and promenade of shisha cafes, shops, restaurants and bars. While the hotels are still beautiful and act as an oasis from the hustle and bustle outside, and the beaches are very easy to wade into with minimal coral, the promenade itself has seen better days and the shopkeepers and touts can be obnoxious. Reef Oasis Beach Resort in Hadaba Hadaba (Ras Um El Sid) is what’s considered Old Sharm (the first part of the city to be developed), and is home to the Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque. Local tip: Honestly, it doesn’t really matter which area of Sharm you stay in, considering as they all have beachfront hotels where you’ll be spending the majority of your time. Your choice of hotel is more important than your choice of area. How To Get Around Sharm Unfortunately there’s no Uber (or Careem, the Middle East version), so you’re stuck with taxis. Most of the cabs in Sharm won’t have a running meter, so it’s important you tell the driver where you’re going and negotiate a price before climbing in. They can easily ask for astronomical prices, so make sure to haggle (unless you feel comfortable paying what they’re asking for). You can also arrange with your hotel to get you a private car & driver, but that’s obviously more expensive than a cab. Is Sharm safe? And is Sharm safe for solo women travelers? Yes, it’s safe! So much so that extremely important international conferences (like COP27) are held there, with politicians, dignitaries and VIPs all staying in the city. Sharm had a rough few years after a 2015 Russian plane crash, but the good news is that Sharm is now one of the safest cities in Egypt because of all the ensuing security measures. Like we mentioned above, driving to Sharm from Cairo is a hassle because of all the security checkpoints on the roads, where they search everything from cars to bags. So while annoying, it’s a good problem to have. Sharm itself is a walled city, with heavily monitored entrance and exit points – so basically anyone who’s in Sharm has to have a reason to be! All hotels and resorts have their own security as well obviously, and all public areas are under tight surveillance by the Tourist Police (both in uniform and plainclothes). If you’re a solo woman, you’ll hopefully feel 100% safe enjoying your resort – everyone there wears normal swim and beachwear, so don’t feel like you have to cover up at your hotel. Even when you’re in public places, the attire is much more relaxed than in cities like Cairo or Alexandria. What COULD possibly be annoying to women travelers (well, to everyone really but especially women) is how pushy and annoying the shopkeepers and touts can be about selling you their wares or ushering you into their cafes/restaurants. Just say no firmly and politely and keep it moving; they’re obnoxious but harmless. Things To Do In Sharm El Sheikh We wrote a long article about the 12 best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh , so all the meaty info is there. But if you want a quick spoiler of the top things people love: scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips and relaxing on serviced beaches. Where To Go Out In Sharm El Sheikh If you decided to take a break from your hotel and see what else is going in Sharm, then the main places you’ll probably be heading are the following: 1. Soho Square Soho Square has restaurants, bars, cafes, shisha, ice skating, kids’ arcade, bowling, culturama, tennis and squash. It’s clean and organized and run by the Savoy Hotel group, so not chaotic like Naama Bay or the Old Market. Soho Square’s restaurants: L’Entrecote (steakhouse), Zen (Chinese), Akuna Matata (international fusion), Teppanyaki (Japanese), Luxor (Egyptian), Bombay (Indian), Mai Thai, Sushi Lounge, Koutouki (Greek) and Mandarin Bistro. Soho Square’s bars: Ice Bar, Crystal Lounge, Oxygen Bar, Queen Vic British Pub, Mandarin Bar, El Kahwa and Kitano Top Bar. Local tip: some of the restaurants/bars have a dress code of no shorts and flip-flops for men. 2. Naama Bay Naama Bay has restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, shisha, fast food, shops and casinos. It’s a bit chaotic and shopkeepers can be pushy, but it can still be fun. If you’re looking for quick fast food on the go, here you’ll find McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut. Some of Naama Bay’s restaurants: Peking (Chinese), Abou El Sid (Egyptian), TGI Friday’s, Pomodoro, Tandoori, Hard Rock Cafe Some of Naama Bay’s bars: Camel Bar & Rooftop, Tavern Bar, Bus Stop, Pirates Bar, Blue Stone Pub Some of Naama Bay’s clubs: Pacha, Little Buddha, Space 3. Hadaba/Old Sharm Farsha Lounge Besides souvenir shopping (and haggling) in the Old Market, if you want to go to a beach bar for the day, then Old Sharm has El Fanar Beach (with Farsha Lounge overlooking it, which happens to be one of the most beautiful spots in Sharm and home to one of the best views in all of Egypt !). El Fanar Beach and Terrazzina Beach also have frequent beach parties. If you’re looking for some great old school restaurants, there’s Sinai Star (best seafood in Sharm), El Masrien (Egyptian classics) and Fares (also seafood). These places aren’t exactly ambient but the food is great. Read more: 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Have To Try At Least Once Tipping Egypt has a strong tipping culture, especially in the service industry. There’s no set percentage or number that works across the board, it’s really up to you and what you feel comfortable with (knowing that tips are always greatly appreciated because wages are so low in Egypt!) A couple of local tips about tips (heh heh): It’s always best to tip in the local currency of EGP If you have to tip in foreign currency, please make sure it’s dollars/euros/sterling because it’s harder to exchange lesser-used currencies If tipping in foreign currency, please give actual bills and not coins because foreign exchange bureaus won’t accept coins – so it’s like you tipped them nothing in the end Usual people to tip: servers, hotel staff (especially cleaning crew – if you don’t see them before you check out, leaving some money in your room for them is appreciated), tour guides or boat crew (anyone who took you on an excursion of sorts) Who you don’t need to tip: taxi drivers (they’re probably ripping you off to begin with), anyone who demands a tip but has provided no service (while this sounds illogical, it does happen) Leaving Basically the same way you came, lol. Your hotel can arrange an airport transfer for you or you can take a taxi (to the airport or bus terminal, whichever way you’re leaving). We hope this first-timers guide to Sharm El Sheikh was useful – and that it’ll lead to your second, third and tenth trip to Sharm! For more city guides: Hurghada City Guide El Gouna City Guide Aswan City Guide Soma Bay Travel Guide

Yana in the Kempinski Royal Maxim If you’re like us and Thai food is your jam, Cairo at first glance might not seem like the best purveyor. We have Lebanese restaurants by the dozens, Italian restaurants galore, and even a fair share of sushi venues. But Thai? Not so much. But if you have a serious craving for some pad thai, tom yum or Thai curry, then fear not, because we’ve got you covered. The Thai restaurants in Cairo might be limited, but we brought you the very best. 1. Bua Khao (now called Sala Thai) Location: Maadi This place in our humble opinion is the godfather of Thai restaurants in Cairo. It opened over 20 years ago and has been going strong ever since, which is a feat in and of itself in Egypt. They even opened a second branch in the Movenpick in Gouna , so Bua Khao is not here to play! Owned and spearheaded by a Thai family, this award-winning little restaurant is hidden in one of the many midans of Maadi (non-”Maadistas” might need the help of good ol’ Google Maps in tracking down Bua Khao). Note: they changed their name in January 2023 to 'Sala Thai' for some reason, but everything else remains the same. Their menu is large but not too large, with straightforward and sensible dish descriptions instead of the generic “fish soup” menu entries found in many of Cairo’s other Asian restaurants. Beer and wine is served as well. Recommended dishes: the chicken with basil leaves, the sizzling beef with bean sprouts, onions, mushrooms and chili in oyster sauce, the crispy chicken with chili, ginger and garlic and their Tom Ka Gai soup. Their Pad Thai Bua Khao is also excellent. Address: 9 Rd. 151 Intersection of Rd. 100 (off of Midan Horreya) Phone number: 2378 3355 Opening hours: 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm 2. Sabai Sabai Location: Zamalek, Sheikh Zayed, City Stars Another long-term heavy hitter, the original, main branch of Sabai Sabai is hidden in the same shabby building as Metro Market in Zamalek, near Flamenco Hotel. It also opened a small branch in Galleria 40’s Zaitouna Food Hall and City Stars. It’s a real shame that most Cairenes and foreigners haven’t heard about Sabai Sabai -- you’re missing out (except on the horrible Zamalek parking, that is). Staffed by Egyptians but headed by a Thai chef, almost all of Sabai Sabai’s rave reviews mention the authenticity of the food, and their menu even has a few nods to Chinese cuisine (their dim sum is awesome) and Vietnamese. Recommended dishes: beef green curry with Thai eggplant and basil and the Ped Kai Yang -- roasted duck in a “homemade Thai sauce”. Address: 1 El Masry Buildings, Gezira El Wosta street, first floor Phone number: 01024602260 Opening hours: 12:00 pm - midnight 3. Birdcage Location: Garden City The first “fancy” entry on the list, Birdcage has been one of the Semiramis Intercontinental’s flagship restaurants for over a decade now. On the second floor, next to Sabaya the Lebanese restaurant and en route to Pane Vino , the Italian restaurant, you’ll find a quiet, wooden little oasis in the hotel -- that’s Birdcage. The service and ambience is on par with what you’d expect from a 5 star hotel, as is the actual food presentation -- and luckily the food rises to the task as well, which isn’t always the case with Cairo restaurant hotels. But we’ve been going to Birdcage for about 15 years now, so that should be some indication regarding their food. But alas, the food also comes with hotel prices, so keep that in mind. You can find their menu here . Recommended dishes: their spicy shrimp in a pineapple red curry, yellow curry with garden vegetables, and their konafa shrimp marinated in Thai spices Address: Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel, Garden City Phone number: 2798 8000 Opening hours: 12:30 pm - 02:00 am 4. Tao Location: New Cairo Another fancy hotel entry, Tao is the culinary claim to fame of the Thai hotel Dusit Thani in New Cairo, so that should give you some idea of the authenticity of both the chef and restaurant servers. Tao is a 'multi-Asian' restaurant, which means they're not just serving Thai food -- their menu is immense and is full of our favorite Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian classics, plus a live teppanyaki station. The Thai section of the menu is massive, with soups, appetizers, a dozen different Thai curries and main courses. And get this - there's even the calorie count of each dish written on the menu! But similar to Birdcage, with hotel restaurants comes hotel prices, so be prepared. You can find their menu here . Recommended dishes: crispy duck with tamarind and lemongrass sauce Address: Dusit Thani Lakeview Hotel, New Cairo Phone number: 2614 0000 Opening hours: 1 pm - 1 am 5. Nile Thai Food Restaurant (yes, that’s its name) Photo credit: Bishoy Boshra Location: Nasr City This next entry is pretty much as far from a hotel restaurant as you can get. This little hole in the wall is in Nasr City, which as we all know is not Cairo’s culinary center, so consider it a hidden gem of sorts. The cooks and servers are a mix of Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian, and the restaurant is a favorite of Asian students at Al Azhar, so you know their expectations of Thai food are going to be high. Nile Thai itself is small and very basic -- expect to pull up a chair and share a plastic tablecloth-covered table with other patrons. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are large, but we warn you: their spicy is *spicy*. And we’re talking legit spicy, not Peking spicy. Their menu comes in English, Arabic, Malay and Thai, and the food item names are pretty basic: “very spicy fried noodle” for example (hey, it got its point across). Recommended dishes: their wide variety of noodles and chicken curries. Address: 4 Abu Haneefa Street, Off Abdullah El Araby Street, 7th District Phone number: 01149681751 Opening hours: 12:30 pm - 10:30 pm 6. Yana Location: New Cairo We’re not huge fans of the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski in New Cairo, but their Thai restaurant Yana is one of the few reasons we’d make the journey. While the restaurant is predominantly Thai, they have a variety of other Southeast Asian cuisines on their menu -- Malaysian dishes, Chinese dim sum and even Singaporean beef. And similar to the other hotel restaurants on this list, Yana scores high on ambience and low on affordability. Nice pool view, and expect a lot of golden Buddhas. Recommended dishes: their curries are the most Thai dishes on the menu, and besides that, the Singaporean Wagyu beef medallions Address: Royal Maxime Palace Kempinski, New Cairo Phone number: 01097111151 Opening hours: 06:00 pm - 12:00 am 7. Baitong Location: Maadi Rounding up our list is another Maadi Thai restaurant, but with a twist -- Baitong offers home delivery only (and catering as well, actually!). So if you live in Maadi and are craving Thai from the comfort of your couch, then this is the restaurant for you. Baitong, with its manager and chefs all from Thailand, tries to create dishes that remind them of home but using fresh Egyptian-sourced ingredients. They're open every day except Sunday. This is their menu . Recommended dishes: Massaman curry Phone number: 01272405517 Opening hours: 11 am - 9 pm For our favorite restaurants in Cairo for both tourists and locals alike, check us out here . Missing Sequoia? Check out these Nile-side restaurants that you can take your foreign friends now that Sequoia's closed.

Before we start, let’s state the obvious -- the most famous, BY FAR, tombs in all of Egypt (and probably the world) are the Pyramids of Giza . But ironically, as anyone who’s actually been inside the pyramids knows, the inner burial chambers of the pyramids are kind of… underwhelming. They’re pretty much empty and devoid of the hieroglyphics and ancient Egyptian art that adorns other tombs in the country -- and we have no shortage of spectacular ones. For more Ancient Egypt content, you can read: 9 Different Egyptian Pyramids (That Aren’t the Pyramids of Giza) You Need To See and 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today So without further ado, let’s go over some of the best sites in Egypt to see incredible ancient tombs. 1. Valley of the Kings Location: Luxor Era: New Kingdom In the former ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes (now modern-day Luxor in Upper Egypt), is the infamous Valley of the Kings. For a period of 500 years in the New Kingdom (1550 BC - 1069 BC), pharaohs were buried in rock-cut tombs in the Theban Hills, hidden from plain view. 62 tombs have been excavated to present day, with King Tut’s tomb being the most famous (but ironically, not the most impressive). Note: not all the tombs are open to the public, and some are on rotation. A few of the beautiful tombs in the Valley of the Kings: -Seti I (KV 17) -Merenptah (KV 8) -Ramses IV (KV 2) **the KV system is how they number the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the number following being the order in which they were discovered. 2. Valley of the Queens Location: Luxor Era: New Kingdom Nearby to the Valley of the Kings is the Valley of the Queens, where the wives of the pharaohs were buried during the same period. The main valley has 91 tombs discovered to date, and they’re generally smaller than the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Most beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Queens: -Nefertari, the Great Royal Wife of Ramses II (QV 66) 3. Deir el Medina Tomb of Pashedu. Photo credit: Richard Mortel Location: Luxor Era: New Kingdom This necropolis is often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, but you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by not visiting Deir el Medina while in Luxor. Also known as the Valley of the Artisans, it’s home to the tombs of the artists, builders and craftsmen who worked on the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. Most beautiful tombs in Deir el Medina: -Pashedu (TT 3) -Sennedjem (TT 1) -Khaemteri (TT220) 4. Beni Hassan Tomb of Khety Location: Minya Era: Middle Kingdom A necropolis dedicated to ancient military leaders and provincial rulers, today found in the modern city of Minya in Upper Egypt. There are about 39 tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2050 BC to 1710 BC) cut into the limestone hills in Beni Hassan, but not all of them are open to the public. The ones that are though have beautifully vivid wall paintings, detailing the ancient daily life of the noblemen and governors these tombs belonged to, as well as their compatriots. Most beautiful tombs in Beni Hassan: -Tomb of Amenmehat (BH 2) -Tomb of Khety (BH 17) 5. Tombs of the Nobles at Thebes Location: Luxor Era: New Kingdom Not to be confused with the Tombs of the Nobles at Aswan (Qubbet el Hawa, below), this necropolis is home to the tombs of the nobles and important officials who served the pharaohs during the New Kingdom. Most beautiful tombs: -Sennefer (TT 96), also known as 'Tomb of the Vineyards' -Rekhmire (TT 100) 6. Mastaba Tombs at Saqqara Tomb of the Butchers Location: Saqqara, an hour from Cairo Era: Old Kingdom The necropolis at Saqqara is home to the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in Egypt. It’s also where you’ll find the mastaba tombs of government officials and palace workers. Mastabas are ancient Egyptian rectangular tombs with flat roofs made of mud-bricks and limestone. Most beautiful mastaba tombs: -Irukaptah (also known as the Tomb of the Butchers) -Kagemni -Mehu Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 7. Qubbet el Hawa Location: Aswan Era: Old, Middle and New Kingdoms A necropolis of tombs spanning the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, belonging to Ancient Egyptian officials and nobles. The tombs are on varying levels of a hilltop in Aswan , with a domed tomb of an Islamic sheikh on the very top. It’s still an active excavation site, so who knows what else will be found there in the future. The tombs which are allowed public access rotate. Most beautiful tombs: -Harkhuf -Sarenput II -Sabni 8. Tell el-Amarna Tomb of Panehsy Location: Minya Era: New Kingdom Tell el-Amarna is the ruins of Akhetaten, the ancient city of Akhenaten. He was known as the ‘heretic king’ who abandoned the traditional Ancient Egyptian religion to worship the one sun god, Aten. He was also the father of Tutankhamun, who left his father’s city to rule in Thebes. To date, tombs from the ancient city still exist in cliffs bordering the city. Most beautiful tombs in Tell el-Amarna: -Huya -Mery-Re I -Panehsy You might also like: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today

Sequoia, Cairo’s hands-down favorite Nile-side restaurant for over a decade shut down in late 2018 (alongside neighboring Left Bank and Mirai) to cries of dismay from local Cairenes. RIP Sequoia So even though it's been closed for years now, we local Egyptians are still asking ourselves the same question: where should we take our foreign friends if you want that elusive mix of Nile view, drinks, good food and shisha? Obviously no place will tick off all the boxes like Sequoia, but one must make do with what one has, so try out these venues next time you need to wine and dine your foreign friends: 1. La Palmeraie Location: Sofitel Gezirah, Zamalek Cuisine: Moroccan Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: yes While Sequoia was on the northernmost tip of Zamalek, the Sofitel Gezirah is on the southernmost tip -- which guarantees even better views, if you can believe it. Sofitel has several restaurants lining the Nile on its outdoor terrace -- Kebabgy (see below), Le Deck, Casa Mia and La Palmeraie. La Palmeraie crosses off all the boxes that Sequoia did -- fantastic view, alcohol, shisha and food. The cuisine is Moroccan as opposed to Egyptian or more generic Middle Eastern, but hey, we have to take what we can get. Pros: on weekend nights they actually have a belly dancer and an Arabic singer, so that’s a huge added plus with the foreign crowd (gets loud though). Cons: it’s in the Sofitel, so it’s expensive. And make sure you take a cab or an Uber to get there, unless you want to pay 200 EGP for parking in the hotel parking lot. 2. Carlo’s (Le Pacha) Location: Le Pacha 1901 Boat, Zamalek Cuisine: International (Egyptian, Lebanese, Italian, Indian, Japanese) Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: yes Food-wise, this place is an excellent choice. Carlo’s has some of the consistently best food in Cairo, which is why it’s one of our forerunners in our 10 Best Restaurants in Cairo list. They have a really good assortment of trademark Egyptian dishes (their roz meammar bel hamam -- a creamy baked rice dish with either pigeon or chicken is a crowd favorite), so your foreign friends will be able to try different kinds of Egyptian dishes and you can rest assured that no one will be suffering from possible food poisoning later. It’s on the outdoor terrace of the Le Pacha 1901 boat, so you get a nice breeze during warm months and it’s covered for the colder ones. Pros: excellent food (better than Sequoia’s) and you can bring your own alcohol bottles for a corkage fee if you don’t want to drink wine or beer. Good quality shisha too. Cons: there’s sadly not much of a Nile view except for very specific tables, even though the boat itself is on the Nile. Also the huge TV screen and other small screens dotting the vicinity takes away a little from the ambience. 3. Pane Vino Location: Semiramis Intercontinental, Garden City Cuisine: Italian Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: yes This Italian restaurant in the Semiramis actually has a little-known outdoor terrace that overlooks the Nile, complete with shisha, on the 2nd floor of the hotel so you’re above the cacophony of the Corniche but still close to the water. The menu is full of Italian classics by their resident Italian chef, and they have an extensive wine list from all over the world. They also have TV screens for matches and offer shisha. The indoor section of the restaurant is a bit more upscale-looking, but without shisha. Pros: good food and view. Cons: the crowd there can sometimes be... a tad sketchy. Along the lines of 'lonely' hotel guests looking for a companion for the night. But honestly it's fine, and not even all the time. Also, other possible cons: there are no Egyptian options on the menu if that's what your foreign friends are looking for, and hotel prices (and that includes parking!). 4. Rooftop Zamalek Photo credit: Leila Tapozada Location: Nile Zamalek Hotel, Zamalek Cuisine: we don’t recommend it Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: yes This entry is pretty different from the rest of the list, mainly because it’s a solely a shisha-drinks-and-view destination, NOT a place you’d go for dinner. Like, ever. Rooftop Zamalek has literally *the* best Nile view on the island, although the hotel it’s built on is… well… not the best of anything, and that’s us being kind. If you overlook the shoddy, vaguely creepy hotel, we promise you that your foreign friends will freak out (in a good way) when they see the view on the top, whether during the day or at night (both are equally impressive). Rooftop as a whole is a casual, kick-back-with-a-beer place, and tourists usually love it. Pros: affordable prices and awesome sweeping views of the Nile. Cons: the hotel itself (including the bathrooms) and lack of decent food. Head here for more of the best rooftop bars in Cairo . 5. Crimson Location: Zamalek Cuisine: International Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: no Crimson is actually Sequoia’s neighbor, so if you miss Sequoia’s specific view, then head a few buildings down on Abu Feda to Crimson. Crimson is a rooftop restaurant with an open terrace overlooking the Nile, with an impressive bar and beautiful interior design. While it sadly doesn’t have shisha, it does have decent food and great-tasting cocktails (warning though: they are NOT cheap!). If you want to bring your foreign friends to a Nile-side place for breakfast/lunch/dinner and cocktails, and they don’t care too much about shisha, then this is the place for you. Pros: they're open early (8 am) for those who want a daytime destination. Cons: prices! 6. The Roof Kempinski Location: Nile Kempinski, Garden City Cuisine: International (tapas, sushi & sandwiches) Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: yes If you and your foreign friends want a more upscale (way more upscale) version of Rooftop Zamalek, then head over to The Roof, on the 11th floor of the Kempinski. Seated next to the hotel’s small pool, you get a bird’s eye view of the Nile while having a shisha and a drink. They also serve food, but it’s more of the light-bite, poolside variety of food -- tapas, sushi, sandwiches and other small plates. Pros: as you can see in the picture, it’s really beautiful. Cons: Non-guests of the hotel can only access the roof after 6 pm. 7. Kebabgy Oriental Grill Location: Sofitel Gezirah, Zamalek Cuisine: Middle Eastern grill Serves alcohol: yes Serves shisha: yes Situated in Sofitel Gezirah’s outdoor terrace (opposite site of La Palmeraie), is Kebabgy, home of lots and lots of meat. This Nile-side restaurant serves up all different kinds of Egyptian and Middle Eastern grilled dishes -- kebab and kofta, grilled lamb, grilled chicken, shish tawouk, shish kebab, grilled pigeon, you name it. They also have a variety of hot and cold mezze. This is definitely more of a eat-til-you-drop destination than Sequoia, but Kebabgy does also serve drinks to chase the grilled meat down with. Pros: it’s a hearty, dig-in kind of restaurant for your carnivorous foreign friends. Cons: you’ll spend the rest of the day smelling like something grilled (the smoke there is pretty potent), and there aren’t many menu options for non-meat lovers. Plus, as usual, it’s expensive. So to wrap this up; although we are still mourning Sequoia (RIP), Cairo still has a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to wining and dining your foreign friends. You might also like: 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try

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 looking for a place to have a meal and a good time in the Sheikh Zayed/6 October area but don’t feel like being overwhelmed by the big commercial centers like Arkan Plaza, then Park St. is a good choice. This dining and shopping hub is on a much smaller scale than Arkan, thus less crowded, but equally as pleasant with their indoor/outdoor restaurants and quirky interior design (anyone who’s seen those little statues scattered about will know what we’re talking about!). Read also: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza But as always, there’s the forever question of: which restaurant do I choose? Here are some of our personal Park St. West favorites (ps: at the bottom of the article, we list the other restaurants & cafes in Park St. in case anything catches your fancy). Best restaurants in Park St. West: Sachi Park St. Hidden away on the rooftop of Park St., Sachi is an award-winning fine dining restaurant and bar (regularly ranked amongst the top 50 restaurants in MENA). This Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant has both ambient indoor seating as well as a large outdoor terrace, always a favorite on warm nights or breezy afternoons. Pricey, but you get what you pay for. Impeccable service as well. For reservations, menu and more info: Sachi’s website Bebabel Looking for a casual Lebanese dining vibe, complete with shisha and beer/wine, but still delivering actually good food? Then look no further than Bebabel. Located on the ground floor of Park St. next to Brunch & Cake, this restaurant is a great spot for breakfast, sunny weekend lunches or dinner and drinks with friends. For the menu and more info: Bebabel’s IG Em Sherif Cafe One of the most famous restaurants in Beirut has found a home in Park St. West. Until recently, Em Sherif was a must-go for Egyptians visiting Beirut, to get a taste of traditional, homestyle Lebanese food. But now we don’t have to go any further than Cairo’s suburbs (Em Sherif is currently in White by Waterway in New Cairo as well as Park St.) They’re open from noon until midnight, and also serve shisha. For the menu and more info: Em Sherif Cafe’s IG Sushimi By K If you’re tired of overpriced, mediocre sushi places (and who isn’t), then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Sushimi by K. What started as a small sushi catering business quickly grew in popularity to an actual brick and mortar restaurant in New Cairo, with its second branch in Park St. Sushimi by K prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, including non-frozen salmon and bluefin tuna. Their sushi menu is massive, alongside a few Japanese main courses for anyone in your group who isn’t on the sushi train. For the menu and more info: Sushimi by K’s IG Brunch & Cake If you’re one of those people who eats with their eyes first, then Brunch & Cake will leave you thrilled. This very Instagrammable restaurant will leave you impressed with not only their food presentation but their interior decor aesthetics as well. They have a really creative menu of breakfast and brunch options, but never fear, this restaurant doesn’t go poof when the sun goes down – they also do dinner as well.  For the menu and more info: Brunch & Cake’s IG Other restaurants & cafes also in Park St. West: Norma Bocca Qahwa Ni Cafe Marzipan BRGR CAF Pickl Nola Dolato Le Flandrin You might also like: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Restobars in Sheikh Zayed & 6 October City, 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

Visiting Egypt and looking for more memorable accommodation instead of just your everyday generic hotel chain? Well you’re in luck, because throughout the various cities and travel destinations in Egypt, there are a handful of beautiful boutique hotels that are all about providing thoughtful, unique experiences, whether through their architecture and interior design, their service or just their overall mission and ethos. That being said, here are some of the best boutique hotels in Egypt in our humble opinion: Lazib Inn Resort & Spa Location: Fayoum Lazib Inn is an eight-suite boutique hotel on a green hilltop overlooking Fayoum’s Lake Qarun, built in the Fayoumi architectural style. Because the rooms are so limited, the hotel has an intimate and home-like feel to it. They have a full-service spa as well as an outdoor pool and jacuzzi. Tunis Village, the main sightseeing area of Fayoum, is right outside of the hotel and they can also arrange trips into the desert to see Wadi el Hitan, Wadi el Rayan and other great sites in the Fayoum area. For more details and booking: http://lazibinn.com/ La Maison Bleue Location: El Gouna La Maison Bleue is designed after 19th century Mediterranean mansions, influenced by architecture in Italy, Turkey, Syria and North Africa and furnished with European pieces from the past 3 centuries. This adult-only luxury hotel has only suites and super premium suites, making it a favorite of couples and celebrities looking for privacy. It has an outdoor pool (heated in the winter months), full spa and a private beach right on a Red Sea lagoon. It’s just steps away from Abu Tig Marina, and you can read our full local’s guide to El Gouna here . For more details and booking: https://lamaison-bleue.com/ Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary Location: Dakhla Oasis This boutique hotel on the edge of Gilf el Kebir and the Great Sand Sea in Egypt’s Western Desert is so remote that the only way of reaching it is by small plane, arranged by the Al Tarfa team. The sanctuary itself has only 20 rooms and suites, so privacy is guaranteed on this spacious private reserve, amongst date and acacia tree orchards. You can relax in the garden or at the pool, surrounded by Dakhla Oasis’ rare mix of greenery, desert and mountains. Whether you’re there to just relax or to explore this mysterious and isolated place, the Al Tarfa team will set it up for you from A to Z. For more details and booking: https://altarfa.net/ BenBen Hotel Location: Aswan Located on Heissa Island surrounded by the Nile in Aswan, this boutique hotel and ecolodge has views of not only Philae Temple, but the Aswan High Dam as well. The hotel as 24 rooms, each with an outdoor jacuzzi. Yep, you read that right! The hotel is built in the eco-friendly Nubian style, with strong focus on its natural surroundings and best ecological practices. Besides their own restaurant and leisure activities, the hotel can also arrange different Aswan excursions for you. For more details and booking: their website Villa Belle Époque Location: Cairo Hidden away in the green (yes, green) suburb of Maadi , you’ll find a refurbished colonial villa dating back to the 1920s. This villa is now the boutique hotel Villa Belle Époque, with each of its rooms named after a different Egyptian city and designed accordingly with local art and vintage pieces. On the grounds of the villa there’s also a pool and patio surrounded by lemon, olive, mango and guava trees. They also have the Acacia restaurant, where you can enjoy international fare made out of fresh Egyptian ingredients. For more details and booking: Villa Belle Époque FB page Adrère Amellal Photo credit: Alberto Siliotti Location: Siwa Oasis This hidden-away, primitive and yet still luxurious boutique hotel is an ecolodge out in the remote Siwa Oasis, with earth buildings that blend into the landscape. There’s no electricity, so Adrère Amellal comes alive at night with candles and lanterns. This is the place to go if you want to totally disconnect from it all and feel at one with nature -- all elements of this hotel are made from local and natural materials, including the actual buildings themselves. Read more: 10 Unforgettable Things To Do In Siwa Oasis Photo credit: Alberto Siliotti Visited by celebrities and royalty, Adrère Amellal is not by any means cheap, but its 5 star service and dining will still have you feeling the luxury even in the most primitive of settings. For more details and booking: https://www.adrereamellal.com Al Moudira Location: Luxor Lots of guests refer to this boutique hotel on the West Bank of Luxor as an ‘oasis’ after spending the day exploring ancient Egyptian desert tombs and temples in the soaring Luxor temperatures. Set in a more green rural setting than the rest of central Luxor, Al Moudira has a pool, jacuzzi, terrace and grounds that you can enjoy away from the hustle and bustle. Each of their rooms are individually designed, and everything ties together to give the look and feel of an Arabesque palace, with different nods throughout to ancient Egyptian art. For more details and booking: Al Moudira’s Booking.com listing You might also like: 11 Historical Hotels in Egypt You Can Still Stay At Today

Bashandy So you’re in Cairo and you really want to discover what local Egyptian street food is all about. We don’t blame you, there are few better ways of getting a real taste (pun unintended) of a new city or country than partaking in what the locals eat daily. Egyptian street food can be found on literally almost every corner of our sprawling capital, but to ensure that you try the best (and least questionable!) of what Cairo has to offer, we put together a list of the best places to get our Egyptian street food favorites. Note for the newbies: now keep in mind that most of the food we’ll be listing is local fare, so if you’re not familiar at all with some of the food names (eg. fuul or koshary), we suggest you read 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try , where we break it all down and explain what everything is. 1. Bashandy (aka ‘Am Bashandy) If you’re on the east side of Cairo (Nasr City, Heliopolis , New Cairo ) then Bashandy is a must-go for classic Egyptian street food. It’s open 24 hours and offers food to-go, curbside pick-up or delivery. Their menu is a wide selection of fuul, taameya and french fry sandwiches, as well as other Egyptian favorites like fried eggplant and baba ghanoug. Also just a friendly reminder that Egyptian falafel (taameya) differs from non-Egyptian falafel, so be sure to check our local food article to know the difference. We Egyptians obviously swear by ours, but hey a little bias never hurt anyone. 2. Ezz el Menoufy What started as a street cart in Dokki in 1976 for liver sandwiches has grown steadily in popularity to the extent that over a dozen other Ezz el Menoufy ‘branches’ (street stalls) have opened across Cairo! Their menu sticks to tradition - liver sandwiches, different kinds of sausage/’sogouk’ sandwiches (oriental sausage, smoked sausage, minced sausage) and a few dessert sandwiches like clotted cream and honey. They’re open from 9:30 am til late - 3:30 am. You can pop in ‘Ezz el Menoufy’ into your Google Maps and see which branch is the closest to you. 3. Abou Haidar Established in 1968 by a Syrian man in the eastern neighborhood of Heliopolis, Abou Haidar is one of the most famous shawerma spots in all of Cairo. It’s one of the very few popular ‘restaurants’ in Egypt to refuse to offer home delivery - the only way to get a hold of Abou Haidar’s shawerma sandwiches is to go order and pick them up yourself. They’re open from early in the morning (8:30 am shawerma, anyone?) to 1:30 am on most nights. 4. Koshary Abou Tarek Every Egyptian local has their favorite local koshary joint, but Abou Tarek is widely agreed on being one of the best - if not THE best. Watching the lightning-fast assembly line of layering your plastic carton with koshary is an experience in and of itself! If you don’t have a Koshary Abou Tarek in your area (their branches are currently Downtown which is the original and most famous, Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo and El Rehab City), then keep your eyes peeled for other good koshary spots like Koshary Tahrir, Sayed Hanafy or Tom and Basal. 5. Kebdet El Prince **2025 update: Kebdet el Prince is temporarily closed and relocating. Kebdet el Prince (which translates to 'the prince of liver') is the darling of both regular Egyptian locals and Egyptian celebrities alike, because of their homestyle Egyptian menu, full of traditional favorites that you'd have a hard time finding anywhere else but an Egyptian grandma's kitchen. This restaurant in Imbaba is open until the early hours of the morning, and their street seating is first come, first serve (the restaurant is basically rows and rows of sidewalk tables). You get there, place your order, eat until you're blue in the face, and then make room for the next hungry customer. 6. Semsema This is another street shawerma classic that’s been going strong since it first opened back in 1981. You can order your chicken or meat shawerma in either a ‘kaiser roll’ (similar to a burger bun), in a baguette, or wrapped in Syrian bread. They also have a bunch of other items on their menu like burgers and ‘meals’, but we recommend sticking to what Semsema is famous for - the shawerma. Most locals park their cars in front of Semsema and indulge in one kaiser shawerma after another until 2 am. 7. El Malky So you’ve had your shawerma, your liver sandwiches, your fuul, taameya and koshary - what’s next? Uh, dessert of course. We round out this list of the best street food spots with where to get your local sugar fix. El Malky is a dairy and dessert shop that’s over 100 years old (yep, it opened in 1917 in Old Cairo), and is famous for its rice pudding, Om Ali and sweet couscous, alongside ice cream and other international and Middle Eastern desserts. Local tip: if you’re adventurous and want to really kick it street food style like an Egyptian, you can try some of the foul and taameya carts you’ll find dotted around Cairo in the morning. They’re good but not advised for delicate stomachs! Also keep an eye out for these street snacks: Grilled corn on the cob Roasted sweet potato (check out our list of Egyptian winter comfort foods here ) Peanuts Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds ('lebb' in Arabic) Lupin beans (‘termes’ in Arabic) Fresh juice stalls You might also like: 10 Best Restaurants in Cairo for Both Locals and Tourists Alike

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 Branches: Galleria 40 (Sheikh Zayed), Golf Central, 26th July Street (Zamalek), White by Waterway and O1 (New Cairo), Road 218 (Maadi), Madinaty and El Gouna 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 Branches: Road 231 (Maadi), Westown Hub (Sheikh Zayed), Iconia (Zamalek), Arkan For more info: Stavolta Facebook 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 Branches: Zamalek, Maadi, City Stars, New Cairo, Heliopolis, Sheraton, El Rehab For more info: Mandarine Koueider Facebook 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 Branches: Zamalek, Maadi, Shooting Club, Gezira Club 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! Branches: Zamalek, Arkan, City Stars For more info: Gelato Mio Facebook 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 Facebook 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 Branches: New Cairo, Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed, Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramids of Giza For more info: Dolato's IG You may also like: 14 Egyptian Dessert Shops and Patisseries More Than 50 Years Old

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

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

Unsure of what you should plan to wear in Egypt? We’ve got you covered ( pun unintended, I swear ). I’ve noticed that a lot of women seem unsure of what to pack/wear when traveling to Egypt, and the Middle East as a whole. This is extremely valid, because the culture is a tad different and what might seem like a normal summer outfit to you might elicit a few stares on the street in some Middle Eastern countries. While Egyptian society is not as open as Dubai or Beirut when it comes to wardrobe, we don’t have any specific laws or rules about head or body covering like in Saudi Arabia or Iran. Anywho, firstly, a few FAQs: Do people stare everywhere? No. Your only issue will be when you’re on the streets in Egypt’s big cities. In hotels, restaurants , bars and clubs, nobody will look twice at you. And locals are very used to beachwear in coastal towns and cities like El Gouna , Hurghada , Sharm el Sheikh and the North Coast . Do I have to cover my hair? Nope, not at all, unless you’re visiting a mosque (PS: here's our list of Egypt's ten most beautiful mosques ). That’s the only time you might be asked to loosely cover with a scarf, out of respect. Other that that, there’s absolutely no reason to cover your hair, nor does anyone expect you to. Is there a certain Islamic code of dressing I have to abide by? Nope. You’ll find yourself more comfortable in general if you don’t wear anything too short or too cleavagey, because people will look less. But that’s a cultural thing. For example, the UAE is an Islamic country but women walk around in shorts no problem. Egyptian society tends to be slightly more conservative, so wearing anything too showy might garner you some looks and catcalls in Cairo or Alexandria. Note: beach destinations aren’t included in the above. If you’re in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada , Dahab, El Gouna, etc., just plan to wear normal beach resort stuff. Is there anything I should avoid showing? Like I mentioned above, any wardrobe edits are for your own comfort, not because you *have* to. That being said, to avoid any unwanted looks or catcalls, try to avoid the following on the streets of Cairo or Alexandria: Skirts or shorts much higher than knee-length Crop tops or anything midriff-baring Lots of cleavage Things that are skin-tight around the butt area -- for example, if you’re going to wear leggings or yoga pants, try to pair them with a loose top or tunic that covers your butt Backless tops or dresses Does this apply to hotels, restaurants, clubs and other night spots as well? Nope. When in the hotels , clubs and lounges , Egyptian women and expats are just as decked out as they would be in NYC, but they make sure that they have long jackets, shawls and cover-ups for when they’re out on the street in Cairo or Alex. So now that you have a clearer idea of what to avoid, let’s talk about what you absolutely SHOULD pack: A shawl. If I could name just one item you *must* bring with you, it would be this. A shawl is not only extremely useful in Egypt, but it’s also super versatile. You can use it to cover your chest or shoulders in the street, you can use it to cover your hair if you plan on visiting a mosque, you can use it as sun protection, or something to sit on, or a way of staying warm if the night cools down and you don’t have a sweater on you. You can also wrap it around your nose and mouth if you’re in the desert and the wind picks up and things start getting sandy. Basically, a million uses. Lightweight, breathable shoes that aren’t sandals A lot of visitors to Egypt tend to bring just sandals or flip-flops with them due to the hot weather, but any local will tell you that’s a mistake -- you need a pair of ‘closed’ shoes for sure. Most Egyptian streets have some element of debris on them that could accidentally cut you, and other streets have unavoidable mud puddles. That’s besides the fact that you’ll be trekking through a lot of sand should you head out to the Pyramids , and that sand gets *hot*. Loose linen or cotton pants If you’re traipsing around Egypt, jeans might seem like the obvious choice for pants -- but I wouldn’t be so sure. In summer, jeans just feel so hot . They feel heavy and kind of like there’s a sweat swamp in unfortunate spots. And on the flip side, in winter they get ridiculously cold -- that aforementioned swamp turns into a frozen tundra real fast. So what to do? Well, if it’s the summer, then loose linen or cotton pants will be your best friend. They’re lightweight, they’re breezy and they won’t feel like 20 pounds of regret that you’re forced to carry around while you’re climbing inside a sweltering pyramid . Nice night outfit If you’re planning on going to a club or a lounge , then pack at least one nice night outfit, whether it’s a dress or jeans/pants and a particular top you love. Egyptians like to go out and have fun and love any excuse to wear their trendiest clothes, so rest assured you won’t be overdressed. Some venues also require a ‘smart casual’ dress code, so it’s always good to be prepared. Regular beachwear If you’re going to a beach destination in Egypt or planning to spend time by the pool, then don’t overthink anything and just bring the same swim stuff you would normally pack. Crossbody purse that’s secure and durable As every female traveller knows, the bag/purse you carry around with you daily needs to be multi-functional: it needs to be light and comfortable to carry, it needs to be big enough to hold what you need to carry without it being a monstrosity, it needs to be secure, it needs to be durable and it needs to be cute, damnit. Crossbody bags to me are essential. Backpacks can get uncomfortable after a while and shoulder bags are just a nuisance to society. Other things which are always handy to pack: A pack of hair ties because God knows we never have one when we need them Sunglasses & sunscreen A hat of some sort -- this really is a judgment call, I as a local and most other local women don’t wear hats on a regular basis, so it’s definitely not *needed*, but if you’re not used to a lot of sunlight, you might want to pack a cap or something just in case. Happy packing! You may also like: Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

When you think of Egypt, ‘tropical’ isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind. Desert, maybe. Sandy, sure. But tropical? It’s true though: the Red Sea is the world’s northernmost tropical sea, and Egypt has the soft white sand beaches, warm waters and abundant coral and marine life to prove it. (There’s a reason we’re one of the best diving destinations in the world !) So next time you’re in Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera (that should really be on your to-do list by the way) hop on a boat and check out these stunning, remote tropical islands. They’re not well known, even by locals, so you won’t have to worry about crowds interfering with your ‘#TropicalParadise’ moment. You might also like: 9 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations 1. Giftun Islands Location: Hurghada These two islands are Giftun El Kabeer (Big Giftun) and Giftun el Sagheer (Little Giftun), but Big Giftun is the one where the real action is at because it’s home to beach havens Mahmya and Orange Bay. 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. You might also like: Hurghada, Egypt: A Local's Guide For First-Timers 2. Qulaan Islands Photo credit: Farida Bustani (@faridabustani) Location: Wadi El Gemal National Park Qulaan Islands are an archipelago of four islands in a protected bay in the Wadi El Gemal National Park in Egypt’s Deep South, in the Hamata area. 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. You can take a boat from the Hamata marina and spend a few hours picnicking, swimming and snorkeling on the islands. 3. Pharaoh’s Island Photo credit: Dronestagram Location : Taba Also known as Coral Island due to the adjacent reef, Pharaoh’s Island is in the Gulf of Aqaba and is on the ‘Tentative List’ of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (for our article on Egypt’s seven World Heritage Sites, head here ). Back in the Middle Ages, the Christian Crusaders built a citadel on the island to protect the route between Cairo and Damascus. It was later taken over by Salah El Din (leader of the Islamic Ayyubid Dynasty) in 1170, and although the citadel passed hands afterwards, it’s still known until today as Salah El Deen’s Castle. Today the island is a popular diving and tourist attraction for Taba visitors. 4. White Island Location: Ras Mohamed National Park Around 10 km from Sharm el Sheikh, in the protected Ras Mohamed marine park, 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. 5. Tawila Island Location: El Gouna/Hurghada Located 24 km off the coast of El Gouna, Tawila Island is an island popular with kitesurfers and those looking to spend the day on a pristine white sand beach. You need to bring your own food, drinks and equipment (but please make sure to leave the beaches as pristine as you found them!). You can arrange for a boat to take you on a day trip to Tawila and back from El Gouna/Hurghada. 6. Zabargad/St. John’s Island Location: Elba National Park 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. Thanks to national parks like Elba, this pristine stretch of Red Sea is completely untouched and unspoiled. Zabargad (St. John’s in English) is a group of islands known not only for its diving, but for being geologically unique -- it’s believed to be uplifted mantle. Topaz was also found on the island back in Ptolemaic times. 7. Shadwan Island Photo credit: Kenzie Kashmiri Location: Northeast of El Gouna One of the largest islands in the Red Sea, Shadwan used to be an Egyptian military base and was the target of an Israeli heliborne raid in 1970. Most buildings were demolished except the Shadwan Lighthouse, which was built in 1889, and until today the island remains empty save for divers, fishers and other Red Sea Riviera tourists. You might also like to read: 9 World-Class Beaches in Egypt

Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera is immensely popular with both tourists and locals alike for several reasons: a) its year-round warm weather, b) its white sand beaches, c) its awesome diving and d) the fact that it’s away from all the hustle and bustle of city life (especially if you live in Cairo, the difference is night and day). Most tourists usually book an all-inclusive trip to Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh through a tour agency, and while that obviously is a guaranteed great time, it’d be a shame to think that’s the extent of what the Red Sea Riviera has to offer. What exactly is Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera? First of all, let’s explain what exactly we’re talking about when we say ‘Red Sea Riviera’; Egypt’s riviera is divided between mainland Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula, and includes the Red Sea’s two gulfs, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. All of the towns/cities/resorts/parks you can stay at on the Riviera have one major thing in common: their awesome beaches and weather. Everything else (type of accommodation, activities, amenities, etc.) differ from place to place. The main places to stay on the Sinai Red Sea Riviera are: Ras Sudr, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Ras Shetan and Taba. The main places to stay on Egypt’s mainland Red Sea Riviera are: Ain El Sokhna, El Gouna, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, Safaga, Marsa Alam and the Deep South. Ok, great. But again, where should you stay? We’re going to break down the main things you should know about each Red Sea destination, so you can choose what actually suits *you* and not just some tour agency. Sinai Red Sea Riviera: Ras Sudr Matarma Bay in Ras Sudr Ras Sudr (pronounced Ras Sedr) is the first Red Sea Riviera destination you’ll hit when you cross over from mainland Egypt to the Sinai Peninsula. It’s a small stretch of coast on the Gulf of Suez inlet of the Red Sea, and only recently began to rise in popularity due to its ideal kitesurfing conditions. It’s still pretty underdeveloped, but you’ll find a handful of beach hotels to stay at. Most people spend their days at the various kite centers which also double up as restaurants/beach bars. Go if you want: to kitesurf or to enjoy a Sinai beach without having to drive too far from Cairo Best way to get there: it’s about a 3 hour drive from Cairo Ras Mohammed Bedawi Camp in Ras Mohammed National Park Ras Mohammed is an Egyptian national park at the southernmost tip of Sinai, where the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez and the mixing of water leads to brightly-colored, healthy coral reefs. Because of that, Ras Mohammed is known for its awesome diving (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. There’s also a designated area of the park (Marsa Bareika) which allows overnight camping on the beach (read more at: Camping in Egypt: 7 Beautiful and Remote Places To Camp) . Go if you want: to dive/snorkel or camp on a beach. Best way to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh and drive (about 45 minutes), or drive from Cairo (about 6 hours). Sharm El Sheikh Sharm el Sheikh has been an international beach destination darling for decades, with dozens of direct flights between Europe and the Sharm Airport daily. Besides its all-inclusive resorts, it's also world-famous for scuba diving. 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.” Read more: 12 Best Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh Sharm used to also be a popular nightlife and dining destination, but its heyday was pre-2015. Now its appeal is in its all-inclusive resorts, plus it’s a good base for trips to the Sinai Mountains, St. Catherine’s Monastery and Ras Mohammed National Park. Go if you want: a resort beach holiday, or a diving trip Best way to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh Airport Dahab This little bohemian town is smaller, quieter and less commercial than its Red Sea Riviera neighbor Sharm el Sheikh, but the diving is just as good. Home to world-renowned dive sites like the Blue Hole, Dahab pulls in its own fair share of tourists, but those who want to experience a more laid-back vacation. The main area of town is its seaside promenade, full of local and quirkily-named restaurants and shops. There are also hostels and budget hotels galore. You can also hike to and camp in nearby Ras Abu Galoum and Blue Lagoon. Similar to Sharm, Dahab is also a popular base for treks into the Sinai Mountains and St. Catherine’s Monastery. Go if you want: great diving in a casual beach town Best way to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh and drive there, about an hour away Nuweiba/Ras Shetan Nestled between mountains and the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba is a strip of coastline called Ras Shetan, between the towns of Nuweiba and Taba on the Sinai peninsula. Both Nuweiba (a little beach town) and Ras Shetan are known for their get-away-from-it-all beach camps, usually run by local Bedouins. The camps are a mix of beach huts or bare-bone bungalows, and you’re more than welcome to set up your own tents right on the beach. At night, there’s usually a large campfire where the Bedouins and guests from all over the world talk, play instruments and sing. Nuweiba and Ras Shetan are also a good place to stay if you want to explore the Colored Canyon and Wadi Wishwashi in the nearby Nuweiba mountains. Go if you want: to camp on a beach and disconnect Best way to get there: fly to Sharm El Sheikh and drive (2 hours), or drive from Cairo (6-8 hour drive). Taba The northernmost resort town on the Red Sea Riviera, Taba is known for its serene resorts and its border crossing with Eilat, Israel, where tourists can pass from one country to the other without having to fly. Taba’s Red Sea coast is very similar to Nuweiba and Ras Shetan’s, but where the latter is known for its sparse beach camps, Taba is known for its 5 star amenities like golf courses and spas (so basically if you enjoy camping and roughing it, stick to Nuweiba and Ras Shetan, and if luxury is more up your alley, then Taba is for you). Taba also offers diving, especially near Pharaoh’s Island, home to the Salah El Din citadel. Go if you want: luxury on the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba coast Best way to get there: fly to Sharm El Sheikh and drive (2.5 hours), or drive from Cairo (6-8 hour drive). Mainland Red Sea Riviera And we’re back to the mainland, folks. These Riviera destinations form a neat line down the almost straight coast of Eastern Egypt. Ain El Sokhna The closest Red Sea Riviera destination to Cairo, out of all mainland and Sinai destinations (it can take as little as an hour to arrive at Ain El Sokhna). Ain El Sokhna is full of residential beach compounds, but also a fair share of hotels. It’s known for its crystal clear calm water and year-round sun. Go if you want: a convenient and close beach destination to Cairo Best way to get there: drive from Cairo (1-2 hours) El Gouna El Gouna’s a modern resort town spanning over 10 km of pristine Red Sea coast, with lagoons throughout, and their architecture is inspired by traditional Egyptian homes in the countryside and Upper Egypt. It’s a town equally as popular with Egyptians as it is with tourists. It was the first destination in the Middle East and Africa to receive the Global Green Award, which is given by the UN to cities making substantial efforts, progress and improvements in the field of environmental sustainability. While smaller than Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, El Gouna has a plethora of hotels, restaurants, bars and activities for both adults and families. Go if you want: to stay in a clean and green resort town without giving up restaurants and nightlife. Best way to get there: fly to Hurghada airport (30 mins from El Gouna), or drive from Cairo (about 4 hours). Here’s our full, detailed local’s guide for El Gouna . Hurghada Hurghada, having spent the first hundred years of its life as a sleepy little fishing village, is now one of the most popular destinations in the world (don’t believe us? Ask TripAdvisor -- Hurghada is frequently one of their Top 10 Most Popular Destinations in the World  and usually has a whopping amount of entries in Scuba Travel’s World’s Top 100 Dive Sites . ). Hurghada is an eclectic mix of 5 star resorts and super budget hotels, Red Sea islands and desert excursions, touristy promenades and dingier local areas… there’s something to see and do no matter your age or interests. Go if you want: tons of diving centers and lots of hotel, restaurant and bar options Best way to get there: fly to Hurghada Airport or drive from Cairo (4.5 hours) Here’s our full, detailed local’s guide for Hurghada . Sahl Hasheesh Photo credit: Omar Refaat (@omar__refaat) On most online booking sites, Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay (below) are grouped together as ‘Hurghada’. And while they are indeed considered in the Hurghada ‘area’, they’re their own separate towns and very different from Hurghada proper. Sahl Hasheesh is a quiet resort town built on a bay in the Red Sea south of Hurghada back in the 1990s, and is 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. Sahl Hasheesh doesn’t offer much in terms of restaurants or nightlife outside of the resorts - just an ‘Old Town’ with one or two spots. 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. Go if you want: to stay at a 5 star resort on a world-class beach Best way to get there: fly into Hurghada airport then drive to Sahl Hasheesh (30 minutes). Makadi Bay Similar to Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay is a compact touristic town with not much outside the various resorts. There are quite a few resorts though, most with pristine beachfront, multiple pools and all-inclusive packages. Makadi Bay is also known for being one of the most family-friendly towns on the Red Sea Riviera due to its water parks, where kids (and adults) can spend days on end without getting bored. Go if you want: a family-friendly resort vacation Best way to get there: fly into Hurghada then drive to Makadi Bay (45 minutes). Soma Bay A peninsula jutting into the Red Sea, Soma Bay is a beautiful resort town surrounded by the sea on three sides, with Egypt's eastern mountains as a backdrop. It's famous for its water sports, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing due to the ideal wind conditions. They're also one of the best spots on the Red Sea for diving and snorkeling. Read more: Soma Bay, Egypt - Travel Guide for First-Timers Soma Bay is home to only 5 beach resorts, so 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). It's also home to the Spa & Thalasso at Cascades Hotel, considered the best spa in Egypt and one of the best regionally. Go if you want : a 5 star luxury vacation with with the opportunity for diving, snorkeling and water sports Best way to get there: fly into Hurghada and drive to Soma Bay (45 minutes south). Safaga Photo credit: silversea.com A small port town on the Red Sea, Safaga differs dramatically from the rest of the mainland Red Sea Riviera destinations -- while most of them are modern towns completely dedicated to tourism, Safaga as a port town has existed for over 2,000 years, dating back to the Ptolemaic days when it was called Philotera. Safaga these days is known mainly for its diving, with most visitors at the hotels there for the express purpose of diving. Go if you want: to dive in a much emptier environment than the northern mainland Red Sea Riviera destinations Best way to get there: fly into Hurghada airport and drive (an hour south). Marsa Alam 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 diving-wise (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. Accommodation is across the board, from 5 star hotels to sparse beach camps. Read more : 10 Best Things to Do in Marsa Alam Famous dive sites like Elphinstone and Daedalus are must-sees for more advanced divers -- you can see anything from hammerhead sharks to manta rays and even whale sharks in these open sea sites. They’re accessible by either day trips from Marsa Alam or liveaboards. Closer to the shore, if you're lucky, you can also see Egypt’s rare dugongs, a cousin of the manatee, who live in the warm shallow waters of Marsa Alam. Go if you want: to dive at any time of the year Best way to get there: fly into Marsa Alam Airport The Deep South Wadi Lahami. Photo credit: Red Sea Diving Safari Ever wondered about the stretch of the Red Sea far below Sinai and the popular Hurghada coast on mainland Egypt? 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. It’s known for its diving; the water’s strong current leads to amazing drift diving, with an increased chance of seeing hammerhead sharks, pods of dolphins and manta rays. Go if you want: to be away from it all, stay in beach camps and spend the day diving and snorkeling Best way to get there: fly into Marsa Alam Airport, then drive south (about an hour and a half). But at the end of the day, no matter where you stay on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera, you’ll have an awesome time -- or even better, beach hop from town to town! You might also like: 9 World Class Beaches in Egypt

Planning a trip to Hurghada or El Gouna any time soon? If yes, then good for you, that’s probably one of the better decisions you’ve made recently. If not, then what are you waiting for? Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation (we have 9 world-class beaches in Egypt ) or something with a bit more activity than just bumming on the beach, the Red Sea coast where Hurghada and El Gouna are located will deliver every single time. The coastal city of Hurghada and its neighboring resort town of El Gouna are about 25 km apart, so it’s an easy trip by car between the two (about a 40 minute drive between the two). The Hurghada airport provides easy access to both, or you can drive/take a bus from Cairo (about a 4 hour drive by car). You might also like: El Gouna, Egypt: A Local's Guide and Hurghada, Egypt: A Local Guide For First-Timers So whether you’re staying in Hurghada or El Gouna, here are 25 fun things to do to get the most out of your trip. 1. World-class diving Both Hurghada and El Gouna have numerous PADI-certified dive centers to choose from, whether you want to learn to dive for the first time or are an old hat at it. While there are great wreck dives for advanced divers, this area is also ideal for beginner divers because most of the reefs are shallow and easily accessible but still crammed full of marine life. Local tip: Hurghada's dive centers are usually more affordable than Gouna's. For more amazing diving destinations in Egypt, head here . 2. Snorkeling If diving is more effort than you’re willing to invest on your vacation, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the awesome marine life. There are plenty boats that will take you out to the best snorkeling spots, and you can even snorkel off your hotel's beach in some spots in Hurghada. 3. Glass bottom boat If you have kids with you or just don’t feel like getting in the water, then a glass bottom boat is ideal for a peek at underwater sea life from a boat. 4. Hop on a catamaran This two-hulled sailboat is great for sunbathing in the middle of the sea and cooling off with a swim after (you just jump off!). The catamarans take a large group of people out at the same time so it always has a fun, party vibe. 5. Rent your own little yacht for the day Yacht trips are both easy and affordable from both the Hurghada and El Gouna marinas and there are lots of tour agencies that can set them up for you. You can bring your own food (although sometimes it's included), drinks and music and leave the harder work to the captain. 6. Take a trip to the Giftun Islands (Mahmya & Orange Bay) If you want to spend the day on white sand beaches with crystal clear water, then hop on a boat and head to Giftun Islands. Both Mahmya and Orange Bay are beach restaurants/bars where you can spend the day in the water and relax with a drink or lunch on their pristine beaches after. Read more at: 7 Red Sea Islands Perfect for a Boat Day Trip 7. Desert safari (ATV & quad off-roading) If you’re all beached out, then venture into Egypt’s Eastern desert on an ATV or quad for what we locals call desert safaris. 8. Hiking and desert trekking If you’re in Hurghada or El Gouna for an extended period of time and are an adventure-seeker, then the Red Sea Mountain Trail might be for you. This 170 km, 10 day hike through the mountains of Egypt’s Eastern desert with a Bedouin guide will show you a side to Egypt you probably wouldn’t be able to see otherwise -- rocky gorges, deep desert sand dunes, prehistoric rock art and long-abandoned Roman towns. If 10 days/170 km is too much for you, you can participate in smaller segments or just do a day trek. 9. Biking If you’re a Cairo local who doesn’t have the opportunity to cycle much, or just someone who loves to hop on a bike, then El Gouna is a great place to do it. Besides actual bike rental shops, El Gouna offers ‘e-bikes’ -- different stations are set up around the time where you can rent out a bike and check it back in at any other station you want. And not just any bikes -- these ones have a little environmentally friendly electric motors if your fitness isn't where you want it to be and you don't feel like huffing and puffing down the streets of Gouna. 10. Good, old-fashioned sunbathing Almost all the hotels in Hurghada and El Gouna have access to a serviced beach, complete with some form of restaurant or beach bar, where you can work on your tan and wile the hours away. 11. Enjoy a shisha on the beach Egyptians love their shisha, and once you try it, it’ll be easy to see why. While many restaurants or cafes in Hurghada and El Gouna offer shisha, it’s a whole other experience to smoke away your stress on the beach. 12. Try out a plethora of different restaurants What’s a vacation without eating well? Both Hurghada, and El Gouna especially, have a great range of restaurants to choose from. Whether you want to try local Egyptian fare, fresh seafood or one of the numerous international restaurants, you won’t be starved for choice. Our personal favorites are Zia Amelia (Italian) and Saigon (Vietnamese) in El Gouna. 13. Go karting If you’re in the need for speed, then look no further than Gouna’s go karting track. 14. Fishing Craving fresh seafood, and we mean straight-from-the-sea-thanks-to-you fresh, then hop on one of the numerous fishing boats and go in search of dinner. Hurghada was originally a small fishing village, so you know the fish will be good. 15. Nightlife You tanned, you swam, you ate, now what? Time to hit the bars of course. Hurghada is home to a bunch of different clubs and bars like Little Buddha, and El Gouna is known for Aurora and The Tap South. 16. Kitesurfing If you’re one of those people who itch to get your muscles moving, then kitesurfing might be for you. There are several different kite centers that offer courses for beginners, and you can rent out equipment if you’re already a tried and true kitesurfer. Read more: 7 Best Kitesurfing Spots in Egypt 17. Motor gliding So you walked around (or boated around) and saw most of El Gouna already? Not so fast -- have you seen it from above? Try out what’s known as ‘aerial sightseeing’ from a motor glider. 18. Golf If you’re a seasoned golfer or just someone who wants to putt a few balls, then El Gouna offers two different 18 hole golf courses for golfers of all levels. There’s also golf lessons for those looking to learn or freshen their skills. 19. Sliders Cable Park One of the biggest cable parks in the world, Sliders is open year-round and is a lot of fun for those looking to participate in water sports. 20. Visit the centuries-old monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony St. Paul Monastery About 2 hours from Hurghada is Zaafarana, where you'll find the remote monasteries of St. Anthony and St Paul. Founded in 356 AD, St. Anthony’s Monastery is the oldest inhabited Christian monastery in the world and is home to paintings dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries, as well as 1,700 ancient documents. St. Paul's Monastery was also established in the 4th century and is built into the Red Sea Mountains. Both monasteries are open to the public to visit. Read more: 7 Most Beautiful Coptic Orthodox Monasteries in Egypt 21. Day trip to Luxor Want to take a break from the beach and experience Ancient Egypt? Luxor is about a 4.5 hour drive from Hurghada, and lots of tour agencies arrange day trips to and from Luxor from Hurghada. A car or bus will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and take you to Luxor, where you'll see some of the most astounding remnants of Ancient Egypt like Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (varies according to your itinerary). Read more: 10 Best Things to See & Do in Luxor, Egypt (As Told by Locals!) 22. Visit Hurghada’s Grand Aquarium (or Gouna’s smaller one) Is it one of those rare cloudy days? Don’t waste it in the hotel -- head to Hurghada’s Grand Aquarium to get an up-close-and-personal look at some of the fantastic marine life this area is known for. 23. Go to a water park Whether you're looking for a kid friendly activity during the day or just love water parks yourself, Hurghada has several water park options. The most popular water parks are Jungle Aqua Park, Sindbad Aqua Park and Makadi Water World. They're all in hotels, but you can buy day tickets if you don't want to stay at the hotels themselves. 24. Horseback riding Are you a horse aficionado? Enjoy a horse ride in the Egyptian Eastern desert and a ride on the beach as well. 25. Tennis & squash If you’re looking to work up a sweat, then El Gouna offers both tennis and squash courts year-round. Gouna is even the home of the annual international squash open! You may also like: 8 Best Egyptian Holiday Destinations

Tawlet Yvonne Let's be real, who doesn't enjoy a good breakfast or brunch? Whether you're treating yourself on a weekend or just trying to start your work day on a high note, Maadi is a neighborhood known for its wide array of breakfast/brunch spots and artisanal bakeries, tucked away on leafy streets and sunny outdoor terraces. Here are 10 of our local favorites: Ratios Bakery Opening hours: 7:30 am - 2 pm This little cafe and bakery run by a married couple (who are also the head chefs) has attracted such a buzz around their artisanal baked goods that we can’t promise their most popular items won’t be sold out if you go too late in the morning. They offer different types of fresh bread (white sourdough, whole wheat sourdough, cranberry & walnut sourdough, baguettes, seed bread, honey buns, pizza dough), pastries and what they call ‘good eats’ - things like mac n cheese, spinach artichoke dip and homemade peanut butter. Reservations are best to make sure you find seating. Ratios Bakery’s menu . Ovio Opening hours: 8 am - midnight This European restaurant has a hefty breakfast menu: pancakes, crepes, different egg styles by the dozen, sourdough toast and morning sandwiches; Ovio’s got it all. They have a large outdoor terrace so it’s perfect to enjoy some sun with your breakfast or brunch - and they also have another huge perk: you’re allowed to bring your dog! For more info and menu: Ovio's IG Lucille’s Opening hours: 8 am - midnight The grandmother of all big American breakfasts in Cairo. Yup, way before the concept of all-day pancakes, waffles and omelettes were a thing elsewhere in the city, Lucille’s was already offering it on weekends at their Road 9 branch over 15 years ago. Lucille’s menu . Bistro Paris Opening hours: 9 am - 12:30 am Looking to enjoy breakfast on a breezy Maadi balcony, surrounded by trees? Then look no further than Bistro Paris. It's also a great spot for a weekend mimosa alongside your breakfast or brunch! For more info and menu: Bistro Paris IG Tawlet Yvonne Opening hours: 9 am - midnight Right underneath Paris Bistro is Tawlet Yvonne, one of Maadi's best Lebanese restaurants. You can order all your favorite Lebanese breakfast mezzes or eggs in a little courtyard (and shisha is available -- or argileh if you want to be authentic about it). Can't decide what to order? Try the Lebanese breakfast tray on their menu for a little bit of everything. For more info and menu: Tawlet Yvonne's IG Cafe Greco Opening hours: 6:30 am - midnight Caffe Greco isn’t your stereotypical breakfast place; it mainly revolves around coffee (some of the best in Cairo!) so you wouldn't head here for a heavy-duty breakfast, but they always have some fresh goodies on hand: biscotti, croissants, pastries and a few sandwiches. This place has been a Maadi staple for decades now. The Lebanese Bakery Opening hours: 8 am - 11 pm The second Lebanese breakfast spot on our Maadi list is The Lebanese Bakery, a Beirut-based ‘neighborhood bakery’ that offers freshly-made moujjanat (Lebanese baked bites), manaeesh, baked eggs and more. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. For more info and menu: The Lebanese Bakery’s IG . KMT House In the garden of a historical villa tucked away in Maadi Sarayat is KMT House's restaurant and cafe. KMT House (the villa itself) is a space that hosts wellness workshops and cultural events, but it's also a place where people can go enjoy breakfast, brunch or a coffee in their green garden oasis. For more info and menu: KMT House's IG Carmel California Opening hours: 7 am - 12 am Right next to Bistro Paris is Carmel California, a sunny and cheerful restaurant/cafe that serves your favorite breakfast and brunch classics from early in the morning. Their glass terrace overlooks the leafy trees of Maadi's Road 18. For more info and menu: Carmel California's IG Jared’s Bagels Opening hours: 6 am to 6 pm Open in Maadi for more than 15 years, Jared’s Bagels doesn’t just serve up bagels in all their forms (pastrami, egg and cheese bagel, anyone?), they also have a considerable-sized menu of other breakfast and brunch items as well as baked goods and pastries. For more info and menu: Jared’s Bagels IG You may also like: 30 Best Breakfast Spots in Cairo, Egypt

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