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Sachi Park St. Cairo has literally thousands of restaurants, and while sometimes you’re in the mood for something casual (read: 7 Best Places to Try Egyptian Street Food in Cairo ), sometimes there’s a special occasion or you’re just looking for something ambient and elevated. Cairo didn’t used to be known for its fine dining scene, but that’s really changed over the past few years. There’s a good handful of ‘fancy’ restaurants, but not all of them give you bang for your buck, so we filtered through the overpriced and underwhelming to bring you the very best of Cairo’s fine dining scene, in terms of both food and overall experience. Local tip: while some of the 5 star luxury hotels in Cairo have some great fine dining options, we decided to stick to the restaurants that manage to thrive outside of the usual hotel scene. So get your appetite and wallet ready, and here we go: Sachi Park St. Located on a rooftop in Sheikh Zayed is Sachi Park St., sister restaurant of Sachi in Heliopolis (both frequently ranked in the annual MENA Top 50 Restaurants list ). This expansive restaurant is divided into indoor and outdoor seating, each beautifully decorated with its own bar. The menu is international fusion, so you’ll find everything from sushi to duck linguine to Chilean sea bass. The service is impeccable and they have a signature cocktail menu. For more info and reservations: Sachi's IG Pier 88 Pier 88 is a high-end Italian restaurant and bar that sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and is equally pleasant for both daytime and nighttime dining. During the day it’s one of those quietly sophisticated restaurants, complete with an open kitchen and drinks overlooking the water. At night it gets more of a nightlife feel to it, with Tuesday nights being the ‘in nights’, when the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables. Local tip: there’s also another branch of Pier 88 in Pyramids Hills in 6th October, and its original branch in El Gouna on the Red Sea. For more info and reservations: Pier 88's IG Khufu's If you're looking for incredible food with incredible Pyramid views (and who isn't?), then you're in luck -- both are to be had at Khufu's, serving contemporary elevated Egyptian cuisine. Khufu's is actually right in the Giza Pyramid Plateau, making its views truly unbeatable. At Khufu's, you can either go for breakfast or lunch, and you have your choice from set menus (including a vegetarian menu), all featuring beloved Egyptian classics but with a contemporary twist. For more info and reservations: Khufu's website Izakaya Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant. What’s Nikkei, you ask? It’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion, born from the migrant Japanese community living in Peru and over decades adding their touch to traditional Peruvian dishes. It’s become so beloved and recognized that not only does this fusion have its own name -Nikkei- but it’s actually spread half a world away, all the way to Egypt, thanks to Izakaya, which is in Palm Hills in 6th October. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and it’s a beautiful place to chill, eat and have a cocktail. For more info and reservations: Izakaya's IG Moghul Room We know we said we'd stay away from hotel restaurants, but this one is special! Found in the Marriott Mena House is one of Cairo’s best Indian restaurants, the Moghul Room. This restaurant has been a firm Cairo favorite for decades now, and it never falters when it comes to quality, taste and ambience. Oh and by the way – did we mention that it has Pyramid views through its windows? Granted, eating Indian cuisine at the foot of Ancient Egyptian pyramids might seem incongruous, but if you’re in the mood for your favorite Indian classics, there’s no better place to enjoy it. They also have an extensive (albeit expensive) international wine list. You may also like: 7 Best Pyramid View Restaurants The Lemon Tree & Co If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now). Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion, and is by far one of the most beautiful restaurants and bars in Cairo, with indoor/outdoor vibes and overlooking the park at the One Ninety compound. For more info and reservations: Lemon Tree's IG Kazoku Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their menu features everything from sea scallop nori tacos to salmon steak in a wasabi beurre blanc to slow-cooked glazed short ribs in teriyaki sauce. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 2 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Reservations recommended. For more info and reservations: Kazoku's IG You may also like: Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

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

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

Listen, Egypt is a country with a 7,000 year old civilization, 5,000+ year old modern cities , 1,000+ year old mosques , and some of the oldest functional monasteries in the world . And while our hotels might not be quite that old, they bear witness to many decades of modern Egyptian history -- and are still around to tell the tale. Here are some of Egypt's most historic and fascinating hotels: 1. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino Location: Zamalek, Cairo Established: 1869 Original name: Palace Al Gezirah This modern-day Zamalek favorite was built by Khedive Ismail over 150 years ago to be a guest palace for foreign royalty and other VIPs visiting during the Suez Canal’s inauguration celebrations. Khedive Ismail decided to design the palace in the neoclassical style which was popular in Europe at the time. He signed on Austrian architect Julius Franz (later known as Franz Bey) and French architect De Curel Del Rosso, who had also designed the Abdeen Palace (for more awesome Cairo museums you need to check out, read our article here ). The interiors were done by German architect Carl von Diebitsch. Interesting story: the building’s own architect, Franz Bey, a man apparently not known for his modesty, said the Palace Al Gezirah was “the most beautiful building of modern Arabic style in its category”. Its first royal guests, the Prince and Princess of Wales, called the palace “uselessly extravagant” (lol). The palace operated as the exclusive Gezirah Palace Hotel until it was seized by the government in 1879 for unpaid debt and acquired by the Egyptian Hotels Company. It was later nationalized in 1969 during the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser, and became the Omar Khayyam hotel, later to be taken over by Marriott International in the 1970s. They were the ones who undertook the project of adding two large Nile-facing towers to the palace. The Cairo Marriott today The Cairo Marriott that stands today is still the same palace that housed Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, and hosted the wedding of Khedive Ismail’s son which lasted for 40 days; many of the original artwork and furniture can be found in the hotel’s reception rooms and lounges. Cairo Marriott's website . 2. Marriott Mena House From a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com Location: Giza Plateau, Greater Cairo Established: 1869 Original name: Mena House Family Hotel 1869 must have been a busy year for Khedive Ismail, because not only did he build the Gezirah Palace we spoke about above, but he also created the hunting lodge at the foot of the Pyramids which would later become the famous Mena House hotel . A drawing room, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com When Empress Eugenie came to Cairo for the Suez Canal inauguration, it wasn’t enough that Khedive Ismail built a whole guest palace for her and other royalty to stay at; he also built a road that led from Cairo to the Great Pyramids of Giza, and built a royal hunting lodge for her to rest and have lunch at during her Pyramids trip. The dining hall, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com The hunting lodge was then bought by a wealthy English couple on their honeymoon, Frederick and Jessie Head, because Frederick thought the air there to be beneficial (one living in modern-day Cairo can only laugh and/or cry at the irony). The couple enlarged the lodge into an estate and named it Mena House, after the first pharaoh of Egypt. Egypt's first swimming pool, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com After Frederick died, the house was bought by another English couple and turned into a hotel in 1887 --- the “Mena House Family Hotel”. A swimming pool was added a few years later, becoming the first swimming pool in Egypt. The hotel changed hands several times throughout the years before its management was acquired by the Marriott. Mariott Mena House today Interesting story: tons of famous politicians, celebrities and royalty stayed at the Mena House over the years, including Frank Sinatra, who performed at a charity event at the Pyramids in 1979 and sang “ Strangers on the Nile ”. Marriott Mena House's website . 3. Sofitel Winter Palace Winter Palace, circa 1910. Photo credit: hotelphotoarchive.com Location: Luxor Established: 1886/1907 Original name: Winter Palace Hotel Interesting story: so, the official hotel website for the Sofitel Winter Palace states that the hotel opened in 1886, and they went so far as to literally name one of their restaurants ‘1886’ -- talk about doubling down. But apparently, according to historians, that’s false -- the hotel actually opened its doors in 1907, according to, among other things, the announcement of its opening in the Egyptian Gazette newspaper in 1907. Today’s modern management might have gotten its founding date confused with the Luxor Hotel, another historic hotel that used to be right next to the Winter Palace. Oops. An S-23 Empire class flying boat delivering mail to the Winter Palace. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com / Gaddis Collection The Winter Palace Hotel was created by Cairo hoteliers in collaboration with Thomas Cook and Sons, and its construction was done by an Italian company. In January 1907, they celebrated its inauguration by a picnic at the Valley of the Kings. Lord Carnarvon with local dignitaries on the terrace of the Winter Palace. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com What really put the Winter Palace on the map was Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Reporters, foreign press and interested visitors from all over the world poured into Luxor and the Winter Palace was used as Carter’s newsroom to keep everyone up to speed on the discovery. Sofitel Winter Palace today Sofitel Winter Palace's website . 4. Windsor Hotel Location: Downtown Cairo Established: 1893 Original name: Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse **Editor's note: Sad news -- the Windsor has recently permanently closed. We'll keep this listing though for those who are interested in its history. RIP Windsor. The Windsor in Downtown Cairo was built back in 1893 as part of a baths complex for the royal family, and its architecture is very reminiscent of the interior courtyards of the caravanserai Wekalet el Ghouri in Old Cairo, next to Khan el Khalili . People call it ‘colonial-era neo-Mamluk architecture’ which is a mouthful, but there you go. Windsor Hotel, today. Photo credit: Jacobs Cindi Windsor was mainly known for being a British Officers Club during the First World War, and little had changed decor-wise since those days, albeit much older and more faded. Until recently, their vintage ‘Barrel Lounge’ was popular with Downtown bar-hoppers -- it got its name due to the seats being made of old wooden barrels. The Barrel Lounge, today After its stint as the British Officers Club, Windsor was bought by a Swiss hotelier with plans to make it an annex of the world-famous Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo (RIP). It was named the Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse until it was taken over in 1962 by the Doss family. Interesting story: the Windsor’s manually-operated wooden elevator (which was still in use until it's closing) was the oldest elevator in Egypt and one of the oldest operating elevators of its type in the world. Windsor Hotel's website . 5. Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com Location: Aswan Established : 1899 Original name: Cataract Hotel This world-famous hotel was built in 1899 by Thomas Cook and Sons, after the Cairo-Aswan railway was built in 1898 and there was a sudden influx of visitors and and not enough hotels. They bought nine feddans from the government and hired architect Henri Favarger, the same architect who designed the Mena House. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com It was an instant hit and quickly garnered a lot of famous guests over the years, including Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill and Princess Diana. It became literally the stuff of ‘legends’ as its current name suggests, when Agatha Christie used it as the backdrop for her famous novel, Death on the Nile . The 1978 movie they made out of the book was shot there too (so was the famous Egyptian series ‘Grand Hotel’). Interesting story: when the construction workers were leveling the ground to build the hotel, they came across 200 mummies buried there. The sad part is that they destroyed them with their shovels. The Sofitel Legend Old Cataract today Sofitel Legend Old Cataract's website . A full city guide to Aswan is here. 6. Paradise Inn Le Metropole Le Metropole facing the square, 1937 Location: Alexandria Established: 1902 Original name: Le Metropole Even though the hotel Le Metropole was built in the early 20th century by Greek and Italian architects, the history regarding the piece of land where the hotel was built is *much* older. Like, around 2,000 years older! Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who probably needs no introduction, built the Caesareum of Alexandria, a temple to honor her lover Julius Caesar. After her suicide, Roman emperor Augustus turned the Caesareum into his own cult temple, and brought over two obelisks from Heliopolis to adorn the exterior. Even though it was Augustus who had brought them over, they became known as ‘Cleopatra’s Needles’. The temple later became a church in the 4th century AD, and was destroyed in 912 AD. Cleopatra’s Needles were given away in an economic and political move by Khedive Mohammed Ali in 1879 -- one obelisk now stands in Central Park, NYC, and the other on the Thames embankment in London. The hotel that was built where the obelisks once stood is none other than Le Metropole, and instead of the Caesareum, there’s now a statue of Saad Zaghloul, a nationalist leader. The hotel today is dated but still carries a lot of its original turn of the 20th century charm, as well as original paintings and antiques. Paradise Inn Le Metropole today Interesting story: the Greek-Alexandrian poet Constantine Cavafy, who was one of the most prominent poets of the 1920s and 1930s, spent the last 25 years of his life in Le Metropole, writing poems. A suite in his name remains there until today. Paradise Inn Le Metropole's website . 7. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace Location: Alexandria Established: 1906 Original name: Windsor Palace This classic Alexandrian hotel is not at all related to the Windsor Hotel of Downtown Cairo -- apparently we just really like the name around here. When it was built in 1906, it was named after John Windsor, one of the ten partners in the new hotel. They thought 'Windsor Palace’ sounded aristocratic, which is the vibe they were aiming for. The Windsor Palace, 1934 The Windsor Palace was in quite the enviable location back 100 years ago -- it was close to the Ramleh train station and Alexandria’s old port harbor, as well as the shopping district and seaside promenades. Since it was right on the Mediterranean Sea, it was definitely more of a ‘resort hotel’ back in the day than it is now. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace today Like Le Metropole and The Windsor in Cairo, the current hotel that stands today has seen much better days, but holds on to its original paintings, antiques and choice furnishings, to give modern guests a feel of what the hotel was like back in its golden days. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace's website . 8. Semiramis Intercontinental Semiramis in 1940 Location: Garden City, Cairo Established: 1907 Original name: Semiramis If you want to get technical, the Semiramis Intercontinental that stands today isn’t the same Semiramis that was built in 1907 -- that one got demolished in 1976 to make way for the current, modern hotel. But it’s the same location and bears the same name, so we’re going to consider it historical just the same. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com The Semiramis was built by Swiss hoteliers and named for an ancient queen of Babylon, and was actually the very first hotel built on the Nile in Cairo -- most others were built in the Ezbakiya area or Downtown Cairo. It was four floors and had views of the pyramids, the Citadel, the Moqattam Hills, and obviously the Nile (this was before there was even a Nile Corniche!). The Semiramis was nicknamed ‘the queen of the Nile’. Semiramis and the Shepheard Hotel, half a mile from the original world-famous Shepheard's Hotel that burned down in 1952 Interesting story: T.E. Lawrence (you know, Lawrence of Arabia) stayed there in 1921 and wrote to his mother that the Semiramis was “very expensive and luxurious: horrible place: makes me Bolshevik.” Rupyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book , also stayed at the Semiramis several times, and wrote “The Swiss are the only people who have taken the trouble to master the art of hotel-keeping. Consequently, in the things that really matter – beds, baths, and victuals –they control Egypt”. Semiramis Intercontinental today Semiramis Intercontinental's website . 9. Steigenberger Cecil Hotel Location: Alexandria Established: 1929 Original name: Cecil Hotel The Cecil Hotel was originally a ‘romantic’ colonial-style hotel opened by a Jewish French-Egyptian family, the Metzgers, on the same square near the sea where Cleopatra’s Needles were (yes, the Cecil and Le Metropole are neighbors). Ramleh Station and Cecil Hotel, 1930s It was extremely popular in its heyday and hosted everyone from Umm Kalthoum to Josephine Baker and Al Capone. During World War II, it was used as headquarters for British Intelligence (not so romantic anymore, we guess). The Metzger family were expelled from the country in 1957, and 50 years later in 2007 won a court case over ownership of the Cecil Hotel, which they then sold to the Egyptian government. Interesting story: the Cecil Hotel is written about in Naguib Mahfouz’s famous novel Miramar , as well as Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet . Steigenberger Cecil Hotel today Steigenberger Cecil Hotel's website . 10. Helnan Auberge Auberge in 1945 Location: Fayoum Established: 1937 Original name: Auberge du Lac Fayoum, about an hour and a half from Cairo, has always been known as a great nature retreat and break from the city. And that was probably what King Farouk had in mind when he built a hunting and fishing lodge in Fayoum in 1937. The lodge, which was built on the shores of Lake Qarun, was used as a base for his hunting expeditions and parties, and King Farouk built an old port there as well. The lodge later became the Auberge du Lac Hotel, and the old port still stands. And while the hotel was always popular with hunting and fishing aficionados, it also was the setting for important political meetings, such as King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud and Winston Churchill in 1945. Winston Churchill and King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud in Auberge Du Lac, 1945 Interesting story: the Auberge was also the darling of the Egyptian film industry back in the day, and many Egyptian black-and-white (and regular) movies were shot there, like هذا هو الحب ( That’s Love ) in 1958, شمس لا تغيب ( A Sun That Never Sets ) in 1959, سر امرأة (A Woman’s Secret) in 1960, ست البنات ( The Girl of All Girls ) in 1961, and الكل عاوز يحب ( Everyone Wants Love ) in 1975, among many others. Movie filmed at Auberge Helnan, a Scandinavian hotel group, took over Auberge du Lac in the 1980s and renamed it Helnan Auberge. Helnan Auberge today Helnan Auberge's website . 11. Helnan Palestine Hotel Location: Alexandria Established: 1964 Original name: Palestine Hotel This hotel located in the former royal palace of El Montaza in Alexandria was built in 6 months in 1964 under orders from President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He wanted to build a hotel specifically to house all the Arab royalty, heads of state and dignitaries who were flying to Alexandria to attend the second ever Arab League Summit, and needless to say, he wanted to provide the very best in luxury, comfort and views; he handpicked the location of the hotel himself. Anwar Sadat at the Palestine Hotel It was at this summit that they formally approved the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (hence the name of the hotel). El Montaza is 350 acres of gardens on the Mediterranean Sea, and was the summer palace of King Farouk; its ownership was transferred to the government in 1952. Helnan took over the Palestine Hotel’s management in 1987. Interesting story: for the 2002 opening of the new Library of Alexandria, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina, presidents, royalty and celebrities flew in to attend and stayed at the Helnan Palestine, including Jacques Chirac, Sofia the Queen of Spain, and Rania the Queen of Jordan. Helnan Palestine's website . Interested in more modern historical spots in Egypt? Check out these 14 Egyptian dessert shops and patisseries more than 50 years old .

First, let’s be clear about something -- there’s adventure, and then there’s extreme adventure, and Egypt offers both. Regular adventure is things like sand-boarding or a hot air balloon or camping in Fayoum -- all fun, but nothing that will *really* get your heart pounding. But if you’re one of those people who needs that adrenaline rush, who’s comfortable being uncomfortable and actually seeks it out -- well then we have just the activities for you. 1. Gilf El Kebir Expedition Photo credit: Wilderness Ventures Egypt Duration: 14 days Not a trip for the faint-hearted. Gilf El Kebir is a massive limestone plateau deep in the remote wilderness of the southwestern corner of Egypt, around 150 km from the borders of both the Libyan and Sudanese deserts. The area is considered uncharted territory, and historic and prehistoric discoveries are being made there until present day. People visit Gilf El Kebir to see its caves with rock art dating back 10,000 years , like the Cave of the Beasts and Cave of the Swimmers. It’s also considered the last ‘undiscovered’ stretch of Egypt. Cave of the Beasts To reach the plateau, you have to drive off-road deep into the Great Sand Sea, past the far-flung oases of Farafra and Dakhla and away from all human civilization. Keep in mind that once you approach Gilf El Kebir, it’s total wilderness -- no phone signal, no place to buy water, no place to buy gasoline, hours upon hours away from a hospital, so you’ll need to prepare your trip far in advance. Details: 4x4 vehicles need to be stocked with food and water that outlast your trip in the case of emergency, gasoline needs to be bottled and packed, and you’ll need medical supplies, satellite phones and special GPS systems. You also *must* have a guide with you and in some cases, security as well. How to do it: Destination 31 arranges expeditions along with other adventure tour groups like Wilderness Ventures Egypt. 2. Kayaking from Aswan to Luxor Duration: 7 days Yep, that’s right. You can actually paddle the 200 km down the Nile between these two ancient Egyptian cities -- but it takes time, physical fitness and an extreme sense of adventure. The Nile Kayak Club arranges regular Aswan- Luxor kayaking expeditions, for seven days (five of those will be kayaking). You’ll make different stops throughout the trip to check out and explore the world-famous monuments and other lesser-known points of interest, and camp/sleep and eat on a boat for 5 of those days. Details: You’ll be paddling for around 5 hours a day, divided into a longer morning session and a shorter late afternoon/sunset session. If this extreme adventure seems up your alley, then make sure first that you’re physically able to paddle for hours at a time, because it’s quite a workout. How to do it: get in touch with The Nile Kayak Club and register for their next kayaking trip. 3. Skydiving at the Pyramids Photo credit: Bruno Brokken Duration: the event lasts 3 days If you’re one of those people who gets a rush from the idea of throwing yourself out of a plane, then this is a level up for you: you can throw yourself out of the plane while looking down over a great wonder of the world . Details: Skydive Egypt organizes a drop zone over the Pyramids once or twice annually, but you need to be a certified skydiver with a valid and current B license (over 100 jumps). If you’re not certified but want to be, Skydive Egypt also arranges skydiving trips in places like Kenya or Morocco throughout the year for Egyptians, so you’re ready for when it’s Pyramids skydiving time. SkyDive High however is an international extreme adventure tour company that can arrange for tandem jumps for beginners at the Pyramids, but are also charging $10,000 for it, so… How to do it: register on Skydive Egypt’s Facebook page or contact them for more details/questions. 4. Diving with sharks in the Red Sea Duration: variable When you think of shark diving, you might picture being lowered into the ocean in a cage with Great Whites attacking you from all angles in South Africa. And while this is appealing for some, the reality of diving with sharks in the Red Sea in Egypt is a lot more peaceful and safe, while still giving you that extreme adrenaline rush you crave -- and really shows why we need to do our best to protect Egypt’s sharks. Non-Egyptians aren’t usually aware of the *amazing* diving and aquatic life we have in Egypt, even though we top international dive site rankings year after year. Read our article about the best Egyptian dive sites for all levels . If you want to see these beautiful fish in their natural habitat and get your heart beating a little faster, there are several different dive sites dotting the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast known for their shark sightings. Whale shark at El Ikhwa Islands Details: There are over 30 types of shark found in the Red Sea, and most are not dangerous to humans, although you want to obviously give these large fish the respect and space they deserve -- don’t get too close and don’t try to touch them. You can see sharks ranging from reef sharks to hammerheads to even whale sharks if you’re lucky -- you can research the best seasons to see which type of shark and where. Famous shark dive sites include El Ikhwa Islands and Daedalus Reef among many others. How to do it: research which area suits the season you’re in, and contact a diving center there. Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam are all good starting points. 5. Rock climbing and bouldering in Dahab Photo credit: Desert Divers Duration: half day or full day If you love being outdoors and working up a sweat but in an extreme kind of way, then rock climbing and bouldering in Dahab’s desert mountains might be for you. Rock climbing is pretty self-explanatory, but don’t expect the easy indoor gym kind you might be used to -- we’re talking real crags and mountain faces. The good news is that in Dahab there’s the option of taking rock climbing courses for beginners, intermediate levels and experts; something for everyone. Details: Most rock climbing in Sinai happens in the winter months because of the moderate temperatures, but if you’re in Dahab in the summer, it’s still possible to climb, but just in the very early morning before the sun starts sizzling. Bouldering in Sinai As for bouldering, what is it exactly, you may ask? Essentially bouldering is almost like a real-life obstacle course; you have to get from Point A to Point B by climbing over immense boulders obstructing your way. There’s no equipment for bouldering, so it’s basically you scaling these huge stone obstructions using your body alone. How to do it : contact a tour company like Desert Divers , who can arrange everything from instructors to rock climbing rental equipment to transportation. 6. Dirt biking in the desert Duration: 1 day If you’ve always wanted to let loose on a dirt bike away from paved roads, cars and people, then head over to Hurghada (full guide here ) where you can go wild off-roading in the desert on a dirt bike (or quad bike if a dirt bike is a little too intense for you). You’ll go over dunes, valleys and varied desert terrain with a guide who decides the route based on your experience. It’s sandy, dusty and you’ll be sore for days after, but the adrenaline rush is real and hours will go by in a flash. You can also read our post about 25 fun things to do in Hurghada and El Gouna for more activity ideas. Details: You can rent the motorbikes (KTM 530) along with helmets and other protective gear from the adventure tour company. Local tip: scarves are essential unless you want to inhale a ton of dust. The tour company can arrange pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Hurghada and will take care of the bike, equipment and guide. How to do it: contact Bike Egypt for reservations and any questions. 7. Long-distance hiking and trekking in Sinai Duration: from 12 days to 38 days If enjoy hiking but are looking for the extreme version of it, then look no further than the Sinai Trail. This wilderness trek is no joke -- it’s for serious hikers only who are willing to live the Bedouin, desert nomad lifestyle for extended periods of time. Details: The Sinai Trail has different route options: there’s the Serabit el Khadem circuit, which is for 12 days, and covers hundreds of years of history. You’ll be hiking for hours led by Bedouin guides, and sleep under the stars and eat by campfire. There’s also the incredible 38 day Sinai Thru hike, which is divided into 3 parts (Part 1 and 2 are for 12 days, and Part 3 is for 14 days. You can sign up for any part of the hike... or even do the whole thing). According to the Sinai Trail website: “The first part is from Ras Shetan on the Gulf of Aqaba coast to Ein Kidd where there is a beautiful oasis with palms and bamboo. This first section of the route will be guided by the Tarabin and Muzeina tribes. On the second part the route continues from Ein Kidd to the highlands of St. Katherine. You will walk through narrow wadis, cross high passes and climb some of the highest peaks in Egypt with the Awlad Said and Jebeleya tribe. The third part runs from St. Katherine to Serabit el Khadem via some of the Sinai’s most remote wadis and mountains, with the Jebeleya, Awlad Said, Gararsha, Hamada, Sowalha and Alegat tribe.” Keep in mind that throughout these hikes, you’ll be far from settlements, bathrooms, electricity, running water and other creature comforts. They provide 3 meals a day and you can bring your own snacks, but it’s not for picky eaters. There are no beds -- it’s camping all the way -- and you *must* be physically fit so you can keep up for more than a week of intense trekking. Update: you can now also do a similar hiking trip in the Red Sea Mountains in the eastern desert near Hurghada, called the Red Sea Mountain Trail . It was ranked one of Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Places . If this sounds like heaven on earth to you, then you’re in for one of the best experiences of your life. How to do it : contact Sinai Trail or Red Sea Mountain Trail for full itineraries, prices, details and reservations. 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Khan El Khalili, the sprawling market/bazaar/souq in the heart of Old Cairo, is a massive hodgepodge of old and new, from beautiful centuries-old Islamic architecture to cheap made-in-China Ramadan lanterns with Mo Salah’s face on them. And while it’s indeed a tourist attraction , most of Khan El Khalili’s patrons are Egyptian locals, so the market is bustling at almost all hours of the day and night, in all seasons. Now, first things first: before we get into the nitty-gritty, let us just tell you one thing first: Khan el Khalili is *a lot*. Whether it’s a lot in a positive way or a lot in a negative way really depends on the eye of the beholder. It’s crowded, chaotic and loud, which can either be fun or overwhelming, but in most cases, usually a mix of both. Brief History of Khan El Khalili The khan in Cairo, by Charles Roberston (1887) In the 14th century, the then-Sultan Barquq’s (his mosque is one of the 10 most beautiful mosques in Egypt ) Master of Stables, Jaharkas El Khalili, built a large caravanserai (khan) where Khan El Khalili now stands -- it was essentially a building that housed merchants and their different goods. In later years, other sultans added their own khans/ wekala s (another word for caravanserai) until the whole area became a center for trade, both local and foreign, in the late 15th century. Khan El Khalili today is an integral part of Old Cairo, and the remaining medieval architecture and surrounding areas like Moez Street are reason enough to go (a UN study found that Moez Street has the highest concentration of medieval Islamic architectural treasures in the world). This area, called Historic Cairo, is one of Egypt's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Read our detailed local's guide to Moez Street here. You may also like: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Local's Guide Today’s Khan El Khalili: What to expect Imagine a labyrinth of tiny alleys stuffed to the brim with shops and vendors peddling all kinds of treasures and all kinds of crap. You’ll find everything from great quality gold and silver jewelry and painstakingly intricate Egyptian handcrafts to plastic bob-headed dogs (who buys those things, anyway?) and everything in between. It’s the best place in Egypt to buy a gift for someone (or, you know, a gift for yourself) and to stock up on kitschy cheap souvenirs for everyone back home in the office. There are also weekly whirling dervish shows and other cultural/folkloric events . Getting There Al Hussein Mosque & Square Khan El Khalili is in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo , and you can get there easily by either cab or Uber (expect a lot of traffic in this area though). Another way of getting there is taking the metro and getting off at the Ataba stop, but then it’s another 20 minutes or so walk from there and not the most pleasant, especially for women, so you’ve been warned. The easiest, most direct entrance is at the Al-Hussein Square where the Al-Hussein Mosque is, so if you just tell your cab driver to drop you off there or plug it into your Uber destination, you should be able to orient yourself quickly once there. Buying/Bargaining If we were to list all the different and sometimes very random things you can buy in Khan el Khalili, we’d be here all night. Suffice to say they have something for everyone, so budget in a couple hours at least to roam around and shop. Shop owners and other touts will call out to you all sorts of things, including the always popular “How can I take your money today?”. Some are a bit pushy, but if you’re politely firm in your refusal of whatever it is they’re trying to push on you, they’ll keep it moving pretty quickly. There are also people who roam around trying to sell you trinkets, mugs with names on them (but not yours), henna tattoos, leopard-print lingerie (don’t ask), used books and essentially anything a person can carry around. In the case of buying anything from either a shop or a roaming trinket hawker, feel free to bargain. If bargaining isn’t your sharpest skill, then just think of what amount of money you feel you would be ok spending on whatever you’re negotiating over and stick to that. Also don’t be afraid to turn around and leave if the price they’re asking for is too much -- they sometimes try to guilt you into paying their price by quickly wrapping up the item as if you already bought it even before you settle on a price. If you ever feel like the shopkeeper is being too pushy, then just leave. Don’t let anyone intimidate you into buying something you don’t want. Types of people you’ll find there Besides the vendors and shopkeepers, you’ll also find random ‘performers’, and we’re using the term loosely. From loud (very loud) singers to tabla drummers, these energetic people wander the alleys and will unabashedly ask for a ‘tip’ from anyone who seems to be enjoying their performance. Sadly, a fact of life in Egypt is that you’ll see beggars, including children, and Khan El Khalili is no different. Roaming food vendors -- we like these guys. Indulge in some Egyptian street snacks like roasted peanuts, baked sweet potatoes or termes (lupin beans) while you shop. Sweet potato vendor Egyptian locals. While this might seem a bit ‘duh’, for the many visitors to Cairo who spend most of their time at tourists spots and their hotels, this is one of the few times that you can really immerse yourself with Egyptian locals. Most locals in Khan El Khalili are busy going about buying this-and-that from so-and-so, herding their kids through the crowds, negotiating prices in booming voices, or laughing, talking and smoking (probably a combination of the three) in one of the various cafes. Just random fun weirdos. People-watching in Khan El Khalili is a cross between the circus, New York City, and 1001 Arabian Nights. Cafes and Restaurants Naguib Mahfouz Cafe Khan El Khalili has quite a few restaurants and cafes, but don’t bother looking for anything that looks familiar -- the fare here is decidedly Egyptian. Khan El Khalili Restaurant & Naguib Mahfouz Cafe (or just Naguib Mahfouz Cafe for short ) is the most famous restaurant and cafe in the market due to its being run by the Oberoi hotel group -- they have consistently good food and swankier surroundings then most other restaurants in the area. On weekends and other high traffic times there might be a wait though, and it’s pricier than other cafes in Khan El Khalili. For more restaurants in Cairo recommended for both tourists and locals alike, head here . El Fishawy is another extremely famous cafe, due to its being open for more than 200 years. Expect to be squeezed into any open chair they have in the alley, even if you end up sharing a table with a stranger, because this place gets crowded, fast. Stop here for a shisha or a quick drink, and we do mean quick, because the waiters will try to hustle you out as soon as you’re finished drinking. A good spot for people watching. Read: Vintage Cairo - 17 of the Oldest Restaurants, Cafes & Bars in the City In the outer square, overlooking Al-Hussein mosque, you’ll find a bunch more restaurants and cafes. Local tip: if you’re a meat lover, try the kebab and kofta from El Dahhan, followed by rice pudding for dessert at El Malky. Do not and we repeat ~do not~ expect anything fancy -- if chaos and questionable hygiene standards put a damper on your appetite, then maybe stick to Naguib Mahfouz cafe (or skip eating in Khan El Khalili in general). Safety The good news is, Khan El Khalili is a lot of bark and no bite -- meaning, it looks crowded and chaotic (and is), but there is very little actual danger posed to tourists. Just use normal common sense and keep your bags close and money/valuables zipped somewhere safe. There are also touristic police (both in uniform and in plain clothes) roaming the alleys at all hours, so if for any reason you run into any trouble, just head in their direction. Leaving Leaving is as straightforward as arriving -- head to the main square next to Al-Hussein mosque, where you’ll find one big entrance/exit. There are a bunch of cabs there (be sure to either agree on a price before you hop in, or make sure the meter is running) and it’s also an easy location for an Uber to pick you up from. You might also like: Moez Street in Old Cairo: A Detailed Local's Guide Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide Happy shopping!

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

Make sure you know what to expect when it comes to visas, customs, landing cards and more before you land in Egypt all in our one handy arrival guide. We'll mainly be discussing arriving in Cairo International Airport, considering that's where most people land (plus it's the most confusing), but we'll put add-on information when needed for the other international Egyptian airports such as Hurghada , Sharm El Sheikh  and Marsa Alam . Visas for Egypt So your flight’s booked, your room is reserved , and all that’s left on your to-do list is to count down the days. Right? Well, maybe. Depends on where you’re from. Egypt, like most other countries in the world, has a stratified visa system. Some visiting nationalities don’t need a visa at all; some buy it upon arrival; some get an e-visa issued; and some have to make a weary trip to the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate and apply for one. So, how do you know which of the above is you? We could go into a lengthy and boring breakdown, or you can just check this map (but please also double-check with your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate in case there’s been any sudden changes): Ok, so now you know which visa group you are. Here are our insider tips for you depending on your visa group: Those who don’t need a visa : feel free to skip this whole visa section of the article, you lucky thing you! Those who plan to apply for an e-visa: whatever you do, please make sure to buy it from the official Egyptian Ministry of Interior’s website and NOT the dozens of other Egyptian e-visa websites that are not affiliated with the government (although they might look pretty snazzy). The price on the Ministry’s website is $25 for a single entry visa, and this is the same price as a visa on arrival. The other non-government pages (usually tour agencies) will charge you more for the visas – this is how they make a buck. They’re basically ripping you off, so make sure you stick to the official site. Don’t pay more than $25 for a single entry visa. Regarding multiple entry visas, you can buy them at the Ministry of Interior’s website as well for $60. They’re not available on arrival. Visa on arrival: Buying a visa upon arriving at Cairo International Airport (or any of Egypt’s other international airports) is both straightforward and kinda not at the same time. Once you disembark the plane, you’ll find yourself approaching passport control without any direct or easily-noticed signage regarding visas, and when you see everyone lining up without a second thought, it might seem to make sense to join the line yourself. You didn’t see any place to get visas, right? Well don’t bother getting in line unless you want to be sent right back to get your visa, after you just spent 20 minutes waiting in line. We’ve witnessed this happen to many a frustrated tourist, so we’re here to help you avoid just that. Where to get your visa: you’ll find little bank kiosks on the side of the passport control area. They’re open 24/7. It’s from here you can buy the visas. They accept cash in dollars, euros and sterling. IMPORTANT: they do NOT accept credit and debit cards. Visa price: $25 Validity: 30 days Passport expiry : your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Once you buy your visa, they’ll stick it to an empty page on your passport and you’re free to join the line now to pass through passport control. The whole process of buying the visa doesn’t take more than five to ten minutes, and having the exact amount of cash you’ll need (in the right currency) will make things move even faster. Getting the visa issued from the embassy: if you’re one of the unfortunate souls that has to get their visa issued from their nearest embassy or consulate, sorry ‘bout that, but c’est la vie we guess. Think of it this way -- once you get it, you can cruise right off the flight and into passport control without having to worry about buying the visa. Important note for those arriving in Sharm El Sheikh Airport (Sinai Stamp): If you’re flying directly into Sharm El Sheikh (ie., Sharm is your entry point into Egypt) and are a EU, UK or US citizen , and if you're not staying in the Sinai peninsula for more than 15 days, then you don’t need to buy an entry visa at the airport. You can ask for something called a 'Sinai Stamp' for free on your passport -- emphasis on the 'free' part, don't believe anyone at the airport who says they'll get you a stamp for the "low price" of a couple of euro - this is a scam, just ignore them and go straight to an airport official. This Sinai Stamp If you plan to go to Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, or any other Egyptian destination outside of the Sinai peninsula, or plan to stay longer than 15 days, you’ll need to get the visa. It’s $25 upon arrival. Entering Egypt through other Egyptian international airports such as Hurghada or Marsa Alam require visas on arrival. Other Useful Information Landing Cards Usually before landing in Cairo Airport or any other international Egyptian airport, flight attendants will start distributing landing cards. There’s one for Egyptians (in Arabic) and one for non-Egyptians (in English). You fill out pretty standard info -- name, birthday, passport number, address of where you’re staying in Egypt, etc. If you’re a married couple or a family, you only need to fill out one card. Hang on to the card because you’re going to need it to get through passport control, but if for whatever reason you lose or misplace it, don’t freak out -- just ask the flight attendant for a new one or airport personnel in the airport once you reach passport control. Lots of times they have a bunch at counters before the passport lines, and if they don’t, someone will get one for you. Absolutely no need to panic -- Egyptians are both laid-back and helpful. Just hand the passport official the card along with your passport and that’s it. He/she keeps it and you don’t need it to exit Egypt after your trip. Insider recommendations: Don’t listen to anyone who says to follow them so that they can take you through “the fast track”. These people are simply looking for tips and their “fast track” is usually not much faster than the queue, so nope big nope. Also, while you’re at the bank getting your visa, it would be wise to exchange some money into Egyptian pounds. Most of Cairo uses cash solely, so it’s best to always have some on hand. Bring a pen! Or actually preferably bring more than one pen, and make sure you’re not particularly attached to them because you’ll find numerous fellow travellers asking to borrow one to fill out their landing cards and God knows pens are easy to misplace or forget with someone. Baggage Claim Visa -- check. Landing card -- check. Passport control -- check and check. Last step before you’re a free bird in Egypt is getting your bags and going through customs. The baggage claim area is pretty straightforward, and the baggage trolleys are for free. They’re not set up in a specific spot so just be eagle-eyed and you’ll spot an available one sooner or later. Customs Right before you pass through the doors into sweet, sweet freedom, there’s one more roadblock. Customs. This usually consists of a few haphazard lines leading to baggage x-ray machines. Travelers are asked to place their bags in the x-ray machine. They’re basically looking for the following: goods that are subject to taxes, illegal substances or items (like drones, FYI -- for a full list of unexpected illegal things in Egypt, head here ), large amounts of cash (above the allowed amount, which is $10,000 -- anything more has to be declared) and basically anything fishy. To be on the safe side, make sure when packing you think of the following: Open any new electronics and remove them from their original packaging prior to packing them so it doesn’t look like you’re bringing them in to sell Foreigners are not allowed more than 2 liters of alcohol (basically 2 bottles) when entering the country. You're allowed 1 liter from the Duty-Free at Cairo Airport and 1 liter purchased prior to arriving in Egypt (eg. from your country of origin or from a transit airport) Your clothes shouldn’t have price tags on them -- a lot of people smuggle in clothes purchased abroad and then sell them on the black market in Egypt Any item in bulk amounts will probably have them asking you questions If your bag is as boring as ours usually are, you’ll go through the whole x-ray thing in a minute flat (once you reach the front of the queue, that is). If your bag is flagged on the machine, then expect the officials to go through it briefly, but it shouldn’t take time unless they find something that requires further inspection. Duty-Free Depending on which airport and terminal you arrive in, the Duty-Free is either next to the baggage claim, or past custom control. Alcohol is totally legal in Egypt, and if you want to indulge in hard liquor over your trip, the Duty-Free is the best place to buy it, considering imported liquor is only available at hotels and certain bars/restaurants; the alcohol available for purchase outside the airport is all local and not to everyone’s taste (stick to the local beer & wine). The Duty-Free also has a wide range of candy, perfume, cigarettes and the other mainstream items you'd expect to see, as well as a selection of Egyptian souvenirs and local products. Leaving The Airport You got your passport stamped, your bags collected and your Duty-Free purchases made. FINALLY!!! Off into the city you go! Walking out of the arrivals hall, you’ll suddenly be bombarded with a lot of hopeful touts continually asking “ Taxi? Taxi? ”, on repeat, forever. So it’s good to have your transport method already figured out before your brain cells are overwhelmed in less than a minute of being on Egyptian Arrival Hall soil. If you’re staying at one of the big 5 star hotels , you can pre-arrange with them to send you an airport pick-up for a fee. If not, here are your options for arriving at Cairo International Airport: 1. Airport shuttle services You can book online or go to their desk at the arrivals hall, but it’s preferred to book in advance so you’re guaranteed a waiting car. They have flat fees for different types of cars and different destinations, so you don’t have to worry about bargaining or negotiating. The price is per car, not per person, so it’s ideal if you’re a couple or small group. Airport shuttle prices are here . 2. London Cab Similar to the airport shuttle, you can book this roomy cab online (as the name obviously suggests, they are indeed like the taxis in London). You fill in your pick-up/drop-off info and date and they’ll show you the fare. Another good option if you’re more than one person, but pricey if you’re flying solo. London Cab prices are here . 3. Uber/Careem If you’re arriving solo, it’ll probably be cheaper to hop in an Uber or Careem (the Middle Eastern version of Uber) as opposed to a shuttle bus. Ubers/Careems are available 24/7, so you’ll rarely have to wait more than 10-15 minutes for one to arrive. The one downside of Uber/Careem is that they have to wait in the parking lot and are not allowed to drive up to the arrivals door, so it can be a little tricky to find the car sometimes. A lot of drivers won’t speak much English, so it’s best to always put your exact destination in the app so that they just follow the GPS. 4. Limousines/”taxis” As soon as you step out into the arrivals hall, several men will come up to you and ask “Taxi? Taxi?”. These taxis are not really cabs , but shabby limousines that will take you to your destination for a negotiable price. Whatever price the touts give you, feel free to bargain. You’ll also find a few kiosks for limousines, also feel free to bargain with them. 5. Car rentals Cairo Airport is home to big brand car rentals like Sixt, Avis and Europcar . Their kiosks are 24/7 and located in Terminal 3. It’s recommended that you book online and read through all the fine print so you know exactly what you’ll pay and the insurance and safety deposits that are required. Please note: if you’ve never driven in Cairo before, you might want to think twice before renting a car. The driving is extreeeeemely harrowing and Cairo drivers have vaguely impressive sangfroid when it comes to road rules. Transportation that is not available: train & metro. There are some buses but to very specific destinations. Local recommendation: the airport shuttle and London Cab are probably the most hassle-free, but if you’re on a budget, Uber/Careem is your best bet. If you arrived at Hurghada International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, or Marsa Alam International Airport: You can prearrange with your hotel to pick you up. There are usually taxis waiting outside of the arrival gate but they're usually overpriced, so make sure you negotiate. There will be kiosks for limousines, transfers and tour operators in the arrival halls. You can pre-book a taxi service online from the different operators in each city, for example you can try London Cab, ABC Taxi or 123 Taxis in Hurghada. You can book an airport transfer from the different online travel platforms. Whether you're landing in Cairo or a beach city, in any case prepare to have an unforgettable trip - Welcome to Egypt! You may also like: Where To Go In Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Cities & Destinations

Tomb of Wahty. Photo credit: Mohamed Abdel Ghany/Reuters No question about it -- Egypt is just one of those bucket list countries , with sights that are impossible to fathom unless you see them for yourself. But as we all know, sometimes crossing something off your bucket list is easier said than done! So whether you’re stuck at home with no travel plans in sight, or are just curious to see some of Egypt’s most famous historical, religious and cultural sites, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has done us all a solid and created 3D virtual tours where you can explore these mysterious, intriguing places for free from the comfort of your own home. Local tip: if the virtual tour page says it's unable to load the first time, just refresh the page. King Tut Hall Imagine this but without the crowds. See the iconic King Tut burial mask in the Cairo Museum’s King Tut Hall, alongside his golden coffins and other treasures from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. King Tut Hall virtual tour link . Museum of Islamic Art This art museum in Cairo holds over 100,000 pieces of Islamic heritage from not only Egypt but also Arab and non-Arab countries alike. Many of the pieces were gathered from the first Islamic capitals of Egypt (Fustat and Askar), prior to the rise of Cairo. Pieces were also selected from the Delta, Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan . Museum of Islamic Art virtual tour link . Abu Serga Church The Abu Serga church in Coptic Cairo is believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus Christ) stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. The spot is now the crypt of the church, 10 meters deep. Abu Serga virtul tour link . Tomb of Ti The mastaba tomb of the ancient Egyptian official Ti in the Saqqara necropolis outside of Cairo. Ti's tomb is known for its wall depictions of daily life in the Old Kingdom, including scenes of farming, boat-building and poultry-fattening. Tomb of Ti virtual tour link . Manasterly Palace & Nile Meter The palace of Hassan Fouad Al Manasterly Pasha, the governor of Cairo in 1854 AD, located on the Nile River island of Al Rawda in Cairo. On the grounds is also a Nilometer built in 1861 AD, to measure the Nile during the annual floods. Manasterly Palace and Nilometer virtual tour link . Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotep Tomb An unusual ‘double tomb’ mastaba in the Saqqara necropolis. It’s not common to find a tomb for two people, so it’s theorized that these two men were brothers, and perhaps twins (one theory is that they were actually conjoined twins). Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotelp's tomb virtual tour link . Mohammed Ali Pasha Mosque Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Cairo Citadel is one of Cairo’s landmarks and dominates the Eastern skyline, both during the day and then at night when it’s lit up. It was commissioned by Mohammed Ali Pasha, an Ottoman Albanian military commander who became Khedive of Egypt. Mohamed Ali Mosque virtual tour link . The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser - Colonnade Photo credit: Aidan McRae Thomson The entrance colonnade to the pyramid complex of Djoser. The oldest Egyptian pyramid to date , ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The colonnade is 20 pairs of columns with 24 small chambers between each, which are thought maybe to represent the nomes of Upper and Lower Egypt, and may have once held statues of the pharaoh or the gods. Step Pyramid Colonnade virtual tour link here . Gayer-Andersen Museum The Gayer-Andersen Museum is found in a beautiful historical house in Old Cairo, built in 1631. It’s a great remnant of Islamic architecture at the time. The house belonged to several different wealthy families over the years, but gained its name during its stint as home of British officer Gayer Andersen in 1935. He amassed a stunning collection of art, furniture, carpets and Egyptian handicrafts that remain in the house until present day. Gayer-Andersen virtual tour link . Unas Pyramid The smallest remaining pyramid of the Old Kingdom, but notable due to the discovery of the ‘Pyramids Texts’ inscribed inside on its walls. The Pyramids Texts were funerary texts and spells for the pharaoh’s afterlife, which would later become the basis of the Book of the Dead. Unas Pyramid virtual tour link . Al-Fath Mosque The Royal Al-Fath Mosque is annexed to Abdeen Palace in Cairo, built in the 19th century in an Ottoman style similar to the mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha. The Al-Fath Mosque virtual tour link . Tomb of Menna Menna was an ancient Egyptian official, and his tomb is one of the most colorful and best-preserved in Thebes (modern-day Luxor). Tomb of Menna virtual tour link . Red Monastery This 1,400 year old Coptic Orthodox church in Sohag was once one of Byzantine Egypt’s most beautiful monasteries. It was in ruins for decades, but was recently restored to its former glory. Red Monastery virtual tour link . Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq The mosque-madrassa of Al Zaher Barquq (also known as the Sultan Barquq mosque) is a medieval religious complex in the Moez street area in Old Cairo, adjacent to Khan el Khalili (for our full Khan el Khalili guide, head here ). It’s comprised of a mosque, madrassa, mausoleum and khanqah (a building for Sufi spiritual retreat). Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq virtual tour link . Tomb of Queen Meresankh III Photo credit: The Giza Project at Harvard University Meresankh III was the granddaughter of Khufu (the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid), and is believed to be the wife of either Khafre or Menkaure (the pharaohs of the other two Pyramids of Giza). One of the most beloved features of her mastaba tomb is the ten large statues of women that are carved out of the northern wall, thought to represent Meresankh III, her mother and her daughters. Tomb of Meresankh III virtual tour link . Ben Ezra Synagogue Originally a Coptic Church established in 882 AD, Abraham Ben Ezra from Jerusalem bought the church and converted it to a synagogue. It’s believed to be the spot where the baby Moses was found. The synagogue went through a series of renovations over the centuries, with the current structure dating back to 1892. It’s built in the style of a basilica, with two floors: the first floor dedicated to men, and the 2nd dedicated to women. It now functions as a museum. Ben Ezra Synagogue virtual tour link . Beni Hasan A necropolis dedicated to ancient military leaders and provincial rulers, today found in the modern city of Minya in Upper Egypt. There are about 39 tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2050 BC to 1710 BC). Beni Hasan virtual tour link . Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa These catacombs in Alexandria are a rare mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman architecture and monuments and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa virtual tour link . Tomb of Ramses VI Also known as KV9, this tomb (originally built by Ramses V but used by Ramses VI) is one of the best-preserved in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Tomb of Ramses VI virtual tour link . Coptic Museum Known as the best place to learn about Coptic history in Egypt, this museum hosts over 1,600 pieces, dating back to the early days of Coptic Christianity in the 3rd and 4th century AD. This museum is known for its Bibles written in the 11th and 13th centuries in both Arabic and the Coptic language on deerskin, as well as Christian writings on papyrus dating back to the 6th century. Coptic Museum virtual tour link . Tomb of Wahty Photo credit: Mohamed Abdel Ghany/Reuters Recently discovered in 2018, Wahty (also spelled Wahtye) was an Old Kingdom priest and royal official, and his 4,400 year old tomb was found mainly intact in the Saqqara necropolis. Tomb of Wahty virtual tour link . Tomb of Mehu Not far from the Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara is the Old Kingdom mastaba tomb of Mehu, a royal vizier. Tomb of Mehu virtual tour link . You may also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List: 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

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

Red Pyramid & Bent Pyramid at Dahshur We have two relatively safe assumptions to make: a) most of the world knows about the Great Pyramids of Giza and b) most of the world has very little idea about the 100+ other pyramids that Egypt is home to. Yup, when they started calling Egypt the Land of the Pyramids, they really weren’t kidding (not very sure who ‘they’ are but that’s besides the point). All of these pyramids are thousands of years old, and are tombs to different pharaohs and their consorts. ( Read: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Egypt ) And while no one is trying to compete with the Giza Pyramids’ majesty, there are a few lesser-known pyramids that are most definitely worth a visit. 1. The Step Pyramid Pharaoh: Djoser Built: ~2670 BC (almost 4,700 years old) Necropolis: Saqqara Starting off with the next most-recognizable pyramid after the ones at the Giza plateau. This beauty is the oldest Egyptian pyramid to date -- ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The architect was Djoser’s vizier Imhotep, thought of now as the founding father of Egyptian pyramids, and the design is six mastabas of decreasing size atop one another. Mastabas were how pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty and VIPs were buried before the invention of the pyramids -- mastabas were rectangular, flat-roofed tombs. While there are other pyramids at the Saqqara necropolis, Djoser is by far the jewel in Saqqara’s crown. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 2. The Red Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2585 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur Not very far from the Giza and Saqqara pyramids you’ll find the necropolis of Dahshur, home to three different pyramids on this list. Read more: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide The Red Pyramid received its moniker due to its reddish hue, although it wasn’t always red. The entire pyramid used to be encased in white limestone, which you can still see at the base. The white limestone was actually stripped from the pyramid in the Middle Ages (can you believe it?) to construct buildings in Cairo. The layer underneath was red limestone, which you can see until today. The Red Pyramid is believed to be the first successful attempt at creating a smooth-sided pyramid, and was Pharaoh Sneferu’s third pyramid. 3. The Bent Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2600 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur Another of Sneferu’s Dahshur pyramids, the Bent Pyramid was built right before the Red Pyramid. Archaeologists believe that the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between the step pyramid and smooth-sided pyramid. The ‘bent’ appearance is due to its base having a 54 degree inclination, but the top section having a narrower 43 degree angle. There are different theories as to why it was built this way: one was that as the builders reached the top, the top section started to show instability, so they narrowed the angle. Another theory is that they anticipated Sneferu’s death approaching, so they wanted to finish his pyramid as soon as possible. A third theory is that they were trying to avoid the same colossal disaster that occured with Sneferu’s first pyramid, the Meidum pyramid (below), which collapsed mid-construction. 4. The Black Pyramid Pharaoh: Amenemhat III Built: ~1860 AD (around 3,800 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur This pyramid, while technically ruined, is still definitely worth seeing when you head to Dahshur to see the Red and Bent pyramids, just because it looks so different and vaguely creepy. The Black Pyramid is believed to be the first pyramid in Egypt that was intended to house both the pharaoh and his queens. It’s called the Black Pyramid due to is “dark, decaying appearance”. It collapsed partially due to it being made out of mudbrick instead of traditional stone (although it was encased in limestone), and partially due to its low elevation allowing Nile water to seep into the walls, ending with the structure cracking and sinking into the clay ground. 5. Meidum Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2600 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Meidum Meidum is believed to be the second oldest pyramid, after the step pyramid of Djoser. It was Sneferu’s first attempt at building a pyramid and unfortunately not a successful one -- the top collapsed pre-completion. Archaeologists have a theory that the pyramid’s architect was trying to implement Imhotep’s step pyramid design (as seen in the step pyramid of Djoser), but tried to modify the original design halfway through. 6. Fayoum Pyramids Pyramids: Hawara and El Lahun Pharaohs: Amenemhat III (Hawara pyramid) and Senusret II (Lahun pyramid) Built: ~1860 AB (Hawara) and ~1897 BC (El Lahun) This entry is a two-for-one. Not many people, including Egyptian locals, know that not only is Fayoum Egypt’s oldest city (and one of the world’s oldest) , but is also home to several pyramids (the nearby Meidum pyramid, while in Beni Suef, is usually part of the Fayoum pyramid tour as well). While Hawara and El Lahun were built at two different times for two different pharaohs, they were both made of mudbrick with limestone casing, and the casing was stripped off of both pyramids, leading to their final deterioration. 7. Abusir Pyramids Abusir pyramids with their shinier Giza predecessors in the background Pharaohs: Niuserre, Neferirkare Kakai & Sahure Built: 5th Dynasty (around 4,500 years ago) If the above listing was a two-for-one, then this is your lucky day, because Abusir is a three-for-one. Technically, Abusir is home to fourteen pyramids, but only three of them are considered the “major” pyramids of Abusir. They were styled after the Great Pyramids of Giza, but due to their lower-quality local limestone casing, they haven’t stood the test of time as well as their predecessors. Theories around why the construction of these pyramids was inferior to those of the Giza plateau vary from a declining economy to the decrease of the absolute power of Pharaoh. Interesting local tip: there are two pyramids in North Sudan, built when a Kushite (Nubian) pharaoh ruled Egypt. While these pyramids are geographically in Sudan, they are historically considered Egyptian. You might also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List - 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

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

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

There’s an increasingly popular worldwide trend in gift-giving: buying someone an experience, instead of a thing. Meaning basically you buy someone an actual activity that you can either do together or they can do themselves, instead of, oh I don’t know, a mug for example. The great thing about experience gifts is that they’re perfect for those people who already seem to have everything, or someone who prefers to ‘do’ instead of ‘have’. So that special person that you want to gift an experience to -- what do they enjoy? Are they athletic? A foodie? Someone who loves art or history? Wherever their interests may lie, Cairo offers an array of fun experiences all across the board. We pulled together some of our most recommended experiences, based on factors like ease of logistics (no lengthy travel/overnight stay needed), price (nothing ridiculously expensive) and the overall fun factor. So instead of dropping a money bomb on some inanimate object that they may or may not secretly hate, try creating a memory with some of Cairo’s best experiences. 1. Rent a private yacht to cruise the Nile A good experience gift for: Someone who likes romantic or chill settings Someone who likes privacy and getting away from it all Everybody knows about feluccas, but you can really ramp up the experience by renting out your own private Nile yacht for as many hours as you want. The M/Y Christina yacht has been in business since 1992, and their staff knows exactly how to provide great service. Christina gives you the option of bringing your own food and drinks (they provide plates, cutlery, glasses and even ice), or can do catering for you. They have a great sound system where you can hook up your own music as well. As for seating, you have the whole yacht at your disposal -- front deck, back deck and inner saloon if it gets too chilly. They also have two different bathrooms (is anything worse than having a boat trip ruined because of your bladder?!). The yacht takes anything from one person to 25, so it’s up to you if you want to gift someone a more private, one-on-one cruise or something where you can invite friends. To reserve: M/Y Christina Yacht 2. A snow day at Ski Egypt A good experience gift for: Someone who likes to be active Someone who likes doing new things Ski Egypt is Africa’s first ski resort with the world’s largest indoor snow park, and buying someone a one-day ticket or even a set of skiing lessons is a great option for someone who’s either never experienced snow, or alternately, has experienced it and misses it. Activities you can do at Ski Egypt: skiing for both beginners and more advanced skiers, snowboarding, tube runs, bobsledding, zorb balls and ice caves. For more information: Ski Egypt 3. “Walk Like An Egyptian” Walking Tour A good experience gift for: A non-Egyptian friend interested in getting to know Cairo An Egyptian local who’d love to learn more about the hidden gems of Cairo There’s so much interesting history in Cairo that we locals just waltz by daily without even noticing slash knowing -- and some non-Egyptians don’t even know that there’s waaaay more to see in Cairo than just the pyramids, museum and Nile . If you have a person in your life who loves Egyptian history, art and architecture, then booking a private tour or a group walking tour with Walk Like An Egyptian might be right up their alley. These highly-recommended tour guides offer all sorts of cool walking tours in Cairo, and you can request private tours to the sights of your choice as well. They also offer outside-of-Cairo tours (even to lesser-visited destinations like Rasheed and Minya) and take care of everything from transportation to accommodation. For pricing, booking and more details: Walk Like An Egyptian 4. Kayak on the Nile with the Nile Kayak Club A good experience gift for: Someone who enjoys sports and being outdoors Someone who has good physical fitness You don’t need to be part of a rowing team to try kayaking down the Nile -- the Nile Kayak Club offers weekend kayaking sessions in Cairo, ranging from a 1 hour introductory course around Dahab Island near Maadi, or a 3 hour “Cairo Crossing” ride for the more advanced. If you have someone in your life who likes being active and trying new things, then book them a session and see them paddle off into the sunset. Nile Kayak Club also arranges kayaking trips between Luxor and Aswan for the hardcore kayakers. For more information and pricing: Nile Kayak Club 5. A Farm Picnic at Sara’s Organic Food Farm A good experience gift for: Someone who enjoys being out in nature Someone who believes in the farm-to-plate movement and eating clean Sara’s Organic Food is an organic, pesticide-free range of seasonal fruit and vegetables found in Cairo’s high-end retail markets, and they make the farm-to-plate concept quite literal with their monthly open-air picnics and harvest festivals on the farm. All you need to do is book a place in the upcoming picnic or event, and you’re guaranteed a full, stress-free day on a scenic farm. They provide vegetarian snacks, daily picks from the field, freshly baked bread and dips, and you can bring any food you need to complete your picnic. Kids can also feed the animals and go on tractor rides. They also have sporadic dinners and brunches with guest chefs. To book a spot or for more info : Sara's Organic Food 6. A Day Trip of Sandboarding, BBQ and Safari in Fayoum A good experience gift for: Someone who likes adventure activities Someone who likes mini-trips The Sandboarding Cairo Club regularly arranges day trips from Cairo to Fayoum for a day of sandboarding, safari and BBQ. They take care of transportation (the group meets in Dokki and moves from there) and all other logistics. The program includes: -Transportation via 4x4 vehicles -Visiting Wadi El-Rayan waterfalls -Safari -Sandboarding at the Magic Lake -BBQ lunch -Campfire & roasted marshmallows -Unlimited water & soft drinks -All tickets and permits For booking and more info: Sandboarding Cairo Club 7. Downtown Food Tour with Bellies En-Route A good experience gift for: Foodies Visitors to Egypt who want to experience authentic Egyptian food Read more: 15 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try Whether the person you want to gift is an Egyptian food aficionado or an adventurous Egyptian food virgin, this local food tour is guaranteed to hit the spot. Bellies En-Route offers a Downtown food tour, a Heliopolis food tour, and a 'Women of Egypt Food & Shopping Tour'. They avoid tourist traps and intertwine different aspects of Egyptian history and culture as well. You can book a spot in an upcoming group tour (max 6 people), or book a private tour. For booking and more info: Bellies En-Route You might also like: 7 Extreme Adventure Experiences in Egypt For Adrenaline Junkies

Hurghada, having spent the first hundred years of its life as a sleepy little fishing village on the Red Sea, is now one of the most popular beach and diving destinations in the Middle East -- and for good reason. Hurghada is frequently in TripAdvisor's 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 . So combine the spectacular diving with 360 days of sun and beach weather, and you’ll start to get why Hurghada is such a tourist favorite. Quick Facts The coastal area of Hurghada is divided into Hurghada the city and its surrounding resort towns: El Gouna , Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay Hurghada is on mainland Egypt (ie., not the Sinai peninsula where Sharm el Sheikh is), and is sandwiched between the Red Sea and Egypt’s eastern desert and mountains Hurghada’s main claim to fame besides its fantastic diving are the 5 star, all-inclusive beach resorts, many of which have inhouse water parks for families and tons of activities It’s a four hour flight from most European cities and a 45 minute flight from Cairo (4.5 hour drive) Best Time To Go Hurghada is a year-round destination, but it really depends on your personal preferences. Spring and fall are Hurghada’s ‘high season’ -- it’s when the weather is at its most ideal (beach weather without soaring temperatures), so that’s when you’ll find Hurghada at its busiest. Considering it’s a coastal resort city, summer is a great time to go too obviously, but only if you can handle daily temperatures in the mid-to-high thirties (Celsius) or the nineties (Fahrenheit) and super-strong sun. Lots of Europeans also like to escape below-zero temperatures in winter and hightail it to Hurghada, where it’s sunny daily with highs of mid-twenties Celsius or mid-seventies Fahrenheit. How To Get There If you’re coming from abroad (or even planning to fly domestically), then just fly into Hurghada International Airport (you can buy a visa for $25 on arrival). Once you land, it’s easy to either get an airport taxi from outside the arrivals hall or call a car to pick you up (London Cab or ABC Taxi, more info below). If you’re staying at a hotel, you can also easily arrange pre-arrival for your hotel to send a car to pick you up. If you’re coming from Cairo , then you have one of three options: a) drive, b) take a bus, or c) fly. Driving from Cairo is now a super-smooth trip thanks to the new Galala Road which allows you to bypass the scary two-way twisty mountain roads of Ain el Sokhna. It takes about 4.5 hours from Cairo. If you’re coming by bus , then GoBus offers over 20+ buses daily between Cairo and Hurghada. They offer different types of buses according to what kind of ticket you buy (for example, the Elite Plus bus has individual LCD screens for each seat). You can find more info on: https://go-bus.com/en As for flying, the trip from Cairo to Hurghada takes about an hour. Where To Stay If you check out the accommodation options on a hotel booking website, it’s easy to get overwhelmed because there are SO MANY hotels. So before you choose one, it’s important to understand where exactly your hotel/rental is and the pros/cons of each location. 1. A hotel in Hurghada city Sunrise Holidays Resort on Old Sheraton Road in Hurghada city Hurghada city proper is home to tons of hotels, varying from budget 2 star hotels to stunning 5 star hotels on the beach. The popular areas to stay in are El Mamsha (a long pedestrian street full of hotels, restaurants and bars) or the coastal Old Sheraton Road, near the Hurghada Marina Boulevard. Then you have a bunch of larger resorts on Hurghada's southern coast stretching all the way down to Sahl Hasheesh, the first main resort town south of Hurghada. Pros: you’re close to the action, restaurants, bars and nightlife. Transportation is easy via Uber or ABC taxi (info below). Cons: the city isn’t as peaceful as a resort town and most of the budget hotels don’t offer the same array of amenities as the big resort hotels. 2. A hotel in a nearby resort town like Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh or Soma Bay Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh Outside of Hurghada proper are several different resort towns: El Gouna (half an hour north by car), Sahl Hasheesh (half an hour south by car), Makadi Bay (45 minutes south by car) and Soma Bay , which is technically in the Safaga area of the Red Sea, but some people still consider it Hurghada (an hour south by car). Pros of staying in a resort town: these resort towns are secluded and pristine, and many of their hotels are all-inclusive; you won’t have to worry about anything while you’re there. Some of the big hotels also have waterparks for the kids and the hotels can arrange all sorts of adult and family activities. Cons of staying in a resort town: Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay don’t offer much outside of the resorts -- you won’t find all the restaurants, bars and local life that you would in Hurghada city, and it’s at least a half hour drive each way if you decide to go into Hurghada city. El Gouna is the exception -- you can find a full detailed guide to what El Gouna has to offer here . Soma Bay also a handful of restaurants and bars in its Marina area, but not as much as Hurghada or El Gouna. Read more: Soma Bay, Egypt - Travel Guide for First-Timers 3. An apartment rental In Hurghada city and El Gouna, you can find lots of different villa and apartment rentals on sites like Airbnb. Pros: Your own space with a kitchen for cooking, plus some of the rentals have their own private pools. Cons: you won’t have hotel staff to arrange trips, transportation or activities for you. How To Get Around (Transportation in Hurghada) Regular cabs If you’re staying in Hurghada city, an easy way to get around is just flag down a passing cab. Chances are, their meter won’t be working, so it’s best to tell the driver where you want to go and agree on the fare before you hop in. Warning though - this will require some negotiating and they'll probably try to rip you off, so if you don't want to be bothered, stick the other options below. London Cab A good, roomy way to get back and forth between the airport and your accommodation, or if you just want something bigger and more reliable than regular cabs. London Cab can be booked in advance via their website or app. ABC Taxi or other chartered taxis If haggling with cab drivers isn’t up your alley and London Cab is too pricey, then ABC Taxi is a great choice. They’re fixed rate taxis based in Hurghada city but you can order them from the airport, El Gouna, Soma Bay or the other resort towns. You can request one right away or book one for later, and their cars arrive quickly. ABC Taxi phone number: +20100 222 8294 There are other chartered taxi companies in Hurghada, but we've personally used ABC Taxi the most and they've never let us down (and this isn't even an ad!) Uber & Careem Yup, Uber and its Middle Eastern counterpart Careem are available in Hurghada (the main city area). Things To Do In Hurghada 1. Diving and snorkeling Like we spoke about above, Red Sea diving is world-renowned. Dive centers in Hurghada are a dime a dozen, affordable and offer PADI courses in a myriad of languages. If you want to experience the Red Sea’s gorgeous reefs and marine life without actually diving, boat trips to great snorkeling spots are easily arranged too, either by the dive centers or your hotel. For more details about the best diving spots, check out our article 7 Best Diving Destinations in Egypt’s Red Sea . 2. Spend the day on fully-serviced beaches The Hurghada area has some of Egypt’s best white sand beaches, with crystal clear calm water. Almost all of the resorts have their own beaches with umbrellas, sunbeds, towels and full service to bring you drinks, food and even shisha (hookah) to where you’re lounging on the beach. You might like: 9 World-Class Beaches in Egypt 3. Boat trips to the islands Mahmya beach on Giftun Island There are several different islands peppering the coast of Hurghada, and depending on the island you can either snorkel and explore, or spend the whole day at a beach bar/restaurant that offers sunbeds and umbrellas (the most popular being Mahmya on Giftun Island). For more info about the islands, read: 7 Red Sea Islands Perfect For A Boat Day Trip 4. Water sports/activities Aside from diving, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing, there are a ton of other things you can do in the water. Kitesurfing Windsurfing Water-skiing/wakeboarding Catamaran Parasailing Sailing Fishing Glass bottom boat 5. Water Park & Aquarium Makadi Water World If you want something to do that appeals to both kids and adults alike, then try one of Hurghada’s water parks. The most popular is Makadi Water World, which has free entrance for anyone staying in a Jaz Makadi Bay hotel, or you can buy an entrance ticket. There are tons of slides for people of all ages, plus a restaurant/snack bar that offers food and drinks. Hurghada Grand Aquarium Another family-friendly activity is going to The Grand Aquarium in Hurghada city. 6. Desert Activities If you’ve had your fill of beach and water-related stuff, fear not, there’s still lots more to do in Hurghada. Egypt’s Eastern Desert and mountains border Hurghada, and your hotel or a local tour company can easily set you up with desert activities: ATV/quad safari Dirt biking Horseback riding Hiking and camping on the Red Sea Trail 7. Explore Hurghada the city If you want to get a feel for the ‘real’ Hurghada, away from the curated resort experience, then the best way to do this is by exploring the city. El Dahar -- the ‘old town’, where a few souks and bazaars are. This is the area where most locals live and it’s very different than the touristic areas; it’s an eye-opening look into the ‘real’ city. Vegetable market at El Dahar Hurghada Marina Boulevard -- the polar opposite of El Dahar, where everything is shiny and new. There’s restaurants, bars and shops galore on the yacht-lined marina. Hurghada Marina Boulevard Old Sheraton Road (also known as El Sekala ) -- parallel to the sea, it’s where local life and touristic life melt together. It’s a long busy street filled with budget hotels, dive centers, tour agencies, local shops and bazaars, Hurghada’s best seafood, banks, coffeeshops and cafes, restaurants (both local and touristy) and a mix & match of other things that any of the city’s inhabitants or visitors need. Sheraton Road El Mamsha -- a long pedestrian promenade where the bulk of Hurghada’s hotels, restaurants and bars are. El Mamsha 8. Religious Sites -El Mina Mosque -- El Mina translates to ‘the port’, and it’s a fitting name for this mosque built right on the Hurghada Red Sea harbor, with little fishing boats and bigger yachts dotting the water around it. Built over an area of 4,000 meters, this mosque has 25 domes, a large marble courtyard and two towering minarets. The architectural style is eclectic, with nods to different Islamic motifs and designs. You might also like: 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in Egypt -St. Anthony’s Monastery -- St. Anthony was one of the most famous “Desert Fathers”, a group of Christian monks who lived in the Eastern Egyptian desert in the 3rd century. He was roaming the desert when he came across an oasis surrounded by trees, and it was in this spot that he was later buried and his monastery built a few years later. Today 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. It's about a two hour drive from Hurghada, and close to St. Paul's Monastery, which dates back to the 6th century. You might also like: 9 Egyptian Churches, Cathedrals and Monasteries You Need To Visit At Least Once For more inspiration about activities in Hurghada , read 25 Fun Things To Do In Hurghada & El Gouna . Where To Eat In Hurghada Most visitors to Hurghada end up eating at their hotels, but if you want to try some of Hurghada’s best stand-alone restaurants, we recommend: -Star Fish (fresh seafood on Old Sheraton Road) -Granada (go for the amazing view, also on Old Sheraton Road) -White Elephant (Thai) Local tip: if you're not sure of where you want to eat, head over to either the Hurghada Marina or El Mamsha, where the bulk of restaurants are, and pick one that appeals to you. For quick and easy Egyptian food from the same place where the locals eat: -Koshary El Tahrir (read about koshary in our article 12 Egyptian Foods You Need To Try ). El Gouna also has an amazing collection of restaurants. For more details, read 7 Best Restaurants in El Gouna . Nightlife Little Buddha The most popular clubs in Hurghada city (all of these are on El Mamsha) are: -Little Buddha -Hard Rock Cafe (foam parties, Ladies Nights) -Papas Club For more a more laid-back bar/pub feel: -Caribbean Bar -Granada -Retro Pub You can also head to El Gouna and go to: -The Tap North -Villa Coconut -Aurora Leaving It’s just as straightforward as arriving. If you came by GoBus, then you board your return bus at the same bus stop in Hurghada (el Dahar area) where they dropped you off. If you came by plane and need to go to Hurghada Airport, Uber/Careem or ABC Taxis can take you. You can find more Egypt city guides here: Sharm El Sheikh City Guide El Gouna City Guide Aswan City Guide Soma Bay Guide North Coast Guide

So many places, so little time -- it’s the traveler’s routine woe once setting foot in a new city or country. And have you noticed that it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re there for two days or two weeks, there always seems to be something you didn’t get a chance to do? Cairo is definitely going to be one of those places; it’s legit teeming with sights worth seeing and places worth exploring, and even locals such as ourselves have needed years to really uncover all that this city has to offer. We have them all listed here in the Top 10 Things To Do in Cairo . But since chances are you’re going to be tight on time, we tried to break down as best we could the sights that you *must* see in Cairo, the sights that you should try very hard to see, and the sights that you can skip if you just don’t have the time (that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth seeing though, don’t get it twisted!!!) What You MUST SEE in Cairo: 1. The Great Pyramids of Giza This one is obviously a no-brainer. I mean, if you’re in Cairo and opt out of seeing the last standing Ancient Wonder of the World, then that’s a personal choice and I respect it. But why would you?! Out of the 80+ pyramids (some sources cite that they’re 100+) found in Egypt, the Giza Pyramids are the most famous. The Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the largest Egyptian pyramid, and the only remaining wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The sphinx is the largest monolith statue in the world, and is also located on the Giza Plateau. Here's 9 other pyramids (besides the Pyramids of Giza) you should see if you have extra time . What you absolutely need to read before going: Visiting The Pyramids of Giza: A Local’s Guide To Everything You Need To Know 2. The Grand Egyptian Museum Overlooking the Great Pyramids, The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is something we 100% recommend incorporating into your Cairo visit, even if you're not the museum type. GEM is the largest archaeological museum in the world, and a lthough the long-awaited King Tut treasure collection is not open to the public yet, GEM is home to over 100,00 Ancient Egyptian artifacts equally worth visiting. For more cool museums in Cairo, read 9 Museums in Cairo You Need to Visit At Least Once.   3. Khan el Khalili & Moez Street This sprawling souq is not just a bazaar where you can buy jewelry, antiques, handicrafts and souvenirs -- it’s also a piece of history, dating back to the 14th century when it was a large caravanserai, housing merchants and their wares. For a our full local's guide to Khan el Khalili, head here . Khan el Khalili today is an integral part of Old Cairo, and the architecture and surrounding areas like Moez Street are reason enough to go (a UN study found that Moez Street has the highest concentration of medieval Islamic architectural treasures in the world). Here's our detailed local's guide to Moez St reet . Local tip: go at night and taking a shopping break to enjoy tea and shisha at Naguib Mahfouz Cafe or Fishawi Cafe. 4. Nile Felucca While obviously a felucca isn’t a sight in and of itself, the Nile definitely is, and the best way to experience it and to get better perspective of the city in general, is while floating leisurely in a felucca. A felucca is a small sailboat that you rent out by half hour or an hour, and you can just kick back and relax while the felucca ‘captain’ steers you through the calm waters. And that’s part of the eternal appeal of the Nile -- no matter the chaos happening around you, it’s easy to immerse yourself in the fact that you’re sailing down the lifeline of a 7000 year old civilization. What you should try really, really hard to see: Saqqara & Dahshur Pyramids Located about 30 km outside Cairo, Saqqara (or Sakkara) is a vast burial ground, serving as a necropolis for Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis. Memphis is now an open-air museum of sorts, but it’s Saqqara where you’ll find the famous step pyramid of Djoser, dating even further back than the Pyramids of Giza. Saqqara also hosts an impressive number of ‘mastaba’ tombs. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Full Guide to the Step Pyramid of Djoser and Saqqara Tombs I f you have extra time, go the full mile and travel a little further to Dahshur, where you can see other really cool pyramids older than the ones at Giza, like the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. Dahshur is close to Saqqara and easily seen together in one half-day trip. Read more: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide to the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid and Black Pyramid Cairo Citadel One of the world's greatest monuments to medieval warfare, as well as a highly visible landmark on Cairo's Eastern skyline, the Citadel houses a number of historical mosques (like the Muhammed Ali mosque pictured above) and museums. Built in 1176 by Salah El Din to protect the city from crusaders, the Citadel has been one of the most dominating architectural presences in Cairo for centuries. Islamic Cairo Ibn Tulun mosque Islamic Cairo is home to some of the most beautiful mosques in the world, like Sultan Hassan and Al Rifai. Also in Islamic Cairo is Ibn Tulun mosque, one of the largest and oldest mosques in Egypt. Local tip: while you’re in Islamic Cairo, make sure you check out the Gayer-Anderson Museum , one of the oldest and best-preserved homes from the medieval period. Check out our article on the ten most beautiful mosques in Egypt . Coptic Cairo Coptic Cairo is an area of Old Cairo established around 400 AD which served as a stronghold for Christianity in Egypt, and is home to beautiful sites like the Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in Cairo. It’s dedicated to the Patron Saint of Egypt, St. George, and rests on the bastion of the Roman gate of the Babylon fortress. There’s also the Coptic Museum, which holds approximately 15,000 pieces and contains the world's largest collection of Coptic artifacts and artwork. Displaying a rich mixture of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman traditions, the objects are grouped into different mediums, such as stonework, woodwork, metalwork, textiles and manuscripts. For more beautiful churches, cathedrals and monasteries in Egypt, head here . Read more: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide What you can skip till next time: Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids Using the sphinx as the narrator of Egypt’s ancient history and the pyramids as a backdrop, the show is carried out in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Russian and plays three times a night, in three different languages. Call beforehand to check the time of the performance you would like to attend; private viewing times can also be arranged. It's kind of cheesy to be honest but you might like it if you're into its 1980s/1990s vibe. The Pharaonic Village This place is great if you have kids, kind of touristy and inauthentic if you don't. Just outside of Cairo’s city center along the banks of the Nile, visitors can sail aboard barges down a network of canals to view recreations of Ancient Egyptian times. With a group of actors, accurate reproductions of buildings, clothing and lifestyle, the age of the Pharaohs is (kinda) brought to life. If you’re into the kitsch, then be sure to take a picture there before you leave, dressed as a pharaoh! You can also tour the Dr. Ragab Papyrus Museum, the largest floating museum in the world where you can see firsthand the ancient Egyptian art of papyrus paper-making. Cairo Tower Standing at 187 meters, the Cairo tower allows visitors to witness some awesome views of the city. Located on the Gezira island of Zamalek , this granite lotus-inspired structure has views extending as far as the Muqattam hills and outskirts of the city where the Giza pyramids stand. You might also like: Where to Go in Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Cities and Destinations

Whether you’ve never been to Egypt and are looking for the honeymoon of a lifetime, or an Egyptian looking to celebrate your marriage in the most romantic, luxurious spots that Egypt has to offer, then this Egyptian honeymoon destination list is for you. Read more: 8 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations We broke down each destination based on what kind of honeymoon you’re looking for, and we recommend some of the best honeymoon hotels in each destination to make your research just a little bit easier. We opted for more adult, 5 star accommodations but there are lots of other budget options for each destination if you’re on a tighter budget. Happy honeymoon! Sahl Hasheesh Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh Sahl Hasheesh is ideal for honeymooners who: want an excellent beach and 5 star luxury in a quiet, private area Best honeymoon hotels in Sahl Hasheesh: The Oberoi Beach Resort , Baron Palace Sahl Haheesh This resort town was 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. Because this area is dedicated primarily to resorts, each hotel has its own private beachfront and is protected from the usual hustle and bustle of Hurghada beachgoers, lending an air of seclusion and privacy. Private pool at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh One of the best hotels in Sahl Hasheesh for honeymooners is the Oberoi Beach Resort. Not only does it have 5 star luxury restaurants and facilities across the board, it’s an all-suite hotel perfect for couples. Their grand suites even have their own private pool per suite, plus bathtubs that overlook private gardens. Sahl Hasheesh honeymoon activities: swimming & sunbathing at private beaches & pools, spas, couple massages, yoga, Red Sea boat trips , snorkeling and diving (for all levels) Sharm el Sheikh Sharm el Sheikh is ideal for honeymooners who: want an all-inclusive beach holiday with tons of restaurants and activities without having to leave the hotel Best honeymoon hotel in Sharm el Sheikh: Rixos Sharm El Sheikh (Ultra All Inclusive Adult Friendly) Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most internationally famous Red Sea beach cities in Egypt, and definitely the most famous one on the Sinai Peninsula. It’s home to literally hundreds of hotels, and if you’re looking for an all-inclusive beach resort with restaurants, activities and water sports galore, then Sharm is the perfect place for that. The Rixos Sharm el Sheikh is ideal for honeymooners for myriad reasons: 1) it’s adult only (16+), so you can relax by the beach or the pool without having to put up with screaming kids, 2) besides its private beach, it has seven (yes, seven) pools, 3) it has seven restaurants and nine bars, where you can eat and drink all you want with your all-inclusive package, 4) you have access to the neighboring Rixos Premium Seagate resort’s restaurants and bars as well (so a total of 16 restaurants for both resorts!), and 5) there’s an adventure water park. Plus if you’re willing to splurge, you can book the suite with its own private plunge pool. Sharm el Sheikh honeymoon activities: sunbathing and swimming at the beach and pool, water sports, resort activities (eg. Rixos has a waterpark, tennis courts, a fitness center, an open-air club, beach volleyball and go-karts), diving and snorkeling, boat trips, day trips to Ras Mohammed National Park, desert safaris Read more: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - A Travel Guide For First-Timers Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Oberoi Philae A Nile cruise is ideal for honeymooners who: want to explore the Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs of Luxor and Aswan (and those in between!) while enjoying a luxury stay down the Nile Best honeymoon Nile cruise ship: The Oberoi Zahra & Philae or Nour El Nil Dahabiyas A Nile cruise is one of the best things you can do while in Egypt, and because they’re expensive, a honeymoon is enough of a special occasion to warrant the cost. The Nile cruises in Egypt usually start and end in Luxor and Aswan, where you can see the best of what Ancient Egypt has to offer. There are dozens of cruise ships, but the Oberoi Zahra and its sister ship Oberoi Philae are known as two of the very best cruises you can book (and the priciest, though!). We’re talking on-deck pool, full spa, restaurant, bar, cigar lounge and 5 star accommodation and service across the board. The cruise’s itinerary includes the main sights of Luxor, Aswan and the main Ancient Egyptian temples peppering the Nile shore between the two ancient cities. Room on a Nour El Nil dahabiya If you want to go even more traditional (but still keep it luxury), you can opt for a dahabiya instead of a cruise ship. A dahabiya is a large sailboat similar to what they used in Pharaonic times, and then you won’t have to worry about the sound of the cruise ship’s motor breaking into your peace and quiet. A dahabiya won’t have as many facilities and amenities as a regular cruise ship, but they still provide luxury accommodation and the added benefit of being able to access smaller towns and sites in between Luxor & Aswan that the bigger ships can’t dock at. Nour El Nil has a fleet of different-sized dahabiyas (keep in mind however that their itineraries only include the sights on the Nile in between Luxor & Aswan, not the cities themselves). Nile cruise honeymoon activities: daytime sightseeing in Luxor and Aswan, relaxing on the deck and enjoying the Nile river cruise, swimming in the pool, unwinding at the spa Read more: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide El Gouna La Maison Bleue El Gouna is ideal for honeymooners who: want to be at a Red Sea beach destination where they can leave the resort, walk around, and try different restaurants and activities Best honeymoon Gouna hotel: La Maison Bleue or Casa Cook (Adults Only) If you want to be by the beach but actually go out and explore as opposed to staying at your resort for the whole trip, then Gouna is the place for you. (You can read our full local’s guide to Gouna here ). Gouna is a cute little Red Sea beach town that’s super easy to navigate whether on foot or by tuktuk. It has plenty of restaurants, bars and activities both on land and in the water. Casa Cook There are also plenty of hotels to choose from, but for a honeymoon the ones we recommend are La Maison Bleue or Casa Cook; both boutique hotels with an emphasis on luxury (but with a steep price tag!). There are other 5 star resorts like the Sheraton or Movenpick, but those tend to be more family-oriented so you won’t get the peace and privacy that the boutique hotels offer. El Gouna honeymoon activities: swimming and sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, kitesurfing, biking, tennis, golf, go-karts, horse riding, desert safaris, Red Sea boat trips Siwa Oasis Siwa is ideal for honeymooners who: want a desert adventure, to disconnect from the world and get away from it all somewhere remote Best honeymoon Siwa hotel: Adrere Amellal If you want your honeymoon to be more about adventure and exploration, or just going off the grid even – then Siwa Oasis is for you. This extremely remote town is about a 10 hour drive from Cairo, unless you manage to snag two seats on the rare private flights into Siwa. Most accommodations there don’t even have electricity for most of the day - there’s usually a generator that gives power at certain times of the day if you need to charge your phone or any other gadget. Other than that, it’s just you two and nature! Adrere Amellal is a luxury ecolodge in Siwa that’s been visited by both celebrities and royalty - so it’s not cheap. But the service, food and experience are all five stars. If you want to stay at a place that’s a bit more budget friendly, other ecolodges like Taziry or Talist are good options too. Siwa honeymoon activities: explore the town of Siwa, see the Shali Fortress and Mountain of the dead, swim in the hot springs and salt lakes, go sand-duning in 4x4s, adventure into the Great Sand Sea Read more: 10 Most Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis Read more: 7 Best Places to Stay in Siwa Oasis For All Budgets Hurghada Hurghada is ideal for honeymooners who: want to stay in affordable luxury beach resorts but not be isolated from the rest of the city Best honeymoon Hurghada hotel: Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle (Adults Only) Hurghada, along with Sharm el Sheikh, is the most popular Red Sea destination in Egypt. Hurghada’s international airport is very close to a plethora of excellent beach hotels, and there are dozens of international and domestic flights daily, so you can literally be on the beach in no time flat. Read more: Hurghada, Egypt - A Local’s Guide for First-Timers Hurghada City itself is close to other destinations in the greater Hurghada area like Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay, but the city of Hurghada offers more in the sense of you can leave your resort and walk around the different areas of Hurghada like the marina or El Mamsha where most of the restaurants and bars are. However their 5 star resorts do offer all-inclusive packages if you want to stick to your hotel. There are dozens of 5 star, amazing resorts but if you're looking for adult only, there are still a good number. Steinberger Pure Lifestyle and Sunrise Holidays Resort are both adult-only and their rooms have stunning Red Sea views. They’re also pretty affordable considering they’re luxury hotels with gorgeous beaches! Hurghada honeymoon activities: swimming, snorkeling, diving, boat trips, ATV desert safaris, day trips to Luxor Red Sea Yacht A Red Sea yacht is ideal for honeymooners who: love to scuba dive or just love being on the water If you’re looking for total privacy (and we’re talking middle of the sea kind of privacy), then why not charter your own Red Sea yacht? If it’s too pricey for just two people, you can find other yachts where you can book a room on board and share the boat with a few other guests. Alternatively, you can also book your own motorboats or sailboats, through agencies like Egypt Yachting . If you and your partner are into scuba diving, then you can book a diving trip on a liveaboard – there are multiple dives a day in different locations in the Red Sea, and you can relax and sunbathe on the yacht’s many sundecks in between dives. Read more: 7 Best Diving Destinations in Egypt for Divers of all Levels Even if diving isn’t your thing, just being on the yacht, visiting the numerous Red Sea islands, swimming in crystal clear water and having a drink under the stars is reason enough to charter a private yacht for your honeymoon. Red Sea yacht honeymoon activities: swimming, snorkeling, diving, island hopping, fishing, relaxing, eating & drinking on the boat You may also like: 7 Best Date Restaurants in Cairo

Sultan Hassan & Al Rifai mosques Cairo is known as the city of a thousand minarets, so imagine how many there are in Egypt as a whole. Spoiler alert: a whole lot. Egyptian mosques are no cookie cutter experience: some are over 1,000 years old while others were built the day before yesterday, and some are architectural treasures while others are, well, not. To really experience the beauty of Islamic art, architecture and history, we’ve narrowed down (in no particular order) the Egyptian mosques you should most definitely have on your to-see list. Sultan Hassan Location: Cairo Established: 1359 Once of the most important monuments in the Islamic world, the Sultan Hassan Madrassa and Mosque was home to four different madrassas (religious schools) as well as a mosque. Islamic historians referred to it as a “wonder of construction”. This huge Islamic structure is built in the shape of a cruciform (cross-shaped), with an open courtyard surrounded by high stone walls, and is known for its beautiful architecture. There’s also a mausoleum where it’s believed that the sultan is buried. For more awesome Cairo sightseeing for free, head here . Aqsunqur Location: Cairo Established: 1347, then added to in 1652 Aqsunqur Mosque is one of the world's 'Blue Mosques' (due to its interior blue tiling) and was originally built over 700 years ago by the Mamluk emir (prince) Sham Ad-Din Aqsunqur, son-in-law of the Sultan. It was also a mausoleum for Aqsunqur and his family. Over the centuries it fell into disrepair until Ottoman emir Agha al-Mustafihzan renovated the mosque completely in 1652 and added the blue tiling that makes it so distinctive until today. It's still open to the public today in the Darb el Ahmar area of Old Cairo, close to Moez Street. Al Azhar Location: Cairo Established: 970 AD Al Azhar is known as one of the most important, if not *the* most important centers of Islamic theology and learning in the world. The mosque and its university for Islamic teaching was founded over 1,000 years ago by the Fatimids, who built the city of Cairo . Al Azhar University today is Egypt’s oldest degree-granting university. The mosque is famous for its white marble courtyard and five minarets, which were built in 1340, 1469, and 1510. Abu Haggag Location: Luxor Established: 13th century What makes Abu Haggag so interesting is the fact that it’s built on the ruins of the Luxor Temple, so essentially the mosque looks like a hybrid between Ancient Egyptian and Medieval Islamic times. Abu Haggag Mosque actually wasn’t the first place of worship to be built on the Luxor Temple ruins -- several churches predated it, including one in the exact spot the mosque stands now. The cool thing is, this means that for over 3,500 years, people of different religions used that same spot to pray and worship their different gods. Al Rifai Location: Cairo Established: 1869-1912 Right next to the Sultan Hassan mosque, separated by only a small pedestrian lane, is the equally massive Al Rifai mosque. It’s because of its huge neighbor that Al Rifai is its size; the architects didn’t want Sultan Hassan to dwarf it. It was commissioned by Khoshiar Hanem, the mother of Khedive Ismail, to house the royal family’s tombs as well as be a place of worship. Photo credit: christravelblog.com Al Rifai mosque also hosts the tomb of its namesake, the Sheikh Al Rifai, a medieval Islamic saint. There’s also a mausoleum for the Shah of Iran. Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq Location: City of the Dead, Cairo Established: 1411 AD The Khanqah of Sultan Faraj ibn Barquq is a medieval funerary complex consisting of not only a mosque for prayer, but also two mausoleums for the sultan, his father (also a sultan) and their female relatives. It's considered one of the most beautiful pieces of Mamluk architecture in Cairo. The khanqah is found in Cairo's City of the Dead, and can be explored on walking tours. Read more: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Local's Guide Al Sahaba Photo credit: drprem.com Location: Sharm El Sheikh Established: 2017 The newest mosque on this list, Al Sahaba is proving to be an Instagram opportunity as much as a place of worship. A mix of Ottoman, Fatimid and Mamluk architectural and interior design styles, some find the mosque to be extremely beautiful while others find it garish. It’s sandwiched between the Red Sea and Sharm’s mountains, and can hold over 3,000 visitors. Mosque of Mohammed Ali Location: Cairo Established: 1830-1848 Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Cairo Citadel is one of Cairo’s landmarks and dominates the Eastern skyline, both during the day and then at night when it’s lit up. It was commissioned by Mohammed Ali Pasha, an Ottoman Albanian military commander who became Khedive of Egypt. The mosque’s design was inspired by the Sultan Ahmed mosque in Istanbul, and there’s a brass clock tower which was a gift to Mohammed Ali by King Louis Philippe of France in 1845. Mohammed Ali in return gave him the obelisk of Luxor that stands until today in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. El Mina Mosque Location: Hurghada Established: 2012 El Mina translates to ‘the port’, and it’s a fitting name for this mosque built right on the Hurghada Red Sea harbor , with little fishing boats and bigger yachts dotting the water around it. Photo credit: Claudio Nichele Built over an area of 4,000 meters, this mosque has 25 domes, a large marble courtyard and two towering minarets. The architectural style is eclectic, with nods to different Islamic motifs and designs. Al Zaher Barquq Location: Cairo Established: 1384-1386 The mosque-madrassa of Al Zaher Barquq (also known as the Sultan Barquq mosque) is a medieval religious complex in the Moez street area in Old Cairo, adjacent to Khan el Khalili (for our full Khan el Khalili guide, head here ). It’s comprised of a mosque, madrassa, mausoleum and khanqah (a building for Sufi spiritual retreat). It was the first monument constructed during the Circassian dynasty of Mamluk rule in Egypt; Al Zaher Barquq was the first Circassian sultan of Egypt. Read more about the Islamic architecture found in Moez Street in our detailed local's guide . Want more beautiful religious sites in Egypt? Check out 9 Egyptian churches, cathedrals and monasteries you need to visit at least once .

If you’re planning on visiting Egypt for the first time and trying to figure out your itinerary, it can be just a tad overwhelming – there’s a ton to see, and it’s spread all over the country, so choosing where to go and what to skip can be hard. Below we break down 10 of our favorite local Egyptian cities, towns and destinations, and which place you should visit based on your own personal interests. 1. Cairo Visit Cairo if you want: to see the Pyramids and get a taste of the ‘real’ Egypt Egypt’s capital Cairo should obviously be part of any Egypt itinerary. It’s home to the Pyramids of Giza (read our full Pyramids local’s guide for first-timers here ), some of the best museums in the country, and a plethora of ancient, medieval and contemporary sightseeing attractions. Read more: Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt Besides all that, Cairo is the place to visit if you really want to get a pulse on what’s the ‘real’ Egypt. It’s a megacity of over 20 million, and no other place in Egypt will give you quite such an insider’s view on the culture and lives of modern-day Egyptians. It’s also by far the best Egyptian destination for restaurants and nightlife . 2. Luxor Visit Luxor if you want: to immerse yourself in Ancient Egypt and/or go on a Nile cruise Modern-day Luxor is the old Ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes, and it’s here where you’ll find the lion’s share of Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs, like the world-famous Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings. Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals Read more: 5 Must-See Temples in Luxor It’s also where Nile cruises start or end (cruises sail between Luxor and its southern city Aswan, and you can embark from either destination depending on your itinerary). Luxor as a city doesn’t have much going on in terms of dining/nightlife, so you’ll spend most of your time post-sightseeing either at your hotel or on the cruise ship. Read more: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide 3. Hurghada Visit Hurghada if you want: Red Sea beach resorts, family-friendly water activities, scuba-diving Looking for a white sand and azure water beach holiday ? Hurghada and its neighboring resort towns like Soma Bay and Sahl Hasheesh have literally hundreds of hotels to choose from, from waterpark resorts for kids to adult-only secluded getaways. Read more: Hurghada - A Detailed Local’s Guide for First-Timers Hurghada is also known as a great diving and snorkeling destination, but if you prefer to spend time on the beach as opposed to under it, there are a handful of pristine Red Sea islands easily accessible by boat from Hurghada’s marina. Hurghada city proper has a bunch of restaurants and bars, so you’re not stuck in your resort all night should you want to go out and explore. 4. Aswan Visit Aswan if you want: to go to Abu Simbel, experience Nubia, go on a Nile cruise Visiting Aswan is usually paired with Luxor, because the Nile cruises (which run from 3 to 5 days) sail between these two Ancient Egyptian cities. Historically the ancient land of Nubia was directly to the south of Aswan, extending from modern-day southern Egypt into northern Sudan. Nubia became part of Egypt during the New Kingdom, and Nubian heritage and culture is extremely important in Aswan until today. Read more: Aswan, Egypt - A Local’s City Guide Read more: 12 Most Interesting Things To Do & See in Aswan Aswan is also famous for the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, which is about a 3 hour drive south of the city. Most people visit Abu Simbel as part of a day trip from Aswan. Similar to Luxor, Aswan doesn’t have much going for it when it comes to dining and nightlife, so it’s definitely predominantly a sightseeing destination. 5. El Gouna Visit El Gouna if you want: a relaxing beach vacation in a resort town with a lot of restaurant and activity options El Gouna is an eco-conscious beautiful little town on the Red Sea coast slightly north of Hurghada. It’s home to a wide range of accommodation options, from Airbnbs to 5 star hotels, and has some of the best restaurants and bars in the country. Unlike most other places in Egypt, El Gouna is completely walkable for visitors and transportation is easy and straightforward via tuktuks in this gated town. Read more: El Gouna, Egypt - A Local’s Guide While El Gouna’s beaches aren’t nearly as nice as Hurghada’s, they have very pleasant serviced beach bars and a myriad of centers for beach activities. El Gouna is also one of the best spots in Egypt for kitesurfing , whether you’re a beginner looking to learn or an experienced kiter. 6. Dahab Photo credit: Beshoy Fayez Visit Dahab if you want: to stay in a little bohemian beach town in Sinai or to go diving or snorkeling Dahab is on the Gulf of Aqaba leading into the Red Sea in the south of the Sinai Peninsula. It was originally a Bedouin fishing village, then became popular with divers and backpackers over the years, or those who were looking for a more back-to-basics beach experience away from the massive resorts of neighboring Sharm el Sheikh. Read more: 7 Best Scuba Diving Destinations in Egypt For All Levels If you’re into quirky little beach cafes, shops and casual restaurants, then Dahab is for you. While they do have some bigger hotels, the majority of Dahab’s accommodation options are hostels, budget hotels and airbnbs. Dahab is also a good spot to use as a base for exploring Sinai, whether it be by ATV safaris, mountain hiking, day trips to St. Catherine’s, or kitesurfing and windsurfing in Sinai’s shallow lagoons. 7. Siwa Oasis Visit Siwa Oasis if you want: to go off the beaten track and explore Egypt’s remote desert and Great Sand Sea Siwa Oasis is so deep in Egypt’s Western Desert that it’s closer to the Libyan border than to any other Egyptian town or city. Siwa was isolated from the rest of Egypt up until the 1980s when a road connecting it to Marsa Matrouh was built, so its heritage, culture and language is uniquely Siwi. Both Egyptians and visitors alike go to Siwa to disconnect, camp, stay in primitive ecolodges, and absorb Siwa’s quiet tranquility. Read more: 10 Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis Read more: 7 Best Places to Stay in Siwa Oasis For All Budgets Besides the oasis itself, Siwa has a multitude of different sites to explore, like Shali Fortress, Mountain of the Dead, Cleopatra's Bath and the Temple of the Oracle of Alexander the Great, as well as hot springs and salt lakes. 8. Sharm el Sheikh Visit Sharm el Sheikh if you want: to relax in an all-inclusive Red Sea resort, go on diving or snorkeling trips Sharm el Sheikh is the Sinai Red Sea darling for all those who want to chill at their hotel’s beach, lounge by the pool, and eat and drink to their heart’s content with the resort’s all-inclusive packages. Read more: Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera - Where to Stay Read more: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - A Travel Guide For First-Timers Read more: 12 Best Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh Sharm el Sheikh is also known worldwide for its incredible diving and snorkeling. Whether you’re snorkeling from your hotel’s beach or diving from a boat, Sharm and its neighboring protectorate, Ras Mohamed National Park, have some of the best aquatic life on the planet. It’s easy to fly into Sharm El Sheikh’s airport because they have dozens of international and domestic flights daily, so you don’t have to worry about the long drive from Cairo (about 6 hours). 9. Nuweiba & Ras Shetan Photo credit: Maagana Beach Camp Visit Nuweiba & Ras Shetan if you want: to stay at beach camps and disconnect from it all Nestled between mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba is a strip of coastline called Ras Shetan, between the towns of Nuweiba and Taba on the Sinai peninsula. Ras Shetan and Nuweiba are known for their 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. 10. Black & White Desert Go to the Black & White Desert if you want: to explore and camp in Egypt’s Western desert Deep in Egypt’s Western Desert, between Farafra and Bahareya Oases, are Egypt’s Black and White Deserts. They’re 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). Read more: 12 of the Most Beautiful Views in Egypt 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. You might also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List - 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

Zamalek is known for being the best central Cairo neighborhood  for bars, pubs and nightlife  in general - with the added bonus that most places are in walking distance from one another, ideal for bar-hopping. Because there are so many options to choose from when it comes to Zamalek bars, we focused on 7 of our favorite places to grab a drink on the island, from upscale restobars and vintage pubs to little outdoor pizza bars. Local tip: at all of the below places you can bring your own bottle of hard liquor or wine for a corkage fee. Pier 88 Pier 88 sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and during the day it’s one of those quietly sophisticated bar & restaurants, complete with an open kitchen and drinks overlooking the water. Honestly? It’s pricey but worth it. At night it gets more of a nightlife feel to it, and reservations are recommended. On weekend nights the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables (we don’t recommend eating when the dancing gets started, because you won’t find much room to wield your knife and fork). To reserve: 01208111140 Crimson This chic rooftop restobar resides on top of the Riverside building on a quiet Nile-facing street with a great view. Its open terrace overlooks the Nile, with an impressive bar and beautiful interior design. They have great food and creative cocktails, but we warn you -- this place is not cheap! Reservations recommended. To reserve: 01275055555 Pub 28 Pub 28 is one of Zamalek’s oldest and most-loved pubs, and with good reason. It’s small, cozy, warm and offers the best sangria in the city. Expect to see a lot of 50+ Egyptians sharing a laugh over their beers -- they’ve been regulars for decades. They have a good menu of Egyptian mezze, but warning: it gets smokey and crowded sometimes which isn’t always pleasant while eating. Rooftop Zamalek Literally called Rooftop Zamalek, this bar sits on top of a shabby 1 star hotel. This place is the absolute opposite of fancy, but has fantastic Nile views (although they recently put up some annoying netting on one side to apparently stop bottles from falling on the Russian consulate below, lol). Go for a drink, the view and the breeze but definitely don't go hungry! It gets crowded at night, so try to go during the day or before sunset to nab one of the netting-free Nile view tables. Aperitivo Another swanky spot, great for either dinner and drinks in their seated restaurant section or to socialize at their bar. We love their decor, with walls dedicated to vintage hardcover books and other antique-looking pieces, and their signature crystal globe chandeliers. They have an extensive list of cocktails (several pages long) and they also do different cocktails and shots of the day, so make sure to ask the bartender for his personal recommendation. To reserve: 0 1222132357 Olivo This little pizzeria has a small indoor area with high tables and a bar, as well as a cute outdoor patio. Olivo is the perfect place to go if you want to grab pizza and a beer in a casual setting (make sure to try their sangria as well!). Because it's small it fills up quickly, so a reservation is a good idea for evenings. They also open earlyish (1:30 pm), so it's a good spot if you're looking for a daytime drink. To reserve: 0102 644 4475 La Terrace On the top floor of the President Hotel is La Terrace , a restobar that's part full-on restaurant (they serve breakfast all the way to late night dinner) and part drinking destination, with a large menu of wines and imported liquor. Although La Terrace is technically on the roof, it's not open air, which makes it a good choice on summer days because while you're surrounded by windows, they're closed and the AC is on, so you can enjoy the sun without roasting alive. During winter they also have comfy couches surrounding a (faux) fireplace. You might also like: 7 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Zamalek

Bars, pubs, clubs, oh my! From bars with Nile views to rooftop lounges to live music and DJs, Cairo has its fair share of places to drink, dance and be merry. And while each neighborhood has its own slew of nightspots (as listed in the bullet points below), we decided to give you a bird's eye view on the nightlife scene in Cairo as a whole, and bring you the very best of the best. For a breakdown of best bars per neighborhood, you can check out: 7 Best Bars & Pubs in Zamalek 12 Chill Places in Maadi to Get Dinner & Drinks 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars and Pubs 12 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Sheikh Zayed & 6th October City Best Bars & Nightlife in Downtown Cairo - Baladi Bars, Historic Bars & Rooftop Bars Now without further ago, here are our favorite nightspots in Cairo: Cairo Jazz Club Locations : Agouza Type of venue: club Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Cairo Jazz Club has been a Cairo nightlife staple for 15+ years. While the name might lead you to believe it’s all about jazz, that’s not exactly true. CJC has different music on a nightly basis, ranging from live music to hip-hop, DJs, jazz, Egyptian folkloric music and way more. The great thing about CJC is that they have a monthly schedule, so you can figure out in advance if the music that night is up your alley or not. The music usually starts around 10-10:30 pm, so if you’re hungry or want to have a conversation with someone when you can actually hear each other, go a little before then. It's about a five minute car ride from Zamalek. You can find their music schedule here . CJC 610 Locations: Sheikh Zayed Type of venue: club Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Cairo Jazz Club's bigger, more expansive branch on the west side of Cairo, in Sheikh Zayed. Whereas the original Cairo Jazz Club is on the smallish and crowded side, 610 has a large open-air terrace and bar connected to the inner club, to either kick back in or escape to when you need a breath of fresh air. Indoors they have two large bars, a stage for DJs and live performers, and tables dotted around the dance floor. They too have their own weekly schedules of music, and it's pretty much the top place in Cairo to dance. You can find their music schedule here . Esca Cueva Locations New Giza Type of venue: restaurant/bar/lounge Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Perched atop the New Giza plateau with stunning city views, this design award-winning restaurant and bar serves upscale international food and drinks from 4 pm until 2 am. If you're just going to enjoy the view and food, then try to book a dining slot before 10 pm, when a resident DJ takes over and the restaurant turns into more of a nightspot. Reservations needed (local tip: they're notoriously annoying about answering their reservation line, fingers crossed they get it sorted out soon. You can also reserve online). For more info: Esca Cueva IG The Tap Locations: New Cairo & 6th of October Type of venue: pub Dress code: casual Reservations needed: it’s always better to be on the safe side This light-hearted, indoor/outdoor pub comes complete with foosball tables and a jovial vibe. They play live music on some nights so it’s always worth it to hit up their IG/FB page and see what’s cooking. Speaking of cooking, they also have an extensive menu of pub food -- they’re famous for their wings, so no need to indulge in a heavy dinner (or any dinner) before you head over there. For more info: Tap East's FB page . Tab West's FB page . Crimson Location: Zamalek Type of venue: restaurant/bar Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Crimson is an open-air rooftop restaurant and bar in Zamalek and has some of the best Nile views in the city. It's a great spot to go get dinner and drinks, or just a beer or cocktail at the bar. Their cocktail list is impressive, but warning - they're expensive! Their food is good as well, landing them also on our list of best Cairo restaurants for locals and tourists alike . For more info, you can check their FB page . Sachi Location: Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed Type of venue: restaurant/bar Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Sachi is an upscale Mediterranean fusion and sushi restaurant and bar by Baky Hospitality, the restaurateurs who brought you Kazoku, one of our favorite places for dinner and drinks in New Cairo . When Sachi first opened its doors, it was one of the only restobars of its kind in terms of impeccable aesthetics and service - and has continued to stay a powerhouse since, with Sachi By The Sea operating in the North Coast during summer months, and Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed . Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed also has a beautiful rooftop terrace for when the weather is nice. For more info, check out their FB page . Pier 88 Location: Zamalek Type of venue: bar/lounge Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Pier 88, like Crimson, graces both our ‘best bars’ and ‘best restaurants’ list (look at you, Pier 88!). Pier 88 is a great dining destination during the day and most weekday nights, then on weekend nights and Tuesday nights it segues into a sexier lounge/bar feel, with people standing and socializing by the bar or their table, and the owner occasionally dancing on the bar himself. Pier 88 overlooks the Nile in Zamalek and has a small outdoor area if you want to catch the river breeze. Pier 88's FB page . You might also like: 9 Best Rooftop Bars in Cairo

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

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