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If your upcoming trip to Cairo coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, you might (scratch that, you probably ) feel some sense of hesitation or unease, especially if it's your first time in a Muslim country. We get it, we do. It's easy to feel worried about something you might not be familiar with, especially if you want to be respectful at the same time. Well we're here to put your worries to rest and give you the real deal when it comes to Ramadan in Cairo. In all honesty, as a tourist, you might not even feel the difference between Ramadan and not Ramadan. But just so you feel prepared, we've pulled together some useful info about Ramadan in Cairo that just might come in handy. Just a quick refresher for those who aren't quite sure what Ramadan is: it's a holy month in Islam where Muslims fast (no food, no water, no smoking) from sunrise to sunset. It's a time of family, community, charity and spirituality. Most Egyptians break their fast at home with a meal of feast-like proportions, usually amongst family and friends. They then digest at leisure (while simultaneously indulging in a ton of delicious but heavy as hell Ramadan desserts, go figure) while watching 'mosalsalat', which are month-long soap operas of sorts, with a new episode daily. There's also a lot of emphasis on giving to the poor and providing food for the less fortunate. By the way: here's a list of of Egypt's ten most beautiful mosques . Here's a few tips for tourists in Cairo (or Egypt as a whole) in Ramadan: Eating/drinking in public As a tourist, no one will look at you twice if you feel like you need to drink something or have a snack while on the go Because of the dry heat in Egypt, it's best if you carry a water bottle around with you. But if you run out, don't worry, all supermarkets and little street kiosks will be open in Ramadan for you to buy whatever you need. Eating out at restaurants Avoid restaurants at Iftar (breakfast) time, which is around 6 - 7 pm, depending on time of year -- they're overcrowded and the food is not particularly good (the cooks basically whip up a big batch of whatever and hope that the neighborly Ramadan spirit will carry them over the river of poor customer service unscathed). Some restaurants pause serving food around 4:30 pm to prep for Iftar because God knows it takes two hours to make large vats of subpar food. Basically, up until 4:30 pm you can eat and drink normally at all open restaurants, then avoid them for your own sake until about 8:30 pm. How to dress Clothes-wise, dress normally. As an Egyptian woman, I personally don't edit my wardrobe for Ramadan and plus Egyptians are in love with tourists so they won't bat an eye at what you wear regarding Ramadan. If you're in Cairo and not an Egyptian beach destination , just steer clear of miniskirts, booty shorts, crop tops and you're good (which is the advice I'd give outside of Ramadan too). Working hours Banks close early during Ramadan (around 1:30 pm). Foreign exchange offices and commercial shops and stores will usually close an hour or two before Iftar, then open again an hour or two after Check the Ramadan closing hours for any touristic sites you want to visit (to be on the safe side, plan to start your day early). Most sites like the Pyramids might close an hour or so early. Alcohol In Cairo, alcohol won't be served anywhere except in hotel restaurants/bars to foreigners (just flash them your passport). This also includes the budget hotels/hostels. There are always a bunch of foreigners and Egyptians with foreign passports drinking it up, so there's zero "Islamic guilt" (again, Egyptians are obsessed with tourists and really want them to enjoy themselves). Traffic Rush hour will be around 3-5 pm, so expect even heavier than usual traffic. Working hours are shortened in Ramadan, with most people leaving work during that time. The streets of Cairo are AMAZING right before, during and right after Iftar time -- the traffic disappears like a bad dream and it takes literally half the normal time it would take you by car to get wherever from wherever. There are also usually tons of cabs and Ubers on the street then, so don't worry about not finding a ride. Overall, as a tourist you won't really *feel* the difference between Ramadan and not-Ramadan, but some funny things to observe are: Fasting gives grumpy Egyptians a socially-accepted excuse to shout (even more) at each other on their daily commutes. Men shouting at each other using their voices or car horns (yes that's a language here) over some car-related stupidity is as normal as seeing kids hop on and off a school bus.  Fun phrases you'll probably overhear are the ubiquitous "Allahoma eni sayem" (literal translation: 'O God I am fasting', colloquial translation: 'God give me the patience to not beat this fool'. This phrase is used passive-aggressively several times a day by all fasting men, women and children. Another fun phrase is the idle threat "Matkhalineesh aftar aleik" (literal translation: 'Do not make me break my fast over you', colloquial translation: 'if you don't stop what you're doing, I'm going to do something that will cause my fast to be null and void in the eyes of God, and you *don't* want that').  If you happen to be in a car during Iftar time, beware the well-meaning date ninjas. These people stand in the street at Iftar time to pass out free dates for people to break their fast with. This in theory is an act of community and kindness, but in practice these people charge the cars like bats out of hell because YOU MUST GET YOUR DATES, DAMMIT. The good news is that most Egyptian drivers are used to these good date Samaritans throwing themselves randomly in front of cars.  Now some really enjoyable things about Ramadan: For fasting Egyptians, the two main meals of the day are Iftar at sunset as previously discussed, then Sohour. Sohour *technically* is what people eat/drink right before sunrise and before the start of their fast, but in Cairo, Sohour starts at 10:30 pm on to sunrise (and then Egyptians lament over not losing weight during Ramadan). So at almost all restaurants and cafes and street vendors across the city, you'll find happy groups of people (the morning's grumpiness now a thing of the past) eating, having shisha and playing cards and dominoes all throughout the night. Lots of hotels do 'kheyam Ramadan', which are Ramadan tents. They serve Sohour food, Ramadan-y drinks, shisha and usually have some kind of live Arabic music, all in a very festive atmosphere.  Across the city, you'll find different 'mawa'ed rahman', which are tables set up in different neighborhoods daily at Iftar time to provide free food and drinks for the less fortunate. Many Egyptians buy a 'fanoos Ramadan', a mid-sized lantern that people decorate their homes or places of business with during the holy month. Look out for the fanoos vendors, the fanoos displays are beautiful and a great photo op! All in all, Ramadan is a fun and festive time in Cairo, and there's no need to feel apprehensive. Enjoy the food, Ramadan tents, lanterns and just have a great time. You might also like: Moez Street in Old Cairo: A Detailed Local's Guide

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

Get from Point A to Point B with the least amount of hassle Cairo is a city of 20+ million people. That’s A LOT of people in just one city -- we’re talking more people in one city than in most European countries . So it’s safe to say that the city is sprawling and it’s not just a hop, skip and a jump from one end to the other ( trust us, we wish) . Cairo offers several different ways of getting from one spot to another, but it’s important that you know which mode of transport works best for you, so that you’re not scratching your head curbside wondering what the hell is going on. We’ll go through each mode of transportation with you, but that does *not* mean we recommend all of them, oh God no. Some Cairo locals won’t even attempt some of them . White Taxis Before the introduction of Uber and Careem to Cairo streets, the savvy Cairo tourist did most of their hustling via white cabs. These taxis are a dime a dozen, in all central Cairo neighborhoods, at any time of day or night (unless you're staying in a gated compound in New Cairo or 6 October City). Regarding whether or not you should tip the driver, you can tip them at your own discretion (always appreciated) but don’t believe any nonsense they might feed you at the end of the trip about extra fees or whatnot -- unless you’re going to the airport and need to pay the entrance fee, which is standard. Pros: they’re convenient, and cheap (unless the driver rips you off though, which is another story, see below). Cons: these cabs have meters, but some drivers will try to make an extra buck off you and tell you that the meter is broken or not working, hoping to negotiate a better price. Make sure to ask them if the meter is working before you hop in, and don’t agree to pay anything higher than the meter fare at the end of the trip. If the meter isn’t working but you still want to take a white cab, make sure you to tell the driver where you’re going and agree on a price before you get in. Word of caution though: most drivers won’t speak much, if any, English and unless you have a rudimentary grasp of Arabic, haggling the fare can be both annoying and exhausting. Uber/Careem or other ride hailing apps Uber and its Middle Eastern counterpart, Careem , are the two most widely used riding hailing apps in Cairo. We personally use them all the time as our choice of transport but are totally aware of some of the issues that have caused people to complain. Pros: there’s no negotiating over price, you can plug in your destination and minimize the back-and-forth with your driver (which will be undoubtedly lost in translation). Cons: sometimes the drivers are obnoxious and will request you switch your payment from credit card to cash, because they all prefer cash. Private Driver and Car with London Cab London Cab is indeed exactly what it sounds like: a cab that looks like the ones in London. They're a private car company that's ideal for when you just want peace of mind and choose to throw money at the problem - they're the most costly transportation option on this list, but also the most hassle-free. London Cab offers three different services: Airport pick-up and drop-off City rides (you book a cab to take you from Point A to Point B) Personal driver service for a set number of hours So say you have a busy day planned in Cairo with a lot of hopping from this place to that, and don't want to continuously be haggling with white taxis or using up internet data with Uber. Via London Cab's website /app or hotline, you can book a London Cab with a personal driver for a minimum of 2 hours and a maximum of 8 hours. Pros: you have freedom of movement around the city without any worry or stress. Cons: it's not the best option for those on a budget. You can get their fare estimates on their website/app. Metro If you’re used to zipping around on the metro to get to most places in your normal life, the Cairo metro might give you pause for a minute. There are three functioning metro lines in Cairo, with more stations still being added to Line 3, plus an under-construction monorail. While handy if your goal is avoiding traffic at all costs, the metro’s stops are limited so a lot of the city isn’t served by a nearby metro station. Pros: it’s super cheap, there are women-only cars, and the obvious bonus of avoiding Cairo’s aboveground gridlock. Cons: like we said above, the stops are limited so you might find yourself having to take a cab or walking long distances from the metro stop. Also, it can get really crowded. Like, really crowded. City buses/microbuses Just… no. We can’t in clear conscience recommend that a Cairo newbie try out our bus/microbus system (and we’re being fast and loose with the word ‘system’). To be fair, some long-distance buses, like GoBus, which serves Hurghada and El Gouna and a bunch of other places outside of Cairo, are fine and not much different than your typical Greyhound. But the local city buses are kind of a disaster in the eyes of the unsuspecting Cairo tourist. Pros: if you can get where you need to go by city bus, you have officially won at life. Cons: they’re crowded to the umpteenth degree, there’s no official bus line or bus stop -- you usually find a particularly vocal chap sticking his head out of the bus’ window to shout the bus’ general direction, with people jumping on and off randomly with frightening speed and agility. Renting a car This we only recommend for the brave of heart. Cairo traffic is synonymous with a chaotic cacophony of car horns, lanes as ‘suggestions’, and a cheerful "oops, almost killed you/me/that pedestrian/passing goat” attitude while driving. We’ve heard it referred to as real-life bumper cars (here in Cairo, no one gets too upset about an accidental car nick or dent here or there -- we understand that sh*t happens *insert shrug emoji*). Pros: if you have nerves of steel, driving in Cairo can almost be fun because the only real road rule is to not kill yourself or someone else. They’ve also implemented a few traffic lights here and there! Woohoo, developed country, here we come. It’s also really handy if you’re planning on driving to Alexandria or the beach. Cons: besides the fact that a lot of Westerners experience angina when faced with Egyptian driving, daily traffic in central Cairo can be a real hassle. Parking isn’t a walk in the park either. Hire a private car with a driver/arrange private transfers If you're still interested mostly in having a car while in Cairo (or at least for some part of your trip) but don't want the hassle of driving yourself, then hiring a car and driver or specific car transfers is a good idea. You'll find a lot of different on options online via travel booking platforms, travel agencies, or even your hotel/airbnb. Just make sure you read the fine print and the reviews first! Pros: you have the flexibility and easy mobility of a car, but without the stress of driving yourself. Also, if you don't need a car for the whole time (just for certain excursions for example), then this makes it more affordable than renting a car for the whole length of your stay. Cons: It's a pricier way of getting around the city. Nile Taxi Wouldn’t it be awesome if this was a legit thing? To be fair, it * is* real, as in there really is a thing called Nile Taxi, but it’s not exactly what we had in mind: we were thinking more along the lines of hailing a river boat and being whisked along to wherever our riverside destination is. Spoiler alert: the Nile Taxi is not that. Meaning, it’s a fun experience but definitely not an actual reliable mode of transportation. The real Nile Taxi is a fleet of small boats that you can call (or hit up on their app) to reserve a place on a boat for one of their four lines. Stops and pick-up/drop-off times are limited. Pros: ummmm you’re cruising down one of the most famous rivers in the world!? Cons: there have been reports about the service not being reliable and they serve very few stops. So after all this, what’s our final say? Local recommendation: stick to Uber/Careem, London Cab or private cars with drivers. You might also like: Top 10 Things To Do In Cairo, Egypt

New millennial and Gen Z dessert shops seem to be opening and competing with each other on a daily basis these days in Egypt. And while there’s something to be said for newfangled desserts like red velvet konafa and all the other 'out-of-the-box' desserts we see pop up regularly, that doesn’t mean we should let the old Egyptian patisseries of yonder years take the backseat. Trianon in Alexandria in the 1920s. It turns out we have a bunch of old-school dessert shops that not only have stood the test of time in Egypt, but come with fascinating stories and history. While some might now be run down and a shadow of their former selves (while some others are booming), it’s important to support these sugar-laden relics of our history, food and culture. Read more: for 21 classic Cairo restaurants from the 90s that are still open until now, head here . 1. Groppi Founded: 1891 in Cairo The oldest and probably most famous on this list, Maison Groppi opened in 1891 in Downtown Cairo by Swiss native Giacomo Groppi. It quickly became the most celebrated tearoom in the Middle East, to the extent that they would give Groppi chocolate as gifts to foreign royalty and other VIPs. The modern Groppi (still on Talaat Harb Square) has been closed and undergoing renovation for the past few years now. 2. Simonds Founded: 1898 in Cairo This classic oriental-meets-western bakery and cafe has been open for more than 100 years, and is still active in several different branches in Zamalek, Downtown and Dokki. 3. Trianon Founded: 1905 in Alexandria Trianon was originally a Greek-owned patisserie and chocolatier next to Raml Station in Alexandria, known back in the day for its fantastic desserts and Italian-painted interiors. 4. Tseppas Founded: 1912 in Cairo Another beloved Downtown Cairo patisserie back at the turn of the 20th century, Tseppas now has over 10 branches. 5. El Malky Founded: 1917 in Cairo Known for its dairy desserts and especially rice pudding, the very first El Malky opened over 100 years ago in the El Hussein area in Old Cairo. 6. Délices Founded: 1922 in Alexandria This Alexandrian patisserie and bakery is still owned by the same original Greek family who opened it. Besides the desserts and baked goods, Délices is now also home to a bistro and adjacent restaurant. 7. Mandarine Koueider Founded: 1928 in Cairo The Koueider family moved to Egypt from Damascus, Syria in 1926, and two years later opened their very first shop dedicated to oriental desserts. 8. Fluckiger Founded: 1930 in Alexandria Opened by a Swiss pastry chef almost 100 years ago, Fluckiger used to be especially known for their ‘clo-clo’ cone-shaped ice cream back in the day, which would have people lining up in front of the patisserie for hours. They now have almost 20 branches spread out over Alexandria and the North Coast. 9. Gianola Founded: 1939 in Port Said Gianola is Port Said's oldest patisserie and bakery, dating back 80+ years to when the original owner, Swiss native Francois Gianola, opened his European pastry shop. Gianola remains until now a popular restaurant and patisserie in Port Said. 10. A L’Americaine Founded: 1943 in Cairo An offshoot of Maison Groppi, A L’Americaine was a coffee and pastry shop created by the same owners, but for people couldn’t quite afford Groppi at the time. Two of the branches still exist Downtown until today. 11. ElDomiaty Founded: 1950 in Damietta In the little Mediterranean city of Damietta (El Domyat), the El Husseiny family opened their first first pastry house. Over the decades, the number of ElDomiaty Patisseries grew and spread to Cairo, with their traditional recipes being passed down from generation to generation. 12. Patisserie Alexandra Hamos Founded: 1957 in Alexandria Alexandra Hamos was the wife of the Greek owner of the famous Alexandrian patisserie. It first opened in the Ramleh area, which had been the center of the Greek community in Alexandria, before opening other branches around Alex. 13. Saber Founded: 1960 in Alexandria What started as a food truck for rice pudding, belila, meshmesheya and ashoora back in 1960 soon turned into several small shops in Alexandria. They also claim to be the first dessert shop to offer ice cream during the winter in Alex. 14. Manna Founded: 1969 in Alexandria Manna is the nickname of the beloved woman who founded this patisserie 50 years ago, Amina El Deeb, and is still owned and run by her children and grandchildren until now. This dessert shop was once the favorite of the Alexandrian elite, and served Egyptian icons like Abdel Halim Hafez and Mohamed Abdel Wahab. You might also like: 11 Historical Hotels in Egypt that You Can Still Stay At Today

Before booking a hotel, hostel or apartment, make sure you have an idea of the area first. Cairo is a sprawling city, and like you probably noticed in other big cities, not all neighborhoods were created equal. Obviously it’s beyond important to stay in an area that you a) feel comfortable in, and b) isn’t five million miles away from points of interest. A lot of tourists love to walk around a new city, and while Cairo does have some awesome spots to take a stroll, that’s not the case for all neighborhoods, so it’s important to have a general gist of where you want to book your hotel or apartment. Below we listed the areas/neighborhoods in order of most recommended: 1. Zamalek An island in the middle of the Nile river, Zamalek is home to some of the most beautiful views in Cairo. It’s also host to most of the city’s embassies, and thus has plenty of security on the street, which makes it great for walking around and feeling super secure. Zamalek is also known for being a walkable nightlife hub , with plenty of bars, restaurants and shisha joints. It’s our local favorite neighborhood mainly because it’s pretty hard to go wrong with Zamalek -- it's in central Cairo, which means any site/destination, whether the airport in east Cairo or the Pyramids of Giza in west Cairo, isn't too far. Recommended for: solo travelers (including solo women), couples and families Stay in Zamalek if you want: nightlife and lots of places to eat/hang out, and a safe neighborhood to walk around in Read: 7 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Zamalek Read: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek Read: 8 Best Cafes in Zamalek for Coffee, Work or Just to Chill 2. Garden City Four Seasons Nile Plaza in Garden City Perched on the east bank of the Nile, Garden City used to be home to Egypt’s elite, and some of the beautiful architecture still stands today, albeit slightly worse for wear. Garden City also hosts some of Cairo’s nicest hotels, and while it’s not home itself to many restaurants or bars outside of the hotels, Garden City is in walking distance of Zamalek. It's central Cairo, so not too far from any point of interest in the city. It's also very close to Tahrir Square and the Cairo Museum. Recommended for: solo travelers (including solo women), couples, families and business trips Stay in Garden City if: you want to stay in a nice hotel with spectacular Nile views Read: 7 Best Luxury Hotels in Cairo, Egypt 3. Maadi Maadi is known as the green oasis in Cairo (greenery is a scarcity in Cairo, and you’ll find locals speaking of trees, grass and parks in hushed, adoring tones), a favored neighborhood by expats. Old Maadi, Maadi Sarayat and Degla are all known for their leafy streets and refuge from the chaotic Cairo traffic. While not as much of a nightlife spot as Zamalek, Maadi’s Road 9 is full to the brim with restaurants, shops, cafes and a bar or two, and Degla has a lot of little good hole-in-the-wall type restaurants. However it's not very central, and most sightseeing will be a 30-45 minute drive away. Recommended for:  Airbnb, solo travelers (including solo women), couples and families Stay in Maadi if you want:  greenery and to be slightly away from the hustle & bustle of central Cairo, a good walking neighborhood as well Read: 12 Chill Places to Have Dinner & Drinks in Maadi Read: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi 4. Heliopolis Heliopolis is a good area to stay in if you need to be close to the airport. There’s a quaint little area called Korba which is nice to walk around in, and Heliopolis has its fair share of restaurants and bars. Great hotels in the neighborhood and close to the airport are the Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Cairo Heliopolis. The one con is that with the usual Cairo traffic, it will take a while to get to the city center and even longer to get to the Pyramids. Recommended for: solo travelers (including solo women), couples, families and business trips Stay in Heliopolis if: you want to be close to the airport Read: Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars & Pubs 5. New Cairo (also known as Tagamo'a el Khames) Cairo Festival City This Eastern suburb in Cairo is kinda far from the usual sightseeing spots, but it’s calmer and less chaotic than central Cairo and closer to the airport. New Cairo is mainly a residential and commercial area -- you’ll find here Cairo Festival City (a huge mall), plus dozens of other commercial centers (like 5A By Waterway, Garden 8, Point 90, U Venues and more) hosting a slew of restaurants, bars and cafes. Also home to the American University in Cairo. New Cairo is all recently built, so it's definitely not where you should stay if you want to experience Egyptian heritage, culture or history. Also cars/Ubers are needed to get around -- New Cairo is massive. Recommended for: couples and families. It might be a bit far for solo travelers from where the culture/action is Stay in New Cairo if: you want space and to be away from Central Cairo; if you want to be close to the airport; or if you want to shop and make the most of all the commercial spaces Read: 9 Best Restobars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Read: 7 Best Restaurants & Cafes in 5A By Waterway, New Cairo Read: 7 Best Restaurants in Garden 8, New Cairo Read: 7 Best Restaurants in U Venues, New Cairo Read: Cairo Festival City Restaurant & Cafe Guide 6. 6th of October City/Sheikh Zayed The Western equivalent of New Cairo. This Cairo suburb is home to Mall of Egypt, Mall of Arabia, and other commercial centers (like Arkan Plaza) full of restaurants and stores. 6th of October City/Sheikh Zayed might be the most sensible area to stay in should the main focus of your Cairo trip be the Great Pyramids of Giza and/or the Saqqara pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum ; it’s considerably closer traffic-wise than our other recommended Cairo neighborhoods. It is however the furthest Cairo neighborhood from the airport. Cars/cabs needed; this is another place that will be hard to get around on foot unless you’re masochistic. Recommended for: couples and families Stay in 6th of October City/Sheikh Zayed if: you’re going to dedicate most of your time to the Giza , Saqqara , Dahshur or Memphis sites, or the Grand Egyptian Museum Read: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Restobars in Sheikh Zayed and 6th October City Read: 10 Best Restaurants & Cafes in Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Read: 5 Best Restaurants in Park St., Sheikh Zayed 7. Downtown Cairo Downtown is a bit (and by a bit we mean a lot) chaotic, so we recommend it for those who are adventurous and looking for a real slice of Cairo life. Shop after shop after shop line the old streets of Downtown, and at night sidewalk shisha cafes dominate the landscape alongside the bright fluorescent lights of the countless window displays. It’s crowded and not always the best walking location for solo female travelers, but has a quirky charm. Most of Cairo’s notable hostels are in Downtown, and you'll also find refurbished and renovated old apartments to rent, if you're looking for something more charming than a standard hotel room. It’s also the closest neighborhood to the Cairo Museum , Khan el Khalili and Islamic and Coptic Cairo . Recommended for: budget or experiential travelers Stay in Downtown if: you want to stay in a cheap hostel and experience “real” Cairo Read: 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown, Cairo Read: Best Bars & Nightlife in Downtown Cairo *Not* recommended neighborhoods: · Haram (Pyramids area) While in theory it might seem like a smart idea to stay near the Pyramids, unless you plan to stay in a nearby 5 star hotel (like the Mena House or Steigenberger) and not leave it except to go to the Pyramids, then don’t stay here. The area isn’t the safest and it’s a long drive to get to the action and activities of Central Cairo. · Mohandiseen Think super crowded, super hectic, and just not worth it. Dokki is a slightly better area of Mohandiseen. · Manial While it does have Nile views, Manial doesn’t offer much else and isn’t the most pleasant for tourists, especially solo women. · Nasr City Another crowded, congested area in Cairo that’s not worth staying in. Local recommendation: if you’re staying in a hotel, then aim for a Zamalek or Garden City one; if you’re looking for a hostel, hit up Downtown, and if you’re Airbnbing it, Zamalek and Maadi have some good options. You can also check out our full recommended luxury hotel list right here . You may also like: Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

The Dog Cafe in Sheikh Zayed If you’re a pet parent, then you’ll know two things for sure: 1) how hard it is to leave your dog at home sometimes, and 2) how even harder it is to find a dog-friendly restaurant or cafe in Cairo where you can actually BRING your doggie buddy with you.  Unfortunately, Egypt isn’t quite there yet culturally when it comes to accepting our furry friends out and about, but the good news is that people are slowly opening up, and there’s now actually a multitude of places that are pet-friendly! We’ve made a list below of our favorite dog-friendly restaurants and cafes, plus we listed an even more extensive directory below of different places based on neighborhood.  Local tip: while all of the below restaurants & cafes are pet-friendly, some have certain rules regarding dog size and breed, so if you have a large dog, then it’s best to check with them beforehand before you bring your big fur baby.  The Drive by Waterway Location: New Cairo So technically The Drive isn’t one restaurant or cafe, it’s more than a dozen! This food and coffee hub hosts casual restaurants like BRGR, What The Crust, Bowla, Maine, Sauce, 3 Diner and more, as well as coffee favorites like Cult, Seven Fortunes and Saints. And the best news? They all have picnic tables and outdoor seating, and pets are very welcome! For more info: The Drive Street 88 Location: Palm Hills 6 October Street 88 is similar to The Drive in the sense that they’re a pedestrian area home to multiple venues, however fewer in number. Still a great option in the 6 October/Sheikh Zayed area though (they’re located adjacent to Palm Hills). Some of their pet-friendly restaurants and cafes are JJ’s Burgers, Chez Koukou, Sandwich Room, Takosan and more. The Dog Cafe Location: Sheikh Zayed By far THE most dog-friendly spot in all of Cairo – it’s right there in the name! The Dog Cafe, found in Eden Plaza in Sheikh Zayed, is the one venue in Cairo that’s made specifically for dog owners and lovers. Open from 8 am until midnight, they have a full menu and bakery for people, and even healthy treats especially made for your dogs! For example, in the summer they have ‘Doggo Ice Cream’, made out of Greek yoghurt, peanut butter and coconut oil. And dogs are allowed both indoors as well as outdoors, for those cold winter nights. For more info: The Dog Cafe Granita Location:   Zamalek If you’re in Zamalek and want an ambient breakfast or lunch but don’t want to leave your fur baby at home, then Granita is a great option for you. This sophisticated cafe not only has a great vibe, but they call themselves “Not just pet-friendly – pet enthusiastic!” For more info: Granita Frank & Co Location: Maadi The only pet-friendly restaurant on this list where you can have a beer or a glass of wine AND bring your dog along. Frank & Co is a well-known restaurant & bar in Maadi , and dogs are welcome in their outdoor seating area.  For more info: Frank & Co CAF Location: New Cairo CAF’s outdoor area at 5A by Waterway in New Cairo is one of the most popular places to bring your dog, although watch out – it gets crowded quickly! Try to go early in the morning if you want some peace and quiet with your doggo, because luckily CAF opens at 7 am. For more info: CAF Il Mulino Location: Heliopolis For those in the mood to have more elevated food than just coffee and snacks but don’t want to leave their dog at home, Il Mulino is a great option for those who live in Heliopolis. This bistro/restaurant has an outdoor (but shaded) dog-friendly space, great for both socializing as well as working. For more info: Il Mulino VASKO Locations: Maadi, Heliopolis, New Cairo VASKO is a well-known coffeeshop with multiple locations around Cairo, and luckily for pet owners, several of their branches are pet-friendly, including their Maadi branch, Korba branch and CloudNine Mall in New Cairo branch. But watch out because that doesn’t mean all their branches allow dogs! It’s always best to give a specific branch a call first beforehand. For more info: VASKO Cake Cafe Locations: Zamalek, New Cairo Cake Cafe started as a tiny cafe in Zamalek,  with a few outdoor tables where you can bring your furry friend. Until today they’ve still maintained that cozy neighborhood appeal, but also added on a larger branch in Swan Lake, New Cairo, with an outdoor garden area and also pet-friendly. For more info: Cake Cafe Ampersand Eatery Location: New Cairo Located in Trivium Mall, Ampersand touts itself as an urban eatery and garden, with a massive menu as well as shisha. They’re pet-friendly and allow dogs in until 6 pm.  For more info: Ampersand Eatery The good news is, that these aren’t the only pet-friendly restaurants and cafes in Cairo! We listed a bunch more below, divided by neighborhood. New Cairo: Two Spoons Seven Fortunes (Waterway 1) Espresso Lab (Waterway 2) Eden Bakery (Mivida) Foufa’s (5A) Sheikh Zayed/6 October: Beanstalk Amici Garden The Gardens New Giza Maadi: Lokali Lyfe Ovio Espresso Lab Madeleine Bakery Il Mulino (Maadi branch) Villa Sumatra Grapes Bells KMT House Zamalek: Holm Cafe Haven Specialty Coffee Auntie Loulou Heliopolis: Raf Speciality Coffee (Almaza branch til 6 pm) Duecento Buns n Glaze Soli’s Did we miss any pet-friendly spots in Cairo? Let us know in the comments! You may also like: 8 Best Cafes in Zamalek for Coffee, Work, or Just to Chi ll

Egypt has captured the imagination of many a writer in its 7,000 year existence -- and whether it be ancient Egypt, colonial Egypt or modern Egypt, can you really blame them? Few other countries in the world have the history, depth and complexity as Egypt, and we’ve compiled some of our favorite novels that take place here, by both Egyptian and non-Egyptian authors alike (this list is English-based, so we made sure that all Arabic and French novels listed below have an English translation available). This list is just the tip of the iceberg (or pyramid?) when it comes to novels about Egypt, and be sure to let us know if we didn’t include one of your favorites. Palace Walk Author: Naguib Mahfouz Takes place in: Cairo, 1917-1919 Summary: we of course had to include a novel by Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian legend and a Nobel Laureate in Literature. Palace Walk is the first novel in Mahfouz’s Cairo Trilogy, all translated from Arabic (Palace Walk’s real title is Bein El Qasrein , which translates to ‘between the two palaces’). Palace Walk is an inside look at a middle class Egyptian family during British-occupied Egypt in WWI, and the dynamics and cultural complexities between them. Read more: in the novel, the family lives in the area of El Moez Street, which is still a must-see Cairo attraction until today. Here's our local's guide to Moez Street. In the Eye of the Sun Author: Ahdaf Soueif Takes place in: Egypt and the UK from 1967-1980 Summary: This novel is a beautiful mix of love story, politics both in the Middle East and in interpersonal relationships, and a vivid portrayal of Egypt spanning over 10 years, all told through the story of Asya, a young Egyptian woman and memorable heroine. Egyptian author and journalist Ahdaf Soueif is also known for her novel The Map of Love, another personal favorite of ours. Ramses: The Son of Light Author: Christian Jacq Takes place in: Ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom Summary: This historical fiction novel is actually the first in a 5 book series about the life, love and reign of Ramses II, perhaps the most famous and powerful pharaoh to date. The books are quick reads, and even though they’re translated originally from French, the English translations do the books justice. Expect entertaining portrayals of Ancient Egypt and famous names such as Seti I, Nefertari and Moses. We definitely recommend reading all 5 books. Read more: Ramses II was the pharaoh behind the construction of Abu Simbel, one of the most spectacular Ancient Egyptian temples of all time. Here's a list of the 12 most impressive Anicent Egyptian temples still standing today . Yacoubian Building Author: Alaa El Aswany Takes place in: Cairo, 1990 Summary: Originally an Arabic novel, Yacoubian Building was a smash hit and not only quickly translated into other languages, but made into a movie. The story revolves around the different residents of the old Yacoubian Building in Downtown Cairo, and is described as a “scathing portrayal of modern Egyptian society”. Its incorporation of homosexuality in the story also got a lot of people hot and bothered (and not in a good way) when the book first came out. Death on the Nile Author: Agatha Christie Takes place: mainly on a steamer on the Nile in 1937 Summary: Yup, the world-famous detective novels of Agatha Christie starring Hercule Poirot have their own nod to Egypt in Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie herself stayed at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan while writing the novel, which is a mystery aboard a period steamer on the Nile. A Woman of Cairo Author: Noel Barber Takes place in: Cairo before and throughout WWII up through the 1952 revolution Summary: Set during the final days of the British occupation in Egypt is a love story between childhood friends and neighbors in Cairo’s aristocratic Garden City; the son of a British diplomat and the daughter of an Egyptian pasha. Their world of midnight picnics at the Pyramids and Nile-side luxury is brought to an abrupt halt when World War II erupts, followed by the uprising of Egyptians against the British occupation. River God Author: Wilbur Smith Takes place in: Ancient Egypt, end of the Middle Kingdom Summary: Set right before and during the invasion of the Hyksos into Ancient Egypt, River God is an adventure novel with a love triangle between the Pharaoh, a lord’s daughter and the soldier she’s in love with -- but the main character is Taita, a eunuch and slave who has to navigate his way not only through the perils of the love triangle but an ancient empire on the brink of falling to foreign invaders. The Alexandria Quartet Author: Lawrence Durrell Takes place in: Alexandria, before and during World War II Summary: The Alexandria Quartet is actually not just one book, but four -- you can either read them separately or all in one go as one really long book. The four books are Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive and Clea; the first 3 books depict the same set of events, but through different perspectives. The fourth novel takes place 6 years later. The novels are all about ‘modern’ love and the melting pot of East and West in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. The writing tends to lean towards being more ‘literary-heavy’ if that makes sense, so if you’re looking for a light read, this might not be for you. Read more: 15 Best Things to See and Do in Alexandria Nefertiti Author: Michelle Moran Takes place in: Ancient Egypt, during the New Kingdom Summary: Michelle Moran is one of the most popular historical fiction novelists in the world, and she's excellent at bringing Ancient Egypt to life through her evocative writing and attention to historical detail -- but with all the intrigue and drama that we love in novels. Nefertiti tells the story of the famous yet mysterious Ancient Egyptian queen, her rise to power, and the political and religious upheaval that her and husband's reign was known for. If you loved this book, then make sure to also read Michelle Moran's novel The Heretic Queen, which also takes place in Ancient Egypt. She also wrote 'Cleopatra's Daughter', set during Ptolemaic Egypt. The Golden Goblet Author: Eloise Jarvis McGraw Takes place in: Ancient Egypt, during the New Kingdom Summary: This book is touted as a children’s or young adult book, but trust us when we say it’s just as enjoyable for adults. The story revolves around Ranofer, a young orphan boy who tries to rise above his unfortunate circumstances to pursue his simple dream of becoming a goldsmith’s apprentice and leaving his abusive half-brother forever. He accidentally stumbles across one of the worst crimes one can commit in Ancient Egypt, and it’s up to him to do the right thing even if it costs him everything. You may also like: 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

When it comes to countries in the northern hemisphere, winter is usually not their best season -- unless their claim to fame is skiing. And while Egypt is indeed in the northern hemisphere, it’s a country of 364 sunny days a year. And if you’re one of those people who hate to sweat, then most definitely winter is when you should hit up Egypt -- think sun, clear skies, a crisp breeze but *not* hot or humid… yes, such a place exists! Whether you’re looking for fun things to do , new things to eat , or just a cheap getaway in a warmer climate, below are reasons why your next Egypt trip should be booked some time November through March. 1. Luxor and Aswan's weather is unbeatable during winter months. Lugging out your winter gear and grimacing at the thought of shoveling snow once again? Winter days in Egypt are sunny and balmy, and rain is almost a mythical creature in southern Egypt, so rarely does it happen. Winter is the perfect time to take a trip down to Luxor and Aswan , where temperatures soar during summer months, making it almost impossible to wander through the dusty Valley of the Kings. Winter however finds Luxor and Aswan visitors in T-shirts and shorts during the day, and a light jacket at night. 2. Winter street food. Egyptians are a cozy bunch, and during the winter they enjoy things that warm their hands and bellies. Walk down the vibrant streets of Cairo and you’ll soon find yourself stopping in wonder at the sweet, smoky scent drifting towards you. It’ll most probably be a sweet potato vendor, who walks his little cart around Cairo and roasts sweet potatoes for you that are so tender they practically fall from the skins. Keeping walking and you’ll find another vendor grilling corn on the cob, another great snack while wandering the streets. Hot drinks like “sahlab” (a warm milk-based drink), “hommos el sham” (a spicy tomato based drink flecked with chickpeas) and Turkish coffee will warm you to the toes. For more details, read 7 Egyptian Comfort Foods Perfect For Winter . 3. Off-season prices are now a year-long thing in Egypt. For the past few years, the Egyptian pound (EGP) has struggled against the dollar, which is bad news for locals for great news for tourists. It doesn’t matter if your currency of choice is dollars, euros or British pounds, you’ll find Egypt to be very affordable when it comes to things like transportation, local food and sightseeing at certain spots (as long as you avoid the tourist traps, that is). Check our article on 10 cheap ways to enjoy Cairo . 4. Winter beaches? Egypt’s Red Sea calls. Most people, when thinking of Egypt, envision sand -- but not necessarily the beach kind. Egypt’s gorgeous soft white sand beaches and azure waters unfortunately aren’t as well known as they should be, even though they compete with some of the best in the world. The Red Sea resorts and beaches (whether in Sharm el Sheikh , Hurghada , Soma Bay or Marsa Alam ) are frequented year-long, and host some of the best diving , windsurfing and kitesurfing in the world. During the day you can easily sunbathe in your swimsuit on the beach (although truth be told, the actual water in January might prove a bit chilly except for the hardiest of swimmers). October, November, late February and March all boast great beach weather and swimming. 5. You’ll enjoy Egypt’s multitude of attractions without worrying about the intense heat. Many of Egypt's best attractions are in the desert, and the dry heat and steady sun in cloud-less skies can sometimes prove too much for some in hotter months. The smart ones who visit in the winter are also the lucky ones who can stand in awe of temples like Abu Simbel, the pyramids , the tombs and the rest of the relics of the pharaohs without worrying about overheating alongside hordes of tourists in sweltering weather. 6. It’s the perfect time for a cruise down the river Nile. During the summer, the sun is so intense on the deck of the cruise ships that it has passengers scurrying for the protection of the air conditioned rooms below. Winter months are the perfect time to stretch out in the sunshine on the deck, feel the river breeze on your face, hear the water lapping below and just relax and sip your cocktail of choice. Read more: Choosing A Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide 7. You can engage in physical activities galore without worrying about heatstroke . Rock climbing in Dahab, a winter activity. Photo credit: Desert Divers If you thought Egypt was short on adrenaline-pumping experiences, think again. Winter is the perfect time to try out some of the extreme adventures Egypt has to offer, whether it’s kayaking from Aswan to Luxor, rock climbing in Dahab, dirt biking in the desert or trekking in Sinai. For a full list of awesome (but extreme) activities in Egypt, head here . You might also like: 12 Travel Destinations in Egypt Perfect For The Fall

It seems like everywhere you turn in New Cairo, there’s a new commercial center with a slew of different restaurants, cafes and bars opening up. And considering how many people now live and work in New Cairo, that’s a good thing in our opinion! Read also: 7 Best Restaurants in Garden 8, New Cairo Read also: 5 Best Restaurants in District 5, Cairo Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in U Venues, New Cairo Read more: Cairo Festival City Restaurant & Cafe Guide 5A by The Waterway is one of the biggest and most well-known commercial centers, so it begs the question – which of its many restaurants and cafes should we go to? In no particular order, here are our local favorites at 5A: Babel There’s no other restaurant in Cairo with the same striking interior design that Babel has – from its dramatic pendant lighting and soaring ceilings to the grand piano, Babel’s ambience immediately elevates your lunch or dinner experience. It’s a Lebanese restaurant with a handful of locations around the Middle East, and its 5A branch in Cairo has been impressing diners since its opening.  They also serve shisha and alcohol, keeping in theme with the Lebanese experience. Keep in mind though that Babel is expensive and needs reservations more often than not – so not the place for a casual lunch or dinner. For more info: Babel Villa Caracas If you're looking to have lunch in a spot that's light, airy and warm, then head to Villa Caracas. This Lebanese staple has multiple branches throughout Cairo, but 5A's branch is one of their most ambient ones. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and serve breakfast from 10 on weekdays and 9 am on weekends. For more info: Villa Caracas Reif Kushiyaki Reif Kushiyaki is a restaurant famous for its "unconventional Japanese street food" in Dubai, and it opened its first Egyptian branch in 5A. Named after Reif Othman (owner and chef of the Dubai branch) and kushiyaki , which is grilled meat on skewers. They have indoor and outdoor seating and their menu is a mix of sushi, skewers, ramen and other Japanese street food faves. Alcohol served. For more info: Reif Kushiyaki Ahwet Zeitouna If you’re looking for great Lebanese food with shisha or wine for lunch or dinner and want a more casual place than Babel, then Ahwet Zeitouna is your 5A destination. They’re going for the vibe and feel of a Lebanese neighborhood cafe, which is a hard ask in a New Cairo commercial center, but they pull it off pretty well with their sunny outdoor dining area. For more info: Ahwet Zeitouna Brown Nose What about those who are in 5A looking for a good cup of coffee, breakfast or just a cafe to work or chill in? 5A has a few of those, but one of our favorites is Brown Nose. While we’re not sure if we’re sold on the name, the venue itself is a cozy little coffee shop with outdoor seating and a few seats indoors. They have a a large hot and cold coffee menu, as well as sandwiches, toasties, pastries and their signature ‘croffles’ – croissant waffles! Opens at 8 am.  For more info: Brown Nose Carlo’s It seems like on almost every list we write of best restaurants here and there around Cairo, Carlo’s always features – and for good reason. It has a huge menu with something for everyone, and they’re consistently good. (Local tip: try their Egyptian baked rice). They also serve shisha and alcohol, and is always a safe choice for anything from a family lunch to a business dinner to a birthday outing with friends.  For more info: Carlo's CAF Looking for an early morning coffee in a peaceful sunny spot in New Cairo? CAF in 5A is open at 7 am, and they’re known for their strong and extensive coffee menu. It’s a great place to work during the day (or even at night!). They have sandwiches, salads and a bakery but are mainly known for their hot and cold brew.  For more info: CAF Other restaurants in 5A by Waterway: Crave Don Eatery Qahwa Gala Bocca Numa Ni Cafe Coffee & desserts in 5A: Karak Boy Foufa's Le Flandrin Patchi You may also like: 10 Best Restaurants & Bars in New Cairo for Dinner & Drinks

Brunch & Cake We Egyptians are known for being night owls of sorts; that’s why Cairo is way more bustling at midnight than it is at 7 in the morning. And while late-night restaurants are a dime a dozen, it’s not always an easy endeavor to find a good breakfast in Cairo that’s not a generic coffee franchise. But luckily for all you early birds out there, we pulled together a list of our favorite tried-and-true breakfast spots throughout the city. Here they are, in no particular order: Lucille’s Locations: Maadi Opening hours: 8 am - midnight The grandmother of all big American breakfasts in Cairo. Yup, way before the concept of all-day pancakes, waffles and omelettes were a thing elsewhere in the city, Lucille’s was already offering it on weekends at their Road 9 branch over 20 years ago. Lucille’s menu . Ovio Locations: Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Maadi Opening hours: 8 am - midnight This European restaurant has a hefty breakfast menu: pancakes, crepes, different egg styles by the dozen, sourdough toast and morning sandwiches; Ovio’s got it all. Ovio’s menu . Arabiata Locations: Dokki, Nasr City, New Cairo, Heliopolis, Shorouk, Rehab City, Obour Opening hours: 7 am - 3 am We can’t go any further down this list without paying homage to the OG of Egyptian breakfasts, Arabiata (formerly El Shabrawy). If you’re looking for cheap, fast and filling, Arabiata’s fuul and taameya sandwiches (plus their potato and eggplant ones!) won’t ever lead you astray. Arabiata’s menu . Koffee Kulture Location:  Sheikh Zayed, Palm Hills, District 5, New Cairo Opening hours:  7:30 am - midnight One of the breakfast and coffee stars of malls like Arkan, District 5 and Golf Central. Koffee Kulture's menu features all sorts of omelettes, eggs Benedict, tortilla egg wraps, sandwiches, bagels, open-faced sourdough loaves, a bakery, and a ton of coffee options. Koffee Kulture's menu . Granita Location: Zamalek, Sheikh Zayed Opening hours: 7 am - 11 pm Nestled next to the All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek is Granita, a "concept cafeteria" that's a nod to the 'grand cafes' of Egypt back in the 1930s and 1940s - think Groppi and other vintage cosmopolitan cafes . They have both indoor and outdoor seating and serve breakfast until 1:30 pm. Granita’s menu . Ralph’s German Bakery Location: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed Opening hours: 8 am - 10 pm This bakery and breakfast spot in Dahab on the Red Sea Riviera became so popular that they opened their first branches in Cairo a while back. Besides the freshly-baked breads and croissants they’re known for, they also make various breakfast trays, specialty ‘laugens’ and full English breakfasts. Ralph’s menu . Eish + Malh Location: Downtown Opening hours: 7 am - 1 am This Downtown eatery might have a distinctly Egyptian name, but is in fact Italian. They have fruity options for a light breakfast, like fruit platters and berry parfaits, and more substantial options if you’re the mood for a big breakfast: pancakes, french toast, baked eggs and breakfast pizza. Eish + Malh’s menu . Zooba Locations: Zamalek, Maadi, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Heliopolis, Nasr City, Grand Egyptian Museum Opening hours: 8 am - 1 am Our favorite gentrified street food has actually made it all the way to New York City! Known for their breakfast sandwiches and dips, they have all kinds of gourmet fuul and taameya options, plus a few classics like eggs with basterma and shakshouka. Zooba’s menu . Gaby’s Location: CFC, Point 90 Known for its comfort food, Gaby’s two New Cairo branches have differing opening times. Their Point 90 branch opens early at 8 am, while their CFC branch opens slightly later, at 11 am. They serve everything from fruity pancakes to all sorts of Egyptian breakfast staples (and feteer!). Gaby’s menu . Marriott Gardens (Garden Promenade Cafe) Location: Zamalek Opening hours: 6 am - 2 am Unlike most Cairo hotels that serve a ubiquitous open-buffet style breakfast, the Cairo Marriott is a good destination if you’re looking for a place to have breakfast in the open air. They serve an a la carte international breakfast in their garden restaurant, and they're open very early - from 6 am! Garden Promenade Cafe’s menu . Bocca Location:  Mohandiseen, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed Opening hours: 10 am - 2 am Just check out that Lotus feteer! Bocca doesn't have as extensive a breakfast menu as some of the other restaurants on this list, but the few dishes they offer are crowd pleasers. Bocca's menu . Il Mulino Locations: Maadi, Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed Opening hours: 7 am - 1 am This bakery and restaurant is known for their fresh olive ciabatta sandwiches, eggs, quiches, calzones and baguettes. They also have a rotating assortment of fresh pastries. Il Mulino’s menu . 30 North Locations: Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia, Zamalek Opening hours: 8 am - 12:30 am Known especially for their coffee, 30 North also serves up fresh bagels, sandwiches, omelettes, crepes and pastries to go alongside their specialty brew. 30 North's menu . Tabali Locations: branches all over Cairo Opening hours: 7:30 am - midnight Another good option if you’re in the mood for no-bars-held Egyptian breakfast. They have all kinds of fuul, taameya, eggs, dips, potato dishes, cheese dishes and salads, served either in a sandwich or ‘tableya’ style. Tabali’s menu . Desoky & Soda Locations: branches all over Cairo Opening hours: 9 am - 12:30 am A "modern Egyptian kitchen" with not only all the usual Egyptian staples, but big trays and platters as well: the breakfast tray, feteer meshaltet tray, American breakfast platter and more. Desoky & Soda's menu . Qahwa Locations: New Cairo, Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia Opening hours: 8:30 am - 2 am From light choices like muesli and yoghurt bowls to all kinds of eggs (omelettes, scrambled, Benedict, poached, sunny side up) to pancakes and French toast, Qahwa has something for everyone. Qahwa’s menu . Lokali Location: Maadi, District 5 Opening hours: 8:30 am - midnight Lokali is a concept restaurant that focuses around fresh, clean ingredients from local farms, served in a warm garden set-up (and we give them extra points for being pet-friendly!). Their breakfast items all come with a twist -- for example, they have a brioche pastrami scramble, a unique rendition of the classic eggs and basterma. Lokali’s menu . Brunch & Cake Location: New Cairo, 6 October Opening hours: 9 am - midnight If you're in the mood for some truly dazzling-looking, treat-yourself kind of breakfasts, than look no further than Brunch & Cake. Not only are their dishes all worthy of an Instagram moment, but they taste pretty great too. Brunch & Cake's menu . Nişantaşi Location: Cairo Festival City, City Stars Opening hours: 10 am - 1 am Royal Turkish breakfast, anyone? Enough said. Nişantaşi's menu . Felfela Locations: Downtown Cairo Opening hours: 9 am - midnight A family favorite since 1959, Felfela has been one of those classic Cairo places to head to for a weekend breakfast or brunch. They have all the beloved Egyptian breakfast staples, as well as a few signature dishes like the 'taameya katkouta' - Felfela's version of a scotch egg. Mo Bistro Locations: Mohandiseen, Sheikh Zayed, District 5, Garden 8 Opening hours: 10 am - 1 am Remember Cafe Mo? Well it evolved into Mo Bistro. Opening at 10 am, it’s targeted more to the late breakfasters and brunchers. They have nice diversity on their breakfast menu, with everything from English, American and Oriental breakfasts to Benedict Florentine to grilled cheese sandwiches and eggplant breakfast quesadillas. Mo’s menu . Willow's Locations: Sheikh Zayed, District 5 Opening hours: 9 am - midnight This international restaurant in Arkan and District 5 has a hefty breakfast and brunch menu: omelettes, different types of Eggs Benedict, egg bread bowls, French Toast, pancakes, breakfast platters and cheese platters, 'Pizza Barca' (a type of pizza breakfast boat with eggs), yogurt parfait, sandwiches, salads and a bakery. And tons of breakfast drinks while you're at it! Willow's menu . Andrea Mariouteya Location: New Giza, 6th October Opening hours: 11 am - 12 pm A family breakfast/brunch favorite for over 60 years , Andrea Mariouteya is known for their freshly-made feteer meshaltet served with honey and molasses, as well as their large egg platters (perfect for groups), fuul, taameya and other Egyptian breakfast essentials. Eatery Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed Opening hours: 10 am - midnight Eatery has a full-on international breakfast menu: everything from fuul and falafel to pancakes, waffles and avocado toast. They also have breakfast sandwiches and a ‘healthy corner’ of the menu -- chia seed parfait, anyone? Eatery’s menu . Paul Locations: New Cairo, City Stars, Mall of Egypt, Mall of Arabia, Heliopolis, Mohandiseen Opening hours: 8 am - midnight King of the French breakfast, Paul offers everything from eggs to pastries to breakfast bowls to savory halloumi pancakes. Paul’s menu . Umami Location: New Cairo Opening hours: 8 am - 2 am Found in Garden 8 in New Cairo (read more: Best Restaurants in Garden 8 ), Umami has a fun breakfast menu with items like cinnamon buns, bagels, breakfast pizza, all kinds of pancakes, sandwiches and more. Umami’s menu . Bashandy Location: Nasr City, New Cairo Opening hours: 24/7 Bashandy or 'Am Bashandy, its official name, is a Nasr City staple for Egyptian street food and breakfast (pick-up or delivery only). And get this - they're open 24 hours! So whether you want breakfast at 4 am or 4 pm, Bashandy is your go-to. They also have a second branch in New Cairo. Bashandy's menu . Bittersweet Location: Sheikh Zayed, New Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum Opening hours: 9 am - 11 pm Looking to elevate your morning coffee? Look no further than pairing an espresso with Bittersweet's insane O'Smores. If that shot of caffeine and sugar won't wake you up, probably nothing much will! (They also have other 'normal' breakfast selections for those who don't want to be wired for the rest of the day). Brioche Dorée Location: Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Dandy Mall (6th October), Maadi, Nasr City Opening hours: 7 am - 12 am A French bakery/cafe chain that's been going strong across the globe for over 40 years now. They're loved for their pastries, fresh bread, sandwiches and assortment of breakfast and brunch items. Brioche Dorée's menu . Ratios Bakery Location: Maadi Opening hours: 7:30 am - 2 pm This famous Maadi bakery offers different types of fresh bread (white sourdough, whole wheat sourdough, cranberry & walnut sourdough, baguettes, seed bread, honey buns, pizza dough), croissants, Danish, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, tarts, cookies, brownies and more. They get crowded quickly, so it's best to reserve. Ratios Bakery’s menu . LOCAL TIP: While these breakfast spots might be great, we have to give a shout out to the real Egyptian breakfast champions, the fuul and taameya carts. They'll always be #1. You might also like: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi

Philae Temple Complex, on a Nile island Most people who visit Aswan in Upper Egypt do it as part of an all-inclusive Luxor & Aswan Nile cruise, with a guide hustling you along from point A to point B: see this, look at that, take a picture, tip the guard, on to the next. Read more: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide And while it’s admittedly relaxing to let someone else do all the planning and organizing and transporting you from here to there, seeing the town on your own allows you to spend more time doing what really interests you, and skipping what doesn’t particularly float your boat ( felucca in this case. Sorry, Egyptian dad joke). Read more: Aswan, Egypt - A Local's City Guide So if you’re interested in exploring Aswan on your own time, here are the best things to see and do: 1. Philae Philae is a temple complex on the Nile island of Agilkia, built during Ptolemaic times and finished during the Roman conquest. It’s known for being the last place where hieroglyphs were written, and the last place where the Ancient Egyptian religion was practiced. Christianity became present in Philae starting the 4th century, where it first was practiced alongside the Ancient Egyptian religion and then solely. Today you can see both the original Ancient Egyptian temples and the temples that were converted into churches. Another interesting fact about Philae is that it wasn’t always chilling on Agilkia Island -- it was actually dismantled, moved and reassembled by UNESCO to save it from the flooding of the Nile from 1960 to 1980 due to the Aswan High Dam. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside Abu Simbel, below. For more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt, head here . 2. Abu Simbel Speak of the devil. Abu Simbel, like Philae, was relocated and saved from the Nile. And when you see the ginormity of the monument, the fact they were able to do that is almost as awe-inspiring as the monuments themselves. Abu Simbel is actually two massive temples -- the one you see in all the pictures is the Great Temple dedicated to the gods and Ramses II, and the Small Temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Nefertari, the Great Wife of Ramses II. The Abu Simbel temples are known to be some of the most beautiful temples in Egypt. Before you get too excited though, there’s some bad news. Abu Simbel is actually quite a ways from central Aswan, about a 3 hour car ride, and you can’t attempt it by yourself because security forces don’t want tourists driving lost in the remote southern desert. Have either your hotel or a tour agency arrange a car and driver for you. Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today 3. Nubian Village What makes Aswan different from the rest of Egypt is its strong Nubian culture, which is apparent in the architecture, art and even the language of Aswan natives (they speak a mix of Arabic and Nubian that even other Egyptians can’t understand). The Nubian Village in Aswan is a beautiful place to walk around and see the symbolically painted houses and murals -- and it’s also a market of sorts, with handcraft shops and vendors galore. You can find everything from handwoven scarves to local spices to handmade jewelry. Local note: please don’t give money to anyone who wants to show you live crocodiles or let you hold baby ones, because they’re kept in really horrible conditions. Please support the Nubian Village in other ways, like by buying their handicrafts. 4. Nubian Museum So you got the look and feel of the Nubian Village (and probably a lot of souvenirs), but how about actually learning about the history and culture? Nubians hail from southern Egypt and northern Sudan, and their history is as old as Ancient Egypt’s. The preservation of Nubian culture is extremely important, because the heartland of Nubia was destroyed due to the flooding of the Nile. The museum tells the story of Nubia from its start as a prehistoric Nile Valley civilization, through the pharaonic era and introduction of Christianity and Islam to Egypt, up to the building of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. For more important museums in Egypt, head here . 5. Day Trip to Lake Nasser South of the Aswan High Dam is Lake Nasser, one of the largest manmade lakes in the world, created after the dam was built. This massive reservoir is home to more wildlife than villages, so it’s easy to forget that anyone else exists when you’re in the middle of the enormity of the lake. There are cruises that take you around the lake, or you can arrange a day trip through your hotel or tour agency. If you’re the DIY type, you can also arrange with a local boatman in Aswan to take you down for a day in a motorboat. Lake Nasser is dotted with ancient monuments around its shoreline, and fishing is allowed in parts of the lake (you can fish from both the shore and your boat). Nile Perch is a type of prized fish found in Lake Nasser, and the lake is also one of the last safe havens for the Nile crocodile. 6. Temple of Kalabsha Speaking of Lake Nasser, one of its most famous monuments is the Temple of Kalabsha. It was originally built during Roman times, around 30 BC, over an earlier sanctuary built by Amonhotep II. Kalabsha was built as a shrine to Mandulis (Merul), an ancient Nubian sun god. When Christianity made its way to Aswan, the temple was converted to a church. Kalabsha is the second biggest monument after Abu Simbel to be moved from its original location to save it from the Nile flooding after the dam’s construction. 7. The Old Cataract Hotel (now Sofitel Legend Old Cataract) 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 famous Mena House in Cairo. 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 TV series ‘Grand Hotel’). It’s now known as the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel, and you can reserve a spot in their Nile-side restaurants to have a drink or meal. For more historical hotels in Egypt you can stay at until today, head here . 8. Unfinished Obelisk The Unfinished Obelisk is the largest obelisk built in Ancient Egypt, and if it had been completed it would’ve reached 42 meters (around 137 feet), which is one third larger than any other existing obelisk. Commissioned by the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, it was carved out of bedrock in a stone quarry, but cracks appeared in the granite during its construction, leading to its abandonment. You can still see it in its original quarry, giving interesting insight into the stone-working techniques of the Ancient Egyptians. 9. Qubbet el Hawa (Tombs of the Nobles) A necropolis of tombs spanning the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, belonging to Ancient Egyptian officials and nobles. The tombs are on varying levels of a hilltop, with a domed tomb of an Islamic sheikh on the very top. It’s still an active excavation site, so who knows what else will be found there in the future. The tombs which are allowed public access rotate, but the most celebrated tombs there belong to Harkhuf, Sarenput II and Sabni. Reaching the top of the hill is a bit of a trek, but it’s also home to some of the very best views in Aswan. You might also like: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Egypt 10. Elephantine Island This Nile island used to be the Ancient Egyptian city of Abu, which translated to ‘elephant’. The first temple built on the island was around 3,200 BC (around 5,200 years ago), and it was a temple for Satet, a goddess personified as the Nile inundation. Elephantine was also known in the Ancient Egyptian religion as being the home of Khnum, the ram god who watched over and controlled the Nile waters. Around 3,500 years ago Elephantine became a fort that marked the southern border of Egypt. Today Elephantine Island is home to the Movenpick hotel and the Aswan Museum, but if you explore the island further you'll find some Ancient Egyptian ruins, including two temples. Besides that, most people enjoy seeing the Nubian homes there and Animalia, a Nubian home turned museum and B&B. 11. Botanical gardens on Kitchener’s Island British Lord Kitchener (1850-1916) was gifted this small Nile island as thanks for his military prowess in Sudan. He built a house and turned the whole island into a botanical garden, importing plants from as far as Malaysia and India. He was fluent in Arabic and is said to have preferred the company of the Egyptians over the British. The island is called Geziret el Nabatat in Arabic (‘island of the plants’). You can enjoy walking through the exotic trees and plants (closed on Fridays). 12. Day trip to Kom Ombo and Edfu Temple of Horus at Edfu It’s customary to see the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu on Luxor-Aswan cruises (the temples are on the Nile between the two cities), but just because you skipped the cruise doesn’t mean you have to skip seeing two of Egypt’s most impressive temples. Granted, it’s a long drive (an hour to Kom Ombo and then another 2 hours to Edfu) but it’s definitely worth it. Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple built in the Ptolemaic times, and 300 crocodile mummies were found there (in the adjacent Crocodile Museum). The Temple of Horus at Edfu is also a Ptolemaic shrine, and one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt -- it’s nearly intact. You might also like: 10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals

Zamalek is by far one of the most popular Cairo neighborhoods when it comes to eating, drinking and being merry; locals, expats and tourists alike are regularly found kicking back in the Nile island’s numerous restaurants and bars. That being said, there are some great restaurants flying under the radar in Zamalek; hidden gems of sorts frequented usually only by the people who live nearby and who are in the know. We were of two minds actually before writing this --why expose our hidden gems, they’re great hidden!-- but then we realized that’d be selfish of us, plus in covid-19 times, our favorite spots need all the support they can get. So let’s hop right into it before we change our minds: O’s Pasta This tiny little pasta place is very easy to miss unless you’re specifically looking for it. Located across from Abou el Sid off of 26th July Street (super convenient if you’re staying at the Cairo Marriott in Zamalek ), this little place offers up around 20 different pasta dishes, ranging from southeast Asian inspired to local Red Sea seafood pasta, as well as a few soups, salads and antipasti. The pasta is all fresh and homemade, and the sauces are made right in front you. Alcohol is not served. O's Pasta variations Local tip: try their lemon bar for dessert Makino 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. Read more: 7 Best Sushi & Japanese Restaurants in Cairo 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 Sapori di Carlo Translating to ‘Carlo’s flavors’ in Italian, the Carlo in question would be Chef Carlo Adib, who had his own Michelin-recognized Italian restaurant in Paris. Sapori di Carlo is a hidden gem due to its small size (it can take only up to 20 people), so most people cruise right past it on Mohammed Mazhar without even seeing it. They mainly focus on Neapolitan pizza, with their pizza oven being the star and focal point of the restaurant, but also have a handful of pasta and bruschetta dishes. Alcohol isn’t served. Sapori di Carlo’s menu . Local tip: if you’re in the mood for Neapolitan pizza but too lazy to actually leave your house to procure it, Sapori di Carlo delivers. La Trattoria This restaurant is a Zamalek classic and it always puzzles us that so many locals don’t know about it. To be fair, their guests are so loyal that they don’t really need to advertise or market themselves but here we are doing it for them anyway! La Trattoria is upscale but without being pretentious or stuffy ('casual fine dining' is how they describe themselves), and has built its intensely loyal fanbase on its warm ambience, consistently good quality Italian fare, wine and attentive service. La Trattoria's salmon fillet with beurre blanc and hazelnut Local tip: the restaurant is almost invisible from the street with no obvious signage; it’s right next to the Mit Rihan gallery on Maraashly Street and has a large wooden door. Al Ku5 (pronounced Al Kukh) Feeling nostalgic for the good ol' days of Egyptian cinema and art, aesthetics and expression? Then no look further than Al Ku5, hidden away on a rooftop of a building off of 26 July Street. Similar to their sister restaurant in Downtown Cairo (read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown Cairo ), they have a massive menu of Egyptian classics, and are especially known for their breakfast. Local tip: since it's on a rooftop, Al Ku5 is hidden from plain sight, but you'll find it if you search on Google Maps. Sabai Sabai Another long-term Zamalek heavy hitter, Sabai Sabai is a Thai restaurant hidden in the same shabby building as Metro Market in Zamalek, near Flamenco Hotel. It’s a real shame that most Cairenes and foreigners haven’t heard about Sabai Sabai -- you’re missing out (except on the horrible parking, that is). Staffed by Egyptians but headed by a Thai chef, almost all of Sabai Sabai’s rave reviews mention the authenticity of the food, and their menu even has a few nods to Chinese cuisine (their dim sum is awesome) and Vietnamese. Alcohol is served. You might also like: Thai in Cairo: 7 Best Thai Restaurants in the City Granita Nestled next to the All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek is Granita, a "concept cafeteria" that's a nod to the 'grand cafes' of Egypt back in the 1930s and 1940s - think Groppi and other vintage cosmopolitan cafes . They have both an indoor and outdoor area perfect for sunny brunches, work meetings and or just enjoying a coffee and pastry solo. They offer breakfast, sandwiches, salads, pienirli (Greek pizzas), appetizers, main plates and homemade desserts. You might also like: 7 Best Bars & Pubs in Zamalek

Cairo might be known as the city of a thousand minarets, but old mosques and Pyramids aren’t all that Cairo has to offer when it comes to history. Coptic Cairo, also known as mogama’ el adyan (Interfaith Complex), is an area unlike any other in Egypt. It’s part of ‘Old Cairo’, the original city center for centuries - and Coptic Cairo, with its fortress, churches and synagogue, predates the actual founding of Cairo by the Muslim Fatimids in 969 AD. You may also like: El Moez Street - A Detailed Local’s Guide Coptic Cairo is known as the stronghold of Christianity in Old Cairo, home to places of worship that date back to the time when the pharaonic religions of Ancient Egypt had died out and Islam had not yet arrived. Some of Egypt’s earliest churches remain standing in Coptic Egypt to this day - some dating back to the 4th century AD. It’s also believed that the Holy Family lived here for a short period during their flight into Egypt to escape Herod. What does Coptic mean exactly? Coptic refers to Coptic Orthodox Christians, the largest Christian denomination in Egypt and the Middle East as a whole. The Coptic language directly evolved from the Demotic Egyptian language, which was the last language of the Ancient Egyptians. It’s believed the word ‘Copt’ originated from the Ancient Egyptian word Hwt-Ka-Ptah, which means the “House of the God Ptah”. Later, the Greeks used the word ‘Aigyptos’ for Egypt, while Egyptian Coptic Christians used the Coptic term ‘Kyptos’. Originally, the word ‘Copt’ referred to all Egyptians, but then became associated solely with Coptic Christians after the Islamic conquest of Egypt in 639 AD. How To Get There Coptic Cairo is in a congested area of central Cairo, but easily accessible by Uber or car. It’s also one of the very few tourist spots in Cairo that has its own metro stop, called Mar Girgis. So if you wanted to try the metro in Cairo, this might be a good spot to do it. Otherwise if you’re going by car, then just plug in ‘Mar Girgis’ into your Google Maps and it’ll take you straight to the entrance of the complex. What To Expect Coptic Cairo is a relatively enclosed complex, meaning there’s a distinct entrance/exit, heavily monitored by tourism police. Once you enter the complex, it’s all pedestrian, with the remains of the fortress and the big churches on the main path, and the older, smaller churches deeper in the complex, accessed via small alleys. The Coptic cemeteries are towards the back. Local tip: to avoid crowds, try to visit on a weekday morning, the earlier the better. Domestic tourists that live outside of Cairo tend to visit on the weekends, making it more crowded than usual. Also keep in mind that a few of the churches inside are still operational, and there’s a rec center and wedding hall that go about their usual business, so it’s not *just* a tourist spot. Coptic Cairo Opening Hours & Entrance Fees The churches: 8 am - 4 pm Entrance fee: free Coptic Museum: 9 am - 5 pm Entrance fee: 100 EGP for non-Egyptians + 20 EGP for an audio guide (optional) Local tip: payment is by card. The main things to see in Coptic Cairo: Babylon Fortress One of the first things you’ll see when you enter Coptic Cairo is the ruins of the Babylon Fortress, built on an old Ancient Egyptian town of the same name. Although named after Babylon in Mesopotamia, the fortress was actually built by the Romans around 100 AD, during the Ptolemic era of Ancient Egypt. It was built where a canal connected the Nile to the Red Sea and served as a marker between Upper and Lower Egypt. It was captured by the Arab conquest in 641 AD. Church of St. George (Mar Girgis) Established: 10th century One of the few round churches built in Egypt, St. George’s is built on top of an ancient Roman tower that connects to the monastery below. The interior of the church is known for its stained glass and rich woodwork. St. George’s is one of the only still-active churches in the Coptic Cairo area, and is considered the principal Greek Orthodox church in Egypt. Visitors of all religions are welcome any time, except to the monastery, which is closed to the public. The “Hanging Church” - Coptic Church of St. Virgin Mary Established: 690 AD It got the name of ‘Hanging Church’ (or ‘Suspended Church’ in Arabic, ‘ El Moallaqa ’) because of its location above the fortress gatehouse. When it was first built, the pillars of the gatehouse would have been easily seen, creating the ‘hanging’ effect of the church, but now are buried due to the rise of the ground over the past 1300 years. The church is believed to be the first basilica style church built in Egypt, and houses 110 icons, most made of ebony and some inlaid with ivory, the oldest and holiest dating back to the 8th century. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) Established: 4th century The Abu Serga church is believed to be not only the oldest church in Egypt, but 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. The cavern underneath Abu Serga Church It’s also believed that they might have lived here while Joseph was working at the Babylon Fortress. Abu Serga is also of importance because it’s where many patriarchs of the Coptic Church were elected, the first being Patriarch Isaac in 681 AD. Ben Ezra Synagogue Established: 882 AD Originally a Coptic Church (it’s actually situated right behind the Hanging Church), 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. Due to the huge decline in the Jewish community in Cairo, the synagogue now functions as a museum and a tourist attraction as opposed to an operating place of worship. Church of St. Barbara Established: 5th century The Church of St. Barbara the Martyr is another extremely old church, that was complete with priceless relics that exist until today (although many of them have been moved to the Coptic Museum). Although the church itself has been rebuilt and restored several times, items from the original church are believed to date back to the 5th or even 4th century. 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. Other collections of note: its icon display, as well as pottery, glass, metal, wooden and textile collections. For more really interesting museums to check out in Cairo, head here . Do I need a guide for Coptic Cairo? Honestly? Not really. Unless you’re really into details. In our humble opinion, Coptic Cairo is more of a place to walk around, appreciate the centuries-old art and architecture and soak up the spirit of the place without getting bogged down with tour guides or tour groups. But obviously to each their own, some people appreciate places more when they know exactly what they’re looking at and the story behind it, so up to you! Where to eat/drink in Coptic Cairo There aren’t any restaurants in the complex besides a cafeteria of sorts, and little kiosks and mini-markets that sell soft drinks and snacks, so don’t plan on eating there. In general the greater area of Old Cairo doesn’t offer the most when it comes to restaurants, so plan to eat before/after visiting the area. General local tips Coptic Cairo is very close to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (well, close for Cairo, about 10 minutes by car), so it makes sense logistic-wise to visit these two spots on the same day if you’re planning to see both while in Cairo If you’re still hankering to see more Coptic churches, a really gorgeous one is the Cave Church (Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner) , which is carved into the Moqattam mountain The little alleys of Coptic Cairo have all sorts of books, postcards and other souvenirs, so budget in a little time to browse Enjoy! Liked this detailed Coptic Cairo guide? Here are a few more for other popular spots in Cairo: Guide to the Pyramids of Giza Guide to the Grand Egyptian Museum Guide to Moez Street Guide to Khan el Khalili Guide to City of the Dead

If you’re planning to go to Siwa Oasis, then our first piece of local advice is – leave all your previous accommodation experiences back at home, because Siwa is completely different than anywhere else you’ve ever been. There are no cookie-cutter hotels, no modern & techy apartments, no IKEA-furnished B&Bs… and that’s a good thing! Siwa is the place you go to get away from it all, and considering it’s literally in the middle of the Great Sand Sea of the Sahara, expecting to find the easy amenities of a Four Seasons (or even a Holiday Inn lol) probably won’t happen. Siwa is all about disconnecting from your daily grind and reconnecting with nature, about preserving local tradition and heritage, and about slow and laidback living. Read more: Where to Go in Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Destinations & Cities Most accommodation options in Siwa won’t have regular electricity, the rooms won’t be modern, and lots might not even have hot water. Buuuuut they WILL probably give you an unforgettable stay (in a good way!). So without further ado, here are our favorite places to stay in Siwa Oasis. We divided them into budget categories for you to make an easier choice. Cheap: less than $30 a night Affordable: less than $60 a night Moderate to expensive: $60 - $200 a night: Very expensive: $300+ a night Cheap: Mountain Camp Ali Khaled Underneath Dakrour Mountain is Mountain Camp Ali Khaled, a good budget option if you don’t want to spend too much on accommodation but still want an overall enjoyable experience. Here you have the option of staying in a ‘tent’, which is more of a canvas hut of sorts with two twin mattresses and communal bathrooms, or a bare bones room with its own bathroom. Needless to say, the rooms aren’t fancy in the slightest, but they do have ACs. The cool part about Mountain Camp Ali Khaled is that they have both a natural hot spring and cold spring on the property that you can swim in, and at night they hold bonfires with music, singing and dancing. Local tip: bring insect repellent because the flies can get wild there. Affordable: Taghaghien Island Resort Located on an island in Siwa Lake, Taghaghien Island Resort is the place for amazing sunsets and overall outstanding 360 degree views. It’s connected to the shores of Siwa Lake by a 2km road, and is about 13 km from what’s considered downtown Siwa, so it’s pretty secluded. The resort has 30 basic style bungalows (heads up: no ACs), a restaurant & bar and a rooftop to watch the sunsets from above. There’s also a natural cold spring. Local tip: the resort only has electricity from sunset to sunrise, so make sure to charge everything you need while sleeping! Albabenshal Lodge A heritage hotel amidst the ruins of the 13th century Shali Fortress, Albabenshal renovated ancient Siwan homes to create 14 guest rooms connected by fortress alleyways, staying true to the traditional Siwan methods of building. Their main terrace and restaurant have a view of central Shali and the sea of palm trees beyond. Double and triple rooms are available (with private bathrooms), and the rooms are created and designed in authentic Siwan style. Local tip: Because it’s next to the market, it can be noisy during the day, so it’s a good option if you plan to spend most of the day exploring Siwa, but not the best option if you want to disconnect at the lodge during daytime hours. No ACs available for the hotter months. Moderate to Expensive: Taziry Taziry, which means ‘full moon’ in Siwan, is a 30 room ecovillage on the shores of Siwa Lake, underneath the Red Mountain. There’s no electricity at night, so they light up the space with candles and oil lamps. There’s a natural swimming pool and a terrace overlooking the lake and mountain. Solar panels are used to provide hot water for the bathrooms, but bear in mind they’re not always consistent. Their restaurant serves Siwan/Amazigh/North African cuisine as prepared by their Moroccan chef. Local tip: because there’s no electricity at night and it gets very dark, a flashlight might be a good idea if you like to walk around. Talist A family-owned ecolodge and farm, Talist is where to go if you want somewhere quiet and away from the bustle of central Siwa. Because they run on solar energy, electricity isn’t always available and there are no power outlets (except for USB sockets) in the rooms; you can charge your phones and other devices at the restaurant. The owners make their meals sourced from their own farm and other local ingredients, so it’s a great place to eat. Talist has 11 bungalows of various sizes, ranging from doubles to family-sized, and a natural pool and terrace overlooking the mountain and lake. Local tip: there are no ACs or heaters. Al Nyhaya Love camping but not the hassle of it? Well then, glamping might just be for you (ICYMI: glamping means ‘glamorous camping’). Al Nyhaya (meaning ‘the end’ in Arabic) is a glamp site in the Great Sand Sea 30 minutes outside of Siwa Oasis. Because it’s in the desert, it’s extremely private and you’ll feel like you're at the ends of the earth (thus the name). The tents are Bell tents which can fit two people easily. They have comfortable mattresses, mosquito netting and double layers to keep you warm during the desert nights and cool during the warm days. There’s also the option of a traditional Bedouin tent. You might think that because it’s glamping, the nightly price tag would be cheap, but nope - this is one of the pricier options on the list! Local tip: this is the place to stay if you want to experience sleeping in the Great Sand Sea but with more amenities, but not a good choice if you care about reaching the rest of Siwa easily. Very Expensive: Adrère Amellal This is the place to go if you want a high-end experience in Siwa, but still with that rustic, at-one-with-nature vibe. This hidden-away, primitive and yet still luxurious boutique hotel underneath the White Mountain is an ecolodge with traditional kershif buildings that blend into the landscape. There’s no electricity, so Adrère Amellal comes alive at night with candles and lanterns. Visited by celebrities and royalty, Adrère Amellal is not by any means cheap, but its 5 star service and dining will still have you feeling the luxury even in the most primitive of settings. Read more: 7 Boutique Hotels in Egypt for a More Unique, Personalized Stay You may also like: 10 Most Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis

Chances are you may have heard of Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada when it comes to Egypt’s best Red Sea destinations , but what’s quickly gaining in popularity after decades of being a local secret is Marsa Alam. Marsa Alam used to be a remote fishing village in Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, far away from the hustle and bustle of other tourist hotspots. And that exact reason is why it’s still such an amazing spot to dive, swim and snorkel – the beach and sea are literally almost untouched still, and eco-conscious efforts are being made to keep it that way. Marsa Shagra Ecovillage in Marsa Alam Should you go to Marsa Alam? First of all, let’s talk about if Marsa Alam is the right destination for you, and then let’s talk about the best activities there are to do in Marsa Alam. Go to Marsa Alam if: you want to scuba dive, snorkel, kitesurf, participate in other water activities or just have a sunny beach vacation at your resort Don’t go to Marsa Alam if : you’re looking for restaurants, nightlife or easy access to other places outside your resort If you’re looking for something with a little more action but still on the beach, then we suggest Hurghada , El Gouna , Soma Bay or Dahab. Local tip: Marsa Alam gets extremely hot in the summer months (June through to August), so it might not be the best time to engage in some of these activities – the water gets super warm too. Marsa Alam is at its most ideal during spring, fall, and the early and tail ends of winter. So if Marsa Alam sounds like the destination for you, then let’s dive (haha) right into the best things to do there: 1. Scuba dive in some of the best diving spots in the world Egypt’s Red Sea wins awards year after year as being one of the best places to dive globally, and Marsa Alam is home to many of those spots. The great thing about diving in Marsa Alam instead of Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh is that you don’t have to worry about the reefs being crowded. If you're really lucky, in certain seasons you might even see a whale shark! Read more: 7 Best Diving Destinations in Egypt For Divers of All Levels Best Marsa Alam dive spots: Elphinstone Reef, Daedalus, the Dolphin reefs (more info below) and Abu Dabbab Bay (more info below) 2. Snorkel (potentially with dugongs or sea turtles) You can easily snorkel from the beach of your resort or ecolodge, and you’ll be impressed by the array of fish and other marine life you can see so close to shore. Even better, in Abu Dabbab Bay (which is a great place for beginner divers), or nearby Marsa Mubarak, snorkelers might even be lucky enough to see sea turtles and Marsa Alam’s resident dugongs (also known as a sea cow, a close cousin of the manatee). These dugongs are elusive but they love the warm shallow waters of Abu Dabbab Bay and many a snorkeler and diver have seen them there. Who knows, you may be one of the lucky ones! 3. Swim with dolphins in the wild Who wouldn’t love to swim with a dolphin? And even better, a dolphin in its natural habitat, who is happy and playful and not forced to interact with humans if it doesn’t want to. Marsa Alam has two different reefs, Satayah and Shaab Samadai, that are known to be frequented by dolphins (so much so that they’re both called ‘Dolphin House’ or ‘Dolphin Reef’. Shaab Samadi is closer to Marsa Alam, whereas Satayah is further down into the Deep South. 4. Explore and swim in Nayzak Off the beaten path on an empty stretch of coast is one of Marsa Alam’s hidden gems: Nayzak. This little natural pool of water, shaped like an eye and surrounded by rock, was believed by locals to be the result of a meteorite hitting the beach (hence the name: ‘ nayzak’ means ‘meteorite’ in Arabic). While geologists have unfortunately disproved this beloved myth, Nayzak still remains one of the coolest places to swim in all of Marsa Alam. There’s nothing else to do there but the natural wonder of it makes it worth the visit. 5. Day trip to Wadi el Gemal Less than an hour’s drive south of Marsa Alam is Wadi el Gemal (Valley of the Camels), an Egyptian national park that encompasses both desert and sea. The biodiversity of its large mammals, reptiles, birds, plants and untouched marine life make it unlike anywhere else in Egypt -- and its coastal area alone is home to 450 species of coral and over 1,200 species of fish. For a small entrance fee, you can enter the park with a guide (the park is massive!), and spend the day by its stunning beaches (below), or explore inland, where the oldest emerald mines in the world are (called ‘Cleopatra’s Mines’). You can still see the remains of the old Roman mining settlement Sikait, which they called Mons Smaragdus, which means ‘Emerald Mountain’. While driving through Wadi el Gemal, you can see everything from wild camels to acacia trees to Egypt’s last desert gazelle. 6. Swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling at Sharm el Luli (Ras Hankorab) Sharm el Luli (known by locals as Ras Hankorab) is known for being the most beautiful beach in Wadi el Gemal, and people can spend the day there and then drive back to Marsa Alam at night. It’s completely undeveloped, meaning there are no restaurants, bars or even bathrooms – this stunning white sand lagoon and virgin reef are completely untouched. Even during Marsa Alam’s high season, Sharm el Luli never gets as crowded as other Marsa Alam beaches. Local tip : make sure to bring your own lunch, drinks and bathroom essentials because there’s absolutely nothing here. Oh and snorkeling equipment is a must, because the snorkeling at Sharm el Luli is fantastic. 7. Take a boat to Qulaan Islands Photo credit: Zeina Abaza Qulaan Islands (also known as Hamata islands) are an archipelago of four islands in a protected bay off of Wadi el Gemal. These empty, remote islands are known for their mangrove trees and ecosystem built around the mangroves; marine life flourishes under the trees and it’s a great bird-watching spot. You can take a boat and spend a few hours picnicking, swimming and snorkeling on the islands. Read more: 9 World-Class Beaches in Egypt 8. Kitesurf in Marsa Alam’s flat seas Photo credit: Tulip Kitecenter Egypt is one of the best places to kitesurf in the world (read more: 7 Best Kitesurfing Spots in Egypt ), and Marsa Alam has several great spots due to its flat water but abundance of windy days, plus the water is warm for most of the year. There are several kitesurf centers where you can either take a beginner’s course, or if you’re more advanced, then you can rent your equipment and after a long day of kiting enjoy a drink at the adjacent beach bars. Best places to kitesurf in Marsa Alam: The Lagoon at Royal Tulip Beach Resort, El Naaba Lagoon and Blue Lagoon next to Hotel Dream Lagoon Beach 9. Desert safari via quad bike, Jeep or camel If you’ve had your fill of water activities and want to experience some desert adventure, then look no further than a desert safari. You can either do the safari via quad bike/ATV that you ride yourself (with a guide leading the way), or a Jeep with an experienced driver, or even by camel if you want a more slow-paced, traditional way of exploring the desert. The guides in Marsa Alam know the interesting desert destinations to take you, and make sure to ask about Wadi Hammamat a little north of Marsa Alam, where you can find pharaonic graffiti (yes, you read that right) from when Wadi Hammamat was smack dab in the middle of an integral trade route between Arab merchants and Egyptians, and part of the famous Silk Road trade with the Han Dynasty in China. Read more: 10 Natural & Historical Sites in Egypt That Most People Have Never Heard Of 10. Day trip to Luxor It would be a shame to be so close to Luxor, aka paradise for anyone interested in Ancient Egypt, and not visit. Luxor is around a 5 hour drive from Marsa Alam, so it’s doable in a day (albeit a long day). You can either go via tour bus arranged with an agency, or hire a private car and driver if you want your trip to be more private and flexible. Alternatively you can spend one night in Luxor and then head back to Marsa Alam the next day. Read more: 10 Best Things to See & Do in Luxor - As Told By Locals You May Also Like: Hurghada - A Local’s Guide For First-Timers

We’re always asked for our recommendations when it comes to places to eat or get a drink, especially in Garden 8 in New Cairo – one of Cairo’s many commercial centers where the dining options are abundant. Ain’t nobody got time to waste money or appetite at a bad restaurant! Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in 5A By The Waterway, New Cairo Read more: 5 Best Restaurants in District 5, Cairo Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in U Venues, New Cairo Read more: Cairo Festival City Restaurant & Cafe Guide So if you’re heading to Garden 8 in New Cairo any time soon and want to know what restaurant serves what and whether they’re worth it, here’s our personal picks: Mo Bistro Mo Bistro first opened its doors back in 2002 as Cafe Mo in Mohandiseen, and in the two decades since then has evolved into the beloved Mo Bistro, with branches in Garden 8, Sheikh Zayed and District 5 . Mo Bistro has a massive menu of international dishes both classic and creative, and they never skimp on flavor or quality ingredients like some of the other restaurant chains in Cairo. They’re especially known for their flank steak and bone marrow. For more info, pictures and menu: Mo Bistro’s IG Ozel There aren’t a ton of Turkish restaurants in Cairo, but Ozel is one of the best. They have pages of Turkish cold meze, hot meze, pide, main courses, grilled dishes and premium steaks to choose from – but do not, and we mean, DO NOT sleep on their desserts! Ozel’s desserts deserve an article on their own. For more info, pictures and menu: Ozel’s IG Binge If you’re in the mood for a drink and some comfort finger food, then look no further than Binge. This gastropub has a large outdoor terrace so you don’t have to worry about being stuck inside and coming out smelling like beer, smoke and fried food like many other gastropubs in Cairo. Binge’s menu is full of fun favorites like sushi, tacos, all kinds of appetizers, pizza, burgers and even a ‘build your own pasta’ option. They open daily at 2 pm but kids aren’t allowed after 7 pm. For more info, pictures and menu: Binge’s IG Salt of Earth Think European bistro meets Egyptian farm to table. A great place to head to in New Cairo for breakfast, considering they’re one of the few real restaurants open at the early hour (for Egypt, at least) of 8 am. Their breakfast menu includes crowd-pleasers like layered souffle pancakes and cured salmon avo toast. But even if you go miss breakfast, Salt of Earth’s lunch and dinner menu won’t let you down either. Recommended dish: their tarragon chicken For more info, pictures and menu: Salt of Earth’s IG Umami Brought to you by certified master chef Tarek Ibrahim, Umami has a creative international menu, with a wide array of breakfast items that include a bakery, all sorts of eggs, breakfast skillets and a handful of Egyptian favorites such as feteer meshaltet. For lunch and dinner, you can choose between a large selection of ‘small plates’ (tapas style) or large plates, as well as classics such as pizza, pasta, burgers, etc. For more info, pictures and menu: Umami’s IG Nüwa If you’re in Garden 8 and in the mood for something Asian, then look no further than Nüwa . Whether you’re craving Chinese, Thai, Indian or Japanese, Nüwa  is an Asian fusion restaurant with a massive menu that allows you to pick and mix from your favorite cuisines. Love noodles, curry and sushi and not sure what to pick? Order them all! For more info, pictures and menu: Nüwa ’s IG Syne Another pleasant indoor/outdoor restaurant in Garden 8 that serves breakfast (from 9 am), lunch and dinner. Their menu covers everything from asparagus seafood risotto to chimichurri flank steak to pizza and burgers.  For more info, pictures and menu: Syne’s IG **Local tip:  if you’re more in the mood for an alcoholic beverage than actually eating a full-on meal in Garden 8, we recommend both Origins  and Buoy by Kiki’s . Both places have a beautiful venue and ambience, but we weren’t blown away by the food, hence why they didn’t make the list of top restaurants. But if you’re just in the mood for a drink and a small plate or two, then make sure to check them out.  Other restaurants and cafes in Garden 8: Origins Buoy BeBabel Otto Ragu Bascota Al Beiruti 30 North You may also like: 10 Best Restaurants & Bars for Dinner and Drinks in New Cairo

Kato Dool Nubian House in Gharb Soheil, Aswan Aswan in southern Egypt is a unique mix of Ancient Egypt, rural village, urban city, Nubian heritage, river, desert and modern history. If it sounds like a strange mix, it is -- but it works. It’s kind of hard to explain unless you’ve been there (hopefully soon), but we’ll try our best. But first, a quick history Aswan used to be known as Swenett and later Syene in ancient Egypt, and because the ancient Egyptians oriented themselves around the Nile, which flows from the south to the north, the southern city of Swenett was considered where Egypt ‘began’ geographically. The reason the Egyptians chose Aswan’s spot in particular as a border for Egypt is because it’s just above the first Nile cataract -- a natural obstruction of sorts in the river due to shallow depths. Once past the first cataract where Aswan is, it’s smooth sailing straight down to the Mediterranean Sea. Swenett was used as a military outpost to protect Egypt from the south, as well as a commercial trade center. 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. Aswan now Modern-day Aswan is a quirky mix of developed town (nowhere near as developed as Cairo though) and village life. The Nile looks just as clear, blue and wild as it probably did 3,000 years ago; Aswan is hands down where the Nile is at its most stunning in Egypt. Because Aswan isn’t super developed, don’t expect a vast array of accommodation, restaurants and nightlife. A local tip: credit cards aren’t widely used -- cash is the name of the game here. Transportation is a hodge-podge of negotiating with cab drivers and boatmen, but more about that below. Also, if you’ve spent any time elsewhere in Egypt, you might be acquainted with ‘Egyptian time’, where things go a tad slower than normal. ‘Nubian time’ in Aswan is even more laid-back -- people take their sweet time and are very go-with-the-flow, so take that as you will lol. Accept it and adjust your expectations accordingly, and your trip (and blood pressure) will be much smoother. Quick facts about Aswan Aswan’s main industry is tourism, with thousands of both Egyptian and foreign tourists visiting per year to see the ancient Egyptian monuments, Nubian architecture and Nile at its most beautiful. Aswan is one of the sunniest, driest cities in the world -- which leads to soaring temperatures, but the climate is also known for being a natural remedy for a variety of different lung diseases as well as rheumatism. Read more: 7 Types of Natural Healing in Egypt Egypt’s famous Nile cruises run between Aswan and the city of Luxor to its north. You can start the cruise from either of the two cities, so most people visit both Luxor and Aswan in the same trip. Read more: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide Aswan is home to two dams, the Low Dam which was built in 1902, and the High Dam which was finished in 1970. These dams were built with the purpose of controlling seasonal Nile flooding, and the reservoir Lake Nasser was created behind the High Dam. Best Time To Go Photo credit: roamingaroundtheworld.com Like we said, Aswan is one of the sunniest, driest cities on earth, and it’s normal for several years to pass by without seeing any rainfall. It has the hottest summers in the country alongside Luxor (we’re talking an average of 40+ celsius/105+ fahrenheit), so while summer might be the cheapest season to go, it’s definitely not the most comfortable. Winter is Aswan’s high season, with temperatures a warm 20 something celsius/70 something fahrenheit during the day, and a bit cooler at night. Late fall and early spring are also good times if you don’t mind a lot of sun. You can read more reasons why Egypt is great in winter here . How To Get There Here are your options: Flying. There are daily flights from Cairo to Aswan, around an hour and 20 minutes. You can arrange with your accommodation in Aswan to send you a car to pick you up from the airport, or you can take an overpriced taxi. Flying is by far the quickest way of getting to Aswan. Train. You need to *really* have patience for this one. You can take a train from Cairo to Aswan, which is about a short (lol) 12 hour ride. There are sleeper compartments though for an added price, and we guess it’s an adventure of sorts? You can read the Business Insider’s detailed account of the Cairo-Aswan sleeper train ride here , which we personally enjoyed. Cruise from Luxor. The Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan are one of the most popular things to do in Egypt. We put together a huge guide of everything you need to know about the Nile cruises here . By car. Unless you’re driving in from Luxor (3-4 hours) or Marsa Alam on the Red Sea (5 hours), don’t bother trying to make the drive unless you have a looooooot of time on your hands. Important note: for security reasons, non-Egyptians might not be allowed access to certain roads via car unless granted pre-approved security access (tour buses, etc.) Where To Stay Sofitel Legend Old Cataract As we said above, Aswan isn’t as developed accommodation-wise as Cairo or the Red Sea resort towns , but never fear, there are still options for all budgets: A luxury hotel. There are only a few of them in Aswan, and by far, the most iconic and well-known one is the Old Cataract Hotel (now the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract). This 5 star hotel has been an international hotspot since it opened over 120 years ago; you can read more about it and other historic hotels in Egypt here . We warn you though, it isn’t cheap! A Nubian guesthouse is a really popular form of accommodation in Aswan. Usually found in the Gharb Soheil area of Aswan where the Nubian Village is, these basic but comfortable guesthouses on the Nile have simple and beautiful Nubian architecture and serve traditional Nubian and Egyptian food. They’re not luxurious in the slightest and are situated a bit of a distance from central Aswan which can be a tad annoying, but they’re definitely an experience you shouldn’t miss out on, even if for just a night. A budget hotel. Aswan has a handful, and they’re kind of meh. If we were you, stick to either a luxury hotel like the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract or the Movenpick Aswan, or one of the Nubian guesthouses. We compiled our seven favorite places here: 7 Best Places To Stay in Aswan, Egypt Getting Around Private minivans are a popular way of getting around Aswan Not going to lie, getting around Aswan can be a pain. There’s no easily accessible and reliable form of public transportation, taxis don’t have meters, and while there is Careem (the Egyptian version of Uber), you're not always guaranteed to find a ride. Plus, a lot of Aswan’s sites are dotted around different spots on the Nile, which needs a boat. So what to do, what to do? Here are your options: Don’t bother your head about it and just let your hotel take care of it . No matter where you’re staying in Aswan or how much of a budget place it is, someone there (whether it be the reception desk, reservations manager, or just a random person who seems to be in charge) will be able to easily arrange cars, drivers and boats for you in a matter of minutes for a fixed rate. It’s common practice in Aswan and the hotels/guesthouses get a piece of the pie, so feel free to use the service without worrying that you’re being annoying. Just tell your hotel where you’d like to go (or your itinerary for the day) and they’ll arrange all transportation needed and will tell you how much it’ll cost prior to going so you don’t need to worry about haggling with anyone. Warning though: the Sofitel Old Cataract’s transportation prices are notoriously expensive, so just a heads up if you’re staying there. Strike a deal with a local driver to be your main transportation for the duration of the trip. If you like doing things without a hotel as your middleman, you can arrange for your own transportation with any of the locals. Instead of figuring out how you’re going to get from Point A to Point B every time you want to go somewhere, you can arrange an on-call car and driver for the whole trip. This is as easy as flagging down a cab and asking for their day rates, or going to a restaurant, shop or cafe and asking any of the people working there if they can recommend a car and driver for you. Trust us, they’ll know a million. Compare whatever prices the locals give you with what the hotel gave you (they should be cheaper), and feel free to bargain, bargain, bargain. Also make sure to agree on a detailed daily itinerary and price, and pay at the end of the day (a tip at the end is always appreciated). Taxis. The cabs in Aswan aren’t metered, so make sure you tell the driver where you’re going and agree on the fare before you hop in -- and again, bargaining is the name of the game. As for boats, the Temple of Philae has regular boat service from the Philae Marina, and there’s a regular ferry to Elephantine Island. More recreational boating -- a felucca for example, or taking a motorboat instead of a taxi -- is another negotiable affair between you and the boatmen whom you’ll find Nile-side throughout the city. Things to Do in Aswan Philae Temple Complex There’s all different kinds of activities and sights in Aswan, and we broke them down here: 12 Most Interesting Things To See and Do in Aswan . To summarize though: Ancient Egyptian monuments: Philae Temple Complex, Abu Simbel, Temple of Kalabsha, Unfinished Obelisk Nubian heritage & culture: Nubian Village and Nubian Museum Nile islands: Elephantine Island, Kitchener’s Island Day trip to Kom Ombo and Edfu Nile activities: sailing, kayaking Nile cruise to Luxor or Lake Nasser Natural therapy/climate therapy like sand baths or Nile mud masks Getting to Abu Simbel While everyone considers Abu Simbel to be in Aswan (and technically it is in the Aswan governorate), it’s a good 3-4 hours by car/bus from Aswan the city. Abu Simbel is on the shore of Lake Nasser, past the Aswan High Dam, and you have three options of how to get there: Part of a tour, so via tour bus By private car and driver, which you can arrange through your hotel As part of an Aswan-Lake Nasser cruise , usually 3 days long The road to Abu Simbel is only open from 5 am to 5 pm for security reasons, so most buses and cars set out from Aswan around 4 am to be on the Aswan-Abu Simbel road by 5 am. To try to avoid the crowds, you can leave a little later from Aswan (8 am for example) but it might cut into the amount of time you spend at the temple because again, all cars and buses have to be back in Aswan by 5 pm before the road closes. Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today Where To Eat Aswan definitely isn’t the culinary capital of Egypt, because most of Aswan’s visitors come as part of an all-inclusive cruise -- they eat all their meals on the cruise ship. The ones who aren’t part of a cruise usually stick to their hotel’s fare, and to be fair, it’s not a bad idea, because most restaurants in Aswan are ‘touristic’, ie. subpar food and jacked up prices. That being said, there are a few places to get a good meal in Aswan, and honestly sometimes the view takes the whole experience up an extra notch automatically. Some of our favorite restaurants: King Jamaica Restaurant & Cafe Solaih at Eco Nubia on Bigeh Island 1902 in the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract (you have to be dressed up though, they’re very strict about that and make sure you reserve in advance) The restaurant at Kato Dool, the Nubian guesthouse in Gharb Soheil Bars/Nightlife We’re being pretty fast and loose with the word ‘nightlife’ in Aswan, mainly because… well, there really isn’t any. Once the day’s activities are over, most people are either back on their cruise ships or decompressing and/or socializing at their hotel/guesthouse. If it’s alcohol you’re looking for, most hotels will serve at their bars/restaurants. Outside of hotels, you’ll find a couple establishments on the Aswan Corniche, mainly Emy Cafeteria & Restaurant and the rooftop of Bob Marley Guesthouse. They’re both on the Nile and a nice place to have a drink but nothing fancy in the slightest. Leaving Aswan Railway Station Leaving Aswan is just as straightforward as arriving -- either have your hotel arrange a ride to the airport/train station or arrange a pick-up from a local taxi driver. We hope you enjoy everything that Aswan has to offer! More local city guides you might like: Hurghada City Guide El Gouna City Guide Sharm El Sheikh City Guide Soma Bay Guide North Coast Guide

Since New Cairo, the eastern suburb of central Cairo, has been booming recently with restaurants, cafes, bars and malls, we started a series of restaurant guides for the different commercial centers because there are so many! Our other New Cairo restaurant guides: 7 Best Restaurants & Cafes in 5A By The Waterway 7 Best Restaurants in Garden 8 Cairo Festival City: Restaurant & Cafe Guide 7 Best Restaurants in District 5 These restaurant guides were such a hit and we were flooded with requests for more, so here’s the latest installment: the best restaurants in U Venues. U Venues is a comfortable and modern mixed-use commercial complex in the Choueifat district of New Cairo. It’s a mix of dining, retail and wellness, and even has the first adult arcade in Cairo – Brass Monkey! More restaurants and cafes will be opening in U Venues, but these are our current favorites: Zia Amelia Cuisine: Italian One of the oldest and best restaurants in the Red Sea town of El Gouna, Egypt , opened its first Cairo branch in none other than U Venues. Zia Amelia’s owner hails from Napoli and their menu is bursting at the seams with Italian classics and freshly-made pastas. They’re also known for their excellent pizza. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Zia Amelia Merbey Cuisine: Lebanese Another popular restaurant import from El Gouna (and spoiler alert, a third famous El Gouna restaurant makes an appearance on the list below!). Merbey has a vast menu that covers all the usual Lebanese dishes we know and love, plus they take particular pride in their varieties of hummus as well as their grilled platters. They're open for breakfast and also serve shisha. For the menu and more info: Merbey Evermore Cuisine: Lebanese-Latin Not your usual Lebanese restaurant – some of their best dishes are their shrimp tacos, beef brisket Manchego pasta, truffle hummus and BBQ ribs. Another huge crowd pleaser is their truffle burger; a halved burger served on a bed of truffle cream sauce. They also have really good smoothies and mocktails. For the menu and more info: Evermore Talkback Cuisine: American If you’re like us and are a sucker for lots of crispy fried appetizers, cheesy Tex-Mex, creamy pasta, and burgers and pizza that will leave you full for hours, then Talkback is for you. You know what we’re talking about. Think fried chicken and pancakes, Detroit-style pizza and even an ‘Abnormal Sushi Bun’ - fried rice, cream cheese, salmon, shrimp, and avocado. Open for breakfast as well. For the menu and more: Talkback Villa Lucca Cuisine: International If you're a big group and want a restaurant that has something for everyone, then look no further than Villa Lucca. They have everything from octopus carpaccio to short ribs to tomahawk steak, and that's besides their dozens of pasta and pizza options as well. They're also a great breakfast and brunch spot -- their breakfast menu is almost bigger than their lunch & dinner one! Shisha available. For the menu and more info: Villa Lucca Tama Cuisine: Asian Fusion The first thing that most people comment on when it comes to Tama is its kitschy anime vibes – so basically you’re having fun from the decor alone as soon as you sit down, even before your food arrives. Speaking of the food, their menu ranges from breakfast (Japanese curry shakshuka, anyone?) to ramen, robata, bao, dimsum and sushi. Some of their best dishes are the spicy miso ramen, the donburi and their poke bowls.  For the menu and more info: Tama Le Garage Cuisine: American Remember when we said above that there was a third famous El Gouna restaurant in U Venues? Well that is none other than Le Garage, home to some great gourmet burgers. Besides the signature burgers that they’re famous for, Le Garage also has their special burgers for the more adventurous, like the Black Pearl – served on a black bun with edible silver leaf. They also have vegetarian burgers, as well as other main courses for those who don’t feel like a burger – schnitzel, fish & chips and more. They’re open from breakfast onwards and serve alcohol.  For the menu and more info: Le Garage New Cairo Now while these are our current favorite restaurants in U Venues, it doesn’t mean they’re the only ones. Here are some more restaurants, cafes and dessert spots in U Venues: Brass Monkey Mo Bistro Huqqabaz Il Forno Moko Dara’s Ice Cream %Arabica Beanos Twenty Grams Zenzoo Amaretti Nutcracker Leaven Bakery Koffee Kulture Lychee Kippis Dancing Goat Coffee Fati's Slice by Nutcracker You might also like: 10 Best Restaurants For Dinner & Drinks In New Cairo

If you’re reading up about Siwa Oasis, then it’s safe to say you have a taste for adventure, and adventure you shall get! Siwa is one of the remotest, most untouched destinations in all of Egypt . It’s deep in the Great Sand Sea of the Western Desert, and was isolated from the rest of Egypt until the 1980s when a road was built between Siwa and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast. It takes a whopping 10 bumpy hours by car or bus from Cairo to reach the oasis, and only private planes fly in and out of their tiny military airport. So yup, safe to say it’s pretty out there and unlike anything else you can experience in Egypt (or the world, for that matter). So if you DO decide to lace up your adventure shoes and take this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Siwa Oasis, make sure you experience the very best of what Siwa has to offer! Read more: 7 Best Places to Stay in Siwa Oasis For All Budgets Here are some of the best, most unforgettable things to do in Siwa: 1. Camp under the Milky Way You may have been camping before, but trust us when we tell you that camping in Siwa is a whole different experience. Because Siwa is so isolated and so far from lights and pollution, the Milky Way literally lights up the night sky and the stargazing is incredible. Egypt’s Great Sand Sea is one of the best places in the world for astrophotography, and shooting stars are a constant - imagine sleeping directly underneath a canopy of stars! Read more: 9 Beautiful & Remote Camping Spots in Egypt 2. Explore the Shali Fortress Built in the 11th century as a fortress around the village to protect its inhabitants from nomadic invaders, the skeleton of the Shali Fortress still exists today, more than 800 years later. This is kind of amazing considering it was made of salt and mudbrick (‘ karshif’ ) and all but destroyed during heavy rains and floods in the 1920s, followed by bombing in WWII. You can roam the ruins of the village and fortress and see the still-standing Shali Mosque, built in 1203 AD – the original builders’ handprints are still visible on its wall. 3. Visit ancient tombs at the Mountain of the Dead Siwa’s Mountain of the Dead (‘ Gebel el Mawta ’) is a necropolis of rock tombs built into the mountain during the 26th Dynasty of the Pharaohs (basically the end of native Egyptian Pharaonic rule) and through the Greco-Roman era. Fast forward millennia later, local Siwans hid in the mountain tombs to take cover from German, British & Italian fighting during WWII. The most interesting tomb at Mountain of the Dead is that of Si Amun, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Although it was looted in antiquity like the other tombs, you can still see the paintings and wall art until today. Another interesting tomb with visible art is the Tomb of the Crocodile, given that moniker because the name of its original owner is unknown. You may also like: 8 Best Ancient Tomb Sites in Egypt 4. Swim in Siwa's incredible salt lakes Siwa Oasis is known for its dates and olives, but also for something else – salt. Siwa has a natural abundance of raw rock salt, which has been used by locals for centuries for building materials, furniture and food conservation (and Siwans have recently begun to export the salt). Fresh water from Siwa’s underground natural springs have mixed with the salt to create dozens of crystal-clear salt lakes and pools, which are just about as salty as the Dead Sea. These salt lakes are fun for swimmers of all levels (because the salinity essentially forces you to float) and have recently become an Instagram sensation. 5. Get your heart racing with a desert safari While most people think of animals when they hear the word ‘safari’, a desert safari in Siwa means essentially dune surfing in 4x4s. An experienced local driver will take you out to the towering sand dunes of the Great Sand Sea, and he’ll speed up and down the dunes in a kind of desert roller coaster. It’s fun bordering on terrifying sometimes because the dunes are so steep, and there’s nothing protecting you except a flimsy seatbelt (if even that). But once you get over the fear, the adrenaline rush has nothing like it. You may also like: 7 Extreme Adventure Experiences in Egypt for Adrenaline Junkies 6. Swim in Cleopatra’s Spring & other hot springs Siwa Oasis is home to around 300 freshwater springs, both hot and cold. One of the most famous is Cleopatra’s Spring, also known as Cleopatra’s Pool or Cleopatra’s Bath. Legend has it that Cleopatra herself used to bathe here, hence the name, but there’s no actual evidence of it. In any case, it’s a pleasant place to swim in the hot spring, and it’s surrounded by little shops and cafes shaded by palm trees. Local tip: Siwans are a conservative culture, and Cleopatra’s Bath isn’t as isolated as the salt lakes, so it’s not the place where you’d want to break out the string bikinis. You don’t have to be fully covered or anything, but we recommend your more modest swimsuits just out of respect for their culture. 7. Explore the Temple of the Oracle of Amun Another relic from Pharaonic times, the Temple of Amun (or more famously known as the Temple of the Oracle) was built in the 26th Dynasty but remained strong throughout the Greco-Roman era. While several myths surround why the temple was originally built, its main claim to fame is that when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 331 BC, he traveled specifically to Siwa to consult the Oracle at this temple over whether or not he was truly the son of Zeus (Amun). The ruins of this temple have survived over 2,000 years but it’s not sure for how much longer, because the rock underneath has begun to crack. So see it while you still can! You may also like: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing 8. Natural therapy with sand baths at Dakrour Mountain Photo credit: Reuters Yep, people actually pay to get buried in hot sand – what may sound like torture to some people is actually treatment of choice for others. During summer, with soaring temperatures, people in search of all sorts of pain relief do 3 to 5 days of hot sand baths and therapy led by experienced health workers in the healing sands next to Dakrour Mountain. These sand baths are reported to treat arthritis, rheumatism, joint pain, and some even claim infertility. Patients are buried neck-deep in hot sand for 10 to 15 minutes, followed by warm drinks and rest in a tent. No cold showers, cold drinks or AC are allowed throughout the 3-5 days. Read more: 7 Types of Natural Therapy & Climatic Healing in Egypt 9. Disconnect at an ecolodge It’s easy to get caught up in all the activities Siwa has to offer, but if you’re rushing from one sight to the next, you start to forget what Siwa is truly all about: an escape from all the trappings of your crowded, fast-paced, plugged-in everyday life. Siwa is home to several beautifully tranquil ecolodges, most of which only have electricity for a couple of hours a day. They’re the perfect place to reconnect with nature and quiet your mind, far away from it all (both literally and metaphorically). You may also like: 7 Boutique Hotels in Egypt for a More Personalized, Unique Trip 10. See a breathtaking sunset at Fatnas or Taghaghien Island We know, we know. The sun sets every day. But we dare you to see a sunset quite like the ones from the vantage points of Fatnas Island or Taghaghien Island, both facing west on Siwa Lake. Viewing chairs are set up, and you can buy drinks to sip on as the sun goes down (local tip: bring mosquito spray though, and lots of it!) Read more: 12 Places to Go for the Most Beautiful Views in Egypt You may also like: Where to go in Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Destinations & Cities

El Ku5 Restaurant in Downtown Cairo (info below) Downtown Cairo (known by locals as wust el balad ), might be full of history, hostels, stores, congestion, interesting stories and iconic baladi dive bars, but one thing it’s not particularly known for is its restaurants. Sure, it has all the standard fast food chains, but most people don’t head into Downtown in search of a good restaurant – other neighborhoods such as Zamalek , Maadi , Heliopolis , Sheikh Zayed and New Cairo are much more established when it comes to dining destinations. That doesn’t mean however that Downtown Cairo is a lost culinary cause! Au contraire. There are tons of little hole-in-the-walls and food carts serving all kinds of good and authentic street food. But this article is focusing more on the best sit-down-and-eat spots in Downtown Cairo, and these restaurants are as eclectic as the neighborhood itself. So let's get started with some of the best restaurants in Downtown Cairo: Felfela One of the most iconic Egyptian cuisine restaurants in Downtown Cairo since 1959, Felfela was known for years as a place to get fuul, taameya and other Egyptian classics while having a beer. It became a regular lunch spot with families on weekends and opened several other branches throughout the city. It’s now a popular spot for tourists and nostalgic locals, and this dimly-lit and eclectically-decorated restaurant provides a window into the past through stories enthusiastically told by the waiters. Koshary Abou Tarek Every Egyptian local has their favorite local koshary joint, but Abou Tarek is widely agreed on being one of the best - if not THE best. Watching the lightning-fast assembly line of layering your plastic carton with koshary is an experience in and of itself! It’s obviously not an ambient or romantic restaurant choice (all the fluorescent lighting will do that to you), but if cheap, filling and fast is what you’re after, then Abou Tarek is your guy. Read more: 7 Best Places To Try Egyptian Street Food in Cairo Eish & Malh Although the name is Arabic (translating to bread & salt), Eish & Malh is an Italian restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – everything from baked eggs & waffles to homemade pasta and thin-crust pizza. Nab a table next to their French windows that open up onto an eclectic Downtown street and people-watch the day away. Oldish Looking to sit somewhere outdoors but still protected from Downtown’s chaotic streets? Oldish is a very cute restaurant with a beautiful brick courtyard (as well as indoor seating), and is especially nice in the morning when it’s sunny – and they’re open early from 8 am. They’re known for their Egyptian cuisine but also have international classics on their menu such as your standard pizza and pasta options. Read more: 30 Best Breakfast Spots in Cairo Fasahet Somaya This place has been a local hidden gem for over ten years now. It’s a little restaurant run by an Egyptian woman named Somaya, who serves up some of the best homemade Egyptian food you can have in Cairo (unless you’re eating at someone’s grandmother’s house). The twist about Fasahet Somaya though is that it’s only open from 5 pm - 7 pm, it’s first come first serve and there’s no menu. Every day Somaya decides what dishes she’ll make, and that’s what will be served (she posts the daily menu on her FB page in Arabic). Closed on Saturdays. CaiRoma This is the place to head to in Downtown if you’re looking for ambience and Insta vibes. As the name suggests, CaiRoma attempts to recreate the little outdoor restaurants of Rome in an alley of Downtown Cairo, and they succeed aesthetically. Their menu is made up of a wide selection of pastas, pizza, risotto and gnocchi, and while in our humble opinion the food is not totally comparable to Rome’s, the overall experience makes up for it. They’re open daily from 3 pm to midnight. El Ku5 (pronounced El Kukh) If CaiRoma is all about Italian aesthetics, then El Ku5 is a million percent about the vintage, nostalgic, kitschy Egyptian aesthetic. Every spot in this beautifully decorated restaurant is a mini homage to Egyptian folklore and tradition across the country, as well as Egyptian pop culture of yesteryear. They have various seating areas, and even a gorgeous balcony overlooking Downtown Cairo's la belle epoque architecture. Every detail is given an immense amount of thought and meaning, including the music. Their menu is immense, with all the Egyptian favorites you would expect as well as a good amount of international dishes. They also serve breakfast, and morning is the best time to visit El Ku5, with the sun streaming in from the balcony and open windows (they open at 10:30 am). A word to the wise though: this place is almost always full! Om Dahab (or Mama Dahab) If you love little hole-in-the-wall spots that only locals know about, then make sure to try Om Dahab (also known as Mama Dahab), a little food cart with a makeshift kitchen in an almost hidden passageway. The spot itself is shabby and consists of a few plastic tables and chairs in the alleyway, but what makes this place so popular is Dahab, the heart, brain (and cook!) of the whole operation. Dahab herself cooks each sandwich and plate, from 2 pm to 10:30 pm every day except for Friday. Her dishes are all simple, tasty, cheap, and prepared with love. She makes kofta, fried chicken and liver sandwiches, as well as larger plates: molokheya, stuffed vegetables, macaroni with liver, and grilled chicken. Pomodoro This unassuming, no-frills restaurant specializes in a dish that is quite random for Downtown Cairo, or almost anywhere really, and that’s… seafood pasta. Yup, if you’re a fan of tomato sauce pasta topped with your choice of seafood, then this is the place for you. If you’re NOT a fan, then this is… not the place for you, because there’s not much else on the menu lol. How it works is first you choose between three variations: 1) seafood pasta (crab, shrimp, clams, calamari), 2) shrimp pasta, or 3) lobster pasta. They all are served with the same base of tomato sauce linguini. You then choose the size of your plate (regular, medium, large, extra large) and any extra seafood additions you’d like to add. Et voila, that’s it! Local tip: this place gets super crowded; there’s usually a line and even if you have a reservation you’re not guaranteed to be seated on time. But that’s all a testament to how good their seafood pasta is! 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While Egypt is well-known for being the land of the pharaohs and pyramids , not many people (including locals) realize just how old some of Egypt’s fully-modern cities are. So the next time you’re in one of these places listed below, try to ignore the cars zipping past and the blaring TVs for a moment, and soak in the fact that you’re standing in the same Ancient Egyptian city that stood on that very same spot more than 5,000 years ago. 1. Fayoum (7,000+ years old) Burial coffin found in Lahun Pyramid in Fayoum Ancient Egyptian name: Shedet Greek name: Crocodilopolis While the ancient Egyptian city of Shedet (modern-day Fayoum) is around 6,000 years old, archaeologists have found evidence of hunter and gatherer societies based in Fayoum from the Epipalaeolithic age. Shedet was called Crocodilopolis by the Greeks due to it being the main cult center of the crocodile god Sobek. Modern-day Fayoum is also home to a few lesser-known pyramids than those found at the Giza plateau . 2. El Qoseir (~5,000 years old) Greek name: Leucus Limen The small modern Red Sea city of El Qoseir has been populated for about 5,000 years, and the ancient Greeks called it “Leucus Limen”, which translates to ‘white port’ or ‘white harbor’. El Qoseir was used as a starting point for many ancient expeditions into foreign lands, the most famous one being Hatshepsut’s expedition to Punt (believed to be modern-day Ethiopia) in 1493 AD to buy ebony, ivory, exotic animals and frankincense and myrrh. This expedition was recorded in her mortuary temple at Deir el Bahari , that still stands in modern-day Luxor. 3. Rashid/Rosetta (~5,000 years old) Rosetta Stone Ancient Egyptian name: Khito Greek name: Bolbitine This modern-day Mediterranean port city is known for being where the world-famous Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799, allowing Egyptologists to decipher the then-impenetrable hieroglyphics for the first time. Rashid/Rosetta was inhabited throughout all of Ancient Egyptian history, and named ‘Khito’, which meant ‘populace’, during Menas’ (Mena in Arabic) rule. During Ptolemaic times, Khito was renamed to Bolbitine, which was one of the seven mouths of the Nile according to Herodotus. 4. Ain Shams (~5,000 - 6,000 years old) Last remnants of the ancient city of Heliopolis in modern-day Cairo Ancient Egyptian name: Iunu Greek name: Heliopolis While technically Ain Shams is now part of modern-day Cairo, the original city Iunu is one of Ancient Egypt’s oldest cities, occupied since the Predynastic times (Menas or Mena is considered the first pharaoh and marks the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period around 5,000 years ago). Iunu/Heliopolis was known to be a cult center for the sun god Atum, who was then identified as Ra and then Horus. It also became famous for being a learning center during the Greek times, before it was eclipsed by Alexandria around 2,000 years ago. The name Heliopolis lives on as Cairo’s eastern suburb , near the original city of Ain Shams/Iunu. 5. Elephantine in Aswan (more than 5,000 years old) Ancient Egyptian name: Abu Greek name: Elephantine This island in modern-day Aswan used to be the Ancient Egyptian city of Abu, which translated to ‘elephant’. The first temple built on the island was around 3,200 BC (around 5,200 years ago), and it was a temple for Satet, a goddess personified as the Nile inundation. Elephantine was also known in the Ancient Egyptian religion as being the home of Khnum, the ram god who watched over and controlled the Nile waters. Around 3,500 years ago Elephantine became a fort that marked the southern border of Egypt. Read: 12 Most Interesting Things To See & Do in Aswan, Egypt 6. Luxor (~ 5,200 years old) Ancient Egyptian name: Waset Greek name: Thebes Probably the most famous ancient city in the world, Luxor’s Ancient Egyptian name, Waset, meant ‘city of the scepter of the pharaohs’. Waset was first inhabited around 3,200 BC and was a small trading post while the Ancient Egyptian capital and royal residence at the time was Memphis. Its proximity to Nubia and the Eastern desert made Waset/Thebes a growingly-important trading center, and became the official capital of Ancient Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms. Waset/Thebes was built on both banks of the Nile, and until this day is known for its necropolises . Read: 10 Best Things To Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals 7. Assyut (more than ~5,100 years old) Statue of the chief royal scribe Yuny of Assyut and his wife Renenutet, 1290–1270 BC Ancient Egyptian name: Zawty Greek name: Lykopolis Ancient Assyut was the capital of the 13th Nome of Upper Egypt (a nome was a territorial division in Ancient Egypt) around 5,100 years ago. Its importance declined after a conflict with the more southern nomes, ending with Thebes as the victor. While there are no awe-inspiring ruins left in Assyut like there are in Luxor, there remains a necropolis with tombs and their accompanying treasures, and mummies of wolves were also found. You might also like: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today

Jeeda's A common local complaint is that Alexandria falls significantly short in comparison to Cairo when it comes to bars, pubs, clubs and other watering holes. And while this is true to a certain extent, Alex *does* in fact have more than a dozen spots where you can kick back with a drink. Are they all worth going to? Well… we’ll let you decide for yourself. Note: we didn’t include restaurants that served alcohol (Greek Club, Chez Gaby, Santa Lucia, Zephyrion, etc) because they’re more restaurant than a night spot. So here are the main players in Alexandria’s nightlife, in no particular order: 1. Spitfire Dating all the way back to 1883, Spitfire is Alexandria’s oldest bar with decades of paraphernalia on the walls (but have moved from their original spot to the Corniche). 2. Cap D’Or (Sheikh Ali) Photo credit: Quinton Miller Another vintage Alexandrian bar, the Cap D’Or (also known as Sheikh Ali) opened circa 1900 and is still owned by the same family. 3. Jeeda's Touted as Alexandria's first ever tapas bar, Jeeda's is where you should head if you want to have a drink in a beautiful indoor/outdoor space with handcrafted cocktails. 4. Eros Eros is a restobar on the second floor of the Alexandria Syrian Club (the club itself was founded back in 1967!). Rooftop Hidden atop a nondescript commercial/residential building on Alexandria's Corniche is a bar/cafe called, aptly, Rooftop or Alex Rooftop, with gorgeous sea views. They serve both beer as well as coffee and other non-bar drinks. 6. The Pint Located in the Eatabe Alexandria Corniche Hotel, this steakhouse & bar is adjacent to a lounge that serves shisha. 7. Cigar Bar A bar true to its name in the Hilton Alexandria Corniche , the Cigar Bar has beautiful sea views as well as an extensive array of cigars. The Hilton Alexandria Corniche also has NEO Lounge if you're looking for some music after the Cigar Bar. They host weekly themed nights like House Night, Latin Night, Oriental Night, etc. 8. Sky Roof On the rooftop of the Windsor Palace Hotel , this very purple bar and lounge serves up blasting music (albeit with great sea views). 9. Calithea Styled after a Greek tavern, Calithea has been open since 1937. While they serve food, most people opt to drink a beer or wine there instead. 10. Monty Bar The vintage bar at the famous Cecil hotel (now Steigenberger). It was named after Field Marshal Montgomery who visited the bar during World War II. Hooligans Indoor and outdoor seating at this sports bar (and DJ venue at night) at the Sunrise Alex Avenue Hotel, near Stanley Beach. 12. The Kraken A Viking-themed bar and restaurant in the Africana Hotel in King Mariout, on the outskirts of Alexandria, complete with a pool table and bar games. 13. Le Bar A beautiful lounge and bar at the Four Seasons San Stefano which will make you nostalgic for Alexandria’s belle epoque -- with Four Seasons prices, of course. 14. Nyx Bar & Lounge On the second floor of Elite, a Greek restaurant in Mehatet el Raml, you'll find Nyx Bar and Lounge, where they have DJs, karaoke nights and happy hours. Il Punto A restaurant and pub in the Downtown area of Alexandria. It’s small, so reservations are needed. You might also like: 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Alexandria

Modern Egypt is known for being a Muslim country, but what many don’t know is that Ancient Egypt was where one of the oldest Christian faiths in the world took root. According to the New Testament, Egypt was a safe haven for the Holy Family who fled from Jerusalem and King Herold in what is known as ‘The Flight into Egypt’. You can still visit spots up and down Egypt where the Holy Family lived, rested and wandered. From the 1st century AD, early Christianity began to flourish in Egypt and evolve alongside the culture and language of Ancient Egypt, eventually cultivating into the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is still practiced today. Read: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide Some of these ancient monasteries, dating back to the 4th century, are some of the oldest still-standing Christian monasteries in the world. We’ve also included some of our newer but incredibly beautiful Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox monasteries. ICYMI: what exactly is the difference between a church and a monastery? A church is a place of public worship, while a monastery is where a private group of believers (monks) live and dedicate their lives to religion and worship. The Red Monastery Location: Sohag Established: 4th century AD The exact history around this mysterious monastery on the outskirts of Sohag in Upper Egypt is unknown, although it’s considered one of the most famous Coptic monasteries in Egypt. It had fallen into ruin until 2003 when the American Research Center in Egypt undertook a restoration project. According to ARCE: “Nowhere else in Egypt do we know of a monument of the late antique and early Byzantine period whose architectural sculpture is in situ up to the highest level of the building.” Garnering its name from the red burnt brick construction materials on its exterior, the Red Monastery is a neighbor to the White Monastery, built around the same time and worth a visit as well. You can take a virtual tour of the Red Monastery and 21 other awesome sites in Egypt here . St. Simon the Tanner Monastery (Cave Church) Location: Moqattam, Cairo Established: 1975 This awesome cave church (or technically, ‘churches’ -- the St. Simon monastery complex has seven churches) is unlike anything else we have in Egypt. Carved into the Moqattam Hills, the main monastery hall can hold over 20,000 people and was named after the Coptic Saint Simon, who, according to legend, moved the Moqattam mountain in 979 AD as proof of the strength of his beliefs. The cave church was built by the Zabbaleen community of Cairo’s Garbage City, and today is not only a religious spot but an educational center, kindergarten and school for the deaf. St. Catherine’s Monastery Location: Mount Sinai, Sinai Peninsula Established: 6th century AD Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (for other Egyptian heritage sites, head here ), the Orthodox Saint Catherine Monastery is the oldest Christian monastery in the world still used for its original function. According to UNESCO: “Its walls and buildings are of great significance to studies of Byzantine architecture and the Monastery houses outstanding collections of early Christian manuscripts and icons. The rugged mountainous landscape, containing numerous archaeological and religious sites and monuments, forms a perfect backdrop to the Monastery.” St. Catherine's Monastery is at the foot of Mt. Sinai , where it's believed by the Abrahamic religions that Moses found the Burning Bush and received the 10 Commandments. St. Anthony’s Monastery Location: Red Sea mountains, near Zafaraana (before Hurghada) Established: 356 AD 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. Monastery of St. Paul the Anchorite Location: Red Sea mountains, near Zafaraana (before Hurghada) Established: 4th century AD This monastery was built over the cave where St. Paul the Anchorite lived for 80 years in Egypt’s eastern desert, and is also known as ‘the Monastery of the Tigers’ for unclear reasons; some theorize it’s due to its remote location in the desert, but tigers aren’t exactly known to be prancing up and down Egypt (even in ancient times), but oh well. Bedouin tribes attacked the monastery in 1484, killed the monks and burned down their library. It was rebuilt by Patriarch Gabriel VII, who sent monks from the Syrian Monastery (in the Wadi el Natrun monasteries, below) but it was attacked twice after, causing the monks to flee to St. Anthony’s Monastery and not return. Wadi Natrun Monasteries Location: Wadi Natrun Valley, northwest of Cairo Established: 4th century AD More than 1600 years ago, Saint Macarius of Egypt decided to build his monastery in the Natrun valley, known for its large alkali lakes. This attracted the attention of other Christian monks and hermits, who then decided to settle in Natrun as well, establishing four large early Christian developments. The four Wadi Natrun Coptic monasteries that are still active to this day are: The Monastery of Saint Macarius The Monastery of Saint Bishoy The Paromeos Monastery The Syrian Monastery All of the four can be seen and visited until today free of charge, but leaving a donation is always helpful in preserving these historic sites. Monastery of St. Mena Photo credit: Nardine Saber Soliman Location: western desert outside of Alexandria Established: 1959 This monastery was built near the ruins of Abu Mena, one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Egypt . Abu Mena is the remnants of an early Coptic Christian holy city, built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria, around 50 km south of modern-day Alexandria . It’s believed that Menas died in either the late 3rd or early 4th century. Not much remains standing in the ancient Christian city today besides the foundation of some of its great buildings. Photo credit: Andrew Shenouda In 1959, then-Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria put down the foundations of a monastery next to the ancient Coptic city ruins, and it has since grown into one of the most famous monasteries in Egypt. Thousands of pilgrims travel to St. Mena’s Monastery yearly for spiritual and physical healing. You might also like: 9 Egyptian Churches, Cathedrals and Monasteries You Need to Visit at Least Once

Every winter, almost overnight, most of Egypt goes from warm and breezy to downright freezing. While the temperatures don’t drop as much as Europe and North America, Egypt’s buildings have zero insulation (a godsend in the summer, a nightmare in winter) so the cold strikes right into the very core of us. Read: 7 Reasons Why Winter Is Actually One Of The Best Times To Go To Egypt So what’s a freezing person to do? Well, besides adding another layer of clothing to the seventeen layers we’re already wearing, we Egyptians like to warm ourselves both physically and emotionally with some good ol’ comfort food. And while one can never go amiss with pizza, today we’re listing our favorite local Egyptian winter classics and the best places to find them. 1. Lentil Soup Served with croutons (or any other type of crunchy bread) and with lemon on the side, Egyptian lentil soup is a staple on most menus year-round, but winter is when we really learn to appreciate this hearty and filling soup. Like most Egyptian classics, it’s best homemade but a few restaurants have managed to nail it. Best place for lentil soup: Abu El Sid 2. Roasted Sweet Potato Photo credit: eatstowest.net Now we’re not talking about just shoving a sweet potato or two in the oven at home, no. Walk the streets of any city in Egypt and sooner or later you’ll smell something distinctly sweet and smoky at the same time -- it’s the siren call of the resident batata (sweet potato) street cart. These vendors roast the sweet potatoes in their little portable wood-burning ovens until they’re so soft they practically fall out of their skins (the sweet potatoes, not the vendors). Best place for roasted sweet potato: like we said, your nearest neighborhood batata cart 3. Sahlab So technically sahlab is a comfort drink not a comfort food, but who are we to split hairs. It’s a hot milk-based drink with ground orchid roots to thicken it -- yes, ground orchid roots. Add some sugar, vanilla, shredded coconut and a sprinkle of cinnamon and nuts and voila; the winter drink of our childhood. Best place for sahlab: while sahlab can be found in every cafe and ahwa in the city, they sometimes use the instant sachets of sahlab which are just… no. If you want the real deal, you can buy the orchid roots at an attar (a common Egyptian shop that sells all kinds of herbs and spices) and make it at home. 4. Hommos El Sham Photo credit: drolacooks.blogspot.com Hommos El Sham (also known as halabessa ) is an interesting toss-up between comfort food and comfort drink. It’s essentially a spicy tomato drink with chickpeas, garlic and onion, served hot and with a side plate of cumin, chili and lemon for everyone to spice as they see fit. Best place for hommos el sham: if you want to go full local, try one of the hommos el sham carts that line the bridges and Nile Corniche in winter. Otherwise, your neighborhood ahwa should do the trick. 5. Belila Photo credit: drolacooks.blogspot.com An old-school Egyptian comfort food, belila is a type of wheat porridge that’s a popular winter breakfast (or late-night snack). The whole wheat grains are soaked in sweetened milk and then served with toasted nuts, raisins, honey or whatever topping strikes your fancy (clotted cream is another popular one). Best place for belila: homemade always wins when it comes to belila, but El Malky does a decent one. 6. Roz Meammar (Baked Rice) While roz meammar is another year-round dish, its carb-y and creamy goodness is particularly enjoyed in winter. It’s essentially white rice in a flavorful cream sauce that’s baked until the sauce thickens and browns on top. You can either have your roz meammar plain or with pieces of chicken or pigeon. Best place for rez meammar: Le Pacha’s Carlo’s (they have a Zamalek branch, Sheikh Zayed branch and New Cairo branch, but the Zamalek one is by far the best). 7. Colocasia/Kolkas/Ulass/Taro (قلقاس) Yes those are indeed a lot of names for Egyptian taro, known here as قلقاس. For those unfamiliar, Egyptian taro is a root vegetable pretty similar to a really tender potato. It’s usually served in cube form in a stew of some sort over rice, and because winter is when it’s in season, it’s associated with cold weather and hearty meals. Best place for Egyptian taro: at home for the most part, because every family has their own favorite way of preparing it. You can find it frozen in every main supermarket so you don’t need to go through the hassle of peeling and cutting it. You might also like: 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try