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No question about it -- Egypt is just one of those bucket list countries, with sights that are impossible to fathom unless you see them for yourself. But as we all know, sometimes crossing something off your bucket list is easier said than done! So whether you’re stuck at home with no travel plans in sight, or are just curious to see some of Egypt’s most famous historical, religious and cultural sites, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has done us all a solid and created 3D virtual tours where you can explore these mysterious, intriguing places for free from the comfort of your own home. Local tip: if the virtual tour page says it's unable to load the first time, just refresh the page. King Tut Hall See the iconic King Tut burial mask in the Cairo Museum’s King Tut Hall, alongside his golden coffins and other treasures from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. King Tut Hall virtual tour link. Museum of Islamic Art This art museum in Cairo holds over 100,000 pieces of Islamic heritage from not only Egypt but also Arab and non-Arab countries alike. Many of the pieces were gathered from the first Islamic capitals of Egypt (Fustat and Askar), prior to the rise of Cairo. Pieces were also selected from the Delta, Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan. Museum of Islamic Art virtual tour link. Abu Serga Church The Abu Serga church in Coptic Cairo is believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus Christ) stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. The spot is now the crypt of the church, 10 meters deep. Abu Serga virtul tour link. Tomb of Ti The mastaba tomb of the ancient Egyptian official Ti in the Saqqara necropolis outside of Cairo. Ti's tomb is known for its wall depictions of daily life in the Old Kingdom, including scenes of farming, boat-building and poultry-fattening. Tomb of Ti virtual tour link. Manasterly Palace & Nile Meter The palace of Hassan Fouad Al Manasterly Pasha, the governor of Cairo in 1854 AD, located on the Nile River island of Al Rawda in Cairo. On the grounds is also a Nilometer built in 1861 AD, to measure the Nile during the annual floods. Manasterly Palace and Nilometer virtual tour link. Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotep Tomb An unusual ‘double tomb’ mastaba in the Saqqara necropolis. It’s not common to find a tomb for two people, so it’s theorized that these two men were brothers, and perhaps twins (one theory is that they were actually conjoined twins). Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotelp's tomb virtual tour link. Mohammed Ali Pasha Mosque Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Cairo Citadel is one of Cairo’s landmarks and dominates the Eastern skyline, both during the day and then at night when it’s lit up. It was commissioned by Mohammed Ali Pasha, an Ottoman Albanian military commander who became Khedive of Egypt. Mohamed Ali Mosque virtual tour link. The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser - Colonnade The entrance colonnade to the pyramid complex of Djoser. The oldest Egyptian pyramid to date, ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The colonnade is 20 pairs of columns with 24 small chambers between each, which are thought maybe to represent the nomes of Upper and Lower Egypt, and may have once held statues of the pharaoh or the gods. Step Pyramid Colonnade virtual tour link here. Gayer-Andersen Museum The Gayer-Andersen Museum is found in a beautiful historical house in Old Cairo, built in 1631. It’s a great remnant of Islamic architecture at the time. The house belonged to several different wealthy families over the years, but gained its name during its stint as home of British officer Gayer Andersen in 1935. He amassed a stunning collection of art, furniture, carpets and Egyptian handicrafts that remain in the house until present day. Gayer-Andersen virtual tour link. Unas Pyramid The smallest remaining pyramid of the Old Kingdom, but notable due to the discovery of the ‘Pyramids Texts’ inscribed inside on its walls. The Pyramids Texts were funerary texts and spells for the pharaoh’s afterlife, which would later become the basis of the Book of the Dead. Unas Pyramid virtual tour link. Al-Fath Mosque The Royal Al-Fath Mosque is annexed to Abdeen Palace in Cairo, built in the 19th century in an Ottoman style similar to the mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha. The Al-Fath Mosque virtual tour link. Tomb of Menna Menna was an ancient Egyptian official, and his tomb is one of the most colorful and best-preserved in Thebes (modern-day Luxor). Tomb of Menna virtual tour link. Red Monastery This 1,400 year old Coptic Orthodox church in Sohag was once one of Byzantine Egypt’s most beautiful monasteries. It was in ruins for decades, but was recently restored to its former glory. Red Monastery virtual tour link. Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq The mosque-madrassa of Al Zaher Barquq (also known as the Sultan Barquq mosque) is a medieval religious complex in the Moez street area in Old Cairo, adjacent to Khan el Khalili (for our full Khan el Khalili guide, head here). It’s comprised of a mosque, madrassa, mausoleum and khanqah (a building for Sufi spiritual retreat). Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq virtual tour link. Tomb of Queen Meresankh III Meresankh III was the granddaughter of Khufu (the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid), and is believed to be the wife of either Khafre or Menkaure (the pharaohs of the other two Pyramids of Giza). One of the most beloved features of her mastaba tomb is the ten large statues of women that are carved out of the northern wall, thought to represent Meresankh III, her mother and her daughters. Tomb of Meresankh III virtual tour link. Ben Ezra Synagogue Originally a Coptic Church established in 882 AD, Abraham Ben Ezra from Jerusalem bought the church and converted it to a synagogue. It’s believed to be the spot where the baby Moses was found. The synagogue went through a series of renovations over the centuries, with the current structure dating back to 1892. It’s built in the style of a basilica, with two floors: the first floor dedicated to men, and the 2nd dedicated to women. It now functions as a museum. Ben Ezra Synagogue virtual tour link. Beni Hasan A necropolis dedicated to ancient military leaders and provincial rulers, today found in the modern city of Minya in Upper Egypt. There are about 39 tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2050 BC to 1710 BC). Beni Hasan virtual tour link. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa These catacombs in Alexandria are a rare mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman architecture and monuments and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa virtual tour link. Tomb of Ramses VI Also known as KV9, this tomb (originally built by Ramses V but used by Ramses VI) is one of the best-preserved in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Tomb of Ramses VI virtual tour link. Coptic Museum Known as the best place to learn about Coptic history in Egypt, this museum hosts over 1,600 pieces, dating back to the early days of Coptic Christianity in the 3rd and 4th century AD. This museum is known for its Bibles written in the 11th and 13th centuries in both Arabic and the Coptic language on deerskin, as well as Christian writings on papyrus dating back to the 6th century. Coptic Museum virtual tour link. Tomb of Wahty Recently discovered in 2018, Wahty (also spelled Wahtye) was an Old Kingdom priest and royal official, and his 4,400 year old tomb was found mainly intact in the Saqqara necropolis. Tomb of Wahty virtual tour link. Tomb of Mehu Not far from the Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara is the Old Kingdom mastaba tomb of Mehu, a royal vizier. Tomb of Mehu virtual tour link. You may also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List: 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

The Pyramids, the Nile, mummies, mosques and churches more than 1,000 years old… to say there’s A LOT to see and do in Cairo would be an understatement. But we tried to streamline the best of what Cairo has to offer in terms of sightseeing and break down the top 10 things to do in Cairo. Read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Cairo for Both Tourists and Locals Alike Read more: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Clubs in Cairo Now, ready to explore Cairo? Let’s go! 1. See the Pyramids of Giza & The Sphinx. This obviously goes without saying. Whether you’re in Cairo for a day or a week, this needs to be your number one thing to do. A lot of famous places worldwide are overhyped via things like Instagram etc., but trust us when we say the Pyramids and Sphinx DO NOT disappoint. We have a LOT to say about everything you need to know before visiting the Pyramids for the first time, and we compiled it all here in our local’s guide to the Pyramids. 2. Check out the Royal Mummy Gallery at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. While the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is definitely worth seeing in and of itself (it holds over 50,000 artefacts from all eras of Egyptian civilization, from prehistoric times through the pharaonic era up until now), the Royal Mummy Gallery is really something special to see. It’s home to over 20 royal mummies, with some very famous ones among them, like Ramses II. Some of the mummies are in remarkable condition considering they’re over 3,000 years old – Queen Tiye still almost has a full head of curly hair! Excited about the upcoming Grand Egyptian Museum? Read Grand Egyptian Museum: A Local's Guide To Everything You Need To Know For more cool museums in Cairo, read 9 Museums in Cairo You Need to Visit At Least Once. 3. Walk down El Moez Street in Old Cairo. Cairo as a city is more than 1,000 years old, and there’s no better place to see remnants of what we call Old Cairo or Historic Cairo (which is a UNESCO World Heritage site by the way) than the pedestrian street of El Moez. El Moez Street is 1 km long and filled with everything from medieval houses, mosques and palaces to shops and Cairo’s famous tentmakers’ bazaar. To quote the UN, El Moez Street has “the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world”. Here’s our full local’s guide to everything you need to know about El Moez Street before visiting. 4. Shop for souvenirs at Khan El Khalili. You can’t go to El Moez Street without wandering through the alleys of the adjacent Khan el Khalili, Cairo’s most famous souk or bazaar. Khan el Khalili is the perfect place to find a great souvenir or gifts for people back home. This labyrinth of shops and vendors sell everything from high quality gold and silver to kitschy plastic trinkets. It’s beautiful at night when all the lights and lanterns are lit up, but expect crowds and a lot of bargaining. Here’s our detailed guide to Khan el Khalili. 5. Go to the Cairo Citadel & Mohamed Ali Mosque. The Cairo Citadel is a medieval fortress almost 1000 years old, and used to be where Egypt’s rulers ran the government as well as resided for almost 700 years. It still dominates Cairo’s eastern skyline until now and houses several mosques and museums, including the iconic Mohamed Ali mosque. Because of its elevation, it’s a great place to also see panoramic views of Cairo (if you’re lucky and it’s a clear day, you can see clear across the city and Nile all the way to the Pyramids of Giza. 6. See the neighboring Sultan Hassan & Al Rifai Mosques. Close to the Cairo Citadel are two of Egypt’s most beautiful mosques, Sultan Hassan and its close neighbor Al Rifai. Although the two mosques are of similar size with only a lane separating them, they were in fact built 500 years apart. Sultan Hassan, established in 1359 AD, is considered one of the most important monuments in the Islamic world, and was home to four different madrassas (religious schools) as well as a mosque. Islamic historians referred to it as a “wonder of construction”. Al Rifai was commissioned 500 years later by Khoshiar Hanem, the mother of Khedive Ismail, to house the royal family’s tombs as well as be a place of worship. Read more: 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in Egypt 7. Explore Coptic Cairo. Coptic Cairo is known as the stronghold of Christianity in Old Cairo, home to places of worship that date back to the time when the pharaonic religions of Ancient Egypt had died out and Islam had not yet arrived. Some of Egypt’s earliest churches remain standing in Coptic Egypt to this day - some dating back to the 4th century AD. It’s also believed that the Holy Family lived here for a short period during their flight into Egypt to escape Herod. Coptic Cairo as a whole is a pedestrian complex, so you can walk around and explore the churches, Roman fortress, synagogue, cemeteries and Coptic Museum as well as alleys full of books, postcards and other souvenirs. You can read more in our jam-packed Coptic Cairo guide here. 8. Take a Nile felucca ride. The Nile has been Egypt’s lifeline since the beginning of recorded time, and you’ll find yourself crossing the Nile several times a day to get from one side of Cairo to the other. And while it’s cool to see the Nile from above, there’s nothing like taking an actual sail on a felucca, Egypt’s little sailboats. It’s an instantaneous disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Cairo’s chaotic streets, and sunset especially is a perfect time to catch that river breeze and see the twinkling lights of the city light up the water. Feluccas are available to rent from half an hour to as long as you want. 9. See Egypt’s oldest pyramid at Saqqara. If you’re fascinated with pyramids (rightly so), then you should definitely visit the necropolis of Saqqara and see the Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid. It’s the oldest pyramid in Egypt, and its step design is considered an initial pyramid prototype before the smooth-sided Pyramids of Giza. It also houses around a dozen fascinating tombs. Saqqara is about an hour from Downtown Cairo and a very easy half-day trip by car. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 10. Have lunch or dinner with a Pyramids view. You’ve probably already seen the Pyramids up close and personal at this point (or at least we hope so), but you can’t just be one and done when it comes to seeing the Pyramids! Come on people, we’re talking about the last ancient wonder of the world. This time, instead of trekking around in the sand and sun to see them, kick back and relax with a drink and a meal and the ancient giants as your view. Local tip: try to go during the day or around sunset time, because once the sound & light shows are over for the evening, the Pyramids aren’t lit up so you’ll struggle to see them in the dark. Here’s a list of our favorite restaurants with Pyramids views. Happy exploring Cairo! You might also like: Cairo Sightseeing For Free - 9 Awesome Sites That Don’t Cost Anything To Visit

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

We’ve said over and over how underrated Egypt’s spectacular beaches are, and even then we were talking about our coastal beaches. One of Egypt’s best-kept secrets is actually its Red Sea islands, and we’re almost hesitant to talk about them, that’s how pristine and under the radar they are! Egypt actually has 521 islands off the Red Sea coast, of varying size and location. Most are uninhabited and just specks on the map, but we’re here to shed light on the perfect islands to visit for a day trip of sun, fun, swimming, snorkeling and other beach activities. These islands are usually just an hour or so off the coast, and boat trips are readily available. The boats usually leave the marina in the morning and return before sunset, and it’s a great way to spend the day if you’re in the Red Sea area. You might also like: 8 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations Giftun Islands Location: Hurghada These two islands are Giftun El Kabeer (Big Giftun) and Giftun el Sagheer (Little Giftun), but Big Giftun is the one where the real action is at because it’s home to beach havens Mahmya and Orange Bay. These daytime destinations offer beach restaurants, bars and water activities as well as bathrooms and showers for those who’ve spent a long day diving or snorkeling and want to kick back and relax. You might also like: Hurghada, Egypt: A Local's Guide For First-Timers Tawila Location: El Gouna Located 24 km off the coast of El Gouna, Tawila Island is an island popular with kitesurfers and those looking to spend the day on a pristine white sand beach. Tawila has zero amenities (unless you're staying in the hotel there) so you need to bring your own food, drinks and equipment (but please make sure to leave the beaches as pristine as you found them!). You can arrange for a boat to take you on a day trip to Tawila and back from El Gouna. White Island Location: Ras Mohamed National Park Around 10 km from Sharm el Sheikh, in the protected Ras Mohamed marine park, is a white sandbar island called (for obvious reasons) White Island. This plateau is where the waters from the Gulf of Suez meet the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea, and sitting on the island you can see Africa to your left and Asia to your right. It's a great spot for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing and you can easily reach it by boat from Sharm or Ras Mohamed. Read more: 12 Best Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh Bayoud Location: El Gouna Bayoud is a sandbank about 2 km from the shores of El Gouna, so while it’s not technically an island in the literal sense, it serves the exact same purpose when it comes to Red Sea day trips. Because it's so close to the Gouna shore, any small motor boat or catamaran or mini yacht can anchor in Bayoud; it's common to see people boat hopping and socializing between the anchored boats. Others who are looking to get away from it all can sit and sunbathe in the warm shallow water around the sandbank and swim in the crystal clear water. People usually bring their music, food and drinks and spend a day on and off the boat. Read more: El Gouna - A Local's Guide Qulaan Islands Location: Wadi El Gemal National Park Qulaan Islands are an archipelago of four islands in a protected bay in the Wadi El Gemal National Park in Egypt’s Deep South, less than an hour away from Marsa Alam. These empty, remote islands are known for their mangrove trees and ecosystem built around the mangroves; marine life flourishes under the trees and it’s a great bird-watching spot. You can take a boat from the Hamata marina and spend a few hours picnicking, swimming and snorkeling on the islands. Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Marsa Alam Gubal Island Location: El Gouna Close to Tawila Island is Gubal Island, a popular snorkeling and diving spot due to the Straits of Gubal. The Straits of Gubal is where the water from the Gulf of Suez meets the Red Sea, leading to lots of nutrient-rich currents over shallow areas, which attracts tons of marine life. Besides the underwater action, Gubal also has pristine white beaches where you can set up BBQs and beach activities for the day. Shadwan Location: Northeast of El Gouna One of the largest islands in the Red Sea, Shadwan used to be an Egyptian military base and was the target of an Israeli heliborne raid in 1970. Most buildings were demolished except the Shadwan Lighthouse, which was built in 1889, and until today the island remains empty save for divers, fishers and other Red Sea Riviera tourists. You might also like: Red Sea Riviera - Where To Stay

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

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

Something we hear all the time when a non-Egyptian sees our beaches for the first time is: “You have beaches like THIS in Egypt???” Yes my friend, indeed we do. Most people when they think of Egypt think of a long swath of desert with a few pyramids dotted here and there, plus or minus a camel or two. And while yes, we have that, we also have thousands of miles worth of fantastic coast. We go into detail about specific beaches in our article 9 World-Class Beaches in Egypt, but in this article here we’re going to talk about the best beach destinations in Egypt as a whole – meaning, the best places to go to kick back and relax for a chill beach holiday. And trust us, there’s something for everybody! Hurghada Ideal if you want: lots of resort and hotel options (including all-inclusive and family-friendly options), water activities and diving Hurghada, having spent the first hundred years of its life as a sleepy little fishing village, is now one of the most popular destinations in the world (don’t believe us? Ask TripAdvisor -- Hurghada is one of their 'Top 10 Most Popular Destinations' for 2022). Hurghada is an eclectic mix of 5 star resorts and super budget hotels, Red Sea islands and desert excursions, touristy promenades and dingier local areas… there’s something to see and do no matter your age or interests. Best way to get there: fly to Hurghada Airport or by car from Cairo (4.5 hours) Here’s our full, detailed local’s guide for Hurghada. North Coast Ideal if you want: to just relax on the beach and not leave the hotel Egypt’s North Coast, called Sahel el Shamali in Arabic (Sahel for short), stretches out for about 1,000 km on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast and has arguably some of the most pristine white sand beaches in the region. Now obviously 1,000 km of coast is a lot, but it’s currently comprised mainly of private residential beach compounds with a few sporadic hotels, so it’s mainly the summer playground of moneyed locals. Recently though more tourism development has taken root, so those who don’t own beach homes can still enjoy Egypt’s (hands down) best summer beaches. It’s a hassle to get around the North Coast area though, so it’s recommended if you’re just looking to stay for a weekend at your hotel’s beach. Unlike Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh, there are very limited activity options outside of your hotel. Best way to get there: by car from Cairo (could be anything from a 3-5 hour drive, depending on where on the North Coast your hotel is) Sahl Hasheesh Ideal if you want: an all-inclusive resort on pristine beaches On most online booking sites, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay (below) are grouped together as ‘Hurghada’. And while they are indeed considered in the Hurghada ‘area’, they’re their own separate towns and very different from Hurghada proper. Sahl Hasheesh is a resort town built on a bay in the Red Sea south of Hurghada back in the 1990s, and is known for its beautiful stretch of coastline and long boardwalk. It’s home to some of the most highly ranked beach resorts in the country, such as Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh and Baron Palace. Sahl Hasheesh doesn’t offer much in terms of restaurants or nightlife outside of the resorts - just an ‘Old Town’ with one or two spots. Best way to get there: fly into Hurghada Airport then drive into Sahl Hasheesh (30 minutes) Soma Bay Ideal if you want: 5 star resorts with a plethora of water sports, diving and snorkeling A peninsula jutting into the Red Sea, Soma Bay is similar to Sahl Hasheesh but smaller. Because it’s surrounded by the sea on three sides, Soma Bay is famous for its water sports, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing due to the ideal wind conditions. Soma Bay (the official development on the peninsula) is home to only 5 beach resorts, so it’s a good place to go if you want insanely beautiful beaches but still want to avoid the crowds found in other popular Red Sea Riviera destinations (Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, etc). It has its own dive center as well as jetty to snorkel right on the reef. Best way to get there: fly into Hurghada and drive to Soma Bay (an hour south). Dahab Ideal if you want: great snorkeling and diving in a casual beach town This little bohemian town is smaller, quieter and less commercial than its Red Sea Riviera neighbor Sharm el Sheikh, but the diving is just as good. Home to world-renowned dive sites like the Blue Hole, Dahab pulls in its own fair share of tourists, but those who want to experience a more laid-back vacation. The main area of town is its seaside promenade, full of local and quirkily-named restaurants and shops. There are also hostels and budget hotels galore. You can also hike to and camp in nearby Ras Abu Galoum and Blue Lagoon. Similar to Sharm, Dahab is also a popular base for treks into the Sinai Mountains and St. Catherine’s Monastery. Best way to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh and drive there, about an hour away Marsa Alam Ideal if you want: a quiet beach holiday that involves diving Marsa Alam might not be as well known or frequently visited as Hurghada but if you’re looking for a beach holiday that involves diving, this is a great place for it. This coastal town is more off the beaten track for both Egyptians and foreigners alike, so it’s an excellent place if you want to relax and focus on diving and other sea activities. Accommodation is across the board, from 5 star hotels to sparse beach camps. There’s very little in terms of restaurants and nightlife, so if you’re someone who likes to be on the beach early and call it a night early too, this might be for you. Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Marsa Alam Marsa Alam’s famous dive sites like Elphinstone and Daedalus are must-sees for more advanced divers -- you can see anything from hammerhead sharks to manta rays and even whale sharks in these open sea sites. They’re accessible by boat day trips from Marsa Alam. Closer to the shore, if you’re lucky, you can also see Egypt’s rare dugongs, a cousin of the manatee, who live in the warm shallow waters of Marsa Alam. Best way to get there: fly into Marsa Alam Airport Sharm el Sheikh Ideal if you want: a resort beach holiday or a diving trip Sharm el Sheikh has been an international beach destination darling for decades, with dozens of direct flights between Europe and the Sharm Airport daily. Besides its all-inclusive resorts, it's also world-famous for scuba diving. According to Dive Magazine, “Sharm El Sheikh has been, for many years, the favourite Egyptian destination for scuba divers, and has probably contributed more to the European dive business than any other resort in the world.” Read more: 12 Best Things to Do in Sharm el Sheikh Sharm used to also be a popular nightlife and dining destination, but its heyday was pre-2015. Now its appeal is in its all-inclusive resorts, plus it’s a good base for trips to the Sinai Mountains, St. Catherine’s Monastery and Ras Mohammed National Park. Best way to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh Airport Ras Shetan/Nuweiba Ideal if you want: to camp on a beach and disconnect Nestled between mountains and the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba is a strip of coastline called Ras Shetan, between the towns of Nuweiba and Taba on the Sinai peninsula. Both Nuweiba (a little beach town) and Ras Shetan are known for their get-away-from-it-all beach camps, usually run by local Bedouins. The camps are a mix of beach huts or bare-bone bungalows, and you’re more than welcome to set up your own tents right on the beach. At night, there’s usually a large campfire where the Bedouins and guests from all over the world talk, play instruments and sing. Nuweiba and Ras Shetan are also a good place to stay if you want to explore the Colored Canyon and Wadi Wishwashi in the nearby Nuweiba mountains. Best way to get there: fly to Sharm El Sheikh and drive (2 hours), or drive from Cairo (6-8 hour drive). El Gouna Ideal if you want: to stay in a clean and green beach resort town with lots of great restaurants and nightlife El Gouna is a modern resort town spanning over 10 km of pristine Red Sea coast, with lagoons throughout, and their architecture is inspired by traditional Egyptian homes in the countryside and Upper Egypt. It’s a beautiful town equally as popular with Egyptians as it is with tourists. El Gouna’s beaches aren’t as nice as its neighbor Hurghada, but it’s the best beach holiday destination if you’re looking for good restaurants, nightlife and activities all in a safe, easily-navigable little beach town. You can read our full local's guide to El Gouna here. Best way to get there: fly to Hurghada airport (30 mins from El Gouna), or by car or bus from Cairo (about 4 hours). You may also like: Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera - Where To Stay

Bars, pubs, clubs, oh my! 99% of Cairo’s nightlife used to be found on the island of Zamalek, and while it’s still the city’s night spot epicenter, bars and clubs are popping up like daisies all around the capital now. We’re going to walk you through some of our favorite local nightlife spots in Cairo, no sketchy hotel bars for us, thanks! For a breakdown of best bars per neighborhood, you can check out: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek 12 Chill Places in Maadi to Get Dinner & Drinks 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner & Drinks in New Cairo Nightlife in Heliopolis, Cairo: 10 Best Restaurants, Bars and Pubs 12 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Sheikh Zayed & 6th October City Best Bars & Nightlife in Downtown Cairo - Baladi Bars, Historic Bars & Rooftop Bars Cairo Jazz Club Locations: Agouza Type of venue: club Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Cairo Jazz Club has been a Cairo nightlife staple for 15+ years. While the name might lead you to believe it’s all about jazz, that’s not exactly true. CJC has different music on a nightly basis, ranging from live music to hip-hop, DJs, jazz, Egyptian folkloric music and way more. The great thing about CJC is that they have a monthly schedule, so you can figure out in advance if the music that night is up your alley or not. The music usually starts around 10-10:30 pm, so if you’re hungry or want to have a conversation with someone when you can actually hear each other, go a little before then. It's about a five minute car ride from Zamalek. You can find their music schedule here. CJC 610 Locations: Sheikh Zayed Type of venue: club Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Cairo Jazz Club's bigger, more expansive branch on the west side of Cairo, in Sheikh Zayed. Whereas the original Cairo Jazz Club is on the smallish and crowded side, 610 has a large open-air terrace and bar connected to the inner club, to either kick back in or escape to when you need a breath of fresh air. Indoors they have two large bars, a stage for DJs and live performers, and tables dotted around the dance floor. They too have their own weekly schedules of music, and it's pretty much the top place in Cairo to dance. You can find their music schedule here. L’Aubergine Locations: Zamalek, Heliopolis Type of venue: pub/bar Dress code: casual Reservations needed: no L’Aubergine is another long-time heavy hitter in the Cairo bar scene. What’s awesome about them is they also serve great food, so it’s a good option if you want to kick back with a beer but also want some food in your system (we personally recommend the chicken teriyaki, but that’s just us). Another thing we love about L’Aubergine is the casual-ness of it -- you don’t need to worry about suffering the night away in heels or dressing to impress. The Tap Locations: Maadi, New Cairo, 6th of October Type of venue: pub Dress code: casual Reservations needed: it’s always better to be on the safe side This light-hearted pub opened its first branch in Maadi, complete with foosball tables and a jovial vibe. They play live music on some nights so it’s always worth it to hit up their FB page and see what’s cooking. Speaking of cooking, they also have an extensive menu of pub food -- they’re famous for their wings, so no need to indulge in a heavy dinner (or any dinner) before you head over there. The Tap in Maadi proved to be so popular that they opened a branch in New Cairo and 6th of October, this time complete with an outdoor area. For more info: Tap Maadi's FB page. Tap East's FB page. Tab West's FB page. Crimson Location: Zamalek Type of venue: restaurant/bar Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Crimson is an open-air rooftop restaurant and bar in Zamalek and has some of the best Nile views in the city. It's a great spot to go get dinner and drinks, or just a beer or cocktail at the bar. Their cocktail list is impressive, but warning - they're expensive! Their food is good as well, landing them also on our list of best Cairo restaurants for locals and tourists alike. For more info, you can check their FB page. Sachi Location: Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed Type of venue: restaurant/bar Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Sachi is an upscale Mediterranean fusion and sushi restaurant and bar by Baky Hospitality, the restaurateurs who brought you Lexie’s, one of our favorite places for dinner and drinks in New Cairo. When Sachi first opened its doors, it was one of the only restobars of its kind in terms of impeccable aesthetics and service - and has continued to stay a powerhouse since, with Sachi By The Sea operating in the North Coast during summer months, and Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed. Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed also has a beautiful rooftop terrace for when the weather is nice. For more info, check out their FB page. Pier 88 Location: Zamalek Type of venue: bar/lounge Dress code: smart casual Reservations needed: yes Pier 88, like Crimson, graces both our ‘best bars’ and ‘best restaurants’ list (look at you, Pier 88!). Pier 88 is a great dining destination during the day and most weekday nights, then on weekend nights and Tuesday nights it segues into a sexier lounge/bar feel, with people standing and socializing by the bar or their table, and the owner occasionally dancing on the bar himself. Pier 88 overlooks the Nile in Zamalek and has a small outdoor area if you want to catch the river breeze. Pier 88's FB page. You might also like: 9 Best Rooftop Bars in Cairo

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

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 Pasta’s menu. Local tip: try their lemon bar for dessert Makino Cairo has some decent sushi, some ‘okay?’ sushi and not much else by way of Japanese food. The exception to that is the little-known Makino, found in the Hilton Zamalek. Makino is very well known with Japanese expats living in Cairo, but remains a hidden gem to Egyptian locals and tourists. Their kitchen is staffed by Japanese chefs who not only serve up authentic sushi, sashimi, makimono, daily bento, udon and ramen, but also occasionally give an Egyptian twist -- molokheya cold noodle anyone? Alcohol is served. Makino’s menu (keep in mind though they have daily, weekly and monthly specials which might not be on the menu). Local tip: They’re closed daily from 3 pm to 6 pm, so head there either for lunch starting 12:30 pm, or dinner from 6 pm on to 10:30 pm. Sapori di Carlo Translating to ‘Carlo’s flavors’ in Italian, the Carlo in question would be Chef Carlo Adib, who had his own Michelin-recognized Italian restaurant in Paris. Sapori di Carlo is a hidden gem due to its small size (it can take only up to 20 people), so most people cruise right past it on Mohammed Mazhar without even seeing it. They mainly focus on Neapolitan pizza, with their pizza oven being the star and focal point of the restaurant, but also have a handful of pasta and bruschetta dishes. Alcohol isn’t served. Sapori di Carlo’s menu. Local tip: if you’re in the mood for Neapolitan pizza but too lazy to actually leave your house to procure it, Sapori di Carlo delivers. La Trattoria This restaurant is a Zamalek classic and it always puzzles us that so many locals don’t know about it. To be fair, their guests are so loyal that they don’t really need to advertise or market themselves but here we are doing it for them anyway! La Trattoria is upscale but without being pretentious or stuffy ('casual fine dining' is how they describe themselves), and has built its intensely loyal fanbase on its warm ambience, consistently good quality Italian fare, wine and attentive service. La Trattoria’s menu. 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. Don Corleone When we say ‘hidden’ gem, we weren’t kidding when it comes to Don Corleone -- they’re delivery and take-away only. Yup, unless you’re somehow in the know, this pizzeria has probably escaped your attention, which is a shame -- they do some awesome thin crust pizzas, plus different focaccias. A great alternative for when you’re in the mood for pizza but don’t want to feel like death after (looking at you, Pizza Hut). Don Corleone’s menu. 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. Sabai Sabai’s menu. 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 the newly-opened 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 & Restobars in Zamalek

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

Sharm El Sheikh has been THE international beach destination darling of Europeans, Middle Easterners and domestic Egyptian tourists for decades now, and for very good reason. It has year-round warm weather, azure water, soft sand beaches, a plethora of hotels and resorts and some of the most spectacular diving in the world (according to international divers, we’re not being biased!). Recently other Red Sea beach towns like Hurghada, El Gouna and Marsa Alam have been giving Sharm El Sheikh (or Sharm as we locals call it) a run for their money in popularity, but Sharm remains the OG of the Red Sea beach resort scene. Read more: Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera - Where To Stay Go to Sharm if you want: affordable resort luxury. Sharm El Sheikh is very much an all-inclusive hotel package destination – this is where to go if you want to stay at affordable but still 5 star luxury beach resorts, with everything you need for a great beach vacation all within your hotel. Don’t go to Sharm if you want: a backpacker’s type of beach holiday or anything off the beaten track. Up the Sinai coast of Sharm El Sheikh is the bohemian beach town of Dahab, which is far more suited for that kind of trip. Nuweiba and Ras Shitan also are home to dozens of camps right on the beach. Quick Facts About Sharm El Sheikh Sharm is on the tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula where the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba meet the waters of the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea, leading to its wildly diverse marine life Sharm El Sheikh used to be a fishing village before it was turned into a port due to its strategic naval positioning. Israel invaded and occupied the Sinai Peninsula, including Sharm, from 1967 to 1982. When Egypt reclaimed it in 1982, it was deemed the ‘City of Peace’ and development ensued to make it an international tourist destination Best Time To Go To Sharm Sharm El Sheikh is a year-round destination, but its ‘high season’ is the spring and fall, with average daily temperatures of 25-30 degrees Celsius and cloudless skies – aka, ideal beach weather. From June to August it’s significantly hotter, with temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s Celsius. If you love the sun and heat, then summer is a good time to go because you’ll find more affordable deals and less crowds than the high season. Even in the winter, Europeans and Brits still escape to Sharm to enjoy the sun and warmth. From December to February, the daytime temperature averages around the early 20s Celsius, and even if the sea might be too cold for you, lots of resorts have heated pools, so you can still enjoy swimming. How To Get There 1. Flying (recommended): Sharm El Sheikh has an international airport which receives dozens of international and domestic flights a day. Sharm is around a 4.5 hour flight from many European cities and around 5.5 hours from British cities, and there are tons of budget flights with really cheap airfare or combo airfare/hotel packages. If you want to fly domestically, most flights within Egypt going to Sharm el Sheikh will originate from Cairo or at least transit there. There’s only a weekly direct flight between Sharm and Luxor, and there are no direct flights between Hurghada/Sharm or Aswan/Sharm. You’ll have to transit in Cairo. A direct flight between Cairo and Sharm is around an hour. 2. By Car: No matter where you are in Egypt, your hotel or anyone in the know can arrange to hire a private car and driver to take you to Sharm El Sheikh. The drive from Cairo is around 6 hours. 3. By Bus: Several different bus companies serve Sharm, most originating from Cairo. The most popular are Go Bus, Superjet and East Delta. They’re air-conditioned buses and the trip averages around 8 hours. Important local tip: if you’re entering Sharm (or the Sinai peninsula as a whole) via car or bus, then make sure you have proper ID on you because there are A LOT of security checks on the road. They’ll ask to look at your passport and ask where you’re going, and might search your car and bags. Make sure that any alcohol bottles you have are unopened and that you have a receipt for them (to prove they’re not bought from the Egyptian black market). In general, flying into Sharm is much easier just because you skip the hassle of the Sinai road security checks which can take a long time, adding hours to your overall journey. Once you’re actually in the city of Sharm (where the airport is), getting around is much easier. Is there a ferry between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh? No, there’s currently no ferry available for travelers between Hurghada and Sharm, even if you find confusingly vague information online. Do You Need A Visa For Sharm El Sheikh? If you’re flying directly into Sharm El Sheikh (ie., Sharm is your entry point into Egypt), and if you're not staying in the Sinai peninsula for more than 15 days, then you don’t need to buy an entry visa at the airport. You'll get something called a 'Sinai Stamp' for free on your passport -- emphasis on the 'free' part, don't believe anyone at the airport who says they'll get you a stamp for the "low price" of a couple of euro - this is a scam, just ignore them and go straight to an airport official. If you plan to go to Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, or any other Egyptian destination outside of the Sinai peninsula, or plan to stay longer than 15 days, you’ll need to get the visa. It’s $25 upon arrival. Where To Stay In Sharm El Sheikh Which hotel in Sharm should I choose? Sharm has really boomed as a beach destination since 1982 – there are now over 350 hotels! Choosing a hotel out of so many can feel overwhelming, but it’s really just about your personal preferences. There’s everything from adult-only hotels to hotels created specifically for families with kids; all-inclusive hotels (all meals and drinks included), to more budget stays; hotels right on the beach, and others that need a shuttle to bring you to the beach, etc. You get the idea – there’s everything lol. Lots of people come to Sharm via preset flight/hotel packages provided by different travel agencies, whether in Egypt or their home country. But if you’re more of an independent traveler, then we recommend making a list of things that are important for you during your Sharm trip and then searching for hotels that match your criteria on the usual online hotel booking sites. Example: heated pools, in-house diving centers, or specific facilities/amenities. A little research goes a long way and can really make a difference – and of course, make sure to read guest reviews and the fine print! You can also find cheap flights on sites like Skyscanner and the likes, so you don’t need to depend on a travel agency. Which area in Sharm is best to stay in? For the most part, Sharm is divided into 3 main areas: Nabq, Naama Bay and Hadaba (also known as Ras Um El Sid or Old Sharm). Nabq is northeast of Sharm Airport and is the quietest, with long stretches of beachfront luxury resorts (not to be confused with the Nabq Protectorate, which is next to the neighborhood of Nabq in Sharm but protected from development). Between Nabq and Naama Bay are Knights Bay, Sharks Bay, and Coral Bay, also home to lots of 5 star resorts like the Four Seasons. Between Coral Bay and Naama Bay is Soho Square, a nightlife spot run by Savoy Hotels. Naama Bay used to be known as ‘central Sharm’ because of its myriad hotels and promenade of shisha cafes, shops, restaurants and bars. While the hotels are still beautiful and act as an oasis from the hustle and bustle outside, and the beaches are very easy to wade into with minimal coral, the promenade itself has seen better days and the shopkeepers and touts can be obnoxious. Hadaba (Ras Um El Sid) is what’s considered Old Sharm (the first part of the city to be developed), and is home to the Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque. Local tip: Honestly, it doesn’t really matter which area of Sharm you stay in, considering as they all have beachfront hotels where you’ll be spending the majority of your time. Your choice of hotel is more important than your choice of area. How To Get Around Sharm Unfortunately there’s no Uber (or Careem, the Middle East version), so you’re stuck with taxis. Most of the cabs in Sharm won’t have a running meter, so it’s important you tell the driver where you’re going and negotiate a price before climbing in. They can easily ask for astronomical prices, so make sure to haggle (unless you feel comfortable paying what they’re asking for). You can also arrange with your hotel to get you a private car & driver, but that’s obviously more expensive than a cab. Is Sharm safe? And is Sharm safe for solo women travelers? Yes, it’s safe! So much so that extremely important international conferences (like the recent COP27) are held there, with politicians, dignitaries and VIPs all staying in the city. Sharm had a rough few years after the 2011 revolution because it’s such a tourist hub, but the good news is that Sharm is now one of the safest cities in Egypt because of all the ensuing security measures. Like we mentioned above, driving to Sharm from Cairo is a hassle because of all the security checkpoints on the roads, where they search everything from cars to bags. So while annoying, it’s a good problem to have. Sharm itself is a walled city, with heavily monitored entrance and exit points – so basically anyone who’s in Sharm has to have a reason to be! All hotels and resorts have their own security as well obviously, and all public areas are under tight surveillance by the Tourist Police (both in uniform and plainclothes). If you’re a solo woman, you’ll hopefully feel 100% safe enjoying your resort – everyone there wears normal swim and beachwear, so don’t feel like you have to cover up at your hotel. Even when you’re in public places, the attire is much more relaxed than in cities like Cairo or Alexandria. What COULD possibly be annoying to women travelers (well, to everyone really but especially women) is how pushy and annoying the shopkeepers and touts can be about selling you their wares or ushering you into their cafes/restaurants. Just say no firmly and politely and keep it moving; they’re obnoxious but harmless. Things To Do In Sharm El Sheikh We wrote a long article about the 12 best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh, so all the meaty info is there. But if you want a quick spoiler of the top things people love: scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips and relaxing on serviced beaches. Where To Go Out In Sharm El Sheikh If you decided to take a break from your hotel and see what else is going in Sharm, then the main places you’ll probably be heading are the following: 1. Soho Square Soho Square has restaurants, bars, cafes, shisha, ice skating, kids’ arcade, bowling, culturama, tennis and squash. It’s clean and organized and run by the Savoy Hotel group, so not chaotic like Naama Bay or the Old Market. Soho Square’s restaurants: L’Entrecote (steakhouse), Zen (Chinese), Akuna Matata (international fusion), Teppanyaki (Japanese), Luxor (Egyptian), Bombay (Indian), Mai Thai, Sushi Lounge, Koutouki (Greek) and Mandarin Bistro. Soho Square’s bars: Ice Bar, Crystal Lounge, Oxygen Bar, Queen Vic British Pub, Mandarin Bar, El Kahwa and Kitano Top Bar. Local tip: some of the restaurants/bars have a dress code of no shorts and flip-flops for men. 2. Naama Bay Naama Bay has restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, shisha, fast food, shops and casinos. It’s a bit chaotic and shopkeepers can be pushy, but it can still be fun. If you’re looking for quick fast food on the go, here you’ll find McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut. Some of Naama Bay’s restaurants: Peking (Chinese), Abou El Sid (Egyptian), TGI Friday’s, Pomodoro, Tandoori, Hard Rock Cafe Some of Naama Bay’s bars: Camel Bar & Rooftop, Tavern Bar, Bus Stop, Pirates Bar, Blue Stone Pub Some of Naama Bay’s clubs: Pacha, Little Buddha, Space 3. Hadaba/Old Sharm Besides souvenir shopping (and haggling) in the Old Market, if you want to go to a beach bar for the day, then Old Sharm has El Fanar Beach (with Farsha Lounge overlooking it, which happens to be one of the most beautiful spots in Sharm and home to one of the best views in all of Egypt!). El Fanar Beach and Terrazzina Beach also have frequent beach parties. If you’re looking for some great old school restaurants, there’s Sinai Star (best seafood in Sharm), El Masrien (Egyptian classics) and Fares (also seafood). These places aren’t exactly ambient but the food is great. Read more: 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Have To Try At Least Once Tipping Egypt has a strong tipping culture, especially in the service industry. There’s no set percentage or number that works across the board, it’s really up to you and what you feel comfortable with (knowing that tips are always greatly appreciated because wages are so low in Egypt!) A couple of local tips about tips (heh heh): It’s always best to tip in the local currency of EGP If you have to tip in foreign currency, please make sure it’s dollars/euros/sterling because it’s harder to exchange lesser-used currencies If tipping in foreign currency, please give actual bills and not coins because foreign exchange bureaus won’t accept coins – so it’s like you tipped them nothing in the end Usual people to tip: servers, hotel staff (especially cleaning crew – if you don’t see them before you check out, leaving some money in your room for them is appreciated), tour guides or boat crew (anyone who took you on an excursion of sorts) Who you don’t need to tip: taxi drivers (they’re probably ripping you off to begin with), anyone who demands a tip but has provided no service (while this sounds illogical, it does happen) Leaving Basically the same way you came, lol. Your hotel can arrange an airport transfer for you or you can take a taxi (to the airport or bus terminal, whichever way you’re leaving). We hope this first-timers guide to Sharm El Sheikh was useful – and that it’ll lead to your second, third and tenth trip to Sharm! For more city guides: Hurghada City Guide El Gouna City Guide Aswan City Guide

Founded over 2,000 years ago, Alexandria is an even older city than Cairo, which is what makes this seaside city so special; it’s an ancient modern city (yes this is an oxymoron, but it’s true). Read: Sightseeing in Alexandria: 15 Best Things To See and Do And while obviously Alexandria’s hotels today aren’t ancient, many are significant in modern Egyptian history, which adds an extra element of intrigue to what would otherwise be a regular hotel stay. Here are our favorite Alex hotels: Steigenberger Cecil Star rating: 4 stars Founded in 1929, the Cecil Hotel was originally a ‘romantic’ colonial-style hotel opened by a Jewish French-Egyptian family, the Metzgers. It was extremely popular in its heyday and hosted everyone from Umm Kalthoum to Josephine Baker and Al Capone. During World War II, it was used as headquarters for British Intelligence. Now managed by the international hotel chain Steigenberger, the Cecil has an enviable location near the Alexandrian harbor and is walking distance from the National Museum of Alexandria and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Steigenberger Cecil's website. Four Seasons Alexandria at San Stefano Star rating: 5 stars If you’re looking for seaside luxury in Alexandria, then the Four Seasons is the place for you. Besides the awesome sea views, they have a private sandy beach for people who want to experience swimming in the Mediterranean. Like you’d expect from a Four Seasons, they have an outdoor infinity pool and an indoor heated pool for the colder months (Alexandria, unlike the rest of Egypt, is known for its rain in winter). They also have a two-storey spa and nine different restaurants and bars. Four Seasons Alexandria's website. Paradise Inn Le Metropole Star rating: 4 stars Even though the hotel Le Metropole was built in 1902 by Greek and Italian architects, the history regarding the piece of land where the hotel was built is *much* older. Like, around 2,000 years older! Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who probably needs no introduction, built the Caesareum of Alexandria, a temple to honor her lover Julius Caesar. After her suicide, Roman emperor Augustus turned the Caesareum into his own cult temple, and brought over two obelisks from Heliopolis to adorn the exterior. Even though it was Augustus who had brought them over, they became known as ‘Cleopatra’s Needles’. The hotel that was built where the obelisks once stood is none other than Le Metropole, and instead of the Caesareum, there’s now a statue of Saad Zaghloul, a nationalist leader. The hotel today is dated but still carries a lot of its original turn of the 20th century charm, as well as original paintings and antiques. They have a rooftop restaurant with awesome sea views. Paradise Inn Le Metropole's website. Hilton Alexandria Corniche Star rating: 5 stars Like its name suggests, the Hilton Alexandria Corniche is right on the famous Alexandria coastal street. Similar to the Four Seasons, it has its own private beach ideal for summer months. Besides the beach, it has a rooftop view with great sea views, plus five different restaurants. Its location is also ideally central and walkable to several different attractions like the National Museum. Hilton Alexandria Corniche's website. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace Star rating: 4 stars Founded in 1906, the Windsor Palace was in quite the enviable location back 100 years ago -- it was close to the Ramleh train station and Alexandria’s old port harbor, as well as the shopping district and seaside promenades. Since it was right on the Mediterranean Sea, it was definitely more of a ‘resort hotel’ back in the day than it is now. Like Le Metropole, the current hotel that stands today has seen much better days, but holds on to its original paintings, antiques and choice furnishings, to give modern guests a feel of what the hotel was like back in its golden days. They’re also known for their rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic sea views. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace's website. Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza Star rating: 5 stars Our second Hilton entry on the list. More of a business hotel than a resort one, the Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza was voted ‘Egypt’s Leading Conference Hotel’, so it’s a good choice if you’re in town on business. They have an outdoor and indoor pool, seven restaurants and bars, and are adjacent to a large mall with over 300 stores plus a cinema. Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza's website. Helnan Palestine Star rating: 5 stars This hotel, located in the former royal palace grounds of El Montaza, was built in 6 months in 1964 under orders from President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He wanted to build a hotel specifically to house all the Arab royalty, heads of state and dignitaries who were flying to Alexandria to attend the second ever Arab League Summit, and needless to say, he wanted to provide the very best in luxury, comfort and views; he handpicked the location of the hotel himself. It was at this summit that they formally approved the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (hence the name of the hotel). For the 2002 opening of the new Library of Alexandria, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina, presidents, royalty and celebrities flew in to attend and stayed at the Helnan Palestine, including Jacques Chirac, Sofia the Queen of Spain, and Rania the Queen of Jordan. Helnan Palestine's website. You might also like: 7 Must-Try Restaurants in Alexandria

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

Egypt, understandably, has its fair share of museums; 7,000+ years of civilization will do that to you. Cairo alone has over a dozen really interesting museums covering different aspects of Egyptian history, civilization and culture, so imagine how many the country as a whole has. That being said, not all museums were created equal, and while they’re all most definitely worth a visit, some are crucial to truly understanding Egypt beyond just the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Egyptian history is vast: you have prehistoric, Ancient Egypt, Greco-Roman (and the introduction of Christianity), medieval (and the introduction of Islam), Ottoman Egypt, the French occupation, the Muhammad Ali dynasty and Khedivate, the British occupation, the Sultanate of Egypt followed by the monarchy, the revolution in 1952 and its following republic and the revolution on January 25th, 2011. Whew! Obviously visiting a few museums won’t be making you an Egyptian scholar but it’s a good place to start to try to wrap your head around Egypt’s mind-boggling history. 1. Karnak Open Air Museum Location: Luxor Type of museum: archaeological Located in the Karnak temple complex in Luxor (former ancient Egyptian capital Thebes) near the Amon-Re Temple Enclosure is the oft-overlooked Open Air Museum. It’s a great addition to just seeing the temple complex; the museum has some beautiful and extremely well-preserved monuments: the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut, the Chapel of Senusret I (said to vie with the beauty of Nefterari’s tomb), the wall of Akhenaton, the Alabaster Chapel of Amenhotep I and other pharaonic chapels, shrines and temple fronts. This museum is the largest open-air archeological museum in the world, and a great way to really immerse yourself in Ancient Egypt -- the artifacts are above, below and all around you, and not tucked away behind glass. Read more: 10 Best Things To Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals 2. Cairo Museum (Egyptian Museum of Antiquities) Location: Cairo Type of museum: Ancient Egyptian antiquities Before the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opens its doors, Cairo Museum is the best one-stop-shop for becoming acquainted with different aspects of Ancient Egyptian history. Home to over 120,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts, the Cairo Museum holds the world’s largest collection of pharaonic antiquities. It’s here where you can see the infamous King Tutankhamun collection, complete with his sarcophagus and gold burial mask. Local tip: it’s worth going with a guide (there are also relatively knowledgeable touts there who will offer to work as a guide for a negotiable fee), because many of the exhibits don’t have descriptions. 3. Alexandria National Museum Location: Alexandria Type of museum: Alexandrian history Alexandria, the ancient Mediterranean city and capital of Ptolemaic Egypt, is of paramount importance in Egyptian history. If you’re fuzzy about the story of Alexandria, its National Museum will help sort you out. The museum itself from an architectural standpoint isn’t that impressive, but don’t judge a book by its cover -- its contents definitely make up for what its facade lacks. Its exhibits are divided chronologically into eras to help you flesh things out a bit: pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Christian, Islamic and modern. There’s also a section for underwater monuments (some monuments still exist till present day in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria!). Read: Sightseeing in Alexandria - 15 Best Things To See And Do 4. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization Type of museum: historical Location: Fustat, Old Cairo This large museum hosts over 50,000 artefacts from all eras of Egyptian civilization, from prehistoric times, through the pharaonic era up until now - and good news, because it's been recently renovated, all displays have clearly stated information, so no guide needed! The museum is divided into two sections: chronological and thematic. The chronological runs through Archaic, Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Medieval, Islamic, modern and contemporary Egyptian eras, and the thematic covers Dawn of Civilization, The Nile, Writing, State and Society, Material Culture, Beliefs and Thinking and the Gallery of Royal Mummies. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is also touted as the first museum of civilization in the Arab world. The gallery of the Royal Mummies is definitely one of the highlights of this museum - in this quiet, tomb-like space, you can see 20 royal mummies that are thousands of years old, including some of the most famous pharaohs of all time like Ramses II. For more info, here's their website. 5. Museum of Islamic Art Location: Cairo Type of museum: Islamic heritage This art museum holds over 100,000 pieces of Islamic heritage from not only Egypt but also Arab and non-Arab countries alike, and is important in understanding Egypt’s Islamic history. Many of the pieces were gathered from the first Islamic capitals of Egypt (Fustat and Askar), prior to the rise of Cairo. Pieces were also selected from the Delta, Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan. Other collections of note: their wooden collection, which has some of the most beautiful and intricate woodwork from the days of early Islam, as well as beautiful ceramics and lamps. 6. Coptic Museum Location: Cairo Type of museum: Coptic Christian heritage 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. Local tip: the museum is located in an area of Old Cairo called Coptic Cairo, walking distance from some very worth-seeing churches such as the Hanging Church and Mar Girgis church. Read: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide 7. Nubian Museum Location: Aswan Type of museum: Nubian heritage 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. Read more: Aswan, Egypt: A Local's City Guide 8. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Museums: Sadat Museum, Manuscripts Museum, Antiquities Museum and History of Science Museum Location: Alexandria Type of museum: varied The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the new Library of Alexandria, built in 2002 as a nod to the ancient library and its spirit of knowledge and learning. The original was an ancient wonder of the world, but was sadly destroyed in the Roman conquest of Alexandria around 2,000 years ago. The library is home to four different and important museums: the Sadat Museum, dedicated to the former Egyptian president and also a look at modern Egyptian history; the Manuscripts Museum, which focuses on the conservation and restoration of ancient Egyptian manuscripts; the Antiquities Museum, with special focus given to Alexandrian and Hellenistic collections; and the History of Science Museum, which highlights the historical aspect of science in Egypt during three major periods: ancient Egypt, Hellenistic Alexandria, and the Arab-Muslim World. You might also like: 7 Beautiful Palaces You Can Still Visit in Cairo Today

There’s an increasingly popular worldwide trend in gift-giving: buying someone an experience, instead of a thing. Meaning basically you buy someone an actual activity that you can either do together or they can do themselves, instead of, oh I don’t know, a mug for example. The great thing about experience gifts is that they’re perfect for those people who already seem to have everything, or someone who prefers to ‘do’ instead of ‘have’. So that special person that you want to gift an experience to -- what do they enjoy? Are they athletic? A foodie? Someone who loves art or history? Wherever their interests may lie, Cairo offers an array of fun experiences all across the board. We pulled together some of our most recommended experiences, based on factors like ease of logistics (no lengthy travel/overnight stay needed), price (nothing ridiculously expensive) and the overall fun factor. So instead of dropping a money bomb on some inanimate object that they may or may not secretly hate, try creating a memory with some of Cairo’s best experiences. 1. Rent a private yacht to cruise the Nile A good experience gift for: Someone who likes romantic or chill settings Someone who likes privacy and getting away from it all Everybody knows about feluccas, but you can really ramp up the experience by renting out your own private Nile yacht for as many hours as you want. The M/Y Christina yacht has been in business since 1992, and their staff knows exactly how to provide great service. Christina gives you the option of bringing your own food and drinks (they provide plates, cutlery, glasses and even ice), or can do catering for you. They have a great sound system where you can hook up your own music as well. As for seating, you have the whole yacht at your disposal -- front deck, back deck and inner saloon if it gets too chilly. They also have two different bathrooms (is anything worse than having a boat trip ruined because of your bladder?!). The yacht takes anything from one person to 25 (covid 19 edit: currently only up to 15 people because of the 50% capacity rule), so it’s up to you if you want to gift someone a more private, one-on-one cruise or something where you can invite friends. To reserve: M/Y Christina Yacht 2. A snow day at Ski Egypt A good experience gift for: Someone who likes to be active Someone who likes doing new things Ski Egypt is Africa’s first ski resort with the world’s largest indoor snow park, and buying someone a one-day ticket or even a set of skiing lessons is a great option for someone who’s either never experienced snow, or alternately, has experienced it and misses it. Activities you can do at Ski Egypt: skiing for both beginners and more advanced skiers, snowboarding, tube runs, bobsledding, zorb balls and ice caves. For more information: Ski Egypt 3. Gianaclis Vineyard and Wine Tasting Tour A good experience gift for: A wine lover Someone interested in the history and heritage of Egyptian winemaking If you thought you or your wine-loving friend needed to go all the way to Napa Valley or Bordeaux to take a walk through vineyards and sample different wines with complementing cuisine, you were luckily wrong. Gianaclis Vineyards is almost 130 years old, and where many local Egyptian wines are made until today (Ayam, Leila, Cape Bay, Omar Khayyam, Grand Marquis, Chateau De Granville and Valmont). Gianaclis offers private tours and wine tasting sessions; they’ll pick you up in central Cairo in a VIP luxury bus, so you don’t have to worry about driving and can just sit back and relax. Once at the vineyard, a wine consultant will take you through a guided vineyard tour that culminates in a wine tasting and light lunch. For prices and reservation: Gianaclis Egypt 4. “Walk Like An Egyptian” Walking Tour A good experience gift for: A non-Egyptian friend interested in getting to know Cairo An Egyptian local who’d love to learn more about the hidden gems of Cairo There’s so much interesting history in Cairo that we locals just waltz by daily without even noticing slash knowing -- and some non-Egyptians don’t even know that there’s waaaay more to see in Cairo than just the pyramids, museum and Nile. If you have a person in your life who loves Egyptian history, art and architecture, then booking a private tour or a group walking tour with Walk Like An Egyptian might be right up their alley. These highly-recommended tour guides offer all sorts of cool walking tours in Cairo, and you can request private tours to the sights of your choice as well. They also offer outside-of-Cairo tours (even to lesser-visited destinations like Rasheed and Minya) and take care of everything from transportation to accommodation. For pricing, booking and more details: Walk Like An Egyptian 5. Kayak on the Nile with the Nile Kayak Club A good experience gift for: Someone who enjoys sports and being outdoors Someone who has good physical fitness You don’t need to be part of a rowing team to try kayaking down the Nile -- the Nile Kayak Club offers weekend kayaking sessions in Cairo, ranging from a 1 hour introductory course around Dahab Island near Maadi, or a 3 hour “Cairo Crossing” ride for the more advanced. If you have someone in your life who likes being active and trying new things, then book them a session and see them paddle off into the sunset. Nile Kayak Club also arranges kayaking trips between Luxor and Aswan for the hardcore kayakers. For more information and pricing: Nile Kayak Club 6. A Farm Picnic at Sara’s Organic Food Farm A good experience gift for: Someone who enjoys being out in nature Someone who believes in the farm-to-plate movement and eating clean Sara’s Organic Food is an organic, pesticide-free range of seasonal fruit and vegetables found in Cairo’s high-end retail markets, and they make the farm-to-plate concept quite literal with their monthly open-air picnics and harvest festivals on the farm. All you need to do is book a place in the upcoming picnic, and you’re guaranteed a full, stress-free day on a scenic farm. They provide vegetarian snacks, daily picks from the field, freshly baked bread and dips, and you can bring any food you need to complete your picnic. They also have sporadic dinners and brunches with guest chefs. To book a spot or for more info: Sara's Organic Food 7. A Day Trip of Sandboarding, BBQ and Safari in Fayoum A good experience gift for: Someone who likes adventure activities Someone who likes mini-trips The Sandboarding Cairo Club regularly arranges day trips from Cairo to Fayoum for a day of sandboarding, safari and BBQ. They take care of transportation (the group meets in Dokki and moves from there) and all other logistics. The program includes: -Transportation via 4x4 vehicles -Visiting Wadi El-Rayan waterfalls -Safari -Sandboarding at the Magic Lake -BBQ lunch -Campfire & roasted marshmallows -Unlimited water & soft drinks -All tickets and permits For booking and more info: Sandboarding Cairo Club 8. Downtown Food Tour with Bellies En-Route A good experience gift for: Foodies Visitors to Egypt who want to experience authentic Egyptian food Whether the person you want to gift is an Egyptian food aficionado or an adventurous Egyptian food virgin, this Downtown food tour is guaranteed to hit the spot. Bellies En-Route’s seven stop food tour through Downtown Cairo avoids tourist traps and intertwines different aspects of Egyptian history and culture as well. You can book a spot in an upcoming tour (available any day except for Friday), with a maximum group of 6 people. You can also book a private tour. Price Includes: Food/beverages at all 7+ stops (veg. option available) A local, English speaking tour guide telling you about the stories of the food and landmarks of Downtown Unlimited mineral (bottled) water Generous tipping of waiters at all the restaurants Non-alcoholic drink at the last stop A list of all the foods is sent 48 hours after the tour ends A guarantee that your belly will be full! Price Excludes: Tipping your guide Any alcoholic drinks Transportation to and from the meeting point Any food/beverages not already part of the route For booking and more info: Bellies En-Route You might also like: 7 Extreme Adventure Experiences in Egypt For Adrenaline Junkies

So you’re planning to visit the Pyramids of Giza? Lucky you! Whether it’s your first time or 10th time, the Pyramids will literally leave you awestruck *every* time. We local Cairenes drive past them on a daily basis and we still stare at them as if we hadn’t grown up with these ancient giants in our backyard. You’d think we’d get used to it after a decade or two or three, but nope! For most people, seeing the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx is just a far-off dream. But if you get the chance to actually do it, then you want to do it right and make the most of it, so this is why we put together this jam-packed guide of everything you need to know to enjoy the hell out of your Pyramids trip. Because like most things in Egypt, things can get a tad confusing if you’re not a local, so we’re going to sort you out. But first, a smidgen of history It’s not hyperbole or exaggeration to say that the Pyramids of Giza have been on travelers’ bucket lists for thousands of years -- we’re talking about LITERAL thousands of years! More than 2,000 years to be exact, although the Great Pyramid itself is over 4,500 years old. But around 2,000 years ago was when the Greeks through their conquests introduced the world to amazing feats of architecture in ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Persian civilizations. This was when the first written references to the ‘7 Wonders of the World’ was born (which to be fair, are very Greek-centric but understandable considering the time). The original ‘7 Wonders of the World’ (now called the ‘7 Ancient Wonders of the World’) weren’t formalized as a list until the Renaissance era over 500 years ago, but you get the idea of how long people have been hearing about and wanting to visit the Pyramids. And yep, even though the Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest entry on the list, it’s the only one still standing! That’s some ancient Egyptian engineering for you (and also a mystery). The history of the Pyramids themselves… but like, super briefly Because we don’t want this guide to be roughly a million words long, and because there are so many detailed academic sources online about the history of the Pyramids of Giza, we’ll keep ours short and cute and focus on the information that *isn’t* so readily available online - like what to expect when you visit and local tips and tricks. But in a nutshell, the Pyramids of Giza were built as tombs for three different Egyptian pharaohs, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, in the 4th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, between 2600 and 2500 BC (so more than 4,500 years ago!). Khufu’s is the Great Pyramid, the oldest and the largest. They, alongside the Great Sphinx and smaller subsidiary pyramids, are all on the same plateau in Giza, now part of modern-day Cairo. How exactly these pyramids were built still have modern historians, engineers and architects scratching their heads to this day, although theories are abundant (including being built by aliens, but the less we say about that, the better). One theory was that it was slaves who built the Pyramids, but the discovery of the Workers’ Village and tombs on the same plateau as the Pyramids provided evidence that it was actually around 10,000 paid and skilled laborers working in three-month shifts (over 30 years for a single pyramid!) who built them. The exact ‘how’ they built them though still remains a mystery. You may also like: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Day Egypt So where are the Pyramids exactly? This sometimes throws people for a loop, because they’re called the Pyramids of Giza but are actually in Cairo. Giza back in the day used to be a small city of its own on the west side of the Nile while Cairo was on the east, but Cairo has grown so immensely over the past century that the city of Giza was swallowed into what’s now called ‘Greater Cairo’. The Pyramids are about a 45 minute drive from Downtown Cairo with traffic, which is pretty standard for most places in Cairo. What also a lot of people don’t expect is just how close to the city the Pyramids really are. In pictures they seem to be off in a remote desert somewhere, but nope they’re right there smack next to modern buildings and Pizza Huts, no joke. The neighborhood around the Pyramids is called Haram and it’s not the nicest, but the Grand Egyptian Museum (you can find out all about it at Grand Egyptian Museum: A Local's Guide To Everything You Need To Know) is opening there soon and lots of renovation and development is underway, so hopefully things in that area will take a turn for the nicer in the coming months and years. You may also like: The Best (and Worst!) Cairo Neighborhoods to Stay In How to get to there Assuming you’re not going by an arranged tour bus, then the only way to get there is by car, whether a cab, Uber, hired car, etc. Don’t even bother with any articles that say take the metro or take a microbus, just no and no. These people don’t know what they’re talking about. The metro doesn’t go anywhere near the Pyramids so you’d need to take a cab in any case, and like we said, the area isn’t the nicest so don’t go stressing yourself out before you even get there! And microbuses for tourists who don’t speak Arabic is just a terrible idea, so save yourself the hassle and hop in a car that will take you from your starting location straight to the entrance door of the Pyramids. Local tip: the first ‘entrance’ is a security checkpoint in front of the Mena House Marriott Hotel, where they’ll briefly do a security check on the car. Don’t make the mistake of getting out here because you’ll still need to trek up a hill to the plateau to the ticket booth and main entrance, and touts will start hassling you to ride a camel or a horse or a donkey or them themselves up the hill and then try to rip you off. Make sure to get out where the ticket booth is on the top of the hill. Local tip #2: to get around the Pyramids once you buy a ticket and enter, you can either walk around yourself if you don’t mind long stretches of sand and sun, or you can pay for a car ticket and have the car (or cab or Uber) enter the plateau and drive you between sites. This is recommended for those who don’t want to exert themselves too much, get too hot/burned, or waste too much time walking. Each main sight (the 3 Pyramids, the Sphinx and the panoramic viewpoint) have easy parking spots for a car and driver to wait for you to explore and take pictures. Different car options: Private car (someone you know or a hired car & driver or transportation provided by your hotel/airbnb) Uber or Careem (you can ask the driver who took you there to stay with you inside the Pyramid complex for an extra fee) London Cab (you can either book a ride to/from the Pyramids or book the cab and personal driver from 2 hours to 8 hours, all from their website). A white cab (just make sure its meter is working, and you can ask the driver to stay with you in the complex) You may also like: Different Modes of Transportation for Getting Around Cairo, Egypt Pyramids of Giza Opening Hours Opening hours: 7 am - 5 pm (ticket office closes at 4 pm) *Ramadan hours differ and usually close before 3 pm. Local tip: if you want to go inside the Great Pyramid (Khufu), please note that it’s closed daily from noon to 1 pm. Local tip #2: while technically you can can explore the inside of all three of the Pyramids, sometimes they’re closed for one reason or another and you won’t find out until you get there (for example, last time we were there, the Pyramid of Menkaure was closed - the smallest of the three). The good news is that the real awe-inspiring views are from the outside, and that’s never randomly closed! Local tip #3: if you want to avoid the tour buses, they usually start showing up around 10 am, so aim for early morning or later in the afternoon. Also avoid weekends (Friday & Saturday) and public holidays if you want the complex to be as crowd-free as possible. Ticket Prices for General Entrance, Khufu Pyramid, Khafre Pyramid & Menkaure Pyramid General entrance (mandatory): 240 EGP for non-Egyptians (this includes outside access to all the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the funerary temples, the cemeteries, the Queens’ pyramids and the panoramic viewpoint). 120 EGP for students. General entrance for Egyptians: 60 EGP. Students: 30 EGP. Extras: Ticket to go inside The Great Pyramid (Khufu): 440 EGP (student: 220 EGP) Ticket to go inside Khafre Pyramid: 100 EGP (student: 50 EGP) Ticket to go inside Menkaure Pyramid: 100 EGP (student: 50 EGP) Ticket for Meresankh III Tomb: 50 EGP (student: 25 EGP) To use a tripod or camera stand: 20 EGP Car entrance ticket: 10 EGP Local tip: you have to decide which pyramids you want to go inside of from the beginning when you purchase your general entrance ticket, because there’s no place to buy tickets from once you enter the Pyramid Complex and you can’t return to the ticket booth. Local tip #2: make sure to hold on to your general entrance ticket once you enter the plateau because they’ll check it again when you go to see the Sphinx. Local tip #3: at the main ticket booth is where you’ll also buy the ticket for your car to enter the plateau (10 EGP). What will I be able to see in the Giza Pyramid Complex? With your general entrance ticket, you’ll be able to drive/walk around and see the following in the complex: Pyramid of Khufu (The Great Pyramid) (internal access via separate ticket) Pyramid of Khafre (internal access via separate ticket) Pyramid of Menkaure (internal access via separate ticket) The Great Sphinx Pyramids of the Queens and other subsidiary pyramids Tomb of Meresankh III (internal access via separate ticket) Valley Temple of Khafre en route to the Sphinx Panoramic viewpoint (a designated spot complete with parking where you have the iconic view of all 3 Pyramids lined up) The cemeteries although there’s not much to see There also used to be the solar boat museum, where there was the ancient boat believed to belong to Khufu, but that has recently been moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum Do I need a tour guide for the Pyramids? We’re asked a lot if a tour guide is needed to visit the Pyramids, and the honest answer is: it depends. On what? On what kind of experience you want to have, so let us go into more detail: First of all, we’re against large organized tour groups. For the reason that there’s very little flexibility, you’re horded around in a small crowd and thus it’s less personalized, with less time to see things at your own pace, ask questions and take those embarrassingly cheesy pictures you know you want. So if you’re going to go down the tour guide route, we suggest hiring one for just you and your travel companions so that you really benefit from their expertise and they also give you room to absorb everything at your own pace. Pros of having a tour guide with you: There’s no explanation or plaques with the history of what you’re looking at once you’re inside the Giza Plateau, so a tour guide helps provide information and context and really bring the experience to life You can ask follow-up questions about anything that catches your fancy They help keep the touts and vendors at bay They know the quickest, most streamlined route throughout the Giza Pyramid Complex You can ask them for tips or advice for other Egypt-related things that you plan to see on your trip They can take pictures for you so you don’t have to bother other visitors or be forced to ask touts Cons of having a tour guide: The extra cost The extra hassle of contacting, arranging and meeting up with them Some of the guides aren’t necessarily the best and will just give you a bare minimum tour because you don’t know better They sometimes (not all of them!) have deals with different shops and restaurants and will try to sell you the idea of buying something/eating there because they later get a cut Tips for getting a tour guide: Ideally research online and choose someone who has multiple good reviews from travelers similar to yourself, then you can contact them directly There will usually be a few random ‘guides’ milling about at the entrance to the Pyramids complex, so if you decide last-minute you MUST have a guide, you can go with one of them but make sure you negotiate a fee you feel comfortable with and look out for the points mentioned below. But for the most part we recommend going with a pre-chosen and researched guide you found online with good reviews. Agree on their personal fee beforehand and ask if there will be any extra fees needed (besides your own tickets) - sometimes they ‘surprise’ you with ‘added services’ like a car and driver, which isn’t always a bad thing but just make sure you know about it first. Also if you would like a car & driver, just ask the guide in advance and they can easily sort it out for you. If you ended up with a last-minute guide you met in front of the ticket entrance, politely decline if they offer camel, carriage or horse rides (unless you want them) - they’re usually in cahoots with the camel & horse people and get a cut. If during or at the end of the tour, they offer to take you to any shops or restaurants, just politely decline (unless you want to). They’ll make these shops/restaurants/cafes seem very appealing but they’re usually tourist traps where you feel pressured into buying/ordering something because everyone is being so friendly and helpful. That’s how they get you, because they’re so nice that you feel bad not buying anything, lol. So save yourself the trouble and just politely decline from the beginning and part ways with the guide at the exit of the Pyramids Complex. Is it worth it to go inside the Pyramids? Similar to the tour guide question, this is something that differs from person to person so there’s no definitive answer we can give. But here’s all the info you need to make an educated choice: There’s actually not much to see inside the Pyramids. All those gorgeous tomb pictures you see with the art and hieroglyphics are mainly in the New Kingdom tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens in Luxor. Inside the Pyramids, you’ll climb up extremely narrow passageways until you reach the burial chamber, which is empty except for a granite sarcophagus in the Pyramid of Khufu and Khafre. The real appeal of going inside the Pyramid(s) is just that - you’re inside the Pyramids! It’s definitely about the experience, and not about what you’ll actually see. There’s no need to go inside all three; if you’ve been in one pyramid, you’ve kind of been in all. Local tip: if you’re claustrophobic, or have back and/or knee issues, then we would recommend not going inside. The passageways are both very narrow and not high enough to stand up straight - so you’ll be climbing/descending while hunched over, with people climbing down while you’re climbing up, etc. Plus it gets hot! Local tip #2: if you plan on going inside, wear comfortable shoes and nothing too short! We know you want to look cute for your pictures, but like we said above, you’ll be bent and hunched over with people in front and in back of you, so you don’t want to worry about having to pull your skirt/dress down the whole time. Local tip #3: if you want to go inside a pyramid but are hesitant about the passageways, stick to the Pyramid of Khafre (the 2nd biggest one). The climb is easier than Khufu’s. Local tip #4: you’re not allowed to bring cameras inside, but you can take pictures with your phone with no flash. Seeing the Great Sphinx Make sure you hold on to your entrance ticket once you enter the Giza Plateau, because you'll need it again when you go to see the Sphinx (you leave the compound and then re-enter). You'll access the Sphinx through the Valley Temple of Khafre, which leads to the causeway of the Khafre Pyramid, with the Sphinx on your righthand side. Unfortunately you can't access the Sphinx from its front, only from its side (ironically enough, one of the best full-on front view of the Sphinx is from the Pizza Hut rooftop, outside the compound and across the street). Although the exact history of the Sphinx is uncertain, many Egyptologists believe it to be built by Khafre over 4,500 years ago, with the body of a lion and the head of the pharaoh. For centuries it was buried under the sand, with only its head visible. Riding Camels and Horses at the Pyramids We’re going to be honest with you – we’re against riding camels, horses and horse-drawn carriages at the Pyramids. This is purely due to our love for animals and our stance that they shouldn’t be exploited for tourism. The treatment of some of these animals is circumspect, and we can’t in good conscience give tips or advice on the best ways to ride these animals. We understand that getting that camel picture at the Pyramids is practically a bucket list picture - and if you need to do it, then you do you. But we urge you to think twice :D Dealing with vendors and touts at the Pyramids A common complaint that both visitors and even locals have when they visit the Pyramids (or any tourist hotspot really), is the constant hassling from vendors and touts to buy whatever it is they’re peddling - souvenirs, camel rides, ‘100% original handcrafts’ (they’re usually not), and so on and so forth. It can get really annoying, honestly. They’ll also try to finagle money out of you by any creative means possible: offer to take your picture and then ask for money, offer to take you to see the ‘secret panoramic view’ and ask for money after (it’s not a secret and you don’t need to pay anyone to see it), tell you they’ll let you climb the Pyramids (this is not allowed by the way, so please don’t pay someone to let you do this), etc. Local tips for dealing with touts: Be polite but firm in your decline of whatever it is they’re trying to sell you. You’ll find yourself playing a constant record of ‘no, thank you’ but unfortunately that’s a small price to pay to see the last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World. They all speak English, so you don’t necessarily have to tell them “la shokran” (no, thank you in Arabic) Don’t accept any offers for them to take your picture, ask another tourist to do it Don’t accept any free ‘gifts’ even if they try to wrap a bracelet around your wrist or a scarf around your neck, claiming it’s ‘free’ Don’t accept any offers for them to take you to ‘secret or special’ viewpoints Don’t accept any offers to climb the Pyramids Don’t accept any offers to take a picture with their camel ‘for free’ …all this will cost you money. Just keep saying no thank you and keep it moving. Where to eat and drink at the Pyramids So technically there’s not really any place to eat or drink in the Pyramid Complex once you enter past the gates except for 9 Pyramids Lounge or Khufu's Restaurant, but usually that needs a reservation in advance unless you’re very lucky. 9 Pyramids Lounge is a casual breakfast and lunch spot, serving up standard Egyptian and international fare. Alcohol is not served there. They take walk-ins if there's availability, but it's safer to reserve (reservations details are here on their FB page). Khufu's is a more fine dining experience, with set menus of elevated Egyptian classics, and alcohol is served there. You can reserve through their website. Important note: both these restaurants have insanely awesome pyramid views, but close by 5 pm, due to the Giza Pyramid Complex closing by sunset. Besides the restaurants, dotted around the plateau you’ll find vendors selling overpriced drinks and snacks, so bring your own, especially if you’re going to be drinking a lot of water. Speaking of drinking a lot of water, because there are limited restaurants and bathrooms inside the plateau, the last surefire place for you to go to the bathroom is at the entrance where the ticket booths are, so make sure you empty your bladder before you enter - or else you might find yourself having to pee in the middle of the desert (with a one-of-a-kind view though, to be fair!). There are a few bathrooms scattered around, but can be a hassle to find. Keep in mind though that there are a lot of places where you can eat or have a drink with spectacular Pyramid views that aren’t in the actual complex. For example, right outside the complex is the Marriott Mena House Hotel, which not only is a historical Egyptian hotel but one of our personal local favorites. It’s literally RIGHT next to the complex (where the security gates are), and our favorite place to relax with a beer and some food right next to the Pyramids. If you’re looking for something quicker/cheaper, ironically enough there’s a Pizza Hut and KFC with stunning Sphinx and Pyramid views right outside the complex. Ah, globalization. Leaving the Pyramids If you don’t have a car with you, then leaving the Pyramids Complex is as easy as ordering an Uber. Once you leave the complex gates, people will continuously offer you “Taxi? Taxi?” but an Uber is always easier just because you don’t have to worry about negotiating the fare or explaining to the driver where exactly you’re going. Some parting local tips: Bring water with you so that you don’t have to buy overpriced bottles inside Even in the winter, the sun is extremely strong, so make sure you have sunscreen or some kind of hat if you’re sensitive to the sun Wear comfortable shoes! But most of all, just take your time and let it all soak in… we promise you, you will never see something similar anywhere else in the world! You might also like: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid & Black Pyramid of Egypt Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs

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. 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. 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 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. At the moment there are no cruises from Cairo down to Aswan, so if you want to sweep up to the city in style on the Nile, then your only option is to do it from Luxor. 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 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 couple 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 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 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 & Cafes 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 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

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 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 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 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

Because Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, most non-Egyptians are unaware that Egypt has some of the oldest and most historically significant churches, cathedrals and monasteries in this part of the world. You don’t need to be Egyptian or even Christian to appreciate the history of these centuries-old places of worship, or the beauty of the more modern ones. While many of these churches can be found in Coptic Cairo (here's our full guide to Coptic Cairo), some are in more… remote places (Sinai mountains, anyone?). But whatever the destination, each of these churches, cathedrals and monasteries should be visited at least once. 1. The “Cave Church” - Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. The Heavenly Cathedral Location: Sharm el Sheikh Established: 2010 This modern church was considered by some one of the most beautiful in the world upon its completion over ten years ago, and is now an unexpected must-see for many Sharm el Sheikh visitors. The exterior is simple, but the interior took a team of 19 people two years to create. There are frescoes and murals, and the walls depict Biblical scenes such as The Creation and Exodus, and on the ceiling there’s St. John’s vision of The Apocalypse. 5. The “Hanging Church” - Coptic Church of St. Virgin Mary Location: Coptic Cairo Established: 690 AD One of the most famous churches in Egypt, The Hanging Church is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Cairo. It got the name of ‘Hanging Church’ (or ‘Suspended Church’ in Arabic, ‘El Moallaqa’) because of its location above a Roman 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. 6. Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral Location: Alexandria Established: the current cathedral is recent, but it’s said to stand on the site of a church built by St. Mark himself in 60 AD. This cathedral is of importance to Coptic Christians because it’s the historical seat of the Pope of Alexandria, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. St. Mark the Evangelist was the author of the second Gospel and arrived in Alexandria in 60 AD, when he built his church (where the current cathedral now stands). In his seven year stint in Alexandria, he converted many to Christianity and is considered the founder of the Church of Alexandria and the first Bishop of Alexandria. He was buried under the church he founded. The current cathedral was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times since the death of St. Mark. 7. St. Anthony’s Monastery Location: Red Sea mountains, near 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. 8. Church of St. George (Mar Girgis) Location: Coptic Cairo 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 principle Greek Orthodox church in Egypt. Visitors of all religions are welcome any time, except to the monastery, which is closed to the public. 9. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) Location: Coptic Cairo Established: 4th century The Abu Serga church is believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus Christ) stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. The spot is now the crypt of the church, 10 meters deep. It’s also believed that they might have lived here while Joseph was working at the Babylon fortress in what is now modern-day Coptic Cairo -- the fortress’ enclosure today includes the Coptic Museum and a few churches, like the previously mentioned Hanging Church and Mar Girgis. Abu Serga is also of importance because it’s where many patriarchs of the Coptic Church were elected, the first being Patriarch Isaac in in 681 AD. Want more beautiful religious sites in Egypt? Check out the 10 most beautiful mosques in Egypt.

Did you know that Egypt is actually one of the most important countries in the world when it comes to the very beginning of the Christian faith? And has some of the oldest churches and monasteries in the world? As in, more than 1,000 years old - and some even older than 1,500 years! Read more: 7 Most Beautiful Coptic Orthodox Monasteries in Egypt It’s believed that Egypt is where Jesus and the Holy Family fled from Judea and took cover; they traveled, worked and rested in different spots throughout Egypt in what is known as ‘The Flight into Egypt’. Egypt is also where some of the world’s earliest churches and monasteries were built, and Coptic Cairo is a stronghold for early Christianity in Egypt (read more: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local’s Guide). Let’s take a look at some of the oldest churches in Egypt - and guess what, you can still visit them! 1. Abu Serga (Saints Sergius and Bacchus) - 4th century AD Location: Cairo The Abu Serga church is believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus Christ) stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. The spot is now the crypt of the church, 10 meters deep. It’s also believed that they might have lived here while Joseph was working at the Babylon fortress in what is now modern-day Coptic Cairo -- the fortress’ enclosure today includes the Coptic Museum and a few churches, like the previously mentioned Hanging Church and Mar Girgis. Abu Serga is also of importance because it’s where many patriarchs of the Coptic Church were elected, the first being Patriarch Isaac in in 681 AD. 2. St. Paul’s Monastery - 4th century AD Location: Red Sea mountains, near Zafaraana (before Hurghada) 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. 3. St. Anthony’s Monastery - 4th century AD Location: Red Sea mountains, near Zafaraana (before Hurghada) 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. 4. Red Monastery - 4th century AD Location: Sohag 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. 5. Church of St. Barbara - 5th century AD Loca Cairo The Church of St. Barbara the Martyr is another extremely old church in Coptic Cairo, 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. 6. St. Catherine’s Monastery - 6th century AD Location: Sinai 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. 7. Hanging Church - 7th century AD Location: Cairo One of the most famous churches in Egypt, The Hanging Church is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Cairo. It got the name of ‘Hanging Church’ (or ‘Suspended Church’ in Arabic, ‘El Moallaqa’) because of its location above a Roman 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. You may also like: 9 Egyptian Churches, Cathedrals & Monasteries You Need To Visit At Least Once

A few years ago New Cairo was a neighborhood known for its malls, not its pubs or alcohol-serving restaurants. Residents who wanted dinner and a drink would usually have to seek them out in greener pastures in Zamalek and Maadi - but rejoice eastern Cairenes! Things have been picking up recently when it comes to New Cairo; there’s now more than a handful of really good restaurants that also serve alcohol, so gone are the days when you'd be stuck with either a mall restaurant or a bar with dubious food. You might also like: 12 Best Bars, Pubs and Restobars in Sheikh Zayed & 6th October City Our local favorite places in New Cairo to get dinner and a drink are the following, in no particular order: Lemon Tree & Co If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now -- more about TLT Bistro below). Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion in a massive venue, and they have DJs and music on weekends and certain nights. They're also open for lunch if you want to have a sunny meal with a breeze. Good for: nights out with friends Location: One Ninety, New Cairo Call to reserve: 01120999290 Cucina This long-loved Italian restaurant at the JW Marriott hotel in New Cairo has been a crowd favorite for decades now. Split into two storeys around an open rotunda with a ceiling that’s painted to look like you’re outdoors, it’s a bit kitsch but we can’t be too mad at it when Cucina has been delivering great service and great food forever. Good for: dates, family lunches, business dinners Location: JW Marriott Hotel Call to reserve: 02 24115588 The Smokery Overlooking the green expanse of the golf course in Katameya Heights, The Smokery is hard to beat when it comes to dinner and drinks with a view in New Cairo. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and serve a variety of upscale international dishes, with everything from sliders to seabass quinoa to sushi. The Smokery became so popular that it opened other branches in Palm Hills, Heliopolis, El Gouna and Marassi. Good for: family lunches, business lunches, dinner dates Location: Katameya Heights Call to reserve: 0102 601 9175 Kazoku Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their signature dishes are miso glazed black cod and Chilean sea bass, and they have an array of cold and hot starters, gyoza, Kushiyaki (skewers) and a handful of main dishes if sushi isn’t your thing. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 1 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Good for: family lunches, dinner with friends Location: Swan Lake Compound Call to reserve: 0127 000 4877 TLT Bistro This upscale restaurant and bar by The Lemon Tree Concepts is known for its inimitable interior design, cocktails and overall vibe. They recently opened a sister restaurant and lounge, Villa Coconut, in El Gouna. Good for: dinner dates, dinner with friends Location: Katameya Heights Call to reserve: 02 27592599 Lexie’s This chic but still relaxed Italian restaurant is a mix of bar and indoor/outdoor dining. Their pastas are all homemade and not your basic penne or spaghetti - here you’ll find scarpinocc, tortellini, caramelle and mafaldine. They also serve pizza as well as main courses like veal Milanese, salmon confit and pan-roasted chicken. Good for: business and family lunches, dinner dates Location: Lake House Club, next to Dusit Thani Call to reserve: 0128 581 8590 Tao In the Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel you'll find Tao, a multi-Asian restaurant and bar. They serve Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian cuisine and pride themselves on their native chefs in the kitchen as well as their expert sommeliers. They also have a live teppanyaki station, and who can resist that! They're open from 1 pm to 1 am daily, and on Thursdays and Fridays they're open to 3 am (but 1 am to 3 am is bar service only). Good for: an upscale lunch or dinner when you're in the mood for Asian classics Location: Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel Call to reserve: 02 2614 0080 The Tap East This light-hearted restobar, complete with foosball tables and a jovial vibe, is the New Cairo installment of Maadi’s favorite place to grab a beer and some food. They play live music on some nights so it’s always worth it to hit up their FB page and see what’s cooking. Speaking of cooking, they have an extensive menu of pub food -- they’re famous for their wings, but also have great burgers and a wide variety of other dishes, so no need to indulge in a heavy dinner (or any dinner) before you head over there. Unlike the Maadi branch, The Tap East has both an indoor and outdoor space, so perfect for lunch in the sun or drinks under New Cairo’s (few) stars. Good for: laidback nights out with friends Location: Stella Compound, New Cairo Call to reserve: 01060000869 Olivo This pizza bar in Arkan (also open in Zamalek and 6 October) is a good choice if you want to have lunch and a drink or two in a place with a laid-back vibe. Their menu is mainly all pizzas, with a few salads, starters and desserts. Their red, pink & white sangria is always worth ordering too. Their pizza is thin-crust, with fresh ingredients and some of the best buffalo mozzarella found in Egypt. Good for: lunch/dinner with friends Location: Katameya Call to reserve: 0106 8774233 Reif Kushiyaki Reif Kushiyaki is a restaurant famous for its "unconventional Japanese street food" in Dubai, and has opened its doors in Cairo in 5A by the Waterway. 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 good faves. Good for: lunch/dinner with friends Location: 5A by the Waterway Call to reserve: 01280446862 You might also like: 12 Chill Places To Have Dinner and Drinks in Maadi

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. 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 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 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 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

Cairo has over a thousand restaurants, and while sometimes you’re in the mood for something casual (read: 7 Best Places to Try Egyptian Street Food in Cairo), sometimes there’s a special occasion or you’re just looking for something ambient and elevated. Cairo didn’t used to be known for its fine dining scene, but that’s really changed over the past few years. There’s a good handful of ‘fancy’ restaurants, but not all of them give you bang for your buck, so we filtered through the overpriced and underwhelming to bring you the very best of Cairo’s fine dining scene, in terms of both food and overall experience. So get your appetite and wallet ready, and here we go: 1. Sachi Park St. Located on a rooftop in Sheikh Zayed is Sachi Park St., sister restaurant of Sachi in Heliopolis but our personal favorite of the two. This expansive restaurant is divided into indoor and outdoor seating, each beautifully decorated with its own bar. The menu is international fusion, so you’ll find everything from sushi to duck linguine to Chilean sea bass. The service is impeccable and they have a signature cocktail menu. 2. Pier 88 Pier 88 is a high-end Italian restaurant and bar that sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and is equally pleasant for both daytime and nighttime dining. During the day it’s one of those quietly sophisticated restaurants, complete with an open kitchen and drinks overlooking the water. At night it gets more of a nightlife feel to it, with Tuesday nights being the ‘in nights’, when the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables. Local tip: there’s also another branch of Pier 88 in Pyramids Hills in 6th October, and its original branch in El Gouna on the Red Sea. 3. Izakaya Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant. What’s Nikkei, you ask? It’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion, born from the migrant Japanese community living in Peru and over decades adding their touch to traditional Peruvian dishes. It’s become so beloved and recognized that not only does this fusion have its own name -Nikkei- but it’s actually spread half a world away, all the way to Egypt, thanks to Izakaya, which is in Palm Hills in 6th October. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and it’s a beautiful place to chill, eat and have a cocktail. 4. Moghul Room Found in the Marriott Mena House is one of Cairo’s best Indian restaurants, the Moghul Room. This restaurant has been a firm Cairo favorite for decades now, and it never falters when it comes to quality, taste and ambience. Oh and by the way – did we mention that it has Pyramid views through its windows? Granted, eating Indian cuisine at the foot of Ancient Egyptian pyramids might seem incongruous, but if you’re in the mood for your favorite Indian classics, there’s no better place to enjoy it. They also have an extensive (albeit expensive) international wine list. You may also like: 7 Best Pyramid View Restaurants 5. The Lemon Tree & Co If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now). Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion, and is by far one of the most beautiful restaurants and bars in Cairo, with indoor/outdoor vibes and overlooking the park at the One Ninety compound. 6. Birdcage Thai restaurant Birdcage has been one of the Semiramis Intercontinental’s flagship restaurants for over a decade now. On the second floor en route to Pane Vino, the Italian restaurant, you’ll find a quiet, wooden little oasis in the hotel -- that’s Birdcage. The service and ambience is on par with what you’d expect from a 5 star hotel, as is the actual food presentation -- and luckily the food rises to the task as well, which isn’t always the case with Cairo restaurant hotels. But we’ve been going to Birdcage for about 15 years now, so that should be some indication regarding their food. You may also like: 7 Best Thai Restaurants in Cairo 7. The Smokery Overlooking the green expanse of the golf course in Katameya Heights, The Smokery is hard to beat when it comes to dinner and drinks with a view in New Cairo. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and serve a variety of upscale international dishes, with everything from sliders to seabass quinoa to sushi. The Smokery became so popular that it opened other branches in Palm Hills, Heliopolis, El Gouna and Marassi. You may also like: Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo