 Cairo, Egypt
My Cairo Travel Guide : Panoramic view of Islamic Cairo
Author: Vyacheslav Stepanyuchenko (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Cairo, also known as al-Qahira in Arabic, is the capital and biggest city in Egypt. Established in the 10th century, the city is today the nerve-center of Egypt. Covering an area of 453 sq km (175 sq mi), Cairo has a population of 7.8 million people, with another 10 million people living in its metropolitan area. It is bigger than any other city in Africa and the Arab World, and is also the 11th biggest urban area in the world.
Guide to Cairo Hotels
Here's a list of hotels in Cairo that you can book online, with full description, star rating, address, location map, evaluation, and prices as offered by different booking sites. This helps you to make your room booking with the site that offers the best price.
More on Cairo
Cairo is today a highly congested city with high levels of pollution. It is the only city in Africa with a subway system, which is also the fifteenth busiest in the world. Visitors from Western countries are often astonished on their arrival, at the heat, dust, noise, and the swirl of traffic in Cairo. And yet, even in this bustling city, there are oases of serenity waiting to be discovered.
Cairo is the cultural and political center of Egypt. As a major Islamic city, it has a profusion of mosques. The city also has the world's second oldest university, the al-Azhar University.
Mohammed Ali Mosque, one of the main landmarks of Islamic Cairo
Author: Francesco Gasparetti (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Climate of Cairo
Although Cairo experiences a desert climate, in reality the winter months are relatively cool. The months of November to March is the best time to visit. That's when the daytime temperature stays at below 25°C, and night time temperature drops to 10°C. On the other hand, temperatures in the summer months from June to August may exceed 35°C. Those who are not accustomed to very hot weather should avoid visiting Cairo during the summer.
Going to Cairo
Visitors to Cairo arrive at the Cairo International Airport (CAI) which receives regular scheduled flights from many major cities in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Locatede in Heliopolis, on the outskirts of Cairo, the airport has three terminals buildings. The latest, Terminal 3, is used exclusively by Egypt Air, while Terminal 2 is being closed in stages for renovation works.
Cairo Metro at St. George Church, Cairo
Author: Andrew A. Shenouda (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Getting around in Cairo
Cairo is the only city in Africa with a subway system. It presently has two lines, which provide limited coverage to the sights in the city. The fare is a low 1 Egyption pound.
The taxis provide a more extensive coverage. They don't use the meter, so you will have to depend on the driver not overcharging you. The locals never quote a price before getting into a taxi. As a foreigner, however, you are likely to get them to overcharge you. To prevent being ripped off, get a stated price before hopping in. You might be quoted slightly higher than to a local, but as long as you find the fare reasonable, consider it your contribution to the Egyptian economy.
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Places of Interest in Cairo
- Central Cairo
Business and administrative center of the city.
- Islamic Cairo
Muslim quarters of the city.
- Old Cairo
Coptic Christian enclaves of Cairo predating the Muslim neighborhoods.
- Giza
Suburb of Cairo famous for its Great Pyramids.
- Heliopolis
Historic suburb developed in the 19th century.
- Around Cairo
Towns and attractions in the outskirts of the city.
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