Cairo Area
A visit to Egypt inevitably includes a stay in the capital city of Cairo. Cairo is a noisy, exciting, and friendly city with an interesting mix of modern buildings and mud-brick houses, making for an unusual spectacle. Most associate Cairo with The Great Pyramids of Egypt with are found in nearby Giza, however, Cairo has many of its own attractions to offer such as its museums, bars, bazaars, and local restaurants. Any time of day or night you will find people in the street, talking with friends. Those visiting Cairo and its surrounding area will find that there are a wide variety of interesting and fun things to see and do.
Highlights of Cairo
- Pyramids Sound and Light show
- Egyptian Museum
- The Citadel of Salah Al Din Al Ayoubi
- Saqqara
- Dahshur
Historical Sites
Giza Pyramids
While Egypt is full of other ancient pyramids, the striking size and stunning perfection of the Pyramids at Giza (as well as their convenient proximity to Cairo) have made them the most well-known. One of the Seven Wonders of the World and the planet's oldest tourist attraction, The Pyramids have been dated back to over 2500 year before the birth of Jesus Christ. The sheer size and ingenuity behind how the The Giza Pyramids were built, makes this a site that should not be missed.
At the base of the Khafre Pyramid in Giza is the great Sphinx. It is not known why the Sphinx was built or whose face it portrays, however, it is an interesting and mysterious site that is well-worth a closer look. Dating from before 2500 BC, the Great Sphinx is about 20 m (66 ft) high and about 73 m (240 ft) long.
Khufu Pyramid
The oldest pyramid at Giza and the largest in Egypt is the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), which stood at 146m (478ft) high when it was completed around 2600 BC. About 2.3 million limestone blocks, weighing around 2.5 tons each, were used in its construction. While there is not much to see inside the pyramid, the experience of climbing through such an ancient structure is unforgettable. Along the eastern and southern sides of the pyramid are five long pits that once contained the pharaoh's boats (apparently to take with him in the afterlife). You can see one of the boats in the Solar Boat Museum. There is a 50% reduction in the entrance price to the Boat Museum for ISE Cardholders.
Khafre (Chephren) Pyramid
The Khafre Pyramid is southwest of Khufu and appears to be larger than Khufu, even though it is not (it is simply built on higher ground and still has some of its outer casing). Originally, all three of the Pyramids at Giza were covered with a white limestone casing which made them appear to glow in the light of the moon.
Menkaure (Mycerinus) Pyramid
The Menkaure Pyramid is 62m (203ft) tall and is the smallest of the three pyramids. The deep gash on the north face of the pyramid was caused by an unsuccessful attempt to dismantle the pyramid in 1186.
Saqqara
Approximately 27 km (17 mi) south of Cairo, are the unique pyramids, temples and tombs of Saqqara, which was formerly at the heart of Memphis' ancient necropolis. In the Zoser Funerary Complex, you will find the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which may not be entered but can still be appreciated from the outside. The Step Pyramid was designed by Imhotep, the first known architect in history, who was later deified by the Egyptians. The pyramid was also the first monumental royal tomb and is one of the oldest stone structures in Egypt.
Saqqara is an excellent day trip and a great way to enjoy a more peaceful desert experience.
Dahshur
About 20 km (12 mi) south of Saqqara is the area of Dahshur. While Dahshur originally contained 11 pyramids built in the 4th through 12th dynasties, only the Bent and Red Pyramids remain intact.
The Bent Pyramid was the result of a failed attempt at building a symmetrical Pyramid. While its base moves upward at a 54° angle, the angle changes to 43° at the top as a result of the structure showing signs of stress during its construction. This gives the Pyramid a bent appearance and is how it got its name. While the angle of the Pyramid may be a bit odd, it is interesting to note that the Bent Pyramid still has most of its outer casing, which is quite rare for the pyramids around Cairo.
The Red Pyramid is the world's first true pyramid. Built after the Bent pyramid, it is an excellent representation of the lessons learned from the construction of the Bent Pyramid. Its name comes from the red-toned limestone inner casing. Both pyramids were built by Pharaoh Sneferu in the 4th dynasty and, being the same height, are the third-largest pyramids in Egypt (second only to the Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Chephren at Giza).
ISE Cardholders will receive a 50% discount on all of the above-mentioned sites in Saqqara and Dahshur.
Activities
Pyramids Sound and Light show
While many people have seen the Pyramids of Giza during the day, seeing them at night is an experience not to be missed. The Pyramids Sound and Light show is the best way to do so. Visitors will be treated to a dramatic narration about the history of the Pyramids while music plays over loud-speakers and multi-colored lights illuminate the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. If you have an ISE Card, there is a 25LE reduced ticket special.
Egyptian Museum
A trip to the Egyptian Museum can easily take two to three days. Housing more than 100,000 antiquities, the museum has an overwhelming amount of treasures to view. One of the highlights of the Museum is the Tutankhamun (King Tut) exhibit. All of the treasures unearthed in the young king's modest and small tomb can be found here. Considering that the size of Tutankhamun's tomb was miniscule compared to that of all of the other Pharaoh's, the extent of the riches found are unbelievable to behold. Additional highlights include the Amarna Room, devoted to Akhenaten, the Graeco-Roman Mummies, and the galleries in Room 2 that display an impressive array of finery which was extracted from the New Kingdom tombs found at Tanis. ISE Cardholders will receive 50% off of the regular entrance price.
Royal Mummy Room at the Egyptian Museum
While the Egyptian Museum has an incredible number of antiquities, one of its truly unique offerings is a chance to view the actual mummies of the past pharaohs. Located in a guarded room to the right as you enter the museum, getting a first-hand glimpse of the mummies is an amazing experience not to be missed. If you're lucky, you will have a chance to see one of the famous Pharaohs of the past such as Ramses II. Those with an ISE Card will receive 50% off of the entrance fee.
The Pharaonic Village
An interesting way to see how the people of ancient Egypt used to live is to take a trip to The Pharaonic Village. Visitors are treated to a tour through an authentic replication of village life during the time of the Pharaohs. The Nefertari Yacht takes its passengers around an island which depicts different aspects of the life of people then, including games, food preparation, etc. Additional information may be found at: www.touregypt.net/village. ISE Cardholders receive a discounted entrance rate of 33LE and the Nefertari Yacht is only 15LE for foreign cardholders. Egyptian ISE Cardholders also have a special price of 22.50LE to visit the village and pay only 11.25LE for the Nefertari Yacht tour.
The Citadel of Salah Al Din Al Ayoubi
Built by Saladin on a promontory of the Maqattam hills in 579 AH/ 1183 AD. The castle overlooks Cairo and contains within its walls many monuments and buildings includes the Mosque of Soliman Pasha, the Mosque of Mohamed Ali (known as the marble mosque) and Joseph's well which is some 90 meters deep. Entrance to the castle is normally EGP 16, but with an ISE Card there is a 50% discount.
The Muhammad Ali Mosque
The Muhammad Ali Mosque is one of the more well-known mosques in Cairo. Built in 1830, this architecture of this mosque is truly stunning. Those planning to visit any mosques in Egypt should be aware that no sleeveless shirts or shorts will be allowed (especially true for women). As with all of the mosques in Egypt that are maintained by the Ministry of Culture, ISE Cardholders will receive 50% off of the entrance fee here. Cardholders will also receive 50% off of the Mohammed Ali family tomb price of EGP 10.
Places to Stay
Hostels
There are a wide variety of places to stay in Cairo. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.
Places to Eat
There are a variety of wonderful places to eat in Cairo. Food tends to be quite cheap, however, ISE Cardholders will find that quite a few places will honor their card for a discount. For a list of places that offer discounted rates, please click here.
Getting Around
Car
"Modern Car for Car Rental" offers a 10% discount to ISE Cardholders interested in renting a car.
Train
Those wishing to visit other parts of Egypt might also consider taking the train. There are first-class train services connecting Cairo with Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan. ISE Cardholders will receive 50% off on Egyptian Railways train service (Ramses Square).
Metro
There is an efficient and clean metro system in Cairo that is inexpensive and usually not too crowded (if you avoid rush hour).
Taxi
Probably one of the best ways to get around the city is by taxi. Taxi's in Cairo are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive for short journeys. Make sure that you don't listen to taxi drivers who claim that there are no buses to the city center from the airport as this is NOT true.
Bus
The Bus is an option for those who don't mind traveling in crowds. Long-haul busses often consist of modern coaches with bathroom facilities and onboard movies while local buses are much smaller and are often mini-vans.
Moving On
Air
Cairo is well-connected with other European cities, so there are quite a few options for travelers. For domestic travel, you might try the national airline of Egypt, "Egypt Air". Air Sinai also has a large number of domestic connections.
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