Book a Flight to Cairo from €76

The Giza Pyramids: symbols of Egypt, one of the seven wonders of antiquity and among the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Where the city houses end, the three tombs of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure appear in the desert. In front of the majestic structures stands their timeless guard, the legendary Sphinx dazing visitors with is colossal size. You can visit the interior of one of the Pyramids and ride a camel with the enigmatic monuments of Giza on the background. 
Address: Pyramid Street Al Ahram, www.sca-egypt.org/eng/SITE_GIZA_MP.htm

Egyptian Museum: if Cairo is “Umm al-Dunya”, namely “the mother of the world”, then its Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is undoubtedly the mother of all museums. The pink, 19th century building in the central Tahrir square is actually rather small to house the most significant collection of priceless Egyptian antiquities in the world, that are crammed in its every inch.  
In the Royal Mummies Room, you will encounter Ramesses the Great, the Pharaoh who ruled Upper and Lower Egypt and now rests on thick velvet. The definitive must-see are Tutankhamun treasures, on the top floor. The radiance of gold on the objects accompanying the 18year old king to his trip to eternity is really dazzling.
Address: Tahrir Square, 0020 2 5794596  www.sca-egypt.org/eng/MUS_Egyptian_Museum.htm

Al-Azhar Mosque: this leading place of worship and education, the mosque-university of Islamic Theology with a history of one thousand years impresses with its architecture. A work of the 10th century, the Al-Azhar, with the three main minarets and elegant interior courtyard, is a harmonious complex with many additions over time, as sultans and emirs added their own touch over the centuries. You can visit its interior, such as the mihrab with the glass mosaic decoration and the prayer hall covered with carpet.  
Address: Gama' al-Azhar. 

Saladin Citadel: at the east end of the city stands the Citadel, an amazing medieval fortress of 12th century, which had been home to Egyptian rulers for over 700 years. General Saladin used even boulders from the Giza Pyramids to build its walls. Inside the fortifications you will see three mosques, towers, gardens, the Police Museum, the National Military Museum, while on the galleries you will enjoy the panorama of the vast metropolis of the Nile. 
Address: Al Abageyah, Qesm Al Khalifah,  0020 2 25121735 

Khan el-Khalili: folklore at its best, the famous Cairo bazaar looks like it came out of one of the Ali Baba and Aladdin fairy tales. A maze of narrow streets and small shops where you can buy anything: fabrics, musical instruments, spices and oils, jewellery and veils, copper utensils and waterpipes. Make a stop at the Fishawi café, the old coffee-house with the mirrors, where Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz and the Egyptian intelligentsia used to hang out in the 19th century.   
Address: Al-Hussein square

Gezira island: a truly green oasis in the middle of the Nile, Gezira island looks more like a part of western Europe than one of Northern Africa. From Tahrir square, the elegant Qasr al-Nil Bridge leads to the island with the villas, the embassies, the Opera, the Egyptian Modern Art Museum and the luxurious hotel that used to be the palace of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. Climb on the 187meters tall Cairo Tower to enjoy the view of the city and the Pyramids.  

Cruise in the Nile: Contemplate Cairo from the perspective of the Nile, on a boat trip at its banks day or night, over dinner with oriental music or take a felucca for a ride on the river. You can book a cruise at hotels and travel agencies.

The Khan el-Khalili market is a true shopping-safari experience: it does not matter what you buy, but how you buy it; bargain till you drop for waterpipes, papyrus, robes, leather and copper goods in the most atmospheric souk of the East. Keep an eye for the “Blue Nile” exotic essential oil. At Souq al-Fustat you will buy handmade carpets, wooden toys and elaborate handmade robes for an ethnic-chic touch in your wardrobe. 

On Gezira island, you will find stylish jewellery and clothes shops at the Zamalek neighbourhood, while at Brazil street shops you can find towels, sheets and clothes from excellent Egyptian cotton.  
Apart from the eastern-style markets, Cairo also has very modern shopping centres, such as Mall of Arabia and Festival City Mall, for endless shopping, western-style.

Egyptian cuisine has its roots back in the Pharaoh era, and is heavily influenced by the culinary traditions of Lebanon, Turkey and Persia. A favourite snack, as well as main course for locals is falafel, a fried veggie-patty from dried broad beans and spice mix. Cairo street food is dominated by thin pita bread filled with bean purée, as well as vegetables stuffed with minced meat, rice and herbs. 

Hotels mainly offer European and American menus. In the night cruises in brightly lit river boats along the Nile, dinner is often accompanied by belly dancing show. Look for the authentic atmosphere of the Arabian nights in Cairo clubs, with passion and belly dancing. Book your tickets to watch a show in the open area of the Opera, and listen to music while lying on cushions.

Life in Cairo is full of events that are closely related to the history and tradition of the ancient metropolis of Egypt.

• Easter in Cairo: Holy Week in the Egyptian capital means pilgrimage to the monastery of St. George in Old Cairo, a church dedicated to the soldier Martyr, built on the ruins of the Roman fortress of Babylon.   
• The Pharaons Rally: Sports and action in the spectacular off road motorcycle and 4X4 vehicles tournament, held every May from oasis to oasis on the zigzag line Cairo - Bahariya - Siwa in the desert, ending at the pyramids.   
• Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre: Artists from a hundred countries participate in the theatrical and dance shows of the festival that is held every September, for two decades now, with the objective of promoting new talents and new trends in the international drama scene.
• Belly-dancing Festival: Impressive body shaking and moving of the belly to the rhythm of Egyptian tabla. An oriental tradition that in Egypt it is said that it dates back in the worship of goddess Isis, comes to life every June in the Mena House Oberoi hotel.  
• Arabic Music Festival: The best musicians in town, worthy holdovers of the musical tradition of the East, play improvised tunes on lutes, flutes and Egyptian tabla before the enthusiastic audience of the Cairo Opera House.

Getting to and from the airport in Cairo

Aegean Airlines lands at the Cairo International Airport, in Heliopolis region, 22 km from the city centre. A modern airport with restaurants, cafés, last-minute-purchase shops, banks and foreign exchange offices, and free Wi-Fi everywhere.

To move from the airport, you may choose the Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus or a taxi. If you choose to get a taxi, prefer the white or yellow ones that have a meter, and if you get an older black and white taxi, make sure you agree the fare in advance. Note that taxis accept also euros and dollars besides Egyptian pounds.