There are some wonders of the world that simply need to be immortalized. Grab your camera, a good book and a cheap flight to Cairo for a glimpse at the last surviving wonder of the world, the Pyramid of Giza. This pyramid is thought to have been built around 2600 BC and a closer look at this awesome structure shows it was never finished. Most pyramids have a pointed top, but the Pyramid of Giza is flat and to this day, its incompletion remains a mystery. More mystery surrounds this Great Pyramid – a flight to Cairo and an excursion to the Pyramid might provoke you to seek the meaning behind the Pyramid of Giza...if you can...
Beyond the pyramids, however, lies the metropolitan city of Cairo, home to more than one-quarter of all Egyptians. Cairo's location along the Nile River has made it the heart of Egypt and a must-see tourist destination for centuries.
Travelers booking flights to Cairo can rest assured this city is safe, despite its threats of terrorist attacks. In fact, Cairo flights and tourism bookings are at an all-time high and travelers booking trips to Cairo repeatedly report safe and friendly travel amenities.
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Cairo is hot with cool nights. May to October the temperatures are in the 80s (F) and 90s. Winter temperatures are typically in the 60s and 70s. Cairo typically gets less than an inch of rain a year. The period from the end of March to mid-May is the 50 days of the khamseen, when dust storms with winds up to 90mph coat the city.
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Peak Season:
The best time to book flights to Cairo is during the cooler season, roughly November through March. When you are inside, though, it may be chilly. Cairo buildings are designed to keep the heat out, so bring a jacket or sweater to wear indoors.
If you have allergies, you will probably want to leave the city before the sandstorms start in March.
Off Season:
The heat and pollution of summers are so oppressive that most Cairenes leave the city. Although the low humidity does make the heat a bit more bearable, cheap flights to Cairo can be found during the summer months.
During Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting (approximately mid-September to mid-October), many museums and tourist sites close early and many restaurants open only after sundown.
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There are taxis outside the main arrivals hall; the journey to central Cairo takes around 45 minutes. An Airport Shuttle bus is a convenient way to get from the airport to downtown Cairo and along the Pyramids Road in Giza. Public buses and air-conditioned coaches also leave regularly from Terminal 1.
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Cairo’s metro is efficient and inexpensive. Most visitors do not use the local buses, but they are the cheapest mode of transport. The Cairo Transport Authority operates convenient and affordable air-conditioned buses. The microbuses or service taxis are privately owned and go just about anywhere. Private microbuses are a popular mode of transport, but you need to learn their routes as the buses do not display their destination. Boats provide transport to Manial, Rhoda, Giza, and Old Cairo.
Taxis are easily hailed and cheap for short distances. Meters are rarely used, so bargain down the price before getting in any cab parked in front of a hotel. Fares vary depending on the time you are in the taxi and distance covered, and fares are higher in the early morning and late evening.
Directions use landmarks and places as points of reference. When taking a taxi, tell the driver the landmark nearest your destination. As you approach the landmark, start giving specific instructions on getting to the destination.
Driving in Cairo is an extreme adventure — Egypt has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities per mile driven in the world. Parking in Cairo is also a challenge.
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- If you’re a woman traveling alone, it's always easy to catch the Metro: the first carriage of every train is reserved for women only. The city’s underground system is very efficient and often quicker than taxi.
- Make sure you wear appropriate clothing in the city. Shoulders should always be covered, and the longer the sleeves the better. Shorts or skirts should always be knee-length. Loose, long-sleeved shirts with trousers are the best garments for both men and women, and will mean you receive less unwanted attention.
- Cairo is busy, noisy and full of bustle. It’s exhilarating, but it can be tiring. If you feel you need to get away from it all for a while there are a number of options for some (relative) solitude. Visit Zamalek, a district on the Gezira island, head to the courtyard of a local mosque, or just take a felucca ride along the Nile – a traditional wooden boat specific to the area which can hold about ten passengers only. If all else fails, head to an upmarket hotel and relax by the pool for a few hours.
- The “city of the dead” is the name given to two cemeteries in Cairo. However, the cemeteries are still very much cities of the living. Many homeless and poor people have taken residence in the tombs and schools and trade continue in the walled cities. Mausoleums become houses and there is even a post office within the tombs.
- An easy day trip from the city is the Birqash Camel Market – the largest in the country. Arrive early and choose a spot to watch the show unfold.
- When visiting the Pyramids at Giza, don’t be alarmed by the extremely aggressive camel touts. It can seem almost impossible to refuse a camel ride (so many tourists do it that the touts may well assume everyone wants to) but simply say “no” firmly and then continue walking. Always maintain good humor.
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