If you’re traveling to Egypt, you can’t miss making a stop at its capital city, Cairo. Many travelers make the mistake of staying in Cairo for only one day to see the Great Pyramids of Giza, and those who extend their stay, only dedicate a couple of days. The Egyptian capital has so much more to offer from culture to history and all the wild adventures in between. The number of activities in Cairo that you can do and the abundance of sites you could visit will blow your mind.

If you’re really keen on exploring Egypt, then Cairo needs to be on your radar. Here’s a compilation of the most popular, as well as underrated, sites and activities in Cairo.

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But first, let’s learn a bit about Cairo…

Cairo, which is called Al Qahira in Arabic, meaning “the victorious”, is one of the largest cities in Africa. The best way to get to learn more about Egyptian culture is by visiting Cairo, and a short stay is only a glimpse of that complex culture. When you think of Egypt, your mind will probably go straight to ancient Egypt, but Cairo also reflects all the other cultural and foreign influences through its various sites. You can see fragments of Egypt’s long history captured through Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo, places that date back to the Ottoman Empire, Greek and Roman influences, European architecture, and much more. Basically, a walk in Cairo is a walk through history.

It wasn’t until the 10th century that Cairo was established. In ancient Egypt, the capital was Memphis, which is located around 24 km south of modern-day Cairo. The Giza Necropolis where the Great Pyramids are located was an important part of Memphis, and it’s now part of Greater Cairo. 

Cairo was also once known as Fustat, or at least a part of it. After the Arab conquest of Egypt, Alexandria, the capital city during the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods, was ridden that title and it was given to Fustat instead. Now, Fustat is part of the Old Cairo district and is home to many historical, and religious monuments.

Activities in Cairo: The Most Popular and the Most Underrated Ones

Activities in Cairo: Sightseeing

The Great Pyramids of Giza

​​Visiting the only standing ancient wonder of the world has been a dream for many thanks to history classes. You just can’t go to Egypt without visiting its main monument and greatest attraction, and despite how touristy this might be, this is one of the touristy activities in Cairo that’s TOTALLY WORTH IT.

The pyramids were built as royal tombs or burial sites for ancient Egyptian kings. The most famous of all are the Great Pyramids of Giza, which were built a little over 4,500 years ago for the kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.

RELEVANT READ: Giza Pyramids Tour: A Local’s Ultimate Guide

Pyramid of Djoser

Even though the Great Pyramids of Giza are the most famous, they weren’t the only ones built by the ancient Egyptians. In fact, historians identified that over 100 pyramids were built in ancient Egypt – a lot of sources say 118 pyramids, while others cite 138. 

In case you’d like to see more ancient Egyptian archaeological sites and do something that is off the beaten path, then the Pyramid of Djoser would be a great place to start. Also known as the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the 6-tier pyramid located in Saqqara is actually the first-ever pyramid the ancient Egyptians built. It’s also the oldest known stone structure in ancient Egypt. 

Bent Pyramid of Dahshur

Dahshur, a village in Giza, boasts several early pyramids and their remains, but the most famous one and one of the best-preserved is the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur. It was built during the reign of King Snefru, the founder of the 4th dynasty and father of King Khufu. 

The Bent Pyramid’s angle of its sides changes at approximately one-third of the way up due to engineering trouble during its construction. The architect started building at an inclination of 54 degrees when he realized it was too steep, and eventually completed it with a 43-degree inclination, resulting in the pyramid’s current shape. 

Cairo Tower

An often overlooked Egypt landmark is none other than the Cairo Tower. The prominent structure offers the finest panoramic views of the Egyptian capital. The 187-tall tower used to be the tallest structure in Africa for 10 years; however, in 1971, South Africa’s Hillbrow Tower surpassed it – now, it’s the second-tallest. It’s also known as the “tallest NO” in history, but guess you’ve got to read my guide to learn more about its interesting history. 

RELEVANT READ: Cairo Tower: Where to Capture the City’s Best Nile Views

The Old Cairo Tour

​​Also known as Coptic Cairo, as well as Fustat, Old Cairo holds a great historical and religious heritage. Dating back to the 6th Century BC, it’s the oldest part of present-day Cairo. There lies the Religious Complex, where all three Abrahamic religions meet. 

Touring around Old Cairo, you’ll get to visit several iconic sites such as the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Amr Ibn Al A’as Mosque (which was the first mosque in Egypt and Africa), and much more. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s believed that this area is where the holy family have taken shelter as they fled to Egypt. So, by visiting, you’d be seeing parts of the famed Holy Family trail. 

RELEVANT READ: Old Cairo Tour: Where All Three Abrahamic Religions Meet

Saladin Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque

The medieval fortress, also commonly known as the Cairo Citadel, dates back to when Salah Al-Din Al-Ayouby established the Ayyubid Caliphate after ending the Fatimid dynasty. In an attempt to further fortify the city against the Crusader armies, Salah Al-Din; as known as Saladin, started building the citadel in 1176 AD and finished it by 1183 AD. As years passed, many rulers have come to leave their prints. This is why the fortress is home to three mosques; one of which is the iconic Muhammed Ali Mosque.

RELEVANT READ: The Saladin Citadel: A Cairo Day Tour You Can’t Miss

Ibn Tulun Mosque

There are so many prominent mosques in Cairo, after all, the city’s dubbed as the city of a thousand minarets; however, this mosque, in particular, is one of the most iconic ones. Located in the area Sayyida Zeinab, Ibn Tulun Mosque is the second-oldest mosque in Egypt, and one of the oldest intact mosques and best-preserved ones in the city.

St. Simon Monastery

One of Cairo’s hidden gems is hands down the St. Simon Monastery, widely known as the Cave Church, which is the largest church in the Middle East. Nestled in the heart of Mokattam Hill in the Zabbaleen City area, this architectural masterpiece dates back to the 10th century.

El Hussein, Khan El Khalili, and El Moez 

El Hussein neighborhood is one of the most important neighborhoods to visit which captures the true essence of Egypt. A stroll around El Hussein alone is one of the most popular activities in Cairo. The area is home to so many notable sites such as El Hussein Mosque, that’s dedicated to Imam Al-Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohamed (SAW), whose head is believed to be buried there.  

The famed Khan El Khalili bazaar is also located there – there you can shop for traditional souvenirs and chill at a local coffee shop. You can also visit El Moez street and its many Islamic monuments. The street named after Al Moez Li-Din Ellah Al Fatimi, is considered the largest open-air museum for Islamic monuments in the world. It was also named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Wekalet El Ghouri

Right across the street from El Hussein Mosque, in El Azhar neighborhood, you can find Wekalet El Ghouri, which is a cultural arts center where you can attend a traditional Tannoura show. The performance, held every Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, is based on the well-known dancing ritual practiced by Sufi dervishes– it’s hands down one of the most interesting activities in Cairo.

Activities in Cairo: Museums

Egyptian Museum

Visiting the Egyptian Museum is one of the must-do activities in Cairo. Located in Downtown’s world-famous Tahrir Square, it houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. It also happens to be the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East. The museum displays an extensive collection spanning from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era.

Grand Egyptian Museum

One of the best activities in Cairo is visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archeological museum in the world. Located right outside the Giza Plateau, the museum is home to over 100,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the complete collection of King Tutankhamun’s treasures (which involves items that have never been seen before).

The first artifact that was moved to the museum years ago when the construction first started, almost 2 decades ago, was the famed statue of King Ramses II, which was moved from its former location in Ramses Square. That’s why it was placed at the entrance of the museum. The vast collection of artifacts, displayed in 12 exhibits, date back to thousands of years of civilization in Egypt, from the predynastic period to the Greco-Roman era.

RELEVANT READ: Grand Egyptian Museum: A Guide to the World’s Largest Archaeological Museum

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

Remember the 2021 world acknowledged Golden Parade that was held to transfer 22 royal mummies to their new home back. Well, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is the new home of the kings and queens of ancient Egypt’s new kingdom. It’s also worth mentioning that the museum is considered the first in the Arab world to be entirely dedicated to one of the first civilizations in history. 

The Coptic Museum

​​The Coptic Museum is home to the largest collection of Coptic artifacts in the world, representing the earliest beginnings of Coptic history in Egypt all the way to the rise of Christianity in the world. The museum, which was inaugurated in 1910, is located in Coptic Cairo and is a very interesting part of the Old Cairo tour I mentioned earlier. 

Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo

The museum houses one of the largest collections of Islamic artifacts in the whole world. In the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmy II, in 1903 AD, the construction of the museum began, which is known for its wonderful Mamluk-style facade. 

Gayer Anderson Museum

Gayer Anderson was an English officer and doctor that was deployed in Egypt in 1907 and resided in the two houses that are now known as the Gayer Anderson Museum. In 1935, Anderson submitted a request to reside in the two houses, dating back to the Ottoman period, and furnish them in Islamic-Arabic style. The furnishings include a collection of ancient Egyptian, Islamic, and Asiatic antiquities. The museum is a beautiful representation of Islamic architecture and is located in Sayyida Zeinab near Ibn Tulun Mosque. 

Beit El Seheimy

Another stunning architectural masterpiece of a house is Beit El Seheimy, which means “El Seheimy’s house” in Arabic. It was named after its last resident, Sheikh Mohamed Amin El Seheimy, who was a senior scholar and the Sheikh of the Turkish riwaq of Al Azhar mosque back in the Ottoman period. 

The house, located on El Moez street, was first built by Sheikh Abdel Wahab El Tablawi in 1648 AD, and in 1796 AD Haji Ismail Chelebi resumed building the second section and merged the two parts into one house.

The Royal Carriages Museum

As the name suggests, the Royal Carriages Museum in Boulaq is dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of royal carriages and all related artifacts dating back to the era of Mohamed Ali. It’s also worth mentioning that the museum is one of the first of its kind in the world.

Umm Kulthum Museum

Umm Kulthum is an Egyptian icon – the legendary singer Arab amassed audiences from the entire region for half a century. She was one of, if not the most, famous and popular Arab artists in the 20th century. And to this day, her music and art are still appreciated widely. The museum commemorates the legacy of Umm Kulthum, by displaying her remarkable musical collections and belongings.  

DON’T FORGET TO GET INSURED

Activities in Cairo: Palaces

Abdeen Palace

Until the end of the monarchy in 1952, this palace served as the place of ruling & residence of the royal family of Egypt. When Khedive Ismail was enthroned in 1863, he ordered the construction of this palace & this marks the inception of modern Cairo.⁣⁣⁣⁣

Aisha Fahmy Palace

The beautiful mansion, overlooking the Nile, screams art in all its forms. The palace, which was once the residence of Ali Fahmy Pasha, was given the name of his daughter Princess Aisha Fahmy after his passing. From being an architectural masterpiece to stories of murder & betrayal, the walls of this palace have so much to tell.⁣⁣

Baron Empain Palace

This is exactly like finding something in the most unexpected place. Who would’ve expected to see this Hindu-Khmer palace in Egypt? But what Baron Edouard Empain’s masterpiece was most famous for wasn’t just its architecture, but also the spooky stories that are claimed to have happened there. 

Manasterly Palace

The Ottoman Baroque palace was built in 1851 by Hassan Fouad Pasha El Manasterly, Cairo’s governor at the time. It’s a must-visit not just because of its impeccable beauty, but also to see the Nilometer standing on its left side. The Nilometer was used to measure the water level during flood season.⁣⁣⁣⁣

Prince Mohamed Ali Palace

Prince Mohamed Ali Palace is one of the prominent museums in the country as it reflects an important point in the history of modern Egypt. Its architecture & interiors are an artistic combo of Islamic style with a variety of other art schools.⁣⁣⁣⁣

Fun Activities in Cairo

Other than sightseeing, there are a bunch of other unusual things to do and fun activities in Cairo. Riding a felucca in the Nile in Zamalek or Downtown, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking in the Nile, pottery, skiing (yes, in Cairo), paint n’sip sessions, and much more! I’ve written an extensive list of cool activities in Cairo, so make sure to read it to plan a fun day out.

Shopping in Cairo

Souvenir Shopping 

Believe it or not, shopping is one of the underrated activities in Cairo. There are so many locally produced, handmade, as well as traditional products that you won’t be able to resist. Here are the best spots where you can get the best Egyptian souvenirs in Cairo:

• Khan El Khalili bazaar for various Egyptian souvenirs
• Papyrus shops around Haram (near the Pyramids of Giza) for papyrus
• Fair Trade Egypt and Creative Egypt for local handicrafts
• Nefertari for Egyptian natural body care products
• Cairopolitan for quirky stationary and day-to-day objects inspired by the Egyptian culture
• TeePee for various types of souvenirs

The Best Malls and Shopping Centers

There are countless shopping centers and malls in Cairo; the following are the best of the best in case you’re looking to shop from international brands:

• Mall of Egypt (6th of October) 
• Mall of Arabia (6th of October) 
• Cairo Festival City Mall (New Cairo) 
• City Center Almaza (Almaza) 
• City Center Maadi (Maadi)

Cairo Nightlife

Nightlife in the capital is pretty wild, so if you’re a party animal, this is definitely one of the activities in Cairo that you’ll enjoy the most. Buckle up and save the following hottest spots:

Clubs in Cairo

• Cairo Jazz Club (Agouza) 
• Cairo Jazz Club 610 (Sheikh Zayed)

Bars and pubs in Cairo

• The Tap Maadi (Maadi) 
• The Tap West (Sheikh Zayed) 
• The Tap East (New Cairo) 
• L’Aubergine (Zamalek) 
• Greek Club (Downtown)

Restobars in Cairo

• Escobar (Garden City) 
• Sass (Zamalek) 
• Alibi Bar & Restaurant (Zamalek) 
• Crimson (Zamalek) 
• Pier 88 (Zamalek) 
• Sachi (Heliopolis) 
• Estro (Maadi) 
• Frank & Co. (Maadi) 
• Ora Restobar (New Cairo)

Where to Stay in Cairo 

Cairo on the other hand is a big city with so many subcultures, so the neighborhoods can be very different in terms of facilities, infrastructure, standard of living, and so on. Many foreigners, whether coming to live or visit, fall for this pitfall and end up finding themselves in ghettos or in neighborhoods where they won’t necessarily feel comfortable. 

That being said, here are my recommendations, as a local, for neighborhoods that I think are fine for foreigners to stay at if you’re planning on staying for a long period of time:

• ​​Maadi
• Zamalek
• New Cairo
• Garden City
• Heliopolis
• Sheikh Zayed
• Downtown 
• Mohandeseen 
• Dokki 
• Agouza 

On the other hand, if you’re only vacationing in Cairo, then I’d definitely recommend you stay in Zamalek, Downtown, or Garden City. They’re the most central neighborhoods, in close proximity to most attractions (or at least not that far away) as sites and activities in Cairo are pretty scattered all over the city.

Best Hostels and Hotels in Cairo

I’ve compiled my accommodation recommendations in Cairo in a separate blog post before, so make sure to check it out. You can also browse through the deals below as well.

Booking.com

How to Get Around 

Cairo is an enormous city; it’s around 3,085 KM2 to be more precise. That’s excluding Giza, of course, which many mistake for being a neighborhood in Cairo, but it’s actually a separate governorate. However, due to urban sprawl, Cairo and Giza come together and become known as Greater Cairo. 

PRO TIP: If you want to be able to tell whether you’re in Cairo or Giza, use the Nile as your separator. If you’re on the Eastern bank, you’re in Cairo, and if you’re on the Western bank, you’re in Giza. 

Now moving on to getting around in Cairo. As I said, attractions and activities in Cairo are pretty scattered, and given that Cairo is a vast city, that means you need a convenient means of transportation to cover as much as you can – as you can see, there’s so much to see and do. 

Means of Transportation I Recommend

Even though there’s a variety of transportation modes, the one I personally recommend the most is ride-hailing services. Why? They’re a direct means to your endpoint, despite the heavy traffic and congestion the capital is notoriously famous for. Hence, you’ll be able to cover more activities in Cairo in little time. Also, they’re basically better quality than regular taxis, you won’t have to haggle over the price, and you can even pay via credit card (most of the time). Here are the available ride-hailing apps in Egypt:

• Uber
• Careem
• In-Driver
• Didi
• SWVL

Unfortunately, the quality of service isn’t always the best, so it’s important to set the right expectations because there are a few common mishaps you might encounter:

• Sometimes drivers would ask you to cancel the ride if they don’t want to head to your destination of choice. And if you refuse, sometimes they might just keep driving away until you’re forced to cancel so you could request another ride.
• It’s very common for drivers to ask you to cancel the ride and request it again but pay in cash instead “as they need the money for gas.”

Means of Transportation I Don’t Recommend

Like I previously said, there are several options when it comes to transportation; however, if you’re not a local, I definitely don’t recommend the following means of transportation at all. In fact, I highly discourage you from commuting via these.

• Buses
• Microbuses
• TukTuks
• The white taxi

The Metro: Take or Pass?

The metro lines in Cairo are relatively easy to understand and can take you almost everywhere. A lot of the carriages are clean and new as well; there are even carriages for women only. However, it’s often quite busy, especially during rush hours. So, I’d recommend you take it if you’re well-traveled and used to commuting in big, busy cities such as Berlin or Paris. Just bear in mind that you might not be able to find English speakers there in case you have trouble purchasing your ticket.

What to Eat and Where to Eat in Cairo 

What to Eat in Cairo

​​Food is a very important pillar of Egyptian culture – we probably love food more than anything else in the world! There’s a lot to explore when it comes to Egyptian cuisine, which also happens to include lots of vegetarian options. So, yes, a food tour is one of the activities in Cairo you need to add to your list.

Here are some staples of the Egyptian kitchen that you must indulge in when in Cairo:

• Kushari (V): Egypt’s national dish that’s ​​made of rice, pasta, lentils, hot tomato sauce, garlic, and fried onions. 
• Fool (V): Egyptian fava beans. 
• Taa’meya (V): You may know this as falafel, but in Egypt, it’s made of fava beans instead of chickpeas. 
• Feteer (V): Egyptians’ idea of pie that can either be sweet or savory. 
• Mulukhiyah (V): A green, slimy soup made of green leaves, that it’s named after (also known as jute mallow), and broth. It’s flavored with garlic and ground coriander and is best had with rice or bread.
• Alexandrian liver: Sandwiches of sliced beef liver, marinated with a dash of salt and pepper, lemon, garlic, and green peppers, according to a special Alexandrian recipe. 
• Egyptian fatta: A traditional dish made of white rice, meat chunks (often lamb), broth-soaked bread, and tomato sauce. 
• Pigeons: Don’t worry, these are not pigeons that are similar to the ones you have back home. Pigeons are bred on farms here and are larger in size. They’re often stuffed with either rice or freekeh. 
• Moussaka: An eggplant-based dish with minced beef and bechamel sauce. 
• Hawawshi: Round baladi bread (Egyptian bread) stuffed with marinated minced beef. 
• Mahshi (V): Rice-stuffed vegetables. These could be zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or vine leaves. 
• Circassian chicken: An old Egyptian recipe of white rice and chicken with creamy walnut gravy.

Where to Eat in Cairo

For a proper Egyptian culinary experience, you’ve got to go where the locals eat. Here are a bunch of Curls en Route–approved restaurants around Cairo:

• Sobhy Kaber 
• Hagouga
• Abou El Sid 
• Ahwak 
• Tabali
• Menoufy (Egyptian grills) 
• Zooba (gourmet Egyptian street food) 
• Desoky & Soda (gourmet Egyptian street food) 
• Koshary El Tahrir (specialized in kushari) 
• Koshary Abo Tarek (specialized in kushari)
• Hawawshi El Rabie (specialized in hawawshi) 
• Caizo (specialized in hawawshi and shawerma) 
• Carlos (also serves international cuisine)

Craving other cuisines? No problem…

International Cuisine

• Carlos
• Ovio 
• Lokali 
• Eatery 
• Mo Bistro 
• Granita
• Kazlak

Lebanese

• Caracas 
• Al Dayaa’ 
• Loris

Latin American

• Tabla Luna
• Gracias

Italian

• Sapori di Carlo 
• What the Crust 
• Maison Thomas 
• 900 Degrees 
• La Trattoria 
• Pepenero

Brazilian

• XODO

Asian

• Garnell
• Mori Sushi 
• 8
• Peking 
• Joy Luck 
• Gaya 
• Kokio

What to Wear in Cairo 

For women, you may not be able to dress as comfortably or freely as you’re used to. You definitely don’t need to cover up (unless you’re entering a mosque or church), but in most neighborhoods, it’s best if you wear pants or long skirts, and short sleeves in the summer. You can definitely wear dresses, shorter skirts, and sleeveless garments but it all depends on the setting (e.g: nicer or more upscale neighborhoods, bars or clubs, etc.) and what kind of activities in Cairo you’re attempting.

Here are some photos of how I dressed in different settings around Cairo for your reference:

Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Click here to learn more about my travel planning services.

My Top Tips to Enjoy Activities in Cairo

How to Stay Safe in Cairo

One of the most frequently asked questions by female travelers, especially solo female travelers, is whether or not Egypt is safe. As a solo female traveler myself, I can definitely understand your concerns, so let’s address this issue in detail.

What women are most concerned about is usually harassment. Let’s first break down the term “harassment” and differentiate between sexual harassment or catcalling and other sorts of harassment like haggling by vendors at touristy places. 

Unfortunately, both do exist, I can’t deny that. But you can deal with any situation by simply being prepared. You should also use common sense and be cautious – not paranoid, cautious. If you apply this advice, you will definitely be good to go and you’ll be able to enjoy all the activities in Cairo with your mind at ease.

It’s also important to note that people often experience such uncomfortable situations more in touristy places, most of which are located in or near ghettos basically, where a tourist is easily going to stand out. And “tourists” are known to be easy prey, in general, whether to be scammed, catcalled, haggled into buying something, etc. 

I’ve compiled a few tips, so my safety advice would be more actionable, rather than vague:

#1 Do enough research and dig deep

Don’t generalize the tips you find on the internet because Egypt’s culture is pretty complex and we have a ton of different subcultures here as I said. There are over 100 million citizens so generalizing would be a big mistake. 

That being said, don’t take some random tip you find online and apply it to everyone or everywhere. For instance, most female bloggers will advise you to dress in a certain way – their advice may be valid but only to a certain extent. Did you know that what’s acceptable to wear in Egypt depends on where you are? I highly doubt that someone who’s sharing their experience of a 1-week trip would know these details.

#2 Look for more reliable sources of information

That takes us to where you should be getting your advice from. When you open Pinterest or Google and type in “Egypt”, most blog posts will be the same; the same touristy places, the same itinerary, and the same tips compiled after spending 3-7 days in the country. I definitely don’t recommend that you rely on this for your research. It could be a good starting point to get an idea of everything but that’s definitely not the “research” you should be doing. It’s better to check out the experience of travelers who spent a long time in the country, expats, or even better, local travel creators and bloggers. 

#3 Don’t forget to research the neighborhoods

And speaking of research, research the neighborhoods before deciding where to stay or where to go. Like I previously mentioned, I don’t really recommend booking a stay near the pyramids, at least not for the whole stay. People stay in the ghettos and then complain about not feeling comfortable, feeling out of place, and not being able to manage or find things that are supposedly easy to find like a mall or a cafe with wifi.

#4 Use your voice

I read somewhere before that your voice is a powerful self-defense tool which is very true. Yes, you don’t understand the words but you can interpret the context or even what the tone indicates. Try to see through the person that you’re dealing with, as you would anywhere else, and read their body language. Set boundaries, use an aggressive tone of voice if you feel you need to, and it might be useful to learn a few Arabic words. Egyptians, in general, are very friendly people but I guess a grown woman can differentiate between friendly and something else. If someone means no harm, they’re actually going to respect your boundaries and personal space without you saying or doing anything. 

#5 Consider joining a group if you’re not well-traveled

When traveling around the country, if you’re not well-traveled, join a group. There are so many good women-only tours that have Egypt on their list, but I personally don’t like these in Egypt precisely because I feel they’re so touristy. Their itineraries and style of doing things are maybe suitable for middle-aged women who want to blow off some steam or typical tourists but not for young and adventurous solo female travelers or digital nomads who are looking for things that are off the beaten path. 

If you’re cool with the tours and that kind of travel style or if you’re not well-traveled, then go for it. If you’re from the other group, you better head out on your own, with good research, a positive mindset, and caution, you should be good to go.

How to Avoid Culture Shock in Cairo

​​Cairo can be a major culture shock to people coming from totally different destinations. It’s huge, populated, and complex with all its different subcultures. But that shouldn’t discourage you from visiting, instead, how about you prep yourself for it to better enjoy all the previously mentioned activities in Cairo?

#1️ Do your research

And by research, I don’t mean reading a couple of blogs by people who’ve probably visited for a couple of days and have done the touristy stuff only. Instead, try to find blog posts by people who’ve slow-traveled here, stayed, or lived here for a long time. Or locals, like yours truly.

#2️ Get in touch with locals.

Be it before you travel (if you manage) or after, there’s no better way to get to learn about a culture than from the locals themselves. Plus, we know all the cool, unknown activities in Cairo, as well as hidden gems.

#3️ Don’t rely on a single local or just 1 group. 

Understand that there are lots of different subcultures in Egypt and sticking around to 1 person or a small group is very limiting. Most people form a very stereotypical image because of pitfalls like that. Instead, try to meet people from different backgrounds when you arrive.

#4️ Mentally prepare yourself for the crazy traffic

If there’s one thing in common most Westerners, in particular, I’ve met had trouble dealing with was the roads. The traffic, the congestion, the insane driving, and how crossing the street is an extreme sport that isn’t for the lighthearted. 

#5️ Be open

Being open to new experiences is one thing, and being open to “different” is another. And Cairo is sure as hell a whole other kind of different. So, embrace the differences and enjoy the diverse activities in Cairo we have to offer.

Now, tell me… Which activities in Cairo are you excited about the most? Tell me in the comments below. And don’t forget to pin this post for later!

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