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Cairo: Things To See & Do
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Pyramids of the Giza Plateau
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of
Menkaure - these three vast monuments to past rulers of Ancient Egypt
are some of the world's most recognizable structures, and the country's
best known and most popular attractions. A trip to see these last
remaining Wonders of the Ancient World is often considered a dream of a
lifetime, and with their air of remote mystery and great history, it's
not hard to see why. If possible, try
and catch the nightly Sound and Light Shows, which narrates
the history of the pyramids while illuminating them in a
spectacular light show.
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Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily from
8am to 6pm, except during Ramadan.
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Pricing:
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General
admission to the Giza plateau: LE25. Visitors interested in
entering the Khufu and Khafre pyramids must
get tickets from the Giza Pyramid ticket office. Tickets are limited to 300 a day, so get there early. |
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Getting Here:
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Pyramid Road, 18km (11 miles) southwest of central Cairo.
There are dozens of tours available to the pyramids, which
includes transportation. Independent drivers can take a taxi
out to the park (around LE25). Public minibuses 82 and 83,
and local buses 8, 9, and 900 also drop visitors off
at Giza, but are not recommended. |
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The Great Sphinx
Spectacular, intriguing and more
than a little mysterious, the Sphinx rivals the Great Pyramid as a symbol of
Egypt, and is also a major tourist draw. Questions such as when, why and by
whom this great monument was built - the great Riddle of the Sphinx - may
still plague both professional and amateur Egyptologists, but for many
visitors, the most mesmerizing aspect of the Sphinx is its sheer majestic
presence.
Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily from
8am to 6pm, except during Ramadan.
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Pricing:
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General
admission to the Giza plateau: LE25. Visitors interested in
entering the Khufu and Khafre pyramids are required to
get the tickets by themselves from the Giza Pyramid ticket
office. Tickets are limited to 300 a day, so get there very
early |
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Getting Here:
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There are dozens of tours available to the pyramids, which
includes transportation. Independent drivers can take a taxi
out to the park (around GBP25).
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Saqqara
The Saqqara necropolis,
located within easy reach of Cairo and the Giza plateau, is a popular
place for those who love pyramids, as it holds the famous stairs pyramid
of Djoser. Built around 2650 BC, it is considered both the first
pyramid, and the first structure in the world built of stone. Though
smaller than the monuments at Giza, it is better preserved, especially
much of the hieroglyphics, as well as numerous beautifully preserved
tombs of noblemen, all open to visitors.
Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily from
7:30am to 4pm, except during Ramadan.
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More Info: |
The different
sights are scattered over an extensive area so a car is far
more convenient than walking, as well as a guide. Drinks are
available, but food is not. |
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Getting Here:
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There are dozens of tours available to the necropolis, which
includes transportation. If a trip to Saqqara isn't included
in a tour package, you may consider hiring a car to drive
out to the complex (around GBP70 for the day).
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Dahshur
Far less well-known compared to
Giza and Saqqara, especially since it was restricted military zone until
1996, this necropolis, which was once part of ancient Memphis, nevertheless
offers the of the most unusual pyramids in Egypt - the Red Pyramid, the Bent
Pyramid and the Black Pyramid. It makes an interesting sidetrip from Giza,
and is far quieter, with far shorter queues and almost no hassling.
Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily from
7:30am to 4pm, except during Ramadan.
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More Info: |
The different
sights are scattered over an extensive area so a car is far
more convenient than walking, as well as a guide. Drinks are
available, but food is not. |
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Getting Here:
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Very few tours
include Dahshur, though more are starting to add the
necropolis to their itinerary. If a trip to Dahshur isn't
included in a tour package, you may consider hiring a car to
drive out to the complex (around GBP70 for the day). |
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Memphis
Once one of the great cities
of ancient Egypt, and a former capital of that great nation, Memphis is
now mostly in ruins, and is largely preserved as an open air museum.
Many of its best preserved statues are kept in the Memphis museum in the
village of al-Badrashein, and the highlight is the massive statue of
Ramesses II the Great. The entrance fee is 25 L.E.
Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily from
8am to 5pm, except during Ramadan.
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Pricing:
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Admission to the
Memphis Museum: LE25.
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Getting Here:
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Most tours will
include Memphis in their itinerary. If a trip to Memphis
isn't included in a tour package, you may consider hiring a
car to drive out to the complex.
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Egyptian Museum of
Antiquities
One of the great museums of
the world, and a wonder in itself, this museum was begun in 1897 and has
since become a treasure trove of artifacts from Ancient Egypt, covering
over 5,000 years of history. The most popular exhibition is the
Tutankhamen funerary items, but there are hundreds more magnificent
items on display. With over 120,000 regularly changing artifacts on
view, don't even try to do this museum in a day - pick and choose what
you want to see.
Details
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Opening
Hrs:
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Open daily 9 am to
4:45 pm (closed Friday 11:30 am to 1:30 pm).
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Pricing:
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Adults: LE 40;
children: LE 20. There is an additional charge for
photography |
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Contact:
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Tel: 2 579 6974 or
6948; www.egyptianmuseum.gov.eg |
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Getting
Here:
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Midan el Tahrir,
Cairo. |
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The River Nile
The cool green waters of Mother
Nile have long fascinated readers in the Western world, thanks largely to
the colourful and romantic travel tales of eighteenth century explorers. The
source of life to the Ancient Egyptians and today a major tourist attraction
in itself, most visitors see the Nile from the decks of a cruise ship
sailing up and down its water.
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The Citadel of Saladin
One of the most popular
attractions in Cairo itself, the citadel was created in the 1100s, when
the legendary ruler Saladin built what was then the world's most modern
fortress on that site. Though many of the buildings inside the citadel
have been damaged or destroyed over the centuries, it is still home to
some of the most interesting sights in the city: the Alabaster Mosque,
the mosque of EL-Nasser Mohamed, the El-Gouhara Palace and a number of
smaller museums. In addition, the views from the Citadel are
breathtaking.
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Sayeda Zeinab Mosque
This mosque is one of the few
such Islamic religious structures in the world dedicated to a woman, Al
Sayeda Zeinab, daughter of the Prophet (s.w.a.), and patron saint of
Cairo. The mosque is home to her mausoleum. The mosque itself is a splendid
building, especially its ornate facade, but it is best known as the focal
point for annual celebrations held in October to honour the saint.
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Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo)
Tucked away in a large
walled districted is the oldest part of Cairo, often known as Coptic
Cairo for the many Coptic churches clustered in the area. The district
is a pleasant place to stroll in, and has, among other attractions, the
Hanging Church wher Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus were said to have
stayed during their travels; the Abu Serga Church; the Nunnery of St.
George; and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
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El-Hussein Square
This is one of the most
popularly visited squares in cairo, principally because the Al-Azhar
Mosque and the Khan El Khalili Souk are located nearby. The former is
the city's most important mosque, and the focal point of the world
famous Azhar University, while the souk is one of the most famous in the
city, very popular with tourists for having a huge variety of goods sold
in dim, ancient shops packed together in a small district. Bargaining is
expected, and a major part of the experience!
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Cairo
Tower
Located on Gezira Island,
this tower was built in 1961, stands over 180 metres high and is built
of a granite latticework that was meant to be reminiscent of a lotus
plant. Unsurprisingly, it is the defining icon of the Cairo skyline. It
offers a great view over the city itself, and on a clear day, visitors
can see as far as the pyramids at Giza. There's a revolving restaurant
at the top, which was once a favourite dining spot for the late
president Gamal Abdul Nasser.
Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily 9 am to
midnight
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Pricing:
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Adults: EGP7.
There is an additional charge for photography |
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The Coptic Museum
This small but fascinating
museum is located in the garden of the ancient Roman fortress of
Babylon-in-Egypt, and holds a lovely collection of Coptic art from the
early part of the first millenia. Apart from the masterpieces on
display, the display rooms themselves are a sight, as most are decorated
with elaborate carved wood screens and painted ceilings.
Details
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Opening
Hrs:
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Open daily 9 am to
5 pm.
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Pricing:
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Adults: LE 40;
children: LE 20. There is an additional charge for
photography |
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Contact:
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(02) 363 9742 or
362 8766; www.copticmuseum.gov.eg |
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Getting
Here:
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Sharia Mari Girgis,
Old Cairo
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Pharaonic Village
Located on Jacob's island in
the heart of Cairo, this amazing theme park aims to bring to life the
fascinating world of ancient Egypt, and presents different aspects of
that civilization in a series of intriguing tableaux - complete with
actors in costume doing everyday tasks such as cooking, weaving,
building mud huts, making papyrus scrolls and so on. A great place to
visit for anyone with even a slight interest in ancient Egyptian
culture.
Details
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Opening
Hrs:
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Open daily 9 am to
9pm.
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Pricing:
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Admission fee
varies depending on the programme. |
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Contact:
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Tel:
011-202-571-8675, 011-202-571-8676, 011-202-571-8677;
Fax: 011-202-568-9266 |
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Getting
Here:
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3 El Bahr El
Aazam St., Jacob's Island, Giza, Egypt |
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