Off-Voyage!

Seeing the pyramids was a big dream of mine and I’m so glad that I ticked the box. Pyramids and all the historical sites I visited were very charming however my overall experience was not the most pleasant with the city and it’s people. If you are a solo traveler especially female reading these lines right now, I highly suggest to join a tour instead of solo travelling.

I can hear you saying Basak you are not selling Cairo nicely so far… Hold on tight and let me explain a bit more so that you will be prepared and hopefully enjoy your trip even more with caution! Local people and sellers can be very pushy and intimidating. While shopping, never accept the first price they offer you, start from the half way which is probably the actual price of the good you are looking for. I was familiar with this from Marakesh but I must admit this was overall very overwhelming for me until the end of the trip.  And while walking around the city, I would suggest creating a bubble and spending your time in and around fancy places during the trip while you are not in the historical landscapes to make the most of your trip without having a headache.

Alright that was unfortunately the gloomy part of my take from Cairo let’s start with the good bits now!

Our first stop is Giza Necropolis!

From the moment you start seeing pyramids even from a distance, it’s impossible to take your eyes off from them. They are enchanting. When you arrive the entrance of the site, shuttle busses are available to take you close to the pyramids and facilities all around them. There are 3 main pyramids, and 9 small pyramids at the site which you can visit via different stops of shuttle. We visited Great Pyramid of Giza, Khufu of Cheops which you can also enter inside. 

How about a walk inside the pyramids?

You can enter the inside of the pyramids yes, but heads up, going inside the pyramids can be tricky if you have problematic knees/neck ( ceiling is very low time to time) or if you are not good with tight closed places. It is an experience I think definitely worth to go for. When are you going to walk in a pyramid again ?! After seeing inside of the pyramid, we headed to the view point which has a panoramic view of the site, there are so many shops and cafes here, I suggest to have a little break and enjoy the view with a cold drink.

Cairo has a lot to offer if you are a museum person!

Our next stop is Great Cairo museum! In the museum before the entrance of the exhibitions, there are so many cafes to have a break and grab a coffee. Museum was fairly crowded but exhibitions are impressive, so I highly recommend a visit here would be great if you can do a tour with a guide.  One of its most famous sections is dedicated to Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh whose tomb was discovered in 1922 which I always assumed this dedication was coming from how great he was a leader but turns out his fame mainly comes from the discovery of his nearly intact tomb in 1922.

Unlike most royal tombs in ancient Egypt, which were looted by grave robbers, Tutankhamun’s tomb contained thousands of well preserved artifacts, providing archaeologists with a unique insight into ancient Egyptian life and burial practices.

Another museum I found interesting is The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization which is the home of more than 20 mummies, this museum also has a little lake next to. 

The Spiritual Heart of Old Cairo: Coptic Cairo

Cairo has the foot steps of multiple religions and the best place to see it is Coptic Cairo which is one of the oldest parts of Cairo. Most of the major places are walking distance to each other. The Hanging Church here is one of the oldest churches in Cairo, built on top of the ancient roman fortress instead of ground where the name comes from. Inside, there is a glass area you can see how much it is lifted from the ground. After the church, Ben Ezra Synagogue as I said is a walking distance from there also worth a visit!

If you’re looking for a spot for shopping , Khan El Khalili Bazaar is the place to go. This historic market is a maze of streets filled with countless shops and stalls selling everything from souvenirs and spices to jewelry and handmade crafts. One important tip is don’t forget to bargain. Prices can vary significantly from one shop to another, even for identical items…

Don’t miss the sunset!

The Nile River is the longest river in Africa and has been the heart of Egyptian civilization for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians depended on the Nile for water, farming, transportation, and trade, which helped their civilization grow and prosper. Today, the Nile remains one of Egypt’s most important natural landmarks. Taking a Nile River tour at sunset was a beautiful experience I highly recommend to have a lovely goodbye to Cairo!

And this concludes my tips for Cairo! I’ll say good bye to you for now, see you on the other pages and other trips! 

Basak x