GENERAL TIPS

Only drink bottled water, don’t be crazy.
You’ll need cash in a lot of places. Google what you should pay for things anywhere it’s negotiable. It’s negotiable in most places.
Expect to pay a tourist tax, prices are literally just different for foreigners, but it’s still cheap and they need the money more than you do so just tip generously.
If you’re there long enough just get a local SIM. Orange and Vodafone have good coverage. It’ll cost almost nothing and you’ll get better reception than roaming.
All medications are available over the counter / prescription-free in Egypt, though not everything is available in general, so make sure to stock up with what you need ahead of time (e.g. certain headache pills and stomach stuff that Americans live and die by aren’t available in many overseas countries).

WHERE TO STAY
Zamalek is a fun hip young hood close to a lot of the stuff you’ll be doing.
Also a close friend has an Airbnb in Dokki. If you book you’ll get tons of on-the-ground recs too.

RIDESHARES
We have Uber, but Careem and Didi tend to have more cars, along with InDrive.
Depending on where you are it may be worth trying on all of them and seeing which hits first cos it isn’t always the most reliable.

MUSEUMS

Grand Egyptian Museum is one of the biggest museums in the world. It’s incredible, the architecture is incredible, honestly world-class. Right by the Pyramids for a fun double-header.

Museum of Civilization is also epic. They have a basement full of real mummies that are pretty incredible to behold.

CULTURE

Tanoura at Wekalet El Ghoury is whirling dervishes and tabla and castanet and oud (Egyptian guitar) and dancing in this epic venue. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Egypt. It’s also right by Al-Hussein Mosque and Khan El Khalili market.

El Sawy Culture Wheel in Zamalek has great events. My favorite is a monthly (first Thursday?) listening party of Om Kalthoum recordings (the Arab world’s most famous singer) performed by puppets.

Cairo Jazz has almost nightly music and events and some fun sister locations.

Al Makan puts on cool cultural events.

Cairo Opera has gorgeous musical performances, obv opera, but also orchestral performances and a bunch of other stuff.

RESTAURANTS

For breakfast just get fool and ta3mia from anywhere that looks solid on Google or Talabat (local ordering service).
Basandy in Heliopolis is a 24hr sandwich street food place that is amazing. Super cheap, so many options, also a vibe and also has the good breakfast stufffff.
El Tabei El Domiaty also great option for that.

Personal fave resto in Cairo is El Akaber (formerly Soby Kaber). Their molokhia (my favorite dish) is the best in the world.

Abou Tarek is the best koshary (real Egyptian staple) I’ve had.

Abou Haider is my favorite shawarma. Get it on a roll. Get the mango juice.

Broccar is a higher-end shawarma place too.

Bahary is everyone’s rec for local seafood Egyptian-style.

Hagooga the other fave for general Egyptian food, long lines though and warning it’s super heavy.

Abou Seid is a chain but another great option where you can get any type of Egyptian food

Felfela downtown is a nice vibe and central and super solid for a million different dishes.
Walking distance to Talat Harb and Tahrir Square.
Le Grillon is a nice place to get a drink near it afterwards esp if it’s hot out.

For feeter (Egyptian layered pastry, can be savory or sweet) I like Amm Samir in Dokki, people also like Princess.

Farahat for grilled or stuffed pigeon. The one near Khan Al-Khalili is super down and dirty but the best. Has other branches.

El Farghaly is fresh juices, insanely tasty, very cheap. They also deliver. Mango, strawberry, guava are amazing. Pressed sugar cane is the local hack. Also if you find date shakes, they’re insane.

Desserts you must try (and get some to take home): Konafa, Basbousa, Om Ali, Balah el Sham, Lokmet el Qadi, Baklava.
Abel Raheem Koueidar is a solid place to buy. They also have great ice cream: try mastik / mistikka, for a truly local unique flavor.

THE PYRAMIDS

They’re cool. Probably should go. Go early. Pay to go inside and then never need to do that again. But they’re an insane sight to behold.

Mena House is a hotel by the Pyramids with a great outdoor area where you eat/drink and the Pyramids are right there … pretty surreal.

Khufu’s is high-end dining; google the crazy views of the Pyramids.

9 Pyramids Lounge another killer view around there.

*Grand Egyptian Museum (above) is right by here too so don’t sleep on that*

MISC

Near the Opera House on the Nile you can rent a whole boat for super cheap. They fit 30-50 people but for maybe $30 (probably more as a foreigner) they’ll let you do the whole boat for an hour and you can play whatever music you want.

Watching a local football game is a fun experience. But go to Ahly not Zamalek if you want to still be friends (they’re rivals).

Or go to a traditional cafe and watch with the locals.

Either way go to a cafe and play backgammon and smoke shisha on the street.

Al Azhar is a beautiful park to go, especially at sunset where you hear dozens of different mosques call to prayer.

Find a high-rise on the Nile and get a drink with a view.

Khan Al-Khalili is amazing for shopping, it’s a street bazaar with lots of alleys and amazing finds.
Right by Al-Hussein mosque which is worth checking out if you’re over there anyway.
Lots of cafes nearby incl Om Kalthoum Cafe.
Moaz Street behind has a more local vibe too.
It’s close to the Tanoura show above btw.

OTHER CITIES
Fayoum - Day trip
Alexandria - Day trip / can give recs
Luxor & Aswan for the oldest temples and relics in the world
Abou Simbel is very worth the admittedly long drive from Aswan, it was my favorite on the trip

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