Five Days of Wanderlusting through Ancient and Modern Cairo, Egypt

I know, I know, you want to get to the Pyramids. Take a breath first, because Cairo is unlike any other city that I have visited, and I’ve visited many. I recommend spending the first day meandering around your hotel’s neighborhood on foot. Get a street-side pita, shwarma or falafel (locals will stuff pitas with potato chips and eat them as a snack, along with an array of fillings from meat, to roasted eggplant, spicy vegetable mixtures and more). Walk along the Nile river and sip some fresh sugarcane juice or nibble on snacks offered by local street carts.

Make your way over to downtown Cairo and visit the Egyptian Museum, you can arrange a driver and guide to pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is massive, with a vast menagerie of relics to glean over. Nowhere in the world can you find a larger assortment of Egyptian Antiquity. One of its most famous highlights is King Tut’s tomb! I visited this museum on my first trip to Cairo, and it was unlike any other museum experience I’ve had.

After you spend several hours exploring ancient Egypt’s relics at the museum, you can ask your driver to guide you to Tahrir Square. It’s also in walking distance, so that is an option if you feel like stretching your legs. Tahrir Square was where over 50,000 protesters gathered on January 25, 2011, which was the crux of Egypt’s revolution against its former president. A memorial was held at this square in November 2013 to remember those who lost their lives during that protest two years prior. Tahrir Square is decorated with a bold landmark and beautiful green lawn. Large buildings and the bustling traffic of the metropolis whizzes by while you take a moment to soak in some of Egypt’s modern history. It’s also a great spot for photo ops!

One of my favorite dinners in Egypt, and the national dish of Egypt is called koshary. Egyptians love their lamb, but this dish will also appeal to vegans and vegetarians. koshary is composed of rice, pasta, chick peas, lentils, other beans, sauces, and fresh herbs. It’s a blast for your palate, and a hearty meal that will leave your tummy feeling satisfied. koshary can be found on the street or at sit-down restaurants. Ask your hotel concierge for their favorite koshary spot!

I know this is why you traveled all the way to Egypt. Spend your second day in Egypt with a booked tour of the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. I would recommend hiring a local driver and guide. You can also book a camel ride in advance, and have a full tour of the grounds. There are tours that allow you to go inside some of the Pyramids and see the ancient tombs of the Pharaohs (at a hefty cost). Want to see the Pyramids come to life at night? Book a Pyramids Sound and Light Show to see the story of the Pharaohs told by the Sphinx!

On the way back to Cairo from the Pyramids (20 km / 12.5 miles) ask your driver / guide to show you a local market where you can find an assortment of handicrafts. Perfumes, oils, jewelry, spices, silk rugs, clothes, and of course – papyrus. Cairo is full of traditional shops that show you the process of how papyrus is made from plant to paper.

For an evening activity, head over to Khan el-Khalili night market. This market is located in downtown Cairo and is bustling with locals, tourists, families, and everyone in between. Sip mint tea, slowly drag on the smoke of a shisha, and sample local treats. Buskers will swoop by the tables offering their song in return for pocket change, while local kids zip their way through the crowded zig-zag aisles. Shop for souvenirs and breathe in the aromas from all the spices for sale. This is an experience not to be missed whilst in Cairo!

Egypt is home to about 90 million people. Thirty percent of Egypt’s population is Coptic Orthodox Christian, one of the earliest forms of Christianity. Visit Old Cairo to step into some ancient Churches where miracles from the New Testament and beyond took place. St. Barbara Coptic Orthodox Church is built upon a sacred cave. The exact cave where the faithful believe the Baby Jesus, His mother Mary, and worldly Father Joseph resided, while escaping persecution from the Romans in Israel. Religion may not be your thing, Christianity may not be your thing, and this story may arise doubts in you. But for many Christians around the world this is a formative site for the cornerstone of their faith. For adventure-seekers, and lovers of all forms of history, this is a site that will leave you without words.

The Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner, is a quick drive from St. Barbara’s Coptic Orthodox Church. This monastery is built inside of a cave, not just any cave, the largest cave in all of the Middle East. It’s also where Egyptians (both Christians and Muslims) believe to be where a mountain was literally moved by the faith of the Coptic Orthodox Christians. It’s a wild story, your guide can fill you in on the rest!

After you have a chance to refresh at your hotel, go out for a Nile Dinner River Cruise. Enjoy your meal on the Nile River! There are many of these dinner cruises to choose from, many of which include live entertainment, music, and belly dancing. Break bread and mingle with other travelers at your table. Enjoy the traditional flavors offered by the locals and see Cairo lit up at night from the Nile!

The Citadel in Cairo was originally erected in the 1100’s and has gone through many phases of construction since. It was home to Egypt’s royalty for over seven hundred years, and acted as a defense military fortress, to watch over the city of Cairo, and ensure its safety. It’s now open to the public as a mosque, historical sight and museum. The main room boasts a massive bobbing and glowing chandelier like none other. The courtyard outside of this historic Mosque overlooks a view of the city. It’s a great spot for taking photographs of you and your group with Cairo as your backdrop!

The Citadel is close to the Egyptian National Military Museum. It was built in 1937 and commemorates the wars Egypt has been a part of throughout the twentieth century. Old military planes, tanks, and other equipment have been kept, restored, and are on display for visitors to remember a piece of Egypt’s modern history.

From the Citadel and Military Museum, have your driver take you to Ibn Tulun Mosque (about 15 minutes drive). The construction of this mosque began in the late 1800’s. The stonework is full of detail, the pillars inside are an architect’s dream, and it is a holy site for the locals and pilgrims alike. Ibn Tulun Mosque was built on the exact location where historians believe that Noah parked his Ark after the Great Flood. I visited this mosque on my first trip to Egypt, and it was serene, peaceful, gorgeously crafted architecture. I definitely would not skip this.

After a bustling day of sightseeing, enjoy Cairo’s nightlife. Visit Cairo Jazz Club to see live music of local musicians fuse traditional Egyptian instruments and Arabic melodies with jazz and blues beats and baselines. A musical experience like nothing else! Alcohol can be is served here, and can be found in other bars and clubs, especially those that have a high volume of tourists.

New Cairo is what it sounds like, a new and up-and-coming local neighborhood north of Cairo’s city center. You won’t find much of the ancient world in these parts, but you can experience the modern world of Cairo like a local. Stroll down Korba Street and take in the architecture, shops, and local passersby. Get a refreshing meal of sophisticated and refined Japanese food at Kazuko. It was voted number 12 in Middle East and North Africa’s 50 best restaurants.

Book a tour of Baron Palace. I only passed by Baron Palace while driving, because it was not open to the public when I visited Egypt. However, it is now open to the public, and has public and private tours on most days. It was built in the early nineteen hundreds by a French Baron. It was originally a mansion for the Baron and his family. The architecture of the palace was inspired by a Hindu temple and ancient Persian styles. It has undergone massive waves of renovation and restoration. It is located in the neighborhood of Heliopolis (a Greek compound word meaning sun city), where Cairo International Airport is also located.

Spend your last evening on Zamalek island, an island located in the middle of the Nile River. Enjoy your last dinner in Cairo at Crimson Bar and Grill. A fresh and modern bar and grill with a relaxing yet sleek atmosphere and a patio overlooking the Nile and downtown Cairo. Mixology and innovative dishes are at the forefront of Crimson’s menu.