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Cairo Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Cairo
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Cairo Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Cairo - Africa's largest city with a population of over
18 million, Cairo is a chaotic mixture of sights, sounds and
smells. It is heaving with life, volatile, polluted and boisterous,
with an intensity that both exhausts and invigorates the visitor.
It is also distinctive with its ancient monuments in juxtaposition
to the modern and cosmopolitan. The congested streets of Islamic
Cairo are full of donkey carts, traders and mosques, while camels
weave their way haughtily between the crumbling pyramids on the
outskirts. Taxis clamour for attention and pedestrians elbow their
way past busy coffee houses, where those seeking a brief escape
from the hustle and bustle sit sipping at a strong cup of coffee
while contemplating the smoke rings of a 'hubbly bubbly' water pipe
- in true Egyptian style.
Visitors can also
practice the age-old art of bargaining for trinkets, spices and
perfume in one of the world's largest bazaars, or pay a visit to
the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses treasures from
Tutankhamun's tomb and is one of the country's main
attractions. Situated on the Nile, Egyptians
arrogantly refer to Cairo as the 'Mother of all Cities'; many
visitors who have experienced its unruliness would perhaps describe
it in less endearing terms. But no matter how it goes down there is
no doubt that Cairo is as beguiling as it is messy, and its charm
lies in the blend of African, Arab and European influences, the
timelessness of the old and the energy of the
present.
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Cairo
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Khan al-Khalili
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What is it? Buzzing with the activities of buying and
selling, Khan al-Khalili is one of the largest markets in the
world. It is situated within Islamic Cairo, a World Heritage Site
that attracts travellers and locals alike. This is the best place
to soak up the colour of Cairo and to people-watch. Traders have
been bargaining in these alleys since the 14th century and it is
possible to buy almost anything, from exotic perfume bottles to
everyday Arabic clothing. On the northern corner of the bazaar is
the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein, one of the holiest Islamic sites
in Egypt.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
2. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
Mariette Pasha Street, Tahrir Square
www.egyptianmuseum.gov.eg |
What is it? With over 100,000 artefacts in 107 halls, the
Egyptian Museum provides days of exploration. Inside are treasures
from ancient Egypt, including priceless finery taken from ancient
royal tombs, and one of the museum's masterpieces, the statue of
Khafre (Chephren). The most popular attraction is the Tutankhamun
Gallery where exquisite treasures from the tomb of the Boy King are
displayed, including the famous solid gold death mask. Another top
attraction is the Royal Mummy Room containing mummies of some of
the most powerful Pharaohs in Egypt dating from the 18th to the
20th Dynasties.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 4.45pm
Phone:(02) 579 6974 |
3. The Pyramids of Giza
Pyramid Road, 11 miles (18km) southwest of the
centre
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What is it? The pyramids are the earth's oldest tourist
attraction and the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the only
remainder of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Throughout
their history, they have fired human imagination, with much
speculation as to their origin and purpose, but most evidence
supports the theory that they were built by the ancient
civilisation as tombs or great monuments in which to bury their
kings and nobles, a place to start their mystic journey to the
afterlife. The oldest and largest pyramid, the Great Pyramid, is
thought to have taken 20 years to build and is made of about two
million blocks of limestone. No one knows how the two-ton blocks
were moved into place, but it was known to be the tallest man-made
structure in the world for over 40 centuries. The Sphinx, known as
the Abu al-Hol (Father of Terror), stands in front of the Great
Pyramid and is thought to be older than the pyramids
themselves.
Hours of Operation: Daily 7am to 7.30pm; pyramid chambers 8.30am to
4pm
Phone: |
Cairo
holidays - Top Events
1. The Summer Mouleds
From 2007-07-01
To 2007-08-31
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What is it? The most prominent religious festivals which
tourists experience in Egypt are the 'mouleds', which are
incredibly lively processions that take to the streets of Cairo on
various saints' birthdays. The mouleds generally take place in
summer, and blend religion with folklore, usually taking the form
of wild dancing accompanied by music, chanting and fireworks. For
more information phone +20 (0)2 285 4509.
Where is it? Streets of Cairo and other towns and villages |
2. Aida at Giza
From 2007-10-10
To 2007-10-12
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What is it? The Cairo Opera House produces annual
performances of Verdi's opera in front of the Giza Pyramid. The
famous tale of Aida remains one of Guiseppe
Verdi's best-loved operas, a tragic tale of love featuring an
Egyptian captain, Pharoah's daughter and an Ethiopian slave girl,
Aida. Contact the Central Reservation Office on (0)2 736
7314.
Where is it? Pyramids at Giza |
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