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Cairo city breaks are a little different to the norm. After all, where else would you find pyramids and the River Nile?

Cairo city breaks

Nothing can prepare you for Cairo. Egypt’s capital is a fast-paced mix of archaic and modern, charming and thrilling, which bottles up the past and present and shakes them up into a cocktail of sights, sounds and experiences. Not to mention, a sightseeing list that’s longer than a camel’s neck.

Pyramids and sphinxes

As world-famous sights go, they don’t get much more iconic than the Pyramids of Giza. Built more than 4,000 years ago, this collection of enormous structures on the outskirts of Cairo is the last remaining wonder of the ancient world. And keeping an eye over the whole thing is a huge stone Sphinx – a mythical half-lion, half-human creature.

The mystical Nile

Speaking of world-famous, one of the two longest rivers on the planet runs right through the city – the River Nile. As you’d expect, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of having such an iconic waterway on the doorstep. You can glide along on a dinner cruise while casting an eye over the riverbank, or enjoy a ride on a felucca – a traditional Egyptian sailboat.

Museums and mummies

Cairo’s home to dozens of museums, where you can learn more about everything from Egyptian textiles to the long-abolished monarchy. If you don’t have time to see them all though, the Egyptian Museum is a great place to start. It’s Africa’s largest museum, with more than 100,000 artefacts on display, including Tutankhamen’s gold burial mask.

At a Glance

  • See the ancient pyramids
  • Sail along the River Nile
  • Barter for bargains at ancient souks
  • Prep for your trip with our Holiday Extras

Best time to go to Cairo

Cairo’s a year-round destination for sun seekers, with the mercury rarely dropping below the mid-teens. June, July and August are the hottest months, when the average temperature’s in the high 20s. If you prefer it a bit cooler, you can expect it to be in the high teens and low 20s during spring and autumn.

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Top things to see and do in Cairo

Don’t miss the bargain-hunter’s paradise of Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, a web of narrow alleyways crammed with haggle-happy copper, gold and silver sellers.

Cairo Festival City Mall is the go-to spot if you’re after familiar faces from home. The likes of Marks and Spencer, H&M and Zara all have a presence here.

Head to the Citystars Mall on the edge of Cairoif you’re looking for some new designer threads. This place is dripping with upmarket stores, including the likes of Calvin Klein, Armani and Ralph Lauren.

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Cairo’s liveliest nightspots are dotted all over the city and some of them stay open ‘til sunrise. You’ll find a small cluster in the Downtown district.

Head to one of the many ahwas across the city for laidback nights. These traditional coffee shops are where the locals go to smoke shisha and drink Arabic blends. Alcohol doesn’t play a big part in Egyptian nightlife, but most of the major hotels serve well-known branded drinks in their bars.

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This bean stew dish is typically served at breakfast, and you can grab it from street stalls and restaurants across the city. It consists of fava beans stewed with tahini and seasoned with garlic, cumin, and lemon, and it’s often served with bread and salad.

This dish is a national favourite, and it’s a mix of rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, fried onions and a spicy tomato sauce.

This dish has been an Egyptian favourite for centuries. The main ingredient is pigeon, which is stuffed with a mixture of wheat or rice, onions, cinnamon, cumin, and nuts, then grilled or roasted until the skin is a crispy golden-brown colour.

This dessert translates to ‘Ali’s Mother’, and while the origins of the name are up for debate, it definitely has a warm and homely feel to it. The dessert itself is a bread pudding made of pastry blended with nuts, raisins, coconut, cinnamon, cream and plenty of sugar. It’s pretty similar to bread pudding in the UK, but it’s a bit lighter and milkier.

This traditional street food is a mix between a pie and a sandwich. Pitta bread’s stuffed with minced meat and flavoured with a mix of peppers, onions, parsley and chillies. It’s then roasted in a wooden oven and served crispy with pickled vegetables on the side.

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