Cairo
Describe the main city of Egypt, Cairo from tourist point of view of one area of the website is nonsense. Cairo know in a few days holiday in Egypt is even more absurd then. Cairo is Egypt and Egypt’s Cairo – it’s not just saying that’s a fact, substantiated by the fact that both in Egypt has a local name, which is the name of Misr. Except for tourism in Egypt outside Cairo, nothing happens in terms of economy, government, culture, sports – just any area of life to which you can think of.
Below the page you can read about pitfalls of moving around the streets of Cairo, about accommodation in Cairo, the appropriate means of travel in Cairo or about the sights and attractions to visit in Cairo.
From this perspective, it is a sad fact that tourists (and for those seeking a holiday to Egypt in the Czech Republic’s doubly true) Cairo megacity know most of the windows so the touring bus. Travel agencies merely offer a maximum of 2-day tours to Cairo from red-seas resorts, whose content is regularly visiting the pyramids in Giza and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the modern town square (Midan) Tahrir. After many hours and tiring overnight journey by bus, in addition to the more mature travelers long “nap” rather than learning, so that such experience will bring them out of Egypt Un-Checked item in their travel itinerary with a note to be seen. Cairo while offering much, much more effectively. Returning to the characteristics of Cairo at the beginning of this contribution, we can write the real life in Egypt was the only one I recognize.
Cairo is truly and literally a city
We will not attempt here to describe the style of Cairo, a tour guide for this purpose are issued annually updated specials for all travel, book publishing (Lonely Planet, National Geography, etc.) which can be purchased at any other bookstore. If you travel to Egypt, organized the trip, organized by travel agencies, such as your information will be useless (see above). Travels to the contrary, individually, is for you one of these guidebooks utterly indispensable.
Cairo, it is huge. And not only the borders of Egypt, but also from the perspective of the world. This sign is to be understood, however, not only in units of area, but also the density of population. Sizes are not equal like New York, but living in such an area twice as many people. Estimates of the number of people living here are different – most are given, numbers in the range of 14 to 20 million, and if you go into Cairo’s streets, allow myself to doubt about these figures.
The apparent chaos in the streets of Cairo
Streets in Cairo, however, are not only full of people, are mostly full of cars. Most cars in Egypt just run through the streets of the capital. A ride on his own. Traffic regulations are in place in Cairo (for example, try asking a local policeman, who can attest to that :-), but their appearance and especially the respect for tourist complete mystery. The dominant feature of cars in the streets of Cairo is the noise. All cars honk constantly, giving the other notice to you and to your next planned “action.” Furthermore hooter is also used more flashing lights, flapping hands or rocking her head. One taxi driver a few years ago we persuaded that the public address an important element among drivers is even blinking an eye, but which we could not verify :-). Cars in Cairo run by the utmost economy of style transport, because roads filled totaly - if you see it with my own eyes, believe, how much can fit on a normal street cars side by side. And if it occurs somewhere “unused” blank space is immediately filled with another car.
In Egypt, Cairo, respectively but do not travel only cars – the streets are also moving a huge number of motorcycles. And this is an unforgettable sight – often in the ordinary course of scooter you see the whole family (meaning parents and three children)! Rest of the vehicles are then car / minibus as part of Cairo’s public transport.
Do not be afraid to walk on foot Cairo
For tourists in Egypt, which moves Cairo as an infantryman, is in the first few days to adjust to the problem of traffic on their expeditions. It dares to step into the road between cars many lanes require a substantial part of courage, especially because the transitions are marked minimum, just like traffic lights, which, moreover, no one responding. The best way is to monitor local and (at least initially) to go to the road is always in alignment for them, where will you watch any imitation of their movements.
Because whether you plead any previous lines, it should be noted that the Cairo system is moving around the streets of drivers and pedestrians works. Most cars have plates, while the body as a complete hammering (in addition to small hammer :-), but that due to the fact that the car runs really stuck in traffic jams each other. In fact, the more serious accidents occurring on the streets of Cairo rather exceptional – unlike the rest of Egypt, and despite the fact that at least one third of drivers on the streets of Cairo are women! :-)
Accommodation in Cairo
Capital of Egypt, Cairo offers tourists a maximum variability in terms of accommodation. You can certainly use some services directly to travel agents and go for sightseeing as a member of an organized trip, you fall off in that case, a lot of worries. More experience and get a wider range of course for individual travel.
You can choose what suits you in terms of money, location and services offered – and so should you stay in a five-star Hilton hotel near the Nile at Tahrir Square, or in a luxurious environment in the district of Zamalek, in both cases, the really big money, but with a wide range other cultural and sporting opportunities. Or to look for affordable accommodation in one of the many hotels downtown Cairo – from my own experience as we will freshly Windsor Hotel with a unique retro atmosphere of the time when Egypt was dominated by the English management – review of this hotel, including video demonstrations are in preparation (by the way – the possibility of accommodation in the Cairo hotel itself has brought us ex-Monty-Python Michael Palin, who spend time here during one of his pilgrimages, and a photograph – along with many other celebrities – complete the interior of the device).
Cairo and its hotels to satisfy every traveler, Egypt – just previously only available to tourists read reviews, best sites on the server Tripadvisor.com, and choose what they want from the accommodation. Otherwise, the choice of hotel in Cairo, of course, similar rules apply, such as Hurghada, and you can read about them further in the article on accommodation in Egypt.
Travel in Cairo
Move to the Cairo as individual tourists, definitely try all possible types of movements. The basis is to walk closer to the objectives of the foot – we said that despite the seeming inability to move one of Cairo’s streets it is a few days you’ll jump to the ground like the Egyptians :-). Of course it is necessary to take into account the temperature prevailing in any particular period in Cairo – especially in summer, move through the day after the warm streets really grueling. On the other hand, you can be sure that on your way miss anything interesting.
This can easily happen if you use one of Cairo’s public transportation funding. The bus trip will hardly be recommended. While buses run on fixed routes, but irregularly, respectively. when is it useful to drivers. Moreover, it described the density and traffic congestion in the streets of Cairo, this is too good for modes of transportation. The other side is the cheapest form of transport (perhaps even all over Egypt) at all, so if you want to really save, you may wish bus interesting.
Another option is the subway. Metro in Cairo is a reliable, fast and cheap. But is not overly dense network of stations, so you rarely runs to the exact location of your destination, and should be combined with other modes of transportation. The metro is relatively clean but the air conditioning here, you can dream, so especially during the summer months, be careful and always keep with me a bottle of drinks.
In conclusion, let us mention the transportation by taxis. It is by far the best option in terms of the fact that you get exactly where you actually want (public transport is not described other than Arabic), on the other hand, of course, always pay more. The tips and boards of transport, including Cairo Read more in article Transportation in Egypt.
For the sights and history of Egypt in Cairo
Here we will be brief and we will really just the basics of what will certainly not be missed. In the first place is certainly visit the pyramids at Giza. Sure to get is a trip, organized by a travel agency, but during that momentary stop it really will not see much. Therefore, please plan your own visit – the way here is not lengthy.
Probably the best is to have a taxi from the hotel (assuming, of course, that you are staying in Cairo :-) – but the way you come out a bit more expensive than if you travel by metro to some of the stations in Giza and the taxi just go away. Important caveat here: you absolutely sure that taxi driver understands your request for transportation to the tourist entrance to the complex of pyramids! Plenty of taxis, it is connected to the entrepreneurs, organizing trips to the pyramids on camels or horses, and is serving the potential clients.
Distinguishing sign for taxi drivers such as this that remind you of my very bad English, it will offer a suspiciously low price (eg, 10 EL), or a minute after starting the car stops “as if” accidental hitchhikers, who wants to take a robust chance to pyramids . Any hint of communication with the taxi driver on a better offer tours pyramid field strictly Reject and not react to it! If you still happen, it takes you to the residence of some local “agencies” and you will even convince her worker, insist on the removal of the tourist entrance, and if the driver fails to react, let him pay the low price and go on foot to the pyramids, which are surely in sight, and walking them you will not take longer than 10 minutes.
The season of your vacation in Egypt, of course, be sure to equip a hat and supply of fluids, stay through the summer is the Pyramids of Giza and actually demanding more experience could walk away if you travel in a palatable temperature months – see. detail in the article about the weather in Egypt.
And now I really concisely: of course a visit to one of the most exciting museums in the world – the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square (here simply can reach anywhere from Cairo), do not miss the pyramid at Saqqara, Coptic and Islamic quarter of Cairo, including the beautiful mosques, the Coptic Museum and the Museum Islamic Art, Cairo Tower, 187 meters high and dozens of other interesting places – you have to hand a printed guide along with an updated map.
