Almost all places are on google maps

 It is very easy to move around with taxi, just make sure they turn on the
meter and you can make sure they do by saying the word “addad”.
Otherwise Uber and Kareem are just great.
 Get a sim card at the airport or the company.
 The metro is totally fine, don’t take it though in times of COVID. There is a
women’s carriage which is crowded, noisy, sweaty. But it is a great way to
skip the traffic when you have to cross the city.
 You will be based in Zamalek which is the most central area and has all
restaurants and other things you might need. I heard hotel Om Khultum is
nice for a visit.

To visit:

 Islamic Cairo (at least a full half day): even though most start from Al Azhar
Mosque, it is better to start from Bab al-Futuh and walk down towards Bab
al Wazir along Al Moez street. This way you'll see everything without
getting lost or going back and forth. Make sure you pass through the
following places along the road and make sure you walk. It is full of
treasures behind every corner but the unmissable places to pass by are:

- Al Hakim mosque-right after the entrance; worth going inside.

- Khan al Kalili: it's the "bazar" where you can find all sorts of souvenirs, some of
them very beautiful such as lamps and jewelry. Exhausting as it is every touristic
place, but interesting architecture and handicrafts. The market is not closed but
spread in the area between Moez street and behind Al Husein Mosque.
- if you want to stop for a tea, al-Fishawi cafe is one of the oldest and most typical
cafés of Cairo; it is touristic but many Egyptians go there as well.
- Al-Azhar mosque: the most important Sunni mosque and university in the
world. Worth going inside.
- try to enter at Wekalet El Ghoury, otherwise just pass under the arch and
continue to the next stop.
- Bab Zuwela: pay a small fee and climb the minaret, do not miss!
- from Bab Zuwela starts the area called Al Khaymiyya (literally the tents) where
very typical colorful decorative carpets and tissues are made.
- if you keep walking you find the area of Darb al Ahmar: here do not miss the
Aqsunqur mosque; in some mosques you can ask the guardian to show you the
top of the minaret, you then give them small money and they are happy.
- at the end are the very famous mosques of Al-Rifai e Sultan Hassan; you can
take a taxi if you do not want to walk.
- A nice mosque is Ibn Tulun, a bit out of the way but very worth it. There is a
small museum next to it, not necessary but still nice if you have time.
- just walk and look around, get lost, it's full of ancient and beautiful building,
corners, traditional shops etc...
- since you are in the area you can go to Azhar park, a bit elevated so you see the
view and very relaxing. If you go at sunset it is even nice.

 The Citadel: would need a couple of hours maximum

 City of the dead: it is a huge area and it can look like a dump at first. Maybe
do not go alone, even though it is not dangerous. It is right in front of Azhar
park main entrance and is a huge cemetery but has been partly occupied by
poor people looking for shelter. It's an open-air museum, there are
beautiful old mosques and monumental tombs. Here you can visit the
mosques of Al Zaher Barquq and Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaytbay Mosque and
Mausoleum. There is also a place where they make beautiful things with
recycled glass right in front of it, I bought glasses. Ideally you just walk
around and discover.

 Garbage city: close to the City of the Dead. It is a Christian neighborhood

where some people gather garbage to recycle. You can visit some of the
workshops, some of them very impressive (again, ask around). On top of
this hill you can visit the church of Saint Samaan the Tanner Monastery,
excavated in the mountain. On Friday afternoons, around sunset time, they
have exorcisms. After you've been here you go take a taxi to go on the
 Moqattam hill and have a sunset beer at the Virginian bar, old glorious bar
now decadent but with a great view-one of my favorite places.

 Pyramids: if you want to go here, I suggest taking the (Uber or Careem) so

you avoid part of the traffic. Better pyramids are the Sakkara or the
Dahshour pyramids, a bit out of town.

 Downtown (in Arabic Wust el balad): just walk around, along Talaat Harb
street, Champollin street, Kasr el Nile street, Tahrir square, Attaba square
and Azbakiya (the book market where you can buy posters of old Egyptian
cinema). In this area is also full of old buildings from the French and the
Italian times, covered in dust, but their beauty can still be perceived. In this
area is the Egyptian museum in case you are interested. The whole area
used to be the vibrant center where artist and intellectuals lives and
represents very well Egypt and its identity that you find again in novels and
movies. Also check out Abdeen Square where the palace of the king is.

 Jazirat Dahab (golden island): it's an agricultural island in the middle of the
city. You need to go down towards Maadi, better with taxi and get to the
dock where you can take the feluca (sail boat) to the island. It is an
interesting place, an agricultural land in the middle of the city but it is very
dirty and maybe going alone is not the greatest idea.

 A feluca ride! It's the traditional boat with the sail, you can catch one in
front of the Four Season hotel in Garden City. The best thing is to get food
from Tabboula restaurant which is nearby, couple of beers and ride at
sunset. Like for one hour, alone is also a great activity.

 You can visit the Museum of Islamic Art.

 New Egyptian museum which just opened, it is worth it.

  The part of Old Cairo which is also called Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church
and the market.

 Manyal Island: there is the Palace of Mohamed Ali (also called Manyal
palace) a very beautiful place to visit.

Bars and rooftops: better at sunset and evening (based on research)

- Hurriya in Downtown: not the prettiest but the most historic and famous bar in
Cairo. Apparently, the waiter is rude, but it's why he is famous.
- Tonsi, in Dokki (Tahrir street, on the other side of Zamalek). Apparently has a
nice view. It's the last floor of a very non-special hotel.
- King Hotel, close to Tonsi. Small and very intimate.
- Nile Zamalek Hotel rooftop, also very nice view.
- Carlton, in Downtown in front of the tribunal.
- Windsor: old British style bar, not open air.
- Any Stella Bar of which Downtown is dotted (Jamaica, Lotus, Estoril, Cap D’Or).
They look a bit sketchy but again, very traditional.
- the Greek Club: has a terrace
- Virginian in Mokattam hill.

Music and shows (check Facebook pages beforehand):

- Makan close to Saad Zaghloul

- Mastaba in downtown
- Al Harafeesh: 446 King Faisal St, Al Omraneyah Al Gharbeyah, El Omraniya (on
google maps).
- The French Institute
- Cinema Zawya

Restaurants
- Very famous Egyptian restaurant with traditional dishes is Abou El Sid, in
Zamalek
- Koshery (national dish, must try) at Abu Tarek, Downtown.
- however, you can also have Koshery and Egyptian falafel (called Taameya) at
Zooba. It is a chain and there is one in Zamalek (it's a bit a hipster place but very
popular and good).
- Amazing Lebanese is Tabboula, there is one in Zamalek but better the one in
Garden City because there is alcohol.
- Sushi restaurant at the Hilton in Zamalek, pricy apparently the best.
- Eish + Malh if you are around Downtown is a good place for a break.
- Best ice cream at Mandarin; also have very good traditional pasties.
- Have fresh juices in one of the many shops, a delicious one is "sobia ala manga",
- Other foods to try are fetira and foul.

It is full of restaurants, some good and some bad, check El Menus website to
browse all restaurants in Cairo which you can filter per type of cuisine.

Outside Cairo:

 Fayoum Oasis: must see are Tunis village, Lake Qarun, Wadi El Rayan,
Magic Lake, Whale Valley. I stayed at Zowara Ecolodge.

 Siwa Oasis: long bus ride but worth it. Check safety regulations because
sometime is red zone.

 Black and White Desert: about 4 hr away from Cairo.

 You can go to Alexandria for one day, the train at Ramsis train station takes
two hours, you can see the Citadel, the Library, walk on the Cornish, have
fish and come back or sleep there, I can recommend Windsor Palace.
 If you hate Cairo take a place to Sharm El Sheikh and drive one hour to
Dahab, you won’t regret it!

 Around Dahab:
- Lagona: in Dahab, nice beach.
- Blue Hole: snorkeling not so great but still worth seeing it
- Ras Abu Galum: straw hut with no electricity or water but the best
snorkeling and the best stars! You can walk from the Blue Hole (about
1.30 h) or go by boat or by car.
- Blue Lagoon: kite surf paradise, also walking distance from Ras Abu
Galum.
- Ras Shaitan: smaller and quieter version of Dahab
- Nuweiba: as above.