For centuries Egypt has attracted visitors and for good reason. The world-renowned treasures of this fabled country, from iconic pyramids to medieval bazaars, almost defy description. But take a look beyond the obvious archaeological treasures, and a country rich in natural beauty and vibrant in contemporary culture is easily revealed.

World’s longest river
Reflecting on a spate of graffiti-writing on Egyptian monuments, a 19th-century journal writer commented peevishly: “No one can now pretend to have seen the world who has not made one of a party of pleasure up the Nile”. And indeed the draw of that magnetic slither of water continues to this day. The Nile defines Egypt as it inundates the delta in the north, slips by rich suburb and impoverished allotment in the capital Cairo, brings life to the settlements of the Nile Valley and delivers visitors in floating palaces to the great archaeological wonders of the ancient world.

Surviving world wonder
And who can dispute the magnificence of Egypt’s fabled archaeological sites? The pyramids at Giza, the sole survivors of the world’s seven ancient wonders, are almost too engaging for their own good. The lotus-columned Temples of Luxor and Karnak, the beauty of sunrise across the Valley of the Kings, or the sound-and-light show at the mighty tombs of Abu Simbel all thrill legions of modern tourists today as they have since the Greeks first visited in Alexander’s time.

Wild desert landscapes
So potent is Egypt’s archaeological heritage that it’s easy to overlook the country’s physical beauty, from the wind-polished rock formations of the white desert to the iron-clad mountains of the Sinai. Nor does the beauty of the country end at the shore: the underwater landscapes of the Red Sea are one of Egypt’s most precious treasures.

Modern Arab state
Part of what makes Egypt one of the world’s great travel destinations is the pulsing and influential modern Arab state that throbs beneath the surface. Ultimately, the best of the country is understood not so much under the shadow of its great monuments, splendid though they are, but in the call to prayer at sunset, in the chatter of hooves on tarmac in a rural village, or tea and talk with Egypt’s garrulous residents in a random coffeehouse.

Egypt Accommodation

Editor’s Choice
Not surprisingly for a country that has hosted mass tourism for well over two centuries, there are plenty of accommodation options in the main tourist destinations in Egypt to suit all budgets, from resorts on the River Nile to campsites in the Sinai. There is less choice available in small rural towns or the towns of the Western oases and in the Sinai interior. The resorts and hotels along the Mediterranean coast cater mainly for a local, Egyptian clientele, while most package tourists from Europe flock to the Red Sea and Sinai coast. Most top end and mid-range hotels accept credit card payments, except in the Western Desert. Hotels are generally ranked using the one-to-five star system.

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Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab World. Nicknamed “The City of a Thousand Minarets” for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a center of the region’s political and cultural life. Even before Cairo was established in the tenth century, the land composing the present-day city was the site of national capitals whose remnants remain visible in parts of Old Cairo. Cairo is also associated with Ancient Egypt due to its proximity to the Great Sphinx and the pyramids in nearby Giza.

Egyptians today often refer to Cairo as Miṣr, the Arabic name for Egypt itself, emphasizing the city’s continued role in Egyptian influence. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab World, as well as the world’s second-oldest institution of higher learning, al-Azhar University. Many international media, businesses, and organizations have regional headquarters in the city, and the Arab League has been based in Cairo for most of its existence.

With a population of 6.8 million spread over 214 km2 (83 sq mi), Cairo is by far the largest city in Egypt as well as one of the most densely-populated cities in the world. With an additional ten million inhabitants just outside the city, Cairo resides at the center of the largest metropolitan area in Africa and the eleventh-largest urban area in the world. Cairo, like many large cities in developing countries, suffers from high levels of pollution and traffic, but its metro – currently the only on the African continent – also ranks among the fifteen busiest in the world, with over 700 million passenger rides annually.

Cairo is the most populous city in Egypt and the largest in the Arab World. It has 214 kilometers squared and currently a developing country in the world. Cairo is marked by wide boulevards, public gardens and open spaces. It’s also the home of multiple famous attractions such as Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Citadel, Ibn Tlun and Al-Azhar Park.

The Lifestyle
Cairo, Egypt is a great city for its lifestyle. When you need a break from the city life, try a round of golf on the famous Mena House course overlooking the Pyramids, watch the horse racing at the Gezira Club or visit the Cairo Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. Take a trip on the Nile in a felucca or ride on horseback from the Giza Pyramids to Saqqara. For a day trip outside the city visit Haraniyya village and see the beautiful tapestries and weaving produced by local people. If you wish, you may get away from it all at the top of the Cairo Tower, a modern 187 meter-high tower with views of the city from all sides, topped by a revolving restaurant.

Cairo, Egypt comes alive at night, which is the best time to shop, eat delicious Middle Eastern cuisine, or simply watch the world go by from a pavement cafe. You can dine in a floating restaurant on the Nile, sample an apple-flavored shisha waterpipe at a coffee-shop or see oriental dancers and cabarets at a luxury hotel. The splendid Cairo Opera House complex houses several galleries (including the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo), restaurants and concert halls. Listening to Arabic music under the stars, in the open-air theater, is a magical experience. At El-Ghuriya, in the heart of Islamic Cairo, one can watch folk musicians and whirling dervish dancers. And don’t forget the most essential after-dark experience, the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids, a dramatic fusion of light and music recounting the story of Egypt.

Visiting Cairo is going to the city of the thousand Minarets. It’s a vibrant modern society where men and women dress in modern clothing. One is not allowed if you walk around and reveal your thighs, upper arms, backs and cleavage. Especially inside the mosques, it’s truly a disrespectful demeanor once you wear shoes.

Activities and Attractions
There are numerous interesting activities you can do once you’re in Cairo. Apart from its rich and abundant form of lifestyle, you can walk around the city’s recreational places, the most popular being the Al-Azhar Park. This park is a good placeto relax. It has a landscape garden that overlooks the grand castle known as Citadel.
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