Cairo is one of the liveliest cities in the world with a history that has stood the test of time. From the great pyramids of Giza, mosques of Islamic Cairo, churches of Cairo's Coptic population, to the city's Jewish community- there's wonder everywhere.
Discover the breathtaking architecture, religious and cultural landmarks, and local bazaars buzzing with action. The Egyptian cuisine will have you falling in love with Cairo city's delicacies, and the incredible art from jewelry to antiques will give you plenty of options to shop till you drop.
USEFUL INFO. ABOUT CAIRO
OFFICIAL NAME: Cairo
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Democratic Republic
POPULATION: Over 20 million
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S): Egyptian Arabic
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, French, Sa'idi Arabic, Bedouin Arabic, Sudanese Arabic, Domari, Nobiin, Beja, Siwi
ETHNICITY: ENubians and Northern Sudanese, along with refugees from other parts of Africa, Copts, Siwis
CURRENCY: Egyptian Pound
MAP REFERRED: Africa
AREA: 3,085 Sq. Km
Average Elevation: 23 m (75 ft)
NEIGHBOURING PLACES: Libya, Sudan, Israel
FAMOUS FOR: River Nile | The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities | Al-Andalus Garden | Khan Al-Khalili bazaar | Al-Azhar Mosque | Museum of Islamic Art | Abdeen Palace Museum | Manial Palace | Bab Zuweila | Hanging Church of Cairo | Luxor | Beaches of Hurghada | Cairo Tower | Heliopolis | Giza | Coptic Area
THE NATIONAL SYMBOL: The coat of arms of Egypt is a golden eagle looking to the left side (of the viewer); this modified coat of arms was introduced in 1984.
TIME ZONE: UTC+02:00 (EST)
DRIVING SIDE: Right
AIRPORTS :
Cairo International Airport (IATA: CAI, ICAO: HECA)
Network / Connectivity
The internet in Cairo is good enough to get the job done but it can be a little patchy. In comparison, mobile internet is faster, hence more visitors choose to get a local sim for internet connectivity, streaming and communication. Wi-Fi is known to work faster in the early hours of the day. However, the speed depends on the part of the city you choose to stay in.
An alternative for better internet access is using Google Fi. Though only available in the US for about $20 to $30 a month, the coverage is Cairo is decent to secure speed of up to 3 Mbps. Mobile data from carriers such as Vodafone (the largest mobile network in Egypt) or Orange are also affordable options costing about $10 for 8 GB.
Cafes do not normally offer free Wi-Fi and if you do find a spot with access, it is highly recommended that you use a VPN to keep your data protected.