Cairo, Egypt

A panoramic view of Islamic Cairo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Islamic_Cairo_%282005-05-385%29.jpg
Author: Vyacheslav Stepanyuchenko


Cairo, also known as al-Qahira in Arabic, is the capital and biggest city in Egypt. Established in the 10th century, the city is today the nerve-center of Egypt. Covering an area of 453 sq km (175 sq mi), Cairo has a population of 7.8 million people, with another 10 million people living in its metropolitan area. It is bigger than any other city in Africa and the Arab World, and is also the 11th biggest urban area in the world.

Cairo is today a highly congested city with high levels of pollution. It is the only city in Africa with a subway system, which is also the fifteenth busiest in the world. Visitors from Western countries are often astonished on their arrival, at the heat, dust, noise, and the swirl of traffic in Cairo. And yet, even in this bustling city, there are oases of serenity waiting to be discovered.

Cairo is the cultural and political center of Egypt. As a major Islamic city, it has a profusion of mosques. The city also has the world's second oldest university, the al-Azhar University. The Historic centre of Cairo is a World Heritage Site. To learn more, go to Ancient Cairo.

Mohammed Ali Mosque, one of the main landmarks of Islamic Cairo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Gaspa_-_Cairo,_cittadella_%285%29.jpg
Author: Francesco Gasparetti

Climate of Cairo

Although Cairo experiences a desert climate, in reality the winter months are relatively cool. The months of November to March is the best time to visit. That's when the daytime temperature stays at below 25°C, and night time temperature drops to 10°C. On the other hand, temperatures in the summer months from June to August may exceed 35°C. Those who are not accustomed to very hot weather should avoid visiting Cairo during the summer.

Going to Cairo

Visitors to Cairo arrive at the Cairo International Airport (CAI) which receives regular scheduled flights from many major cities in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Locatede in Heliopolis, on the outskirts of Cairo, the airport has three terminals buildings. The latest, Terminal 3, is used exclusively by Egypt Air, while Terminal 2 is being closed in stages for renovation works.

Cairo Metro at St. George Church, Cairo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Bakar_88_-_St._George_Church,_Cairo.jpg
Author: Andrew A. Shenouda

Getting around in Cairo

Cairo is the only city in Africa with a subway system. It presently has two lines, which provide limited coverage to the sights in the city. The fare is a low 1 Egyption pound.

The taxis provide a more extensive coverage. They don't use the meter, so you will have to depend on the driver not overcharging you. The locals never quote a price before getting into a taxi. As a foreigner, however, you are likely to get them to overcharge you. To prevent being ripped off, get a stated price before hopping in. You might be quoted slightly higher than to a local, but as long as you find the fare reasonable, consider it your contribution to the Egyptian economy.

Places of Interest in Cairo

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.