The capital of Egypt has greater than sufficient charms to fill a traveler’s itinerary, and much more fascinating websites stretch far out from Cairo in all instructions.
Massive-hitter cities like Luxor and Aswan are farther away and require extra time, however a handful of must-see locations may be accomplished on a day journey from Cairo.
Pick your favourite pyramid in Giza and Saqqara
Journey time: 45 minutes from Cairo to Giza, 45 minutes from Giza to Saqqara
As the one remaining surprise of the traditional world, the Pyramids of Giza normally get essentially the most face time from guests, however Egypt’s oldest pyramid is definitely just a bit farther south from the capital. If you wish to fill a complete day with simply pharaonic burial grounds, begin out with the Giza Necropolis after breakfast to hike across the pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre and the Nice Pyramid of Khufu. Examine on the ticket workplace which pyramids have internal chambers open to the general public, because it modifications each day and even hourly. Surprisingly, the internal chamber of the smallest pyramid, Menkaure, is the biggest and most attention-grabbing, with three totally different ranges. You may also head out into the desert from there to hunt for an iconic photograph op with all three pyramids.
Exit the plateau previous the Sphinx into the hustle of Giza to discover a taxi (or choose up an Uber). For those who forgot to pack water or a sandwich for lunch, now’s the time to choose one thing up at one of many many outlets exterior the partitions of the positioning earlier than beginning the 25km (15.5 mile) drive to Saqqara, which has no good meals choices. As soon as in Saqqara, head to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in Egypt and one that gives a novel aesthetic distinction to the smoother Giza pyramids. Constructed as a kind of architectural experiment through the reign of Djoser (2670 BC), the primary pharaoh of the Third Dynasty, the Step Pyramid was the primary burial chamber to be constructed from limestone as an alternative of bricks of clay and at 62m (203ft) was the tallest construction on the time.
Find out how to get to Giza and Saqqara from Cairo: The best strategy to go to Giza and Saqqara is to hitch an organized tour or rent your individual personal information and driver or taxi for the day. You should utilize Uber to get to Giza however not Saqqara, which is farther away.
Try little-visited pyramids and an historic capital at Dahshur and Memphis
Journey time: 1 hour, quarter-hour from Cairo to Dahshur, 20 minutes from Dahshur to Memphis
South of Saqqara, you possibly can go to the lesser-known Purple Pyramid and Bent Pyramid, each named after their most original traits, earlier than heading to Memphis to see Egypt’s former capital through the Previous Kingdom. For historical past buffs, the identify “Memphis” is synonymous with pharaonic Egypt, and most pyramids constructed round Cairo have been raised whereas Memphis was the seat of energy. Whereas little stays of the traditional metropolis, there’s a worthwhile open-air museum and a sphinx.
Find out how to get to Dahshur and Memphis from Cairo: Becoming a member of an organized tour that features Dahshur and Memphis or hiring your individual personal information and driver or taxi for the day is one of the simplest ways to go to.
Discover Alexandria, Egypt’s second metropolis
Journey time: 2.5 hours
Cairo often is the capital, however within the minds of poets, students and artists of the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s, Alexandria and its crashing waves will all the time comprise the stressed soul of Egypt. Because the setting of Nobel Prize–profitable creator Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Miramar, the town is its personal character, and visiting even as we speak it’s straightforward to see the way it charmed not solely Egyptians however the artists and students of Europe as effectively.
Head to the Alexandria Nationwide Museum, a formidable colonial construction housing a rigorously curated number of artifacts that inform the town’s tumultuous historical past by the Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras. Take a 20-minute stroll towards the water to the town’s heart of tradition and studying, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. With its distinctive sloping disk form and exterior partitions adorned with dozens of various scripts, it’s an architectural surprise. Try the principle studying corridor and take a tour.
From there, you possibly can take a leisurely stroll alongside the Corniche, stopping at one of many many cafes or eating places to benefit from the waterfront earlier than arriving at Fort Qaitbay, a fantastically maintained harbor citadel and fashionable hangout spot. Decide one of many metropolis’s top-rated fish eating places, like Kadoura or Fish Market, for dinner earlier than heading again to Cairo.
Find out how to get to Alexandria from Cairo: Many lodging and tour operators run day journeys to Alexandria. To go to independently, hop on a prepare from Ramses Station in Cairo.
Uncover a desert mirage at Al Fayoum
Journey time: 2 hours
The favored oasis vacation spot of Al Fayoum, 100km (62 miles) south of Cairo, rightfully deserves a minimum of two days of exploration, however for those who’re pressed for time, you possibly can nonetheless soak up various the realm’s pure wonders throughout daylight. Depart Cairo early sufficient to beat morning site visitors, and first cease at Karanis, 25km (15.5 miles) north of Fayoum metropolis heart. After admiring the traditional ruins, which embody two Graeco-Roman temples, transfer on to the pure wonders of Al Fayoum, together with the Wadi Rayyan Protected Space with its waterfalls, rowboat excursions to the center of the lake and wildlife within the surrounding nationwide park. Birdwatchers ought to be looking out for eagles, falcons and migrant birds. The guests heart on the lakefront may also help with any questions.
Afterwards, head to the pottery faculty in Tunis village to mingle with native artists,and cease within the many pottery studios to choose up a present. The pottery heart is an effective level from which to discover the huge Lake Qarun, the place throughout fall and winter months you possibly can spot flamingoes and different birds resting right here earlier than heading farther south.
Find out how to get to Al Fayoum from Cairo: Many lodges in Cairo may also help you arrange a day tour, or you possibly can negotiate a day fee with a taxi.
Soak within the surf in Ain El Sokhna
Journey time: 2 hours
Beachfront Sokhna has grow to be such a well-liked Purple Sea seashore weekend getaway that well-heeled Egyptians now name-drop the place into conversations any probability they get, their eyes virtually glazing over on the considered their subsequent seaside escape.
As a watersports vacation spot with pristine seashores and year-round sunshine, Ain El Sokhna (which means “scorching spring”) caters to each lazy solar worshippers and journey junkies, with loads of snorkeling, diving, crusing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and boat excursions. As a comparatively new Purple Sea improvement, the cleaner seashores listed here are much less crowded than at Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, each of which may be crowded with beach-goers in peak season, making Sokhna a scorching vacation spot for tranquility-seeking Egyptians.
After a dip within the calm turquoise waters, try one of many seashore resorts like Stella di Mare for lunch or hop on a Sunmarine vessel for a 90-minute boat tour with lunch and views of sea life. The beachfront resorts are filled with bar choices to spherical off the day’s actions with a sundowner earlier than heading again to Cairo.
Find out how to get to Ain El Sokhna from Cairo: Negotiate a day fee with a taxi driver in Cairo, or for those who can courageous the site visitors in Cairo, hire a automotive for a highway journey to the coast.
This text was first revealed February 25, 2019 and up to date about 22 hours in the past
