In this guide you will find the best places to go in Cairo, Egypt. Everything from the best places to stay, eat and drink, and the best thing to do in this eclectic city. You will also find several point of interests as well as activities to do in Cairo.

Best places to eat in Cairo

To experience the real Egyptian Mezze, I would recommend asking locals for help. To foreigners it can look like a little hole in the wall, but to locals it can be a restaurant that serves the best mezze in town. To give you some options beforehand, here are some of the best places to eat in Cairo:

• Authentic Egyptian Mezze at Abosid in Zamalek  
• Egyptian breakfast, lunch and snack at Felfela in Downtown Cairo
• The best Italian pizza in town at Thomas in Zamalek
• Late lunch/early dinner at Café Riche in Downtown  

Best places to drink in Cairo

The best places to go in Cairo for drinks, both coffee and cocktails are located in Zamalek. The area is not so crowded and noisy, with small, cozy streets and big outdoor seatings. Everywhere in town you can get properly fresh squeezed juices, and the Egyptian special is mint and lemon.

• Great coffee, fresh juices (and breakfast) in a cool, artistic atmosphere at Sufi in Zamalek
• Coffee (and of course shisha) at No Big Deal in Zamalek
• Cocktails at Loubergin in Zamalek

Activities to do in Cairo

Even though it is vastly touristic, one of the best places to go in Cairo and maybe the most famous point of interest – Giza. Take a day trip about 2 hours from Cairo, and visit the Sakkarah pyramid in Sakkarah, and Giza for the three big pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza. To avoid the worst traffic, burning heat and crowds of people, I recommend going early in the morning.

There are many other activities to do in the centre of Cairo. Here are some of my favorites, because I really like experiencing the local areas and give you tips that differs from the main attractions:

• Khan Khalily in Al Hussein is a huge area containing a famous souq and a historical area. In one of the streets you only find mosques from different time eras, and in the end of this street is the biggest mosque in the Middle-East: Al Ashar mosque

• Visit Wikalet Al Balah for an authentic Egyptian experience. This souq has everything you can imagine and is a hidden local spot!

• Take a walk by the Nile and end up in Zamalak, 26th of July Street. Here you find many cafés and gallery’s with long opening hours, so this is both a day time and night time experience.

Best place to stay in Cairo

I visited Cairo for 5 days, and stayed at Ramses Hilton. The hotel offers a big pool area overlooking the Nile, and a great location between Downtown and Zamalek. Enjoy beautiful sunsets from your bedroom.  If you want to tan when you visit Cairo, you have to stay in one of the huge hotels by the Nile. The best time is April, May, September and October.  

For a longer stay, I would recommend renting a flat in Downtown or Zamalek. You can find many options on Airbnb.

Worth mentioning about going to Cairo:

Cairo is just like any other big city. Busy, busy, busy. No point in waiting for streetlights to cross the road. Follow the locals or you will never get anywhere. Taxi is the way to get around. Buses, well, they are for the natives. Like seriously.

Cairo is not more dangerous than other big cities just because it’s a Middle-Eastern country. Of course you need to respect the culture, but this is something you should do everywhere you travel. Surprisingly (for some) in a big city you don’t see the differences as clearly as you do when you read about them in the news. Both men and women are out eating, drinking in bars and enjoying life, just like any other place in the world.