airo Travel Guide (All Practical Tips)

It’s been almost a month since I returned from Egypt, and I’m still in withdrawal. Honestly, Egypt is incredibly rich in both natural and cultural resources—personally, I’d compare it to China’s Great Northwest loop!✨✨ 🌆 Cairo: Meaning "victory" in Arabic, it’s the largest city in Africa and the Arab world. Administratively, it includes Cairo Governorate, Giza Governorate, and Qalyubia Governorate, collectively known as "Greater Cairo." The subtropical desert climate means it’s sunny and dry. Visiting in May, I found it less stifling than Guangdong’s humidity. ☎️ Entry Requirements: Just $25 USD, no other hassles. Important: Buy a SIM card before collecting your luggage—I accidentally passed security with my bags and wasn’t allowed back in to buy one. For currency exchange, there’s a counter to the left after clearing security. 🏨 Hotels: If you prefer nicer environments, avoid the old downtown area (around Tahrir Square)—old buildings, terrible traffic, chaotic crowds, and no traffic lights for crossing the street. I kept wishing I could time-travel to buy travel insurance. That said, the hotel staff were all lovely! Initially, Zamalek Island was my top pick based on Xiaohongshu recommendations, but last-minute bookings left only overpriced options, so I skipped it. 🚗 Transportation: Uber or DiDi International—whichever’s cheaper. In my experience, rides arrived within 5 minutes. Keep small change handy. If visiting the Cave Church, negotiate round-trip pricing with the driver in advance—many refuse to enter the garbage city area. Also, save the Arabic numeral chart below—memorize it for stress-free taxi rides. 🎉 Attractions: Must-visits: ⭐Giza Pyramids & Sphinx: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the pinnacle of Pharaoh civilization. ⭐Egyptian Museum: Houses 250,000 artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s gold mask (242 lbs) and countless mummies. ⭐Saladin Citadel: A 12th-century fortress from the Crusades, blending Islamic and Turkish architecture—stunning! ⭐Khan el-Khalili: A 500-year-old bazaar selling copperware, spices, papyrus paintings, fridge magnets, and more. Haidilao Turkish Restaurant in CityStars (recommended by an Egyptian friend as authentic) 🏬 Shopping: Only visited CityStars Mall, specifically for D&P Perfumes—affordable and long-lasting. Also, Patchi chocolates are amazing (couldn’t find them in the mall but bought some at the airport). Recommended Itinerary: Day 1: Pyramids → Grand Egyptian Museum → Sufi Dance Show at Wekalet El Ghouri🌿 Day 2: Egyptian Museum → Nile River/Cairo Tower → Khan el-Khalili Day 3: Saladin Citadel → Cave Church🌿 🖊️ Next Stop: Alexandria #Cairo #TravelTips #Pyramids #KhanElKhalili #SaladinCitadel #CaveChurch #EgyptianMuseum