Tour Guide, Melbourne, Australia
| 4 mins read
The Ciaos that is Cairo, the horns that are constantly honking, people are jumping in and out of old VW buses in the middle of the road, and all this while the roads are being shared by everything from cars to buses to donkey carts.
Having stood for nearly 1000 years, Africa's second most populated city is a modern metropolis with an ancient past. It's a place where rich culinary traditions meet glam shopping and nightlife, a city vibrant with residents and tourists alike discovering something new around every winding bend in the road. Cairo is one of my favourite places in the Middle East to browse for decorative arts.
One particular part of Egypt still fascinates me is Old Cairo. In this area, you can learn about my rich ancestral heritage of the Coptic's and the Christian community, which is the oldest in the world. The beloved Coptic area is a part of Old Cairo, where you can discover the Egyptian culture, literature, language, religions and writing systems.
In Egyptian Arabic, old Cairo, Masr el Qadīma [Adima] is the southern part of Cairo, but Old Cairo holds incredible stories about Egypt. It is packed with our history, first traditions, and humanity which allow us to rediscover ourselves in today's society. The city was founded in 969 CE, and this part of the city has the first capitals like Fustat, al-Askar and al-Qatta'i. When wandering in the streets of Old Cairo, you can admire the remained ruins of the Roman, the incredible Fort Babylon, the Roman Catholic Cemetery and others wonders.
When to visit Cairo
It's always best to consider a trip to Cairo when the weather is milder, the crowds are smaller, and the accommodations cost much less. The summer months can be daunting, with temperatures sitting around 32-36°c or even higher, especially when navigating outdoor spaces in the heat. The temperatures from October to November and March to the beginning of May can sit around 25-30°c, these temperatures are much less overbearing, and the city is not as packed with tourists. Surprisingly, Cairo does have a cold winter from December through February, so you're more than likely going to need a coat handy and other winter wear if you book a trip during that time. Now don't get me wrong when I say it's cold, I mean, it's nothing like my home town of Melbourne by any means, but it will get down as low as 10°c though!
Where to Eat
Well, a bit about me and food, growing up in an Egyptian household, food is everything, from the preparation with the aunties in the kitchen to the mass of family around the table eating, so big that we would have to do two sittings. So before embarking on my Private Travel Business, I did many years owning and operating my own food concepts in both Sydney and Melbourne, so you could say food is high on my list of priorities.
Like my hometown of Melbourne, which is a foodies heaven, so is Cairo!
"YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO EAT EVERYTHING IN CAIRO"
Many tourists flock to Cairo to experience a city steeped in history, but as it turns out, they can't overlook the city's burgeoning culinary landscape. Thousands of dining establishments ranging from traditional Egyptian to Italian, French, Indian and Lebanese, fetching cuisines span the globe. With a plethora of choices, where does a first-time foodie begin? Here's a glimpse at some of the best restaurants in Cairo. Just be sure to go hungry!
For breakfast, seek out foul. Pronounced "fool," the dish comprises mashed fava beans seasoned with spices, garlic and chilli pepper and served with Egyptian flatbread and pickled veggies.
Gad & Felfela: These are both ridiculously cheap and delicious shawarma places, with homemade sandwiches, Tamiya [Egyptian falafel, which is better than the traditional]. Highly recommend them both. They are great on-the-go places and unbelievably cheap. Gad is all over Egypt, so sure to find them on your travels! If you haven't tried Felfela, you haven't lived. Seriously this downtown gem is symbolic of every Egyptian's childhood. Everything ranging from the decor to the oriental food to the service is everything Egyptian cuisine stands for. In fact, Felfela is one of our dining spots on my 11-Day Magic Of Egypt Tour.
Koshary Abou Tarek: One of Egypt's iconic traditional recipes since the 19th century, Koshary (or Kushari) is a combo of rice, macaroni, lentil capped with chunky, spicy tomato sauce then garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions. Then you must top with garlic vinegar and/or chilli sauce for added heat