Cairo Audio Tours

The Cairo Metro is the fastest way to move around the city, with Line 1 stopping near the Egyptian Museum at Sadat station and Line 3 extending toward Islamic Cairo. Taxis and ride-share apps (Uber and Careem both operate here) are widely available. The traffic above ground is legendary in its density, so metro is generally faster for cross-city journeys.

Central Cairo and the tourist districts are generally safe during the day. Islamic Cairo's narrow souks require more situational awareness since the alleys are very close and busy. Keep the audio at a volume that lets you hear traffic and people around you. As in any large city, stay alert at busy markets where pickpocketing occasionally occurs.

Modest, lightweight clothing is both culturally respectful and practically sensible in Cairo's heat. Women will attract less unwanted attention with shoulders and legs covered, particularly in Islamic Cairo. Closed-toe flat shoes are recommended because sidewalks and alleyways in the old districts are often uneven. A hat, sunscreen, and water bottle are essential.

Cairo makes this easy. Koshari (lentils, rice, pasta, and crispy onions in tomato sauce) is the great Cairo street food available at casual counters throughout the city. Around Al-Azhar, you can break for Egyptian fuul (fava beans) at any corner cafe. In the Khan el-Khalili area, tea at the historic El Fishawi cafe has been going since 1797.