Cairo's Museums and the Nile

A November 2000 trip to Cairo by nmagann

Egyptian Museum Photo - Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt

Quote: I visited the popular historical sights, the pyramids (including the night show), museums, and took a cruise on the Nile. And even managed to do some shopping.

11 Photos

Cairo's Museums and the Nile

Overview

Quote:

The evening Nile cruise offered the chance to see the Nile lit up and to try a variety of main dishes and sweets during the buffet.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Every mode of transportation is available, the choice is yours.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Cheer!
Flag

Happy Dolphin Restaurant

Restaurant | "Happy Dolphin"

Quote:

This is a moderately priced restaurant that is convenient while visiting the sites in Old Cairo. There is nice water fountain outside with a dolphin in the center. Lots of greenery and a nice setting. Lunch consisted of rice, vegetable, fish, and large pieces of bread. Meals consist of chicken, beef, lamb or fish cooked how you desire.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Happy Dolphin Restaurant
70 Abd El-Aziz Al-Seoud Street, Comiche El-Nil
Manial, Cairo, Egypt
02 3621180

Cheer!
Flag

Salaam Restaurant

Restaurant

Quote:

This restaurant offers a very nice buffet in the $20 range with main dishes of eggplant, chicken and beef. Also a few salads and and vegetables. I did feel the price of a soda at 6LE to be a little high, but I enjoyed the fact this place was buffet so I could try new dishes. This is a popular restaurant for people coming from the Giza Pyramids which are also on Pyramid Street. The pyramids, much to my surprise are only about a block from residents and businesses.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Salaam Restaurant
Pyramid Street
Cairo, Egypt

Cheer!
Flag

Papyrus Institute

Attraction | "Rahma Papyrus Center"

Quote:

Papyrus is a plant that grows near the waters edge and has many uses. The stock is soaked in water after peeling of the green outside. Then strips are taken off and soaked in water, flattened and eventually laid out in a criss cross pattern to create paper. This paper is drawn and painted on with beautifully colored Egyptian scenes.

This was explained to me as I drank tea and then I chose a couple pieces of artwork to purchase. The owner talked a bit with me and did provide a discount.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Papyrus Institute
Avenue Of The Pyramids
Cairo, Egypt

Cheer!
Flag

Egyptian Museum

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Egyptian Museum/Including Mummy Room"

Quote:

The entrance fee is 20LE and an additional 40LE for the mummy room. (There are mummies not in the mummy room, but I guess since they were Greek no extra charge.) Only flash free pictures can be taken at an extra charge of 10LE, otherwise they hold your camera until you leave. They go through your purse and you go through a metal detector. The museum houses more than 100,000 relics and antiquities arranged chronologically. King Tut's treasures are something to behold, three coffins within each other within the sarcophagus. Also his jewelry, shoes, chariot, boat (to transport him to the next life) etc... There are also statues, Greek mummies, sarcophagus, vases, chariots and more. ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Egyptian Museum
Tahrir Square
Cairo, Egypt
+20 (2) 579 6974

Cheer!
Flag

Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Pyramids of Giza"

A Pyramid in the Palm of your Hand Photo - Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), Cairo, Egypt

Quote:

The Pyramids of Giza consist of three pyramids each with a temple to the east and a sphinx. The largest pyramid is Cheops, the second largest is Kefra which has the Sphinx in front of it (guarding) and the smallest is Mekalaus. The smallest is the only one open to visit. Cost to visit the pyramids is 20LE and if you wish to go inside Mekalaus, it is 10LE more. The size of pyramids is just incomprehensible until you are actually there. Going inside, the stairs consist of a long flat wooden plank with horizontal strips every few feet. It is steep, and additionally unless you are four feet high you must stoop half the distance down to the chamber. In the chamber is sarcophagus and so...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)
Giza Pyramids Plateau
Cairo, Egypt
+20 2 383 8823

Cheer!
Flag

Step Pyramid of Saqqara

Attraction | "Saqqara Pyramid"

Quote:

Saqqara Pyramid, I was informed, was the first attempt at constructing a pyramid. I had never heard of this. It does not come close in size to the pyramids at Giza nor is the structure so tightly built. It does have the oldest columns and shrines to house statues. The price is 20LE and 10LE if you are a student with ID (including foreign).

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Step Pyramid of Saqqara
North Saqqara
Cairo, Egypt
No phone available

Cheer!
Flag

Memphis

Attraction | "Temple of Memphis"

Quote:

This dates back to 332BC and contains the Colossus of Ramses II. You need to be on the second floor to view it. It really is spectacular and in excellent condition. Around the grounds outside are other statues and sarcophagus. This is a small uncrowded place that with my guide's explanations made it a very good choice.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Memphis
24 kilometres south of Cairo
Cairo, Egypt
No phone available

Cheer!
Flag

The Pharaonic Village

Attraction | "Pharonic Village"

Quote:

This site should have been the first tour, not the last. This is a great precursor to other sites in Cairo and something children could appreciate. First you are given a tour in a boat around an island with live people depicting workers practicing their trade such as weaving and boat making. The papyrus plant is dried and tied with rope to make a make a boat. Dropped into the water the papyrus swells and makes for an airtight boat. After the tour there are scaled down models of popular temples, statues, coffins and living quarters. And very good ample supply of versions of King Tut's treasures. The gift shop has set prices which I found to be very good ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

The Pharaonic Village
3 El Bahr El Aazam Street
Cairo, Egypt
+20 2 571 8675

Cheer!
Flag

Citadel Complex

Attraction | "Citadel"

Quote:

The Citadel here looks like a medieval castle complete with little holes in the walls for arrows to be shot through against the crusaders. It dates back to 1100AD and contains the Mohammed Ali Mosque who wanted to modernize Egypt. Shoes must be taken off to enter. The mosque is from the 1800's and has 365 lights, a tomb, a praying area for women, stained glass windows in the domes and two sets of staircases that lead to enclosed pulpits.

Mohammed is believed to be the last prophet and provided the basic rules for the Muslims. They must pray 5 times a day, read the Holy Qur'an for the next life, give to the poor, belief in one God, and visit Mecca if they can afford it.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 5, 2000

Citadel Complex
Salah Salem Highway
Cairo, Egypt
20 2 512 9619

Cheer!
Flag

General Shopping and Pricing Guides

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

Khan Al Khalili is the biggest shopping area with bargaining for everything. It is very crowded and noisy and I chose not to go there after the discoveries I made where I did shop. Most of the shops along the streets will allowing bargaining to an extent. Usually, this means an extra item will be included or a discount for multiple purchases. Just about every shopkeeper offered me tea, coffee (Turkish), or soda before and/or after a purchase. This is rather a custom and considered rude not to accept. I did accept and drank as I was browsing and sometimes enjoyed a cup after I made purchases just to chat. I feel it is a good idea to browse these shops before deciding to go ...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Important Information on Ramadan Religious Occassion

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

Ramadan last for 30 days and is observed by most people and all places of business. For the tourist, there are pros and cons. During Ramadan people fast (not even water) from sunrise to sunset then have a feast (pigging out). Sunset occured around 5:00 while I was there. This means schools are let are let out early, shops close around 3:30-4:00 (depending on how long it takes them to get to their home) and museums also close at this time. But, thankfully not all restaurants. As a side note places that are usually open very late will reopen around 6:30-7:00. This means that if you have guide, you may be rushed because he wants to get home before 5:00. It also means heavy tra...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Nile Dinner Cruise on the Aquarius

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

This two hour cruise was a beautiful three level boat that also is occassionally used for the longer trips to Luxor. The top deck had living plants, tables and chairs, and a pool. The spiral staircase was marble and the entire boat's decor was wonderful. We had a sumptuous buffet on the lower level complete with at least a dozen desserts from pies to cakes and several different types of salads. There were about four main dishes to choose from, eggplant, chicken, beef, and pasta. I tasted many new things and liked everything. After the meal a man and woman came out to sing. Each sang two songs by themselves and in spite of it being in Arabic, I could tell they had nice voices...Read More