LANGUAGE

Arabic

CURRENCY

Egyptian Pound

BEST TIME TO VISIT

May to June & October to January

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Ramses Railway Station

NEAREST AIRPORT

Cairo International Airport (CAI)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

122, 123

INTERNET ACCESS

Wi-fi is available for free in the vast majority of hotels as well as many cafes and restaurants but sometimes the connectivity can  be really slow.

VISA

Tourist visas are required for all foreigners visiting Egypt, excepting nationals of certain Arab countries. About 40 nationalities, including citizens of Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan and the US, can purchase a visa online in advance; otherwise, visas are available on arrival. If you want more time or a multiple-entry visa, apply in advance or get an extension with multiple-entry once in Egypt.

Visa extensions used to be routine, but are now subject to scrutiny, especially after repeat extensions. There is a 14-day grace period for extension applications, with a LE100 late fee. If you leave during this time, you must pay an LE135 fine at the airport.

On arrival at Cairo and Egypt’s other international airports, visas stickers are sold at a row of bank booths in every arrivals terminal. Purchase the visa sticker at the booth and then present it along with your arrival form and passport at the immigration desks.

HOTEL

LUXURY

The Nile Ritz Karlton: If you’re looking for a holiday paradise, The Nile Ritz Karlton Hotel is a perfect option for you. Located in the heart of Cairo, between Nile River and Tahrir Square, this upscale hotel is the definition of sophisticated elegance and luxury.

Four Seasons Hotel: The Four Seasons Hotel is a true luxury retreat located on the Nile’s West Bank, in the prestigious First Palace Complex. The hotel boasts some of the finest dining facilities in the city, a range of revitalizing spa treatments, and gorgeous views of not only the river, but the famous pyramids as well. The pinnacle of contemporary luxury and elegance, Cairo’s Four Seasons is sure to satisfy even the most discerning traveller.\

MID RANGE

May Fair Hotel: You’ll find the May Fair Hotel in Cairo’s upscale Zamalek district, one of the safest and most active neighbourhoods in the city. Surrounded by a number of embassies, shopping centers and banks, this hotel offers forty newly renovated, spacious rooms and suites, which combine traditional Egyptian influence with a streamlined, minimalist aesthetic.

Talisman Hotel de Charme: Talisman Hotel de Charme is a single-story boutique bed and breakfast in downtown Cairo. Bedecked in antique furniture, Egyptian paintings and hand-made Persian carpets, Talisman gives a sense of old Egyptian times, and adds to this relaxing old-school environment with a private library, where guests can curl up and bury themselves in a different kind of Egyptian tome. Though there is no restaurant in the hotel, Talisman is surrounded by a number of inexpensive local restaurants and bars, so you won’t be hurting for nightlife options here.

BUDGET

Lotus Hotel

New Minerva Hotel

COST OF LIVING

A recent study conducted annually by Swiss bank USB on 77 metropolitan areas shows that Egypt’s capital Cairo is the cheapest city in the world, while the Swiss city of Zurich is the most expensive. … Being the capital of the country with a population of 19.5 million, Cairo is considered the most congested city in Egypt. Hotel bank branches can change cash, but rates are slightly better at independent exchange bureaux, of which there are several along Sharia Adly in Downtown and on Sharia 26th of July in Zamalek. These tend to be open from 10am to 8pm Saturday to Thursday. ATMs are numerous, except in Islamic Cairo – the most convenient machine here is below El Hussein hotel in Khan Al Khalili.