Question 1

Cairo on Your Own

Accepted Answer

A free day in Cairo goes furthest with one large sight rather than several, because the city is big and its main museums and the pyramids are far apart. The Grand Egyptian Museum and the Giza pyramids are about 2 kilometers apart, southwest of the center, which makes them the natural pair. The Grand Egyptian Museum: It stands about 2 kilometers from the Giza pyramids and shows the complete Tutankhamun collection of more than 5,000 pieces. In 2026 the galleries opened at 9 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m., or at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with last entry an hour before closing. Check the hours before you go. The pyramids: The Giza pyramid complex is about 13 kilometers southwest of central Cairo, on the edge of the Western Desert. Downtown instead: The older Egyptian Museum is on Tahrir Square. Khan el-Khalili, the bazaar district in the historic center, has been a place of trade since the Mamluk era. Carry your passport: Police in Egypt check ID often and can hold someone who cannot show a passport and visa, so carry them or a copy of both. Before you head to the ship: Leave a wide margin between any sightseeing and your connection to the ship.

Question 2

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

Cairo's Metro is the cheapest way across the city, and the fare depends on how many stations you ride. It opened in 1987 and carries more than a billion rides a year. After the fare rise announced in March 2026, a ticket for up to nine stations was EGP 10 and one for up to 16 stations EGP 12. Rides of up to 23 stations were EGP 15, and rides of 23 to 39 stations EGP 20. Check fares before you go. Trains run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., with different hours during Ramadan. The fourth and fifth cars of each train are reserved for women, and the fifth car is open to everyone after 9 p.m. Women may ride in any car.

Question 3

What to Eat

Accepted Answer

Egyptian cooking leans on fresh vegetables and beans, and a handful of dishes turn up almost everywhere. Koshari, often called the national dish, layers lentils, rice and pasta under a spicy tomato sauce and crisp fried onions. Ful medames is fava beans cooked slowly and seasoned with garlic. Tameya is the Egyptian falafel, often eaten for breakfast in pita bread. Molokhia is minced jute leaves cooked in chicken stock, often served with chicken and rice. Hawawshi is pita bread filled with spiced minced meat and baked. Mahshi means stuffed, and covers vegetables and leaves filled with rice. Desserts include basbousa, a semolina cake soaked in syrup, umm ali, a bread pudding, and roz bel laban, a rice pudding. Shay bil nana is hot black tea with fresh mint and sugar.

Question 4

Customs and Courtesies

Accepted Answer

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, and a little care with dress, photos and timing goes a long way. Dress modestly, especially in mosques and markets, and ask before you photograph anyone. You need an Egyptian's permission before you take their photo, and photographing children is not allowed. Taking pictures of or near military property is illegal. Flying a drone needs advance permission from the Ministry of Defence, and using one without it can lead to prison or a heavy fine. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight hours, and expect some shops and restaurants to change their opening times. The dates move each year. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, though holding hands is generally fine. To report a crime, call the tourist police on 126, and do it before you leave Egypt.

Question 5

History

Accepted Answer

Cairo grew from a string of capitals built beside one another near the Nile, from the Arab town of Fustat to the Fatimid city founded in 969. Under Saladin and the Mamluks it became Egypt's main city, and it has been the capital of an independent Egypt since 1922. The pyramids, around 2600 to 2500 BC: The Great Pyramid, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx were built during the Fourth Dynasty. Their site at Giza now lies within the modern city. Fustat, 641 or 642: After the Arab conquest of Egypt, the town of Fustat was founded next to Babylon Fortress. The Fatimid city, 969 and 973: Cairo was founded in 969 and became the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate four years later. The Citadel, 1176: Saladin began building the Citadel on an outcrop of the Muqattam Hills. Mamluk Cairo: Under the Ayyubids and then the Mamluks, Cairo replaced Fustat as the main city, and it reached the height of its wealth under the Mamluks in the 14th century. A home for the antiquities, 1835 to 1902: The government set up its first antiquities museum in 1835, and the collection moved into its present building on Tahrir Square in 1902. Independence, 1922: Egypt became independent in 1922. The Metro, 1987: The first Metro line opened in 1987, running from Helwan to Ramses Square. The Grand Egyptian Museum, 2025: First announced in 1992 and built from 2005, the museum opened officially on November 1, 2025. To learn more ashore: The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square holds more than 170,000 objects of Egyptian antiquity.

Cairo

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What to Expect

Cairo on Your Own

Getting Around

What to Eat

Customs and Courtesies

History

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