City Information

Location:: Egypt, North Africa; Country Dialing Code:: 20; City Dialing Code :: 02

When to Go

There are three types of Egyptian visas:

The currency in Cairo is the Egyptian pound ("gunaih" in Arabic). Egyptian notes are divided into piastres and pounds. Piastre notes come in 5, 10, 25, and 50; Piastre notes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Silver coins are hardly used (they come in 5, 10, 20, and 25), so don't expect to handle these much. If you are expecting change of a silver coin, you probably will receive gum or candy as compensation and not the coin.

Egyptian National Public Holidays

Average monthly high & low temperature in celsius

There is no doubt that Cairo will alarm your senses, and this can either be a good or bad thing. Cairo's allure stands tall with the Pyramids of Giza, which is the only surviving wonder of the Seven Wonders of the World. Additionally, its fascinating winding streets, oriental bazaars, and Islamic architecture can easily seduce any tourist. Yet, this seduction turns sour when experiencing Cairo's dirt, pollution, and crowd. Such contrasts may be too raw for the tourist that wants everything presented in a packaged platter. But for the intrepid soul, discovering Cairo can become a time-traveling experience that may lead to self-discovery and self-assurance.

Though it was ‘only’ founded in 969 under the Fatimid Caliphate, Cairo and the surrounding region has been a focal point of Egypt for thousands of years due to its position at the apex of the Nile Delta. The city is located just a few kilometers from the ancient capital of Memphis and the first Islamic capital at Fustat.

Cairo's residents take great pride in their country's heritage. They are proud of their identity and wear it as a badge of honour. They belong to a country with one of the world's oldest and most distinguished civilisations. Approximately 90% of Egypt's population are Muslim, and the remaining 10% are Christian. Christianity in Egypt—as in Ethiopia—is called the Coptic Church.