A First-Timer's Guide to Cairo

Hotels are full, boat trips along the Nile require a waitlist to book once again, and the highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum promises to draw even more tourists when it opens its doors within the next year or so. I was able to travel to Cairo for nearly a week last November, and while there’s nothing quite like seeing the pyramids in person or listening to the call to prayer at sunset along the Nile, the city can still be overwhelming for a first-time visitor. Here are a few things I wish I’d known before my trip.

Ride the metro
Cairo’s metro system is a pretty well-oiled machine, and it’s easily the cheapest way to get around. Fares start at just three Egyptian pounds (around 17 cents) and increase depending on the distance you’ve traveled to a max of seven pounds (around 40 cents). Considering the city’s notorious traffic, it can often be the fastest way to travel. Just note that you’ll have to submit your bags to an x-ray machine and pass through a metal detector before entering the stations. There are also women-only cars on each train, so pay attention to signage if you’re a female traveler and want to hop on one of them. Side note: The murals in some of the stations are wonderful. Read the full travel article here.