Cairo

 

Cairo came into existence in the Paleolithic time period and played an important role in the history of Africa. Amr Ibn al-As was the commandant of first Muslim warriors who arrived here in 642 from Arab Peninsula. At that time, city was well known as Al-Qahira that was located near the ancient Egypt's Heliopolis also called Khere-Ohe. At that time Cairo was one of largest and popular cities in the world with approximately 500,000 citizens. Now days, Cairo is well known as the capital city of Egypt and is one of the most popular and largest city of Africa.

 

Cairo culture mainly represents Islamic tradition in the shape of museums galleries, mosques and live entertainment of dance and music. The food of Cairo is also a part of rich and heritage culture as it is known for many mouth watering delicacies. Some of the colorful festivals of Cairo include 3rd Cairo Oriental Dance Festival, film festival, and international book festival, Islamic New Year, Cairo book fair and many more.

 

Sightseeing in Cairo

 

There are number of colorful, attractive and popular places to visit in Cairo including Memphis and Saqqara, Mosques, Museums, Churches and more. Travelers can also visit the Giza that is just 18 Km far from the city to see the great Pyramids. Apart from the various attractive sightseeing attractions, some of the popular places are Islamic Cairo, Coptic Quarter, Central Square, Garden City, Zamalek etc.

 

Travelers can shop around the popular market of Cairo named as Khan Ali-Khalili which is located in the middle of city. This market is very popular for jewelry, perfumes, souvenirs and spices. Travelers who love drama, music, dance and movies can visit The Cairo Opera House. There are also countless cultural centers which conduct many programs, workshops, and seminars about various subjects like music, films, displays, exhibitions etc. The National Culture Center is also a place of attraction for travelers coming to Cairo that includes concert halls and seven theaters.

 

Airlines flying to Cairo

 

Egypt Air,  Air France, Turkish Airlines  offer cheap airlines tickets  to Cairo.

 

Passport and Visa requirements for US Citizens

 

A valid passport and visa are required to enter Egypt. Americans arriving without valid passports and the appropriate visa may not be permitted to enter and will be subject to a fine and immediate deportation at the traveler's expense.