Travel in city Cairo

The Christmas season is all about celebrating the joys of life, and what’s more joyful than dessert?

WHY IT RATES: The new experiences will celebrate Black history and culture in some of the world's most beloved destinations.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor

Egypt’s Minister for Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, will be attending this year’s WTM to unveil updates to the country’s ambitious national tourism strategy. Egypt’s tourism strategy aims to achieve rapid growth in the sector. The country has already received more than 7 million tourists during the first half of 2023, the highest level in Egypt’s history.

The capital of Egypt has more than enough charms to fill a traveler’s itinerary, and even more fascinating sites stretch far out from Cairo in all directions.

After two pandemic-related delays, we were finally set to take a $34,309 Nile cruise with Viking, leaving Oct. 25 and including several days in Cairo and additional excursions to Jerusalem and Petra, in Jordan. But the war broke out, and the Middle East is very unstable. Viking canceled our excursion to Jerusalem, refunded that money and rebooked our flights for Oct. 29. But we don’t think Egypt or Jordan is particularly safe right now either, especially for Jews. We are older, and are heartsick at not seeing Jerusalem and terrified at the thought of being targeted as American Jewish tourists during this war. Viking still has $29,435 of our money. We only want a voucher to take the same trip in the future. Can you help?

After decades of conflict, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday.

Looking for trip inspiration can be a frustrating experience especially if you’re super reliant on tour books. You’ll find quickly that you’ll be overloaded with tons of recommendations for busy tourist traps open only during the day.

Egypt has an extensive and somewhat efficient overland transport system. For travel plans focused on the Nile, the palm-studded scenery of Nile Valley journeys is as much of a highlight as the destinations along the way.

Sunrise happens slightly before 7am during Cairo’s winter peak season. Visitor access to the Pyramids of Giza site — a nine-mile trip west from downtown Cairo — starts at 8am throughout the year. The potential pre-dawn start gives you more time and room to fully experience the awe of these 4,500-year-old monuments, and their watchful companion, the Great Sphinx. An estimated 2.3 million stone blocks make up the Great Pyramid itself, the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 

The Nile River has long been one of the most mysterious, glamorous, and legendary destinations in the world. It has attracted well-heeled travelers and adventurers for centuries, well after the Pharaohs roamed. In 1933, writer Agatha Christie immediately put the Nile River on everyone’s bucket list when she sailed from Cairo to Aswan. Her experiences were documented in one of her most well-known novels Death on the Nile.

As long as people have been traveling, they’ve sought mementos and souvenirs. Ancient Egyptians and Romans brought spices, animal skins, and gold back from foreign trade missions or conquests. Modern travelers hunt for handicrafts or traditional art, tangible reminders of other places to use in their own lives at home: a Moroccan rug splayed across the living room floor, a gleaming Venetian glass vase to fill with wildflowers.

Saudi Arabia’s increasing focus in the tourism sector and the shift to leisure travel has brought Seera Group from the red to report the company’s first post-pandemic operating profit of $8 million in the third quarter.

Italy has lifted a 10-year-long ban on Libyan civil aviation using Italian airspace, with flights due to resume from September, the Libyan government said on Sunday.

In Cairo, the pull between culture and commerce is long established. Five thousand years ago, on the fertile banks of the Nile, wealthy Ancient Egyptians commissioned artisans to adorn their tombs for the voyage into the afterlife, crafting funerary pottery, woodwork, amulets and exquisite paintings. Today, souvenir stalls outside many of those same tombs — and in the souks of the capital — still offer designs that take inspiration from those ancient crafts, passed down over the centuries and adapted to sell to visitors.

Sailing the Nile River is a bucket list adventure with many appeals. Among them is tracing the legendary river’s rich history to witness the pyramids, temples, and other marvels of ancient civilizations.

Tourism in Egypt is bound by the seasons. While only the hardiest want to troop through temples during the scorching heat of July and August, Egypt’s mild winter brings in flocks of visitors to flop on the beaches, gawk at Giza’s pyramids and cruise the Nile.

Budget travelers are often surprised at how much you can get for your money when exploring Egypt.

Egypt is the Nile, and the Nile is Egypt, or so the saying goes. But there is much more to this ancient land than that. Egypt has long exercised a potent spell over ordinary people. It has inspired poetry and literature, architecture and more. Here is our guide to the best things to do in Egypt.

Nestled on the banks of the timeless Nile, Cairo is a city that pulsates with vibrant energy and an intriguing blend of ancient history and modern allure. While the capital of Egypt is teeming with iconic museums and fascinating sites, venturing beyond its borders unveils a world of hidden treasures. Here are the five best day trips from Cairo.

A roaring metropolis of nearly 20 million people, Cairo is the cultural capital of the Arab world. Most visitors to Egypt spend at least a few days here, exploring its medieval mosques, sampling its fine museums and shopping in the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili bazaar. But if you find yourself with just one day – or a layover at the airport – fear not, there's plenty to see and do in 24 hours.