Egypt's capital city Cairo is one of those cities that gets under your skin the moment you land. It's loud, it's lively, full of energy and unlike anywhere else on earth. It's a place of contrasts — minarets and skyscrapers, crowded souks and quiet courtyards, ancient stone and modern architecture all jostling for place on the same streets. Haggle over spices in Khan el-Khalili bazaar where copper lanterns and spice stalls spill out on the street, marvel at the Great Pyramid of Giza, standing exactly as it has for over 4,500 years and let's not forget the Grand Egyptian Museum which houses over 100,000 ancient artifacts.
Cairo's food scene is where the city really comes alive, full of bold flavours and centuries old family recipes. Think koshari, a street food staple of rice, lentils and pasta topped with a tangy tomato sauce, fresh falafel wrapped in flatbread and mint tea by the litre. For the full experience, head to head to where the locals eat rather than the tourist-heavy spots, or grab a table on a rooftop restaurant with pyramid views for a dinner setting you won't find anywhere else.
It's easy to pair Cairo with a Nile cruise where you can follow in the footsteps of the Pharaohs, a few days exploring Luxor's tombs and monuments, or some downtime at the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada for top notch beaches and some of the world's best diving.
