Cheap flights to Cairo from S$ 491

Dubbed “Umm El Dinya” (Mother of the World) by Egyptians and Arabs, Cairo is one of the most brash and chaotic cities in the world. Yet each year, millions of tourists, many of whom are British, book flights to Cairo to discover one of the world’s great ancient civilisations.

The hustle and bustle of modern Cairo’s busy streets teeming with hordes of people and honking cars is perfectly juxtaposed by the serene felucca boats sailing along the Nile and horses galloping amid the gargantuan pyramids. And while most tourists who book flights to Cairo do so to visit the Great Pyramid of Giza – the last surviving wonder of the ancient world – there’s a lot more to see and do in this exhilarating metropolis.

Six-hundred-year-old Khan al-Khalili is one of the first stops on any tourist’s must-see list. This labyrinthine bazaar offers bargain hunters the chance to haggle for hours while magpies can pick up everything from silver and precious stones to waterpipes and spices. After all that shopping recharge your batteries at the famous Feshawi’s coffeehouse and enjoy some strong Turkish coffee or an icy karkadey (hibiscus juice).

Getting around Cairo

The quickest way of getting around Cairo is on the underground metro. It runs from 6am until 1am daily and there is a carriage that is dedicated to female travellers, which operates until 5pm daily. Above ground, on the always busy roads, there is an abundance of public taxis. Look out for black-and-white vehicles or plain white cars (all metered and able to provide receipts). If you’re stepping into a black-and-white taxi, it’s best to settle on a price in advance. Renting a car is easy – all the major companies have desks at the airports and in cities – and all you’ll need is an International Driving License, but with the busy streets, competition for parking, and decent public transport system it’s not necessary for visitors. 

What is good to know if travelling to Cairo?

• Make sure you wear appropriate clothing in the city. Shoulders should always be covered, and the longer the sleeves the better. Shorts or skirts should always be knee-length. Loose, long-sleeved shirts with trousers are the best garments for both men and women, and will mean you receive less unwanted attention.
• Cairo is busy, noisy and full of bustle. It’s exhilarating, but it can be tiring. If you feel you need to get away from it all for a while there are a number of options for some (relative) solitude. Visit Zamalek, a district on the Gezira island, head to the courtyard of a local mosque, or just take a felucca ride along the Nile – a traditional wooden boat specific to the area which can hold about ten passengers only. If all else fails, head to an upmarket hotel and relax by the pool for a few hours.
• The “city of the dead” is the name given to two cemeteries in Cairo. However, the cemeteries are still very much cities of the living. Many homeless and poor people have taken residence in the tombs and schools and trade continue in the walled cities. Mausoleums become houses and there is even a post office within the tombs.
• An easy day trip from the city is the Birqash Camel Market – the largest in the country. Arrive early and choose a spot to watch the show unfold.
• When visiting the Pyramids at Giza, don’t be alarmed by the extremely aggressive camel touts. It can seem almost impossible to refuse a camel ride (so many tourists do it that the touts may well assume everyone wants to) but simply say “no” firmly and then continue walking. Always maintain good humour.