Take a short city break to Cairo in Egypt!
Map view of Cairo
Cairo's 14th century mosque
Being a tourist in Cairo is often akin to the feeling of sensory assault. As the most populous city in Africa with over 16 million inhabitants, Cairo can be intensely overwhelming, but once you get your bearings and can deal with someone selling carpet at every turn, you’ll soon discover the beauty that the city exudes in the midst of all the chaos.
Looking into Cairo’s past
Cairo was born over five millennia ago and was the sight for nine other cities before it was settled officially as Cairo in 969 AD, which means victorious in Arabic. In 1170 Cairo began one of its most illustrious periods when its population swelled and it became the crossroads of trade with Europe and Africa and India. Until the year 1345 Cairo was thriving building over 600 Islamic monuments, many of which are present today.
Cairo suffered terribly from the Plague in the mid 1300s when nearly 40% of the population died. Coupled with the discovery of the maritime trade route around the Cape of Good Hope, Cairo’s pre-eminence in the world was lost and the city declined over three long centuries.
Don't miss Cairo pyramids!
The 19th Century was again a glorious time for Cairo with the growing cotton trade and the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869. Since then Cairo has surged ahead to become once again the pre-eminence of Islam and one of the world’s largest and most recognisable cities. Unfortunately Cairo’s growth was too intense for it to handle as so many basic needs like housing, sewers, running water and the like are have not caught up to Cairo’s swelling population.
That being said, Cairo is exotic, magical and beautiful, like an elusive lover it is beguiling and at times frustrating but that pull to stay, to explore further is ever present.
Getting there...
From Britain Cairo (CAI) is about a 3.5 hour flight. The airport has undergone massive improvements to bring it into the 21st Century and to make is a desirable place to be. Links from the airport can now take you direct to Giza to explore the Pyramids and the Sphinx and taxis into Cairo are prevalent. Short connections can be taken to Aswan in the south and to Sharm el Sheikh on the Red Sea Riviera. Many airlines fly to CAI from a number of UK destinations including Egypt Air, BMI, BA, KLM, Alitalia, Air France and more.
