Cairo
In three words: Chaotic, dusty, dense.
Three must-see things: Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx (located outside of Cairo, in Giza), Downtown and Tahrir Square, Citadel and Mosque of Mohamed Ali Pasha. Also: Consider taking a boat ride on the Nile.
Getting around: Uber is common and inexpensive, but Cairo also has Africa's most expansive metro system, which connects several neighborhoods in the city. Buses are also available. If taking a taxi, stick to white "official looking" taxis and request the price before beginning the ride.
Favorite neighborhoods: Heliopolis (older and fancy district), Old Cairo (south of Downtown), Nasr City.
How about a museum? Egyptian Museum, Coptic Museum, Pharaonic Village (tour).
Three must-try foods: Kushari (a rice, macaroni, and lentil dish with tomato, chickpeas and crispy fried onions) Ful Medames (stewed lava beans), Om Ali (Egyptian bread pudding).
How much is a pint of beer? E£32 (Egyptian Pounds) / $2.07 USD / €1.90 EUR
Can you drink the tap water? Yes.
Do people tip here? Yes, at least 10% in restaurants. (Note that waitstaff in Cairo do not earn much and rely on tips, so please be considerate with tipping.) You do not need to tip a taxi driver, unless you'd like to.
Least favorite thing: The amount of traffic is horrible and the pollution hits you immediately, among the worst of many metropolitan areas.
Safe to walk at night scale — 1 = riskiest to 5 = safest: 4. Pretty safe to walk around night, but watch for pickpockets or scams, and avoid interactions with “friendly” strangers. A real danger here is crossing the street in busy areas. If you are a woman walking alone, take note that you will be subject to catcalling.
Caution: Several things to note:
Beware of being overcharged -- Many Egyptians have limited English skills or only speak Arabic, and some sadly use this to their advantage. Agree on prices for goods or services beforehand and confirm the price if confused. If you feel you are being overcharged, you can say so! (Also consider learning a few Arabic phrases and the alphabet as well.)
Traffic is also particularly bad here in some areas and can be dangerous, as Egyptians drive a little reckless. Be careful crossing streets and wait for other pedestrians if in doubt.
LGBTQ: Be careful about revealing your identity -- Egyptians are a kind and welcoming people, but most are conservative Muslims or Christians and the subject is likely to raise eyebrows or discomfort. Do not show public affection by any means.
Currency: Egyptian Pounds (EGP). $1 USD = E£15.80 EGP / €1 EUR = E£17.25 (Updated April 2020)
Electric plug type: Type C / F
Nearest getaway? Alexandria (2 hours by bus or car); Luxor (2 hours and 45 minutes by plane, 8 hours by bus or car, or 9 hours by train); Larnaca, Cyprus (1.5 hours by plane).