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I have a 6.5 hr. layover in Cairo on a Sun. morning. Is there time to leave and check out the pyramids? |
Travel Info I have a 6.5 hr. layover in Cairo on a Sun. morning. Is there time to leave and check out the pyramids? Travel Tips Katie....i think you said your getting in early morning. I agree with one of the cats on here that mentioned the whole traffic aspect of Cairo...Although with that said as long as you clear Heliopolis (the nearest district to the airport) fairly quickly which you should in the morning you should be able to manage it. Its a tad risky, and you should be prepared to in case you have to turn around. I always manage to run around london when i have a 6 hour commute and it takes me just as long to get into the city by tube. Here are my recommendations: Be the first one off your plane, literally, and first one into the airport. So that you can rush to Thomas Cook (money exchange place and visa) have 15 bucks on you to pay for the visa which is just two stamps immigration will make you put in your passport.. You want to hit the custom lines before it gets going thats the main thing. Then find one of the limosine serves because they will arrange a price before you leave and you can have them stay at the pyramids and bring you back. A trip to the pyramids should cost you no more than 40 egyptian pounds if you were a local....By that say I'm not sure if the limosine services have installed fixed rates yet, so if you can barter with them tell them no more than 60 each way...I can ask my mom about what the prices are like these days, but since we aren't tourists I get Egyptian prices. 60 pounds is 12 US bucks about. You really aren't spending much to do this...If they tell you more than a 150 pounds roundtrip with waiting don't waste your time. Tell them you could go to the street and get any cab for 40 there...they will think your local, even if your not. Traffic wise you should be fine early morning since you will barely beat the rush hour, or might get caught in it...but the new ring road should get you there fairly quick comparatively to when we didn't have it. Also exchange 15 or so bucks at Thomas Cook for the entrance to the pyramids. I forget the price of a ticket but i think its like 15 or 20 Egyptian. 3 to 4 bucks..... If you want to eat before going back to the airport, go the hotel closest to the pyramids (tell your driver he'll know which one I'm talking about) I forget the name but it starts with an M i think...their pool restaurant is good and fast. Its on pyramid road if he is confused. Also ask the limo service if its manageable, because the Cairo airport is atrocious to hang at. Oh slight advice...don't listen to the guys that want to take a picture of you ontop of the camel...they'll make him stand up and have you pay them to bring you back down..and since your short thats a bit of a leap if you don't feel it...take a picture standing by it...oh and tipping, whifch is basically how everything works in that country, is usually in one to two pound incriments...guys handling luggage 1 pound, same goes for guy taking your picture... hmm beyond that um don't know...i'll msg you my digits if you want to call me before you run off cuz i need to get running here.. see how it goes E Source(s): 10 yrs Other Travel Tips Dear , sorry to tell you that i personally do not think that 6.5 hours layover is sufficient to check out the pyramids because you have to get the visa , search for a honest taxi , bargain with him because taxi drivers are trying to increase their fare with the tourists although there is a governmental company that offer that service also. visa approval may take 30 to 45 minutes , misr taxi or limousine (the governmental company) has an office at the airport. Cairo airport to the pyramids may take 1.5 hours through the ring road (a road in Cairo), 15 minutes to get a ticket to get access to the pyramid area. if you make some calculations the remaining time after subtracting the return time is not much and the pyramid needs more time because you should ride a horse or a camel and again another bargain with the animal handler and leave to a point where you can see the three pyramids and the Sphinx all tighter from far and this is an impressive view. if you have a ticket that allows you to pay 100 $ and miss that flight and be able the one the day after, do it. and i hope some Egyptian living in Egypt answer this question in a better way. best of luck an egyptian living in usa Awfully close! Don't forget that Sunday is a work day there and traffic in Cairo is brutal! The visa and immigration isn't too bad but the airport is across "town" from Giza and not an easy trip. Probably all you be able to do is see them and then go back! 3 years living in Egypt i would agree with tom, the visa will not take long, but the taxi trip may well take one and half hours each way. . it is pushing it, the museum may be closer to get to, not sure. but again it will be tight but you could get to see the famous death mask for a minute. |
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