Traditions and culture in Cairo

Cairo was originally founded in the tenth century as the royal enclosure for the Fatimid caliphs and it became the administrative capital of Egypt in 1169 when Fustat was destroyed.

Of course, Egypt as a whole is something of an open history museum, having housed civilisations for around seven thousand years, with various imprints left by the Pharaohs, the Greeks and the Romans.

For anyone taking a holiday to Cairo nowadays, institutions which doff their cap to the city's heritage are in plentiful supply, such as the Cairo Opera House and the Khedivial Opera House.

The country's love of arts, which goes back to the time of the Pharaohs, has been inspiring western playwrights, artists and musicians for hundred of years.

So it is no surprise that the Cairo International Film Festival is a focal point of the city's existence, which has contributed considerably to Egypt becoming the cultural capital of the Arab world.

Things to do in Cairo

It's fair to say that any holiday guide for Cairo should point out that the city is something of an acquired taste, as it is noisy, polluted, very densely populated and wholly unpredictable.

The dichotomy between the ancient and the modern is fascinating, with sports cars zipping in between carts being pulled by donkeys and mud-huts and skyscrapers in equal supply.

In terms of activities, taking a felucca boat along the Nile on a pleasant evening can be the perfect tonic after a manic day in the city, while horse rides at the nearby Pyramids are also a must.

Taking part in a spot of traditional belly dancing would undoubtedly provide an amusing holiday tale, while the city is also the perfect venue for shoppers seeking souvenirs.

In addition, Cairo plays host to a number of 19th-century buildings, modern art, sculpture and green spaces, while the ancient Islamic Cairo district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Weather in Cairo

Anyone set to book flights to Cairo should be aware that the climate is officially classified as 'hot desert', often accompanied by high humidity as a result of the Nile valley.

Sandstorms are regular during March and April, while temperatures in the summer range between minimums of 20C and highs of above 40C.

In the winter, maximum temperatures tend to be between 13C and 20-23C and minimum temperatures can be between 5C and 10C in the evenings.

Destination checklist for Cairo

Cairo has a population of around 16.5 million.

The city is two hours ahead of GMT/UTC time.

The official currency is the Egyptian pound.

Arabic is the official language spoken.

The city's international dialling code is +20.