Cairo Culture and History

Culture

One of the main national characteristics of Cairo are very severe moral standards. Many local rules may seem quite strange to foreign tourists but we must express respect for national culture and follow all the rules. During the conversation with the people you can notice some high-expressiveness and emotionality. In general the natives are very friendly and treat foreign culture with attention and respect. The only rule to follow during your stay in Cairo is the observation of the rules and traditions, only in this case you can count on the friendliness of the people.

History

Egypt’s first capital was the city of Heliopolis. It was built north of the current Cairo. Sixteen centuries later, king Menes unified the country and built a capital called Mennofer, called Memphis by Greeks. When the Fatimids conquered Egypt in 969. they established their headquarters here, and the city called Al-Qāhira, ‘the Victorious’. In the 13. century the Mamluks established their capital in Cairo, whose prestige and reputation spread throughout Africa, Asia and Europe.

Tips

You can buy alcoholic beverages only in specialty stores and take them only in restaurants and bars. Appearing drunk on the street is considered a sign of bad behavior and is seen as a violation of public order. Just go for a walk through the streets of the city dressed appropriate clothing. Open and extravagant clothes can call the perplexity of citizens.

Cairo Nightlife

The streets of Cairo are even more live at night than during the day. People often go out after sunset. Activities such as shopping, meeting with friends and drinking coffee normally take place before dinner. The fun can continue even after most locals close, around 03:00 or 04:00, there are some places that are open 24 hours. Wednesdays nights and Thursdays are the main days to go out.
Although Egypt is an Islamic country and most people can have fun all night drinking soda, it is not hard to get alcohol. If you are accompanied by Egyptian friends or colleagues and they reject an invitation to have a drink, respect them and do not insist.
There are plenty of options to enjoy the nightlife in Cairo. The most basic option is the baladi bars, also called cafeterias to hide the fact that they are selling alcohol. They are safe, although women may feel a little uncomfortable in the environment frequented almost exclusively by men. Some of these bars are located in the Sharia Alfy area around Midan Orabi.

Popular Bars in Cairo

Famous Clubs in Cairo