Cairo, A Second Time Around…

It was my final week of a 3-month-long stay in Cairo, Egypt in 2018 when I announced to my colleague that I hadn’t visited Khan el-Khalili, a famous souk and bazaar in the historic centre of the city. “Well, you didn’t really visit Cairo” she had said “You have to come back!”

Five years later, I find myself back in Cairo for another work trip and the first place I put down on my list to visit on my free weekend is Khan el-Khalili.

Khan el-Khalili Archway

With only one of that to spend in the city, I hire the services of Sam from Egypt Eye Tour for a one-day city tour. We begin the day by visiting the Pyramids of Giza. I have been here before, but when in Cairo, right?

Visiting the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt…

As we drive down to the Pyramids Complex, Sam gives me a brief but fascinating history of Egypt and the pyramids themselves. We arrive after a 30-minute drive from the Maadi area, get our tickets from the booth and proceed inside through the security gates.

Again, Sam lectures me about the tombs and the theories about how they were built. Like my first visit, I gain a new appreciation of these world wonders. But unlike my first visit, which was quieter due to fewer tourists, this one feels just slightly hectic. The burning sun does not help matters either.

We walk around the grounds, taking photos along the way, with Sam pitching in different interesting facts about the Pyramids of Egypt – both the ones in Giza and outside too. Later, I take a camel into the desert for a view of all nine structures.

Visiting the Pyramids of Giza Cairo

I walk the same distance the next day and while it is a bit of a hike, it is an option if one chooses not to ride a camel or a horse-drawn cart. Afterwards, we drive out to see the Sphinx and end our outing to the Pyramids there.

Best time to visit the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza

A Weekend in Cairo, Egypt – Visiting Coptic Cairo…

Next, we make our way down to Coptic Cairo to see the Church of Abu Serga, a cave church where the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, hid when fleeing from King Herod. I don’t remember if I have ever visited any locations where Jesus lived or walked through, so this felt unreal.

We leave the Church and head to the Hanging Church, which is the most famous Coptic Christian church in the city and one of the oldest in Egypt.

The Hanging Church Coptic Cairo

Again, Sam gives me a great guide about this place – which I would not go into the details of in this travel diary entry. Maybe I will write about it later or maybe I will include a link for a good read. In any case, I find that there is a rich history in Coptic Cairo and in all of the city in general and I am happy to have visited with a guide to explain it all.

The Church of St George Cairo

We leave the area to find our car blocked in by worshippers at a nearby mosque. Without overthinking it, Sam asks if I was ready for an adventure via tuk-tuks. My answer is a resounding yes, so we hop into one to go find somewhere to get the Egyptian delicacy – Koshary.

After trying to find a restaurant that will serve us during prayer time, we stumble upon a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and get our orders in.

It is my second time trying Koshary, although the first hardly counts since what I had was only a spoonful. The meal, made up of rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas, is hearty and does enough to quench my hunger.

Khan el-Khalili Archway

We return to the car to see that we are now able to leave, so we hop in and drive to the last stop of the day – Khan el-Khalili.

The souk is surprisingly delightful to visit. I don’t know whether having Sam by my side helped but unlike the Pyramids, the vendors here are not aggressive when trying to convince me to buy something from them.

After a while, I find a shop I like and get a few dresses. I am quite sure I overpaid for them but I make my peace with that.

My colleague will now accept that I have visited Cairo.

Visiting the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt… Again!

The next morning, I skip breakfast at the hotel for one with a view of the Pyramids. Inside the complex, lounges and facilities for visitors are being erected. One of the completed lounges is the 9 Pyramids Lounge.

I arrive early to beat the tour buses and enjoy views of the Sphinx, Pyramids and a tomb in great weather and without disturbance.

Great Sphinx of Giza

Breakfast with a View: 9 Pyramids Lounge…

Then I walk an hour to get to the 9 Pyramids Lounge. By the time I arrive, they are open for the day. I get seated in the outside area and order the Egyptian Breakfast off the menu. It is delicious and I thoroughly enjoy it.

9 Pyramids Lounge

With a full belly, I hop into a Uber and head to my next stop – the Ibn Tulun Mosque. Said to be the oldest mosque existing in Cairo in its original form, I include it on the list of places to visit during this trip.

Visiting the Ibn Tulun Mosque…

The Uber somehow drops me off in an incorrect location and due to the language barrier, I decide it is better to find my way using Google Maps. The map tells me that I am a 20-minute walk away, and eventually, it leads me through backstreets to the mosque.

The mosque is free to enter, but a tip, which seems compulsory to leave, is demanded. The man is friendly enough, and he tells me that the tips go into the maintenance of the mosque. I doubt that my measly tip contributes anything to the mosque’s upkeep, but I leave one anyway.

He hands me a disposable shoe cover, which I assume is supposed to be worn when entering rugged areas. Surprisingly, I see tourists wearing them all around the courtyard, and then stepping onto the rugs again.

Mosque of Ibn Tulun

After the courtyard, I climb the stairs to the top of the mosque to take in the view of Cairo. And with that, I wrap up my weekend and head back to the hotel to prepare for work the next week. After all, that is the main reason I am here.

Getting to Egypt…

Nigerians need a visa to travel to Egypt. At the time of this writing, travellers can either apply directly at their nearest embassy or they can get a visa on arrival in Cairo for $25, if they have a tourist visa for the US, UK, Canada, Schengen Countries, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Nigerian in Cairo

Group travellers are also eligible for this visa-on-arrival program. However, I would advise that you confirm this from the airlines while planning your travels.

Have you visited Egypt before or is it on your travel wishlist? Share your experience with me in the comment section below!

5 comments

  1. Egypt is definitely on my bucket list. I’d love to climb any of the pyramids but I saw in a Yes Theory vlog that that’s a crime. More emphasis on “How the Pyramids Were Built,” do the Egyptians ever admit that Israelites probably did it?

    1. A part of the Pyramids are now open for tourists to climb. Of course, you can’t get to the very top but you can climb a few rocks and even go inside one of them too.

      I don’t think it’s a proven fact that they did, so probably no need to ‘admit’ it. 😊

  2. I am beginning to love the idea of exploring places of worship. I read an article on St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City, and another on Basilica of Sacre Coer in Paris, and these two places are now high up on my list whenever I get to visit these countries.

    Now, I’m adding the Church of Abu Serga and Ibn Tulun Mosque on my list of must-see places in Egypt.

    Thanks for sharing your story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    1. Thanks, Favour! Several old churches and mosques have incredible architecture and worth visiting to admire and learn about them. Glad to read that you enjoyed the stories 🙂 and hope you get to visit these places soon!

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

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Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
2 days ago
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1/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
3 days ago
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Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
4 days ago
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3/9
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
5 days ago
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4/9
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
5 days ago
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5/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
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Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan! Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below! Happy Travels!
1 month ago
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7/9
This lodge is the perfect place to start or end your trip to Namibia. It was certainly a highlight of ours! 💙

📍Voigtland Guesthouse 🇳🇦 Would you stay here?
This lodge is the perfect place to start or end your trip to Namibia. It was certainly a highlight of ours! 💙 📍Voigtland Guesthouse 🇳🇦 Would you stay here?
2 months ago
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8/9
Dreaming of visiting Hong Kong? 🇭🇰 If so, you're in luck because the visa application is one of the easiest (and cheapest) out there for Nigerian passport holders.⁣
⁣
💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤" for a step-by-step guide, and I'll share all the details with you via DM! 🛫📨⁣
⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠?: I first learned how easy the application process was via @travelletters_ ⁣
⁣
Then I found out that I could save 💸💸💸 if I rerouted my flights to East Asia through HK. Plus, this is a new destination for me anyway, so win-win! 🏆⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Visit the Gov.HK - comment "Hong Kong" and I'll share this directly to your DM 📩⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 4-6 weeks. So apply early!⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬: Ordinary visa $230 HKD, which = ~$30 USD. For a transit visa, it's only $120 HKD⁣
⁣
Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below!
Dreaming of visiting Hong Kong? 🇭🇰 If so, you're in luck because the visa application is one of the easiest (and cheapest) out there for Nigerian passport holders.⁣ ⁣ 💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤" for a step-by-step guide, and I'll share all the details with you via DM! 🛫📨⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠?: I first learned how easy the application process was via @travelletters_ ⁣ ⁣ Then I found out that I could save 💸💸💸 if I rerouted my flights to East Asia through HK. Plus, this is a new destination for me anyway, so win-win! 🏆⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Visit the Gov.HK - comment "Hong Kong" and I'll share this directly to your DM 📩⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 4-6 weeks. So apply early!⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬: Ordinary visa $230 HKD, which = ~$30 USD. For a transit visa, it's only $120 HKD⁣ ⁣ Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below!
2 months ago
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9/9
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