Facts about Cairo are useful to the tourists traveling to this splendid, historical capital city of Egypt. Cairo fast facts are objective information about the geography, history, climate, currency, and many more other factual data that help the tourists to plan their travel to Cairo.
The geography of Cairo is diverse and is greatly influenced by the river Nile. It is located on the bank of the Nile, north of Egypt. The older part of the city lies east of the Nile, while the western areas of the city are relatively modern. An efficient water systems network has allowed the city to expand east into the desert.
Cairo has a rich and glorious history. The city was the seat of ancient Egyptian civilization and tradition. The magnificent Pyramids, the Sphinx, and several historical monuments validate the rich history of Cairo. The city has inspired many historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists.
Cairo covers an approximate area of 453 sq km and holds a population of 69.5 million. The inhabitants of this city are mainly Egyptians, Berbers, Bedouin, Hamitic Arabs, and Nubians. Egyptian Arabic is the native language of this city. French and English are widely spoken foreign languages. The literacy rate in Cairo is 52%. Islam is the dominant religion. 94% of the population are Muslims and 6% are Christians. The government of Cairo operates within a republican framework and the city is divided into 26 administrative regions. The climate of Cairo is typically an arid desert climate, where the days are hot and the nights are cool. The best time to visit Cairo is during the winters between the months of February and March. During winter the weather is mild with occasional rainfall.
It is mandatory for tourists to carry a valid visa and a passport to gain entry into the capital city. The visa should be valid for six months. However, middle east country citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are exempted from the visa requirement.
The Egyptian pound is the official currency of Cairo. One Egyptian pound is made of 100 piastres. There is no restriction on the import and export of foreign currency as long as the visitor declares it in the customs form. Major credit cards such as master card, American express diners club, and Visa are accepted by major shopping centers in Cairo.
The Cairo International Airport receives numerous international and domestic flights from all corners of the world. Taxis and limousines are the two easiest public transport options to move around the city. Registered taxis in Cairo are painted black, yellow, or white.
These facts about Cairo give an overview of the city as a whole and enables the tourist to move about freely and easily.
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Cairo Airport