Cairo in Four Days: Sun, Sand, and a Thousand Years of Stone
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
January 2025. While most of Britain was wrapped in frost and grumbling about central heating, I found myself stepping off a plane into something quite different: the warm, spring-like sunshine of Cairo. It was my first time in Egypt—the land of the Pharaohs—and it didn’t disappoint.
The trip was brief, just four days, but it packed more experience than many holidays twice as long. I was fortunate to be hosted by a close brother of mine, Ibrahim, who has made hijrah to Egypt. As far as hosts go, he sets the bar high. Thoughtful and generous, Ibrahim not only opened his home to me but also gave me a personal tour that no guidebook could rival.
We stayed in New Cairo, a sprawling district on the city’s outskirts. While polished in parts, much of what I saw was still under development—blocks of modern apartments rising from the desert, roads being shaped, and infrastructure racing to meet demand. It’s a city in the making, full of ambition, cranes, and concrete dust.
We ventured into central Cairo on Friday for Jumu’ah at Al-Azhar Mosque. Standing in a building that’s been a centre of learning since 972 AD was humbling. You feel the weight of over a thousand years of devotion and scholarship in every corner. The sun filtered through the arches, voices echoed gently in the courtyard. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down—whether you plan to or not.
After prayers, we dived into the chaos of Cairo’s markets. And I do mean dove. There’s a particular rhythm to negotiating there: a bit of charm, a bit of theatrics, and a healthy sense of humour. It was a whirlwind of colour, fabric, spices, perfumes and voices—an endless to-and-fro of deals, laughter, and the occasional eyebrow raise. I came away with a few excellent finds, including some fine Egyptian cotton—renowned the world over for its softness and quality—and a renewed respect for the art of the haggle.
But no visit to Cairo is complete without the Pyramids. Giza: iconic and much, much larger in real life than any photo could ever suggest. Once inside the walls surrounding the pyramids, we mounted horses for a full lap of the site. Ibrahim led the way with the confidence of a local and the flair of someone who knows how to show his guests a good time. The ride took around three hours, including a pit stop at a halfway house coffee shop nestled in the sands—modern, surprisingly well-equipped, and even air-conditioned.
There’s something surreal about sipping Arabic coffee with the Great Pyramid in your peripheral vision. These ancient structures stand defiant against time, heat, and the odd camel selfie. They left me quiet. And that doesn’t happen often.
The flight there and back was with British Airways, and it was smooth and comfortable throughout. The service was warm, the food surprisingly decent, and the journey gave me just enough quiet time to reflect on everything I’d seen without distraction.
Four days. Just enough time to get a taste, and just enough to know I’ll be back. Cairo is layered, loud, ancient and alive—and it left an impression that’s hard to shake. For now, I’ll hold onto the memories, the sunlight, and the sensation of a horse trotting steadily toward history.
A heartfelt thank you to Ibrahim—for the hospitality, the laughter, and the unforgettable experience.