Cairotour: Museum, Citadel, Coptic Cairo & Dinner Cruise – A Candid Review

So, you’re thinking of checking out Egypt, is that right? The Cairotour “Museum, Citadel, Coptic Cairo & Dinner Cruise” package, in particular, seems to offer a broad experience. I thought I’d pass on what I learned, just so you get the full picture. It seems to try to cram a bunch of must-sees into one, pretty long day, and while it offers undeniable convenience, some aspects felt like a whirlwind. So, if you’re trying to make the most of a short time in Cairo, this package, arguably, could be something you might consider, just depending on your travel style.

A Morning Among Antiquities: The Egyptian Museum

Okay, so the tour starts at the Egyptian Museum. To be fair, this place is brimming with history – sarcophagi, statues, all that jazz. As a matter of fact, I found it slightly overwhelming. What I mean is that there’s an overwhelming abundance of artifacts crammed in every single nook and cranny in such a chaotic way, almost without labels or any specific direction, which for me, made the entire experience not as fascinating as I thought it would be. I mean, clearly seeing Tutankhamun’s treasures is awesome. However, given the crowds and what seems a slightly rushed tour, I’d recommend maybe going back on your own at a later date, just if you’re really into spending a quality time examining ancient artifacts. Actually, you can use what you’ve already seen during your tour as sort of a roadmap. That is to say, this tour allows you to scout, only. Just a heads up.

The Citadel and its Mosques

Alright, next on the list is the Citadel of Saladin, basically a medieval fortress offering seriously amazing city views. It is so fascinating to step inside and gaze at the domes and minarets that punctuate the skyline of Cairo. By the way, Muhammad Ali Mosque, located inside the Citadel, is gorgeous, possibly due to its Ottoman design, you know? Our guide shared interesting tidbits about the history, seemingly filling us in on all the rulers and battles, so too, it’s very helpful. So, again, it feels like a pretty short visit, almost like you’re ticking a box. Maybe this needs more time to explore everything properly, basically because the Citadel complex, literally, houses more than just mosques.

Spiritual Sanctuaries: Coptic Cairo

Now, for Coptic Cairo. I guess this is the part of the tour where you get to see a lot of old churches and synagogues. The Hanging Church is, undoubtedly, a sight, but, honestly, everything felt very fast-paced, which did make it difficult to soak anything up properly, so I just walked through most of it. We walked down narrow passageways, and as a matter of fact, learned a bit about Coptic history. It did seem like our guide rushed through some key details just a little, perhaps because we were on a schedule, yet the atmosphere itself, arguably, makes the visit worthwhile.

Sunset on the Nile: The Dinner Cruise

Finally, the dinner cruise. This is, more or less, the most laid-back part of the package. Clearly, gliding down the Nile, particularly at sunset, looks amazing, casting such warm, appealing colors across everything that I did find myself taking pictures like crazy. Now, dinner itself seems okay; not top-notch, however, I think it did the trick. Honestly, the entertainment with belly dancers and folk music sort of added to the whole experience. The fact is that it’s touristy, undoubtedly, yet also kind of enjoyable and something fun that gives a local flair, so I would recommend not skipping this, just if you like that sort of activity, that is.