I visited cairo for three nights and would love to go back there.
One highlight of the trip was the egyptian museum. We had a guide when we visited and i would definately recommend that anyone going there should do the same. Our guide knew the history very well and his stories were great, we found lots of hangers on joined us as we walked round! There are so many exhibits that having someone to explain them in detail was fantastic.
There were queues when we arrived and this is apparently the norm with it being a favourite stop for large parties. Photography is permitted in the museum but flash photography is not allowed in some areas. Anyone wishing to take photos needs to pay extra on top of the normal admitance price. At the main entrance there is a small shop that sells film and batteries and it also has some great guide books and postcards of the museum.
We spent several hours looking around and did not get a chance to see everything. It would have been nice to go back for a second visit but unfortunately we didn't get the time. We did see the tutankhamun exhibit which is unsurprisingly their most popular section. There are huge glass cases filled with jewelery, statues and other items found in the tomb ands a small seperate room where the more lavish jewels and the more fanous pieces are kept. This room is by far the busiest part of the building as it houses the things that everyone is familar with such as the golden casket. One problem is the small amount of space that has been given to these items. It means there can be quite a crush as people try to get a good view and pictures can end up taking a while to take without anyone being in shot. There were several people in wheel chairs though and they managed to see the exhibits despite it being so busy.
The other unforgettable trip was our visit to the pyramids and sphynx. No matter how many times you've see them on t.v or in books actually being there is amazing. It is possible to go inside and although i'm prone to getting claustraphobia i decided to go for it and i'm glad i did. It is not something i shall forget in a hurry! Climbing to the top is certainly not easy. The steps and slopes inside are very cramped and lighting has to be kept to a minimal. It can sometimes get quite steep and has only wooden planks laid flat on the slope to act as a step. One girl in our party wore flip flops and how she managed i'll never know. Flat shoes or trainers are definately needed. The way down is the same way you come up and there is only just enough room in some parts for two people so i did get a bit uncomfortable but i would have regretted it afterwards had i not gone in. Towards the top there is a small tunnel then a space to stand then another small tunnel which is just big enough for one person at a time but you can get through them in a matter of seconds. Then you reach the room at the top. There are no hieroglyphics in the room and only a small box standing in it. One of our party felt dissappointed but personally i thought it was a wonderful experience just knowing i was at the top! Because of the difficulties involved in climbing to the room i wouldn't recommend it to everyone but just being there is fantastic in itself.
One thing to watch out for by the pyramids are the camel rides. There are some people who offer good rates and walk you round on the camel and let you have your photo taken but be wary of the men who offer you free rides or try to take the photos for you. Once they've taken the photo some won't let you have your camera back until you've paid them and likewise once you've had your "free" ride they won't let you off the camel until you've bought something from them. There are local police who watch the people who sell postcards and souveniers closely but it pays to be cautious. There were quite a few of them around and although they we never felt threatened it got very annoying very quickly. They seemed to charge really cheap rates for their trinkets etc but we found the same cheaper in some of the bigger tourist shops. There are some great prices to be found on jewellery and souveneirs to suit most tastes. We had necklaces made with our names written in hieroglphics at the merit center in Giza and picked up some real bargains there.
As a city break i think cairo was great and really enjoyed my time there. One drawback to some people could be the lack of nightlife but most hotels have some form of entertainment and many have discos. These can be quiet in slower seasons but the amount of things to do during the day more than makes up for this anyway.