Hey guys,
Welcome to this exciting blogger collaboration!
Egypt was the first country we had ever visited as a traveling family, back in November 2016, and we absolutely LOVED it! Naturally, we’ve wanted to share more of our experience with you all but since it’s been a little while, we went ahead and made some new friends who have recently traveled to Egypt with their families and we’re ready to tell you all about it!
About our friends:
- Iliah: The founder of Negra Bohemian and a free spirit, redefining motherhood. She runs a tribe of curious, traveling humans: three brilliant children growing up with cultural and global exposure and faith-led values. Find her on Instagram.
- Maier: Our Spanish-speaking friend who went from being a part of a ‘travel couple’ to now a ‘travel family’. She says she’ll forever continue to travel and share her wanderlust along with her now 6-year-old son.
You can see more of their adventures on Instagram. - Paola: A photographer and travel mom. Her and her family left San Fransisco and have been traveling full-time since May 2018. They love traveling, even while on a budget, many times exploring the lesser known path. Check out their stories on ‘Backpacks & Rugrats‘ and their Instagram.
Now, if you’re a parent like us, you’re probably reading this while you wait in the school pick-up line or hiding in your bathroom. So let’s be quick!
We went ahead and compiled some easy-to-read, simple lists of Dos, Donts and Musts for you to keep in mind if you’re thinking about taking the kids to Egypt on your next family vacation. [Which would probably be cheaper than DisneyLand… just saying.]
What To Do
DOS
- Beaches, Beaches & more Beaches!
We had no idea, but there are some spectacular beaches in Egypt with amazing turquoise waters and where you’ll find horseback riding, snorkeling, diving and more! Ageeba Beach seems to be the most loved among families. - Camping
You’ll see plenty of this while in Egypt. Camping in the Sinai desert, by the Red Sea, under the stars by the pyramids… just make sure to do your research before booking this experience. Iliah and her kids had an amazing time, but us, not so much. - Khan el Khalili Bazaar – The World’s Oldest Market
If this is your first time visiting a market in the East, prepared to be blown away! The crowds, the stalls, the smells., the music… Add in the unexpected Muslim prayer calls I remember my uncultured self confusing for an extreme weather alert warning, like back home, and you’re in for an adventure. But it is one amazing experience you’ll not want to miss. - Valley of the Kings
Pictures here are strictly forbidden, but it’s worth it! Geographically, it’s like out of the movie ‘The Mummy’, it’s impressive. Within you’ll find over 60 tombs of Pharaohs, nobles and royals, only some open to the public as they rotate this in order to preserve the ancient artifacts. The hieroglyphics and some treasures are still there but most have been taken in for safekeeping. Not too far, are the wives of the Pharaohs, including Nefertari. In the Valley of Queens; it is said that her tomb is the most beautiful one of all. Definitely worth a visit if your kids are wondering where did they keep the mummies. 😉 - The Egyptian Museum
A great place to visit on a hot day. Visit early to avoid the crowds. Visit King Tut’s exhibit first, before the group tours arrive. - The Cairo Citadel
A beautiful fortress, once a royal home. A perfect opportunity for an impromptu history lesson.
What To Avoid
DONTS
- Be Cheap.
As in, DON’T be cheap. When it comes to transportation, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Spend the extra money & travel comfortably. That being said, Uber is super affordable in Egypt and the drivers are decent. So, splurge for the long hauls and the bus rides but save a ton by commuting with Uber. [← Get a Free Ride! 🤫] - Temples,Temples & More Temples.
I know WE might want to see them ALL but there is such a thing as too many temples when traveling with kids. They can seem very similar and become, well, boring. Try to add a fun activity in between the tedious temple runs or get them involved with games like ‘I Spy’ within the temples and hieroglyphics. - Ditch the Stroller
Opt for a carrier if you must. Most places are simply too narrow to get through, uneven or too rough for most strollers anyways. - Camping (I know, I know…)
I know it’s a “thing to do”, and our friend Iliah had a great experience, but it was our biggest mistake, one that we still cringe at the thought of. We booked a “Night under the Stars” experience (no stars, just very bright street lights) by the pyramids (nowhere to be seen) with our guide. And after being told to pack minimally, (“they had it all taken care of”), we hauled our then 3-year-old and heavy blankets across what seemed like the entire desert, finally arriving at a tarp shack for a group of 6 or more, with extra blankets that were clearly used to cover camels throughout the day; it was cold and we basically had no way out but to walk the desert again now pitch black, so we stayed and got eaten alive by mosquitoes… needless to say, we didn’t sleep and tried our best to keep Nina warm and mosquito free but that was the last straw. We ditched the “tour guide” shortly after. - Carry What You Need
The previous nightmare could have been avoided if we weren’t so trusting and naive. We had insect repellant left behind in our accommodation. Better blankets, proper attire and even snacks for our kid. But because of the miscommunication, we failed to bring any of this with us. Making us as parents feel 1000x times worse about the situation. So don’t be like us. Carry what you need with you at all times, especially if you’re running on someone else’s schedule.
What You Can’t Miss!
MUSTS
- The Pharaonic Village – *TOP PICK FOR KIDS*
Fun for all ages. Amusement rides, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, a cinema, shopping, restaurants and even a mummy-themed escape room. According to Negra Bohemian, “it’s AMAZING”! - The Pyramids – The Obvious One.
It’s no surprise that the pyramids are on this list, but don’t stop at the pyramids and sphinx in Giza! Visit the Saqqara pyramids, a little drive away but much less crowded and for a very small fee, you can climb and explore the interior at your own pace. It was great for us and our the 3-year-old. - Go beyond Cairo
Visit the coastal city of Luxor, the castle and catacombs in Alexandria. Get lost in Giza.
Seeing the desert, the sea and bustling city of Cairo really made our trip so much more versatile. - Explore without a tour guide.
Sure hiring a tour guide is one of the most recommended ways to get around in a foreign country. But here, though there are many, it is not necessary. English is well-spoken. Food is easy to find, getting around is pretty simple and simply asking around like the olden days just makes it much more of an adventure. We honestly felt safer and more secure during our trip after actually running away from our tour guide in the light of many of mishaps. I’m sure there are some good guides, unfortunately from what our experience has taught us, we’ll probably never hire one again.
A special thanks to Iliah, Maier, and Paola, for taking the time to put this together with us!
❝ Dare to Explore the World
& Experience More ❞
If it turns out that the kids are distracted and you are able to scroll some more, check out some frequently asked questions below, that our friends have answered, about traveling to Egypt with kids.
Submit your own questions here if you have any. Oh, and don’t forget to ask us anything for our next ‘Travel Families Talk’, destination: Tanzania
FAQ’s
What did the kids love the most?
“History really came alive for them; they had been studying Ancient Egypt on their own for so long, and it was a thrill for them to see this majesty first hand! Also, to be on the Red Sea and in the Sinai desert was a really special and spiritual experience for us.”
Iliah
Our son was crazy happy with the cruise. He was also fascinated to see animals, especially the camels and crocodiles, at the Pharaonic Village. He loved being able to see the pyramids from his bed. He felt like a true Indiana Jones between the halls of the Dendera temple and down to the crypt of the treasure. He was also very happy with the surprises that were left in the cruise room. The Egyptians love children and filled him with attentions at all times.
Maier
“Nuestro hijo estaba loco de contento con el crucero. También le fascinó ver animales (camellos, cocodrilos…) en el poblado Nubio. Y le encantó poder ver las pirámides desde su cama. Se sintió como un verdadero Indiana Jones entre los pasillos del templo de Dendera y bajando a la cripta del tesoro. También se ponía muy contento con las sorpresas que le dejaban en la habitación del crucero.
Los egipcios adoran a los niños. Se han desvivido en atenciones con él en cada momento.”
“They loved the Pyramids and the Sphinx. We spent 3 days just wandering around Giza, exploring the town and we visited the pyramids complex every day. It was amazing to take the time to just explore instead of rushing through it.”
Paola
What are your kid-friendly food recommendations?
“A couple of my kids are really picky eaters. What I normally do is find a place or two that they like and stick to that. I don’t like wasting money and I also don’t like wasting food. In Cairo, we found a great shwarma place that the kids LOVED so we ate there a lot. KFC saved the day more than once, and we loved a cafe we found near our hostel, La Poire. When we were in the Sinai, we ate a TON of delicious kofta that we would grill on an open pit with our Airbnb hosts. We also spent time in homes with Egyptians, eating along with them.”
Iliah
We ate on the cruise and at local restaurants recommended by TripAdvisor in the nearby areas. Our son is a very good eater. He adapts to all kinds of food. We just had to avoid spicy foods and he loved the humus!
Maier
“Comimos en el crucero y en algún restaurante local recomendado por TripAdvisor en las zonas cercanas. Nuestro hijo es muy buen comedor. Se adapta a todo tipo de comida. Sólo teníamos que evitar las comidas picantes. Adora el humus!”
“We looked at different places on TripAdvisor and found some amazing restaurants. Our kids are definitely not picky eaters and they loved Egyptian food. We thought the food was very approachable for little ones. Cairo Kitchen was a favorite. The rice pudding there was amazing! Cairo has a lot of great places to eat! Many times we were told that people in Egypt love food, and we can totally see why!
Paola
Here are some places we tried (and loved) during our time together in Cairo:
– Zooba serves traditional street food with a modern twist!
– Cairo Kitchen in Zamalek is a great eatery with traditional food and the best rice pudding I’ve ever had in my entire life!
– Niema Cafeteria is a bustling spot with locals that serves the best shawarma you’ve ever had along with other Egyptian classics. It’s take-away only.”
– Naguib Mahfouz Cafe is a well-known gem tucked away in the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, and a perfect place to take a break from shopping while enjoying some delicious Egyptian food!”
Where do you recommend staying with kids?
“In Cairo, we stayed in the center at small hotels/hostels. They weren’t fancy with many bells and whistles, but they were economical and close to everything. I treated the kids and we stayed in the Conrad Hotel in Cairo for one night and it was lovely. The water pressure was on point, there was a great pool and a breakfast buffet that was to die for. The falafel was melt-in-your-mouth! We spent about three days at a resort in Taba that was wonderful. It was an all-inclusive, had a great waterslide plus a kiddie pool. The was a great staff, kids club and the kids had a blast.”
Ilia
The hotel chosen for our stay in Cairo was Le Meridien Pyramids, with the room option of a view of the pyramids. The cruise we went on was the Alyssa (I think I remember that it was going to close a season for renovations).
Maier
In both cases we booked a double or double room, with an extra bed. Children do not have to pay extra.
Both the hotel and the cruise have a pool and spa. In the case of the hotel, the spa was free. Near the hotel there are recommended restaurants with affordable prices and a small playground with inflatables, slide and other attractions. The price of the playground was very low.
“El hotel elegido para nuestra estancia en El Cairo fue ‘Le Meridien Pyramids’, en la opción de habitación con vistas a las pirámides. El crucero elegido fue el Alyssa (creo recordar que lo iban a cerrar una temporada para remodelaciones).
En ambos casos habitación de matrimonio o doble, con cama supletoria. Los niños no tienen que pagar suplemento.
Tanto el hotel como el crucero disponen de piscina y spa. En el caso del hotel el spa es sin coste. Cerca del hotel hay un restaurante recomendable con precios asequibles y un pequeño parque infantil con hinchables, tobogán y otras atracciones. El precio del parque infantil es muy bajo.”
“In both Giza and Cairo, we stayed in Airbnb apartments. [← Get a Free Night! 🤫] In Giza we found a place with a stunning view of the pyramids and in the city. The place was nice but the building was unfinished. We loved being in a neighborhood because we got to interact with the people. In Cairo we stayed in Zamalek. There are some playgrounds around, especially in Cairo, but it’s kind of hard to find green spaces, which can make be challenging at times. We read that the main hotels in Cairo will let you use the pool for a day fee but we didn’t try it. We visited the Aquarium Grotto Gardens in Zamalek and our kids had a fun time exploring the gardens and seeing the man-made cave housing bats. The Cairo Citadel was also a fun place for our kids to run around and explore. Zamalek is definitely the place to stay as it has lots of eating options and all the main hotels are there.”
Paola
Overall, how affordable was it?
“Egypt is a very economical country to be in. We would get mango ice cream every day, and it was around $1 for three cups. Bottled water was around .20 cents, and we could all share a meal for around $5. If we “treated” ourselves, I would splurge and spend around $15-20 total for all four of us to eat.”
Iliah
Los precios son muy bajos en general. Un turbante tipico puede rondar 1 o 2 euros. Igual una botella de agua de 1 litro y medio. También hay pequeños souvenirs como imanes o figuras por ese precio. The prices are very low in general. A typical turban can be around 1 or 2 euros. Same as a 1.5 liter water bottle. There are also small souvenirs like magnets or figures for that price.
Maier
“Los precios son muy bajos en general. Un turbante tipico puede rondar 1 o 2 euros. Igual a una botella de agua de 1 litro y medio. También hay pequeños souvenirs como imanes o figuras por ese precio.”
“I don’t remember prices but Egypt is cheap and will fit any budget. It’s easy to splurge as prices are not too steep.”
Paola
Traveling to Egypt?
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE SUMMARIZED GUIDE HERE
A FUN-SIZED CHECKLIST WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN ARRIVING IN EGYPT.
Don’t forget to submit your own questions here
for our next ‘Travel Families Talk’, destination: Tanzania
Helpful articles:
- When is the Best Time to Visit Egypt with Kids?
by Negra Bohemian - Visiting Cairo, Egypt With Kids
by Backpacks & Rugrats - How To Visit The Great Pyramids Of Giza With Kids
by Backpacks & Rugrats
The Xpat Family 