Staying Fit in Cairo, Egypt
Our battle-tested guidance on how to eat kebab and konafeh in Egypt and still live to see another day.
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40 Basic Egyptian Arabic Phrases to Sound Local
Colloquial everyday useful survival phrases in Egyptian Arabic guaranteed to earn you respect.
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Reading a Local Egyptian Arabic Food Menu 80-20 style
Unlock delicious cheap local food by learning to read an Egyptian local menu in Arabic, 80-20 style.
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Awkward Questions they Ask in Egypt: Rent and Religion
What do you say when the government asks you “What’s your religion”? (This is an archive of our letter of 2 Feb 2019.)
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Is Egypt Safe? Critical Crime, Harassment and Traffic Tips
Is Egypt safe for visitors? Is Cairo safe for women? This is our on-the-ground viewpoint, supported by research.
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Learn Languages Faster with Books, not Apps
We like learning languages with books, not apps. (Except Anki.)
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Written Egyptian Arabic in the Wild — Three Places to See It
Egyptian Arabic definitely exists in written form, even if it’s not standardized. Just look at menus, text messages and Facebook for an idea.
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Getting Around Cairo — Cairo’s Transportation Explained
Cairo transportation – Motorcycle, Microbus, Tuk Tuk and the Metro.
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Where to Stay in Cairo: Best Neighborhoods for Living (2026)
Our firsthand guide to the best Cairo neighborhoods for a longer stay, including Dokki, Zamalek, Maadi, Downtown, Mohandessin, Heliopolis and New Cairo — and who each area suits.
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Best Egyptian Arabic Books for Self-Study (2026)
The Egyptian Arabic books we’d buy for self-study in 2026: a structured beginner course, practical vocabulary, a detailed verb reference, and native-speaker audio.
