I came to Cairo expecting the pyramids to be the highlight—and they absolutely were. But by the end of the trip, it was the city itself that stayed with me.
I started with an early morning at the Pyramids of Giza, did the classic Nile night cruise, and wandered through Khan el-Khalili. I was never really into the typical souvenirs, so I found myself looking for perfume oils, Egyptian coffee, chocolates, spices, and other local things instead.
One afternoon, I hopped on the Cairo Metro, got off at a random station, and just walked. That unplanned detour turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. The narrow lanes and everyday life there were far more memorable than I expected.
I skipped a few touristy spots, walked more than I had planned, and realized Cairo is a city best experienced without rushing.
Note (for Indian travelers): It's much easier to convert INR to USD before your trip and then exchange the USD for Egyptian Pounds in Egypt. Directly exchanging Indian Rupees in Egypt can be a bit of a hassle.