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Voykit pocket guide · Egypt
New Administrative Capital
العاصمة الجديدة
Visit for a half‑day to see the Iconic Tower, Grand Mosque and museums; 2–3 h total, then return to Cairo.
The New Administrative Capital is a rapidly developing city east of Cairo with limited public transport but several flagship sites – the Iconic Tower, Egypt’s Islamic Cultural Center, the Egyptian Capitals Museum and the Al‑Fattah Al‑Aleem Mosque. A short visit (2–3 hours) fits into a Cairo‑based itinerary; longer stays are only justified for business or special events.
- Country
- Egypt
- Local name
- العاصمة الجديدة
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Sep (heat, construction traffic)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EGP
- Money
- Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E). Hotels, cruise boats and larger restaurants take cards; taxis, markets, small cafés, tips and toilet attendants are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget EGP 150–250 excl. bed (check) · Mid EGP 250–450 excl. bed (check) · High EGP 450+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.
- Emergency
- Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Tourist police 126
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).; Guide, full day: US$10–20 per person.; Driver, full day: US$5–10.; Cruise crew: About US$5–10 per person per day in the envelope.; Toilet, porter, small help: EGP 10–30.
- Water
- Tap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20. Carry tissue.
Get in
By air
- CAI · Cairo International Airport
- Main gateway; 30 km (19 mi) west of the new capitalMain gateway; 19 mi (30 km) west of the new capital
Typical fares
- Metro line 3 (Cairo ↔ Adly Mansour)
- LE 10 each way (check)
- LRT Adly Mansour ↔ New Capital
- LE 20 each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Take the Cairo LRT (LE 20 each way) from Adly Mansour station, or the East Nile monorail. Taxis and ride‑share are fastest for most sites; three free city buses (C1‑C3) run limited routes.
See and do
Known for
- Iconic Tower (Africa’s tallest building)
- Egyptian Capitals Museum
- Al‑Fattah Al‑Aleem Mosque
- Grand Mosque of Egypt (Islamic Cultural Center)
- Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | Metro line 3 to Adly Mansour, then LRT back; total ~45 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Tolip Hotel Olympic International City
- Mid‑range hotel near the LRT station; good for a night if you need rest
- The St. Regis Almasa
- Luxury option with views of the Iconic Tower
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | عفواًʿafwan |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much is it? | بكم؟bikam? |
| Where is the toilet? | أين الحمام؟ayna al‑ḥammām? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Salam alaykum', handshake; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging strangers
- Eating: Right hand; accept tea; avoid: Refusing hospitality flatly
- Bargaining: Humour and patience; avoid: Anger
- Dress: Shoulders and knees covered in cities; avoid: Beachwear outside resorts
- Baksheesh: Keep small notes ready; avoid: Showing a thick wallet
- Photos: Ask; pay if agreed; avoid: Photographing police or military
Scams and watch-outs
- Public transport is minimal; buses only cover central ministry and residential zones.
- Road traffic on the ring road can be heavy, especially peak hours.
- Construction zones restrict photography; follow signage.
Generally safe for tourists; stay alert in construction zones, avoid night travel on poorly lit streets, and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for New Administrative Capital yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Iconic Tower (Africa’s tallest building)
- Egyptian Capitals Museum
- Al‑Fattah Al‑Aleem Mosque
- Grand Mosque of Egypt (Islamic Cultural Center)
- Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – New Administrative Capital: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: New Administrative Capital (Egypt), revision 5239902 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239902
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/new-administrative-capital-egypt). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.