I recently read that Friday mornings in Cairo are fairly quiet for prayer time. Does this make it a good time to go out sightseeing, for example to the Giza pyramids, or is everything shut? Does it generally mean less hassle when walking the streets (touts et al)? On the other hand I’ve read that things may get rowdy in the Tahir area later in the day.
Also, are weekends busier for long-distance transport (eg Alexandria, Taba (en route to Petra), Luxor) and visiting tourist sites? If so, is more than a few days in advance enough for train/bus reservations? I’m thinking the travelers wouldn’t necessarily be locals, but people from nearby countries making a holiday by extending weekends.
I have never been to Egypt before, so excuse for asking what some may consider obvious questions. I’m planning a trip (by way of extended stopover) for May. I know my flyout date, but otherwise I like to keep my schedule open to allow for the possibility of spontaneity.
