It helps to memorize a few geographical terms . Sharia means "street" and always precedes the name (for example, Sharia Talaat Harb); narrower thoroughfares may be termed Darb, Haret, Sikket or Zuqaq, instead of Sharia. Midan denotes a square or open space. Bab signifies a medieval gate, after which certain quarters are named (for example, Bab el-Khalq); Kubri a bridge; and Souk a market. However, some of these words have more than one English transliteration (for example, Sharia is also spelt Sharic and Chareh), or may be inconsistently transliterated. Street names are posted in English (or French) and Arabic in central Cairo and Zamalek; almost everywhere else in Arabic only, or not at all. The same goes for numbers , rendered in Western and Arabic numerals, or just the latter; a single number may denote a whole block with several entrance passageways - something to remember when you're following up addresses.

Don't expect Cairenes themselves to relate to maps; they comprehend their city differently. That said, however, people are remarkably helpful to visitors, going out of their way to steer them in the right direction; offer profuse thanks, but never baksheesh, which will offend in this situation.

Cairo telephone code
Calling (or faxing) Cairo from outside Egypt, the international access code is 202; for direct dialling from another part of the country the Cairo/Giza area code is 02.