Cairo is one of the world’s great megacities. As beautiful as it is crazy, and as rich in historic finery as it is half dilapidated, Cairo tends to be a city that travelers love and hate in equal measures. Its sheer noise, pollution, and confounding traffic are an assault on your senses, but look beyond the modern hubbub, and you’ll find a history that spans centuries. Full of vigor, Cairo is where you really get a feel for Egyptian street life. No trip to Egypt is complete without a stay in the city Arabs call Umm al-Dunya (The Mother of the World).
If you’re a student, bring your ID card. The majority of sites have big discounts for students.
Here we share with you things to do in Cairo. So, if you are planning to visit Egypt, keep reading.
Places to visit in Cairo
Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx
Visiting the most ancient of the Seven Wonders of the World (and the only wonder that survived the ages) should be on every bucket list. For me, it certainly was a dream come true.
Standing in front of those gigantic, and yet so perfect, piles of stone makes you feel so small – both in terms of dimensions and historical context. To think they are more than 5,500 years old is almost incomprehensible. I mean, Machu Picchu, for example, is beautiful, but it’s only 500 years old. Imagine, the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops are 10 times older!!!
Obviously, you really have to visit the Sphinx as well. It marks the entrance to an ancient mortuary temple and many myths are told about its construction. Some claim it’s over 10,000 years old, while others believe it was built by the Pharao of the second pyramid, Khafra, around 2,500 BC. As I am no Egyptologist, I stuck to admiring the ancient landmark.
Note: If you want to climb inside the Pyramid, you’ll have to get an extra ticket. It will be quite hot and claustrophobic inside. The light show in the evening is rather mediocre.
Al-Azhar Mosque
A remarkable establishment in the heart of the city, Al-Azhar Mosque is the most marvellous building which attracts millions of visitors throughout the year. Having built in AD972, It is really old and on of the prime landmarks in the city.
Al-Azhar Mosque is right in the centre of the downtown area and in addition to being a mosque, it is one of the oldest universities in the world. The spectacular landmark has a huge primary gateway allowing visitors to enter inside and explore the stunning architecture of this marvel. The five minarets of the mosque can be clearly seen and felt. Visitors often sit inside and pray in the central hall to get some respite from the outer busy world.
The Egyptian Museum Of Antiquities
In the centre of Cairo, just outside Tahrir Square, visitors will find the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (Midan El-Tahrir); one of the many museums in the city that invite people to explore Egypt’s glorious past. Definitely a must-see while in town, the museum houses a unique collection of more than 160,000 pieces of ancient Egyptian history. Take the time to browse through the museum’s chambers, dedicated to some of Egypt’s most prosperous dynasties, and discover what life was like during the reign of the Pharaohs.
Khan Al-Khalili
With a history dating back to the 14th century, the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar is Cairo’s signature shopping destination. It’s an intoxicating warren of streets, houses, and merchants selling everything from gold and spices to shisha pipes and toy camels, not to mention the inevitable scarabs, pyramids, and belly-dancer costumes.
Khan Al-Khalili is an essential stop on Old Cairo and Islamic Cairo tours and a focal point of any Cairo shopping tour. Enjoy it with a guide, who can help you navigate the narrow passageways, advise on quality goods, and identify the many historic buildings within the souk. Walking tours typically visit the nearby Sultan Hassan Mosque and Al-Azhar Mosque, while Islamic Cairo tours often include the Citadel of Saladin, the Alabaster Mosque, and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
Muizz Street / Al Moez Ldin Allah Al Fatimi Street
Muizz Street is a pedestrian street located in Islamic Cairo. It’s the oldest street in Cairo and is about 1km long. It has some remarkable medieval mosques and palaces along the way. We loved walking along the cobblestone streets and admiring the beautiful intricate details of every building. It’s a great street to get lost in and we found some cool quiet alleyways for some nice photos. My favourite buildings on this street are Qalawun Complex and Al-Azhar Mosque. Close by are Khan El Khalili marketplaces and El Fishawi Cafe.
Best times to visit: The street gets extremely busy most times of the day. Come on Friday mornings to have the whole street to yourself!
The Citadel
In a commanding location at the foot of the Mokattam Hills, Cairo’s citadel was built by Saladin in 1176. The original structure he laid out has long disappeared except for the eastern outer walls, but a legacy of rulers has made their own additions here.
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is the most famous monument and the main reason for visiting. Nicknamed the “Alabaster Mosque,” its white stone and tall, disproportionately slender minarets are one of Cairo’s great landmarks. The other big reason to come up here are the views across the city; head to the Gawhara Terrace for the best panorama in town.
Just to the northeast of the Muhammad Ali Mosque is the El-Nasir Mosque, built in 1318-35 by Mohammed el-Nasir. A collection of rather half-hearted museums (the Police Museum, National Military Museum, and Carriage Museum) take up some of the other buildings on site and are more worthwhile viewing for the architecture of the actual buildings rather than the exhibits themselves.
You can walk to the citadel area from Bab Zuweila, if you’re feeling energetic, by heading along Khayyamiyya Street. The walk takes about 30 minutes.
Abusir Pyramids Complex
The Abusir Pyramids Complex rarely gets the recognition it deserves, and in fact, many guide books and tour brochures don’t even mention it. It truth however, it’s a places of great historical significance since it was once the final resting ground for many pharaohs; nobles and other important officials, and particularly for those who lived during the time of the 5th Dynasty in Egypt’s Old Kingdom era.
The Abusir complex, sometimes called Abu Sir, is an extensive royal necropolis located relatively close to Cairo. It served as an Elite Cemetry for the ancient city of Memphis, as did the Giza necropolis; Dahshur necropolis and the Saqqara necropolis. Technically speaking, it is part of one giant pyramid field that encompasses all the various pyramid complexes in the area surround modern day Cairo.
Because of the sheer size of most pyramids, the “elite” status associated with the Giza necropolis, the area was soon full of pyramids, and new burial grounds had to be found. The Abusir complex is just one such burial ground.
Egypt Travel Guide 