Visiting Cairo

Also known as the ‘city of a thousand minarets’, Cairo is the capital of Egypt and one of the most historically and culturally interesting capitals in the Mediterranean.

The seat of many empires and cultures in its long history, this city of 20 million people attracts travellers from all over the world.

Built on the banks and islands of the Nile, Cairo combines the mysterious atmosphere of the Middle East with the culture of the Mediterranean and the charm of the African land.

A city full of contrasts and attractions, the largest city in Egypt and one of the largest in all of Africa, it is for me one of the cities worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Or in her life.

From Cairo airport the city located just 15 minutes drive.

Cairo, the “City of a Thousand Minarets”.

Although it may give a different impression, this huge city is a safe and pleasant destination for solo travelers as well. As long as you keep in mind, of course, that Cairo is indeed a modern city that in many areas lives in “Western” rhythms , but always within the framework of the Muslim tradition.

Tip: In Cairo, a bridge is enough to separate a slum from a beautiful neighborhood. If you don’t want to spend your holiday in a cairo airport taxi stuck in incredible traffic, choose your accommodation area carefully according to the program you want to follow.

Although many new bridges and metro stations have been built in recent years, traffic jams on the streets of Cairo remain a common occurrence. By choosing one of the best areas to stay in Cairo, you avoid unpleasant experiences and give a different tone to your holiday.

Although there are thousands of attractions in Cairo that make you want to come back to explore this 10th century city better, with a lot of effort I have gathered and grouped ten of the must-visit ones.

1. The mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza

The statue of the Sphinx in the Necropolis of Giza

The most famous pyramids in the world are located on the Giza Plateau, about 20 kilometers southwest of the city center. They are Cairo’s number one landmark and of course a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The largest of them, the 146.6-meter-high “Great Pyramid” is the tomb of Cheops and is the oldest of the seven ancient wonders of the world that have survived to date. For over 3,800 years it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.

Along with the other two Pyramids of Giza, namely the Pyramid of Hefrinus and the Pyramid of Mycerinus, it is one of the most important examples of our architectural culture.

In the Necropolis of Giza you will also see the enigmatic and curious Sphinx sitting with a woman’s head but without wings. This huge statue is the largest monolithic statue in the world. It dates to 2,500 BC although Egyptologists’ opinions on its construction are divided.

Only the nose of this mythical creature, which is missing from the statue of Giza, is estimated to be one metre long. To better understand the mystery of the Sphinx and not to miss the best of the Giza Necropolis, you can book a half-day private tour.

Tip: The Pyramids of Giza have now merged with the modern city of Cairo. If you are drawn to architectural wonders, you can also visit the Dahshur Pyramids, located in a rural, less touristy, area.

They are a little smaller and therefore less famous than the Pyramids of Giza and are located about 40 kilometres outside Cairo. They are, however, the most ancient pyramids in the country.

2. The Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square

Very close to the Necropolis of Giza, the new Grand Egyptian Museum is almost ready now, which is one of the largest archaeological museums in the world.

This pharaonic project, which is expected to open at the end of the year, will house the unique collection of 170,000 ancient Egyptian artefacts including the mummies and burial treasures of Tutankhamun. Until it is fully operational, it is offering limited tours to test its readiness and enhance the visitor experience.

In the meantime, the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square continues to operate and is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East. This iconic pink building is worth visiting, not only for its awesome collections of scrolls, sarcophagi and jewellery, but also for its location in this historic square in the centre of Cairo (Downtown Cairo) next to the Nile.

Midan Tahrir, meaning “the square of liberation”, is a roundabout full of traffic that doesn’t stop even at night. Apart from the statue of Egypt’s national hero Omar Makram, this central square had little to show until the Arab Spring of 2011.

But today it is a landmark of the political change that removed then-President Hosni Mubarak from power, and claimed the lives of 846 people.

3. The Al Khalili market and Islamic Cairo

Al Khalili market is one of the most famous markets in the Middle East. Even sung in Greek, it is definitely a place where the charm of the Arab world unfolds.

Jewellery, shoes, textiles, spices and endless souvenirs are just the excuse to find yourself in this unique architectural labyrinth from the Mamluk era and get lost in its narrow alleys, tasting the flavours of an ancient civilization together with people from all over the world.

A short walk from the Market, in the centre of Islamic Cairo, which you will see referred to as the Old City of Fatima, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Al-Azhar Mosque.

Built in the 10th century, it is a mosque with a very distinctive architecture and is what gave Cairo the nickname of the city of a thousand minarets. Al Azzhar is also home to one of the most important Islamic universities in the world.

It is worth visiting the entire Al Azhar neighborhood located on the east bank of the Nile where you will find many well-preserved historic buildings, mosques and markets dating back hundreds of years that are essentially the historic center of the city.

Tip: It’s a well-known fact that if you don’t know how to bargain, in Al Khalili you’re “missing out”. Egyptians love to bargain and can haggle for hours. So if you like something and want to buy it, try bidding up to 10 times less than what they ask for and you end up buying the object of your desire at half the original price. It works!

4. The Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque

The mosque of Muhammad Ali on the Citadel of Saladin

A unique spot in the hills of Mokattam from where you can see the entire old city of Cairo, is the Citadel of Saladin or Citadel.

Saladin or Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the first Sultan of Egypt to take on the crusaders and wanted to shield the city of Cairo by building this fortress in the late 12th century AD.

The Acropolis is like a small city in the vast Cairo and is one of the most impressive fortifications of the Middle Ages. It was used as a royal and military residence and is now home to the country’s Military Museum.

On the Acropolis is another impressive mosque in the city, the Alastair Mosque. It was built in Turkish style and was named “Alavashtrino” thanks to the marble cladding of its interior and exterior walls.

This mosque was built by Saladin in memory of his son. So you will also find it as Muhammad Ali’s Mosque. It is famous because of its typically slender twin minarets 82 meters high which are the tallest in the entire country.

5. Coptic Cairo and the Hanging Church

A particularly important neighbourhood of Old Cairo and a landmark for Christianity in Egypt is Coptic Cairo.

An area worth visiting because it dates back to the mid-6th century BC and includes a number of attractions such as the Coptic Museum, the Roman fortress of Babylon, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, the Hanging Church and many more.

The Coptic Museum is housed in a historic building of the Coptic Orthodox Church and has the largest collection of Coptic art objects. It is located very close to the church of St. George, which dates back to the 10th century.

However, perhaps the most impressive monument in the area is the Khangasti Church or “Church of the Ladder”. It is one of the oldest churches in Egypt located above a passage of the Babylon fortress and is accessible via 29 steps.

6. The Park of Al Azhar

Known as “the green lung of Cairo”, Al Azhar Park is one of the few places in the city where you can rest your ears from the car horns.

Also located in Cairo’s Old City, it is a 72-acre green space that has been distinguished as one of the 60 most important public spaces in the world.

Inspired by ancient Islamic gardens, the park consists of many fountains leading to a lake, several orchards, grassy picnic areas, restaurants and event and concert venues.

It is a park built in honour of the Fatimids who founded the city of Cairo and is a unique place of relaxation that has adorned the city since 2005. Apart from that it also gives an excellent view of the Saladin Citadel.

7. The Nile River

Son of the Titan Ocean and father of the nymphs Naiads, according to Greek mythology, the legendary god Nile River is one of the most important attractions of the African continent.

Although it rivals the Amazon for the title of the longest river, it is one of the world’s most famous rivers associated with many myths. A catalyst for the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, the Nile is an important part of Cairo life to this day.

If you don’t manage to take a cruise from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan, you should at least take a ride on a felucca to see the city differently.

You’ll find small and large boats available, short and long rides, with or without food, with or without music on the bar. The cost of course varies, but you will certainly have to negotiate. If you are already tired of bargaining, you can book a tour online.

8. The Cairo Tower and Gezira Island

For a completely different view of the city from far above, it’s worth climbing the Cairo Tower, also known as the Borg al Jazeera. It is shaped like a lotus blossom and 187 metres high. It was built in the second half of the 1950s and until 1998 it was the tallest structure in Egypt.

Today it may not be the tallest building in Cairo since it was recently surpassed by a 78-storey building in the new administrative capital, but it is still the building with the most spectacular view of Cairo city and the entire Nile Valley.

The tower is located on one of the Nile islands, and more specifically on the southern part of it called Gezira. The northern part of the island, Zamalek, is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of downtown Cairo with tree-lined streets and buildings of distinctive architecture.

Home to a large number of embassies, foreign language schools, hotels and restaurants, Zamalek is one of the most pleasant cosmopolitan areas to walk around and go out at night.

Tip: If you want to catch the sunset from the Tower, be sure to get there well in advance, especially on weekends. When enough people are gathering to go up the Tower, waiting for the elevator (with a number please) can take several minutes, up to an hour.

Where to stay in Zamalek

(€€€€) Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino (⭐ 7.6)
(€€€€) Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences (⭐ 7.7)
(€€€) New President Hotel Zamalek (⭐ 8.2)
(€) Jewel Zamalek Hotel (⭐ 7.9)

9. The city of the dead

One of the most interesting neighbourhoods in Cairo is Al Karafa, a neighbourhood built within a vast historic Islamic cemetery with millions of graves.

Although a certain number of graves have been moved due to the construction of new highways connecting Cairo to the new capital, the area known as the “City of the Dead” remains a very special neighborhood.

It was first inhabited by the people who looked after the graves and then by dealers in funerary objects, until, due to economic insecurity, many people began to use the graves as homes and shops.

The area is home to historical mausoleums and tombs of famous religious leaders, scholars and politicians, some of which are elaborately decorated in arabesque style.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this recommended walk, however, has to do with how close life comes to death by necessity.

10. The city of garbage

Is it possible for garbage to be an “attraction”? And yet. In southeastern Cairo there is an area at the foot of the Mokattam hills, built essentially on rubbish that is another particularly interesting neighbourhood in the city.

The area is called Manshiyat Nasser but is known by the nickname “Garbage City”. This is because since the 1970s it was the only place where garbage sorting was done.

The inhabitants of this area, mostly Coptic Christians worked as “Zabbaleen”, i.e. informal garbage collectors and made a living from recycling. Since 2003, when the Cairo authorities entrusted this work to private companies, the situation has changed in part.

Several residents still make utilitarian and decorative objects from recyclable materials. You can take a tour of Garbage City, learn more about recycling and the lifestyle of the residents and even buy some recycled souvenirs to support them.