Cairo Attractions

With so much to do in the sprawling metropolis of Cairo, it’s easy to feel disoriented and overwhelmed. And you don’t want to be disappointed by realizing, by the time you leave, that you haven’t made the most of your time in Cairo. Here are a few suggestions about the most important attractions in Cairo, and how to plan your visit to ensure you spend your time well during your visit.

1. The Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza
You’ve read about Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza since you were a child. You saw them on Discovery Channel and promised yourself that you will visit them some day. And here you are, finally! Impressive yet extremely crowded during the day, these historical attractions appear spectacular the evening during the sound and light show – bring these ancient structures to live.

2. The Egyptian Museum is an excellent place to visit and learn more about the complex and intriguing history of Egypt. Discover Egypt’s past when you browse among the exhibits – some of which are priceless - arranged chronologically behind protective glass. It’s also the place where you’ll come face to face with King Tut and the amazing treasure revealed from when his tomb was discovered many years ago.

3. Khan-el-Khalili is a huge and extremely charming open air-market dating back to 1382, and is considered by many travelers to be the most entertaining part of Cairo . Prepare yourself for great souvenir shopping at this unique and interesting venue! There are traditional galabeya robes, interesting spices, sheesha with flavored tobacco, and lots of colorful jewelry to suit any taste and preference. Stick to these simple rules – keep your calm, compare prices in several shops and be friendly! Relax with tea and sheesha at the picturesque Fishawi’ café that has been in existence for more than 200 years.

4. Listen to the silent tale of Egyptian architecture by visiting the most sacred site in Cairo , the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein. Don’t miss the massive Citadel of Salah-el-Din, a witness of Egypt ’s tumultuous past, crowned as the mosque of Mohammed Ali. The reward for facing the heat in this Islamic tour is the impressive view from the Citadel over Cairo and the Pyramids.

5. A felucca ride on the Nile will show you a side of Cairo at its most serene. Enjoy the best city views in the sunset light, when the city sounds disappear and you can hear the prayers from all the mosques of this amazing metropolis.

More Attractions

Cairo markets/shopping

Papyrus Museums, Jewellers and Perfumeries

No tour of Cairo is complete without a visit to one of the many papyrus “museums” (referred to alternately as institutes, academies and galleries) in which “modern papyrus” is made onsite in demonstrations. While not the same as ancient papyrus (the plant used in ancient times is now rare, thanks to modern agriculture and building on the nile delta) the construction methods are similar and it forms an entertaining demonstration of a craft which is long forgotten in most of Egypt. A huge range of papyrus souvenirs is available at prices which range from reasonable to ridiculous, containing friezes of Pharaohonic Egypt, cartouches with Heiroglyphics and more.

Cairo is also famous for its jewellers, and most tours will include at stop at at least one. There are bargains to be had here – gold is typically sold by weight, and if you know what you're buying you can pick up some astonishing craftsmanship at a fantastic price. Popular souvenirs include cartouche pendants with a name of your choice represented in Heiroglyphics or Arabic letters.

Perfume too is a long-standing Cairo tradition, with perfume oil a particular Egyptian strength. Unlike western perfume and aftershave, it uses no alcohol base and is alleged to have moisturising properties rather than the drying nature of western products. A wide range of scents is available, including passable imitations of most high-street fragrances. It's not uncommon to find them offered in decorative bottles which make nice gifts for those seeking a souvenir which doesn't look like it came from the airport Duty Free.

The Cairo Opera House

Cairo has a surprisingly rich operatic tradition, but 1971 saw the destruction of the Royal Opera House in a large fire, leaving the city without an opera house. The Japanese partnered with the Egyptians to build the National Cultural Centre and the new Cairo Opera House opened in 1988, restoring the city's place at the forefront of Middle Eastern opera.

The Pyramids and the Sphinx
The Pyramids represent one of the greatest architectural acheivements done by man. The pyramids is one of the seven wonders of the world. It's the oldest attraction and it's mostly the reason why people come to Egypt. The pyramids were built as a tomb for the Kings at that time. Each pyramid was built for a king. The three main pyramids are Khufu, Khafrae and Menkaura. The Sphinx is located in front of the pyramids. The Sphinx in Arabic is called "Abu El-Haol", which means "The father of terror".

Old Cairo

As it's clear from the name, is the oldest part in the city and it's the place where the Roman built Babylon. It's also called Coptic Cairo because the Coptic Christian community are located there and you can find many of the churches there such as the Hanging Chruch and the Ben Ezra synagogue.

Islamic Cairo

There you will find many of the mosques. There are two mosques that are considered to be the most famous mosques which are the mosque of Mohammed Ali and the mosque of Ibn Tolon which is said to be the largest mosque of the world. The Citadel is also located in Islamic Cairo. There you will also find Khan El-Khalili, which is like a bazaar where you can find many souvenirs. Finally, El-Azhar mosque is the oldest university in the world.

Egyptian Museum

Most of the stuff that are found in the tombs in Egypt from Luxor and Aswar, are taken to the Egyptian Museum. If you go to any of the places, you will find that the tombs are empty. Along with the mummies, the ancient treasures found in the tombs with the mummies are taken to the museum.
The objects that you can't miss, is the stuff taken from Tutankhamen's tom and the boy king's death mask that is made of gold. That mask was said to be the most beautiful thing that has been made.
The musuem is open everyday from nine o'clock in the morning up to five o'clock in the afternoon.
If you need any addititional information please <click here> to visit the museum website.

City of the Dead

I know that this doesn't sound that good and obviously not the best part to visit in Cairo, but this side of Cairo is the the home to millions of Cairenes. Here's a Visual Journey throught this place.

A Falucca on the Nile

If you got tired from walking all over Cairo, the best way to relax is to rent a Falucca on the Nile. It can be rented by the hour.

Whirling Dervishes

The Sufi dancers perform at the Citadel in Islamic Cairo. These performances are usually on Wednesday and Saturday at night.

Cairo Tower

This is the best place to enjoy a view of Cairo and the whole city while sitting at nice restaurant. The Cairo towers opens from nine o'clock in the morning up till one o'clock at night everyday.