The 13 Best Things to do in Cairo, Egypt

Updated at : 05 Jun, 2023

Cairo is one of the unconfined cities of the warmed-over world. Home to some of the oldest pyramids and artifacts found anywhere on earth, this 10 million strong megacity is moreover Egypt’s largest municipality as well as its capital.

As a popular tourist destination for centuries, the city’s infamous pollution, noise and treason haven’t detracted from its unfurled place withal the tourist trail.

15 Weightier Things to do in Cairo Egypt

Modern Cairo is full of life and vigor, and while most visitors simultaneously love and hate the municipality for varying reasons, there’s no doubt that vibrant Cairo must be experienced at least once in your life.

Getting to Cairo by air is relatively easy. Whether you’re flying from London or New York, or have Sharjah to Cairo tickets, with the most affordable airfares in the low season of November to March (excluding Christmas).

See the Pyramids of Giza (Giza Necropolis)

When people think of Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza are at the top of the list.

The largest pyramid on the Giza Plateau, as well as all of Egypt, is the Unconfined Pyramid. Known locally as the Pyramid of Khufu (for the pharaoh it was originally built for in the early 26th century BC), its narrow passages can be explored. However, the huge exterior is what people often marvel at.

Farther south withal the plateau is the Pyramid of Khefre (also known as the Pyramid of Chephren). It includes an internal tunnel that can be explored. The smaller Pyramid of Mycerinus (also known as the Pyramid of Menkaure) stands right next to it.

This zone on the whet of Cairo makes a unconfined half day visit. You can get here by metro, taxi or by joining a tour. If you want to get the most out of it, a tour is strongly recommended.

Guess the riddle of The Unconfined Sphinx

Also located at the Giza Necropolis at the entry to the Giza Plateau, stands the Unconfined Sphinx of Giza. Seemingly guarding the giant pyramids, the lion-bodied and pharaoh-faced Sphinx is as iconic with warmed-over Egypt as the pyramids themselves.

Built virtually 2500 BC for the pharaoh Khafre (the builder of the Second Pyramid at Giza), the Sphinx is a large monolith carved from the thrump-cap of the plateau that served as the quarry for the pyramids and other monuments in the area. It’s thought by a few that the throne of the Sphinx may have been carved first out of a natural thrump-cap that was previously sculpted by the wind to requite it shape. The zone virtually it was excavated succeeding to provide blocks for the pyramids.

Float withal the Nile River

Cairo is a unconfined jumping off point for a Nile River cruise. The northward flowing Nile is the longest river in Africa and is often believed to be the longest river in the world. It meanders through 11 African countries and splits in two just north of Cairo to empty into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Nile fuels hydro dams and provides irrigation all withal its route. However, Cairo has a gorgeous unspoiled river front that is perfect for a water cruise. You can segregate between party boats, historical boats and overnight and vast options. Some packages moreover include guided tours to the Pyramids and other landlocked sites.

Get lost at the Egyptian Museum

Also known as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities or the Cairo Museum, the Egyptian Museum is one of the largest museums in the region, as well as one of the oldest archaeological museums in the Middle East.

It houses over 120,000 Egyptian artifacts, many of them pharaonic in nature. Often portrayed in books and movies, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo is a unconfined place to get lost in the past.

Featuring everything from mummies and beautifully intricate gold masks, to pottery, papyri, sarcophagi and jewelry, the museum houses some of Egypt’s most prized collections. The museum was founded in 1901.

The museum is unshut every day from 9 am to 5 pm. Archway tickets forfeit 200 EGP for adults and 100 EGP for students.

Wander through the National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations (NMEC)

The first of its kind in Egypt, the NMEC displays the history of Egypt from prehistoric times all the way to today. It’s a large museum with well over 50,000 artifacts, including the wooden Sepulcher of King Ramses II and the gold foiled leaf cartonage (ancient Egyptian tousle consisting of linen or papyrus held together with glue) sepulcher of Nejim Ankh.

Collecting artifacts from all the major museums in the region and opened in 2017, its hodgepodge of Pharaoh mummies is quite wide-stretching as well as its hodgepodge of Greco-Roman, Medieval, Islamic and contemporary.

Split into two permanent collections, you can explore both the chronological side and the thematic side.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations is unshut every day from 9 am to 5 pm.

Entrance tickets forfeit 200 EGP for adults and 100 EGP for students.

Admire the Hanging Denomination in Coptic Cairo

The Hanging Church, increasingly formally known as the Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church, is one of the oldest churches in Egypt. The first iteration of the denomination likely dates to the third century, and is moreover tabbed the Suspended Denomination or Al-Moallaqa. It was built by edict of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

The Hanging Denomination isn’t unquestionably hanging. Instead, the hanging name came well-nigh considering it’s built on top of, or hanging over, the gates of an old Roman fortress.

It’s a unique structure, with a roof shaped in the supposed structure of Noah’s Ark. The shrine is expressly beautiful, with lotus-shaped inlaid wooden panels decorating the wall whilom the altar.

Entrance to the Hanging Denomination is free, but donations are accepted.

The Coptic Museum is located by the Hanging Church. It houses the largest hodgepodge of Coptic artifacts in the world. The archway fee for foreigners to the Coptic Museum is 40 EGP (Egyptian Pounds).

Enjoy the view from the Cairo Citadel

The Cairo Citadel is moreover known as the Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin), or the Citadel of Saladin.

It’s a formidable and impressive defensive fortress, due to its strategic location on the Muqattam Hills.

It’s moreover one of the weightier locations to enjoy an unrestricted panoramic view of Cairo.

There’s a lot to see here, including the Muhammad Ali Mosque, built by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1848 AD, and the Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, which was the royal mosque during the Mamluk period. The site moreover contains the National Police Museum, and the National Military Museum.

Daytime foreigner archway fee, adult: EGP 200, night visiting foreigner archway fee, adult: EGP 160.

Relax in the untried oasis of Al Azhar Park

Al Azhar Park is a lovely, restful unravel from the noise and busyness of Cairo.

There’s plenty of greenery, including palm trees, with children’s play areas, fountains, a lake, and restaurants. There are plane trips by golf cart inside the park.

Located by the Old Municipality of Cairo, Al Azhar Park is an expansive 30 hectares (74 acres). The park was originally a 500-year-old dumping ground, which was transformed into a untried oasis with waterfalls, citrus trees, and gardens. It opened in 2005, and forfeit in glut of 30 million USD.

While you’re at the park, visit nearby Al-Azhar Mosque, which is Cairo’s first mosque, vicarious in 970. Admission to the mosque is free.

Admission to Al Azhar Par is not free. Foreigner tickets are EGP 30, and EGP 35 on Sunday.

There’s so much to do and see in historic Cairo that we couldn’t stop at just the typical top 10 Cairo attractions. If you’re looking for some increasingly skillet list items for sightseeing in Cairo, here are five increasingly ideas.

Explore the Cave Church

Visiting the Cave Denomination is one of the most unique things to do in Cairo.

The Cave Church, or Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner, is located in the Mokattam mountain in southeastern Cairo. To get to the Cave Church, you’ll need to go through Garbage City.

Garbage Municipality is a poor settlement at the wiring of Mokattam Hill on the outskirts of Cairo. It has Cairo’s largest concentration of Zabbaleen garbage collectors, with an economy which revolves virtually collecting and recycling the city’s garbage.

Rubbish from greater Cairo gets placid by the Zabbaleen and taken to the Garbage Municipality settlement. Residents then separate the garbage from the recycling. There’s garbage everywhere – the roofs, streets, and so on.

The Cave Denomination is hand carved out of the mountain. The Cave Denomination itself is tranquil, peaceful, and wipe inside.

The Cave Denomination is self-ruling to visit.

Bring your bargaining skills to the Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar

In the heart of Islamic Cairo, the Khan Al-Khalili Supermarket is a rented and colorful open-air bazaar. You’ll find everything from spices to perfumes to souvenirs to jewelry to hanging lamps.

There’s a lot to see here, including Cairo street shops filled with haggling shopkeepers, narrow alleyways, buskers, bars and restaurants.

Credit cards are not wonted in the majority of the shops at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, but USD and Euros are often accepted.

There’s no fee to enter the bazaar.

Shop until you waif at the Cairo Festival Municipality Mall

This modern mall has all the requisite features you’d expect in a mall, including international uniting stores, a cinema, restaurants and a supplies court. It moreover connects to IKEA.

There’s plane a dancing fountain attraction.

It’s a huge, modern place, with self-ruling Wi-Fi, shopping cart rentals, and valet parking. You can plane rent a power wall for your phone.

If you have kids, you’ll love the stroller rental, mommy’s room, and child identification bracelets. There’s moreover Magic Planet, with rides, games, and fun for the kids (and adults).

There’s no forfeit to visit the mall.

Walk Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street

Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street (known locally as Al-Muizz) is a major street in the walled municipality of Historic Cairo.

One of Cairo’s oldest streets, it dates when to the foundation of the original walled municipality in the 10th century.

Running north-to-south, the street grew in fame in part to its proximity to the popular markets in the area, like the Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar, as well as the large and trappy buildings built withal it, expressly towards the northern section with its finely restored Mamluk buildings.

At just one kilometer in length within the walled city, running from gate to gate, traversing its length is an easy walk for most people.

Some of the highlights withal Al-Muizz include the Madrassa of as-Salih Ayyub, built in 1247 and a fine example of Islamic architecture. Directly wideness from the madrassa is the trappy Madrassa of Qalaun, considered by many as one of the Mamluk period’s greatest architectural triumphs.

Completed in 1293 by Qalaun’s son, Muhammad al-Nasir next to it has an interior filled with fine marble, mother-of-pearl mosaics, intricate tile work, and stained-glass windows. Farther north is the younger Madrassa of an-Nasr Mohammed (built in 1309) with tons of ornate detailing.

Next, you have the Egyptian Textile Museum with a wide hodgepodge that spans the Pharaonic era right up to the Islamic period. as well as the large and impressive Sultan Hassan Mosque (Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan).

Enjoy the views at the Cairo Tower

Situated on the Nile Island of Gezira is the Cairo Tower. Standing at 187m or 614ft, it is the tallest structure in Egypt and the tallest in North Africa. This self-ruling standing tower of touchable is second only to the Pyramids of Giza in popularity, and its circular observation deck and revolving restaurant at the top have some of the weightier views in Cairo.

Home to the district of Zamalek and the majority of Cairo’s imposing boutiques and hipster restaurants, the Nile Island of Gezira that the Cairo Tower sits on is moreover a unconfined place to hang out with friends and explore.