Looking for the best things to do in Cairo?

Just about every kid goes through an ancient Egypt interest phase — and it’s an itch that’ll only get scratched by visiting the country, starting with the sprawling capital of Cairo. 22 million people call this city home, as do the mighty Pyramids of Giza, not to mention museums stacked with ancient artefacts, bustling bazaars, incredible eateries, buzzing nightlife, and so much more. With all this on offer, you’ll have no shortage of things to do in Cairo.

1. Explore the Pyramids of Giza

Show us a traveller who’s been to Cairo but skipped the Pyramids of Giza and we’ll eat our sandals. The only remaining wonder of the ancient world, these imposing icons of the Egyptian landscape are the stuff of dreams for history buffs. However, you might be misguided if you think there are just the three pyramids (there are nine on the site, though Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure are the main attractions, along with the Great Sphinx). It’s technically incorrect to list the Pyramids of Giza in a Cairo attraction list, but we’d be remiss not to include them. The Giza plateau sits in Greater Cairo and Cairo is the chosen base for most travellers visiting the historic site.

You can get into any of the pyramids for a fee, though they are pretty claustrophobic. If you can push past the feeling, it’s quite a feat to visit the King’s Chamber. It’s not every day you get to walk the pages of a history book, so lap it all up as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Book a camel ride around the area to make it really memorable – just make sure you remember your camel’s name when regaling your friends with tales of your adventures from our Highlights of Egypt tour.

2. Shop in Khan el Khalili Bazaar

The Khan el Khalili Bazaar features on most Cairo lists and for good reason. Can you really say you’ve experienced Cairo if you haven’t twisted yourself through the chaotic alleys of Khan el Khalili? A hub for local people and tourists alike, be ready to haggle and handle enthusiastic stall owners. It’s a great spot to pick up curios to bring home for friends and family.

Beyond the chaos, the market has a rich history dating back to the 14th century. It’s astounding to walk the same alleys that Egyptians have for centuries as centres for trade and commerce. Take a heady whiff of the spice stalls, admire the dazzling jewellery, and pinch yourself – you really are in Cairo. Then go find someone selling feteer (layered pastry) and sample iconic Cairo food. If you’re interested in enjoying the Cairo nightlife, time your visit to Khan el Khalili for the evening and stick around downtown.

3. Gawk at the Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum is set to be just that — the largest museum in the world devoted to archaeology from a single civilization. Built super close to the Pyramids, the museum will house tens of thousands of artefacts, including the total Tutankhamun collection under one roof for the first time ever. The absolutely massive museum has been planned for decades with its opening delayed several times. Certain areas are currently available for visiting, like the entrance and retail area, plus the casual sight of a 10.97m (36 ft) tall Ramses II statue that’s thousands of years old. It’s not called a ‘grand’ museum for nothing.

Twice a year, the sun will shine down onto the face of the statue in the lobby, echoing the solar alignment that happens at the Abu Simbel temple over in Nubia, on another Ramses II statue (there are a bunch of statues of him, since he reigned for almost 70 years). Word has it that the museum when it opens fully, will have 30,000 artefacts that haven’t been displayed elsewhere. It’s drool-worthy for anyone with even a vague interest in history so the anticipation is high.

4. Visit the Egyptian Museum

There’s been a lot of talk about the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum rendering the existence of the Egyptian Museum null and void, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. You’ll still be able to visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square (yes, that same Tahrir Square of 2011 Egyptian Revolution fame) and it just added a new wing to the century-old building. It’s going to lose some attractions, like Tutankhamun’s funerary mask, but there’s no shortage of other statues, jewels, and treasures. Also: mummies! Need we say more? It’s well worth a visit and a favourite stop on tours like our Best of Egypt adventure.

5. Wander through Cairo Citadel

The Citadel was the Egyptian seat of government for around 700 years but the history of the UNESCO World Heritage Site goes way further than that. Salah El Din ordered its construction in 1176 to fortify against the Crusaders. Over the years, the site has expanded. There are museums to explore, though not of the same calibre as the Egyptian Museum. Worth seeing though, is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, completed in 1857, and the Gawhara Terrace for the views alone. Perched up on the Mokattam hills, you can spot the Citadel from anywhere in Cairo.

6. Take in the views from Cairo Tower

Are you a sucker for a good view? Beeline for Cairo Tower. It offers incredible views over the city and you can even see the Pyramids of Giza on a clear day (late afternoon is usually best). Located in Zamalek on Gezira Island, the 187-metre-high (613.5 ft) tower was designed to look like a lotus flower. Entry isn’t that expensive, saving you a few bucks for the 360 Revolving Restaurant or the Sky Window café. Be prepared for queues – Cairo natives and tourists alike are fond of the views!

7. Dive into Saqqara’s archaeology

About 40km (24.8 mi) southwest of Cairo lies Saqqara, a necropolis of the ancient city of Memphis, named for the god of the necropolis, Sokar. This hefty archaeological site is practically an open-air museum with Egyptian history on full display. Kings from the first two dynasties are buried here and while walking around, you’ll see the Step Pyramid of Djoser (the world’s oldest pyramid). Just a few years ago, they found hundreds of sarcophagi and statuettes in Saqqara. There’s so much to see here that it’s well worth springing for a guided tour, even just to pick up fascinating trivia.

8. Learn about history in Old Cairo

Sometimes referred to as Historic Cairo, this area holds Islamic Cairo — also sometimes called ‘Old Cairo’. Confusing, we know. Point is, it’s worth a visit for the countless ancient mosques, like the mosque of Ahmed ibn Tulun, which dates back to 876. For history aficionados, the al-Rifa’i Mosque may be of interest as it’s the final resting place of the Mohammed Ali family as well as the last Shah of Iran.

9. Amble around Al-Azhar Park

In the 80s, Aga Khan wanted to create a truly massive park for one of the most populated cities in the world. The result is Al-Azhar park, a sprawling mass of greenery in the centre of Cairo. The ‘green lung’ has plenty of viewpoints to admire, along with plants and trees carefully chosen to suit the region’s soil and climate. It’s a lovely spot to walk along or enjoy a casual picnic. There are echoes of Egypt’s history in the symmetrical layout, use of pools and fountains, as well as a formal axis with a water channel along its length.

10. Gaze at the Al-Azhar Mosque

Rumour has it that Cairo’s fabled nickname, the ‘City of a Thousand Minarets’ was inspired by this spectacular mosque. Built during the Fatimid Caliphate in the 970s, this grand mosque was named for Muhammad’s daughter, Fatimah, ‘az-Zahra’, meaning ‘the shining one’. Due to its central location in Cairo’s historic Islamic district, it became a hub of knowledge, theology, and education in the city. The tradition of scholarship slowly grew into Al-Azhar University, the second oldest continuously run university in the world. Visiting Al-Azhar allows you a glimpse into the historic influence of Islamic teachings in the city, along with a chance to appreciate the unique architecture of the Fatimid period.

11. Witness history at The Hanging Church

Cairo was truly one of the first cosmopolitan cities in the ancient world, and home to some of the earliest versions of modern religions. If you want to see an example of one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, look no further than the Hanging Church in Old Cairo. This was originally founded in the third century, before Christianity was even legalized in Rome. The seemingly grim name actually comes from the fact that the church is located above the gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, which was an outpost of the Roman Empire. A building steeped in mystery and historical significance, the church is said to have been the site of numerous visions of the Virgin Mary.

12. Marvel at Bab Zuweila's minarets

Another towering, architectural monument built by the Fatmids, Bab Zuweila may be two of the most famous examples of Cairo’s thousand minarets. Originally built as two watch-towers on either side of the city’s southern gate, it is one of the only remaining examples of the thousand-year-old fortification that once encircled Medieval Cairo. The inner tower is cramped, narrow, and claustrophobic without any windows. However, once you reach the top, you are offered a spectacular view of the Cairo skyline.

13. See the mighty Ibn Tulun Mosque

While Al-Azhar may be the most famous mosque in Cairo due to its cultural significance, Ibn Tulun Mosque is the oldest. Originally commissioned in the 870s, 100 years before Al-Azhar, the mosque of Ibn Tulun remains the largest mosque by area in Cairo over a thousand years later. However, one of its most popular features is its singular minaret with its iconic spiral staircase winding around the outside. Most minarets in Egypt have staircases on the inside, but the minaret at Ibn Tulun Mosque naturally took major architectural influence from older buildings, including the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq and even the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria, a wonder of the ancient world.

14. Cruise down the Nile

How could you visit Egypt without traversing the entire reason that the civilization could flourish in the first place? The Nile River, the longest river in the world, has been the key to life in Egypt for thousands of years. Nearly all of the major ancient sites in Egypt were built along the banks of the Nile, with the river being the genesis of commerce, trade, travel, and agriculture in Egypt since the Early Dynastic Period. A cruise along this historic waterway is an absolute must when visiting Cairo especially by felucca (a traditional Egyptian vessel) like on our Wonders of Egypt and the Nile adventure.

15. Climb into the Cave Church

Finally, one of the most unique and lesser-known experiences in Cairo remains a trip out to the Monastery of Saint Simon, known quite appropriately as the Cave Church. Due to the relative minority of the Christian community in Egypt, the small but proud Coptic Christian community of Cairo was moved into a less desirable part of the city in the late 1960s, called Zabbaleen village (meaning literally “garbage collectors”).

This did not stop the Christians from building something they could truly be proud of, and the Cave Church is the result. Literally built into the mountainside, the Monastery of Saint Simon is a sprawling church complex that can hold up to 20,000 people at once, making it the largest church in the Middle East.