Things to Visit in Cairo: Pyramids, Mosques, and the Nile
See the best of Cairo from the Great Pyramids and Sphinx to medieval Islamic Cairo and the Egyptian Museum. Covers ancient sites, Islamic heritage, food, neighborhoods, and Nile experiences.
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Ancient Egypt Sites
See the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza
The only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World sits on Cairo's western edge. Buy tickets at the main entrance for 200 EGP and arrive by 8 AM to beat the heat and tour bus crowds. The panoramic viewpoint behind the pyramids offers the best photos. Ignore touts offering camel rides at inflated prices.
Explore the Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza
This massive new museum houses over 100,000 artifacts including the complete Tutankhamun collection. Allow at least 4 hours for the highlights. The museum is a 15-minute drive from the Pyramids. Book tickets online in advance as daily capacity is limited.
Visit the Step Pyramid at Saqqara
Egypt's oldest pyramid, built 4,700 years ago for Pharaoh Djoser, sits in a vast necropolis 30 km south of central Cairo. The site is less crowded than Giza and includes newly opened underground chambers and decorated tombs. Entry is 200 EGP. Combine with Memphis for a half-day trip.
Tour the ancient capital of Memphis
The open-air museum at Memphis, 25 km south of Cairo, houses a colossal limestone statue of Ramesses II lying in a purpose-built shelter. The alabaster sphinx here is the largest ever found. Entry is 80 EGP. Memphis and Saqqara are easily combined in a morning trip.
Islamic Cairo
Walk through the Khan el-Khalili bazaar
This 14th-century market is one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East, selling spices, perfumes, lanterns, jewelry, and textiles. Haggling is expected and starting at 30-40% of the asking price is standard. The lane selling copper lanterns is the most photogenic. Visit in the late afternoon for the best atmosphere.
Visit the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in the Citadel
This Ottoman-style mosque with its twin minarets dominates Cairo's skyline from the hilltop Citadel fortress. The interior is lit by hundreds of glass lamps. The terrace offers panoramic views across Cairo to the Pyramids on clear days. Entry to the Citadel complex is 200 EGP.
Explore Al-Azhar Mosque and University
Founded in 970 AD, Al-Azhar is one of the world's oldest continuously operating universities. The mosque's courtyard with its marble columns is peaceful. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside of prayer times. Dress modestly and remove shoes. Free entry.
Walk along Al-Muizz Street, the open-air museum
This restored medieval street running through the heart of Islamic Cairo has the densest concentration of historic Islamic architecture in the world. Mosques, madrasas, fountains, and caravanserais line both sides. The street is pedestrianized and best explored over 2-3 hours. Free to walk.
Nile and Downtown
Take a felucca boat ride on the Nile at sunset
Traditional wooden sailboats cruise the Nile for 1-2 hours and offer a peaceful escape from the traffic. A private felucca for 2-6 people costs 150-300 EGP per hour. Negotiate the price before boarding and confirm the route. Sunset rides are the most popular for good reason.
Walk through downtown Cairo's colonial architecture
The area around Tahrir Square has Belle Epoque buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the ornate Egyptian Museum building, the Mogamma government complex, and art deco apartment blocks. The neighborhood shows Cairo's cosmopolitan past. Best explored on foot in the morning.
Visit the Cairo Tower on Gezira Island
This 187-meter tower offers 360-degree views of Cairo, the Nile, and the Pyramids in the distance. The revolving restaurant at the top serves decent food. Entry is 200 EGP for foreign visitors. Visit at sunset for the best light and views of the city transitioning to its illuminated nightscape.
Explore Zamalek island for cafes and galleries
This upscale island neighborhood in the Nile has tree-lined streets with art galleries, bookshops, and some of Cairo's best restaurants. The Cairo Opera House and the Museum of Islamic Ceramics are both on the island. Walking around Zamalek in the evening is a pleasant contrast to the busy downtown.
Coptic Cairo
Visit the Hanging Church
The Church of the Virgin Mary, dating to the 3rd century, is built on top of the ruins of a Roman fortress with its nave suspended above the passage below. The wooden roof shaped like an inverted ark is its most distinctive feature. Entry is free. The church is still used for regular services.
See the Ben Ezra Synagogue
One of the oldest synagogues in Egypt, believed to be where baby Moses was found in the bulrushes. The Cairo Geniza documents found here in the 19th century transformed scholarship on medieval Jewish, Christian, and Muslim life. Entry is included in the Coptic Cairo area.
Tour the Coptic Museum
This museum houses the world's most significant collection of Coptic Christian art, including textiles, manuscripts, icons, and stone carvings spanning 2,000 years. The building and gardens are beautiful on their own. Entry is 100 EGP. Allow 1-2 hours.
Food and Local Life
Eat koshari, Cairo's iconic street dish
This carb-loaded mix of rice, lentils, macaroni, and chickpeas topped with crispy fried onions and tangy tomato sauce is the ultimate Cairo comfort food. A heaping plate costs 20-40 EGP at street shops. The busiest shops with the longest lines invariably serve the best versions.
Try ful medames and ta'ameya for breakfast
Slow-cooked fava beans with olive oil, lemon, and cumin served with Egyptian falafel made from fava beans instead of chickpeas. This is the quintessential Egyptian breakfast, available at street carts from dawn for 10-30 EGP. The sandwich version wrapped in baladi bread is the local fast food.
Smoke shisha at a traditional coffeehouse
Cairo's ahwas are social institutions where locals gather for tea, strong Turkish coffee, and shisha pipes. El Fishawi in Khan el-Khalili has been operating 24 hours a day for over 200 years. A shisha costs 50-100 EGP at most coffeehouses. The mint and apple flavors are the most popular.
Eat grilled meats at a local restaurant
Egyptian grilled meats including kofta, kebab, and shawarma are served with tahini, pickles, and fresh bread. The streets around the Citadel and in the Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood have some of the best grill restaurants. A full meal costs 80-150 EGP per person.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Cairo?
Four to six days covers the Pyramids, Islamic Cairo, Coptic Cairo, the museum, and a Nile experience. Spend one day at Giza and the museum, one day in Islamic Cairo and the bazaar, one day at Saqqara and Memphis, and extra days for Coptic Cairo, food exploration, and the Nile. Two days covers the Pyramids and Islamic Cairo at a fast pace.
What is the best time to visit Cairo?
October through April offers the most comfortable temperatures at 15-25 degrees Celsius. Summer from June through August is extremely hot, regularly exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, making outdoor sightseeing exhausting. March and April can bring khamsin sandstorms. December and January are the coolest months with the most pleasant conditions for touring the outdoor sites.
Is Cairo safe for tourists?
Cairo is generally safe for tourists in the main sightseeing areas. The biggest challenge is aggressive touts at tourist sites, particularly around the Pyramids. Scams involving fake tour guides and overpriced services are common. Use metered taxis or ride-hailing apps, agree on prices before services, and politely decline unsolicited help. Women may receive unwanted attention in crowded areas.
How do you get around Cairo?
The Cairo Metro is clean, fast, and covers many tourist areas for 5-8 EGP per ride. Ride-hailing apps are the most reliable and fairly priced option for car transport. Regular taxis should use meters but often require negotiation. Traffic is extremely congested, especially during rush hours, so allow extra time. Walking is feasible in specific neighborhoods but challenging across the city.