Discover Top 15 Things to do in Egypt

Cairo is the place where you feel the life of the Egyptian street. There are so many things to do in Cairo, and to help focus your visit and plan your time, use our list of the best attractions and things to do in Cairo. 

1. Marvel at the pyramids of Giza Pyramids of Giza 

The pyramids of Giza and the most important tourist and archaeological sights of Egypt, and one of the most important sights that you should visit when you come to Egypt to discover the mystery of Egyptian history.

The pyramids of Giza are the first excursion in Cairo for half a day and a must-do attraction on everyone's itinerary. Right on the edge of the city, on the Giza plateau, these were the pharaonic temples that have fascinated travelers for centuries and are still one of the main sights of the country. 

The southernmost on the plateau is the pyramid of Khafre (known as the Pyramid of Khafre), with an internal tunnel area that can be entered, and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure (Pyramid of Menkaure).

Sphinx statue 

These funerary temples are guarded by a black-bodied Sphinx and the face of the Pharaoh. One of the monuments of the ancient world.

The Giza plateau is set to welcome a new tourist attraction when the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is finished.

When it opens, it will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to displaying the monuments of one civilization, displaying a wealth of artifacts of ancient Egypt that the public has never seen before.

After the construction stopped, experiencing financial difficulties, the museum was scheduled to open in late 2021.

The Pyramid Plateau is located on the edge of the extension of the outskirts of Giza, about 13 kilometers southwest of the city center.

Since the area of the pyramids is quite sprawling, many travelers choose to see the area through a sightseeing tour, which often includes camel or horse riding.

A good option for first-time visitors is a special half-day excursion to the Giza pyramids with camel rides. This includes transfer, delivery to your hotel, a guide, lunch, and 25 minutes on a camel.

Location: Al Ahram Street-Giza

2. See one of the world's greatest collections at the Egyptian Museum

The facade of the Egyptian Museum

Exhibitions of Tutankhamun 

If you are pressed for time, head straight to the Tutankhamun exhibitions.

The presented treasures were found in the Tomb of Tutankhamun, the son-in-law and successor of Amenophis IV (later Akhenaten), who died at the age of 18.

After that, don't miss the opportunity to walk around the Egyptian jewelry collection ( Room 4 ), which has more sparkles than you will ever see again in your life.

The Grand Egyptian Museum 

Even at the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, this iconic building will still be used as a museum. It is still uncertain which collections will remain here and which ones will be transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum when it opens.

The Tutankhamun galleries have been relocated and will form the signature exhibit inside the new Grand Egyptian Museum. 

The Egyptian Museum is located next to Tahrir Square, the Central Square in central Cairo.

Location: Tahrir Square, downtown

3. Al-Azhar mosque 

It is one of the oldest universities in the world - caliph Al-Aziz granted it the status of a university in 988 ad (the other university competing for the "oldest" status is located in Fez), and today, Al-Azhar University remains the leading theological center of the Islamic world.

Al-Azhar mosque is located in the heart of the Islamic Cairo district and is easily accessible by taxi.

Al-Azhar Street runs east from the Ataba Square in the downtown area directly to the square where the mosque is located.

Address: Al-Azhar Street, Islamic Cairo district

4. Discover Coptic history in Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo)

Ancient Egypt (Coptic Cairo) 
This small, church-filled collection of winding passages is located within the walls of the ancient city of Babylon, where the Roman Emperor Trajan built a fortress along the Nile for the first time.

The Coptic Museum here contains a wealth of information about the early Christian period in Egypt and is home to one of the finest collections of Coptic art in Egypt.

Nearby is the ninth-century Hanging Church, some beautiful examples of Coptic architecture. Founded in the IV century, the church was originally built over the Roman gate towers (hence the name) and significantly rebuilt during the IX century.

The easiest way to get to Coptic Cairo is to take the Cairo metro to the MarGerges station.

Location: St. George Street south of downtown

5.  Saqqara and Dahshur 

The vast necropolis of Saqqara and the nearby site of Dahshur are home to the "other pyramids", and a one-day trip will be as rewarding for you as a trip to the pyramids of Giza. The sites are located about 30 kilometers south of Cairo.

The step pyramid is one of the most famous sights of Saqqara, but the whole area is full of exquisitely painted tombs, which are worth spending a few hours exploring.

6. Presentation of royal mummies at NMEC

Unlike many other major museums in Cairo, which all focus their exhibits on one specific era, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is dedicated to telling the whole story of Egypt's human history under one roof.

Address: Fustat Street-Cairo

7.  Khan el Khalili 

This market (bazaar) is a labyrinthine set of narrow alleys created as a shopping area in 1400 AD, which is still teeming with the slag of metalworkers and silversmiths.

While you're here, stop at Cairo's most famous Fishawy cafe, where Arabic coffee and sweet tea are served to tourists and local merchants alike at a brisk pace.

For the lovers of doing shopping, it's located in  Al-Muski Street (it is called Gohar Al-Quaid Street at its eastern end).

The gold and silver workshops are mostly clustered north of the intersection of this street with Al-Mu'izz Ladin Allah street, while the Spice Souk section is located in the South.

The market is surrounded on the east side by the Sayyidna al-Hussein mosque, built in 1792 to honor the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

To enter easily, you can go from the Khan al-Khalili area is across the road from the Al-Azhar mosque.

Location: off Al-Azhar Street, Islamic Cairo district

8. Muhammad Ali mosque

The Muhammad Ali mosque is one of the most famous monuments and the main reason to visit.

To the northeast of the mosque of Muhammad Ali is located the Nasir mosque, built by Muhammad Al-Nasir in 1318-1335.

A group of rather frosty museums (the Police Museum, the National Military Museum, the Transport Museum) occupy some of the other buildings on the site, and it is more worthwhile to view the architecture of the actual buildings than the exhibits themselves.

You can walk to the Citadel area from Bab Zuweila, if you feel lively, by heading along Khayamiya Street. The walk takes about 30 minutes.

Location: off Salah el Din square, Islamic Cairo district

9- The Sultan Hassan mosque 

The Sultan Hassan mosque is one of the most magnificent examples of Mamluk architecture in the world and is a vision of Islamic art with an abundance of stalactite details and intricate arabesque features.

The huge main entrance in the northern corner is almost 26 meters high, and the minaret in the southern corner is the tallest in Cairo, with a height of 81.5 meters.

The main entrance leads to a vaulted vestibule, beyond which is a small waiting room and a corridor leading to an open ornate court centered on the ablution fountain.

Location: Salah el Din square, Islamic Cairo district

10. Visit the Museum of Islamic Art 

The serious damage caused by a car bomb attack in 2014 led to this museum closing its doors to the public for years, but fortunately, it has now reopened.

The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo houses one of the most important collections of Middle Eastern art in the world.

Ottoman tile work, Ayyubid ceramics, wall paintings, finely decorated wooden inlays, coins, carved marble tombstones, jewel-colored carpets, among other things, are on display.

Definitely spend some time perusing the decorated Qurans and exhibits of rich decorative porcelain, glassware, and metal utensils.

Then go to admire the densely decorated jewelry collection and the rooms dedicated to astronomy and other sciences, where you will find a very detailed Astrolabe and other equipment.

A visit here is a journey through the vastness and richness of the Islamic heritage.

Address: Bab al-Khalq square, Islamic Cairo

11. Climb to the roof of Bab zuweila 

Of all the gates of the Islamic Cairo quarter, Bab zuweila is the most interesting.

The gate itself has two minarets and is the last southern gate of the Old Town still standing.

Address: Al-Moiz Ladin Allah Street, Islamic Cairo district

12. A walk on Al-Mu'izz Street for the religion of Allah

The northern part of Al-Mu'izz Ladin Allah Street is surrounded by magnificent Mamluk buildings that have been painstakingly restored to their former glory.

The Madrasa of as-Salih Ayyub, built in 1247, is a showcase of the serene simplicity of Islamic architecture.

Right across the road from the madrasa is the magnificent Qalawun madrasa, which is rightfully considered one of the greatest architectural victories of the Mamluk period.

It was completed in 1293 by Qalawun's son, Muhammad Al-Nasir, and features an interior filled to the brim with intricate tile work, luxurious marble, mother-of-pearl mosaics, and stained-glass windows. The qalun school also functioned as a hospital when it was first opened.

Address: Al-Moiz Ladin Allah Street, Islamic Cairo district

13. Visiting the Ibn Tulun mosque

The second oldest mosque still standing in Cairo, the Ibn Tulun mosque, was built between 876 and 879 along the lines of the Kaaba in Mecca (Saudi Arabia).

At the time of its construction, it was the largest mosque in existence.

The main prayer hall (on the south side of the courtyard) still hangs fragments of its old carved plaster and wood decorations, and the mihrab here contains the remains of its original golden mosaic decorations.

Address: Saliba Street

14. Relax amidst the greenery at Al Azhar garden

The Al-Azhar garden was built on top of what was essentially a medieval garbage dump and serves as the green lungs of the old neighborhood.

It was opened in 2005 and provides a much-needed respite from the overcrowded chaos on the streets of Cairo.

Inside, the exquisitely manicured gardens are a great place for an evening walk, especially since the views of the entire Old Town are magnificent from here at sunset.

Address: Salah Salem Street

15. Discover the Nile island area in Zamalek

Cairo Tower

Dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, the entire area has a distinctly European feel for its architecture, with wide tree-lined streets and magnificent ornate Belle Époque palaces (many of which are now home to several embassies).

Zamalek is the best dining destination in Cairo, but there is a host of art galleries to explore.

The Museum of Modern Egyptian Art, located on the territory of the Al Jazeera gallery, houses an impressive collection of Egyptian art of the twentieth century, including works by Mahmoud Said and Mahmoud Mokhtar.