Explore Cairo

A Guide to Cairo
The most famous city in Egypt—and one of the most storied cities in the world—is a blend of urban excitement, traditional lifestyles, and cultural phenomenons. Cairo is a noisy cosmopolitan city centre with honking horns and upscale restaurants, but it’s also not unusual to see a camel, rather than a car, as a mode of transportation. The city is enriched by fascinating sights such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, which can be seen from the town’s border; myriad ancient tombs; religious monuments; the glorious Egyptian Antiquities Museum; and the Cairo Opera House. From the latest fashions to structures that have been around for two thousand years, Cairo has it all.

Monumental Achievements
The historic sites in this category are why many people visit Cairo. After all, it isn’t every city that has monuments whose architecture is so far ahead of its time that modern scientists still can’t figure out how they were created. The most popular tourist attraction in Egypt—not to mention one of the seven wonders of the ancient world—are the pyramids at Giza, which are essential to any visitor’s time in the country. The oldest of the structures, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, was built around 2600 BC and consists of approximately 2.5 million limestone blocks. The site also encompasses two other large pyramids and three smaller pyramids. The Great Sphinx, also in Giza, may have been the work of one of Cheops’ sons—or may have been built thousands of years before the Giza pyramids. The human-feline fusion, attached to Khafre’s Pyramid complex, wears the headdress of a pharaoh and at one time sported a beard.

The pyramids at Giza aren’t the only such structures in Egypt. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was built around the same time as Cheops by the now-famous ancient architect Imhotep, later elevated into the patron god of architects for his creations. Its great claim to fame is that it was the first stone pyramid built in Egypt. Two pyramids belonging to the pharaoh Snerferu, who died around 2550 BC, reside in Menshat Dahshur: the Bent Pyramid and the North Pyramid. The first of its kind to be planned as a real pyramid (rather than one with steps), the Bent Pyramid gets it name because it was built at an unusual angle. The North Pyramid is also called the Red Pyramid because of the pink-hued limestone used in its construction.

Religious Landmarks
The vast majority of Egyptians are Muslims, but Cairo has a wonderful collection of landmarks from several major religions. El-Muallaqa Church, known as the “Hanging Church,” is the oldest Christian church in the city. Built on top of a Roman gate and only accessible via a stairway leading to the courtyard (hence its nickname), the church features a marble pulpit supported by 13 pillars representing Jesus and the 12 disciples. The 100-year-old Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue is an Art Nouveau masterpiece that’s far more impressive on the inside than the outside. Not typically used today for worship, as there are too few Jewish men in the city, tourists flock here for the incredible stained glass windows and light fixtures that are believed to be Tiffany.

The majority of the great religious buildings are Muslim in origin, and the can’t-miss list in Islamic Cairo begins with the Ibn Tulun Mosque. The oldest intact mosque in the city (it was finished in 879), it’s a massive six-acre structure featuring the first pointed arches and phenomenal spiral minarets. The Mosque and Madrassa of Sultan Hassan is among the largest in the world and a great example of early Mamluk structure in Cairo. Among the highlights of this mosque, completed in 1363, are a gorgeous courtyard and impressive mausoleum. The Citadel is a complex of mosques and palaces that encompasses seven centuries of history. Though Salah ad-Din’s 12th-century palace has been destroyed, the area still includes the towering Mohammed Ali Mosque that stands guard over the city.

Arts Alive
With its long and fascinating history, it’s no wonder there are so many captivating museums in the area. The best and most famous is the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities near Central Square. Its 120,000 artefacts range from the earliest periods through the Roman era, with the most popular exhibits being the Tutankhamun Galleries, with his funerary mask and thousands of other items found in his tomb; the Royal Mummy Room, which features the corpses of 11 Egyptian pharaohs including Ramses II; the Akhenaten Room; and the Jewellery Rooms.

The Coptic Museum specializes in art form the Christian era (300 AD through 1000 AD). Located within what was once the Roman fortress of Babylon-in-Egypt, visitors can take in exhibits including textiles, papyrus with Gnostic gospels, and Nubian paintings. The Islamic Art Museum in Islamic Cairo includes pieces from around 600 AD through the 1800s that were rescued from decaying mosques and memorials throughout the country.

Bayt el-Suhaymi in Islamic Cairo is a house that acts as a time capsule. Capturing the lifestyle of upper class residents of the 16th and 17th centuries, the house consists of a first-floor harem, lovely gardens, and reception room for male visitors.

Cairo After Dark
If you’re interested in taking in the performing arts while on holiday in Egypt, head over to the Cairo Opera House, which hosts dance, theatre, music, and films. The Opera House is located in the National Cultural Centre on Gezira Island—a complex that boasts quite a few halls and theatres to showcase the performing arts. Music lovers won’t want to miss hearing classical Arabian music performed by the Umm Kalthoum Classical Arabic Music Troupe at the Arabic Music Institute on Ramsis Street, while the two screens at the Good News Grand Hyatt will please lovers of art house films.

Cairo gets even livelier after dark; like many European cities, it’s not unusual to start the evening at 10 p.m. or later and wind down around 3 or 4 a.m. Western-style bars, which are there for the pleasure of tourists as well as locals, can be found in almost all of the major hotels. Some fun options: Harry’s Pub at the Cairo Marriott, which is styled after an English club; the Windows on the World bar, which occupies the 36th floor of the Ramses Hilton and offers spectacular views of the city; on the rooftop of the Nile Hilton is the Pyramids Bar and Terrace, offering similarly dazzling views; and the Sultan Bar, located at Giza’s Mena House, is ideal for watching the sun set over the pyramids.

In the Egyptian version of night clubs, dancing is a spectator sport rather than an active pursuit. The best clubs feature a show—usually talented belly dancers—who entertain the patrons. The more upscale hotels—like the Sermiramis InterContinental’s own Haroun Al Rashid Night Club—are a great source. When you want to dance the night away, again, the city’s more up-market hotels offer a selection of chic discos. Other exciting ways to spend an evening include listening to the sweet sounds emanating from the Cairo Jazz Club, located on the 26th of July Street, and The Place next to the Sheraton el Gezirah, which blends Egyptian and international music.