EFT Team
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Cairo, Egypt’s huge capital city and home to some of the world’s greatest wonders, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and, of course, the mummies, is likely to be one of the first places you visit on your journey to Egypt. Aside from the Pyramids, there are a variety of other activities to do in Cairo. It’s a city of contrasts, where old and modern coexist, where the living and the dead coexist (in the so-called City of the Dead), and where opulent hotels coexist with crowded (but dynamic) souks. Museums with rare artifacts, fashionable rooftop bars, old mosques, synagogues, cathedrals, and much more can be found here.
Top-Rated Attractions in Cairo
- Giza Pyramids
The Giza Pyramids are the world’s most famous and well-known tourist destination. For thousands of years, the great pyramid was the world’s tallest structure. The plateau is home to nine pyramids from the 4th dynasty, all of which were erected to serve as royal burials and serve as the kings’ final resting places. Among all Egyptian pyramids, 132 in total, the Giza pyramids stand out because the Great Pyramid is the only one of the ancient seven wonders of the world that is still standing. It is the tomb of King Khufu, the fourth dynasty’s second king. His son’s Pyramid King […] - The Pharaonic VillageImagine going to a place a few miles from the center of Cairo where Egypt’s history and art come alive! At the Pharaonic Village, you’ll see faithful reproductions of buildings, clothing, and lifestyles, a complete replica of the tomb of Tutankhamen, and museums relating to different periods of Egyptian history. Dr. Hassan Ragab created this living museum from the beginnings of a papyrus plantation on Jacob Island. With a vision, he was able to recreate ancient life with unrivaled collections of endangered plants and species. Carrying on the tradition is Dr. Ragab’s son, Dr. Abdelsalam, who continues to improve and […]
- Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Tahrir Square
The museum was built first in Bulaq, then it was moved to Giza Palace of Khedive Ismael, Cairo museum which is now in Tahrir square was opened in 1901. It houses the antiquities that were collected by Marriette Pacha, a French Egyptologist who was later titled the father of Egyptology). The museum accommodates more than a hundred thousand ancient pieces all displayed in historical order, it is divided into two stories; on the ground floor visitors can see the antiquities from: The Predynastic period The Old Kingdom The Middle Kingdom The New Kingdom While on the upper floor visitors can […] - The Citadel Of Salah Ad-din
citadel Saladin cairoThe citadel was founded by Salah Ad-din in 1168, and it was completed by his nephew King Al-Aadel. It is located on a high hill named Moqqattam overlooks the old city of Cairo from the eastern side. Salah Ad-din was the ruler over Egypt for 24 years, he is very well known for his victory against the crusaders who were defeated in the battle of Hattin. The citadel is a large fortified area, the enclosure wall supported with huge rounded and square archers’ towers. Tourists can visit the marvelous mosque of Mohamed Ali from the 19th century, the […] - Memphis
King Nar-Mer, the founder of the first dynasty and the unifier of Egypt’s two regions, Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, built Egypt’s very early capital city. The city was called from the name of King Pipi’s pyramid, Mn-Nefer, which means “beautiful and stable,” and was subsequently dubbed “Memphis” by the Greeks who visited Egypt. The Memphis artifacts are currently housed in a small open-air museum in the current Meet-Rahina village. The city formerly had several temples, the largest of which was the temple of Ptah, the northern capital’s principal god. Visitors may now only see the remains of Memphis at […] - Giza Zoo
Because it is more than 130 years old, one of the largest in the world, measuring 120 acres and including numerous old trees and animals. The Giza zoo was created by khedive Abbas II Hilmi Bey (also known as Abbas Hilmi Pasha), but his father, Khedive Muhammed Tewfik Pasha, came up with the concept. The Giza zoo is still the most popular tourist attraction among Egyptians, with hundreds of school children visiting every day from outside the city, and schools in Cairo organizing weekly visits to the zoo. Animals, birds, and reptiles of all types are popular among visitors. The […] - Khan El-Khalili Bazaar
Nearly 1100 years old, this is a part of Islamic Cairo. It was originally designed to sell dry products, and traders would travel from all across Egypt to sell their wares in the market. It was then converted into a tourist mart. The main structure has five stories; the ground floor was divided into shops, the first floor was used to store products, the third, fourth, and fifth floors were used to house traders from all over the country. Tourists can buy a wide variety of souvenirs at this market, however, most of what is sold currently are made in […] - Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque
The very first mosque ever built in Egypt. Erected in 642 AD (21 AH) by the leader Amr Ibn alas, the commander of the Muslim army in Egypt, the mosque is also known as Taj al-Jawamie (Crown of Mosques, al-Jamie’al-Ateeq (the Ancient Mosque) and Masjid Ahl ar-Rayah (Mosque of Banner Holders). The mosque is said to have been built on the site of Amr Ibn el-As’ tent at Fustat, which is the oldest existing mosque, not just in Cairo, but the entire African Continent. Located north of the Roman Fortress of Babylon, it is actually on the edge of Fustat, […] - Church of Saint Sergius (Abu Serga)
The church of Saint Sergius is situated to the north of the Coptic Museum, down a narrow cobbled lane, and lies some three meters below street level. The church is dedicated to two Roman officers, Sergius and Bacchus, who were martyred in Syria in 303. The earliest part of the building dates from the fifth century and was built over the cave where, according to tradition, the Holy Family hid during their Flight into Egypt. The structure was burnt down and restored in the eighth century. The whole of the church was again restored and partially rebuilt during the Fatimid […] - Saqqara Pyramids (Djoser’s Complex)
Saqqara (Sakkara) is the largest ancient site in Egypt, was one of the cemeteries of Memphis together with Dahshur, Abu Rawash, Abu Sir, and Giza. It accommodates the step pyramid of King Djoser with his complex, some other pyramids from the 5th and the 6th dynasties, and many Mastabas from the old kingdom. Visitors nowadays can see the museum of Imhotep ( the architect who built the step pyramid of King Djoser). 1. The step pyramid of king Djoser Was built almost 4600 Years ago of limestone to be the northern tomb of king Djoser the founder of the 3rd […] - Sites of Islamic Medieval Cairo
There are 651 buildings from Medieval Cairo listed in the index produced by the Survey of Egypt in 1951 including mosques, Madrasas, mausoleums, Khanqahs, Khans, Wikalas, and private homes. Today it is estimated that some 450 still remain and it is probable that Cairo has more medieval buildings than just about any other city in the world. For those wishing to enjoy the riches of medieval Cairo, it is best to divide that area into manageable segments. Most of the sites can only be seen in walking tours as most of them fall in small tiny streets that are not accessible by tourist […] - Old Cairo
Old Cairo, Masr al Qadima, lies within the old Roman fortress of Babylon, which was not only a walled but a heavily fortified city, with a narrow streets and cobbled alleys. How the name of the famous Babylon came to be echoed in Egypt is not unknown. The Coptic historian John, who lived at the time of Arab invasion, claimed that it is originally built during the Persian occupation of Egypt (525-332 B.C) and that it was at that time called the fortress of Babylon. However, a much earlier visitor to the land of the Nile, the classical writer Diodorus, […] - National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is located in Al-Fustat, Egypt’s first capital after the Arab Islamic conquest in 641 A.D, and it was a natural choice for the museum because the area is rich in Coptic churches and monasteries, as well as the Coptic Museum, the Ibn Ezra Synagogue, and Egypt’s first mosque, the Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque. The Saladin Citadel can also be seen from the museum’s outdoor spaces, which highlights the museum’s unique location overlooking Lake Ain El-Sira, Cairo’s last natural lake. The museum, which opened in stages in 2017, will […] - Dahshur Pyramids
Pharaoh Sneferu (Snofru or Snefru) (r. 2613-2589 BCE) constructed three big pyramids and maybe two smaller ones. The cut and prepared stone of his Pyramids total about 5 million cubic yards (almost 3 1/2 million cubic meters). Pharaoh Sneferu’s main construction projects were at Meidum (20 miles / 30 km south of modern Cairo) and Dahshur (12 miles / 20 km south of Cairo). The Pyramid at Meidum Sneferu’s first effort at Pyramid construction was Meidum. Some historians think that this unique building began as a step Pyramid and was subsequently transformed into a genuine Pyramid with flat triangular sides […] - Gayer Anderson Museum (Beyt El Kritliyya)Bayt al-kritliyya is one of the most beautiful and intriguing examples of 17th-century Arab residential architecture still standing in Cairo, and it provides a perfect environment for ancient Egyptian, Coptic, and Islamic furniture, rugs, and artifacts. It’s off of ‘Abd al-Magid al-Labban (Al-Salbiyya) Street in Sayyida Zeinab, Cairo, on the southeast corner of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun. The History of the House: The museum is made up of two homes that are supported by the Ibn Tulun Mosque’s exterior wall. Hajj Mohammad Ibn al-Hajj Salem Ibn Galman al-Gazzar constructed the bigger home to the east (the farthest side in […]
- The Great Sphinx
A lion with a human head lies on the eastern side of the Giza plateau, with the pyramids in the backdrop, and is one of the world’s biggest sculptures. The planet’s oldest Sphinx was built by King Kephren; it is a single block of limestone that was previously attached to the main bedrock and is 20.5 meters tall, 73 meters long, and 6 meters wide. The Sphinx Story: When the pyramid of King Kephren was being built, limestone was taken from the area that today houses the Sphinx, and a large portion of the rock was ignored by the workers […] - Imhotep Museum at Saqqara.
Who is Imhotep? Imhotep was a brilliant architect who also made significant contributions to art and many disciplines of medicine, making him one of the most well-known architects in ancient Egyptian and global history. Imhotep was the earliest known doctor in human history, and he created several medicines and remedies that were used to treat a wide range of illnesses. He was also the first architect to utilize stone columns in his numerous projects in ancient Egypt, according to historical records. The Imhotep Museum was built at Saqqara to honor the memory of Imhotep, one of ancient Egypt’s most accomplished […] - Museum of Islamic Art
Due to severe damage caused by a car bomb assault in 2014, this museum was forced to close its doors to the public for several years, but it has finally reopened. The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo houses one of the world’s most important collections of Middle Eastern art. Among the artifacts on exhibit are Ottoman tile work, Ayyubid pottery, murals, beautifully patterned wood-inlay, currency, carved marble tombstones, and jewel-toned carpets. Spend some time looking at the lighted Qurans and the displays of ornately decorated pottery, glassware, and metalware. Then head to the rooms devoted to Astronomy and other […] - Al-Muizz Li-Din Allah Fatimid StreetHigh taxation and bad governance by the Ikhshidid Abbasids, who had governed Egypt from 905 AD, had devastated the area and its capital, Fustat when the Fatimids gained control in 969 AD. The Fatimids quickly went about consolidating their control over Egypt and its people. The new caliph, Al-Muizz, launched a massive construction project, rebuilding roads, reconstructing the canal system that supported agriculture in the Nile Valley, and creating a new capital, Al-Qahira. The Fatimids were Shi’a Muslims who wanted to spread their version of Islam over the borders of the Sunni Abbasid Caliphate, and they built Al-Qahira to rival […]
- The Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), also known as the Giza Museum, is a proposed museum of ancient Egyptian antiquities. Its purpose is to guarantee that these riches are preserved for future generations. The museum is under construction and is scheduled to be partially open in 2021 and 2022, exhibiting the full Tutankhamun collection with various pieces being displayed for the first time. It is described as the largest archaeological museum in the world, capable of hosting 5 million visitors per year. The museum’s cost is $795 million, which is primarily supported by two loans from the Japanese government totaling $300 […] - Souq Al-Khayamiya “Tentmakers’ Market”
After seeing the most intriguing ancient landmarks and sightseeing, one of the most fun activities you can do in Egypt is going on a shopping excursion. In Egypt, there are dozens of unique bazaars, open-air marketplaces, and stores in various locations, and one of the most fascinating is the spectacular Souq Al-Khayamiya “Tentmakers Bazaar.”It is located beyond the Fatimid Cairo’s southern walls, across the street from Bab Zuweila. There used to be several marketplaces in the region that sold a variety of things, but now the tentmakers are the only ones left. Following your visit to Bab Zuweila, you will […] - Al Hussein Mosque
The Al Hussein mosque is one of Egypt’s most beautiful sacred Islamic structures, dedicated to Al-Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson. It is well-known for having the earliest complete manuscript of the Holy Quran. Because Al-Hussain mosque is located in a very prominent location near Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, it attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world. It is a work of art that protects the head of Hussien, who was assassinated by the Umayyads in Iraq in 680. Despite the claims of Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law, “The Father of Hussein,” the Umayyads were acknowledged to be Muhammad’s successors. […] - The step pyramid of King Djoser in SaqqaraThe Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara is one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites. While it may not be as striking or well-known as the Giza Pyramids, this structure predates them and is crucial to archaeologists’ knowledge of pyramid development. The Step Pyramid was constructed during Djoser’s 3rd dynasty dominance in the 27th century BC. While it is not a “real pyramid” with smooth sides like those at Giza and Dahshur, it is an essential stepping stone in their development. It is also the world’s first large-scale cut-stone structure. Six separate levels, or stages, of decreasing size, are erected […]
Top-Rated Things to Do in Cairo
The vast metropolis of Cairo offers a diverse range of activities and attractions for visitors. Cairo is home to the Giza pyramids, which are the world’s most famous ancient landmarks. Cairo, the city of wonders, will show you how some people live in cemeteries while others live in luxury along the Nile River. Cairo is a must-see destination, with a radius of 90 kilometers and a population of roughly 20 million people. The tourist attractions are dispersed across the city. A selection of tours and things to do in Cairo is provided below.
