Cairo Travel Guide - Overview

The largest city in the Arab world as well as Egypt’s capital and largest city, Cairo ranks as among the world’s largest and most densely populated cities. Cairo has been one of the major cities of the Eastern Mediterranean region for a millennium and has a very long history. Straddling the Nile, the city now known as Cairo was established in the fourth century and became the capital of Egypt around 650 AD.

The Giza Plateau, Saqqara & Memphis

Given its own history and proximity to many of the surviving monuments of ancient Egypt, Cairo is one of the most exciting and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa and the Middle East. The world-famous Giza Pyramids and Saqqara Pyramid Complex are located within a short drive of the city; Saqqara in particular is a place which deserves a place of prominence in any travel guide. Here you can see the pyramid of Djoser, the first step pyramid in Egypt which was built for the pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.

It should go without saying that visitors to Cairo, Egypt will want to make a trip to the Great Sphinx of Giza, located close to the Giza Pyramids just a short distance from Cairo. This enigmatic statue has stood for 4,500 years and is both the largest and the oldest monumental sculpture in the world. Even weathered by time and sandstorms, the Great Sphinx is still one of the most impressive sights to be seen not just in Egypt, but anywhere in the world.

While you’re visiting ancient Egyptian attractions, you should be sure to pay a visit to the ancient capital city of Memphis, located just 15 miles from Cairo. Here, you’ll see the Statue of Rameses II and the ruins of the Temple of the Apis Bull, the Great Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Ptah and Sekmet, among other ancient temples dedicated to Ptah, the patron deity of the city.

Tahrir Square, Heliopolis, Downtown Cairo & Zamalek…

Ancient Egyptian monuments are of course an important draw for tourists to Cairo, but no Cairo travel guide is complete without including Cairo’s more modern history as well. The city has many sights to see and places to visit which date from every era of Cairo’s history, including the thoroughly modern country that Egypt is today. Modern attractions include Midan al-Tahrir (Tahrir Square or Liberation Square in English); this was the site of the protests which eventually led to the ouster of longtime Egyptian Hosni Mubarak and is a place which some visitors may wish to see while on their trip, even though you probably won’t find it listed in the average Cairo guide quite yet.

Other modern areas of the city which you might want to visit include the suburbs of Heliopolis and Ma’adi, both of which offer tourists a variety of world-class shopping and dining choices; for similar amenities in the city proper, you may wish to see Zamalek, a neighborhood located on Gezira Island (an island in the Nile within the downtown Cairo area). You can also take in sights both ancient and modern by taking a ride on a Felucca on the Nile; away from the hustle and bustle of the city and a great way to take a break from Cairo’s sometimes unrelenting heat, this is one especially relaxing way to enjoy your trip to the capital of Egypt and should be listed in any travel guide.

Religious and Cultural Attractions in Cairo, Egypt

Cairo and the surrounding metropolitan area is home to the majority of Egypt’s Coptic Christian population and the city is home to many Christian churches ancient and modern.

Some of Cairo’s most famous churches are located in the old city and include the Hanging Church (Al-Muaallaqah), the Church of St. Mena (Abu Mina), the Church of St. Sergius (Abu Sergah), the Church of St. Barbara, The Church of St. George (Mari Guirguis), the Cathedral of St. Mark (Al-Qiddis Morcos) and the Church of the Virgin (Al-Adra), among others. If you’re interested in Coptic history and culture, you’ll also want to pay a visit to the Coptic Museum, which houses a collection of rare and ancient Christian relics.

Islamic Mosques in Cairo

Any Cairo travel guide worth the paper it’s printed on should include the city’s many mosques, which include some of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture to be found anywhere in the world.

While there are far too many noteworthy mosques to list here (Cairo is known as the “City of a Thousand Minarets”, after all), a few which are not to be missed include are the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, the Blue Mosque, the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas, Al-Azhar Mosque, the Mosque of Al-Moayyed, the Al-Refai Mosque and the Alabaster Mosque. Other places to visit to experience more of the city’s Islamic architecture and culture include the Museum of Islamic Art and the House of Gamal-Al-Din Al-Dhahabi. All located in Islamic Cairo.