Location: Cairo
Top Things to do in Cairo
10 Historic Sites in Cairo That You Shouldn't Miss
Cairo’s an ancient city that also happens to be a modern metropolis—it’s one of the biggest cities in the Middle East and has the traffic and noise issues to prove it. But as long as you’re not looking for solitude, Cairo—the City of the Thousand Minarets—is a splendid place to explore Egyptian history and culture. (Editor's note: Our list was compiled before political unrest prompted many countries to issue travel warnings for Egypt. If you're currently planning a trip to Egypt, please consider the risks and monitor your government's travel alerts.)
Restaurants in Cairo
1. Travelino Egypt-Day tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
2. Aisha Fahmi Palace
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Doniaibr - Cairo, Egypt
This place is a masterpiece. Every room is magnificently designed and the current gallery is a must see. They are show casing original Monet, Renoir, and many more artists. The view of the nile from outside is beautiful day and night. You just need your ID to enter and it is open from 9 am to 9 pm.
3. Cairo Citadel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,197 reviews
This massive stone fortress, built by Salah ad-Din in the 12th century, was crowned with the Mosque of Mohammed Ali 700 years later.
Reviewed By dr_j_now - Germantown, United States
This wasn't necessarily on our personal radar, but it was part of the group tour so obviously we came. It's worth seeing; it's an amazing old site overall and very impressive, especially considering when it was all built. If visiting the area, be sure to dress and act appropriately here especially, as the Mohammad Ali Mosque is one of the main buildings here and must be visited if you're here. Even though it's an impressive building, it is really a bummer that they used limestone from the Great Pyramids to construct it. From the courtyard we got lucky and it was apparently a "clear" day (still quite hazy) and we had a nice view of the city, including the Pyramids in the distance. Overall it was definitely worth a short stop.
4. Gayer-Anderson Museum (Bayt al-Kiritliya)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 204 reviews
This museum features the items of antiquity collected by John Gayer-Anderson, a British member of the Egyptian civil service in the 1930s and ‘40s, who restored two adjacent 16th- and 17th-century houses decorated with mashrabiyya screens and marble inlays.
Reviewed By kingzogofalbania
This is a real treat. A rabbit Warren of rooms stuffed full of mementos the owner collected over his career in the British army. Great collection of Islamic furniture screens and tiles and a peek at how sophisticated members of the colonial class lived. Hard to believe there’s a bustling city just a few feet away. There’s a guide on the premises to explain what you’re seeing.
5. Qa'a of Muhhib Al-Din (Uthman Kathkhuda)
6. Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 429 reviews
Reviewed By kaziy - Dhaka City, Bangladesh
The Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan is a monumental mosque and madrassa Cairo, Egypt was built between 1356 and 1363 during the Bahri Mamluk period, commissioned by Sultan an-Nasir Hasan. The mosque was considered remarkable for its massive size and innovative architectural components, and is still considered one of the most impressive historic monuments in Cairo today. This mosque is stunning and impressive from outside and inside. The mosque occupies almost 8000 square meters and the building is about 500 meters long, 68 meters wide, and 36 meters high. The massive main doorway at the north corner is almost 26 meters high and the minaret at the south corner is the tallest in Cairo at 81.5 meters. The mosque is an active place of worship. At the time of visiting the mosque women need to cover their heads; arms and legs and all visitors will need to leave their shoes prior to entering the mosque.
7. Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 387 reviews
This is considered one of Egypt's largest and oldest mosques, which was built between AD 876 and AD 879 by an Abbasid governor sent from Baghdad to rule over Egypt.
Reviewed By kaziy - Dhaka City, Bangladesh
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo, Egypt is the second oldest mosque in Egypt and Africa surviving in its full original form, and is the largest mosque in Cairo in terms of land area. The Mosque of Ibn Tulun was constructed by Ahmed Ibn Tulun between AD 876 and 879 and modeled on the Kaaba in Makkha (Saudi Arabia). Since Ibn Tulun is an open space, it brings in a lot of sun and shadows. Its decorations being created from carved stucco and wood. On the mosque's northern side is the 40-meter-high minaret with a fine horseshoe arch over the entrance and a spiral staircase swirling through the interior.The mosque is an active place of worship. At the time of visiting the mosque women need to cover their heads; arms and legs and all visitors will need to leave their shoes or have shoe covers put over shoes prior to entering the mosque.
8. St. Mercurius Church (Abu Seifien)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Built in the 6th century AD, and extensively restored in the 12 century, this church known as the "Saint of the two Swords" is considered to be the only one in Cairo with its original foundation.
Reviewed By DEK_29 - Brisbane, Australia
This little church in Coptic Cairo is believed to be built in the site where the Holy Family stayed on their journey through Egypt. Down a flight of stairs there is a crypt where the family stayed. You can easily see it. On our visit there were visitors from many countries, so it took a while to get to see the cave. The church itself has a collection of early Christian manuscripts and bibles along with some early examples of Christian art. A relaxing place to visit, we were lucky to talk to a few Copts who were there on the day which was a nice experience.
9. Abu Sir Pyramids
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
This complex consists of four (of the original fifteen) pyramids from the 5th Dynasty: the pyramids of Neferefre, Neferirkare, Niuserre and Sahure.
Reviewed By sakkara11 - Cairo, Egypt
The most original Pyramids! Ok, they might not look like we have pyramids in mind. We always think, all pyramids must look like the Pyramids of Giza. But the "perfect shape" is not preserved in most of the almost 100 pyramids, still to be seen in Egypt. Abusir Pyramids are halfway between Giza and Sakkara. And you litterally pass by them. Its a huge field, the significant onces are (like in Giza) 3 greater pyramids. But if you have time, go to walk some 400 meters to the sun temple of Niuserre and feel the atmosphere. You will not regret and you will tell your folks back home: "I have been an archeologist in Egypt"!
10. Mosque of Muhammad Ali
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,595 reviews
Located in the Citadel, this mosque was built between 1824 and 1857 in the Ottoman style by Mohammad Ali Pasha, a ruler of Egypt.
Reviewed By Underawanderingstar7 - Exeter, United Kingdom
Beautiful Mosque ???? and well worth a vist Glad I visited this unusual Mosque as I think it’s a beautiful Building reminds me a little bit of the East End Mosque in London well worth a vist
