Location: Cairo
Top Things to do in Cairo
Things to do in Cairo, Cairo Governorate: The Best Nature & Parks
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. Western Desert
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
This desert covers more than 600,000 square kilometers stretching from the Nile River to the Libyan border, and from the Mediterranean Sea coast to the Sudanese border.
Reviewed By LynchKenny
This is an amazing landscape, with stunning scenery. Great views from Israel into Jordan and Egypt across the borders. I think you can also see Saudi Arabia from some high points. Curious co-location of Bedouin communities, kibbutzim, the Israeli Defence Force and the holiday resort of Eilat! It is easy to drive around on excellent roads if you have a vehicle. If you do, make a point of visiting the Timna Geopark, where there is evidence of the Nabateans, the Egyptians as well as the Romans.
2. Zamalek (Gezira Island)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 481 reviews
This island is located in the Nile River between downtown Cairo and Giza, and is characterized by upscale hotels, restaurants and pleasant gardens.
Reviewed By 75014PARIS
One of the best area of Cairo for a short stay in the captital , great hotels , good restaurants , museum and Opera House are situated there as well as Cairo Tower !!!!
3. Nile River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,992 reviews
Stretching for 4,187 miles, the longest river in the world flows from its major source, Lake Victoria in east central Africa, through Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and northwards into Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
Reviewed By Necessiter
We were looked after from start to finish - excellent service. We travelled as 2 couples on the Blue Shadow II - we were on the second from top deck and the boat is fabulous - huge rooms, lovely top deck, excellent food in the spacious dining room (buffet-style). Staff are very friendly and attentive - nothing is too much bother. Also we paid tips up front so no issues with that. Our guide was excellent - gave us a full programme overview the night before, arranged all transport, stayed with us on every trip and very knowledgeable. The 4 of us had our guide and driver for every excursion to ourselves - the included ones and the extras. The included tours are comprehensive with a typical day being an early morning tour and back to the boat by noon for lunch, relaxing afternoon watching the Nile go by followed by evening meal. We did the Abu Simbel and balloon rides as extras plus the bird watching (excellent afternoon trip). Abu Simbel is worth the wake up call and 3 hr drive there and back - we left at 04:30, toured the site for 2hrs and back for lunch at 12:30 (our driver was swift!!). The balloon ride is very very gentle with awesome views. We added in an overnight stay in Cairo at the end to see the Pyramids and museum - brilliant experience and well worth the extra day. Orbital have been superb - cannot fault them at all.
4. Al-Azhar Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 922 reviews
Reviewed By limegreenchalk - Macon, United States
If you've had enough of noise and are looking for a green space in which to relax, this park is a great option. There are several cafes in which you can get something to eat, as well.
5. Nilometer
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy
Like almost all people of medium culture, even before any visit to Egypt I have heard about Nilometers. I also know the large Roman mosaic of Palestrina (Italy), depicting the Nile and where a beautiful well-shaped Nilometer is also clearly visible. Finally, on a previous trip, I visited the Nilometers in Elephantine and in Kom Ombo. This one in Rodah (according to the chronicles, built in 715 and rebuilt in 861 AD) is certainly the most beautiful and elaborate among the Nilometers I have seen, and is a "not to be missed", even with all the wonders that there are to see in Cairo and its surroundings . After the trip, however, I got the curiosity to understand if and how this medieval Nilometer had on-site ancestors in the Pharaonic era (which is often understood); and if there is evidence of this. So I came across the highly documented article by Étienne Drioton (former curator of the Egyptian section at the Louvre museum), "Les origines pharaoniques du Nilomètre de Rodah" (1952). From this writing it's clear that actually a Nilometer located in the nearby area should be the oldest in Egypt (it would even date back to the predynastic era, ie before 3100 BC). But it's important to know that it - according to the religious texts examined by Drioton - was not located here in Rodah (where after all the diggings carried out didn't reveal such ancient remains), but in Per-Hâpi; location to be identified with Helwan, 20 km further south. It's evocative to imagine the Pharaoh who, having heard from his officials of the arrival of the flood, lays his hands on the river intimating "get up, Nile", thus arousing amazement and reverence in his subjects. But this image is no less effective if the scene is believed to take place in Helwan instead of Rodah.
6. Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue
7. Wadi Degla
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 44 reviews
Located only 15 minutes from the Cairo suburb of Maadi, this rugged valley contains a wide variety of animal life including deer, hares, red foxes, reptiles, Egyptian turtles, twelve species of resident and migrant birds and 64 kinds of plants.
Reviewed By TTOverseas - Cairo, Egypt
While this would not be on my tp ten list if visiting Cairo for the first (or second or maybe third) time, as a resident of Cairo having a protected wadi area so close is really appreciated. This was our go to place for an "adventure" when my kids were smaller (2-10 +/-) and now we go for mountain biking and picnics. The area gets busy with family and teens (looking for privacy...) on holidays or weekends, but is empty early Friday and on weekday afternoons. The BBQ areas can be dirty, but we bring our lunch and can stop anywhere- plenty of undisturbed, quiet areas left. This is probably the closest and easiest "desert" area to get to near Cairo.
