What to do and see in Cairo, Cairo Governorate: The Best Museums

August 9, 2021 Marlin Saiz

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

Hussein El Me'mar Pasha Street, Cairo 11511 Egypt 576 8600 [email protected] http://www.thetownhousegallery.com/
Excellent
80%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 10 reviews

Townhouse Gallery

This gallery, dedicated to promoting contemporary Arab artists, is comprised of a three-story main building, exhibition halls, classrooms, a library and six studios.

Reviewed By WanderingMonkeys - New York City, United States

Recommend if you want to buy small gifts to take and or interesting affordable art. Nice to avoid the khan el Khalili atmosphere and casually browse. They also hold art workshops for kids in the community.

2. The Coptic Museum

No 4 Fakhry Abd el Nour street Abbassia, Cairo 11511 Egypt 3639742 - 3628766 http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/MUS_Coptic_Museum.htm
Excellent
54%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 313 reviews

The Coptic Museum

Housing some of the finest collections of Coptic art dating back to Egypt’s Christian era, this museum includes collections of ancient ankhs and Horus-like falcons, stone carvings from the era of the Mamluks, a 6th-century Coptic stone pulpit and the 1,600-year-old Coptic book of the Psalms of David.

Reviewed By limegreenchalk - Macon, United States

If you are interested in medieval or early Christian art, this museum is for you. There are countless beautiful objects: ceramics, frescoes, textiles, architectural stone, manuscripts, and so on. The building itself is beautiful and peaceful. All objects are labeled, unlike in the Egyptian Museum. Most of the galleries have dim lighting to protect the art. Not to be missed!

3. Children's Civilization and Creativity Center

36 Abu Bakr El Seddiq St. Heliopolis, Cairo 11511 Egypt +20 2 22912412 http://www.sis.gov.eg/newVR/child%20mus/index.htm
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3 reviews

Children's Civilization and Creativity Center

4. Gayer-Anderson Museum (Bayt al-Kiritliya)

4 Maydan Ibn Tulun Old Cairo, Cairo 11511 Egypt 02/364-7822 http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/MUS_Gayer-Anderson.htm
Excellent
73%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 204 reviews

Gayer-Anderson Museum (Bayt al-Kiritliya)

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. Museum of Islamic Arts

Shar'a Bur Bab El Khalk Square, Cairo 11511 Egypt 3901520 [email protected] http://www.miaegypt.org
Excellent
67%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 139 reviews

Museum of Islamic Arts

Reviewed By Gaafar - Sandefjord, Norway

Very beautiful collection of artifacts from different historical eras starting from the Ummayad Caliphate (661-744), Abbasid Caliphate, Fatimid, Ayubbid, Mamluk, Ottoman and all the way to contemporary history (Muhammad Ali dynasty), each hall housing a collection from each of those eras and explaining a bit about the lifestyle in Egypt during that time. It's not a huge collection and can be covered in a couple of hours while savoring the details of the different artifacts. Highly recommended while in Cairo.

6. National Geographic Society Museum

Kasr El Aini Street El Shura Council Compound, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
44%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 18 reviews

National Geographic Society Museum

This complex comprises an ethnographic museum, debating chamber and a small historical library.

7. Manial Palace Museum

1 Saray Street Manyal, Cairo 11511 Egypt +20 2 368 7495 http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/MUS_Manial-Palace.htm
Excellent
63%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 139 reviews

Manial Palace Museum

Built by Prince Mohamed Ali (1875-1955), between 1901 and 1929, this palace complex houses six structures including a hunting museum belonging to the late King Farouk, the prince’s residence and furnishings and a beautiful garden.

Reviewed By elfawa7shy - Cairo, Egypt

Manial palace or prince Mohamed Ali Tawfik palace on of the most iconic places in Cairo or in Egypt. It was made to preserve the Islamic art and architecture. The beauty is in every detail , there is also a hunting museum with a lot of preserved animals, it’s a beautiful place to spend 2 hours , there are some deposit boxes to keep small backpack there and it’s for free

8. Bayt Al-Suhaymi

Haret Al Darb al Asfar, Cairo 11511 Egypt http://www.egyptianmuseums.net/html/bayt_al-suhaymi.html
Excellent
57%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 63 reviews

Bayt Al-Suhaymi

Reviewed By Underawanderingstar7 - Exeter, United Kingdom

Would recommend to anyone who is interested in real life and Islam ☪️ a fantastic house and journey If you come to Egypt ???????? this is a nice place to chill from the Hustle and bustle of down town Cairo and the boys

9. Egyptian Textile Museum

121 El Muez St. Behind Wekalet Sobhy Zakaria, Cairo 11511 Egypt +20 2 27865227
Excellent
65%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 20 reviews

Egyptian Textile Museum

10. Foustat Traditional Crafts Center

1 El Emam St. El Fustat, Cairo 11511 Egypt 27354234 [email protected] http://www.foustatcenter.gov.eg/?q=content/%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85
Excellent
57%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7 reviews

Foustat Traditional Crafts Center

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