Cairo , the capital of Egypt , is the largest city in Africa and one of the largest metropolises in the world. So be prepared that in order to enjoy its fascinating treasures, you will first have to suffer its chaos. Yes, but it will definitely be worth it, because beyond the traffic, dust and crowds, the charms of Cairo will blow more than one traveler away. Two days is the minimum time we recommend you spend here, and these 20 are the things to see and do in Cairo during that time.
What to see and do in Cairo
Cairo is a very crazy city, where chaos is the common denominator, the soundtrack is the beeping of cars, buses and motorbikes and the thousands of minarets of the Egyptian capital seem to want to escape towards the sky.
But in all this confusion there is also a lot of charm… that of the bazaars that seem to come from a tale of the Arabian Nights, of the lively night scene, of the mosques and the citadel of Saladin and, of course, that of the Pyramids of Giza.
1. Pyramids of Giza
First things first, if you visit Cairo you have to go and see the Pyramids of Giza . They are the oldest monuments in the world, they are shrouded in mystery and are only a stone's throw from Cairo. We went with a guide and we highly recommend doing it this way (unless you are not an expert Egyptologist hehe). This free tour of the Pyramids of Giza seems like a great option and has very positive reviews.
Inside the complex you will find the three main pyramids: the Pyramid of Cheops (or the Great Pyramid), the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure . General admission costs 200 EGP (about €11), and there are extra tickets to enter the Great Pyramid (400 EGP) or the Pyramid of Khafre (100 EGP), not suitable for claustrophobics.
In this post we tell you in more detail about our visit and advice to the Pyramids of Giza .
2. Great Sphinx of Giza
In addition to the pyramids, there is another great attraction here that is no less impressive and mysterious: the Great Sphinx of Giza . It is a monumental limestone sculpture with a human head (believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre) and a lion's body, and was sculpted more than 4,500 years ago! It measures more than 50 meters in length and about 20 meters in height. Here you have to do the tourist thing and take the typical photo of yourself kissing it.
3. Saqqara Necropolis
If you want to continue researching the pyramids and delve into the history of Egypt , the best thing to do is to visit the Step Pyramid of Zoser, in the Saqqara necropolis , considered the first pyramid in Egypt and the model on which the pyramid of Giza was based. And take the opportunity to visit Memphis , the oldest city in the world. There is a tour that includes the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx in the morning, lunch, and a visit to Saqqara and Memphis in the afternoon.
4. Sound and light show at the Pyramids
Every night there is a light and sound show at the Pyramids of Giza . It can be a very interesting evening, if you like history, of course, although attending will cost you a bit of money (about 300 EGP). This offer includes pick up and drop off at the hotel, tickets for the night show and a traditional Egyptian dinner.
5. Al Hadaba Terrace
As an alternative, and in our opinion the best option, you can go to the terrace of the Al Hadaba restaurant , which is located opposite the entrance to the complex (the one at the Sphinx) and watch the sunset and the show from there, while tasting some of the local cuisine specialties. Finger-licking good!
6. Eating, one of the best things to do in Cairo
And since we're talking about food, in Cairo you have to try some of the typical Egyptian dishes . Our favourites are koftas , a spicy meatball that's really good, and the national dish, koshari , which consists of a mixture of pasta with tomato, rice, lentils, garlic, caramelised onions, tomato sauce and spices. They say that the two best ones are prepared at Koshary El Tahrir and Abou Tarek Koshary .
7. Coptic Quarter
The Coptic quarter is one of the most curious and must-see places in Cairo. Do you know who the Copts are ? This is what the city's inhabitants of Christian faith were called when the Arabs conquered Egypt. Today, 10% of the country's population is Coptic, the rest is Muslim.
In the Coptic quarter of Cairo there are a couple of must-see churches: the Church of St. Mary , the oldest in the city and also known as the Hanging Church, and the Church of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus , which served as a refuge for the Holy Family in their flight from Herod's persecution.
Remember to bring your Revolut card and/or N26 card so that you are not charged commissions when paying and withdrawing money abroad.
8. Ben Ezra Synagogue
Also in this neighborhood you can visit the oldest synagogue in the country, the Ben Ezra Synagogue , where the basket that carried Moses across the waters of the Nile apparently arrived. Tradition has it that Moses was born during the period when the Pharaoh decreed that all Hebrew babies were to be eliminated.
To save him from certain death, Moses' mother put him in a basket and threw him down the river. At the site of the synagogue, Pharaoh's wife found the little boy and decided to adopt him. Moses, according to the Bible, was the one chosen by God to free the Hebrew people and lead them from Egypt to the promised land.
9. Monastery of San Simon
Another truly amazing place of worship is the Monastery of St. Simon , carved into the very wall of the Mokattam mountain, which according to legend was dragged here by a group of worshippers on the orders of St. Simon. It is located in the district known as "The Dump of Cairo", because it is the place where the city's waste is concentrated, and to visit it it may be advisable to hire the services of a guide. We did not go, but seeing the photos made us want to go!
10. Citadel of Saladin, a must-see in Cairo
Another thing to see and do in Cairo is to climb the al-Muqattam hill, in the heart of the Arab quarter, where the Citadel of Saladin stands imposingly , an impressive medieval Islamic fortification (entrance 180 EGP). It was built by Saladin (Al-Nāsir Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb), one of the most important figures in Arab history and the first sultan of Egypt (between 1171 and 1193).
The Citadel of Saladin is a World Heritage Site and was intended to protect the city from Crusader attacks. Within its walls, the jewel in the crown is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (also known as the Alabaster Mosque), which is reminiscent of the New Mosque in Istanbul. Other places of interest include the al-Nasir Mosque, the Gawhara Palace, Yusuf's Well and a couple of museums.
11. Ibn Tulum Mosque
But this is not the largest or oldest mosque in Cairo, that honor goes to the Ibn Tulum Mosque , which was built in the 9th century.
12. Khan el-Khalili Market
If you want to buy souvenirs or just want to wander around the city's most photogenic stalls, head to the Khan el-Khalili Market . This bazaar, which dates back to the 14th century, is home to stalls of all kinds (spices, jewellery, clothes, food, etc.), but be patient: the vendors can be a bit overwhelming. By the way, don't forget to haggle, it's an unwritten law!
13. El Fishawi, the cafe of mirrors
You can't leave without having a tea or coffee at a legendary establishment: El Fishawi , also known as the mirror café (you can imagine why). The best thing is that it opened in 1769 and they say that it hasn't closed even once since then (and it's open 24 hours a day). Sit down, have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere.
14. Al-Muizz, the liveliest street in Cairo
Still in the mood for more strolls? Then take note of this name: Al-Muizz Street ( Al Moez Ldin Allah Al Fatmi ), one of the oldest and most interesting streets in the city. It is about 1 km long, and you can enjoy some of the treasures of the old quarter of the city along it. It is pedestrianized until 11pm, so for once in Cairo you can move around without fear of being run over by a crazy taxi!
Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here . Whatever your destination
15. Egyptian Museum, a must see in Cairo
Spend at least a morning or afternoon exploring the Egyptian Antiquities Museum (entry 200 EGP), one of the best things to see and do in Cairo. As you can imagine, it houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, although many of them are not even on display.
To remedy this (and to add a couple more hours to the visit), a new museum is being built, which when it opens (it seems like it will be a long time) will become the largest in the world. For now, make do with the old one, where the main attraction is the room of Tutankhamun's treasures . But we can tell you in advance that the rest of the objects are super interesting and surprising. It is included in the one-day tour of Cairo (recommended) .
16. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
When we went to the Egyptian Museum for the first time, it was worth paying extra to see the Royal Mummy Room (which is not included in the price of the Museum ticket or in the organised tours). It is not a visit suitable for the most sensitive but if you are passionate about the history of Egypt you will be able to come “face to face” with some of the most important pharaohs , such as Tuthmosis II, Ramses II or Hatshepsut (the female pharaoh).
However, you should know that in 2021 the vast majority of the royal mummies were moved (with a super impressive ceremony) to the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).
17. Tahrir Square
On your way out, take a stroll around Tahrir Square , very close to the museum. It is the largest public square in the city and the place chosen by the population to gather for important events, such as the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.
18. Cairo Tower (Burj Al-Qāhira)
If you like taking panoramic photos, you have to go up the Cairo Tower (Burj Al-Qāhira) to have the city at your feet. It is located on Gezira Island, in the Nile and measures 187 meters. The bad thing is that the entrance is quite expensive for foreigners: they charge 180 EGP (almost 9 €). We did not go.
19. City of the Dead
For the more daring, there is a place in Cairo that is certainly disconcerting. We are talking about the so-called City of the Dead , an ancient Muslim cemetery where today more than 1 million people live. Here the inhabitants subsist in a very modest way among the tombs, in some cases through agreements with the families who own them, who allow these people to stay here in exchange for maintenance. We think it is best to find a local guide or taxi driver to accompany you on the visit.
20. Cruise on the Nile
To top off your Cairo trip, take a mini-cruise on the Nile . Chances are you've already planned a multi-day cruise to discover Egypt's best temples , but a short-hour cruise around Cairo is also cool! This one , for example, includes hotel pickup/drop-off, dinner on board, and a luxury Nile cruise with a folkloric show.
Excursions from Cairo
If you have more than 2 days of free time, we would recommend spending some time outside the city, doing some excursions.
A good idea is to take a trip to Alexandria , which in the past was one of the most prosperous and famous cities in the Mediterranean. It is advisable to go on a tour so that your guide can tell you everything that happened in its long and eventful history. This tour to Alexandria lasts 12 hours and includes everything.
And of course, if you haven't already, you have to book your Nile cruise . There are 3 or 4 night cruises. We recommend the 4-night cruise from Luxor (as you will end up visiting one of Egypt's great treasures, Abu Simbel). If you are not travelling with a package, this Nile cruise is a very good option and is very well priced (250€ all-inclusive minus drinks, they are cheap don't worry and 25€ tips). Here we tell you more about Nile cruises .
Although Egypt is a country that can be visited on your own, to see everything in a short time we recommend this 8-day tour of the best of the country from Cairo (with a guide in Spanish)
Map of places to visit in Cairo
Here is an interactive map with the locations of the best things to see and do in Cairo.
Do you know more things to see and do in Cairo ? Did you like this chaotic city? We did, you know we like partying!
