Le EgyptThings to do in Cairo
The 77 best places to visit in Cairo, Egypt: landmarks, hidden gems, food, parks and more, with tips, hours and tickets.
🔺 Famous Landmarks
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Home of the Royal Mummies Hall, where 20 pharaohs including Ramses II rest in a dim, moving gallery after their famous golden parade.
Home of the Royal Mummies Hall, where 20 pharaohs including Ramses II rest in a dim, moving gallery after their famous golden parade.
Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)
The historic pink museum on Tahrir Square, packed with more than a century of finds including royal mummies, statues and jewellery.
The historic pink museum on Tahrir Square, packed with more than a century of finds including royal mummies, statues and jewellery.
Citadel of Saladin
A medieval fortress on the Mokattam hills crowned by the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with sweeping views over Cairo.
A medieval fortress on the Mokattam hills crowned by the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with sweeping views over Cairo.
Cairo Tower
A 187 m lotus-shaped tower on Gezira Island. On a clear day you can see the pyramids from the observation deck.
A 187 m lotus-shaped tower on Gezira Island. On a clear day you can see the pyramids from the observation deck.
Sultan Hassan & Al-Rifai Mosques
Two giant mosques facing each other below the Citadel: one a 14th-century Mamluk masterpiece, the other the resting place of Egypt's last kings.
Two giant mosques facing each other below the Citadel: one a 14th-century Mamluk masterpiece, the other the resting place of Egypt's last kings.
Baron Empain Palace
A Hindu-temple-style palace built in Heliopolis in 1911, restored and opened as a museum of the district's history.
A Hindu-temple-style palace built in Heliopolis in 1911, restored and opened as a museum of the district's history.
Iconic Tower, New Capital
Africa's tallest skyscraper, rising over the Central Business District of Egypt's New Administrative Capital.
Africa's tallest skyscraper, rising over the Central Business District of Egypt's New Administrative Capital.
🏛️ Historical Sites
Coptic Cairo & the Hanging Church
Old churches, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum packed into the lanes of Old Cairo.
Old churches, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum packed into the lanes of Old Cairo.
Al-Azhar Mosque
Founded in 970 AD, one of the oldest continuously running universities in the world.
Founded in 970 AD, one of the oldest continuously running universities in the world.
Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Cairo's oldest intact mosque, with a vast peaceful courtyard and a unique spiral minaret you can climb.
Cairo's oldest intact mosque, with a vast peaceful courtyard and a unique spiral minaret you can climb.
Bab Zuweila
An 11th-century city gate whose twin minarets you can climb for a view over the rooftops of Islamic Cairo.
An 11th-century city gate whose twin minarets you can climb for a view over the rooftops of Islamic Cairo.
Abdeen Palace
The 19th-century royal palace of Egypt's khedives and kings, with museums of weapons, silver and gifts.
The 19th-century royal palace of Egypt's khedives and kings, with museums of weapons, silver and gifts.
Museum of Islamic Art
One of the world's finest collections of Islamic art: carved wood, lamps, ceramics and manuscripts from across 1,000 years.
One of the world's finest collections of Islamic art: carved wood, lamps, ceramics and manuscripts from across 1,000 years.
Qalawun Complex
A 13th-century hospital, school and mausoleum on Al-Muizz Street, with one of the most beautiful domed tombs in Cairo.
A 13th-century hospital, school and mausoleum on Al-Muizz Street, with one of the most beautiful domed tombs in Cairo.
Mosque of al-Hakim
A huge Fatimid mosque beside the old northern city walls and Bab al-Futuh.
A huge Fatimid mosque beside the old northern city walls and Bab al-Futuh.
Mosque of Amr ibn al-As
The first mosque built in Egypt and Africa, founded in 642 AD in old Fustat.
The first mosque built in Egypt and Africa, founded in 642 AD in old Fustat.
Ben Ezra Synagogue
A restored synagogue in Coptic Cairo where the famous Cairo Geniza manuscripts were found.
A restored synagogue in Coptic Cairo where the famous Cairo Geniza manuscripts were found.
⛵ The Nile
Cairo Corniche & Qasr El Nil Bridge
The lion-guarded bridge and riverbank where Cairenes stroll on warm evenings, with street food and boats.
The lion-guarded bridge and riverbank where Cairenes stroll on warm evenings, with street food and boats.
Nilometer on Roda Island
A 9th-century stone well that measured the Nile's flood, at the quiet southern tip of Roda Island.
A 9th-century stone well that measured the Nile's flood, at the quiet southern tip of Roda Island.
Felucca Ride in Cairo
A cheap and peaceful escape from Cairo traffic, from the docks along the Garden City corniche.
A cheap and peaceful escape from Cairo traffic, from the docks along the Garden City corniche.
Nile Dinner Cruise, Cairo
Evening boats with dinner, live music, a belly dancer and tanoura show while Cairo's lights slide past.
Evening boats with dinner, live music, a belly dancer and tanoura show while Cairo's lights slide past.
📍 Popular Spots
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Cairo's 14th-century souk of lanterns, spices, brass and silver, buzzing late into the night.
Cairo's 14th-century souk of lanterns, spices, brass and silver, buzzing late into the night.
Al-Muizz Street
An open-air museum of medieval Islamic architecture, pedestrian-friendly and beautifully lit at night.
An open-air museum of medieval Islamic architecture, pedestrian-friendly and beautifully lit at night.
Zamalek
A leafy island district of cafés, galleries, bookshops and embassies.
A leafy island district of cafés, galleries, bookshops and embassies.
Downtown Cairo (Wust El Balad)
Belle-époque buildings, old cafés, cheap koshary and the beating heart of Cairo street life around Talaat Harb.
Belle-époque buildings, old cafés, cheap koshary and the beating heart of Cairo street life around Talaat Harb.
Tahrir Square
Cairo's central square, redesigned with an obelisk and ram-headed sphinxes from Karnak.
Cairo's central square, redesigned with an obelisk and ram-headed sphinxes from Karnak.
Korba, Heliopolis
Arcaded belle-époque streets with cafés and patisseries in the heart of old Heliopolis.
Arcaded belle-époque streets with cafés and patisseries in the heart of old Heliopolis.
El Fishawy Café
A mirrored café in a Khan el-Khalili alley, open around the clock for more than 200 years.
A mirrored café in a Khan el-Khalili alley, open around the clock for more than 200 years.
Abou Tarek Koshary
Cairo's most famous place for koshary, Egypt's national dish of rice, lentils, pasta and spicy tomato sauce.
Cairo's most famous place for koshary, Egypt's national dish of rice, lentils, pasta and spicy tomato sauce.
Mokattam Corniche Viewpoint
A clifftop road with a panoramic view across the whole of Cairo to the pyramids on clear evenings.
A clifftop road with a panoramic view across the whole of Cairo to the pyramids on clear evenings.
🍽️ Food & Cafés
Felfela
A downtown Cairo institution since 1959 for falafel, ful, mezze and grills in a quirky garden-style dining room.
A downtown Cairo institution since 1959 for falafel, ful, mezze and grills in a quirky garden-style dining room.
Naguib Mahfouz Café
An elegant, air-conditioned restaurant and café in the heart of Khan el-Khalili.
An elegant, air-conditioned restaurant and café in the heart of Khan el-Khalili.
Abou El Sid, Zamalek
Classic Egyptian home cooking (molokhia, stuffed pigeon, fattah) served in an old-Cairo style dining room.
Classic Egyptian home cooking (molokhia, stuffed pigeon, fattah) served in an old-Cairo style dining room.
Zooba, Zamalek
Modern, colourful takes on Egyptian street food: koshary, taameya and hawawshi.
Modern, colourful takes on Egyptian street food: koshary, taameya and hawawshi.
El Tabei El Domyati
A famous chain for Egyptian breakfast: ful, taameya, pickles and fresh bread, cheap and fast.
A famous chain for Egyptian breakfast: ful, taameya, pickles and fresh bread, cheap and fast.
💎 Hidden Gems
Cave Church of St Simon (Mokattam)
A 20,000-seat church carved into the Mokattam cliffs, reached through Cairo's 'Garbage City' recycling district.
A 20,000-seat church carved into the Mokattam cliffs, reached through Cairo's 'Garbage City' recycling district.
Bayt Al-Suhaymi
An Ottoman merchant's mansion with carved wooden screens and a quiet courtyard, hidden off Al-Muizz Street.
An Ottoman merchant's mansion with carved wooden screens and a quiet courtyard, hidden off Al-Muizz Street.
Gayer-Anderson Museum
Two joined Ottoman houses full of curios, with a rooftop that appeared in a James Bond film.
Two joined Ottoman houses full of curios, with a rooftop that appeared in a James Bond film.
Manial Palace
A prince's palace mixing Ottoman, Moorish and Persian styles inside a tropical garden on Roda Island.
A prince's palace mixing Ottoman, Moorish and Persian styles inside a tropical garden on Roda Island.
Blue Mosque (Aqsunqur)
A Mamluk mosque in Darb al-Ahmar covered inside with blue Ottoman tiles from Damascus.
A Mamluk mosque in Darb al-Ahmar covered inside with blue Ottoman tiles from Damascus.
Sultan Qaitbay Mosque, City of the Dead
A masterpiece of Mamluk architecture with a lace-like carved dome, set among the living necropolis known as the City of the Dead.
A masterpiece of Mamluk architecture with a lace-like carved dome, set among the living necropolis known as the City of the Dead.
Sakakini Palace
A fairy-tale rococo palace of turrets and statues, built in 1897 and hidden in a busy square in Daher.
A fairy-tale rococo palace of turrets and statues, built in 1897 and hidden in a busy square in Daher.
Prince Taz Palace
A restored 14th-century Mamluk palace with a quiet courtyard, painted wooden ceilings and cultural events.
A restored 14th-century Mamluk palace with a quiet courtyard, painted wooden ceilings and cultural events.
Zeinab Khatoun House
An Ottoman-era house behind Al-Azhar Mosque with mashrabiya windows, a rooftop and a calm courtyard café.
An Ottoman-era house behind Al-Azhar Mosque with mashrabiya windows, a rooftop and a calm courtyard café.
Mosque of al-Maridani
A 14th-century Mamluk mosque in Darb al-Ahmar with a shady garden courtyard and a finely carved wooden screen.
A 14th-century Mamluk mosque in Darb al-Ahmar with a shady garden courtyard and a finely carved wooden screen.
Fustat Traditional Crafts Centre
Workshops where artisans blow glass, weave and shape pottery, right next to Coptic Cairo.
Workshops where artisans blow glass, weave and shape pottery, right next to Coptic Cairo.
🌴 Parks & Nature
Al-Azhar Park
A green hilltop park built on a former rubbish dump, with fountains and the best sunset view over Islamic Cairo.
A green hilltop park built on a former rubbish dump, with fountains and the best sunset view over Islamic Cairo.
Family Park, New Cairo
A large family park in Al Rehab, New Cairo, with green lawns, rides, playgrounds and a small zoo area.
A large family park in Al Rehab, New Cairo, with green lawns, rides, playgrounds and a small zoo area.
Wadi Degla Protectorate
A desert canyon on the edge of Maadi for hiking, cycling and fossil spotting.
A desert canyon on the edge of Maadi for hiking, cycling and fossil spotting.
Japanese Garden, Helwan
A quirky 1917 garden in Helwan with Buddha statues, little bridges and ponds.
A quirky 1917 garden in Helwan with Buddha statues, little bridges and ponds.
Merryland Park, Heliopolis
A historic Heliopolis park with a lake, restaurants and cafés, popular with families.
A historic Heliopolis park with a lake, restaurants and cafés, popular with families.
🎭 Entertainment
Cairo Opera House
Ballet, symphony, Arabic music and opera on Gezira Island.
Ballet, symphony, Arabic music and opera on Gezira Island.
El Sawy Culturewheel
A cultural centre under a Zamalek bridge with concerts, theatre and young Egyptian bands.
A cultural centre under a Zamalek bridge with concerts, theatre and young Egyptian bands.
Tanoura Show at Wekalet El Ghouri
Spinning Sufi-inspired tanoura dancers and live folk music inside a Mamluk caravanserai.
Spinning Sufi-inspired tanoura dancers and live folk music inside a Mamluk caravanserai.
Cairo Jazz Club
A legendary live-music club in Agouza with Egyptian bands and DJs most nights.
A legendary live-music club in Agouza with Egyptian bands and DJs most nights.
Darb 1718 Art Centre
A contemporary art and culture space in Fustat's pottery district with exhibitions, films and concerts.
A contemporary art and culture space in Fustat's pottery district with exhibitions, films and concerts.
🛍️ Malls & Shopping
City Stars
One of Cairo's largest malls in Heliopolis/Nasr City, with a themed indoor bazaar section.
One of Cairo's largest malls in Heliopolis/Nasr City, with a themed indoor bazaar section.
Cairo Festival City Mall
A big New Cairo mall with IKEA, open-air dining and a dancing fountain show.
A big New Cairo mall with IKEA, open-air dining and a dancing fountain show.
City Centre Almaza
A modern mall near the airport with a Carrefour, VOX cinemas and family entertainment.
A modern mall near the airport with a Carrefour, VOX cinemas and family entertainment.
Point 90 Mall
A New Cairo mall near the American University with shops, a cinema and restaurants.
A New Cairo mall near the American University with shops, a cinema and restaurants.
City Centre Maadi
A mall with Carrefour and everyday shops on the Ring Road in Maadi.
A mall with Carrefour and everyday shops on the Ring Road in Maadi.
🎬 Cinemas
Zawya Cinema
Downtown's independent arthouse cinema, now in the restored Cinema Karim on Emad El-Din Street, showing Egyptian, Arab and world films.
Downtown's independent arthouse cinema, now in the restored Cinema Karim on Emad El-Din Street, showing Egyptian, Arab and world films.
Metro Cinema, Downtown
A 1940 art deco cinema on Talaat Harb Street, a slice of Cairo's golden age of film.
A 1940 art deco cinema on Talaat Harb Street, a slice of Cairo's golden age of film.
VOX Cinemas, City Centre Almaza
Modern multiplex in east Cairo with recliner and premium screens.
Modern multiplex in east Cairo with recliner and premium screens.
Cinemas at Cairo Festival City
Multiplex screens inside Cairo Festival City Mall.
Multiplex screens inside Cairo Festival City Mall.
Cinema at Point 90 Mall
Mall cinema in New Cairo showing Hollywood and Egyptian films.
Mall cinema in New Cairo showing Hollywood and Egyptian films.
🏨 Hotels
Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino
A 19th-century palace built for the Suez Canal opening, set in Zamalek with a lovely garden terrace.
A 19th-century palace built for the Suez Canal opening, set in Zamalek with a lovely garden terrace.
The Nile Ritz-Carlton
Luxury hotel on Tahrir Square next to the Egyptian Museum with Nile views.
Luxury hotel on Tahrir Square next to the Egyptian Museum with Nile views.
Four Seasons Nile Plaza
A tall luxury hotel in Garden City with panoramic river views.
A tall luxury hotel in Garden City with panoramic river views.
Kempinski Nile Hotel
A boutique-style luxury hotel on the Garden City corniche with a rooftop pool.
A boutique-style luxury hotel on the Garden City corniche with a rooftop pool.
Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
A round tower hotel at the tip of Gezira Island with Nile views on every side.
A round tower hotel at the tip of Gezira Island with Nile views on every side.
🏟️ Stadiums
Cairo International Stadium
Egypt's main national stadium in Nasr City, home to the national team and big Al Ahly and Zamalek matches.
Egypt's main national stadium in Nasr City, home to the national team and big Al Ahly and Zamalek matches.
New Administrative Capital Stadium
A large modern stadium in the Olympic City of the New Administrative Capital.
A large modern stadium in the Olympic City of the New Administrative Capital.
30 June Stadium
A stadium in east Cairo hosting league and cup matches.
A stadium in east Cairo hosting league and cup matches.
Al Salam Stadium
A stadium in east Cairo used for Egyptian Premier League matches.
A stadium in east Cairo used for Egyptian Premier League matches.
Petro Sport Stadium
A modern stadium in New Cairo used for Egyptian Premier League games.
A modern stadium in New Cairo used for Egyptian Premier League games.
🎳 Bowling & Games
Inlane Bowling Center
A popular bowling centre inside Arabella Plaza in the Fifth Settlement, New Cairo.
A popular bowling centre inside Arabella Plaza in the Fifth Settlement, New Cairo.