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Popular Best Things to Do in Cairo - 2024

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Explore the best things to do in Cairo! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Jun 2024
  • top_1
    󰺂10
    4.7/5
    983 Review
    From18.56
    "One of the best museums, the most beautiful and valuable products in the world, are here, and there are so many, nowhere to display, piles everywhere, all treasures, compared with other museums, it is a big rich,"
    Cairo
    476m from downtown
    Featured in 2024 Trip.Best Global 100
    Highlights: The Egyptian Museum is located near Tahrir Square in the center of Cairo, and it displays relics from ancient Egypt to ancient Roman rule. Come here to witness the golden mask of the Egyptian pharaoh, the treasure of the town hall, and visit the mummies of many pharaohs and royal aristocrats in the mummy exhibition hall to learn about the production process. The entrance museum is a quaint brick red building with two floors. After entering the museum, you can ask a tour guide or buy a visiting guide, which will be very helpful for you to understand these artifacts. The design of the entrance to the museum incorporates the characteristics of ancient Egyptian art. The outer profile of the gate is a circular arch. In the niches on both sides of the arch, there are reliefs that Europeanize the image of the pharaoh, one of which holds a papyrus, the other Holding lotus flowers, symbolizing the north and south of ancient Egypt respectively. The first floor of the museum is displayed in the order of the ancient history of Egypt, where you can see precious artifacts from the period of the ancient kings to the Roman rule in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. There are many sitting statues with different shapes, such as the cross-legged secretary sitting statue. In addition, there are exhibits of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, mainly wood carvings and stone carvings. Compared with the exhibition hall on the first floor, the exhibition hall on the second floor is displayed in the form of a special exhibition room, and the exhibits are more precious than those on the first floor. Showroom. Here you can witness pharaoh's golden funeral mask, golden coffin, golden throne and so on. In addition, there are more than 1,700 unearthed cultural relics in Tutankhamun's exhibition room worthy of appreciation. The Mummy Showroom and the Mummy Showroom on the southwest corner of the second floor is a very attractive place in the Egyptian Museum. There are more than 20 mummies of Egyptian pharaohs and their concubines. For example, the colorful wooden coffin lid of Astem Kabu is 205 cm high. The eyes and eyebrows are inlaid with enamel, giving people a sense of grace and luxury. In addition, mummies known as "Fayoum Portraits" can be seen here. This type of mummy draws human faces on wooden boards and waits until they are dead before placing the portraits on the embalmed mummy's face. Some of the mummies stored in the Egyptian Museum are more than 3,500 years old, but they are still well preserved, and some can clearly see hair and toenails. War and Peace Exhibition Room Among the mummies, the most well-preserved remains are the remains of Ramses II (c. 1317-1251 BC) of the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom. Ramses II created a precedent for the conclusion of a peace treaty with foreign enemies, the Hittites, in the history of Egypt, so the exhibition room where Ramses II's body was placed is called the "War and Peace Exhibition Room". After visiting all the exhibits, I came to the garden of the museum, where there are many statues of well-known Egyptologists, as well as outdoor exhibits such as sphinxes, obelisks, and stone carvings. When you finish visiting, walk out of the museum, you will see a statue on the right side of the gate, it is the founder of the Egyptian Museum.
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  • top_2
    󰺂9.0
    4.3/5
    140 Review
    Free
    "A vibrant market place in the heart of downtown Cairo. An authentic and very much local vibes if you want to experience Cairo. A place in which you can find anything to buy."
    Cairo
    2.6km from downtown
    Highlights: Khalili Market is a well-known open-air market in Cairo and even in Egypt. It has been in business since the 14th century. Feel the enthusiastic merchants and the noisy bargaining sounds in the Arabian-style market, the fragrance of spices and a variety of gadgets, which will make you linger. Enter the market from the entrance of Al-Azhar Road, which is lined with historic Arab buildings on both sides, and even the old city walls and gates. Even if you don't buy anything, it's a good place to experience the local atmosphere and take pictures. There is also a famous Fisherman Cafe (FishawiCafe) at the entrance of the market, you may as well sit down and drink a cup of traditional Arabic tea.
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  • top_3
    󰺂8.8
    4.7/5
    573 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 3265 reviews
    "The scenery of the Nile is still very good, the water is very clear and the water flow is quite large. The more distinctive is the cruise buffet, which is available during the day and night, and there are singing and dancing performances on it. On the cruise ship, you can enjoy the scenery on both sides of the river, about an hour and a half."
    Cairo
    615m from downtown
    No. 1 of Night Attractions
    Highlights: The Nile River is the mother river of Egypt. In the Cairo section, tourists usually choose to swim the Nile River at night, not only to enjoy the city night view of Cairo, but also to watch the wonderful belly dance or Sufi dance performance. There are many choices of cruise ships. At the docks on both sides of the Nile River in downtown Cairo, you can see a variety of cruise ships of different grades. The price ranges from 10 Egyptian pounds to one or two hundred Egyptian pounds. The more famous ones are Pharaoh Cruise and luxury dinner cruises ( MaximDinnerCruise), sailing cruise (FeluccaCruise), etc. Lively night cruises There are parades during the day and at night. Usually, there are belly dances, Sufi dances and other performances on board during night cruises, which are very lively. You can book night tours at your hotel and get lower group rates. The Pharaoh cruise ship's retro Pharaoh-style hull is very characteristic. There are four cruises a day at 14:30 (lunch cruise), 16:30, 20:00 (dinner cruise), and 22:00 (dinner cruise). Reservations are required. Accept credit card payment, the reference price is 200 Egyptian pounds per person. Tel: 02-35701000, 02-35702645 Address: 138ElNilSt.Giza, Giza official website: http://www.thepharaohs.com.eg
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  • No.

    4

    󰺂8.7
    4.5/5
    120 Review
    From18.56
    "The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin (Arabic: قلعة صلاح الدين, romanized: Qalaʿat Salāḥ ad-Dīn) is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt, built by Salah ad-Din (Saladin) and further developed by subsequent Egyptian rulers. It was the seat of government in Egypt and the residence of its rulers for nearly 700 years from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Its location on a promontory of the Mokattam hills near the center of Cairo commands a strategic position overlooking the city and dominating its skyline. When it was constructed it was among the most impressive and ambitious military fortification projects of its time. It is now a preserved historic site, including mosques and museums."
    Cairo
    2.9km from downtown
    Highlights: Saladin Citadel, also known as Cairo Citadel, is located on Mugaitam Mountain in the eastern suburbs of Cairo. The castle stands tall and was built by General Saladin in the 11th century to defend against invasion. Scale The castle covers a very large area and is very majestic. The city wall is 2 meters high. The castle is divided into an inner city and an outer city. The rulers of all dynasties have left their relics here. The ancient canal, Youssef well, and the National Military Museum are all monuments worth seeing. Castle Highlights There is a green grass in front of the castle, climb the castle, stroll in the courtyard, see the exquisite doors and windows and the finely carved bathroom. Then you can enter the temple and visit the resplendent inner hall to feel its solemnity. There is also a kiosk outside the temple, which is a great viewpoint overlooking Cairo. Other buildings are in the castle, and dense signposts guide other important facilities within the castle, as well as cafes and Italian restaurants dedicated to tourists. Afterwards, you can also visit the Military Museum, which was originally part of the Royal Palace and was later converted into a Military Museum. It displays military items such as uniforms and medals. You can also take a walk in the garden area. The garden in the castle is also a museum. The scattered columns on the grass and the remains of other mosques are the exhibits. If you have time, take a stroll to the other end of the castle to visit the Suleymani Pasha Mosque and climb the tower for a view. This is an Ottoman building from the early 16th century. The exquisite minaret, the carved pulpit, the painted scales and the frescoes in the tomb are all exquisite and worth savoring.
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  • No.

    5

    󰺂7.9
    4.6/5
    143 Review
    Free
    "The hanging church is built in ancient Cairo's Babylonian southwestern gate above Egypt's oldest Christian church, the church itself hanging in the aisle. It is a holy place for Egyptian Christianity because Mary, the Virgin Mary who was carrying Jesus, was here 1800 years ago and was later transferred to Jerusalem to give birth to Jesus. The church is small but beautiful, and has preserved many relics of the saints, but only here can be seen, because it cannot be photographed."
    Cairo
    4.4km from downtown
    Highlights: Whether you are Christian or not, Hanging Church is worth a visit. The Bible records that the family of Jesus came here to take refuge. The church, which was built in the 3rd century, was once located above the south gate of the Babylonian castle. The atrium of the church appears to be suspended from the aisle, hence the name. Inside the church, the hanging church is in the shape of a rectangular hall. Entering the sanctuary through the inner courtyard, two rows of columns support the arched wooden roof, which divides the altar into three. The altar screen inlaid with ivory and the pulpit made of marble are exquisite. On the right side of the front of the sanctuary, there is a very special glass floor, you can watch the scene under your feet, it feels very strange. The supporting columns inside the church, made of marble, symbolize Jesus and his 12 disciples. One is made of black basalt and represents Judas who later betrayed Jesus. Admire Christian frescoes There are many frescoes on the walls of the church, mostly portraits of suffering Christians. Many valuable historical relics, including portraits and handicrafts, dating back to the 8th century, are now housed in the Coptic Museum. In addition, there are stalls in the well-designed inner courtyard selling videotapes of sacred music and the Pope's sermons. There are also many attractions around the Hanging Church. You can visit the following tour order: Roman Tower - St. George's Church - Hanging Church - St. Sergius Church - St. Barbara Church - Ben Ezra Synagogue , these attractions are very close to each other and can be completed on foot.
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  • No.

    6

    󰺂7.4
    4.2/5
    22 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 43 reviews
    "The National Military Museum is the largest military museum in Egypt, Egypt during the Second World War, many weapons are imported from other countries, rarely have their own unique military industrial infrastructure, most of the old-fashioned equipment."
    Cairo
    3km from downtown
    Highlights: The Egyptian National Military Museum is located in the Saladin Citadel. The exhibits in the museum are very rich, from ancient times to modern times. You can see guns, spears, aircraft cannons and other military weapons, equipment, and clothing from various historical periods in Egypt, as well as real objects, imitations, models and drawings of castles. In addition, in the museum, you can also see portraits and sculptures of former Egyptian President Sadat. If you are interested in the assassination of former Egyptian President Sadat and the conspiracy of current President Hosni Mubarak to ascend to the throne, the military museum will surely be an eye-opener for you.
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  • No.

    7

    󰺂7.2
    4.5/5
    56 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 392 reviews
    "Egyptian Tour - Amur Mosque was destroyed in fire in 61168. Saladin was rebuilt in 1172 and the original temple was maintained. It was the only official monastery of the caliphate, Sudan, governors and ministers of all ages for the last gathering of Ramadan, and continued until 1952. It is now listed as a historical cultural relics protection unit by the Egyptian government."
    Cairo
    2.6km from downtown
    Highlights: Al-Azhar Mosque, located in the old city of Cairo, is a mosque in Cairo and a very famous mosque. It has been the spiritual center of Egypt for more than 1,000 years and is still the largest center of Islamic theology in the world. The mosque was built in AD 970 and was originally a place for religious activities. It began to teach scriptures in AD 975 and became an Islamic institution since the 13th century. Originally, it was integrated with Al-Azhar University. It is not only a religious place for worship, but also a scholarly place for preaching and teaching. Now the university and the mosque have been separated, but you can still see scholars giving lectures in the strolling temple.
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  • No.

    8

    󰺂6.9
    4.5/5
    95 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1219 reviews
    "the Cairo tower was realised good to visit, the views from the top were amazing, you can see the pyramids from there"
    Cairo
    1.1km from downtown
    Highlights: Cairo Tower is located on Zamalek Island in the Nile River, modeled after Egypt's national flower, the lotus flower. Climbing to the Cairo Tower not only provides a panoramic view of Cairo's cityscape, but it is also a better place to overlook the night scene at night. This reinforced concrete TV tower is 187 meters high, which is equivalent to a 60-story building. It is the tallest building in North Africa. The foundation stone was laid by the late Egyptian President Nasser. It was completed and opened on April 1, 1961. Above the entrance of Cairo Tower is a bronze eagle with a height of 8 meters and a width of 5 meters, which is the symbol of the Republic of Egypt. Overlooking Cairo from the observatory, the entire tower body is inlaid with 2.5 million beige tiles. The tower body is designed like a lotus flower, which is very elegant. The observatory is located on the 16th floor. When it is close to noon or dusk, standing on the circular observatory overlooks the panoramic view of Cairo with a clearer sight. To the east of the tower, three bridges are connected along the opposite bank of the Nile, namely the Tahrir Bridge, the October 6th Bridge and the AbulEla Bridge. To the southwest of the tower is the Pyramid District of Giza. Some tourists even use the Cairo Tower as a marker for directions when traveling in Cairo. Dining in the revolving restaurant There is a revolving restaurant on the 14th floor of the tower, which rotates every half hour. You can eat here while watching the whole view of Cairo through the glass. In addition, there is a coffee and bar on the 15th floor.
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  • No.

    9

    󰺂6.9
    4.4/5
    37 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 810 reviews
    "There is no breathtaking culture in the land that people imagine, nor the famous attractions like the pyramids (which may have been owned, but are now gone). The city is full of dust, fight-fighting tramps and endless dirt, mess and bad. Probably the best thing you can experience here is a quick bath after a day in Cairo and hoping to get rid of any illness. Many people will trick the streets to get money, making tourists less and less impressed by the city. Others will shout behind you to provoke you. In this case, even if you give me money, I will never look back."
    Cairo
    3.7km from downtown
    Highlights: The Islamic Old City is one of the oldest Islamic urban areas in the world, where a collection of Islamic architecture is located. The Khalili Market, Azhar Mosque, and Salah al-Din Citadel are all representative local attractions. There are also many small attractions. There will be many places that will attract you if you taste it carefully.
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  • No.

    10

    󰺂6.8
    4.2/5
    46 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 204 reviews
    "The City of the Dead is a cemetery outside Cairo, and it is also a very old city remnant area. Visiting here can learn about the ancient burial history of Egypt, a very traditional place, and you can see a lot of locals in Cairo."
    Cairo
    3.5km from downtown
    Highlights: Looking northeast from Salah al-Din Castle, there is a low and dilapidated gray building complex between Al-Azhar Park and Mugaitam Mountain. This is Cairo's famous cemetery "City of the Dead", also called "Arafah" Cemetery Group", where many dignitaries are buried. Different from ordinary cemeteries, these are all tomb houses built in the style of folk houses. Today this area is a slum in Cairo, where many homeless Egyptian poor live and guard the tombs of the rich.
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FAQ

What are some Best Things to Do in Cairo?
Some Best Things to Do in Cairo include:The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Khan el-Khalili, River Nile, Cairo Citadel, The Hanging Church
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Cairo?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Cairo include:The Egyptian Museum in Cairo:4.7, Khan el-Khalili:4.3, River Nile:4.7, Cairo Citadel:4.5, The Hanging Church:4.6
At what locations in Cairo can Best Things to Do in Cairo be found?
The Best Things to Do in Cairo are mainly located in:The Egyptian Museum in Cairo:Cairo, Khan el-Khalili:Cairo, River Nile:Cairo, Cairo Citadel:Cairo, The Hanging Church:Cairo
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