Cairo: what to see and when to go to the capital of Egypt

Fascinating and chaotic, Cairo is the capital of Egypt and also the most populated city in Africa.

Chaos is the essence of its charm, between modern and ancient, crowded streets and desert, history and culture. Visiting this wonderful city is a unique and unrepeatable experience. Here are 10 things you absolutely must see and do in Cairo.

Cairo, what to see and when to go to the capital of Egypt

• The Pyramids of Giza

• The Great Sphinx

• Egyptian Museum

• Suq of Khan El-Khalili

• Saladin's Citadel

• Fortress of Babylon

• Abden Palace

• Al-Azhar Park

• Cairo Tower

• Camel Riding

The Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus have towered over the desert for millennia and are a testament to the impressive and grandiose Egyptian architecture. It remains a mystery to this day how it was possible to build these colossal structures out of heavy stone blocks.

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The Pyramid of Cheops - who first began the necropolis of the 4th dynasty of pharaohs - is the largest at 147 metres high. Then there are those of his sons Chephren (136 metres) and, the smallest and unfinished, of Mycerinus (61 metres).

The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx, which has become a symbol of Egypt, stands next to the pyramid of Chephren.

The mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man (apparently depicting the face of Chephren who commissioned it), was considered in antiquity to be the protective symbol of the Pyramids, guardian of the pharaohs and guaranteed their peaceful repose in the afterlife. The Sphinx is also a temple very similar to that of Chephren.

Egyptian Museum

It is considered one of the largest and most famous museums in the world, located in the heart of Cairo, designed by the Italians Giuseppe Garozzo and Francesco Zaffrani. It was opened in 1902 and contains 150,000 artefacts found in necropolises all over Egypt.

Inside is an entire room dedicated to Tutankhamun's tomb and all of the Pharaoh's treasure.

Of particular interest is the Hall of the Royal Mummies containing the embalmed remains of ancient pharaohs.

Photo: © Matyas Rehak/Shuttersrock

Suq of Khan El-Khalili

In the old city, in the Islamic quarter, one cannot fail to visit the large 'suq', the typical market that is a riot of smells, tastes and colours. Here you can find all kinds of goods and merchandise in the shops scattered in the maze of narrow streets: from souvenirs to silverware, from spices to fine fabrics. Here, too, there is no lack of statues, museums and restaurants where you can sample the local gastronomic specialities.

Photo: © Danilo Strino/Shutterstock

The Citadel of Saladin

It is almost a city within a city. Commissioned by Saladin, it was built in the 12th century to defend the capital from Crusader attacks. It has high walls and watchtowers and inside are the three most important mosques in Cairo.

The Mosque of Sultan Hassan, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun and the Mosque of al-Rifai are very fascinating, but the Museum of Carriages and Military Art, the Palace of Jewellery and the Panoramic Terrace are also worth a visit. It was the seat of government until the 19th century.

Fortress of Babylon

On the eastern bank of the Nile, begun by Emperor Trajan, the fortress was finished in the time of Emperor Arcadius. It is perhaps the greatest work of Roman testimony in Egypt. Inside you can visit the Coptic Museum, founded in the first half of the 20th century, which contains the largest exhibition of Coptic art and artefacts and represents the meeting of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Byzantine cultures.

Also worth seeing is the Suspended Church - so called because it stands on top of the Fortress - built in the 4th century and destroyed and restored several times, it contains numerous works of art and the Greek Orthodox Church of St George.

Abden Palace

Once the residence of the monarchy, today the Palace is one of the official residences of the President as well as the seat of his offices. Sumptuous and richly decorated with frescoes and gold friezes, the Abden Palace is now also a museum. It houses the Silver Museum, the Arms Museum, the Royal Family Museum, the Museum of State Gifts received by the Presidents of the Republic and the Museum of Historical Documents.

Not all of the Palace is open to the public.

Al-Azhar Park

Donated to Cairo by Aga Khan IV, descendant of the Fatimid caliphs of Cairo, this park is listed among the 60 best public parks in the world. It is Cairo's green lung and as you stroll through the typical Islamic gardens among palm trees and flowers, fountains and ponds, you come across monuments unearthed during excavations for construction such as the 12th century Ayyubid Wall.

Inside, there are many luxurious eateries and restaurants.

Photo: © Creativity lover/Shuttersrtock

Cairo Tower

Built in 1961, the 187-metre tower is among the tallest monuments in Africa. From the top, which is reached by a lift, it is possible to admire a 360° panorama of the city from the telescope at the summit.

The view stretches as far as the Pyramids and the Nile. It is visited by Egyptians on Islamic festivals and civil holidays. Within the 16 storeys there are various restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine.

Camel Riding

A visit to Cairo cannot be separated from the classic camel ride through the desert. Whether around the Pyramids or in the dunes, the panorama of sun and sand is one of the most beautiful and magical in the world and will remain an unforgettable experience.

The walk generally lasts half an hour.

When to go?

Cairo enjoys a warm desert climate and generally any time of year, but to avoid excessively high temperatures, we recommend that you plan your trip in the months of March to May or in November.

Map and map

• Egypt