Cairo, the capital of Egypt, spreads along the Nile just south of the point where the river opens into its delta. The city itself is home to more than 9.8 million people, and Greater Cairo, which takes in Giza on the west bank, is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Founded by the Fatimids in 969, Cairo grew into a great centre of Islamic learning and architecture, and its historic districts have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.
Most visitors come for ancient Egypt: the pyramids and Sphinx of Giza on the edge of the Western Desert, the Grand Egyptian Museum close by, and the older pyramid fields of Saqqara and Dahshur to the south. Medieval Cairo adds mosques, city gates and bazaars, and Coptic Cairo some of the oldest churches in Egypt. The city suits history lovers, first-time visitors to Egypt and travellers who enjoy busy city life. Vacation rentals are mostly apartments, from older flats with high ceilings in Zamalek and Downtown to newer homes in Maadi, Heliopolis and New Cairo.
Zamalek, the residential northern part of Gezira Island in the Nile, is a favourite first base. Its tree-lined streets hold embassies, art galleries and bookshops among early 20th-century apartment buildings, and Downtown is a short ride across the river. Downtown, known locally as Wust al-Balad, was laid out in the 19th century under Khedive Ismail and is protected as Khedival Cairo. It puts Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum and the metro on your doorstep, though it is noisy and crowded. Garden City, just to the south, is a quiet quarter of curving streets and embassies beside the Nile Corniche.
Maadi, a leafy district about 12 km south of Downtown on the east bank, is popular with expatriates and suits families and longer stays. Heliopolis, founded in 1905 by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Empain, lies to the north-east near the airport. New Cairo, a planned city in the desert to the east, offers newer and larger homes. Travellers focused on the pyramids can stay on the Giza side, near the plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The Giza pyramid complex stands on the edge of the Western Desert, about 13 km south-west of central Cairo. The Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure, together with the Great Sphinx, were built during the Fourth Dynasty, roughly between 2600 and 2500 BC. The Great Pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing. Giza forms the northern end of the pyramid fields of Memphis, which UNESCO inscribed in 1979.
About 2 km from the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum holds an estimated 100,000 artefacts covering Egypt from prehistory to late antiquity. Construction began in 2005, and the museum officially opened on 1 November 2025. Its best-known treasure is the complete collection of Tutankhamun, more than 5,000 pieces displayed together for the first time. Plan a full day for the plateau and another for the museum, and start early to avoid the midday heat, especially between May and September.
Cairo is often called the city of a thousand minarets, and the old walled city founded by the Fatimids is packed with mosques, madrasas, tombs and caravanserais from many centuries. Al-Azhar Mosque was founded with the city in 970 and is linked to Al-Azhar University, long a leading centre of Sunni scholarship. The stone gates of Bab Zuweila, Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr were built between 1087 and 1092, and the bazaar of Khan el-Khalili, a centre of trade since the Mamluk era, is still crowded with workshops and stalls.
To the south, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, built between 876 and 879, has a vast courtyard and an unusual minaret with an outside spiral staircase, while the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan rises below the Citadel. Saladin began the Citadel in 1176, and for centuries it was the seat of Egypt's rulers; its skyline is crowned by the Muhammad Ali Mosque, built between 1832 and 1857. Al-Azhar Park, laid out on hills once used as a dump for building debris, offers lawns and views over the old city.
On Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum has occupied its building since 1901 and still holds a collection of more than 170,000 objects. In Old Cairo, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization was officially inaugurated in April 2021, when 22 royal mummies were carried there from Tahrir in a procession known as the Pharaohs' Golden Parade.
Nearby, Coptic Cairo grew inside and around the Roman Babylon Fortress. It holds the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, named for its position above a gatehouse of the fortress, and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, where Christian tradition says the Holy Family stayed. The Mosque of Amr ibn al-As stands close by; it was founded together with Fustat, the garrison town built after the Arab conquest of the 640s, though the present building dates from later rebuilding. In the evening, a felucca, the traditional sailing boat of the Nile, is a calm way to see the city from the water, and the 187 m Cairo Tower on Gezira Island gives wide views.
Saqqara, about 30 km south of Cairo, was the main burial ground of ancient Memphis. Its Step Pyramid of Djoser, built during the Third Dynasty, is regarded as the oldest complete stone building complex known. A little further south, Dahshur has the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid of King Sneferu, early steps towards smooth-sided pyramids and usually far quieter than Giza. The remains of Memphis itself, Egypt's capital in the Old Kingdom, lie between the two sites.
The Faiyum Oasis, roughly 100 km south-west of Cairo, is a wide basin of fields watered by a channel of the Nile and bordered by the salt lake of Birket Qarun. Beyond it, Wadi El Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, about 150 km from the city, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 for its fossils of early whales lying in the open desert. Alexandria, on the Mediterranean, is reached by train or along the 220 km Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road; it makes a long day, and an overnight stay is more relaxed.
Cairo International Airport (CAI), in Heliopolis about 15 km north-east of the city's business district, is Egypt's main gateway. Sphinx International Airport (SPX), on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road west of Giza, handles far fewer flights but lies on the pyramids' side of the city. Ramses Station is the hub of Egyptian National Railways, with trains to Alexandria and other cities across the country.
The Cairo Metro, opened in 1987, has three lines that reach Downtown, Old Cairo, Maadi, Giza and Heliopolis; two cars in the middle of each train are reserved for women, who may also ride in any other car. It can be very crowded at rush hour. Road traffic is heavy at most times of day, so allow plenty of time for trips across the city. Taxis are widely used, and many visitors hire a driver for Saqqara and Dahshur.
Most foreign visitors need a visa. Many nationalities can apply online through Egypt's official e-visa portal or obtain one on arrival, but the rules depend on your passport, so check official sources before you travel.
Cairo has a hot desert climate, with long, hot summers and mild winters. In summer, daytime highs often pass 31°C and occasionally approach 40°C, while nights stay around 20°C and the air can feel humid. Winter days are pleasant, with highs of roughly 14 to 22°C, but nights can drop to about 5°C, so pack a warm layer for evenings. Rain is scarce and falls only in the cooler months, although a sudden downpour can flood streets.
Between March and May, desert winds can carry Saharan dust into the city and leave the air very dry. The cooler months, roughly October to April, are the easiest time for long days at the pyramids and in the old city. In summer, plan outdoor visits for early morning or late afternoon, drink plenty of water and seek shade at midday. The dates of Ramadan move earlier each year, so check them when planning a trip; during the month, eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight is seen as culturally insensitive.
Cairo is known for the pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum with the complete treasures of Tutankhamun, and its medieval Islamic districts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. It is also the capital of Egypt and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.
Zamalek, on Gezira Island, is a calm and central first choice, while Downtown puts you beside Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. Garden City is quiet and close to the Nile, Maadi suits families and longer stays, Heliopolis is convenient for the airport, and the Giza side is closest to the pyramids.
The cooler months, roughly October to April, are the most comfortable for sightseeing, with winter highs of about 14 to 22°C, though nights can be chilly. Summer highs often pass 31°C, and spring can bring dusty desert winds. Whatever the season, start outdoor visits early in the day.
The Giza pyramid complex lies about 13 km south-west of central Cairo, on the edge of the Western Desert, and the Grand Egyptian Museum is about 2 km from the pyramids. Traffic makes travel times unpredictable, so allow extra time, especially at rush hour.
Four days allow time for the Giza plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo with the Citadel, and Coptic Cairo with the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. With five or six days you can add Saqqara and Dahshur, the Faiyum or a trip to Alexandria.
Most international flights use Cairo International Airport (CAI), in Heliopolis about 15 km north-east of the business district. Sphinx International Airport (SPX), west of Giza on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, handles a smaller number of flights and lies on the pyramids' side of the city.
Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, and modest dress is expected, especially in mosques and markets. Dress modestly and follow the instructions posted at the entrance. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight, and check current guidance before you go.
Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP), divided into 100 piastres and often written LE or E£. Carry some cash in small notes for taxis, markets and tips, and keep in mind that exchange rates can change quickly.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .