What to do in Cairo, Egypt? Cairo is a vibrant and exciting city full of history and ancient sights, as well as crowds, culture and a great atmosphere. Here are our top tips for things to see and do in Cairo.
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Cairo, Egypt
Cairo is truly an exciting and bustling city. We travelled here mainly to discover the ancient history - with pyramids and mummies - but we were also pleasantly surprised by the culture and the lovely atmosphere of Downtown.
Cairo is located on the Nile, about 150 kilometres inland from the Egyptian Mediterranean coast.
What can you do in Cairo?
So what can you see and do in Cairo? Well, first and foremost, of course, you'll want to see the pyramids and the fascinating ancient sights on display in the city's museums. But there's more to discover too! We've gathered our top tips here in a list.
1. see the pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt include three large pyramids on the Giza plateau, as well as several smaller ones. The three largest and best-preserved pyramids are named after the pharaohs Cheops (2620 - 2580 BC), Chefren (2570 - 2530 BC) and Menkaura (2530 - 2510 BC). Coming here is an experience of a lifetime. It's dizzying to try to imagine what happened here more than 4,000 years ago!
2. discover Sakkara
Sakkara (or Saqqara) is a vast burial ground, in Giza, which for a long time served as the burial ground for kings and officials in the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. There are many different burial chambers, smaller pyramids and other structures. The most famous site here is the step pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser. It is also interesting to visit the Pyramid of Teti and the Tomb of Kagemni.
3. Be impressed by the Sphinx of Giza
One of the things that you must to do in Cairo is to see the Sphinx of Giza. The sphinx measures 73 metres from paw to tail, 20 metres from the base to the top of the head and 19 metres in width. Archaeologists believe that the sphinx dates back to 2558 - 2532 BC.
4. Visit the Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is the museum that until now (when Grand Egyptian Museum, GEM, soon to be fully opened) has been the main museum of artefacts from ancient Egypt. Located in the centre of Cairo, the museum has lots of amazing objects to show off. So far, the treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb are a big draw, but even when these move to GEM, there will be plenty to see here!
5. Be fascinated by the Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is the grand new history museum in Cairo, located near the pyramids. In the spectacular entrance hall you can admire a statue of Ramses II - a 3,200-year-old red granite gem that stands 11 metres high and weighs 83 tonnes. The museum also houses a wide range of other statues, along with pictures, texts and artefacts.
6. "Meet" the pharaohs at NMEC
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) is also well worth a visit. Here you can "meet" the ancient pharaohs, who lie in glass sarcophagi in a mummy room. Although they lived around 4,000 years ago, they look almost alive. It's fascinating! The museum also displays a wide range of exciting artefacts such as tools, instruments and toys.
7. check out the Cairo Citadel
The Cairo Citadel is a medieval Islamic fortress in the eastern part of central Cairo. The Citadel was the residence of Egypt's rulers from the 13th century until the construction of the Abdeen Palace in the 19th century. Today it is a protected historical site with a mosque and museums. There's also a great view of the city centre from here!
8. Admire the Mohammad Ali Mosque
The biggest attraction at the Cairo Citadel is Mohammad Ali Mosque. This mosque was built between 1828 and 1848 and forms a dominant high point of the citadel.
The mosque is incredibly beautiful both inside and out. Unusually, women are allowed to visit this mosque without covering their hair, which is usually required when visiting a mosque.
9. Experience the buzz of Downtown
One thing you won't want to miss doing in Cairo is experiencing the bustle of Downtown. Here you can expect a lively atmosphere accompanied by cars and vendors. Be prepared for people to shout at you, nag you a bit, and want to sell their dresses/t-shirts/slippers/jewellery!
However, you don't have to worry, at least no more than anywhere else in the world. Downtown Cairo is a relatively safe place. Note that there are also many modern shops with an exciting range of fashion and other items.
10. Go to the Khan al-Khalili bazaar
Make your way to the Khan al-Khalili bazaar. Here you can find clothes, jewellery, silverware, leather goods and much more. The alleys are long and narrow and there is something going on everywhere!
11. Learn about hand knotted rugs
Just next to Sakkara, in Giza, is Akhnaton Carpets School. Here you can watch carpets being knotted, knot by knot, into amazing designs. A single rug can take many months to complete and it is fascinating to see the skilful craftsmanship at work. Of course, you can also take the opportunity to shop for a rug.
12. Trade in papyrus
Another popular item to buy from Egypt is papyrus tablets. As early as the 3rd century BC, the method of using papyrus to write on was developed, which is staggering when you think about it. We visited Old Cairo Papyrus Museum where you can learn about the craft, check out beautiful papyrus paintings, and maybe buy one to take home.
13. try fragrances
Right next to the papyrus shop is Royal Perfumes and Oils, which is a shop that is perfect for anyone who likes perfumes and fragrances. Here you can sit down in a beautiful setting and sip some tea, while trying scent after scent. Of course, you can take it home with you if you want, in a beautiful little bottle.
14. Shopping in the Mall of Egypt
When visiting Cairo, much is of course about the city's ancient and fascinating past, but there is also a modern capital to discover. There are several large shopping centres and we were tipped off about Mall of Egypt in Giza. Unfortunately, we did not have time to go there, but we understand that it is supposed to be big, with over 350 shops.
15. Try Egyptian food
Another thing you'll want to do in Cairo during your visit is of course to try Egyptian food. It's common for meals to start with savoury stir-fries, such as hummus or babaganoush, or with salad or soup. For the main course, you might try lamb, chicken or beef shanks. Other dishes to try include stuffed vegetables, vine leaf dumplings and various bean dishes.
16. Dinner cruise on the Nile
Maybe you want to combine your stay in Cairo with a cruise on the Nile. Or you can do a shorter dinner cruise, where you simply have your dinner on board a boat on the Nile. We didn't have time to try this so we have saved it for the next visit!
17. Relaxing in a hotel pool
Last but not least, you might want to take the opportunity to relax in a hotel pool, especially if you are visiting Cairo during one of the hotter seasons. Many hotels in the city (though not all) have nice pools of various designs.
More to do in Cairo for culture and history lovers
Want even more tips on things to do in Cairo? Here are some more suggestions for those who like culture and history.
- Cave Church - A cave church in Coptic Cairo.
- City of the Dead - An impressive cemetery with the mosque of Qaitbey, the complex of Sultan Ashraf Barsbey and the mausoleum of Ibn Barquq.
- Coptic Cairo - Part of Old Cairo with the Babylon Fortress, the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church and more historical sites.
- The Hanging Church - A unique church in Coptic Cairo built around 400 AD.
More to do in Cairo for nature and adventure lovers
Do you prefer to be in nature? Or maybe you enjoy a park or a boat trip? Here are some more tips on things to do in Cairo, which might be suitable for you.
- Al-Azhar Park is a lush green park in the centre of Cairo.
- Excursion to El Fayoum including the Meidum Pyramids, Qarun Lake, Wadi el-Rayan and Whales Valley.
- Desert excursions such as quad biking, camel riding and desert safaris.
Where to stay in Cairo?
There are of course many different hotels to choose from in Cairo. We stayed at Swiss Inn Pyramid Golf Resort in Giza during our trip, which was a nice accommodation. We have also checked out five more hotels in Cairo, and you can read about all the hotels on the link below.
More to do in Egypt
There is a lot to see and experience in Egypt, and we can highly recommend visits to Hurghada, El Gouna, Sharm el Sheikh and Luxor with the Temple of Karnak. Then there are many other places we have not visited ourselves but are curious about, such as Alexandria and Abu Simbel.
Even more to see and do in Cairo
Have you visited Cairo? If so, what are your top tips on what to see and do in Cairo?
Facts about Cairo
- Country: Egypt
- Location: The city is located on the Nile River, about 150 kilometres inland from the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, at about the point where the Nile Delta becomes the Nile Valley.
- Population: Cairo's population is estimated differently in different sources. Just over 10 million in the centre of the city and more than double that in the whole metropolitan area.
- Language: Arabic (English works well in most places where tourists tend to go.)
- Time difference: Swedish time +1 hour. (During Swedish summer time no time difference.)
Good to know
- Passports and visas: You will need a passport valid for at least six months at the time of your return journey. Tourist visas are required and can be purchased online or at the airport. If you have booked a package holiday, a visa is usually included.
- Currency: Egyptian pounds (EGP), and you may also want to bring some US dollars or euros.
- Upholstery: Egypt is a Muslim and relatively conservative country. When travelling outside hotel areas, it may be advisable not to dress too provocatively. A guideline could be to cover shoulders and knees. If you want to visit a mosque, you should cover your arms and legs, and women should cover their hair with a scarf. Also, bear in mind that the sun is strong, so a sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen may be useful.
- Health: Avoid drinking tap water. To avoid stomach upset (tourist diarrhoea), be careful with raw vegetables and choose well-prepared food. Probiotics can possibly prevent it. You may want to pack hydration and anti-diarrhoea medication.
- Security: Cairo is a relatively safe destination and theft is relatively rare. You should, of course, keep an eye on your belongings, and if you experience a crime, you should report it. Check the current security situation before travelling, for example via the UD Resklar app.
- To think about: Vendors can be quite pushy. Some will nag you and others will try to persuade you to buy their services by spontaneously guiding you or letting you hold/photograph their animals. If you don't want to pay for the product or service, the easiest thing to do is to quickly and firmly say no and walk away.
Travelling to Cairo
- Scheduled flights: You can fly with various airlines from Sweden to Cairo, such as Turkish Airlines, Pagasus Airlines, SAS and others. Most flights include a stopover. There are also direct flights with Nile Air.
- Organised trips: You can also travel to Cairo on organised package tours, for example with FREEDOM Xplore (ad link).
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Orsakulla mum at 20 - Dala life, fine china & poodle life says:
There is undeniably a lot to experience, discover and explore. It's also exciting to see so much history in one place, I think. Because it is somewhere from there that much of what is human from that time is preserved. Really cool in many ways.
08 April 2025 - 10:25
Helena says:
History is by far the most fascinating thing! We were both incredibly impressed by all the objects - toys, games, medical instruments, furniture, technical solutions, etc. - that people used 4000 years ago. Unbelievable!!!
08 April 2025 - 19:40
bmlarstravellingblog says:
It is probably just to try to get a trip to Cairo, Luxor and other places. It is absolutely incredible villa sights that attract.
08 April 2025 - 15:15
Helena says:
The history here is staggering, that's all!
08 April 2025 - 19:40
BP says:
I must say that I am very impressed with everything you saw. I mean you were in Cairo for less than a week and you did not live in the centre.
Soukhs seem to be about the same in all Arab cities, as well as the atmosphere downtown, which has nothing in common with, for example, a European capital. i like such contrasts. And the food - yes please:-)
08 April 2025 - 17:33
Helena says:
Yes, it was an intense journey, I must say! 🙂 And yes, there are similarities with other Arab cities. We thought Cairo reminded us a bit of Istanbul at times 😉
08 April 2025 - 19:42
The Adventure of the Future says:
Ojski, so much you had time and can pass on. What an exciting city..you can never get bored there as long as you make sure to help yourself. I'll do this again, couldn't choose what was most interesting... Thanks is the word!
08 April 2025 - 19:31