Last updated on April 6th, 2023
Visit Egypt – the Pyramids
The Pyramids of Gizeh (Giza) are the favorite destination for those who visit Cairo. The Sphinx is a short walk from the Pyramids. This is one of the best known sites in the world. It’s at the immediate edge of the city, providing a stark contrast between civilization of today and the past. It also contrasts the city with the desert, which starts at the pyramids.The Pyramids of Gizeh are about 5,000 years old. Nearby and still in Cairo is the City of the Dead.
Visit Cairo – National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization – also known as the Egyptian Museum and the Cairo Museum. An amazing exhibit of Egyptian antiquities. See the famous golden mask of King Tut (Tutankhamun), if it isn’t on loan around the world. Even if it is on loan, Tut’s treasures in the museum are extensive and include several other exterior coffins and sarcophagi that he was buried in. Other exhibits in the museum include chariots of gold, stone carvings, papyrus documents and mummies too. The museum prohibits cameras, which actually improves the experience. It can be very crowded, so consider the extra expense of arranging for private viewing. The Egyptian Museum moved 3 miles in April 2021 from Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in an extravagant parade that transported its Egyptian mummies.
Day Trips from Cairo
- Alexandria Day Tour – a Roman Amphitheatre, catacombs and the ancient ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria offshore.
- Wadi of the Whale (Wadi Al-Hitan) – fossil remains of a whale in the desert southwest of Cairo.
- Drive 30 minutes into the desert to Memphis. See the oldest known pyramid at Sakkara.
Cairo Weather
The Cairo weather is a desert climate. Without the Nile River, life could not survive in Cairo. The river moderates the desert heat slightly and adds a touch of humidity. Summer temperatures from June – August average about 95 F (34 C) and lows average about 70 F (22 C) at that time. In the winter months from December – February average highs are near 60 F (15 C) and lows are around 50 F (10 C). Rainfall is non existent in the summer and there are only traces of precipitation in the winter. Spring or fall are excellent times to visit Cairo for comfortable weather conditions.
Visit Cairo – Coptic Cairo
The old Coptic Cairo quarter includes a number of interesting historic churches in close proximity, including the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church), the Greek Church of St. George, the Saint Sergius & Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. About 15 minutes away is the Citadel of Saladin or Cairo Citadel which was built in the 1100s. One of the famous mosques on the Citadel of Saladin site is the Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, which was built in the 1850’s and is not related in any way to the famous boxer. Near the Citadel, you can also find the 14th century Sultan Hassan Mosque along with several other mosques.
Visit Cairo – Great Bazaar
See the the Khan al-Khalili (Great Bazaar). The market operates from dusk until dawn and caters to Egyptians and to tourists alike. There has been a significant decline in tourists here since deadly acts of terrorism occurred in 2009.
Visit Cairo – More Sights
- Cruise the Nile while having lunch.
- Buy a cartouche – have a bracelet or jewelry plate custom made with your name written in ancient Egyptian.
- Take an organized tour of Giza and the Egyptian Museum.
Get to Cairo
The main way tourist get to Cairo is through Cairo International Airport (CAI). The airport is about 30 minutes east of downtown and the Nile River. Cairo has no subway system. Don’t rent a car in Cairo. Traffic is chaotic and requires local expertise to survive the experience. Drivers proceed wherever they can without concern about lanes, pedestrians or cross traffic. Vehicles that can’t find parking will sometimes double park and block major lanes of traffic. Vehicle insurance is not a requirement, so traffic accidents are lengthy affairs that often involve negotiated settlements for damages at the scene. Leave your transportation responsibilities in Cairo to an organized tour or a taxi cab.
Hotels in Cairo
- Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
- Safir Hotel Cairo
- Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Cairo
- Hilton Cairo Heliopolis
Visit Cairo – Related Blogs
Related Blogs
Cairo Tourism
Cairo is the capital of Egypt and one of the largest cities in the world. The Nile River delta begins at Cairo, even though it is more than 2.5 hours from the Mediterranean Sea. The city was founded around 1,000 AD, but it’s the 5,000 year old Egyptian ruins that bring most people to Visit Cairo. After the Arab Spring uprising in 2011, Egypt saw a decline in tourism by about 90% for 7 years. Covid added even worse tourism declines around 2021. In 2023 Cairo and all of Egypt has seen record tourism. Be prepared for large crowds.
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