Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo

Here’s your ultimate Top 10 bucket list for Cairo—mixing ancient wonders, vibrant culture, and chaotic local life:

1. Stand Before the Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx

   Go at sunrise (opens 8 AM) to beat the crowds. Ride a camel for a panoramic desert shot, but don’t go inside the Great Pyramid unless you’re claustrophobic—it’s a hot, narrow crawl.

2. Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

   The new mega-museum near the pyramids. Tutankhamun’s full golden treasure collection (5,000+ pieces) is breathtaking. Book tickets online well in advance.

3. Sail the Nile on a Felucca at Sunset

   Traditional wooden sailboat. Skip the motorboats; the silence of a felucca as the city lights flicker on is pure magic. Bring tea and mint.

4. Get Lost in Khan el-Khalili Bazaar

   Smell the spices, haggle for lanterns, and duck into El Fishawy Café (open since 1773) for strong Egyptian coffee and a shisha pipe.

5. Climb the Citadel of Saladin & Alabaster Mosque

   This medieval fortress offers the best panoramic view of Cairo’s dusty skyline. The Muhammad Ali Mosque inside gleams with alabaster walls and massive chandeliers.

6. Walk Through Coptic Cairo

   Enter the Hanging Church (built atop a Roman gatehouse) and visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue. It’s a quiet, cobblestoned time capsule contrasting the city’s noise.

7. See the Royal Mummies at NMEC

   The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization holds 22 royal mummies (including Ramses II) in a dimly lit, high-tech hall. Way less crowded than the old museum.

8. Escape the Chaos at Al-Azhar Park

   A lush green hillside garden offering a postcard-perfect view of the Historic Cairo skyline. Perfect for an afternoon picnic or a fancy dinner at the on-site restaurant.

9. Eat Koshari Like a Local

   Head to Abou Tarek in downtown Cairo for Egypt’s national dish: a carb-bomb of rice, pasta, lentils, crispy onions, and spicy tomato sauce. Mix it, don’t stir it.

10. Day-Trip to Saqqara’s Step Pyramid

    Drive 30 mins south to see Egypt’s oldest stone pyramid (built by Imhotep). Far fewer tourists than Giza, and you can peer into ancient tombs with vibrant, un-faded hieroglyphs.