Cairo

Where to visit in Cairo, the Egyptian capital. Named from the Arabic Al-Qahira (the Triumphant), Cairo one of the most vibrant cities in the Middle East. It is also one of the most historically significant, with the first known settlement in the area flourishing around 3100 BC. Built at the site of the established meeting point between Lower and Upper Egypt, Greater Cairo is divided by the River Nile into East (Cairo) and West (Giza) banks.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is probably the city’s most celebrated attraction. It houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including Tutankhamun’s exquisite golden treasures, and a room containing Royal Mummies. The fact that Cairo contains one of the greatest concentrations of medieval buildings in existence may come as a surprise. Yet, its towering mosques, mausolea, religious schools, and caravanserais are among the finest ever built.

The labyrinthine cobbled lanes of the Khan el Khalili bazaar and Islamic Cairo showcase a Cairo where seemingly little has changed since the Middle Ages. In the bazaar, the profusion of goods on display is staggering. Here, among other highlights, you will also find the imposing Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Cairo Citadel that dominate the city’s skyline. To escape from the beaten track and see some of Cairo’s finest Islamic architecture, a heritage walk from the gate of Bab al-Zwayla along Al-Muezz Street to Bab al-Futuh is highly recommended, as is a visit to the Gayer-Anderson House Museum or Bayt al-Kiritliya, a hidden gem consisting of two beautifully decorated Ottoman houses.

To the south of the city centre is Old Cairo, the former Babylon of the ancient Persians, and now an important Coptic Christian area containing several notable churches, a synagogue and the Coptic Museum. Allow at least a full day to explore the combination of Old and Islamic Cairo fully.