Cairo Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Photo provided by Egyptian Tourist Authority
Photo provided by Egyptian Tourist Authority
Photo provided by Egyptian Tourist Authority
Photo provided by Egyptian Tourist Authority
Photo provided by Egyptian Tourist Authority

Egypt is the land of pharaohs and pyramids, and home to the longest river the in world. You’ll find all this and more when you holiday in the thriving capital city of Cairo. One of the world’s most densely populated cities, Cairo is an exciting jumble of old and new. Medieval, Islamic and Coptic sites stand among modern streets packed with upmarket shops and business centres.

Cultural Cairo

Cairo is overflowing with enigmatic mythology and world-famous cultural destination. Head to Old Cairo to explore the Coptic district, home to the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church and the Coptic Museum, as well as churches from the Christian period before the Islamic conquest. In the Citadel, a Medieval Islamic fort with grand designs and interesting architecture, there’s the Military Museum, the Carriage Museum and the nearby Sultan Hassan Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.

A little further out is Giza, where you’ll find the Great Pyramid – which stood as the world’s tallest structure for 4,000 years – and the Sphinx. To this day no one really knows how they were built, but there are many theories.

Family Days Out

Aside from cutting your teeth on Ancient Egyptian history in Coptic Cairo or strolling around in the dusty depths of a towering pyramid, you can enjoy all manner of activities in Cairo that prove both educational and entertaining.

Start your holiday to Cairo with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, which is chock-a-block with fascinating antiquities. Next, venture to the Museum of Islamic Art and the more contemporary Museum of Modern Art, which combine to give visitors a taste of Egyptian art over the centuries.

Take to the Nile aboard a traditional Egyptian felucca (wooden boat), a wonderful outing for all the family which can be taken by day or by sunset. Come evening, Cairo Opera House makes for a fabulous night out with its array of symphony orchestra recitals and special performances.

Shopping in Cairo

Shopping might not be something you would associate with Egypt’s great city, but as you’ll see on a holiday to Cairo, this city is full of surprises.

Zamalek, an island in the Nile between downtown Cairo and Giza, is a fashionable upmarket district popular for its green spaces, fine restaurants and contemporary shopping in independent boutiques. There is also a number of large malls in the central areas of Cairo – City Stars in Heliopolis and Cairo Festival City Mall in New Cairo – which are perfect for escaping the Egyptian heat of the day.

If you’re after somewhere a little more atmospheric to shop, go browsing at Khan el-Khalili, one of the biggest and oldest bazaars in the Middle East. Here, merchants hawk everything from textiles, gold and semiprecious stones to spices and locally grown produce, with the stalls all crammed into a maze of courtyards and skinny alleys. Cairo locals and tourists alike proclaim that this is one of Cairo’s must-see sights.

Where to stay in Cairo

Cairo showing tropical scenes

Downtown Cairo

4/5(69 area reviews)

Known for its interesting museums and stunning river views, there's plenty to explore in Downtown Cairo. Top attractions like Talaat Harb Street and Midan Talaat Harb are major draws, and you can catch the metro at Orabi Station or Nasser Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Cairo
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Zamalek

4/5(6 area reviews)

Cafes, museums and historical sites are just a few things travellers like about Zamalek. Sights like Zamalek Art Gallery and El Sawy Culture Wheel are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Cairo area at Safaa Hegazy Station.

Zamalek
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Nasr City

4/5(9 area reviews)

Nasr City is well liked for its parks and casinos. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, City Center Shopping Mall and Citystars Heliopolis are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Stadium Station or Fair Zone Station to get around.

Nasr City
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Heliopolis

3.5/5(33 area reviews)

Consider a visit to Tivoli Dome and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in Heliopolis. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at El Nozha Station or Alf Maskan Station.

Heliopolis
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Al Haram

3.5/5(50 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Al Haram, Giza Pyramid Complex and Grand Egyptian Museum are top sights worth seeing.

Al Haram
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Maadi

4/5(3 area reviews)

Appreciated for its live music and riverfront, you might consider exploring Maadi. Check out the variety of things to see and do like Mostafa Kamel Museum, and jump on the metro at Maadi Station or Maadi Gardens Station to get around the city.

Maadi
Le Méridien Cairo Airport
Le Méridien Cairo Airport
5 out of 5
Cairo Airport , Terminal 3, Cairo
The price is £94 per night from 18 Jul to 19 Jul
£94
18 Jul - 19 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cairo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 3 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,008 reviews)
"The property is clean, quite, and the staff is excellent"

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Le Méridien Cairo Airport
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
5 out of 5
16 Saray El Gezira, Zamalek, Downtown, Cairo
The price is £108 per night from 10 Jul to 11 Jul
£108
10 Jul - 11 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cairo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 14 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
"The service, the food, the room, I enjoy the beautiful Hotel"

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
Great Pyramid Inn
Great Pyramid Inn
3 out of 5
14 Abou Al Hool Al Seiahi, Pyramids Plateau, Giza
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £32 per night from 15 Jul to 16 Jul
£32
15 Jul - 16 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Giza. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
"If you want enjoy the pyramids , it is the best place !!! The rooftop resrsurabt is a Gen ❤️‍🔥"

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Great Pyramid Inn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Parkside Boutique Furnished Apartments
Parkside Boutique Furnished Apartments
3.5 out of 5
17 Rafik Salah Al Din, Cairo, Cairo Governorate
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly apartment in Cairo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (94 reviews)
"The apartments were nice and had everything I needed, at a reasonable price. The bed was comfortable and the floor plan was nice in the one bedroom unit. I needed fast internet for work and was happy with the connectivity. The staff was friendly and helpful. There’s a grocery store close by and it ..."

Reviewed on 13 Apr 2025

Parkside Boutique Furnished Apartments
Prime Residence Heliopolis
Prime Residence Heliopolis
4 out of 5
Thawra Street, Cairo, Cairo Governorate
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Cairo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and concierge services. Popular attractions Citystars Heliopolis and Khan el-Khalili ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (43 reviews)
Good, Clean, Safe
"The accommodation is so Good and clean. I really recommend it, and plenty of Resturants and Coffee shops around."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Prime Residence Heliopolis
Afnan Cairo Airport
Afnan Cairo Airport
3 out of 5
2h Taha Hussain Road New Nozha, information technology institute, Cairo, Cairo
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Cairo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Citystars Heliopolis and City Centre ...
7.4/10 Good! (28 reviews)
"Excellent place very good location and the hotel is very clean and beautiful"

Reviewed on 3 May 2025

Afnan Cairo Airport
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Cairo

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
24
5 - Excellent 37%
4 - Good
24
4 - Good 37%
3 - Okay
13
3 - Okay 20%
2 - Disappointing
4
2 - Disappointing 6%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

This was our fourth visit to Cairo. We have therefore been to many historical and archaeological sites before. On this visit we went to the Gayer-Anderson museum which gave a very good insight into 17c domestic architecture, and the collections.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lots of memories. Even more crowded than last time; pictures of Sisi everywhere; very friendly people, especially if you try a few words of Arabic. Uber is cheap so tip well.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

We loved it! Its a fascinating place and the people are friendly and respectful and love to chat. Those that seemed insistent on taking you off to sell you things, understood to give up after a friendly, polite but firm 'no' with no hard feelings.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

مدينة رائعة تستحق الزيارة مرة اخرى

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

It was an experience!!

4/5 - Good

Sib

People are mostly friendly however watch out for the rip off taxi drivers who changed 3 times more than what is a normal fair !!!!

Cities near Cairo