Cairo is one of the most facinating cities of the world with thousands of things to see and do.
Visit the old city of Cairo, see the Khan al-Khalili souk, Mosques, the mediaeval Citadel, the Egyptian Museum, the famous Pyramids at Giza and take amazing photos of the magic of sunset on the Nile.
Staying in a Cairo Hotel makes a great base to see the rest of Egypt. Cairo is located in Lower Egypt, between the Nile delta and the Nile valley, south of Egypt's Mediterranean coastline, about 225 km (140 miles) from Alexandria and 130 km (80 miles) west of Suez.
Sights to see while staying in a hotel in Cairo include:
Egyptian Museum
Covering more than 3,000 years of history, the Museum houses the world's largest collection of Egyptian antiquities, with 120,000 exhibits ranging from delicate jewellery through to colossal statues.
Short tour (min. 2 hrs): Tutankhamen's Treasure; statues of the Pharaohs; Akhenaten collection.
Extended tour: royal mummies; portraits of Fayoum.
Opening Times: 9.00am
Khan al-Khalili
One of the oldest bazaars in the world, the souk occupies almost the whole of Cairo's mediaeval Fatimid quarter, and has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Short tour (min. 1.5 hrs): 3 km walk through narrow streets, some still showing traces of 13th century architecture.
-Extended tour (half-day): mosques (10th-19th century); Mamluk palaces in Bayn el-Qasryn; al-Ghuri wikala (caravanserai); Islamic Museum.
Open day and night, in the evenings the souk is full of local residents. No parking (no cars allowed).
Cairo's mosques and churches
Sultan Hassan Mosque
One of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture, dating from the Mamluk era in the 14th century. In the vast courtyard you will find vaulted iwans, a domed fountain, a mausoleum and the Mihrab.
Tour lasts for: 30 mins
Tips: arrange your visit for the morning, when the light is best. Wear suitably modest clothing, remember to take off your shoes.
Muhammad Ali Mosque
Built in the 19th century inside the mediaeval Citadel by the founder of modern Egypt, this mosque in the Ottoman style has become a symbol of Cairo.
Tour lasts for: 1 hour
Extended tour: museum, palace, mosque of the Citadel, panoramic view over Cairo and the Pyramids from the terraces.
Tips: arrange to visit shortly before sunset. Wear suitable clothing, take off your shoes.
Hanging Church (al-Mu'allaqa)
Consecrated to the Virgin Mary, the church was built on top of the Water Gate and the Roman fortress. It is the most beautiful church in Cairo, at the heart of the Coptic quarter.
Short tour (30 mins): beautiful ornamented façade; ruined bastions of Roman gateway.
Extended tour: Coptic Museum; churches of St. Barbara and St. George; Ben Ezra Synagogue.
Tips: Wear suitable clothing.
Church of St. Sergius (Abu Serga)
Build above a crypt which is supposed to have sheltered the Holy Family when they fled to Egypt, this 4th century church is one of the oldest in Egypt. Parts date from the 10th and 12th centuries.
Short visit (30 mins): beneath the church, the crypt, with its ancient marble pillars.
Extended tour: narrow streets and old façades of the Coptic quarter, Nilometer.
Tips: Wear suitable clothing.
Nearby
Cairo and the Pyramids
Within 30 km (12 miles) of Cairo, Memphis, Saqqara, the Pyramids and the Sphinx on the Giza plateau between them represent almost the entire Pharaonic period. While the ruins of Memphis are now covered by palm groves, Saqqara, the city's former necropolis, still bears testimony to its ancient grandeur.
Memphis
Up river from the delta, Memphis (founded in ca. 3100 BC) was the economic and religious capital of the Pharaohs. Its importance is reflected by its necropolis.
Tour (30-45 mins): open-air museum; colossal statue of Ramses II; alabast
Saqqara
Royal necropolis of Memphis, Saqqara is one of the richest archaeological sites in the world: the monuments, covering a 3,000-year period, are still being excavated.
Short tour (min. 2 hrs): step pyramid of Djoser; pyramid of Teti; Serapeum
Extended tour (3 hrs): tomb of Ankh-ma-Hor, mastaba of Ti, tomb of Mereruka.
Tips: you will need a torch to view the tombs.
Giza plateau
As enigmatic as the Sphinx herself, the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos are supposed to be aligned with the constellations.
Short tour (2.5 hrs): Sphinx, 2 of the 3 pyramids (closed to visitors on alternate days).
Extended tour (4 hrs): tour of the pyramid interiors; Museum of the Solar Barque, mastabas of Qar and Idu; tombs of Khufukhaf and Meresankh III.
Tips: best to visit early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Sound and light show several times a day.
Travel tipsTravel times:
• Egyptian Museum-Mosques: 30 mins
• Mosques-Souk: 30 mins
• Souk-Hotel: 30-60 mins
• Memphis-Saqqara: 15 mins
• Giza plateau: 30 mins
• Shopping opportunities while travelling to Pyramids
Transport - International airport, bus station and rail links with every town and city in Egypt.
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