Top ten tourist sites of Cairo

Cairo is seething madness, garnished with amazing tourist sights. Here are ten top touristy things you really must see if you come here. (We’ll dive into Cairo’s lesser explored underbelly in a later post.)

1. The Pyramids and Sphinx
Visiting Cairo without seeing the Pyramids is a crime against ancient humanity, and a potentially fatal affront to the old gods. ‘Nuff said.

2. The Egyptian Museum
Like someone put thousands of years of history in a wheelbarrow, and wandered around the museum dumping stuff wherever they felt like. Opulent, mysterious, overwhelming… and faintly disturbing.

3. Khan al-Khalili Bazaar
The Big Felafel of tourist traps, Khan al-Khalili is definitely an experience. What sort of experience, is up to you! Don’t miss al-Azhar Mosque (opposite Midan Hussein) or the restored monuments on the way up to Bab al-Futuh.

4. The Citadel
A three-for-one deal on mosques (in very different architectural styles) plus some of the best views out over Cairo.

5. Coptic Cairo
With loads of ancient churches, Coptic Cairo is all your Christmases come at once. As well as a suspended church and one which gave shelter to the Holy Family, there is also a beautiful synagogue and the oldest mosque in Cairo (sort of).

6. Ibn Tulun Mosque
“My name’s ibn Tulun. Ahmed ibn Tulun.” Yep, parts of Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed here. The mosque is simultaneously elegant, serene, and imposing, and has a unique minaret. The zany Gayer-Anderson Museum is just next door.

7. Sunset from al-Azhar Park
Enjoy one of Cairo’s pollution-enhanced™ sunsets, whilst basking in the Call to Prayer echoing from all around the city.

8. The Step Pyramid of Saqqara
Not aesthetically mind-blowing, but arguably more important than the Pyramids of Giza. This is where it all began!

9. The Sufi dancing show at Wikalet al-Ghouri
Tranced out dancers spinning around in circles in psychedelic skirts, before casually wandering off without a wobble. Who needs cheesy-seedy belly dancing?

10. The Street of the Tentmakers
The Khan’s baby brother, stuffed with colourful handmade appliqué work. In a fascinating area of Islamic Cairo that is well worth exploring.

What do you think are the most important tourist sites of Cairo? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Note: All photos were taken by Nadia Maanani, and have been used with her permission.