Top 5 Attractions in Cairo

Cairo is one of the world’s great cities. There are so many wonderful reasons why you should visit this mega city. Egypt's capital city is old, dating back thousands of years, and with that, there are many historical places to visit. Cairo is gorgeous, with its assortment of mosques and their colorful domes and dramatic architecture.

1- Khan El-Khalili Market

Khan El-Khalili is one of the largest street markets and iconic bazaars in the two spheres, where thousands of tourists and Arab visitors stream through the colorful 800-year-old market daily.

In Cairo's iconic bazaar, there are hundreds of shops and stalls selling handcrafted accessories, carpets, spices, souvenirs, leather goods, antiques, and jewelry.

If you’re willing to get excited, stroll down in its back alleys of the Bazaar and you might be pleasantly rewarded with most of Egypt's authentic grab.

2- Mohamed Ali Pasha Mosque

If you only have time for one thing in Cairo, it should be the Mohamed Ali Pasha Mosque

The grand Mohamed Ali Mosque located in the heart of the Salaa Eldin Citadel in the 18th century mirrors the domed silhouette of the Hagia Sophia standing across it and is one of only a handful of mosques in the world to boast of six minarets.

A great example of classical Ottoman architecture with its numerous domes, the mosque is an iconic fixture of the city’s landmarks.

Visitors must enter by the side entrance from the Castle passages which will take you past the courtyard. It is as large as the mosque’s interior and the largest among all Egypt's mosques!

3- Giza Pyramids

Giza Pyramids is cited as one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Located on the western banks of the Nile River, this massive building was built by Pharaohs.

Near the Giza Pyramids, you can find the Great Sphinx by the Chephren One, the head of a pharaoh with a lion’s body that dates from the time of Chephren.

Later on, you can proceed to visit the Valley Temple, which belongs to the Pyramids of Chephren.

According to Egyptologists, this ancient temple served definitely two functions: first, it was used for the purification of the mummy of the king before its burial. Second, it was used for the mummification process of the king.

4- Hanging Church

The Hanging Church complex in ancient Egypt may not be the oldest in Egypt, but it is still very old, and probably the best known in the Middle East and African content.

It’s remarkable because of the way in which the church was constructed. The iconic church is constructed using logs of palm and layers of stone, its ceiling a replica of Noah’s Ark.

The Hanging Church is considered one of Egypt’s most unique feats of architecture—a mix of fresco and finesse—saturated with religious sanctuaries. Notably, the church is open to tourists and the public.

5- Egyptian Museum

This is one of Egypt’s leading museums, and it contains a number of well-known precious treasures of Pharaoh's families and old parchment collections, all organized wonderfully. It’s a display of the extraordinary, complex creativity of the Ancient Egyptians and Pharaohs times, with pieces cherry-picked from every main archaeological spot in Egypt. If you just have one day in Tahrir Square, Cairo, this museum should be on top of your to-do list.