Choose from 46 Fun Things to Do in Cairo
ShowingFilter 41-46 of 46 listings.
Valley of the Kings
The harsh, lunar landscape of the Valley of the Kings is the resting place of numerous New Kingdom pharaohs, whose remains were interred in tombs burrowed into rock. The 60-odd tombs which have been discovered (which may represent only half of the total tombs in the area) are identified by number rather than the name of their original inhabitant, and a handful of tombs are closed at any one time for restoration. Nonetheless there is more than enough to see, and it is better to pick out a representative sample rather than try to see every tomb.
Grave-robbers and museums have nabbed the items which were supposed to accompany rulers into the afterlife, but you can still see the work of some of the finest artisans of the ancient world, who glorified pharaohs in frescoes and wall reliefs. Graffiti shows that this extraordinary ensemble of antiquities was already a tourist attraction for the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Practical Info
The Valley of the Kings is beyond the West Bank of the Nile, behind the Temple of Hatshepsut. Taxis can drop you at the ticket office; from there it's a short tram ride to the first tomb.
Address: Valley of the Kings, Egypt
Hours: Open daily. Summer: 6am - 5pm, Winter: 6am - 4pm
Admission: 55 L.E.
From $ 20
Tahrir Square
Tahrir Square, a modest and central circular plaza in downtown Cairo, wasn’t on most tourists’ radar at all until January 2011. Though it has long been an epicenter of political change in the city, the 2011 demonstrations and protests brought the square global fame as hundreds of thousands of people covered the area over the course of several weeks, coalescing the Arab Spring movement in Egypt and ultimately leading to the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak. Some 6,000 people were injured in clashes with police and security forces in the vicinity of the square and 846 were killed.
Though major tourist sites—including the popular Egyptian Museum of Antiquities—are located just off the square, Tahrir Square has since become a must-see Cairo site in its own right. Though there are no noteworthy monuments or structures, several small tourist booths have set up shop on the periphery, and people from around the world come to pay homage to this site of modern change; the square also continues to be a site for political activity and public gatherings. If you wander the streets spinning off the square, it’s also possible to see murals and street art from 2011 to the present day depicting different facets of revolutionary sentiment.
Practical Info
Traffic around Tahrir is thick—but many taxis and busses will pass through the area on the way to other points in the city. Several organized tours of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities also include stops and commentary on Tahrir Square. To truly appreciate the significance of this otherwise unexciting patch of land, a tour with a knowledgeable guide is highly recommended, although if protests are taking place, it may be best to steer clear for safety reasons.
Address: Cairo, Egypt
From $ 15
Sultan Hassan Mosque
Egypt is home to some of the world’s grandest mosques, with some of the most detailed and dazzling located in Cairo. The Sultan Hassan Mosque, situated near the city's famous and majestic Citadel, is one of Cairo's most impressive Islamic structures.
Sultan Hassan bin Mohammed bin Qala'oun was only 13 years old when he first ascended to the throne. After being deposed and imprisoned for three years, he reclaimed power and built his eponymous mosque in 1256 A.D. The massive Sultan Hassan Mosque complex measures 26,000 square feet and is also home to a madrasa, or religious school, containing educational facilities for each of the four main Sunni sects of Islam. An estimated 30,000 Dirhams was spent each day to build the Sultan Hassan, a substantial amount of money that provided the structure’s impressive stony exterior and bold, extravagant interior.
Practical Info
The Sultan Hassan Mosque is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., although it does close for prayers. It is located in the vicinity of the Citadel. Visitors can take the metro to the Mohammed Farid stop and then take a taxi to the Citadel at a cost of about 10 Egyptian pounds. Upon arrival, travelers should ask their drive to point them toward Sultan Hassan. Men, women and children must dress modestly; women must cover their heads and everyone must take off their shoes before entering the mosque.
Address: Cairo Governorate, Cairo, Egypt
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
From $ 22
Saqqara (Sakkara)
Set about 18 miles (30 km) south of Cairo, Saqqara (Sakkara) was the burial site for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, now in ruins. The site features a small sphinx, smaller than that at the Pyramids of Giza, and several pyramids, the most famous of which is the stepped pyramid of Djoser dating from 2650 BC, which represented a major advance in building techniques.
Another 16 kings also built their tombs at Saqqara, and the area was used as a burial site until well into Roman times. In 1979, UNESCO named the area a World Heritage site.
Practical Info
The best way to get to Saqqara is by guided tour or by hiring a private car.
Address: Saqqara, Egypt
Hours: Open daily
Admission: Free
From $ 10
Sphinx
One of the largest and oldest monumental statues in the world, the 66-foot-tall (20-meter-tall) Sphinx of Giza is an iconic symbol of Ancient Egypt. This sculpture, dating back to the reign of Khafre, is still the subject of debate over its meaning, age, and original builder, but with the head of a human and the body of a lion, the Sphinx is said to symbolize strength, power, and wisdom. The mystery surrounding its long-forgotten purpose is almost as intriguing as its appearance.
Today, the Sphinx is a star attraction in the nightly Pyramid Sound and Light Show, which recounts the history of Egypt through colored lights with the Sphinx as narrator.
Seeing the Sphinx is a must-do on any trip to Cairo, and there are a number of ways to make the most of your visit. Full-day tours often combine a visit to the Pyramids of Giza with a trip to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar and the Egyptian Museum. Other options include a camel ride or a cruise on the River Nile.
Practical Info
The Sphinx is located to the northeast of the site of the Pyramid of Khafre, surprisingly close to the edge of Cairo's suburbs and on the Giza Plateau. The best way to visit is by guided tour. A taxi can also be taken from the center of Cairo to the Pyramids of Giza complex. Once there, it is possible to walk or take a camel ride around the site.
Did You Know? It was only in 1905 when sand was cleared away from the statue that the full magnitude of the body of the Sphinx was revealed.
Address: Al Haram, Giza, Egypt
Hours: Daily 8am–5pm
Admission: E£80
From $ 6
Solar Boat Museum
Built in 1985, the Solar Boat Museum is home to one of the world's most unique finds—an ancient Egyptian solar barge that was buried near Khufu's tomb at the Great Pyramid of Giza as early as 2500 BC to help transport the pharaoh to the afterlife. It is one of the world's oldest and most remarkably preserved ships from antiquity.
After being exhumed in 1954 and painstakingly reconstructed from 1,224 pieces—a process that took over 13 years—the mighty ship is now on display for the public to see. The museum offers fascinating insight into the ancient ship's discovery and reconstruction, but the boat itself is, of course, the highlight. Constructed from cedar wood and measuring 143 feet (43.6 meters) long and 19 feet (5.9 meters) wide, the ship is an impressive sight. Three floors of walkways allow visitors to view it from all angles.
Practical Info
The Solar Boat museum is located next to the Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu), and is open daily (summer 8:30am–5pm; winter 8:30am–4pm). Adult admission costs E£50.
Address: Pyramids Zone, El Haram, Giza, Egypt
Hours: Summer 8:30am–5pm; winter 8:30am–4pm
Admission: Adult: E£50; Student: E£25
From $ 20