Egypt is a country full of dreams, mysteries, spirituality, and memory; Cairo held the pride of being the capital city of this marvelous country. Not only the capital of the country but also the largest city in the whole Arab. The ancient sites, thriving culture, banks of the great Nile river, world-famous great Pyramid that has placed itself on the list of World’s wonders, the spiritual spots, the natural wonders, and the endless things on the list make the city one of the top-rated travel destination in worldwide.
Every year more than 7-8 million visitors are booking their tickets for Cairo Tours. If you are planning to visit this mesmerizing country for the first time and wondering what to put in your bucket list of exploration first then here is a list of 8 iconic tips of what are the Top Things To Do In Cairo.
Explore The Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza
The splendid historical city that is greatly influenced by its ancient wonders is world-famous for its iconic monument of Pyramids and pyramid of Giza which is proudly holding its place in the list of 7 world’s wonders.
These pyramids stand as a witness to the thrilling life of Egyptian Pharaohs. However the fact is still unknown why the pyramid of Giza was built, but few archaeology experts said the Pyramid of Giza was constructed to guard the 3 pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaura (Mycerinus).
Here are a few iconic facts about this world-famous monument:
- Built in 2500 BC during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom
- Giza's height is 73 meters long and 20.21 meters
- Best to visit the Sphinx would be from October to April
People accuse Napoleon and his troops destroyed the nose of Giza which was around 1 meter long
The Sphinx once had a beard too: It is one of the oldest and the largest known sculptures on the planet
Wander at the World’s Oldest Open-Air Market
- Khan El Khalili bazaar; the open market located in Cairo was originally built for the purpose to serve the Fatimid royal family. When it was built in 970 CE, the market was a part of the Great Eastern Fatimid Palace. Now the market is a bustling place that is famous for the clothing, spices, traditional jewelry, and perfumes.
- This vibrant market is considered as the shopper’s paradise. If you are a shopping lover, don’t forget to explore this market once. Here are a few tips to shop well in the Khan market during your Cairo Tours.
Don’t hesitate to bargain
- Keep cash (shops are mostly roadside and cards are mostly not acceptable)
- Take a sip of coffee in the cafe corner of the market
Plan a trip near festival time
- Get A Real Egyptian Cuisine On Gezira Island
- Gezira Island is just located beside Cairo, surrounded by the water of The Nile River. The place is one of the tranquil places in Egypt to spend some time in quiet. The place has a few finest restaurants that are famous for serving some of authentic Egyptian dishes.
Few must test dishes:
- Lentil soup
- Baba Ganoush
- Hummus
- Stuffed Pigeon
Mosque of IbnTulun – Surprising Thing To Do In Cairo
Exploring the mosque of Ibn Tulun is undoubtedly one of the iconic Things To Do In Cairo. The mosque is the oldest in Egypt. The mosque was built in 879 AD by Egypt's Tulunid Dynasty. Having approximately 26,318 square meters in size this is the 3rd largest mosque in the world. The mosque is surrounded by an enclosure that measures 118 x 138 meters and the other 3 sides are surrounded by narrow enclosed wings called Ziyad.
Travel Decades Back At Egyptian Museum
Most travelers rush directly to the Pyramids however; Cairo has some iconic destinations to explore. Egyptian Museum is one of the prime Egypt Attractions not to miss. Commissioned in 1835 by the Egyptian government it today is home to 120,000 Egyptian artifacts.
Few iconic items to discover inside the museum:
- The section dedicated to Tutankhamen
- The antique jewelry display
- The royal mummy room capturing visitors since 1985 displaying 27 mummies
Pro tip: Visit in the afternoon, tickets are cheaper and it is less crowded.
Hanging Church- A Must Visit Place During Cairo Tour
- Cairo tours are just not a vacation gateway; rather it’s a journey to history. The Hanging Church which is mostly referred to as Suspended Church or Al-Moallaqa was built on the southern gate of the Roman Fortress. The church has a unique wooden roof that served as the residence of the Coptic Patriarch from the 7th century to the 13th century.
Few unknown facts about the church:
- The church was built during the patriarchate of Isaac in between 690–692
- The church was largely rebuilt by the Pope Abraham
- The hanging church has 110 icons
- The oldest icon is from the 8th century
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- Our Cairo Travel Guide recommends the Mosque of Muhammad Ali as a must-explored place during your Cairo Tour. A Turkish architect Yousif Boushnaq was invited specially from Istanbul to design the great mosque. The great mosque was built by Mohamed Ali, the ruler of Egypt (1805-1849) who ruled for Over 45 years.
Few unknown facts about the Mosque:
- The mosque was built for offering prayer to Mohammad Ali who was buried in the tomb
- The mosque was built according to the model of Sultan Ahmed Mosque that’s situated in Istanbul
- The mosque is also called Alabaster Mosque due to the shinning marbles used in the inner and outer parts of the mosque
Easy Traverse Options In Cairo
There are many options you can explore to get around Cairo city; river bus, microbus, metro, and carriage. However, we recommend booking your private taxi service which is the most convenient one that you can avail of at any time within your reach. The public transport options are too clumsy and more often not suitable enough if you are within the time limitation.
- Private taxis usually take complete responsibility for your whole tour
- Luxurious and lavishing way of visiting
- Pick and drop with your own convenient time
Planning your next trip to the spell-bound Cairo, we hope our Cairo Travel Guide will help you to discover the best of the city. Apart from the above-mentioned places, there are many attractions in the city is waiting for you. Want to know more about Cairo Tours and how to make your trip a perfect one, get in touch with us @ egyptonlinetours.com one of the front liners tour operator in Egypt.