Tourist Attractions in Cairo, Egypt: Opera House, Pyramids, Mosques and More
Cairo is the administrative centre of Egypt, but like the rest of the country, statistical information about the city is sometimes difficult. As a visitor what you will see as ‘Cairo is actually a combination of cities including Cairo itself, Heliopolis, Nasser City and Maadi, Giza, as well as some smaller villages.
Here is a list of places you can include in your visit to Cairo.
Opera House
The Opera House is locates at El Dokky. The new 7 -story opera house at the Gezira Exhibition Grounds was inaugurated on October 3, 1988 and is a masterpiece of Islamic design. It was designed by a team of Japanese and Egyptian architects and is equipped with the most sophisticated audio-visual system. For more details you can contact the Opera House at opera@rite.com, Opera@frcu.eun.eg, or opera@link.com.eg
Cairo International Conference Centre
The International Conference Centre is located in Madinet Nasr and comprises three main conference halls, a fourth for receptions and a fifth for exhibitions. In addition, there are fully equipped secretarial offices and a press centre.
Cairo Tower (Gezirah)
This is the most outstanding attraction of modern Cairo and stands over 180 m (590 ft) high. The first storey is a rotating restaurant and cafeteria and visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Cairo from the observation platform.
Sound and Light Show
The sound and light show at the pyramids is an enchanting experience and an important part of the nightlife in Cairo. The show makes the ancient times come alive through sound, light, and music describing the history of the Pyramids and the glory of the Pharaohs. The show is presented in seven languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.
The Pharaonic Village
It’s the life and times of the people of ancient Cairo re-created. Here you can have a glimpse of the day-to-day activities of the ancient Egyptian people. The Village also contains a papyrus museum that will take you about two hours for a complete visit.
Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar and Sagh
This ancient market comprises an array of shops dating to the 14th Century AD. The market is known for its indigenous character and the magnificent variety of gold and silver works, embroidered clothing, leather goods and hand-carved woodwork.
Kerdasa and Harraneya
You can find a great choice of hand made products in Cairo. Harraneya is the main centre in Egypt for hand-made carpets while Kerdasa is famous for its embroidered cotton and silk dresses (called galabeyas) as well as other hand-made products.
The Military Museum (The Citadel)
The museum displays a magnificent collection of ancient and modern weapons, statues, and uniforms in addition to other exhibits designed to show the art of warfare in Egypt from the earliest times.
Public Gardens/Parks
There are several well-maintained gardens and parks in Cairo. Among the best are the Zoological Gardens in Giza, the Andalusian Gardens overlooking the Nile, the Kanater al-Khaireya Gardens (the Good Barrage), about 25 km (15 miles) from the capital, the Fish Gardens in Zamalek and the International Garden in Nasr City.
Nightlife in Cairo
Apart from the Sound and Light Show by the Pyramids, Cairo had theatre houses and cinemas where one can see a variety of national and international plays as well as the latest Arab and foreign films. Casinos and famous nightclubs provide a wide range of entertainment including belly dancing, folklore and international shows.
Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping and leisure activities. Shopping ranges from the famous ancient market of Khan el-Khalili souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centres displaying the latest fashions and trends. You can find good spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya here in these markets. Or you can try the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqu�©-work and Mohammed Ali Street for musical instruments. A visit to the camel market will also make a wonderful trip.
Islamic Monuments in Cairo
Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas (Al-Fustat)
This simply designed mosque was the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa. Its simple design contains architectural elements from different periods.
Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun
This is the third “large mosque” (gamee) in Egypt and has a spacious hall (saha), its spiral minaret and a large collection of gypsum decoration.
Al-Azhar Mosque
This is the first Fatimid mosque in Cairo and was founded in Midan Hussein by Gawhar al-Sikilli in AD 971. It was both a mosque and Madrasah (school) at the time and was named after Fatma al-Zahraa, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. It is considered the oldest Islamic University and it was here that the first lecture was delivered in A.D. 975.
Mosque of Sultan Hassan
This mosque was founded by Al-Nasser Hassan Bin-Mohammed Bin-Qalawon, a Mamelouk ruler and is located at the end of Al-Qalaa (Citadel) Street. It was used as a mosque and a school accommodating the four main sects (madhhabs) of Sunnism.
Al-Refai Mosque
This monument located near the Citadel of Salah-El-Din (Saladin) and the Mosque of Sultan Hassan is one of the most beautifully decorated mosques in Cairo. Several members of the former Royal Family (including King Farouk), as well as the ex-Shah of Iran, are buried here.
Mosque of Al-Moayyed
This fifteenth century mosque located in Al Moezz Street, Gamaleya provides a landscape view of Medieval Cairo. Its minaret rises above one of the old city gates, Bab Zuweila.
The Blue Mosque
This mosque is called so because of the impressive blue mosaic on its walls. Located in Tibbanah Street, it was founded by Prince Aqsunqur Al-Nassery in A.D. 1347.
The Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali
Built in A.D. 1830 on the northern elevated part of the Citadel, the mosque is visible from most parts of Cairo.
Other Islamic Sites
Fortress of Salah-Al-Din (Saladin)
This fortress is known as Al-Qalaa (the Citadel) and was built by Salah-Al-Din Al-Ayyubi (Saladin) in A.D. 1183. It overlooks the city of Cairo from the Muqattam Hills and houses a number of important monuments including the Mosque of Soliman Pasha, the Alabaster Mosque, the 90-meter deep Bir Yusuf (Joseph’s Well) Al-Gawhara Palace, and a military museum.
House of Gamal-Al-Din Al-Dhahabi
This is a typical representation of Arab buildings of the early 17th Century A.D. Located in Al-Ghoureya, it once belonged to a wealthy Egyptian merchant.
The Museum of Islamic Art (Bab Al-Khalq)
The museum is one of the largest in the Middle East and houses 80,000 rare objects dating from early Islam to the Ottoman period.
Christian Coptic Monuments in Cairo
Churches
Most of the ancient Coptic churches are located in the Old section of the city, near the ruins of the Fortress of Babylon. Here are some that you must definitely not miss while in Cairo.
Al-Muaallaqah (Hanging) Church
This 4th or 5th century basilica was named “Al-Muaallaqah” because it was built on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon.
Church of Abu Sergah (St. Sergius)
This basilica dating back to the beginning of the 5th Century, was built on the cave in which the Holy Family is believed to have stayed when they came to Egypt. Visitors regard this basilica as source of blessing.
Church of Sitt Barbara (St. Barbara)
This is a fine example of fine Coptic art. This church was founded in the 5th Century and rebuilt in the 10th Century.
Church of Abu Mina (St. Mena)
Located in the Old City, the Church was built in the 6th Century A.D. in memory of the Coptic martyr, Saint Mina (or Mena).
Church of Abu Sefein (St Macarius)
Situated in one of the most ancient localities of Old Cairo, this 6th Century church houses the crypt of St Barsoum Al-Arian, in addition to a well-preserved collection of Coptic icons.
Church of Al-Adra (The Virgin)
Dating back to the 8th Century, this church contains some precious icons and has three “haykals” behind ivory-inlaid wooden screens.
Church of the Virgin in Zaytoun
The Zaytoun church in Al-Zaytoun, in north-east Cairo, rose to fame when people reported the Apparition of the Virgin above one of its domes.
Church of Mari Guirguis (St. George)
Built on the ruins of an ancient church, this church was named after St George, a victim of early Roman persecution. It has a unique hall dating to the 13th Century A.D.
The Cathedral of Al-Qiddis Morcos (St. Mark)
This is the largest church in Africa was recently built recently in Abbassia. It reflects the evolution of the art of architecture. The remains of St. Mark, the preacher of Christianity in Egypt, were moved to this Cathedral from Venice in the Middle Ages.
Other Attractions
The Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid is the only surviving structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built by King Khufu (Cheops) of the IV Dynasty around 2650 B.C. lts height now is 137 m (original height: 146 m). Almost 2.5 million blocks of stone went into the building of this pyramid. Close to the eastern flank of the Pyramid of Khufu lie three small pyramids dedicated either to his wives or family members.
The Second Pyramid
This was built by Khafre (Chephren), south-west of his father’s (Khufu’s) pyramid. It is shorter at 136 m and still retains some of the limestone that had once covered it all. It has two entrances on the north side and very simple interiors. You can see the remains of Khafre’s mortuary temple, the Temple of the Valley, and rising causeway. These temples witnessed the religious rites during the embalming of the body.
The Third Pyramid
This pyramid was built by Menkaure (Mycerinus), south-west of the Great and Second Pyramids. lt is much smaller than them (62 m high). The lower part of its sides still retain their granite slab coverings.
The Solar Boats of Khufu
The Ancient Egyptians carved spacious areas in the rock, near the Pyramids to place the wooden boats. These boats were at the disposal of the king when on his journey of Day and Night with the sun god, Ra, in the afterworld. Recent excavations unearthed three such sun-boat sites, on the east side of the Great Pyramid and two sites were discovered on the south side. When the huge stone slabs were removed, they revealed parts of a large boat, made of cedar wood, in very good condition. The boats are now housed in a special museum, south of the Pyramid of Cheops. The museum is open from 9-4 daily.
The Sphinx
The one monument you just cannot miss is the Sphinx. You can visit it on the way to the Temple of the Valley. It is one of most famous monuments in the world with the body of a lion and the face of a man. The face of the Sphinx closely resembles that of King Kephren. lt is 70 m long and 20 m high.
The Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square)
This is one of the most prominent museums in the world, showcasing over 50 centuries of Egypt’s ancient history. lts most significant showpiece is the magnificent Tutankhamun (King Tut) collection.
Many airlines operate daily flights from and to the Cairo International Airport. Egypt Air operates domestic flights to all parts of Egypt including Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, AI-Wadi al-Gadded (New Valley) and Hurghada. Cairo also has a good network of taxi services and a well established undergound metrosystem that will enable you to get around the city.
