A significant chunk of tourists visiting Cairo is not quenched merely by paying a visit to these major attractions (Giza Pyramids).
Undoubtedly, Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx are the major tourist attractions in Cairo, Egypt. However, a significant chunk of tourists visiting Cairo is not quenched merely by paying a visit to these major attractions. If you are one of these tourists, you have hit the right spot as, in this post, we are going to put light on some of the other must-do things in Cairo apart from visiting the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. There is no dearth of airlines that fly to Cairo with the major ones being Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, United Flights, الخطوط السعودية, and more.
Coptic Cairo
A sprawling neighborhood in Southern Cairo, Coptic Cairo is one of the oldest sections of the city. Going by the historians, it was St Mark who brought Christianity to Egypt and it was in this neighborhood Africa’s first Christian Church – the Coptic Church of Egypt – came up. If you are fond of history or an avid lover of splendid architecture, you must not miss visiting the Coptic Cairo division of the city. Check out Coptic Museum and the Hanging Church that is located in a Babylonian Fortress. This part of the city also houses the oldest mosque in Africa – Mosque of Amr Ibn al-Aas. Last, but not least, you will find a ton of street vendors in the restricted alleyways selling a good diversity of articles.
● Egyptian Museum
Visiting Cairo and not paying a visit to the Egyptian Museum means your trip is incomplete. Those who are fond of History will undoubtedly fall in love with this place as it houses more than 1,00,000 relics and artifacts from ancient Egypt. When visiting the Egyptian Museum, do not forget visiting the Mummy Room. Please note that it will cost you an extra 100 Egyptian Pounds ($11) to enter the Mummy Room, however, it is not something to be missed when in Cairo.
● Saqqara
Located in Southern Cairo, Saqqara is an archaeological site well-known for the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. This Step Pyramid is the oldest stone pyramid in Egypt. Constructed for the Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep, the Step Pyramid is one of the major tourist attractions in Cairo apart from the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. There exist a few tombs in Saqqara that are worth paying a visit.
● Al Azhar Park
Are you fond of nature and its beautiful flora? If ‘Yes’ then you must visit the Al Azhar Park in Cairo. The fountains, well-maintained gardens, entertainment zones, and restaurants are bound to mesmerize you. You can also find Ayyubid Wall here that is constructed by the founder of the Ayyubid Dynasty, Salah El-Din. If you are not fond of overcrowded places, then make sure you visit this place on weekdays and let yourself fall in love with nature all over again.
● Dahshur
One of the significant parts of Cairo, highlighting ancient Egypt, Dahshur houses five pyramids. Out of these five pyramids, three are the major ones named as Red Pyramid, Bent Pyramid, and the Black Pyramid. The Red Pyramid is hailed as one of the first endeavors by the ancient Egyptians to build a Pyramid. The Bent Pyramid derives its name from the unique shape that it possesses which is unlike the current shape of the Egyptian Pyramids. Historians regard the Bent Pyramid as the middle stage of transitioning from the step-pyramid to the current pyramid. Please note that you cannot enter any of the five pyramids apart from the Red Pyramid. Since Dahshur is not overflowing with tourists, even ticket rates or entrance fees are less here.
● Khan El-Khalili
Khan El-Khalili is the famous market of the city of Cairo housing Egyptian jewelry, hookah pipes, and spices. Please note that the shopkeepers will undoubtedly tell you higher prices of the items on your inquiry regarding the rates. Hence, make sure you or one of your eco-tourists have good bargaining skills otherwise you might end up spending much more on an item as compared to its actual price. You can also pay a visit to Khan El-Khalili through major bus tour companies operating in Cairo.
● Salah El-Din Citadel
One of the most popular attractions in Cairo, the Salah El-Din Citadel, constructed by Salah al-Din, is a huge fortress that houses a plenitude of tourist attractions. There are three mosques present in the citadel, out of which, the Mohamed Ali Mosque is the famous one. Apart from the mosques, there are a good number of museums present in Salah El-Din Citadel. Apart from the structures present in the citadel, the location is famous for presenting a good view of the Coptic Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza.
Final Words
These were some of the major top-rated attractions in Cairo apart from the Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx. We hope that this list will help you devise a perfect itinerary for your visit to Cairo. You can also design your own travel experience with the help of various travel websites like Almosafer that gets you cheap رحلات طيران من جدة الى القاهرة.
