Cairo is on most history lovers' bucket lists, and with the Grand Egyptian Museum set to open this year, there has never been a better time to start planning that long-awaited trip to the sprawling metropolis that more than 20 million people call home. But Egypt's capital has much more to offer than the obvious historical sites. The city reveals itself in layers, and it is up to visitors to peel them back.
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Undoubtedly Egypt's most famous attraction, the three pyramids of Kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure are located on the Giza Plateau in Greater Cairo, flanked by the Great Sphinx. Visitors can enter any of the pyramids for an additional fee; the Great Pyramid of King Khufu is the most popular.
Although it seems a bit claustrophobic and there isn't much to see, it's still exciting to walk up to the King's Chamber and its empty granite sarcophagus. Please note that the area closes at 4 p.m. in winter and 5 p.m. in summer. There are actually nine pyramids in total on the site, hence the name of the first restaurant in the area, 9 Pyramids Lounge, which opened in 2020 and serves delicious dishes.
Khan El-Khalili Bazaar
A visit to Cairo is not complete without getting lost in the winding alleys of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar, where you may be tempted to buy incense sticks, small cups for mint tea or mini hookahs. Rows of cafés near the Al-Azhar Mosque serve hot plates of koshary, a national favourite of rice, macaroni and lentils topped with tomato sauce and fried onions, and feteer, an Egyptian pastry served sweet or savoury. If you're looking for a more upmarket (and air-conditioned) atmosphere, head to the Naguib Mahfouz café, a tribute to the famous writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988. For true Mahfouz fans, there is a museum dedicated to the author's life and work, in a small alley next to the Abu al-Dahab Mosque. End the day with a felucca ride – it's incredible, fascinating and impressive.
Traveller: Omar Abo Zaid..
The best things to do in Cairo