Cairo Destination Guide

One of the last remaining seven wonders of the world, the Pyramids of Giza represent one of the greatest architectural feats by man. The Great Pyramids of Giza, ‘a must see' for most visitors, is one of the world's oldest tourist attractions and the reason most people visit Egypt. There are actually three main pyramids in Giza; the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), The Pyramid of Kafhre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. Each of these pyramids is a tomb for a different King of Egypt. Cairo is synonymous with the pyramids of Giza. Apart from being one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, they are also the city’s biggest tourist attraction.

The largest and the oldest of the lot, the Great Pyramid of Cheops is 136.4 m (447.5 ft ) high. It was built to house the sarcophagus of King Cheops, locally known as Khufu. It was completed in 2600 BC and required approximately 2.5 million limestone blocks to build. The Great Pyramid is surrounded by three smaller pyramids which were built for Khufu's queens. The large tombs of Chephren, King Khufu's son and Mycerinus are located beyond the smaller pyramids.

And then, there’s the Sphinx, thought by some to be 2600 years older than the pyramids themselves. One popular myth has it that Chephren commissioned the Sphinx to protect his father’s and his own tomb. The complex also has a number of smaller tombs which are worth a visit. Admission charges apply.

Nearby is the Solar Boat Museum, with a beautifully preserved wooden boat that was found near the Great Pyramid. The museum holds light and sound shows daily in multiple languages. Tourists can call (02) 385 2880 to get information on the show schedule.

Situation near the front of the pyramids is the also famous Sphinx, or Abu al-Hol in Arabic, "Father of Terror". It is a huge lion like sculpture carved out of a single block of stone and has astonished millions of visitors over the years.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is one of the first stops on most people's itineraries when traveling to Egypt. With over 120,000 artifacts, the museum houses an incredible display depicting ancient Egypt's glorious reign. You can enjoy mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, and jewelry and of course King Tutankhamen's treasures. King Tut's goodies include his socks, underwear and the boy-king's death-mask made of solid gold, described as the most beautiful object ever made. An enormous collection of more than 120, 000 artefacts, covering civilisations from the Pharaonic to the Roman era make the Egyptian Museum one of the largest of its kind in the world. To fully appreciate its wonders, make several half-day visits, rather than attempting to ‘do’ it in one go.

The indisputable centrepiece of the museum is the Boy King, Tutankhamen’s Galleries, displaying the 1700 items found in his grave. The beauty of the gold and gem-inlaid funerary mask is indescribable.  Access is restricted here. The Royal Mummy Room contains the corpses of the most powerful Pharaohs including Seti I and Ramses II. The Middle Kingdom or Room 27 has models that reconstruct ancient life along the river Nile, while the Old Kingdom Room has displays of beautiful statues and death masks from Giza and Saqqara. The Jewellery Room, Akhenaton Room and those containing animal mummies are also captivating. The collection in the Egyptian Museum was originally put together in 1858 by Auguste Mariette, a French archaeologist.

There is an admission charge besides an additional charge to visit the Mummy Halls and for permission to photograph.

Located on Mar Guirguis Street in Cairo, the Coptic museum was established in 1908 to preserve Coptic Christian artifacts from destruction, this renovated old building houses the world's largest collection of Coptic art. Its two wings contain fabulous artifacts (both secular and religious) produced by Copts throughout the ages. Exhibits are arranged roughly in chronological order, with the upper floor housing an exhibition of Nubian paintings salvaged from villages before they were flooded by the Aswan High Dam in the 1950s and 60s.

Worth a look are the wonderful examples of paintings and textiles, as well as metal, wood, glass and ivory craftsmanship. If you're a history buff, check out the Nag Hammadi documents on the top floor. Admission is EGL 16 for adults and EGL 8 for students.

The Coptic Museum is housed inside the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon-in-Egypt, surrounded by beautiful gardens. The museum has a collection of Coptic art spanning the 700 year Christian era, from 300 AD to 1000 AD. The fortress rooms are richly decorated with fountains, carved wooden screens called mashrabiyya, frescos and painted ceilings.

Artefacts on display include Gnostic gospels of Nag Hammadi written on papyri, Nubian paintings excavated from the villages that were flooded by Lake Nassar, ivory carvings and fine, traditional textiles. Visitors are required to pay an admission fee.

For some visitors one of the most interesting section of Cairo is Islamic Cairo; also known as Medieval Cairo. This area of Cairo is bustling with life in the streets. There are mosques on nearly every corner, Coptic churches, huge medieval gates and bazaars selling everything from automotive parts to exotic perfumes. Must sees in this area include the Citadel and the Khan Khalili bazaar district. The primary mosques worth visiting include the Mohammed Ali Mosque,  the Ibn Tulun Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world and the Al-Azhar Mosque which houses the oldest university in the world since 970AD.

There are many recreational options in and around Cairo, from boat rides on the Nile to camel safaris.

Horse Riding
Horse riding is a popular pastime. There are a number of fancily-named stables like AB Stables and Eurostables on the Pyramids Road. To reach these stables take a left, one kilometre before you reach the pyramids on the same road which leads to the Sound and Light show. In their eagerness to do business, the stable owners often mob tourists with offers. A more reliable option is to locate the stables where expatriates and Cairo’s wealthy folk park their horses.

Sailing
Sailing in a felucca is another popular tourist activity. These traditional sail boats were once used to ferry passengers and transport goods, but nowadays they operate only for recreational purposes. The best way to rent a felucca is to form a small group with other tourists and hop on at the Meridian Garden City Hotel or the Helnan Shepard Hotel. A one hour trip will cost approximately 30LE. Interestingly, the feluccas often pass through the heart of Cairo, a most rewarding experience.

Parks    
The 60 sq km Wadi Digla protected area, near Ma'adi, is a good place to jog, cycle and trek. Adventure-oriented visitors can also take part in rock climbing here. Birders and nature enthusiasts will find a number of birds, reptiles, deer and plants in this park. The easiest way to reach Wadi Digla is to hire a cab from Ma'adi. There aren't too many other parks in Cairo. The Al-Azhar Park near Heliopolis is a nice spot to relax, with a good view of the cityscape. Other options include a walk along the Corniche el-Nil or the promenade on Gezira Islands.

Recreation
While in Cairo, you can also visit the Botanical Gardens, the Zoo or spend a day at the races at Gezira Club. When you’ve had enough of urban attractions, take off to play golf at the picturesque Mena House Golf Course which overlooks the pyramids.