Introduction
Cairo, Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. It’s home to some of the world’s most famous historical sites, including ancient pyramids and mosques built during the golden age of Islamic architecture. If you’re planning a trip to Cairo for the first time and want to see as many must-see attractions as possible without overdoing it on your itinerary—or if you’re looking for ideas on how best to break up your visit into morning and afternoon activities—here are five great options for seeing Cairo by day:
The Citadel
The Citadel is a medieval castle that was built in the Fatimid era (the 11th century). It’s the largest of its kind in the Arab world, and it’s located in Cairo’s Islamic quarter. Today, this historic site offers visitors a chance to see an ancient mosque where Muslims can worship, a museum with artifacts from Egypt’s past and present, as well as cafes for those who want to take some time out during their visit.
Khan al-Khalili Bazaar
The Khan al-Khalili Bazaar is one of the best places to visit in Cairo. It’s open every day and offers an opportunity to shop for souvenirs, antiques, jewelry and much more.
Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Cairo, and it has a lot to offer. Located at Tahrir Square and open daily from 9am-5pm, this museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts ranging from mummies and sculptures to jewelry and paintings. Tickets are available for 80LE ($10) for non-Egyptians or 40LE ($5) for Egyptians, who can also enter free on Thursdays between 3:30pm-4:00pm.
The museum has two floors with different themes displayed throughout each section: The ground floor focuses mostly on ancient Egypt’s history; while upstairs highlights its culture through artworks like paintings and sculptures by artists such as Nasser Mohammad Saleh (1936-1997).
Don’t miss out on seeing King Tutankhamun’s treasures! In fact, many people come here just for them alone since they’re so famous worldwide–but there’s plenty more than just his tomb inside this building…
The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza are the most popular attraction in Cairo and arguably, one of the most famous sites in the world. They were built for the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, who were buried underneath them. The Great Pyramid (also known as “Khufu’s Pyramid”) is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; it was constructed during Pharaoh Khufu’s reign around 2550 BC.
The pyramids still remain today after thousands of years–a testament to both their durability and importance in history. For visitors who want to see these ancient wonders firsthand, we recommend taking a day trip from Cairo City Center or getting there early before it gets too crowded!
Citadel of Saladin in Cairo
The Citadel of Saladin in Cairo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Built by Sultan Saladin in the 12th century on top of an ancient fortress, this imposing structure has served as both a military base and palace throughout its history. Today it serves as Egypt’s national museum, housing artifacts from all periods of Egyptian history.
The site was named after Sultan Saladin (1122-1193), who founded an empire that included parts of Syria, Palestine and Egypt after defeating Christian Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. He is known as “King Of Syria” because he ruled over so many territories there; however today only ruins remain from his time due to extensive damage during wars over centuries since then!
These are the most popular attractions in Cairo.
- The Egyptian Museum is the most popular attraction in Cairo. It contains hundreds of thousands of artifacts and antiquities, including the famous mummy collection.
- The Citadel is another must-see site in Cairo. It’s an ancient fortress located on a hilltop overlooking the city that dates back to 850 B.C., making it one of Egypt’s oldest buildings still standing today.
- You should also check out Khan el-Khalili Bazaar (pictured above). This market offers everything from jewelry and art pieces to spices, fabrics and food items such as dates or tea leaves–and it’s all for sale! If you’re looking for something more modern than traditional markets like this one but still want some shopping fun then check out City Stars Mall instead; this mall has over 200 stores selling everything from clothing brands like Zara & H&M all the way down through local souvenir shops that sell handcrafted items made by local artists!
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you decide where to go in Cairo. If you’re looking for more tips on how to explore Egypt, check out our guide on how to plan your perfect Nile cruise.
