Cairo

Cairo Travel Guide

Egypt's capital and Africa's largest city, a Nile-side metropolis where ancient pyramids meet a buzzing modern skyline. The 4,500-year-old Giza pyramids and Sphinx inspire awe, and Khan el-Khalili bazaar captures the magic of traditional Middle Eastern shopping. Islamic Cairo's mosques and the Coptic district's churches coexist, and a dinner cruise on the Nile is a memorable experience.

Essential Cairo Travel Info

Must-Visit Places in Cairo

★ 4.8

Pyramids of Giza

Just outside Cairo, the Giza plateau holds ancient Egypt's greatest monuments and the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. The 146-meter Great Pyramid of Khufu rises alongside the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the watchful Sphinx, all set in the desert on the Nile's west bank. Built around 4,500 years ago, these massive stone structures show a precision that still challenges modern engineering. After dark, a sound-and-light show illuminates the pyramids with lasers and narration.

HoursDaily 08:00-17:00 (hours vary during Ramadan)

LocationGiza, Cairo

TipsArrive right at 08:00 opening to beat the heat and crowds. Watch out for pushy camel-ride touts and always agree on a price first. Entering the Great Pyramid requires a separate ticket.

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★ 4.6

Egyptian Museum

Open on Tahrir Square since 1902, the Egyptian Museum holds more than 120,000 ancient artifacts. Tutankhamun's golden mask and burial treasures, animal mummies, and royal jewelry trace the height of pharaonic civilization in a single building. Key pieces are gradually moving to the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the Giza pyramids, which partially opened in 2023 and pairs well with this visit. The sheer scale of millennia-old finds is simply overwhelming.

HoursDaily 09:00-17:00 (closed 11:30-13:30 on Fridays)

LocationTahrir Square, Cairo

TipsPlan at least 2-3 hours for the highlights. The mummy rooms require a separate ticket, and a guide adds valuable context to the collection.

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★ 4.3

Khan el-Khalili Bazaar

Khan el-Khalili is Cairo's largest traditional souk, running since the 14th century, with thousands of shops crammed into a maze of narrow alleys. Stalls sell gold and silverwork, spices, perfumes, handmade lanterns, papyrus art, and traditional clothing, and haggling is part of the experience. Tucked inside is El Fishawi, a beloved cafe with over 200 years of history, perfect for a quiet glass of tea while watching local life go by.

HoursMost shops 10:00-22:00 (some closed until 14:00 on Fridays)

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsStart bargaining at about 50-70% of the first price quoted. The bazaar is most atmospheric after sunset when the lanterns light up. Stay alert for pickpockets.

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★ 4.7

Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a massive single block of limestone carved into a lion's body with the head of a pharaoh, widely believed to depict King Khafre. Standing 73 meters long and 20 meters tall, it is the largest and oldest monolithic statue in the world, carved roughly 4,500 years ago. Despite its damaged nose, it still keeps watch over the Giza complex as its guardian. The nightly sound-and-light show frames the Sphinx as the narrator of Egypt's history. Admission included with Giza pyramids ticket.

HoursDaily 08:00-17:00 (sound and light show 19:00, 20:00)

LocationGiza, Cairo

TipsThe viewing terrace in front of the Sphinx offers the iconic shot with the pyramids behind. Korean-language sessions of the sound-and-light show are limited - check the schedule.

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★ 4.5

Citadel of Saladin

Built in 1176 by Sultan Saladin as a defense against the Crusades, the citadel served as the seat of Egypt's rulers for more than 700 years. Inside stands the 19th-century Muhammad Ali Mosque (Alabaster Mosque), modeled on Istanbul's Blue Mosque with twin minarets and a vast dome that has become a Cairo skyline icon. The citadel's terrace offers a sweeping panorama of Cairo all the way to the Giza pyramids on a clear day. Admission EGP 450. About 20 minutes by taxi from downtown.

HoursDaily 08:00-17:00

LocationOld Cairo, Cairo

TipsRemove your shoes before entering the mosque, and women should bring a scarf for the head. Visit an hour before sunset to see Cairo bathed in golden light.

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★ 4.4

Coptic Cairo

Coptic Cairo, in the Old Cairo district, is the heart of Egypt's early Christian (Coptic) heritage and packs more than 1,500 years of history into a small area, including the Hanging Church, the Church of St. Sergius, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. The Hanging Church is famously built atop a Roman-era fortress, and St. Sergius is traditionally believed to be where the Holy Family sheltered during their flight into Egypt. The Coptic Museum displays ancient Egyptian Christian art and artifacts. Free entry (Coptic Museum EGP 200). One-minute walk from Mar Girgis metro station.

HoursChurches 08:00-16:00 / Coptic Museum 09:00-17:00

LocationOld Cairo, Cairo

TipsPhotography is restricted in many churches - follow the signs. Dress modestly, and pair the visit with the Coptic Museum for a tidy half-day itinerary.

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★ 4.6

Al-Azhar Mosque

Founded in 970 during the Fatimid era, Al-Azhar is one of the oldest universities in the Islamic world and a leading center of Sunni Islamic scholarship. Expanded by successive dynasties over more than a thousand years, it combines Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman elements, with five minarets rising above the Cairo medina. Located directly across from Khan el-Khalili, it pairs naturally with a bazaar visit. Non-Muslims may visit outside prayer times in modest dress. Free entry. Across from Khan el-Khalili.

HoursOpen 24 hours (visit outside prayer times)

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsWomen should cover hair and shoulders; everyone removes shoes to enter. Avoid Friday noon prayers.

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★ 4.3

Cairo Tower

Rising 187m above Gezira Island in the Zamalek district, Cairo Tower is a concrete lattice tower designed by Egyptian architect Naoum Shebib to evoke a pharaonic lotus motif. Completed in 1961, it was Africa's tallest structure at the time and remains one of Cairo's most recognizable landmarks after the Giza pyramids. The observation deck looks out over the Nile and the city skyline, with the pyramids visible on a clear day, and the 14th floor holds a revolving restaurant that completes a full turn every 75 minutes. Admission is around EGP 200 for foreigners (subject to change - verify before visiting). About 10-15 minutes on foot from Opera metro station.

HoursDaily 09:00-24:00 (varies by season)

LocationZamalek, Cairo

TipsVisit around sunset to catch both daylight and night views. Ticket prices change frequently, so double-check locally before your visit.

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★ 4.4

Ben Ezra Synagogue

In the Coptic Cairo (old Fustat) district stands Egypt's oldest synagogue, believed to have existed before the 9th century. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, the current structure dates from the 1890s. The 'Well of Moses' in the courtyard behind the building is tied to local legend as the spot where baby Moses was found in a basket among the reeds. The roughly 400,000-document trove known as the Cairo Geniza, discovered here in the late 19th century, is now held at Cambridge University as a landmark source for medieval Jewish history. Check current admission locally (sometimes bundled with a Coptic Cairo combined ticket). Five-minute walk from Mar Girgis metro station.

HoursSunday-Thursday 09:00-16:00

LocationOld Cairo, Cairo

TipsDress modestly (cover shoulders and knees). Late morning (9-11am) is quietest. Combine with the Coptic Museum and Hanging Church for a half-day itinerary.

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★ 4.5

Al-Muizz Street

Named after al-Muizz li-Din Allah, the fourth Fatimid caliph who founded Cairo in 969, this roughly 1km street runs from Bab al-Futuh in the north to Bab Zuweila in the south. A UN survey found it holds the densest concentration of Islamic-era architectural treasures anywhere, and it was UNESCO-listed in 1979. A major restoration since 1997 turned it into a pedestrian zone (08:00-23:00) from 2008, lined with more than 30 medieval monuments including the Qalawun Complex, al-Hakim Mosque, and Bayt al-Suhaymi. The street itself is free to walk; only some individual buildings charge separate admission. Walkable from Khan el-Khalili and Al-Azhar Mosque.

HoursStreet pedestrian zone 08:00-23:00 (individual buildings vary)

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsWorth visiting twice - daytime for the architecture, evening for the lit-up street atmosphere. It flows naturally into Khan el-Khalili, so combine the two on foot.

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★ 4.5

Gayer-Anderson Museum

The Gayer-Anderson Museum (Bayt al-Kritliyya, 'House of the Cretan Woman') joins two mansions built in 1540 and 1632 into one of Cairo's finest surviving residential buildings, filled with Islamic art and antiques collected by British officer Robert Gayer-Anderson, who lived here from 1935 to 1942. Highlights include interiors blending Ottoman, Mamluk, and Persian styles, ornate mashrabiya lattice windows, and a rooftop terrace - the house was also a filming location for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. Admission is around EGP 100 for foreigners (subject to change). Right next to Ibn Tulun Mosque; take a taxi from Mar Girgis metro station.

HoursDaily 09:00-16:00 (confirm last entry locally)

LocationSayyida Zeinab, Cairo

TipsPair with Ibn Tulun Mosque next door for an efficient route. Each room has a different period interior, so take your time.

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★ 4.6

Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

Commissioned by Sultan an-Nasir Hasan and built between 1356 and 1363, this is Cairo's largest Mamluk-era mosque-madrasa complex. Four great iwans around the central courtyard once housed madrasas teaching each of the four Sunni schools of law, and the 38-meter northern facade with its intricate muqarnas portal is considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Construction reportedly never paused even as plague swept through Cairo. A combined ticket covers both this mosque and Al-Rifa'i Mosque across the square, priced around EGP 60-80 total (subject to change). About 5-10 minutes on foot from the Citadel.

HoursDaily 08:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00)

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsThe combined ticket covers Al-Rifa'i Mosque too, so visit both together. Remove shoes to enter; mornings tend to be quieter.

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★ 4.4

Al-Rifa'i Mosque

Commissioned in 1869 by Khushyar Hanim, mother of Ismail Pasha, the mosque stalled after the patron's death and funding troubles, then was completed in 1912 under Hungarian architect Max Herz by order of Abbas II. It serves as the royal mausoleum of the Muhammad Ali dynasty, holding the tombs of Khedive Ismail, King Farouk, and King Fuad I, along with the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was granted asylum in Egypt. Facing the 14th-century Sultan Hassan Mosque across the square, it showcases a distinctly modern take on Islamic architecture. Covered by the same combined ticket as Sultan Hassan Mosque. Near the Citadel, connected on foot.

HoursDaily 08:00-16:30

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsVisit together with Sultan Hassan Mosque on the combined ticket, and dress modestly. Check with staff before taking photos.

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★ 4.1

Nilometer (Roda Island)

At the southern tip of Roda Island, the Nilometer was built in 861 CE under Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil, designed by the astronomer al-Farghani. An octagonal marble column marked with graduations stood in a square-lined well to measure the annual Nile flood, a piece of practical ancient science used to gauge taxes and harvests each year. Quranic verses are carved into the walls, and the original dome, destroyed during the French occupation in 1825, was replaced by the current conical roof. Rarely crowded, making for a quiet visit. Pay the modest entrance fee to the site guard (amount may vary). Connected to Coptic Cairo by a footbridge.

HoursDaily 09:00-17:00 (may be closed irregularly)

LocationRoda Island, Cairo

TipsWalkable from Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue) - combine the two. The gate may be locked; you may need to track down the guard.

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★ 4.2

Baron Empain Palace

Built between 1907 and 1911 for Belgian industrialist Baron Edouard Empain by architect Alexandre Marcel, this 'Hindu Palace' blends Beaux-Arts style with forms borrowed from Angkor Wat and the Hindu temples of Odisha, India. Empain launched Cairo's first tramway and developed the entire Heliopolis suburb. Long considered haunted - one legend claims the baron's sister died falling from the rotating tower - it was closed to the public from 1997 until a $10.9 million restoration beginning in 2017 reopened it as a heritage museum in 2020. Admission is around EGP 100 for foreigners; rooftop access and photography incur extra fees. On Salah Salem Road in Heliopolis, about 30 minutes by taxi from downtown.

HoursDaily 09:00-16:00 (last entry may vary)

LocationHeliopolis, Cairo

TipsBring extra cash if you want to climb to the rooftop viewpoint. Pairs well with a stroll through old Heliopolis for a half-day outing.

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★ 4.4

Wikala al-Ghuri

Built in 1504-1505 by Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri, this caravanserai (wikala) is considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Cairo. Wooden mashrabiya screens and vaulted ceilings around a central courtyard recall the merchants who once passed through on Silk Road trade routes; since a 1990s restoration it now serves as a center for traditional crafts and a cultural performance venue. It's best known for the Wednesday and Saturday evening Tanoura (Sufi whirling) shows by the Al-Tannoura troupe, dancers in colorful skirts spinning in meditative rhythm. The show has a modest ticket price (subject to change); the building itself is free to explore. Near Khan el-Khalili, walkable from Al-Azhar metro station.

HoursBuilding 10:00-20:00 / Tanoura show Wed & Sat 20:00

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsThe show is popular - arrive at least 30-60 minutes early to get a seat. During the day without a performance, you can quietly explore the building and craft workshops.

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★ 4.3

Bab Zuweila

Bab Zuweila is the southern gate of old Cairo's walls, built in 1092 by Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali and one of only three surviving city gates. Twin 36-meter minarets were added atop the gate between 1415 and 1422 alongside the construction of the neighboring Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad. The gate also has a dark history as a public execution site - most infamously, the last Mamluk sultan, Tuman Bay II, was hanged here in 1517. Climbing roughly 150 steps (the final stretch a bare metal ladder) rewards visitors with rooftop views over the old Islamic Cairo quarter. Admission is around EGP 30-40 for foreigners (subject to change). At the southern end of Al-Muizz Street.

HoursDaily 09:00-17:00

LocationIslamic Cairo, Cairo

TipsThe final metal-ladder stretch may be daunting if you're afraid of heights. A natural endpoint for a walking tour down Al-Muizz Street.

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Things to Do in Cairo

Tour

Nile Dinner Cruise

A roughly 2-hour Nile dinner cruise with an Egyptian buffet, belly dance, and tanoura (Sufi spinning) show. Experience Cairo's night skyline from the water.

Price EGP 600-1,500Duration 2-2.5 hours

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Adventure

Giza Camel Safari

Ride a camel through the desert beside the Giza plateau for a panoramic view of all three pyramids and the Sphinx. Sunset rides are most popular.

Price EGP 300-700Duration 1-2 hours

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Culture

Islamic Cairo Walking Tour

A 3-4 hour guided walk through Islamic Cairo's medieval monuments - Al-Azhar Mosque, Khan el-Khalili, Sultan Hassan Mosque, and Al-Muizz Street - with spice market and traditional cafe stops.

Price EGP 400-800Duration 3-4 hours

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Culture

Pyramids Sound and Light Show

A 1-hour multimedia show projecting light and lasers onto the Giza pyramids and Sphinx while narrating ancient Egyptian history. Korean sessions are limited, English and Arabic run daily.

Price EGP 700-900Duration About 1 hour

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Culture

Egyptian Museum Korean-Guided Tour

A 2-3 hour Korean-guided tour of the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square) or the Grand Egyptian Museum, with in-depth commentary on Tutankhamun's treasures and the mummy halls.

Price EGP 800-1,500Duration 2-3 hours

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Culture

Khan el-Khalili Food Tour

Stroll Khan el-Khalili and Islamic Cairo's alleys sampling koshari, ful, ta'ameya, and kunafa. Finish with mint chai at the historic El Fishawi cafe.

Price EGP 500-900Duration 3 hours

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Must-Try Food in Cairo

Koshari

🍱 Traditional

Egypt's national comfort food: rice, pasta, and lentils topped with spicy tomato sauce. EGP 20-50 per serving. Abou Tarek in downtown Cairo is the most famous koshari restaurant.

Ful Medames

🍱 Traditional

Slow-cooked fava beans dressed with olive oil and lemon, Egypt's classic breakfast. EGP 15-30 per serving. Available at stalls and local eateries across Cairo for breakfast.

Shawarma

🍢 Street Food

Middle Eastern fast food of spit-roasted lamb or chicken wrapped in pita. EGP 30-80. Available at stalls near Khan el-Khalili and downtown.

Molokhia

🍱 Traditional

A vibrant green soup of finely chopped jute leaves simmered with garlic and coriander, traditionally served with chicken or rabbit broth and rice. EGP 50-100 per serving. Try Felfela downtown or any neighborhood eatery.

Hamam Mahshi (Stuffed Pigeon)

🍱 Traditional

Pigeon stuffed with rice, spices, and chopped giblets, then roasted - a refined Egyptian delicacy. EGP 80-180 per bird. Farahat in downtown Cairo is well known.

Kunafa

🍰 Dessert

A sweet Middle Eastern dessert of butter-crisped shredded pastry topped with syrup, nuts, and cream or cheese. EGP 30-70 per slice. Try El Abd patisserie or downtown dessert shops.

Karkadeh (Hibiscus Tea)

🍵 Drink

A ruby-red Egyptian tea brewed from hibiscus petals, enjoyed hot or cold. EGP 10-25 per glass. El Fishawi cafe in Khan el-Khalili is the classic spot.

Cairo Travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Cairo?

October to April is ideal. Summer (May-September) brings sustained heat above 40C.

How much does it cost to travel in Cairo?

Around $35-85 per day (lodging $20-45, food $7-20, transit and entry fees $7-20).

How do I get around in Cairo?

From Cairo Airport to downtown is roughly 40-60 minutes by taxi or Uber. Around the city, three metro lines, taxis, and Uber cover most needs. SIM cards (Vodafone, Orange) available at the airport (EGP 100-300). Cards accepted at hotels and large restaurants, but cash (Egyptian pounds) essential at markets, taxis, and stalls. Restaurant tipping 10-15%; bakshish (small service tips) is part of the culture.

Do I need a visa to visit Cairo?

Korean passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival (30 days, about USD 25).

Is Cairo safe for tourists?

Be wary of touts and inflated prices near tourist sites. Use Uber rather than street taxis, and women travelling solo should dress modestly.

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