Cairo is home to millennia of history. The Giza Pyramids, built between 2686 and 2494 BC, stand alongside Fatimid mosques like the Ibn Tulun Mosque from 879, and Mamluk fortifications such as Saladin's Citadel from the 12th century. Religious heritage reflects community diversity: Saint Serge Church dates to the 4th century, while Sainte-Marie Church from the 7th century reuses elements of the Roman fortress of Babylon. The Cairo Museum, opened in 1902, displays over 120,000 archaeological artifacts including Tutankhamun’s burial mask. Khan Al-Khalili market, established in 1382, continues traditional trade along its alleys lined with spice and craft shops. The Gayer Anderson House exemplifies 16th-century Ottoman residential architecture. These sites span Egypt’s history from pharaonic antiquity to the Ottoman period.
Cairo, Egypt
The Egyptian Museum Cairo opened in 1902 and houses more than 120,000 objects from the Pharaonic period. The collection includes statues, jewellery, papyri, sarcophagi and the golden funerary mask of Tutankhamun. The museum is located at Tahrir Square and documents Egyptian history from the Predynastic period through the Greco-Roman era.
Giza, Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza form a complex of three main pyramids with their burial structures, built between 2686 and 2494 BC on the limestone plateau. These structures served as tombs for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.
Cairo, Egypt
This bazaar was established in 1382 and consists of narrow alleys with numerous shops. Traders offer spices, textiles, copper items and souvenirs while maintaining traditions that have existed for centuries.
Cairo, Egypt
The Ibn Tulun Mosque was constructed in 879 on a hill in Cairo and stands as one of the oldest surviving mosques in the city. This building features a minaret with a spiral external staircase reminiscent of Mesopotamian architecture. The expansive courtyard is surrounded by arcaded galleries supported by massive brick pillars. This mosque follows the classical plan of a courtyard mosque and is characterized by simple geometric forms.
Cairo, Egypt
The Church of Saint Mary was built in the 7th century on the foundations of the Roman fortress of Babylon. This Coptic place of worship incorporates reused ancient columns and capitals from the Roman period in its construction.
Cairo, Egypt
The Citadel of Saladin was built in the 12th century on a hill and served as a military fortress and seat of government. This fortified complex houses several mosques, including the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, as well as palaces and military museums. From the walls of the Citadel, visitors can see expansive views over Cairo and the surrounding districts.
Cairo, Egypt
The Gayer Anderson Museum comprises two connected residential houses from the 16th century. These Ottoman residences display the domestic architecture of the period with their original interior decoration, wooden paneling, and mashrabiya screens. The rooms contain furniture, textiles, and art objects from various Islamic regions.
Cairo, Egypt
Al-Azhar Park was created in 2005 on the site of a former landfill and offers views of the historical monuments of Islamic Cairo. This green space features walking paths, fountains and gardens that provide a recreational area for visitors and residents.
Cairo, Egypt
The Church of Saint Sergius dates from the 4th century and was built above a cave where, according to tradition, the Holy Family hid during their flight to Egypt. The interior of the church displays several rows of marble columns that separate the nave from the side aisles. The crypt beneath the sanctuary leads to the grotto, which now serves as a pilgrimage site.
Cairo, Egypt
Bab Zuweila is the southern gate of the Fatimid old city, constructed in 1092 under vizier Badr al-Jamali. The two minarets of the adjacent al-Muayyad Mosque were built on the gate towers in the 15th century. From the top, visitors can observe the historic center.
Cairo, Egypt
The Coptic Museum preserves a significant collection of Christian art from Egypt spanning the 4th to the 19th century. The exhibition includes illuminated manuscripts, liturgical vestments, wooden carvings, icons, and liturgical objects. The museum documents the development of the Coptic Church and its artistic traditions across fifteen centuries.
Cairo, Egypt
The Hassan Mosque and the Rifai Mosque face each other on the same square. The Hassan Mosque was built in 1356 during the Mamluk era and is one of the largest mosques in Cairo. The Rifai Mosque was constructed between 1869 and 1912 in Mamluk style and houses the tomb of King Farouk along with other members of the Egyptian royal family.
Cairo, Egypt
The Museum of Islamic Art was established in 1881 and presents an extensive collection from various periods of Islamic civilization. The exhibition includes illuminated manuscripts, historical textiles, decorated ceramics, and coins spanning several centuries. The museum preserves objects from Egypt and other regions of the Islamic world, documenting artistic and cultural development from the 7th century through the Ottoman period.
Cairo, Egypt
The Cave Church sits inside Mokattam Mountain in the garbage collectors' district. This prayer space was carved directly into the rock and accommodates several thousand worshippers. The walls display religious bas-reliefs depicting biblical scenes. The seating rows are cut into the natural stone. This Coptic Orthodox place of worship belongs to the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner.
Cairo, Egypt
The Cairo Tower was constructed in 1961 as a telecommunication structure and rises to a height of 187 meters. This tower houses a rotating restaurant and an observation deck that provides panoramic views across the Egyptian capital. The structure serves both technical functions and operates as a viewing platform for visitors.
Mit Rahina, Egypt
The Memphis Museum presents archaeological findings from the ancient capital of Egypt. The complex displays a recumbent colossal statue of Ramses II in limestone, measuring 10 meters in length. The exhibition includes sphinxes, columns, and reliefs from the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. The museum is located in the open-air site of Mit Rahina, where Memphis once stood.
Cairo, Egypt
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization presents over 50,000 objects documenting different periods of Egyptian history. The collection includes a specialized gallery for royal mummies, where the mortal remains of several pharaohs are displayed.
Cairo, Egypt
Zamalek is a residential district on Gezira Island in the Nile River. This neighborhood contains buildings from the 19th century, art galleries, diplomatic missions, and the Egyptian National Opera House. The tree-lined streets feature restaurants, cafés, and cultural institutions serving residents and visitors.
Cairo, Egypt
This 1-kilometer medieval street runs through Cairo's historic center, containing several mosques, madrasas, and Mameluk-era buildings.
Cairo, Egypt
The Al-Azhar Mosque was founded in 972 and houses the Islamic university of the same name. This religious building features a central courtyard surrounded by arcades and is topped by five minarets representing different architectural periods.
Cairo, Egypt
The Manial Palace was built in the early 20th century as a royal residence for Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik. The complex combines Ottoman, Persian, Moorish and European architectural elements across five separate buildings. The palace stands on Roda Island in the Nile and is surrounded by tropical gardens containing rare plant species. Today it houses a museum displaying furniture, artworks, manuscripts and personal belongings of the royal family.
Cairo, Egypt
The Baron Palace was constructed in 1911 as a private residence combining Indian and Islamic architectural elements. This three-story building stands within a park in the Heliopolis district and served as the home of Belgian industrialist Édouard Empain.
Cairo, Egypt
The Wekalet El Ghouri Center occupies a caravanserai from the Mamluk period of the 16th century. This structure originally served as lodging for merchants and storage space for goods along trade routes. Today, the center regularly hosts cultural events, including dance performances and traditional music, showcasing Egypt's artistic heritage and providing visitors with insight into local performing arts.
Cairo, Egypt
The Ben Ezra Synagogue was built in 882 on the site of a Coptic church. This religious building preserves an extensive collection of medieval Hebrew manuscripts known as the Geniza, which contains historical documents relating to Jewish history in Egypt.
Cairo, Egypt
Saint George Church is a 10th-century Coptic Orthodox place of worship built on the foundations of a Roman fortress. The building is distinguished by its unusual circular architecture and belongs to the Coptic community in Old Cairo.
Cairo, Egypt
The Heliopolis District was built between 1905 and 1922 as a planned city northeast of Cairo's historic center. Belgian industrialist Baron Empain designed this residential area following European models with geometrically laid-out streets, squares, and parks. The architecture combines colonial, neoclassical, and Moorish style elements in the villas and residential buildings along the wide, tree-lined avenues.
Cairo, Egypt
The Mu'ayyad Mosque was built in the 15th century on the foundations of a former prison. This structure stands adjacent to the historic Bab Zuweila gate in old Cairo. Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh commissioned this mosque between 1415 and 1421, after he himself had been imprisoned at this location and vowed to build a house of worship there.
Cairo, Egypt
The Amr ibn al-As Mosque was founded in 642 by General Amr ibn al-As and is recognized as the oldest mosque in Egypt and on the African continent. This religious structure marks the introduction of Islam to Egypt and originally served as a place of prayer for the Arab conquerors. The mosque has been expanded and rebuilt several times over the centuries, incorporating various Islamic architectural styles.
Cairo, Egypt
The Al-Khayamiya Market specializes in the sale of colorful fabrics and tents decorated with handcrafted patterns. The artisans of this market work with traditional textile processing techniques and apply the motifs individually by hand onto the fabrics. This ancient craft form is passed down from generation to generation.
Cairo, Egypt
The Al-Suhaymi House was built in 1648 and demonstrates the characteristics of Ottoman residential architecture in Cairo. This residence includes an inner courtyard with fountains, and its rooms display geometric patterns along with carved woodwork on the walls. The design follows traditional principles of Ottoman domestic architecture and provides insight into the living customs of the period.
Cairo, Egypt
This mosque was built between 990 and 1013 under Caliph Al-Hakim. The building displays Fatimid architecture with two minarets, a spacious courtyard, and a prayer hall. The complex represents one of the important religious structures from the Fatimid period in Cairo.
Cairo, Egypt
The Al-Aqmar Mosque was constructed in 1125 under the Fatimid caliph al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah. This mosque presents a carved stone façade decorated with geometric ornaments and engraved Quranic verses. The architecture combines religious function with decorative elements of Fatimid construction techniques.
Cairo, Egypt
The Qalawun Complex is a monumental structure from the 13th century located in the historic quarter of Cairo. Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun commissioned this ensemble, which includes a mosque, a mausoleum, and a hospital. The complex represents an important example of Mamluk architecture in Egypt.
Cairo, Egypt
The Madrasa as-Salihiyya was built in 1249 by Sultan Salih Najm ad-Din Ayyub in central Cairo. This religious educational institution combines teaching spaces for Islamic sciences with prayer areas. The madrasa represents an important example of Mamluk architecture and stands near the Sultan Hassan Mosque.
Cairo, Egypt
This Nilometer was built in 861 on Rhoda Island to measure the annual Nile floods. The construction consists of a graduated well with Kufic inscriptions on its walls containing Quranic verses and construction information.