Cairo, Capital city in northeastern Egypt.
Description
Cairo is the national capital in northeastern Egypt and sits along both banks of the Nile. Multistory residential blocks stand beside mosques with tall minarets and open markets, while wide bridges cross the river and connect densely populated neighborhoods with streets filled with cars, trucks and pedestrians.
History
The capital was founded in 969 when the dynasty from North Africa conquered the area and built a fortified settlement. Over centuries different rulers took control and added buildings and neighborhoods that made the settlement an important center for trade and learning.
Culture
Tea and coffee are served throughout the day in small cafes where men play backgammon and smoke water pipes. The call to prayer sounds five times daily from minarets and interrupts street noise, while families gather for meals at restaurants and street stalls.
Practical
Three metro lines connect major districts and help avoid heavy street traffic, though trains are often crowded. It is wise to visit attractions early in the day as afternoon heat becomes intense and streets grow more congested.
Did you know?
Millions of people live in the City of the Dead at the center, a cemetery area where families reside in mausoleums and tomb structures and have formed communities there. This settlement has existed for centuries and is connected by streets that hold shops, cafes and workshops.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Cairo Governorate).
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...
Memphis
21.3 km
Egyptian Museum
442 m
Al-Azhar Mosque
2.6 km
Baron Empain Palace
10.3 km
Narmer Palette
446 m
Cairo Citadel
3 km
Al-Sayeda Zainab Mosque
1.5 km
Sayeda Aisha Mosque
3 km
Heliopolis
10.8 km
Khan el-Khalili
2.5 km
Cairo Tower
1.1 km
Al-Fustat
4.4 km
Mosque of Ibn Tulun
2.2 km
Muhammad Ali Mosque
2.9 km
Al-Hussein Mosque
2.7 km
Pyramid of Amenemhat III
28.2 km
Abdeen Palace
1.2 km
Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan
2.5 km
Aisha Fahmy Palace
1.9 km
Mosque of Amr ibn al-As
3.8 km
Hanging Church
4.4 km
Cairo Geniza
4.3 km
Manial Palace and Museum
2 km
Al-Azhar Park
2.8 km
Al-Sayeda Nafeesah Mosque
2.9 km
Al-Rifa'i Mosque
2.4 km
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
4.9 km
Islamic Cairo
2.6 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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