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Why Cairo?

Pyramids · museums · mosques · souqs · the Nile

Days in the mid-20s, cool mornings and almost no rain: November is made for long walks through Islamic Cairo and slow afternoons at Giza.

The last ancient wonder

The Giza pyramids stand at the city’s western edge, and a new visitor centre and shuttle buses now make the plateau calmer to explore.

A museum to match

The Grand Egyptian Museum shows Tutankhamun’s complete collection for the first time, with the pyramids framed in its windows.

The city of a thousand minarets

Al-Azhar, Ibn Tulun and Sultan Hassan are among the great buildings of the Islamic world, and they are still places of prayer.

Souqs with centuries behind them

Khan el-Khalili has traded since the Mamluk era. Lanes of copper, lanterns, spices and textiles lead off in every direction.

Layers of faith

Coptic churches, an old synagogue and the first mosque in Africa share a few streets in Old Cairo.

Life on the Nile

A felucca at sunset, a walk along Zamalek’s river bank or tea on a houseboat: the river is never far away.

Food that feels familiar

Koshary, ful, ta’ameya and grilled meats are halal by default, cheap and generous.

A short flight from the Gulf

Three to four hours from most Gulf capitals, with Arabic spoken everywhere and a warm welcome for Khaleeji visitors.

WundrPath · City guides