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Best Attractions in Cairo (2026)

Cairo's sights fall into three broad groups: the pharaonic monuments and museums of Giza and Downtown, the Islamic monuments of the medieval city, and the early churches of Coptic Cairo. The Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum sit about two kilometres apart on the western edge of the city, so most visitors spend a full day on them together, starting on the plateau at opening time before the heat builds and moving to the museum in the afternoon. The GEM opens late on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which helps if you want to split the day.

The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization complement the GEM rather than repeat it, with the Narmer Palette and Tanis treasures at Tahrir and the royal mummies at NMEC. In Islamic Cairo, the Citadel, the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun make a natural morning by taxi, while Al-Azhar Mosque pairs with the bazaar. The Hanging Church is next to Mar Girgis metro station and close to NMEC. Dress modestly for mosques and churches, carry cash for tickets and small tips, and check official opening times before you go, as they change around holidays and Ramadan. Licensed guides add a great deal at the larger sites.

10 places · Updated October 23, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Cairo

  1. Pyramids of Giza Archaeological site, Giza PlateauThe Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world on the edge of Giza.
  2. Grand Egyptian Museum Archaeology museum, GizaThe vast new museum near the Giza pyramids, home to more than 100,000 artefacts including the complete Tutankhamun collection and Khufu's ancient boats.
  3. Egyptian Museum Archaeology museum, DowntownCairo's original museum of Egyptian antiquities on Tahrir Square, opened in 1902 and still packed with statues, treasures and the burials of Yuya and Thuya.

Attraction

1. Pyramids of Giza

Archaeological siteGiza Plateau

The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world on the edge of Giza.

View details — Pyramids of Giza

Attraction

3. Egyptian Museum

Archaeology museumDowntown

Cairo's original museum of Egyptian antiquities on Tahrir Square, opened in 1902 and still packed with statues, treasures and the burials of Yuya and Thuya.

View details — Egyptian Museum

Attraction

5. Cairo Citadel

Medieval fortressIslamic Cairo

Saladin's 12th-century hilltop fortress, crowned by the Ottoman-style Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with museums and wide views across the city.

View details — Cairo Citadel

Attraction

6. Al-Azhar Mosque

Historic mosqueIslamic Cairo

Founded by the Fatimids in 970, Al-Azhar is Cairo's great congregational mosque and the historic heart of one of the oldest universities in the world.

View details — Al-Azhar Mosque

Attraction

8. Hanging Church

Coptic churchCoptic Cairo

Coptic Cairo's best-known church, built above a gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon and filled with icons, carved screens and a marble pulpit.

View details — Hanging Church