Places of tourist interest

Pyramids of Giza

Considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids are, of course, truly awe-inspiring, some of them going back nearly 5,000 years. Nearby is the mysterious Sphinx, carved from a single block of stone.

Egyptian Museum

A splendid museum, filled with Egypt's great archeological glories. Its chief attraction is the treasure from Tutankhamun's tomb, including the celebrated golden mask of Tutankhamun.

Islamic Cairo

A fascinating maze of little streets, filled with numerous old monuments and mosques from Cairo's Islamic past. Saladin's Citadel, the impressive 19th century Mosque of Mohammed Ali, the vast 9th century Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the 10th century Al Azhar University, the oldest university in the world, are some of its more notable sights. Also nearby are the wonderful souvenir shops of Khan al Khalili.

Old Cairo

The old Coptic quarter of Cairo, pre-dating Islamic Cairo, with its fine old churches and its museum. Especially worth visiting is the church of St. Sergius, where the Holy Family is supposed to have once sought refuge.

Memphis

The oldest capital of Egypt, was built by King Menes, and lays 24 kms south-west of Cairo. The colossal statue of Ramses II is exhibited in the museum. This is the most beautiful representation of Ramses II. It is made of fine-grained limestone, 13 meters long, and weighs 120 tons. Also in Memphis is the Temple for embalming the sacred Apis bull.

Saqqara

Is the oldest Ancient Egyptian cemetery. It lies on a desert plateau, south-west of Cairo. Above rises the Step-Pyramid and mortuary compound, built by the engineer lmhotep for King Zoser. It is composed of six receding mastabas one on top of each other. The Pyramid measures 123.5 by 107 meters at the base and about 59 meters in height.

Shopping

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, culture and nightlife. Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions. Particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold and silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass.