Found in 969 CE by the Fatimid dynasty, modern Cairo is Egypt’s metropolitan area and it is one of the largest in the Arab world, Middle East and Africa. The capital of Egypt is famous for its Giza pyramid complex as well as the historic city of Memphis. Cairo has been Egypt’s cultural and political centers, as such, it has been bestowed with the title of ‘the city of a thousand minarets.’ But Cairo isn’t lacking in entertainment as well, as it has the largest and oldest music and film industries in the Arab world. In terms of education, Cairo houses Al-Azhar University, which is the world’s second-oldest institution of higher learning. With a population of around 9 million spread over 1,191 sq mi, Cairo is the largest city present in Egypt. As such there are a lot of international organizations, the media, and businesses which have their headquarters here.
How about heading over to the city? You can get in through Cairo international airport which allows both national and international flights. Just for an idea, you can get Singapore to Cairo flights, New York to Cairo flights, Dubai to Cairo flights and more so.
Surely after landing here, you would like to get freshened up and go out to have a look at the city. So here’s a list of the must-do things in Cairo:
- Check out The Citadel: Established in 1176, on the foothills of Mokattam, the fortress of the enormous Saladin Citadel is definitely one of the amazing eye-catchingcreations which can be attributed to military infrastructure. Also known as the alabaster mosque, this church is built with white stone. Our advice is to just stroll around so as to take in all the nearby attractions and to get some fantastic views.
- Be in awe of Khan el-Khalili: Touted as one of the biggest markets present in the world, Khan el-Khalili comes alive with the constant noises of purchases, bargaining, and You will find various souvenirs, expensive stone works, preciousstones and a varied catalog to browse from. The best part is that you will find stuff here really cheap. There are small cafes nearby where you can chill if you get tired from all the shopping.
- Visit Old Cairo: The Cairo you will be welcomed in is actually modern Cairo. The old Cairo or Coptic Cairo as it is called as wellconsists of Naze like lanes which coexist with the walls of old era Babylon, where Trajan, a Roman emperor established a fortress right along the Nile river. The lanes are filled with churches and parts of the remaining Roman towers still tower over the main road. If here, do visit the Coptic Museum, which just stores an abundance of very valuable information on the Christian period in Egypt. It also houses amazing Coptic art collections. Pro tip: Do check out the Hanging church in here.
- Take a trip to the Al-Azhar Mosque: Located in the heart of the city, this mosque was built in 972 AD. This main landmark is right in the middle of the downtown area and has a gateway that allows visitors to witness the architectural marvel of this place like the five towering minarets.
Cairo is a place which seems to be still in a historical period, but its desert beauty truly shines out from the shimmering sands of time as does the hospitality of its people.