Cairo sightseeing
Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza
No trip to Cairo would be complete without seeing the world's oldest tourist attraction, the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza which are, not surprisingly, the most visited monuments in Egypt.
There have been many wide ranging theories about why the pyramids were built: perhaps they were the astronomical markers to aid the quantifying of time, or built to concentrate natural energy sources? Some even believed that they were an alien sign from thousands of years ago!! It is now widely accepted that the pyramids were built within a few hundred years of each other around 2600BC as tombs for pharaohs in order to foil tomb robbers.
The largest, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, standing 137m high, is the last remaining wonder of the ancient world as described by Greek and Roman scholars.
The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest although its location on slightly higher ground makes it appear taller, and the third, Menkaure, adds a wonderful perspective to the alignment of all three.
The Sphinx is generally considered to be an enigmatic depiction of the Pharaoh Khafre, and in fact, it is situated at the base of an ancient sacred causeway the leads from the Pyramid of Khafre to the Nile.
The Egyptian Museum Of Antiquities
Housing one of the world's major collections of Egypt's finest treasures, including Royal Mummies and objects from Tutankhamun's tomb, the Egyptian Museum is magnificent, slightly dated, and very often crowded. Without doubt, the best place to gain an appreciation of Ancient Egypt.
Museum of Islamic Art
This fascinating museum consists of a series of rooms each depicting a separate technique or skill such as wood carving, ivory work, ceramic mosaics, plus the writing of manuscripts using traditional materials, motifs and patterns.
The Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque
This massive fortification was built in the early 13th century to protect the city from Crusaders and is located on high ground south of the Khan market. It is the size of a small village with museums, caf's and mosques, of which the Muhammad Ali Mosque is the most famous. This Ottoman Turkish style mosque is the largest in the city and its grand interior features smooth alabaster stone, painted domes and intricately sculpted marble, plus the tomb of Muhammad Ali, the founder of modern Egypt.
Coptic Museum
Situated in old Cairo, the Coptic Museum, housed in an old palace, features a wealth of artefacts covering Coptic art and worship including vestments, tapestries, painted icons, wood carved ceilings and early handwritten Bibles.
Map
Climate
Much of Egypt is desert and the whole country is hot and dry with very little rain. Away from the coast, the summers can be scorchingly hot but winters are more moderate with more comfortable temperatures. Water temperatures average between 20° C and 23° C during the winter months.
Did you know?
The Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt, constructed around 2500 B.C., was the tallest building in the world until the Eiffel Tower was erected in 1889.