Cairo

Cairo is arguably Africa's greatest city, with a strong Mediterranean and Arabian feel betraying its long history of cosmopolitanism. Home to an estimated 20 million Cairenes, the city center, eastward of the Nile, dates to the 1st millennium AD, but has since spread westward across the great river as far as Giza, where the world's largest pyramids are silhouetted against the Sahara, stood sentry over by the enigmatic Sphinx. The Giza Pyramids are undoubtedly Cairo's top attraction, but its also worth investigating more outlying sites such as the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and Red Pyramid at Dahshur. No less essential is a visit to the ...

Cairo is arguably Africa's greatest city, with a strong Mediterranean and Arabian feel betraying its long history of cosmopolitanism. Home to an estimated 20 million Cairenes, the city center, eastward of the Nile, dates to the 1st millennium AD, but has since spread westward across the great river as far as Giza, where the world's largest pyramids are silhouetted against the Sahara, stood sentry over by the enigmatic Sphinx. The Giza Pyramids are undoubtedly Cairo's top attraction, but its also worth investigating more outlying sites such as the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and Red Pyramid at Dahshur. No less essential is a visit to the magnificent Egyptian Museum, which houses an incredible array of Pharaonic treasures including the golden mask of Tutankhamun and numerous mummies and statues. Though it can be dauntingly chaotic on first contact, modern Cairo is a vibrant and largely unthreatening city that will prove highly rewarding to travelers who enjoy random urban exploration. It's worth dedicating a day to the area known as Islamic Cairo, where numerous medieval mosques, colorful street markets and sleepy coffee shops are towered over by the impressive 19th century hilltop Citadel built by Mohammed Ali. Another fascinating area is the Coptic quarter, which houses the country's oldest extant church and synagogue, and is almost entirely Christian despite its Arabic feel.

About the Expert

Philip Briggs has written or contributed to 50-plus editions of Bradt, Insight, AA and Berlitz guidebooks to African destinations.