15 Ultimate Things to Do in Cairo

You could spend days exploring and getting to know Cairo, and still feel like you're not quite done!

We've listed some of the top activities to do in and around Cairo for those who need a few suggestions to help put together their Cairo itinerary, including some for more active travelers.

1. Ride a Camel (at the Great Pyramids)

Pyramids of Giza: a must-see on any trip to Egypt

Perhaps not surprisingly, on the top of this list, a visit to Egypt and Cairo is not complete without riding a camel. You can do this at the Great Pyramids of Giza for the ultimate experience. Throughout Egypt, you'll find other locations at which you can ride a camel into the desert, for a ride of anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours into a desert camp, but a family picture of everyone on camels in front of the pyramids is something special!

2. Take a Selfie with the Sphinx of Giza

Sphinx of Giza

Who doesn't want to take a selfie with the Sphinx of Giza? This construction is perhaps one of the most recognizable monuments of Cairo, and is best visited alongside the Great Pyramids which are there too. The structure was built during the reign of Khafre (who ruled between approximately 2558 and 2532 BC), and had its nose broken off for unknown reasons between the 3rd and 10th centuries AD. The fact that it's still standing is pretty spectacular, which is why it is one of the most-visited tourist spots of Egypt. 

Read about The Top 10 Egyptian Monuments (From Pyramids to Temples)

1-Day Egypt Pyramids and Museums Tour

3. Go up the Cairo Tower

View of the Cairo Tower in the evening

To see Cairo from up high, we recommend going up to the Cairo Tower, the tallest structure in Egypt as well as North Africa. The Cairo Tower goes up for 187 meters (614 feet), and at the top, you can visit the bar or the restaurant. On a clear day you can even see all the way to the Pyramids of Giza, which is pretty unique. A visit at night is also worth it, because seeing Cairo all lit up is beautiful.

4. Haggle for Souvenirs in the Khan el-Khalili Market

A trip abroad is not complete without bringing home some souvenirs for friends and family, and there's no better place to get these than at Cairo's Khan el-Khalili Market, which has been around since the Mamluk era in the 1200s. It's a popular market for both tourists and locals, and is home to many Egyptian artisans and workshops. Don't forget to haggle, which is all part of the fun of shopping in Egypt!

Popular souvenirs include mini pyramids, traditional Egyptian fabrics, papyrus scrolls, or you can also find traditional Egyptian clothing to take home.

12-Day Best Egypt Tour with Sharm El Sheikh

5. Browse Ancient Egyptian Artefacts at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities is perhaps one of Cairo's best destinations, which has so many incredible treasures to explore under one roof. One of these is the mask found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, which you'll have undoubtedly heard of. That's not all though, and the artefacts you'll find at the museum can keep you busy all day!

6. Visit the Desert in a 4x4

Safari Tour through desert in a 4x4

Cairo is not far from the desert, and many tourists take a day trip out to the desert in a 4x4, which involves an off-road adventure along some beautiful and unique landscapes. If you want to, you can also drive to a desert camp and spend the evening in the desert for stargazing, a local dinner, and some entertainment.

7. Ride a Quad Bike in the Desert

Ride a Quad Bike In Desert

If you'd prefer to drive yourself in the desert, you can also hire quad bikes and take those out for your own little desert adventure, racing along the dunes. Your guide will take a group of you out there at once, so that you don't need to worry about getting lost!

8. Delve into the Cairo Citadel and its Museums

Cairo Citadel

The Citadel of Cairo is a medieval Islamic-era fortification, built by Salah al-Din in the 1100s originally. It was expanded and renovated in the 1300s and again in the 1800s, having been an important strategic point in Cairo for centuries. It is a really interesting sight to visit, and we recommend getting a tour guide so that you can take in the full historic importance of this building, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1976.

The citadel also contains four museums: the al-Gawhara Palace Museum, the Carriage Museum, the Egyptian Military Museum, and the Police Museum, making it a must-see for any history buff.

16-Day Grand Egypt Tour with White Desert

9. Swim Under Waterfalls at Wadi El Rayan

Waterfall in the Wadi El Rayan

For something a little off-the-beaten-path, we recommend a day trip to Wadi El Rayan, just outside of Cairo, which is an area of beautiful waterfalls in a national park. It's perhaps best known for the interesting contrast between the lake's blue water and the golden desert sand at the bottom of the waterfalls. If you want to, you can swim there, but even just the landscape is worth the trip, as it's so different from the stereotypical dry desert scenes you might associate with Cairo and Egypt.

Read about Egypt's Top 9 National Parks

10. Cruise Down the Nile River

Nile Cruise

Taking a boat trip on the Nile River is an ultimate must-do while you are in Egypt. Many tourists opt to go on a cruise down the Nile, which usually includes a dinner and sometimes a traditional belly-dancing show.

If you wanted to have a calmer and more private experience, you could also explore the Nile by felucca, a traditional wooden Egyptian sailboat. Usually about 10 passengers fit on these, as well as 2 to 3 crew members. Taking a ride down the Nile at sunset is a unique experience, and Cairo is a great place to do this from.

9-Day Essential Egypt Tour with Nile Cruise

11. Kayak Down the Nile River

For those who want a more adventurous Nile River experience, it is possible to rent kayaks to take down the Nile for an interesting paddle. This is usually done in a tour group, with the tour guide sharing interesting facts about Cairo and the Nile as you're on your journey. It's perfect for the active traveler as its quite the workout for the arms!

12. Catch a Show at the Cairo Opera House

Cairo Opera House in evening lights

If you and your family like music, the Cairo Opera House is a great stop during your time in Cairo, and a wonderful way to learn more about Egyptian music.

Shows range from the Cairo Symphony Orchestra to performances by the Egyptian National Theater or even international ballet groups. The structure itself is also worth a visit, built as a gift from Japan in 1983.

More about Things to Do in Cairo at Night

13. Sample Egyptian Dishes

Egyptian Breakfast Dish: Foul Medamas

You learn a lot about a country through its food, and Egypt has some delicious and special dishes to try! We recommend sampling koshary, a mixture of rice, macaroni, chickpeas and boiled brown lentils, or foul medames, a popular breakfast stew made of fava beans (which are very popular in Egyptian cuisine) mixed with cumin, lemon, oil, pepper, salt, parsley and onion. This stew is also often served in an Egyptian flatbread, or alongside taameya, Egyptian-style falafel.

You can find stalls and restaurants selling these foods along Muizz Street (which you'll read about below), or at the Khan el-Khalili Market, as well as throughout Cairo.

More anbout The Best Egyptian Foods and Dishes You Have to Try

14. Explore Islamic Architecture at Muizz Street

In the center of historic Cairo, Muizz Street, also known as Al-Muizz il-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street, is where you will find the most famous Islamic buildings in Cairo, from mosques to other monuments. We recommend visiting with a tour guide to make the most of your visit there, as it will help give you background on what each of the buildings are and what makes them special.

Those to visit include the Mosque of Al Kakim bi Air Allah, as well as the Mosque of al-Aqmar and the famous Mosque of Sulamayan Agha al-Silahdar. A visit there will help you learn more about traditional Islamic architecture in Egypt, and it's a great place to do some shopping and get a local dinner.

15. Learn about Egyptian Art in Zamalek

Zamalek, an affluent district in Cairo well known for its embassies and art museums, is a good place to go to discover more about Egyptian art and artists. You can visit the Mahmoud Mukhtar Museum, the Islamic Ceramics Museum, the Farouk Hosny Museum, or enjoy modern Egyptian art in the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art.

There is truly something for everyone, and you can round off your day with a visit to the Cairo Tower (No.2 above), which is located in Zamalek too.

More about How to Plan a Trip to Zamalek Cairo