Highlights in Cairo
Founded on the site of Babylon, near the ruins of ancient Memphis, Cairo has been the largest city in Africa for centuries. Modern Cairo encompasses many former cities and their monuments: the pyramids of the pharaohs; early Christian monasteries and churches; Salah El Din's Citadel; and mosques of the Mamluke and Ottoman sultans. Five thousand years of culture are concentrated here.
Today's skyline mixes minarets and palm trees with art deco villas and multicolored neon - but you can still see the sunset over the Nile. Cairo has a unique atmosphere: both exciting and relaxed. The city pulses with life while the Nile flows out to the sea.
Pharaonic Cairo
The Great Pyramids & The Sphinx: One of the Seven Wonders of the World, King Cheops' pyramid was built c. 2650 BC.
Half Day Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids
Sakkara: The royal burial-ground during the Old Kingdom (2705-2155 BC). There are so many periods represented here that Sakkara could almost be a book, in whose pages the story of Egyptian Civilization through the Pharaonic Greek and Roman periods is told. Discoveries are still being made today.
Memphis: One of the oldest cities on earth, legendary Memphis was the capital of ancient Egypt throughout the Old Kingdom.
Full Day Giza Tour Program (Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis & Sakkara)
Full Day Sakkara & Memphis
The Mastabas of Mereruka, Ti and Path-Hotep: Carved and painted tombs vividly illustrate everyday life more than 5,000 years ago.
The Step Pyramid: The first proper pyramid, built for King Zoser in the 27th-century BC by the architect Imhotep
The Egyptian Museum: One of the world's most famous museums. The magnificent collection of antiques includes mummies, Sarcophagi and the fabulous treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb.
Full Day The Egyptian Museum & Citadel of Salah El Din
Full Day Egyptian Museum & Giza Pyramids
Coptic Cairo
The Hanging Church (al-Mu'allaqua): Originating in the 4th century, the hanging Church was built over the southern gate of the fortress of Babylon. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, its treasures include a 14th-century wall-painting of the Nativity.
Church of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus: A 5th-century basilica, built over a crypt where the Holy family were believed to have stayed during their flight into Egypt.
Church of St. Mercurius: A unique collection of Coptic art including 175 icons representing scenes from the Old and New Testaments wall paintings, etchings and stained glass.
The Convent of St. George: In the oldest part of Cairo, the chapel is reached through a ratimid hallway and contains the relics of St. George in a cedar wood casket
Half Day Old (Coptic) Cairo
Islamic Cairo
The Citadel of Salah Al-Din: Built between 1176 and 1182 AD, the Citadel fortress provides a panoramic view of Cairo from the Moqattam Hills. "...the living world spread out close beneath one's feet. " The Citadel complex includes the Alabaster Mosque.
Amr Ibn Al as Mosque: The first mosque built in Egypt and the fourth in the whole world (21 H.-642 A.D.) by Amr Ibn as north of Babylon fortress. Its marble pillars are of different styles.
The Mosque and Madrassa of Sultan Hassan: A masterpiece of Mamluke architecture it includes bronze doors inlaid with gold and silver, marble paneling, and a fountain that used to run with sherbet on special occasions.
The Qalawun. Al-Nasir Barquq complex: A medieval complex of mosques, mausoleums and madrassas built by three Mamluke sultans.
Al-Azhar mosque: The first Fatimid mosque and the oldest Islamic University in the world, founded in 970 AD.
Bab Zuwayla: Part of the city's fortifications, the gate dates from 1092 AD and was formerly a place of public execution, crowned by the heads of criminals on spikes. Minarets were added to the towers in the fifteenth century.
The Blue Mosque (Mosque of Aqsunqur): Famous for the indigo and turquoise tiles that decorate the interior.
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun: Built between 876 and 879 AD in the classical courtyard style this is Cairo's oldest, intact mosque, still in use today.
Gayer Anderson House: the Ottoman-style residence of an eccentric British major restored and furnished in period style and filled with his collection of Islamic art.
The Islamic Museum: Includes works of art from all over the Islamic world, ranging from large architectural pieces rescued from mosques to ceramics, manuscripts and tapestries
Modern Cairo
Cairo Tower: One of the most recent landmarks in Cairo in the center if Gezeriah. It is 187 meters high plus 2 stories with a revolving restaurant and cafeteria. The rooftop provides a panoramic view of all of Cairo through telescopes.
The Pharonic Village: A panorama reflecting aspects of ancient Egyptian life. Visitors can take a Nile cruise among the trees, birds and displays to witness the ancient Egyptians at work.
The Cairo Zoo: Established in 1890, it contains a large species of animals, birds, and exotic plants and trees.
Papyrus Institute: It contains important paintings on papyrus. It is situated in the middle of a garden on the Nile bank in Giza.
Khan El Khalili Bazaar: A bazaar largely unchanged since the 14th century. All the bounty of the East is here: spices, perfumes, gold, silver, rugs, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and more.
Cairo Day Tours:
Half Day Manial Palace & Cairo Tower
Sailing Trip on the Nile River
Full Day Tanis & The Suez Canal area
Bus Tour Cairo by night
Cruise Dinner with show
Full Day Pharonic Village & Khan El Khalili Bazaar
Over Day to Alexandria (Greco-Roman Museum, Roman Amphitheatre, Catacombs of
Kom Shoqafa)
Full Day Oasis of Fayoum
Full Day Pyramids of Dahshour
Over Day trip to Luxor by Air
Half Islamic Tours (El Azhar University, Islamic Museum, & Mosques)
Half Day Gates & House of Fatimad
Full Day Memphis Sakkara & Dahshour
Full Day Beni Hassan
Full Day Tell Amarna, Ashmounein, & Touna El Gebel
For more information contact K.T. Travel at