Book Olympic Air Flights to Cairo from €74*

Worth Visiting

Egyptian Museum. On the north side of Tahrir square, you will find a pink 19th century building that houses one of the most significant collections of antiquities in the world, and certainly the most prominent one of Egyptian antiquities. More than 100,000 artefacts crammed in its every inch: Statues of Akhenaten, Thoth and the bust of Nefertiti, the mummy of Ramesses the Great and of course the immeasurable Tutankhamun treasures accompanying the 18-year-old king to his trip to eternity, as well as the Fayum mummy portraits - panels of the dead painted during the Roman occupation of Egypt.

The Pyramids of Giza. You can’t miss visiting the Giza pyramids - the sole survivors of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and still today shrouded in mystery! The three pyramids were built by the ancient Egyptians commissioned by their Pharaohs to be the final resting places of Cheops (or Khufu), Chefren (or Khafra) and Mykerinos (or Menkaure). On the fringes of the pyramids is the nearby colossal Sphinx, carved from one single block of rock, guarding over them. For 4,000 years, the pyramids have stood proudly in the Giza Plateau, displaying their unique shape and perfect geometry. The best time of day to visit them is in the afternoon and you can stay until night time to admire the view of the Pyramids in the moonlight. The more adventurous can wander through the wider plateau that is littered with ancient graves, temple ruins and, smaller pyramids.

Khan el-Khalili bazaar. In the heart of Islamic Cairo, the part of the city protected by UNESCO, a huge market consisting of 900 stores has been operating for seven centuries. This medieval mall has countless shops selling spices and sweets, textiles and tunics, soaps and perfumes, whose savvy vendors will do their utmost to convince you to buy something. Don’t forget to use your best bartering skills!

Mosques. Two highlights not to be missed as you stroll through Islamic Cairo are: The Sultan Hassan, a massive, but elegant, 14th-century mosque that is the most important architectural monument of the Mamluk dynasty. It houses an Islamic theological school and impressive mausoleum. At the heart of the newest part of the city you will find its oldest mosque, built in 970 AD, the Al-Azhar whose sheikh is the most powerful religious man among Egypt's Muslims. Its many additions over its long lifetime have created an extremely interesting architectural blend. Don’t miss seeing the very elegant inner courtyard. In Al-Azhar, there is a Theological School that is also one of the oldest universities in the world.

Al-Azhar Park. In an area that had been full of rubbish for decades, in 2005, an extraordinary park was miraculously created - the only one in Cairo. An oasis in the city, with fountains, trees, artificial lakes, huge lawns where families go picnicking on weekends and some perfect views of the city.

Cairo Tower. The 187-metre high tower is considered the city’s most famous attraction after the Giza Pyramids. Standing on the banks of the Nile it affords perfect views of the city and Giza, especially in the afternoon.

Coptic Cairo. Don’t miss visiting Coptic Cairo, which is without doubt the most beautiful part of old Cairo. Essentially, it is what is left of ancient Babylon, a work of the Romans, with stone alleyways. The ancient walls surround the worship of three religions. They are represented by the imposing mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas, the first mosque built in Egypt in the 7th century AD, the Greek Orthodox monastery of Agios Georgios (Saint George), and the famous Coptic Hanging Church, built on the ancient Roman aqueduct and which has been operating continuously since the 9th century (or, according to some since, the 7th) until today. Its impressive interior rests on 13 pillars symbolizing Christ and his 12 apostles. In the Coptic compound, you will find the Coptic museum, which dates back to the start of the 20th century and houses Coptic art from the Greco-Roman times to the Islamic era.

Nile River banks. One of the city’s major tourist attractions, at night the Nile takes on a glamorous look when the lights reflect in its waters. Enjoy a romantic sunset boat trip on a felucca. At the centre of the river is the islet of Gezira, a green oasis that you can reach via the Qasr al-Nil Bridge. It houses the famous Cairo Opera House, the National Museum of Egyptian Modern Art and the luxurious hotel that was once the palace of the Muhammad Ali dynasty.

Saladin Fortress. At the east end of the city stands the Citadel, an amazing medieval fortress built in the 12th century as a defence against pirate raids. It was home to Egyptian rulers for over 700 years. Inside the fortifications you will see three mosques, palaces, towers, gardens. Admire the panorama of the vast city of the Nile from its magnificent galleries.

Midan Tahrir Square. It is not so much its appearance, as its recent history that has brought it to the forefront of world attention as the place where the Arab Spring bomb went off. Dozens of streets end up in the square, creating a traffic jam, with the Egyptian Museum building offering the only respite.

Excursions near Cairo

Alexandria. With the Greeks having played such an important role in the development of the city, from classical antiquity to the 20th century, this is the prime destination you should visit if Cairo is your base. Although the Greek community is now very small, the city lauded by Cavafy will not fail to attract you with its monumental Library, the Greek buildings of interest, the Cavafy Museum, the ruins of the ancient city, the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and the port dominated by the Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Luxor. City or open-air museum? In southern Egypt, in the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes, and tribute city to Amon Ra, you can see some colossal monuments: The complexes of the Luxor and Karnak temples, The Necropolis of Thebes, and the Valley of the Kings and Queens, that were excavated in the 19th century and will leave you speechless.

Aswan. On the east bank of the Nile, is the gate of the ancient kingdom of Upper Egypt. A city of exotic beauty that has assimilated the traces of colonialism. Walk along the Corniche, Aswan’s seafront promenade, and enter Sharia as-Souq, an atmospheric market with Nubian folk art. It is worth visiting the ‘Tombs of the Nobles’’ the high officials of the ancient city at Qubbet el-Hawa, the mausoleum of Aga Khan and the historical monastery of Saint Simeon, founded in the 7th century. To the north of the city, is the Temple of Edfu, built in the Ptolemaic era and dedicated to the fair-skinned god Horus, king of the Upper World. Don’t miss the top monument of Pharaonic Egypt, Abu Simbel, work of Pharaoh Ramesses II. It is made up of four, 20-metre tall, seated colossi depicting the king on his throne.

Sharm El Sheikh. Egypt's port on the Red Sea has evolved from a fishing village into a popular holiday destination since it borders with Ras Mohammed National Park, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

Food and Entertainment

Egyptian cuisine has its roots in ancient recipes going back to the Pharaoh era and is heavily influenced by the culinary traditions of Lebanon, Turkey and Persia. A favourite snack, as well as main course, for the locals is falafel, a fried patty from dried broad beans and spice mix. Cairo street food (pay attention to the hygiene standards) is dominated by thin pitta bread filled with bean puree, as well as vegetables stuffed with meat, rice and herbs.

Hotels - which also have beautiful roof gardens - mainly offer European and American menus.

At El-Khalili Market, the cafés, in addition to hookahs, serve tea and snacks (roasted sweet potatoes on embers) but it is the festive atmosphere there that makes it most worth your visit.

Along the Nile, you will encounter another world. The night cruises on brightly-lit river boats or romantic floating restaurants show a different side of Cairo. On tour boat cruises, dinner is often accompanied by a belly dancing show. In western Cairo, the Zamalek district exudes a wealth of lost aristocracy. Its exotic atmosphere is defined by international cuisines and cosmopolitan restaurants presenting local recipes with a twist.

On another scale, you are bound to love a night at the Cairo opera house.

Transport from the airport to Cairo

Cairo International Airport in the Heliopolis district is located 18 kilometres north east of the city centre. The easiest way to get there is to book a seat on one of the mini-buses that take up to seven passengers. If you chose to get a taxi, prefer the white or yellow ones that have a meter, and if you get an older black and white taxi, make sure you agree the fare in advance. Finally, if you prefer a more luxurious way of getting to the city, limousines are available outside the airport terminals.