The best of Cairo as told by locals
Uber loves Cairo, locals love Cairo… So we asked some of them for their top tips on what to see and do in the city. From food to mosques and parks to the Pyramids, here’s a selection of the best of Cairo… as told by locals.
Al Azhar Park – by Mostafa
Cairo doesn’t have many green spaces, so the gardens and waterways here make a welcome oasis for everyone. The park is open 24 hours, and has good views over the heart of ancient Cairo, with sights such as the great Mosque of Muhammad Ali. I love eating in one of the cafés and restaurants while watching the sunset.
www.azharpark.com/
Pyramids of Giza – by Kamiliah
Surprisingly close (only 13km) to the city, these Ancient Wonders are unmissable for any first-time Cairo visitor. I can still remember the first time I braved the passages of the Pyramid of Cheops (Great Pyramid). Emerging back out into daylight, you then have to join millions of other visitors through centuries in contemplation of the enigmatic Sphinx.
Grand Egyptian Museum – by Nour
The gold mask of Tutankhamen may be the world’s most famous archaeological artifact, but to date, only a fraction of the other discoveries from the tombs of the pharaohs have been on display in the old Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square. That will change with the opening during 2018 of this amazing new site, costing US$550m and overlooking the pyramids at Giza, with some 50,000 artifacts on show.
http://gem.gov.eg/
Salah El Din Citadel – by Rashida
Cairo’s Citadel is more than a thousand years old but its high walls still dominate the historic city, making for a great spot to take photos. It is home to three interesting museums and three mosques (don’t miss the Mosque of Muhammad Ali) and, with no cars allowed inside, is a peaceful place to escape the bustle of the modern city.
Masjid al-Sultan Hasan – by Omar
Sitting on Midan Salah ad-Din, just below the Citadel, this mosque has the highest minaret in Cairo, at 81.6 meters, and is also one of the largest in the world. It is truly beautiful in its architecture and calligraphy, with a lovely ablution courtyard. Each corner holds a madrasa once dedicated to teaching one of the four schools of Muslim religious jurisprudence (Fiqh).
Al-Azhar Mosque – by Heba
One of Cairo’s oldest mosques – more than 1,000 years old – stands beside one of the world’s oldest universities. Al-Azhar is recognized as Islam’s leading theological center but also offers subjects such as engineering or medicine to 90,000 male and female students. With five minarets and a vast prayer hall, the mosque is a study in the history of Islamic architecture.
Khan el-Khalili – by Sufia
Standing opposite Al-Azhar Mosque, and beside Sayyidna El-Hussein Mosque, this souq is filled with metal workers, weavers and other traditional craftsmen supplying the shops lining its many alleyways. This is the place for souvenirs, Egyptian cotton or a gold or silver heirloom. Orientate yourself on the main Al-Muski Street – or just sit in one of the tiny coffee houses and enjoy the passing show.
Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo) – by Nour
Dotted with old churches and Christian graveyards, this area of narrow lanes dates back to Roman times and beyond. Study the Coptic architecture of the Hanging Church (its name comes from being built over the Roman gates) and the art in the Coptic Museum. The Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus is where the infant Jesus and his family are said to have hidden from King Herod.
Gezira – by Layla
Use the 187-meter-high Cairo Tower as a landmark to find your way to this island in the Nile with its arty Zamalek district. The many Belle Époque mansions are a backdrop to trendy boutiques, galleries, and many fashionable restaurants. I also enjoy the changing exhibitions in the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art and the Palace of Arts. See it all from the tower’s observation deck.
Koshary Abou Tarek – by Eslam
The best thing about Cairo may be its food, so don’t leave without trying the koshary at this famous restaurant. They only make this one dish – a mix of rice, pasta and lentils topped with spicy tomato, chickpeas, onion and garlic sauce – but it is so popular that the restaurant runs to five floors. Pour on lashings of hot sauce and enjoy.
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