PlanoPlanoCairo is a city of overwhelming scale and archaeological density, where 5,000 years of civilisation unfold from the Pyramids to the medieval mosques of Islamic Cairo. Things to do in Cairo extend from the world's greatest ancient monuments to vibrant street food culture, Nile-side promenades, and bazaars that have operated continuously for centuries.
Read the full Cairo travel guide →5 days
October, November, December
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Grand Egyptian Museum
The new museum at the foot of the Giza Plateau is the largest archaeological museum in the world, housing 100,000 artefacts including the complete Tutankhamun collection.
Museum of Islamic Art
One of the world's most comprehensive collections of Islamic art, reopened in 2014 after restoration, with textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy spanning 1,300 years.
Saqqara Step Pyramid complex
The oldest stone structure in the world, built for Pharaoh Djoser around 2650 BCE, sits 30 km south of Cairo and includes recently opened burial chambers with painted walls.
Ful medames breakfast
Egypt's national dish of slow-cooked fava beans with oil, lemon, and cumin is served from street carts across downtown Cairo from dawn, often with ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel).
Al-Azhar Park
A 30-hectare park built on a medieval rubble mound that offers green space, formal gardens, and panoramic views over Islamic Cairo's minarets and the Citadel.
Downtown Cairo (Wust El Balad)
The Khedival-era city centre between Tahrir Square and Ramses Station has Belle Epoque architecture, Art Deco cinemas, bookshops, and cafes where intellectuals have debated since the 1920s.
Zamalek island neighbourhood
The Nile island district south of the Cairo Tower has the best independent galleries, boutique hotels, and fine-dining restaurants in the city, with a quieter pace than downtown.
Alexandria day trip
Egypt's Mediterranean port city, 2.5 hours north by train, has the modernist Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Qaitbay Citadel, and Greek-era catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.
Khan El-Khalili copper and perfume alleys
Beyond the main tourist stalls, the deeper lanes of the medieval bazaar specialise in hand-hammered copperware, attar perfume oils, and Islamic bookbinding.
Cairo Jazz Club
The leading live music venue in Agouza has hosted Egyptian and international jazz, blues, and alternative acts since 2001, with shows starting at 22:00 most nights.
The best months to enjoy things to do in Cairo are October, November, December, February, March. Plan around these months for the best weather and fewer crowds.
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