YOUR GUIDE TO CAIRO, EGYPT
SET ON THE NILE RIVER, Egypt’s sprawling capital juxtaposes ancient and new, with the Pyramids of Giza on one side and modern high-rises and department stores on the other. Between these extremes are other architectural monuments from Roman and Turkish times. The dynamic city also boasts the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world.
TOP THINGS TO SEE & DO
THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA: Constructed some 4,500 years ago, they are the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World remaining. The designations of the pyramids — Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure — correspond to the kings for whom they were built.
THE SPHINX: An iconic limestone statue of a reclining sphinx — a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. It is one of the world’s largest and oldest statues, the face of which is believed to represent the pharaoh Khafre.
THE MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES: Opened in 1902, the museum houses over 120,000 priceless artefacts, including the contents of Tutankhamen’s tomb, most of the mummies that have been discovered since the 19th century, sarcophagi, pottery and jewellery.
THE CAIRO CITADEL: Started by Saladin in 1176 as a fortification against the Crusaders, the Citadel was home to Egypt’s rulers for 700 years. Their legacy is a collection of three different mosques, several palaces and terraces that boast superb views of Cairo.
KHAN EL-KHALILI: A famous bazaar and souq where you can buy everything from silverware, gold artefacts and antiques to spices, stained-glass lamps and incense.
SAIL THE NILE: Board a traditional felucca sailboat to see Cairo from a whole new angle.
EXPLORE CAIRO ON THESE VIKING ITINERARIES
RIVER PHARAOHS & PYRAMIDS — 12 Days | Cairo to Cairo
OCEAN PASSAGE TO INDIA— 21 Days | Athens to Mumbai or v.v.
OCEAN VOYAGE OF MARCO POLO — 36 Days | Athens to Bangkok or v.v.