History · Cairo · Egypt
8 historic sites to see in Cairo
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Start with Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 16–19 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 16–19 hours
- Areas
- Giza, Fustat and Islamic Cairo
Historic sites in Cairo
Historic site · Giza
1.Pyramids of Giza
You can walk around the bases, enter the Great Pyramid's narrow passages with an extra ticket, and see all three together from the panoramic viewpoint to the south-west.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Views
Landmark · Giza
2.Great Sphinx
The terrace beside Khafre's Valley Temple, built of massive granite blocks, gives the classic view with a pyramid behind.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Photo spot
- After dark
Museum · Giza
3.Grand Egyptian Museum
A colossal statue of Ramesses II stands in the atrium, a grand staircase lined with royal statues climbs to the main galleries, and the complete treasure of Tutankhamun is displayed together for the first time.
- Time needed
- 4–5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Fustat
4.National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Beside the Ain el-Sira lake in Fustat, NMEC tells Egypt's story from prehistory to the present, and its dimly lit Royal Mummies Hall holds the mummies of rulers such as Ramesses II and Hatshepsut, moved here in a televised parade in 2021.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Religious site · Islamic Cairo
5.Al-Azhar Mosque
Its white marble courtyard is framed by arcades and minarets from several dynasties, and visitors are welcome outside prayer times.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
.jpg){kind=link}
Castle · Citadel
6.Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque
Its skyline is dominated by the Ottoman-style Mosque of Muhammad Ali, clad in alabaster and built from the 1830s, and the terraces look across Cairo's minarets towards the pyramids on clear days.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
_-_Egypt-13A-061_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Citadel
7.Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
Opposite stands the Al-Rifa'i Mosque, completed in 1912, which holds tombs of members of Egypt's former royal family.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Downtown
8.Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)
With Tutankhamun's treasures moved to the GEM it is quieter, and its crowded galleries feel like a museum of a museum.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Giza | Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum | 3–4 hours + 1 hour + 4–5 hours |
| Fustat | National Museum of Egyptian Civilization | 2 hours |
| Islamic Cairo | Al-Azhar Mosque | 45 minutes |
| Citadel | Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque and Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan | 2 hours + 1 hour |
| Downtown | Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 1 low cost, 5 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Pyramids of Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum. The longest visit is Grand Egyptian Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Pyramids of Giza: Tickets for the Great Pyramid's interior are limited and sold separately from plateau entry; buy them early in the day or online.
- Grand Egyptian Museum: Buy timed tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and the winter high season.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Giza): Pyramids of Giza → Great Sphinx, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Giza): Grand Egyptian Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Fustat and Islamic Cairo): National Museum of Egyptian Civilization → Al-Azhar Mosque, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Citadel): Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque → Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Downtown): Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot by midday, so sightsee early; prices fall as the high season ends.
- June: highs of 34°C (93°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot and dry with long, bright days; plan outdoor sights for early morning and museums for midday.
- July: highs of 35°C (95°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. One of the hottest months, with highs of 35°C or more; visitors from the Gulf arrive, but Western tourism is low.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown — Belle-époque boulevards, Tahrir Square and budget hotels
- Giza Pyramids area — Hotels with pyramid views on the edge of the desert plateau
- Islamic Cairo — Medieval mosques, minarets and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar
More of Cairo
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Cairo?
Pyramids of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Khufu, built about 4,500 years ago and the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, stands with the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and smaller queens' pyramids on the desert plateau west of the Nile.
+Which of these are free in Cairo?
Al-Azhar Mosque.