Cairo and Giza

Cairo and Giza

Resting on both banks of the River Nile, Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. Cairo has been inhabited for over 6,000 years and has served as the capital of numerous Egyptian civilizations. At the heart of the city is Tahrir Square, a busy tourist hub which features the world-renowned Egyptian Museum displaying an array of antiquities including royal mummies and gilded King Tutankhamun artifacts. Cosmopolitan Cairo is certainly not lacking in modern attractions. Visitors can get to know the locals at boisterous Baladi bars, enjoy excellent shopping at the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, watch the sunset from the impressive Cairo Tower, or catch a show at the stately Cairo Opera House.

Giza, while technically a separate administrative district, is part of the sprawling urban city of Cairo. The area is most famous as the location of the Giza Plateau: the site of some of the most impressive ancient monuments in the world. Although there are over a hundred pyramids in Egypt, by far the most famous are the Pyramids at Giza. During the Greek and Roman eras, they were marveled at as the first of the Seven Wonders of the World, and they still exert a powerful fascination, both as an extraordinary technical achievement and as a demonstration of the might, power, and ambition of Egypt’s pharaonic rulers. No tour of Egypt would be complete without a visit to this extraordinary site, and perhaps a photo op atop a camel, which has inspired the most fantastic legends since ancient times and continues to fascinate and inspire visitors.

Traffic can be an issue in Cairo so one of our top recommendations is to divide your stay between Cairo and Giza so you are based closest to the sites in each.

Our favorite accommodation in Cairo and Giza

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