The capital of Egypt, Cairo means “conqueror”, which explains why it’s the biggest city in the Arab world and in the African continent. Situated on the margins and islands of the River Nile, Cairo is the largest metropolis in Africa, with 19.5 million inhabitants (20.5, if we include the metropolitan area). Its dry climate produces very hot summers, while its winters are mild. In general, Cairo is very pleasant for tourist trips, both in the summer, when the weather is very dry and it hardly ever rains, and in the winter, when some heavier rainfalls sometimes occur.
With over 9 million tourists per year, the historical center of the “mother of all cities”, as the Egyptians call it, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
However, the main tourist attraction is found 20 kilometers away from the capital: The Giza Pyramids, an archeological site on the outskirts of Cairo, divided into three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids : the Cheops Pyramid Complex, the Chefren Pyramid Complex; and the Menkaure Pyramid Complex. The first one, Cheops, with over 2.5 million blocks of limestone, is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and held the sarcophagus of the pharaoh Cheops. Most of the items discovered there are kept in the Egyptian Museum, situated on Tahir Square, and it holds the world’s largest and most complex collection of articles from ancient Egypt. The Cairo National Cultural Center, on the other hand, is outstanding for its buildings dedicated to the most diverse artistic representations: especially opera, theater and dance, such as the Cairo Opera House, the Royal Opera House, and the Arabic Music Institute, for example. Outstanding also, are the Festival of Arabic Music, in November and the Cairo International Film Festival, one of the most important film festivals in the world, in December. In the commercial field, special notice must be given to the Khan El Khalili, a huge bazaar with thousands of small shops spread throughout its narrow streets. There, you can buy everything: clothes, spices, jewelry, and the best local cuisine.
Christian monuments to visit: The Hanging Church, built over the ruins of the Roman Babylon Fortress; the Saint Sergius Church, built over a cave where it is believed the Holy Family sheltered on their flight to Egypt; the Virgin’s Tree, where the Holy Family is believed to have rested; as well as the Church of the Virgin Mary.
Islamic monuments to visit: The Mosque of Muhammad Ali; the Mosque of Amr Ibn El Aas, the oldest in Egypt and in all of Africa; the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, the third most important in the country; the Al Aghar Mosque; and the Mosque of Sultan Hassan.
