Cairo, Egypt

Cairo offers its visitors an incredible selection of shopping leisure, culture and attractions. Modern Cairo encompasses many former cities and their monuments; in fact the site of the city can be traced back to 4225 BC. But most visitors come to experience the spectacular monuments of ancient Egyptian culture. Cairo is world renowned for being the "jewel of the Nile." This description is not very far from the truth, for Cairo presents their visitors with an experience to remember.

Cairo is a mix of people, buses, animal carts, music, fragrances and sand whirls. At the heart of the city is the ever-busy Tahrir Square. On the north side visitors can peruse the Egyptian Museum, and south is Old Cairo, the oldest Islamic and Christian part of the city. Old Cairo features he famous Khan el Khalili Bazaar and the Citadel. The great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Luxor and Abu-Simbel are all must see attractions. Visitors interested in a shopping excursion should make sure to stroll down to Talat Harb Street, one of Cairo's major commercial outlets. When you need a break from hustle and bustle of Cairo's dynamic city, try a round of golf on the famous Mena House. The Mena House features golf courses that overlook the Pyramids. Nile cruises; snorkeling and scuba diving in the Red Sea are also available for those wishing to leave dry land! For a thrilling afternoon be sure to stop by the Gezira Club and watch the horse races. Another site that will literally lift your spirits is Cairo Tower, a modern 187 meter-high tower with excellent views of the city. The Tower is provides a scenic view of the entire city. The rooftop of the Tower showcases a revolving restaurant.

Cairo comes alive at night! The best time to shop, eat, and just relax is after the sun has gone down over Cairo. There are many restaurants that specialize in Middle Eastern and international cuisine. The streets are also paved with quaint cafes. For a truly unique dining experience, visitors can dine in a floating restaurant on the Nile! Cairo is a city that seems to never sleep, everything from the streets to the shops in Cairo throb with life and activity.

Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue
The Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue is one of Cairo's great hidden treasures. The synagogue features an interior of exquisite stained-glass windows that are believed to be from the 1900'sThe Jewish community sought refuge in Egypt, where they were regarded and protected as People of the Book.

Coptic Museum
Shara Mari Girgis
02-841-766
The museum features the largest collection of Coptic Christian artwork in Cairo. Dedicated to preserving the ancient trails of Christianity I Egypt. The museum features work from over a half millennium. The collections include pieces with a late-pharaonic/Greco-Roman style.

Egyptian Antiquities Museum
al-Mathaf al-Masri Maydan Tahrir
02-754-319
The world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts can be found within the walls of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum. Housing more than 100,000 items, you will have to be selective as to what exhibits you will tour. Two-hour tours are available and are led by official museum guides.

Gayer-Anderson Museum
4 Maydan Ibn Tulun
02-364-7822
Also known as Bayt al-Kiritliya, the structure of the museums made up of two Ottoman houses joined together. It is a grand representation of Ottoman buildings. 18th-century merchant life is depicted in the museum. After spending some time in the museum, you will feel as if you have been transported to a different era.

Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
Maydan Salah al-Di
Built by the Mamluk ruler Sultan Hassan, this mosque is world-renowned as one of the largest Islamic religious buildings. It is said that the stones surrounding the Mosque actually came from the pyramids at Giza. A topic of controversy among Muslims is the location of the mausoleum. The position of the mausoleum inadvertinly forces worshipers, who come to pray, to bow before the tomb of the sultan.

Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Shara Tulun Bay
Built in 879 by Ahmad Ibn Tulun this is only one of Tulun＊s building projects. He also set up to build a new city, al-Qata'i, northwest of al-Fustat and al-Askar. Although extraordinary in its assortment of fine palaces, gardens 每 however, all that stands is the Mosque.

Museum of Islamic Arts
Countering the Coptic Museum, the Museum of Islamic Arts possesses the rarest and most extensive collection of Islamic art in the world. The collection focuses mainly on Egyptian artifacts, but there are also many exhibits that feature other Islamic world objects. One of the most unique and ancient objects found in the museum is the said to be the earliest Muslim tombstones (dating back to 635).

The Hanging Church
Shara Mari Girgis
Consecrated to the Blessed Virgin sometime in the 9th century. The church was originally placed upon the gatehouse of the Roman fortress. It is perhaps one of Cairo＊s most impressive churches. Inside the church there is a marble pulpit that is considered one of he oldest existing pulpit in not only Cairo, but also Egypt.

The Khan
Since the end of the 14th century, the Khan has remained the most vital for commercial activity in Cairo. Winding streets and narrow passageways make up this shopping extravaganza. Bazaar, vendors, and small shops make up the setting of this district. Just about everything from carpets to perfumes to spices is sold her.

Child Museum
Science, technology, imagination, history all make up this incredible world for kids. The "Discovery Hall" is one section of the Activity Center. It features activities in which children can discover different elements from the environment, such as precious stones, fossils and shells. Next comes the "Handicrafts and Arts Hall. It displays the ancient artesanies and various crafts, such as drawing on wood or leather with paint and water colors, weaving on carpet looms, or painting on glass and cardboard. The "Know yourself" division allows children to investigate skeletons and the internal human body parts.

The Museum Park
The park surrounding the Child Museum flows with an abundance of trees and plant species. Information on every species is posted for children to read and compare as they tour the park. A Bird watching tour is also available. Here children can observe birds in their natural environment through the use of binoculars. Magnifying glasses are also used in a tour for children to observe the behavior of ants, bees and other insects.

Cairo Tower
Rising 187m above Gezira Cairo Tower offers a stupendous view of the pulsating city. Catch a panoramic vista of Cairo!

The Bent Pyramid
What makes this pyramid unique is that it rises more steeply (54.3～) than the Red
Pyramid or Giza pyramids. The explanation for its shape is unknown. Another puzzling fact is the two entrances, one on its west side as well as the more conventional one in its north face. Again, the reason is unknown 每 perhaps another mystery to solve!

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