24 Best Sights in Cairo, Egypt

Named after the architect of the Djoser step pyramid, this relatively small but superb museum brings Saqqara to life, with well-lit artifacts and exhibits that provide background on ancient Egyptian architecture, politics, and religion. Highlights of the collection include a statue of a seated Djoser, the Old Kingdom pharaoh who reigned from approximately 2686 to 2648 BC; a bronze statuette of Imhotep; a Ptolemaic mummy discovered by Zahi Hawass, who is considered Egypt's version of Indiana Jones; the enigmatic "famine" stela; and a set of vibrant blue and turquoise faience tiles that once decorated the interior of Djoser’s Pyramid. Note, though, that this museum has experienced temporary closures; keep your fingers crossed that it's open during your visit as it's well worth your time.

The quest for immortality is tangible at what is considered Egypt's first pyramid, so old that it was a great attraction even in antiquity: as the graffiti attests, people came here as tourists and seekers of blessings as early as the Middle Kingdom (2130–1649 BC), if not earlier. It was designed by Imhotep—a great architect who would, in time, become deified and worshiped as the patron god of architects and doctors—for the 3rd Dynasty pharaoh, Djoser, who reigned from approximately 2650 to 2575 BC. Although not much is known about this ruler, Egyptologists surmise that he sent expeditions to Sinai to mine copper and turquoise.

The Step Pyramid was ingeniously erected as a single-level mastaba tomb prior to ending up a a six-step pyramid. It was the predecessor of the "true" pyramid forms, which, like those in Giza have smooth sides. Its interior is a logistical wonder, with almost 6 km (3.5 miles) of passageways and tunnels, as well as chambers. The simple mortuary temple attached to the pyramid is to the north rather than to the east. Djoser also reserved a spot for an Egyptian alabaster sarcophagi belonging to his daughters. After earthquakes destabilized the pyramid, making its interior unsafe, Egyptian authorities embarked on a 14-year, restoration that was completed in 2020 and that cost nearly US$6.6-million.

This small village overlooking Qarun Lake is often referred to as Eastern Switzerland. Evelyne Porret, a Swiss potter, moved to the village in the 1980s and established a pottery school that is still open today. With it, she transformed the villagers’ lives. The school, along with a country house, formed a compound that became the center of the town. Today, Tunis Village is home to the workshops of some of the country’s best potters, as well as some eco-lodges and contemporary restaurants.

There are no grandiose temples or legends of conquests here. Instead, you stand in the desert expanse alongside 40-million-year-old whale skeletons. Wadi al-Hitan, or Valley of the Whales, is home to the earliest prehistoric fossils ever discovered. It provides a glimpse of the land before Egypt ever was. The desert sand is littered with invaluable fossils that tell an evolutionary story.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site located 24 miles (40 km) into the Fayyum desert is best accessed in a private four-wheel-drive vehicle and with a guide who knows the terrain. The on-site Wadi Hitan Fossil & Climate Change Museum explains the geological and paleontological significance of this protected area through a display of fossils and a short documentary. Although named after the whale remains on the site, Wadi al-Hitan is also flush with the remains of other ancient sea creatures including sharks, crocodiles, and turtles. As it's far from the lights of the city, this protected area is sometimes used as a camping site for stargazing trips.

The first constructed and northernmost of the pyramids in the Abu Sir region, Sahure's Pyramid covers 24 square meters (257 square feet) and is 47 meters (154 feet) tall. It and its surrounding structures comprise a fine example of a 5th-Dynasty royal funerary complex. Alas, this pyramid's poor-quality core masonry collapsed after the Tura limestone casing stones were removed, so it's in rough shape. Its mortuary temple, however, retains some ancient grandeur, with granite pillars, stairs leading to a now nonexistent second floor, and fine basalt pavement. The causeway linking the pyramid and the valley temple was once decorated with finely carved scenes (now removed from the site) showing archery and fighting. There is much less left of the valley temple itself: a pavement, some doorways, and a scattering of fallen blocks.

At 32 square meters (344 square feet) and an original height of 70 meters (229 feet), Neferirkare's Pyramid is the site's largest. The complex in which it's set was meant to be larger than that of Sahure, but Neferirkare (2477–2467 BC) died prior to its completion, leaving him with only the pyramid and a mortuary temple that was posthumously finished using mud brick rather than limestone or granite. The causeway and valley temple were usurped, completed, and appended to the 25-square-meter (265-square-foot) Nyuserre's Pyramid belonging to Neferirkare's son, who was pharaoh for 30 years. Although it once stood 52 meters (169 feet) tall, not much is left of this pyramid, as its casing stones were removed, and some of its limestone core was used to create lime in the 19th century.

Between the Sahure and Nyuserre pyramids lies the large family Mastaba of Ptahshepses, a vizier and son-in-law of Nyuserre. Although recently closed to the public, check on its status, and visit it if you can. The structure's walls are richly carved with scenes of the vizier's supervisory activities and cargo boats carrying funerary equipment. To the southwest of it is a double room that might have held wooden funerary boats, which were not usually found in tombs of private citizens.

Of all the Old and Middle Kingdom pyramids at Dahshur, the one built for Amenemhet III (1844–1797 BC) is, perhaps, the most easily recognizable. It was originally constructed out of black mud brick and encased with fine limestone that was later plundered, leaving it with the darker color that led to its modern-day name. It took an estimated 15 years to build this structure, which measures 31 square meters (344 square feet) and was originally 80 meters (265 feet) tall. Its pyramidion (a pyramid's crowning feature) was fashioned from black basalt and now resides in the Egyptian Museum.

Nearby are tombs belonging to other members of the court, unlikely to be open to the public. Like Sneferu, Amenemhet III had two pyramids; the other one is in Hawara in Fayyum.

When you exit Deir Anba Bishoi, turn left, and a 10-minute walk brings you to Deir al-Sourian. Even if you have a car, it is worth walking: the approach gives you a powerful sense of the desert's small dunes with the lush foliage of the monastery just peeking over the high walls that shimmer in the haze of heat off the sands.

Deir al-Sourian was founded by a breakaway faction from Deir Anba Bishoi and dedicated to Theotokos (God's Mother). A later reconciliation made the new monastery redundant, so it was taken over by monks from Syria—hence its name al-Sourian, the Syrian. There is a tamarind tree in the rear of the monastery that supposedly grew out of the walking stick of the 4th-century Syrian Saint Ephraem. Challenged by younger monks, who thought he carried the staff to look authoritative, Ephraem announced: "Were it used due to weakness, it will bud out," and he stuck his staff in the ground.

Many sections of Deir al-Sourian, including the 9th-century Roman-style keep, are not open to the public, but the main church has a number of interesting sights. The most impressive is the ebony Door of Symbols, inlaid with ivory, in the haykal (sanctuary). Its seven panels represent what were thought of locally as the seven epochs of the Christian era. An inscription shows that it was installed in the church in the 10th century, when Gabriel I was the patriarch of Alexandria. On either side of the haykal are two half domes decorated with frescoes, one showing the Annunciation to the Virgin and the other the Virgin's Dormition. Many other frescoes have been discovered throughout the church including, most recently, several 7th-century renditions of as yet unknown Coptic martyrs. The monks are inordinately proud of these discoveries.

In the rear of the church is the refectory, with a kitschy display of monastic eating habits, complete with plaster figures dressed up like monks. If you duck through a narrow passage to the left of the refectory, you can find a stone cave that was Saint Bishoi's private laura. According to legend, Saint Bishoi tied his hair to a chain (now a rope) that hung from the ceiling to prevent himself from falling asleep during his marathon prayer sessions.

If only by virtue of its accessibility, Deir Anba Bishoi has become the busiest monastery in Wadi Natrun, but it remains one of the most charming. The monastery dates from the 4th century, as does its oldest church (one of five), which was built with domes and irregular stone-and-silt-mortar walls covered in smooth sand-hue plaster. The interior consists of a high triple-vaulted main hall. Tiny apertures pierce the ceiling, admitting streams of brilliant sunlight that catch the plumes of incense that fill the air. To the left, through a spectacular 14th-century door, is the haykal (sanctuary), where contemporary frescoes depict John the Baptist, Saint Mark, and the 12 apostles, along with early monastic fathers. The carved wooden door (hidden behind a velvet curtain) was donated in the 7th century by the last Byzantine pope, just before the Arab invasion marked the emergence of Islam in Egypt. The coffin is that of Saint Bishoi.

Elsewhere in the monastery, there is a workable (though unused) grain mill that looks every bit as old as the church itself. The monks live in cells known as lauras, and a cell is exactly what they are: small boxes with a single window and few comforts. Near the entrance gate is the keep, a defensive tower with a drawbridge into which the monks could retreat in the event of attack. The Coptic Pope Shenouda III maintains a residence within the monastery, but it is not open to the public.

Despite the remains of bathrooms, cooking facilities, and houses, some of which are decorated with frescoes, it's hard to believe that Karanis was once populated by thousands. This Greco-Roman town 25 km (15 miles) north of the city of Fayyum was founded by Ptolemy II's mercenaries in the 3rd century BC. Today, its main attraction is a temple dating from the 1st century BC and dedicated to two crocodile gods, Petesuchs and Pnepheros. At its east entrance, a large square depression is all that's left of the pool that would have been reserved for the sacred creatures. Inside, niches where mummified crocs would have been interred are still visible, as are some wall inscriptions.

A small >museum at the entrance to the site displays two of the famed Fayyum portraits—painted funerary masks laid over the faces of linen-covered mummies. The collection also includes statuary, relief fragments, and a few everyday objects, as well as Coptic and Islamic textiles and ceramics. Some items were unearthed here, others were found elsewhere in the Fayyum and Egypt.

No visitor to Kagemni’s tomb can ever forget the endearing depiction of a calf drinking its mother’s milk or the bewildering one of an underwater battle between a crocodile and a hippopotamus. Both scenes demonstrate the ancient Egyptians’ astute observations of the animal world. They are also just two of many scenes expertly carved in the limestone tomb belonging to a chief judge and vizier under the 6th-Dynasty ruler, Teti (2345–2333 BC). Others touch upon daily activities such as fishing, dancing, husbandry, and making food offerings to the tomb owner.

This tomb adjoins the Mastaba of Mereruka to the east. Some presume that a single artist or atelier was responsible for decorating the mastabas in this area because certain scenes—the force-feeding of animals, poultry yards, the tomb owner being carried on a chair—recur. But they could also be conventional scenes used to decorate tombs at the time.>

The Teti cemetery's largest tomb, with more than 30 rooms, belonged to Mereruka, a wealthy vizier during the reign of the 6th-Dynasty (2345–2181 BC) pharaohs, Teti and Pepy I, and who was married to one of Teti’s many daughters. The tomb's significance lies in its renderings of not only its owner but also of Old Kingdom life, with scenes of jewelry-making, scribal recording, herding, and harpooning, among other activities.

In one scene, Mereruka himself can be seen fishing and fowling alongside his family. In another, almost poetic one, the dutiful official is shown as the personification of the three ancient Egyptian seasons: akhet (for the flooding), peret (for the emergence of fertile land), and shemu (for the harvest). In addition, a life-size statue depicts Mereruka stepping forward from the tomb's false door to receive his offerings.

At the end of the walkable section of the Unas Pyramid's causeway is the magnificently decorated and somewhat provocative tomb of the “Two Brothers,” namely, Niankh-khnum and Khnumhotep, who were overseers of the Great House manicurists in the 5th Dynasty (2494–2345 BC). As at other tombs, much of the iconography here depicts fishing, carpentry, agriculture, and other everyday activities. But the men’s professions are also showcased in precious snippets showing pedicurists and manicurists hard at work.

A remarkable chapel scene of the two interlacing and facing one another has been at the heart of much speculation over the years. Many argue that the men were brothers, perhaps even twins thanks to their similar names. Others note that such intimate ancient Egyptian scenes were usually reserved for husbands and wives, indicating a possible homosexual relationship between the two men, although both had wives and children. Regardless, the two men were close: an inscription above the tomb’s entrance reads “joined in life and death.”

Ti was a supervisor of the construction of Niuserre and Nefefrikare’s pyramids in Abu Sir and was married to Neferhetepes, a priestess of goddesses, with whom he had sons. His recently restored family tomb is exquisitely decorated and painted—the boat-building scenes are particularly noteworthy—with some of its original roof in tact. A statue of Ti, albeit a reproduction, is visible in the serdab (a small room specifically for a statue of the deceased), and a large courtyard with a stairway leads to Ti’s burial chamber, where you can spot the official’s sarcophagus.

Medinet el-Fayyum, the capital and the largest city of the Fayyum Governorate, was once a place of worship for the crocodile god, Sobek, inspiring the Greeks to name the city Crocodilopolis. Today, it sits 7 meters (22 meters) above sea level, and eight canals provide it with water. Traces of ancient Mamluk and Ottoman architecture can be found in some of its downtown mosques, and the lively city center hosts bazaars and markets weekly. The city's iconic attractions, however, are its four waterwheels. They were first introduced during the Ptolemaic Dynasty (305–30 BC), and you can hear them amid the honking of horns and the rush of traffic. There are waterwheels elsewhere in the Fayyum as well.

Little is known of the town that was originally named Dja and is situated 35 km (22 miles) southwest of the city of Fayyoum. It was founded during the reign of Amenemhat III and Amenemhat IV (1855–1799 BC) and remained extant during the New Kingdom (1550–1077 BC) era, after which it was abandoned. Revived during the Ptolemaic Dynasty and renamed Narmouthis, the town grew and was occupied even after the Muslim conquest of Egypt, before being abandoned once and for all.

Because Medinet Madi, the so-called City of the Past, is somewhat is isolated it provides an unmatched intimate experience. You can wander its Middle Kingdom temples, some of them remarkably well preserved, dating from the 12th Dynasty and adorned with hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Set up like a sculpture garden, this predominately open-air museum has a scattered assortment of statuary, coffins, and architectural fragments recovered from the area of Memphis. Highlights include a large Egyptian alabaster sphinx; a sarcophagus that was, curiously, carved upside down; columns with interesting motifs; and several statues of Ramses II (aka, Ramses the Great, 1279–1213 BC), including a colossal limestone version of him inside the museum building. You can view it from ground level and from a balcony that runs above, where you can better see finely carved details like the elaborate dagger at the pharaoh's waist. Stalls selling souvenir replicas of Egyptian artifacts are set up on one side of the garden. Quality varies, but on the whole, you can find some attractive items here.

The precariously perched kilns that dot the ravine at the edge of this village are a spectacular sight to behold. Specialized pots, such as the bukla, a squat vessel with a skewed mouth, are made here, but all are sold at markets in Medinet el-Fayyum.

For more than 3 millenia, Saqqara was used as a burial ground, bearing witness to many mortuary practices along the way. The beautiful non-royal tombs of the New Kingdom (1550–1077 BC) feature underground burial chambers and open, above-ground courtyards with tomb chapels typically surmounted by small pyramids.

South of the Unas Pyramid's causeway are a handful of tombs that belonged to eminent officials of the 18th to 20th dynasties, all lying within one wider complex. Among these officials was ‘Aperizia, a vizier of Amenhotep III; Ptahemwia, the "Royal Butler, Clean of Hands” under the rule of Akhenaten and Tutankhamun; Maia, the overseer of treasury; and Meryneith, the scribe. A tomb intended for Horemheb, the military general during Tutankhamun’s reign, also lies within the complex.

The meticulous art etched on the walls of these tombs was done by the best ancient artists and craftsmen, many of whom had practiced in the royal capital of Amarna. Many tombs here were also discovered with stelas and statues of the deceased within, but these artifacts have been moved to museums elsewhere.

The son of Unas, Teti was the first pharaoh of the 6th Dynasty (2345–2181 BC), and he's believed to have ruled for a little over a decade. Beyond this not much is known about him. Although his is the northernmost of the royal pyramids, it’s not far from the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Originally, Teti's pyramid was encased in blocks of fine limestone. What remains is a core of smaller blocks of local limestone and debris fill, rendering it less majestic than other structures. You can, however, enter this pyramid through a sloping passageway located at the north face. Inside, an antechamber has a large basalt sarcophagus that might once have contained the pharaoh's body. It's the burial chamber and its pyramid texts (used to guide the soul of the deceased in the afterlife) that are truly captivating, though. Here, long vertical columns are adorned with elegantly carved spells in hieroglyphs, and the ceiling is punctuated by representations of stars set against a dark blue background.

Unas, sometimes referred to as Wenis, was the last pharaoh of the 5th Dynasty, reigning from approximately 2375 to 2345 BC. At first glance, his pyramid could easily be mistaken for a topographical feature in the Saqqara landscape. But the slanted case section of Unas's once glorious pyramid reveals a royal tomb that occupies an area of 17 square meters (188 square feet) and originally stood 43 meters (141 feet) tall. It was also the first ancient tomb to have its vaulted burial chamber decorated with resplendent green pyramid texts, meant to safely guide the deceased's soul through the perils of the afterlife. So self-assured was this innovative ruler that his pyramid was called “Perfect Are the Places of Unas” in ancient Egyptian.

Named for the pinkish limestone of which it is made, this, like the Bent Pyramid, belonged to Sneferu (2613–2589 BC). It measures 67 square meters (721 square feet) and was originally 104 meters (341 feet) tall, making it only slightly smaller than the Great Pyramid at Giza, later built for Sneferu's son, Khufu. It also marks the first successful attempt at building a smooth-sided "true pyramid." If you can manage navigating the low-ceilinged passage leading down into the interior, you can see the pyramid's three magnificent corbelled chambers. You can also see evidence of tomb robbers, who battered the floor of the topmost chamber in search of treasure. Note, too, the graffiti left by 19th-century tourists.

This underground complex houses the most significant cult animals buried in Saqqara: the sacred Apis bulls, which were considered incarnations of the god Ptah. It is believed that each animal was very carefully selected, with the priests looking for special markings of divinity. In life, the bulls were as well-treated as they were revered. Upon death, they were mummified and placed in great (and extraordinarily heavy) sarcophagi. They were thought to become immortal as Osiris-Apis; over time, the name evolved to Userhapi ("Osorapis" in Greek) and was later associated with the Ptolemaic god, Serapis, resulting in the name of the site. The Serapeum, first used in the New Kingdom (1550–1077 BC), has a niche for each sacred bull; chapels and smaller temples would have been built aboveground.

One quick glance at this pyramid, and you can see that something is amiss—some call it a "false pyramid" others refer to its shape as "blunted" rather than "bent." Regardless, it has an unusual silhouette that was the result of an architectural mishap. It was designed for Sneferu (2613–2589 BC), the founder of the 4th Dynasty and the father of Khufu (for whom the Great Pyramid in Giza was built). Only when construction had reached midway did the ancient builders notice that there were flaws—its initial angle was too steep, so, to prevent it from collapsing, they adjusted the angles of its outer face.

Many believe that the Bent Pyramid was the first, albeit unsuccessful, attempt at transitioning from the stepped pyramid to the smooth-sided true pyramid like that of Khufu. Regardless, this is one of Egypt's largest pyramids, standing 105 meters (344 feet) tall and covering an area of 52 square meters (599 square feet). It also retains much of its limestone cladding. What's more, Sneferu didn't let this less-than-successful construction project stop him: he went on to commission the neighboring Red Pyramid.

Surprisingly, Egypt’s largest waterfalls stand in the middle of the desert about 65 km (40 mile) southwest of the city of Fayyum. Embodying the region's natural beauty, this national park consists of seven main regions: El Rayan Falls, El-Modawara Mountain, the upper lake, the lower lake, El Rayyan Springs, El Rayyan Mountain, and Wadi al-Hitan. There’s a lot to see, so hiring a local guide is encouraged.

Silky sand dunes surround tranquil blue water that is itself framed by flora. El-Modawara Mountain provides breathtaking panoramas. The area's rich wildlife includes Egyptian gazelles and different kinds of foxes. With more than 169 species of birds—some migrants, some local—it’s also a bird-watcher’s paradise.