Cairo Governorate: Culture, History and Nature

Cairo Governorate can be explored through a wide range of themes. Wadi Degla Nature Reserve is distinguished by its limestone valleys and calcareous, fossil-rich rocks; in Historic Cairo, markets, mosques, churches, museums and historic streets take center stage. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding in advance whether you are particularly interested in collections, architectural history, religious sites or outdoor activities.

Khan al-Khalili and Historic Cairo

Khan al-Khalili is a historic market in Cairo and is more than 600 years old. Al-Muizz Street is a pedestrian street in Historic Cairo that runs between Bab al-Futuh and Bab Zuweila. A walk through the oldest neighborhoods offers one way to explore Historic Cairo. This lets you take in different aspects of the city's history: the market, a clearly defined street route and exploring on foot.

Religious Buildings and Their History

Al-Azhar Mosque has served as both a mosque and a university for more than 1,000 years. The Hanging Church in Old Cairo was built atop the gate of the Roman Fortress of Babylon in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. The Church of Abu Serga is in the Religious Complex in Old Cairo, within the Babylon Fortress and near the Ben Ezra Synagogue. These sites offer different historical and religious focuses for planning your trip.

Museums with Different Collections

The Coptic Museum houses the world's largest collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts. The Museum of Islamic Art is in Historic Cairo and features diverse collections of Islamic art from several Islamic countries. The two museums thus focus on different artistic and religious traditions.

In the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), the Royal Mummies' Hall displays 20 royal mummies, including 18 kings and two queens from the 17th to 20th dynasties. The NMEC is the first museum of its kind to present the entire history of Egyptian civilization, from prehistory to modern times. The Egyptian Museum houses a significant collection spanning all periods of ancient Egyptian history. Depending on whether you are looking for a specific exhibition or a broad overview across time, these collections offer different starting points.

Landmarks and Views of Cairo

The Cairo Tower stands on the Nile island of Zamalek and is modeled on the Egyptian lotus flower. At the southern end of Cairo's Rawda Island is the Nilometer, which was used to measure the level of the Nile. The two sites appeal to different interests: the tower's shape recalls a floral model, while the Nilometer reflects the historical observation of the Nile's waters.

The Citadel of Cairo is located on the Muqattam Hills and offers panoramic views across Cairo. Near the Citadel, Al-Suyufiyya Street is home to palaces, mosques and shrines from the Mamluk and Ottoman periods and the era of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. For a trip focused on architecture, you can explore different historical periods as well as a viewpoint.

Wadi Degla: Nature and Activities

Wadi Degla Nature Reserve lies east of Maadi in Cairo Governorate. Its limestone valleys and calcareous rocks are rich in fossils from the Eocene. Activities available in the reserve include cycling, camping, mountain climbing and running. This combination of natural history and activities is markedly different from the region's museums and historic streets.

Choose a Hotel Location That Fits Your Itinerary

This way, your choice is guided by the places you want to visit.

Discover more destinations: Cairo, El Shorouk City, Matruh, Qina, South Sinai, Sohag, Al Gharbiyya, Giza.

For the broader travel overview: Egypt.