Cairo City

Cairo is a global metropolis that offers visitors the chance to experience the warmth of a thousand suns, as well as heavenly ancient wonders, cutting-edge attractions, outstanding culture, and the chance to see the pinnacle of elegance, beauty, and genuine enchantment. This article’s goal is to provide every traveler with all the facts and information they could possibly need about the fabled city of Cairo. A group of expert and knowledgeable tour operators, tour guides, and travel advisors wrote this article.

Location of Cairo City

For thousands of years, the city of Cairo has served as an endless time capsule, a protector, and a hub for culture, art, and beauty. The largest metropolitan region in Africa, the Middle East, the Arab world, and the fifteenth largest city in the world, it is well known for being the capital of “Egypt” and “Egypt.” One of the few cities in the world that was able to withstand the test of time is Cairo (Al Qahirah), which means “The Vanquisher” in Arabic. Around 528 square kilometers of Cairo are located in northern Egypt, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the Gulf of Suez and the Suez Canal, and 165 kilometers (100 miles) south of the Mediterranean Sea. Cairo is located on both banks of the Nile River close to the Nile delta.

The History of Cairo

Cairo has long been linked to Memphis, an ancient city with a history dating back 5,000 years. Memphis is located 24 kilometers southwest of Cairo, and the Giza pyramid complex, which houses the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, is a short distance away. The Romans, who conquered Egypt 2000 years ago, built a fortress named Babylon, which served as the epicenter of the orthodox community in the late fourth century during the Coptic era. The city’s real history began in 641 BC when Amr ibn Al-as conquered Egypt and built Al-Fustat, the country’s new Islamic capital, north of the former citadel of Babylon. From that point on, a number of magnificent, eternal buildings, including Ahmed Ibn Tulane’s mosque in 878 BC, were built in the city.

Following the burning down of the city of Fustat in 1168 during a conflict with the Crusaders, a general by the name of Jawhar founded a new city called Al Qahirah (Cairo) northeast of the present-day settlements. During the Fatimid dynasty, Cairo along with the enchanted Khan el Khalili Bazaar became the official capital of Egypt. Salah El-Din, who ruled Egypt throughout the 11th century, built the formidable Cairo fortress and turned the city into an imperial metropolis. Cairo formally surpassed all other cities as the largest in Africa, Asia Minor, and Europe as well as the spice trade in 1340. The Mamluk empire built Al-Azhar University to be the epicenter of Islamic studies and one of Cairo’s greatest architectural achievements.

In order to restore Egypt’s beauty to its previous splendor in the modern age at the beginning of the 19th century, a man by the name of Muhammed Ali built the Mohamed Ali Mosque, which is one of Cairo’s most charming moments. Mohammed Ali’s descendants carried on his magnificent achievement as his grandson Isam’il Pasha (1863–1879) erected numerous avenues, maidens, and a contemporary district known as downtown Cairo that drew inspiration from Baron Haussmann’s reconstruction of Paris. Many changes have occurred since the 1950s as new cities, museums, large art galleries, and projects are continually being built. Additionally, a lot of construction is being done to get Cairo ready for its growing population and to build the infrastructure and transit systems that everyone in Cairo will require in the near future.

Cairo’s Significance

Egypt has always had a capital, but the current Cairo was established in 969 CE by the Fatimid dynasty, who made it the center of the area’s political and cultural life. Due to the abundance of mosques, fortresses, and cathedrals in the city, as well as the second-oldest university in the world, Al-Azhar University, and the location of the Arab League’s headquarters, the city earned the nickname “The City of A Thousand Minarets.”

The Egyptian Museum, which has numerous antiquities and monuments dating back to the 26th dynasty, and Tahrir Square, which echoes freedom and sound, are both located in the center of Cairo. The city serves as both the government’s seat of power and the hub of all financial and political influence. Additionally, it is home to the largest mass media complex in the Middle East, which produces both cinema and music, as well as other cultural institutions, including the Grand Egyptian Museum, art schools, athletic associations, and universities.

Climate of Cairo

Since it has a very varied climate with eight months of summer and four of winter, the best time to visit is from November to April. 9 million people call the city home, creating a very crowded atmosphere throughout the entire metropolis.

Site and People of Cairo

In 1979, the historic center of Cairo was designated a World Heritage Site. Cairo is by far the biggest city in Egypt, with a population of nearly 9 million people scattered across 453 km2 (175 sq mi). Cairo is a fan-shaped metropolis located in Egypt, a region of the African continent. The river valley that runs through the city is narrowest in the south where it flows between desert escarpments, and it is largest in the north where it merges with the delta. Throughout history, Cairo grew westward as the river channel receded and the area became flood-free.

Cairo has expanded to the north and south, while its western shoreline has grown into an annex. Cairo’s population, which is primarily Muslim, is noted for being both racially and religiously diverse. Coptic Orthodox Christianity is practiced by the vast majority of Egyptian Christians. Cairo is a key hub for the media and the Middle East’s actual cultural capital. The principal center of religion and culture in the area is still Cairo.

Best Attractions in Cairo

The Giza Pyramids Complex, which houses the Great Pyramid of King Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Sphinx, the largest and oldest figure in the world, and the Valley Temple, a place of mummification, are what make the city most well-known. The city’s location has been the scene of numerous significant events because Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom, is only 24 kilometers from Cairo (2686-2181 BC).

On the route the holy family took through Cairo, many churches were built around the fortress of Babylon, which was located within the city of Cairo 2000 years ago. These churches include the infamous Hanging Church, St. George Church, Abu Serga Church, and many others. Learn more about the top Cairo attractions.

Due to the predominance of Islamic architecture and the abundance of Islamic landmarks, including the second-oldest university in the world and largest Islamic center, Al-Azher University, the Ibn Tulan Mosque, the Amr Ibn Alas Mosque, the Hassan Mosque, the golden Khan El Khalili Bazaar, Muizz street, and numerous other grand Islamic structures, the city earned the nickname “the city of minarets.”

Best Things to Do In Cairo

Locals refer to Cairo as Umm al-Dunya, the city that never sleeps, the mother of the world, and the birthplace of civilization. One of the few cities that has survived the test of time and been able to preserve and further the history and legacy of the old city of Cairo is the heavenly city of Cairo. Numerous activities, such as a nightly dinner cruise, seeing all the Pharaonic, Coptic, and Islamic monuments, shopping at Khan El Khalili Bazaar, and visiting all the museums and cultural institutes, are available for genuinely experiencing the magic of the city.

More information on the top activities in Cairo is available online. If you’re interested in seeing some of Cairo’s fantastic tourist destinations, check out our Cairo day tours. If you’re not currently in Egypt but would like to visit the Land of the Pharaohs, browse through our Egypt tour packages and pick your preferred journey.