13 Things To Do In Cairo, Egypt

I like to think I’m an expert on things to do in Cairo. I lived in Egypt’s capital from 2015 to 2018, wrote a book about it, and have been back to the city several times since. This has left me with a realization: Cairo is a fascinating yet underrated city, and there are plenty of things to do once you’re there.

Below you will find my “ultimate guide” of things to do in Cairo. Do even just a few of these things, and your time spent in Cairo will be better because of it. Manage to do all of them? You might just have the best trip to Cairo in all of history.

Enjoy this list – and let me know how many you manage to cross off.

Table of contents: (Hide)

1) Eat Koshari

I start this list with my one true love. Koshari (also commonly spelled koshary) is unofficially Egypt’s national dish. It’s pretty basic: a bowl full of noodles, lentils, fried onions, topped with salsa and garlic sauce.

Simple, sure – but delicious. I have so many memories of eating koshari that it’s hard to separate the dish from the country itself. And I’m not alone there. Ask most foreigners who have spent time in Cairo, and there’s a good chance they’ve eaten koshari.

Plus, go to a koshari restaurant, and you truly get a taste of the “real Cairo.” Here are just a few of the people you’ll see eating it alongside you:

• Young university students out together on their first date
• Egyptian kids eating together after a football (soccer) match
• Women in full-on niqabs eating next to their bearded husbands

If you’re looking for things to do in Cairo, definitely check out a koshari restaurant. I recommend Abou Tarek, which is frequently cited as “Cairo’s best koshari.”
Give it a try.

2) Hail Your Own Taxi

Public transportation is a rite of passage in many countries. And while Uber is common in Cairo as of 2025, there’s something unique about getting a taxi there.
Trying to get to your destination quickly and conveniently? Uber is your best bet. But if you want to have a little fun? Hailing your own taxi is sure to deliver.
If you want to give this a try, here’s what you need to know:

• Tell the driver where you want to go before you get in. Egypt is different from some countries in that the driver will often decide not to take you. I made this mistake the first time I hailed an Egyptian taxi. Very awkward.
• Ask if the meter works before you take off. This is a common trick that taxi drivers will use to overcharge you. No problem getting out. Just find a guy who will use the meter.
• Bring cash. Egypt is a cash-based society. In three years, I think I took a taxi that had a credit card reader one time. If you want to take a taxi, you need Egyptian bills.

Out of all the things you can do in Cairo, this is probably the only one you will do multiple times a day. And I highly recommend it.

3) Take A Trip Through Garbage City

This is one of the hidden gems of Cairo, and it’s something I suggest everybody do when they are in Egypt’s capital.
There are three incredible things about this trip:

• The city itself that you drive through. While technically named Manshiyet Nasr in Arabic, it has earned the nickname of “Garbage City”. Why? Because it’s where most of Cairo’s trash is sent to be sorted. The reason it all goes there? It’s a story that’s more interesting than you can imagine.
• The church that is carved into the rocks. Yup – you read this right. Make it to the top (the driver will know where you want to go), and there is a church carved out of the hillside.
• The mural is painted across a ton of buildings.

This last one deserves a bit more explanation. In 2014, a Tunisian artist created a mural of Arabic calligraphy across 50 buildings. The project is called “Perception.” Stand at a certain angle, and it spells:

“Anyone who wants to see the sunlight clearly needs to wipe his eye first.”

Full transparency: the last time I was there was in 2018. While the picture above gives you a good idea of what you can see, the paint has started to wear off at this point.

4) Go To A Couchsurfing Meetup

Couchsurfing is very near and dear to my heart. If you’ve never heard of it, this is a website that is usually used to sleep in the house of strangers. I know – terrifying.

And that’s not a joke. Through Couchsurfing, people around the world will literally host travelers in their homes. Thankfully, it’s not as scary as it sounds. There is a review system in place to make sure you’re only staying with (and hosting) people who are vetted.

The reason I bring it up? The organization also puts on in-person events, and there is a strong Couchsurfing community in Cairo. Here is a meet-up I went to. Four Egyptians, one German, one Brit, and an American. Quite the group.

If you’re looking for things to do in Cairo, this is a fantastic way to meet people, both foreigners and Egyptians.

5) Walk Around Downtown

For most country capitals of the world, walking around downtown usually gives you a pretty decent idea of what the city is like. That said, there is something wholly unique about downtown Cairo.

You’ll see crazy taxi drivers. You’ll see women walking around with bags of tomatoes. You might also catch a glimpse of old men selling cooked sweet potatoes, and more street cats than you can possibly count. Downtown Cairo is intensely alive. You might as well explore it. Plus, if you’re staying at a hotel, there’s a good chance you’re close to downtown anyway.

And here’s a bonus tip for you: if you want a slightly less congested place to get a good walk in, you have two other options:

• Zamalek: just north of downtown
• Maadi: about a 20-minute drive south

As for my favorite place downtown? Check out my next suggestion of things to do in Cairo.

6) Check Out Horreya Bar

Egypt has a history of political oppression. Also, as an Islamic country, it’s naturally more conservative than most. My point? If there is one thing you probably don’t equate with the Middle East’s most populous country… It’s freedom.

That’s why a place like Horreya bar (literally “freedom” bar) feels so delightfully out of place. Located a convenient five-minute walk from Tahrir Square, Horreya is a tacky place that Egyptians go to drink beer. And it’s absolutely wonderful.

The typical drink of choice at Horreya is Egyptian Stella. And as you can see from the picture, I’ve had my fair share of long nights at the bar.
Even if you don’t drink alcohol (plenty of Muslims don’t), Horreya is worth the visit just for the people watching. Sit at a table after the sun goes down, and you’re guaranteed to see some interesting stuff. This alone has the potential to be the most memorable thing you do in Cairo.

7) Enter A Mosque

I’ve heard multiple (non-Muslim) foreigners get nervous about entering a mosque. Part of me gets it. There’s a lot of news from the Middle East that makes people skeptical about entering a place of worship. But honestly?

With how religious Egypt is, I think a trip to the country isn’t complete without checking one out. Here are three tips for visiting a mosque like a (respectful) pro:

• Take your shoes off. You will place them outside with all the rest (don’t worry – nobody will steal them).
• Cover your hair if you’re a woman. This is important. You won’t have problems as a female entering a mosque, but you do have to adhere to the customs. You can use a scarf to do this (although the most popular mosques will likely have one for you to wear).
• Don’t talk to people who are in the middle of praying. Egyptians take prayer seriously. If you do have a question, ask an Egyptian who is just entering or leaving. They’ll be glad to help you out.

If you prefer to have a plan, you can just look up the best mosques in Cairo. But you don’t really have to. They are everywhere in the city. Just be respectful, follow the tips above, and you will be fine.

8) Drink A Juice

Alright, I’ll admit it: I have a sweet tooth. I end most days with a dessert of some kind. And when I was living in Cairo, it was no different. Konefa. Rice pudding. The world-famous Om Ali. When it comes to desserts you eat, Egypt has hundreds of options.

But desserts that you drink? That’s where Egyptian juice comes in.

Cairo is well-known for its juice scene. This is likely due to the country’s agriculture. The Nile River runs for thousands of miles through the center of the country. This creates super fertile soil. The end result?

Egypt has incredible fruits and veggies, and even better juices. The cool thing about these places is that the juice is super fresh. Go into one and you will literally see piles of fruits everywhere you look.

Like many of the things on this list, a juice shop also gives you an insight into Egyptian culture. As I mentioned in my tip about Horreya bar, most Muslims don’t drink. The tradition of “getting a drink after work” just doesn’t exist in Egypt.

What do they do instead? Grab a juice, of course. Go to one of these juice places at the right time, and you will see all sorts of Egyptians sipping away. Pretty cool.
No special advice here. Just Google “juice shop” when you are in Cairo, and you’ll see countless options.

9) Visit Al-Azhar Park

As incredible as Cairo is, it can start to feel a bit overwhelming after a few days. There are people everywhere. Traffic never stops. And the heat throughout the year? It doesn’t exactly make things better.

This is where Al-Azhar Park can help out. This is a giant garden near the center of Cairo, and if you’re looking for somewhere to take a peaceful stroll, Azhar Park is a great place to do it.

With miles of walking paths and green in an ocean of sand, Azhar is great for winding down. It even has a restaurant and a cafe in the middle of the park. An added bonus? It has a pretty cool view of parts of Cairo:

If you want a more relaxing adventure in Cairo, be sure to check out Al-Azhar Park.

10) Explore Coptic Cairo

It’s easy to assume that Egypt is almost completely Muslim. And while the majority of Egyptians are, a solid 15% of the population are actually Coptic Christians.
The fact is, Egypt is a country that has a long and rich Christian history. And if you are looking for a cool place to learn more about it, Coptic Cairo is a fantastic place to start.

If you want to see the “other side” of Cairo’s population, a stroll through Coptic Cairo is in order. You’ll see some of the coolest churches ever. And a few great cafes too (see my next tip).

You will likely get a big dose of Muslim culture during a trip to Cairo. But the city is more than just its Muslims. Check out Coptic Cairo and you’ll certainly see a different side of the city.

11) Take A Stroll Through Khan El Khalili

Khan El Khalili is Egypt’s largest outdoor market, and one of the largest (and oldest) in all of Africa.

Khan El Khalili is a great place to go souvenir shopping. It’s cheaper than most places you’d check out. There’s also greater variety. But the real reason to go?
The charm of just walking around can’t be denied. Even if you don’t buy something, strolling the shops of Khan El Khalili is surely an experience you’ll never forget. The shisha smoke, cups of tea, and old men trying to sell you handmade chess boards – it all feels authentically Egyptian.

Assuming you do check out the market, I have one last tip for you: sip on a tea at Fishawi. This is one of Cairo’s most famous cafes, and it’s within Khan El Khalili itself. Famous Egyptian authors have even written some of their most popular books sitting at its tables.
No trip to Khan El Khalili is complete without it.

12) Take A Felucca Ride On The Nile

Feluccas are those long, skinny boats with the upturned nose that you often see on the Nile. For a pretty reasonable price, you can take a ride in one on the Nile River.

This is something that I think you shouldn’t miss. Egypt is old. The Nile River has a ton of history. To be able to sit in a boat on it and just look around? It’s truly something special.

There are basically two times you can ride one: during the day or during the night. I’d recommend a nighttime felucca ride. Cairo is dusty. In the glaring sun, it can be easy to underappreciate the city. But at night? You see the lights, and the city takes on a whole new personality. That’s pretty cool to see.
You can reserve ahead of time if you want. You can also just walk along the Nile until you come across a guy. Prices will vary, so be sure you bring your negotiating skills.

13) Visit The Pyramids

No list of “things to do in Cairo” would be complete without mentioning the pyramids. And there’s a reason for that: the pyramids of Giza are truly incredible.
The Great Pyramid is the only remaining site from the original Seven Wonders of the World. The pyramids are located just a quick taxi ride from downtown. How could you say no?

Overall, here’s my take on the two things you will see: the sphinx is kind of a letdown, while the pyramids are more magnificent than you could ever imagine.
And even if you aren’t all that interested in “historical sites”, we both know the first question you’ll hear after you return home is “did you see the pyramids?”
Better just to go!