Cairo

Islamic Cairo (by Rom) and the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo (by Christian Funke).

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is a huge city of over 12 million people that sprawls in all directions. But thankfully, Cairo is full of little districts and communities that feel much smaller and more intimate than the city of which they are a part.

Cairo bears the physical remains of a 1000 years of being conquered and reconquered by various groups. The city didn't begin with the pharaohs; they quartered themselves in nearby Memphis and Heliopolis, areas only recently overtaken by Cairo's outward urban spread. Cairo actually began as a Roman trading post, which was later taken over by the Arabs (7th century) and then the French and the British (19th century). The revolution of 1952 finally returned power to Egyptian hands

What makes Cairo unique is that each new ruler, rather than destroying what he found, simply built a new city next to the old one. Thus you can follow the progression of history by walking through the various districts of Cairo. Each district retains a distinct identity, not only in its buildings, but also among its residents and their way of life. Coptic Cairo remains a Christian area, with more crosses than crescents. The medieval precinct of Islamic Cairo is still where families traditionally go during Ramadan to spend the night eating and smoking after a day of abstinence.

And this is one of the main attractions of Cairo, that its historic areas are still vibrant, living spaces rather than open-air museums. In Cairo, you don't just visit relics of the past, you can experience the past as it expresses itself in modern times. The relics of the past, however, are about as good as they get. Cairo and the nearby areas of Memphis and Giza hold some of the world's best museums, monuments and ancient treasures, the vast majority of which are of a religious nature. In addition to its relics of Ancient Egypt, Cairo is perhaps second only to Jerusalem in its concentration of sites of interest to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

City Guide & Travel Resources

	Cairo Map A high-resolution satellite map of Cairo, plus more Cairo maps online and to take along.
	History of Cairo A brief history of the city.
	Cairo Tours & Excursions Choose from a variety of guided sightseeing tours in Cairo or a hassle-free day trip to Giza.
	Cairo Airport or Train Station Transfer Don't land in Cairo worrying about how you're getting to your hotel. Book a Cairo Airport or Railway Station private arrival transfer for an easy arrival into a complicated city.
	Nile Maxim Dinner Cruise Be entertained by belly dancing and tannoura spins and enjoy dinner as you cruise along the Nile River onboard the elegant Nile Maxim. Also available: a cruise on the Nile Pharaoh.
	Cairo Hotel Reviews Before you book, read unbiased traveler reviews and compare prices on hotels in Cairo.
	Cairo Hotels Book the Cairo hotel of your choice at Expedia.
	Cairo Travel Forum Get travel advice and insider tips on Cairo from fellow travelers.

Sacred Sites & Religious Places

	Al-Azhar Mosque and University Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest operating universities in the world and a center of Islamic learning. It is connected to the beautiful and historic Al-Azhar Mosque.
	Ben Ezra Synagogue Originally a church, this synagogue in Coptic Cairo was sold to Jews in 882 AD. It was frequented by Maimonides and became a place of pilgrimage.
	Chaar Hachamaim Synagogue The concrete Art-Deco exterior of this early 20th-century synagogue hides an interior of exquisite stained-glass windows and light fixtures rumored to be from Tiffany's.
	Citadel The Citadel was built in the 12th century by Saladin and his successors, using the most advanced construction techniques of the age. For the next 700 years, Egypt was ruled from this hill.
	Coptic Museum This museum houses the world's largest collection of Coptic Christian artwork. Some of the Nag Hammadi manuscripts are here, as well as interesting art that combines pagan and Christian.
	Egyptian Museum This huge neoclassical building houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world, including artifacts from the tomb of King Tut.
	Hanging Church The most well-known Coptic church in Cairo is this church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and named for its elevated location. It dates mainly from the 10th century.
	Ibn Tulun Mosque Built by Ahmad Ibn Tulun in 879, this is the oldest mosque in Egypt and the third largest in the world. It is also famed for its lovely architecture and unique minaret.
	Islamic Art Museum One of the finest museums in Cairo is this collection of over 10,000 pieces of Islamic art. The exhibits illustrate every era of development, from Ummayad to Abbasid, Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk works.
	Muhammad Ali Mosque Completed in 1848, the Ottoman-style Muhammad 'Ali Mosque or "Alabaster Mosque" is the most noticeable in all of Cairo; for more than 150 years it has dominated the skyline from its lofty location on the Citadel.
	St. George's Church The Church of St. George (Mari Girgis) in Coptic Cairo is the principal Greek Orthodox church of Egypt. Originally built in the 10th century, it stands atop an old Roman tower and adjoins the Monastery of St. George.
	St. Mercurius Church This interesting Coptic church off the beaten track in Old Cairo is dedicated to the "saint of two swords."
	Sultan Hassan Mosque & Madrasa Built between 1356 and 1363 by the Mamluk ruler Sultan Hassan, this is among the largest and most impressive Islamic buildings in the world. It may incorporate stone from the Pyramids of Giza.