Contents
History and Description
Foundation and Origins
Cairo, the capital of Egypt and one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the Arab world, has a history that spans millennia. Although the modern city was founded in 969 CE by the Fatimids, its roots go back to earlier settlements along the Nile, such as Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom (around 3100 BCE), and nearby Greco-Roman cities like Babylon of Egypt.
Al-Qahira: The Fatimid Foundation
In 969 CE, the general Jawhar al-Siqilli founded Al-Qahira (“The Victorious”) as the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate. The city was designed as a Shiite political and religious center, with advanced urban planning. During the Fatimid rule, Cairo became famous for its mosques, schools, and cultural institutions.
One of the most representative buildings of this period is the Al-Azhar Mosque, now one of the world’s most important Islamic universities and a symbol of Sunni religious learning.
Ayyubid and Mamluk Rule
In 1171, Saladin (Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn), founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, transformed Cairo into a Sunni center and built the famous Cairo Citadel, an imposing fortress overlooking the city. The Citadel served as the seat of government for centuries.
During the Mamluk period (1250–1517), Cairo reached its peak as a commercial and cultural hub of the Islamic world. It was embellished with mosques, madrasas, and palaces, many of which can still be visited today, such as the Sultan Hassan Mosque and the lively, labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Ottoman Rule and Decline
In 1517, Cairo was conquered by the Ottomans and lost its status as an autonomous capital, becoming a province of the empire. Although it remained an important city, it entered a period of relative economic and cultural decline.
Revival under Muhammad Ali
With the rise of Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century, Cairo underwent radical transformation. He modernized Egypt, built infrastructure, and sought to make Cairo a modern capital. Under his leadership and that of his successors, European-style buildings were introduced and new districts created, such as Ismailia (now the modern center).
Modern Cairo
During the British colonial period (1882–1952), Cairo continued to grow and develop. After independence, the city became a symbol of modernity and Arab nationalism under the leadership of Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Today, Cairo is a sprawling metropolis with a population of 10.2 million.
Museums
Below is a list of Cairo and Giza’s main museums, as well as other museums in the Egyptian capital worth visiting.
Main Museums
- Egyptian Museum of Cairo (EMC) or Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
Tahrir Square, Downtown Cairo
Opened in 1902, it houses over 120,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Some key pieces, such as the treasure of Tutankhamun and the famous golden funerary mask, have been moved to the GEM.
Chronological layout: spacious ground floor with sarcophagi and monumental statues; thematic first floor with Amarna art, royal couple statues, and mixed-material masterpieces. - Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
Giza
A new museum complex near the famous Pyramids.
Partially opened in 2023, it is expected to fully open by the end of 2025.
It features innovative spaces and more than 100,000 objects, including the entire Tutankhamun collection and giant statues like that of Ramses II. - National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
Fustat, Old Cairo
Opened in 2021, it presents Egypt’s entire history—from prehistory to the present—with thematic highlights.
Royal Mummies Hall: hosts 22 famous mummies (including Seti I and Hatshepsut), relocated here from the Egyptian Museum. - Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)
Port Said Street, Bab al-Khalq, Historic Cairo (or Islamic Cairo)
One of the world’s most important museums of Islamic art, with over 100,000 items: calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, vessels, glass, astrolabes, and manuscripts.
Rebuilt after a 2014 bombing and reopened in 2017. - Coptic Museum
Saint George Cemetery, Old Cairo
Founded in 1908, it hosts the world’s richest collection of Coptic (Christian Egyptian) art: icons, textiles, manuscripts, and artifacts from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages, including the Nag Hammadi codices.
Other Museums
- Egyptian Textile Museum
Zamalek, Gezira Island, Cairo
The first Middle Eastern textile museum, with collections spanning from Ancient Egypt to the Ottoman period. - Museum of Modern Egyptian Art
Zamalek, isola di Gezira, Il Cairo
Focuses on 20th- and 21st-century painting and sculpture. - Manial Palace Museum
Old Cairo
Former residence of Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik, with stunning Moorish architecture and collections of furniture and memorabilia.
Map
A printed map of the city and the Nile Delta is available for purchase online on Amazon.
Hotels in Cairo
» Discover the best hotels – or B&Bs and apartments – in Cairo or Giza on Booking.com. Use filters to refine your search or browse directly on the map.
You may also want to consult our special page on where to sleep in Cairo: it contains an indication of the best areas to stay in Greater Cairo and those to avoid, and an assessment-with pros and cons-of whether it is better to sleep in Cairo or Giza.
Flights to Cairo
» Find the cheapest flights to Cairo by comparing fares from different airlines using Booking.com‘s flight search tool
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Top photo: Old Cairo skyline, Egypt.
Original title: View of Cairo, Egypt skyline showing minarets, temple spires and other structures.
By The U.S. National Archives via Picryl (no known copyright restrictions)