10 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Cairo - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Cairo

Nilometer

An ancient instrument used to measure the waters of the Nile so Egyptian farmers would know whether to expect famine or flood.

Monastery of Saint Simon

The massive cave church of Cairo's Zabbaleen community is one of the largest Christian churches in the Middle East.

Cairo's City of the Dead

In Egypt's expanding metro area, many of the neighbors are dead.

Al-Andalus Garden

A preserved oasis with traditional Andalusian-style architecture and beautiful views of the Nile.

The Cairo Genizah

Hundreds of thousands of ancient documents offer a unique glimpse into Jewish life in Cairo.

The Aquarium Grotto Garden

A strange aquarium with stuffed fish, and almost no water for them to swim in.

Agricultural Museum of Cairo

A huge museum of much more than just agriculture displayed in a princess's palace.

The Hanging Church

Standing atop 2nd-century Roman ruins, this church is one of the oldest and most iconic in Old Cairo.

See All 10 Things to Do in Cairo See All 10 Places

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Atlas Obscura Trips

In the Footsteps of Pharaohs: Exploring Ancient Egypt

Discover ancient and modern Cairo then cruise along the Nile taking in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.

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Stories About Cairo

A Cairo goldsmith works on golden rings depicting a pharaoh.

The Secret Language of Cairo's Goldsmiths

Their words speak to the legacy of a lost community.

by Shira Telushkin

Little-known Air Sinai flights, which link Cairo and Tel Aviv, have a fascinating back story.

The Ghost Airline That Has Linked Cairo and Tel Aviv for Decades

Air Sinai is shrouded in mystery. But why?

by Shira Telushkin

Cairo's <em>Sharia Khayamiya</em>—the Street of the Tentmakers, aka the Tentmakers Market—is the only place in the world where the decorative appliqué textile is made.

This Ancient Egyptian Textile Is Hanging By a Thread

Only 20 khayamiya artisans are left, in one dusty alley in Cairo. Can e-commerce save them?

by Stephanie Vermillion

September 26, 2019

A falafel stand in Gaza.

Around the Middle East in Hummus and Falafel

A new book is an ode to chickpeas and the people that love them.

by Olivia Snaije

Behold!

Exploring a 'Treasure Trove' of Medieval Egyptian Recipes

A newly translated cookbook provides a tantalizing glimpse of Cairo's past.

by Abbey Perreault

September 4, 2018

A male reserve head found in the shaft of a tomb c. 1915.

Dozens of Mysterious 'Reserve Heads' Were Sealed in Ancient Egyptian Tombs

Over 30 have been found, but their function is unclear.

by Hadley Meares

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