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 Hanging Church

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

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

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Atlas Obscura Trips

Ancient Wonders: Egypt & The Nile

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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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.

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

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September 26, 2019

A falafel stand in Gaza.

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Behold!

Exploring a 'Treasure Trove' of Medieval Egyptian Recipes

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

by Abbey Perreault

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

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