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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Cairo

11 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

Updated June 5, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Cairo

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Architecture 4
Sacred Spaces 3
Ancient 2
Wonder Cabinets 2
Eccentric Homes 2
Rivers 2
Churches 2
Homes 2

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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
Crowds on Al Moaz in Cairo.

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 Sharia Khayamiya—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
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
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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