Cairo, Egypt
Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. Home to the Pyramids of Giza on its outskirts and millennia of layered history, Cairo blends Pharaonic, Coptic, Islamic and modern Arab civilization in a single sprawling metropolis along the Nile.
Highlights
- Africa's most historically significant city
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx at the city's southwestern edge
- Egyptian Museum and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza
- Islamic Cairo (UNESCO World Heritage) and Khan el-Khalili bazaar
History
Founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid Caliphate, Cairo replaced earlier capitals nearby (Memphis, Fustat) and grew into the cultural capital of the Islamic world. It survived Mongol threats, became the seat of the Mamluk Sultanate and later the Ottoman governor of Egypt, then capital of Muhammad Ali's modernization and finally of independent Egypt.
Economy
Cairo dominates Egypt's economy, hosting government, banking (Central Bank of Egypt), media (Al-Ahram), and most multinational regional offices. The new administrative capital being built east of Cairo aims to relieve population pressure but Cairo remains Egypt's heart.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Cairo retains Khedivial 19th-century architecture; Zamalek is an upscale Nile island; Heliopolis is the early-20th-century planned suburb; Giza across the river holds the pyramids and university; Maadi is a leafy expat quarter.
Distances from Cairo
Calculate distance and flight time from Cairo to other major African cities: