The Alternative Guide To Cairo You Need To Know

Cairo, the heart of Egypt, is a place where you can explore historical treasures, from the pyramids complex to the Islamic monuments. But guess what, there are other things you don’t know about the city, other treasures that need to be discovered. Here is our alternative guide to Cairo.

Enjoy a Tanoura Night

You’ll be missing out if you don’t attend the tanoura show at Wekalet El Ghouri “Ghouri Palace” near Al Hussein mosque, where a spiritual atmosphere combines with beautiful music. Tanoura dance (Sufi Whirling) is a form of spiritual dance which was first started among Sufis. In Egypt, the whirler wears a tanoura, a colourful skirt, of which every colour has a Sufi representation. The show at El Ghouri takes place twice a week, and tickets cost around 30EGP.

Meet the Father of Modern Egyptian Sculpture

Stand on the Top of Ibn Tulun’s Minaret

Standing in the heart of Islamic Cairo, Ibn Tulun Mosque, is the oldest mosque in the city that has remained in its original structure. The mosque was built in a Samrran style. One fantastic thing about the mosque is its minaret that has its stairs on the outside, so you can climb it to get a stunning view of the city.

Experience Pieces from Different Eras in one Place

Located in Sayeda Zeinab district near Ibn Tulun mosque, Gayer-Anderson museum is a treasure house where you’ll find a collection of significant artistic pieces from different historical periods. The museum was once the house of John Gayer Anderson, a physician who worked for the Egyptian army. The museum is filled with oriental style pieces – furniture, crystal, glassware, silks, carpets, and Arabic costumes, in addition to pieces from Iran, Turkey and Egypt. A perfect gem of a place!

Have A Barbecue in the Heart of the Desert

Bring your tools, it’s time for a barbecue in the heart of the desert! Located in Maadi neighborhood, Wadi Degla protectorate is a place where you’ll get to enjoy the beauty of nature. Inside the protectorate, you can explore limestone rocks that go back millions of years, see animals like mountain rabbits, red foxes, feather tailed rats, deers and others, and search for fossils. The entrance fee is around 5 to 10 EGP.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.