The Best-Kept Secrets Of Cairo

Cairo attracts thousands of tourists every year with its unique combination of modern restaurants and bars, historic buildings and traditional art performances. From the River Nile to the Pyramids of Giza, Cairo is a true tourist paradise. However, there are still some unexplored parts of the city that will add to a truly authentic stay in this multifaceted city.

Islamic Cairo At Sunrise

For a truly authentic experience in Cairo, wander through Islamic Cairo in the very early hours of the morning and watch the city slowly wake up. If you walk down the small side street behind Sharia Al-Azhar, you will be led directly to Al-Azhar Park, lined with tiny shops owned by locals that still produce handmade shoes, jewellery and more. This is also an authentic residential district of Cairo, where visitors can see the everyday life of local families.

Garden City At Twilight

Tawfiqiyya Souq Market After Midnight

Tawfiqiyya Souq Market is a traditional Egyptian fruit and vegetable market that is open from the very early hours of the morning until after midnight. Most tourists tend to visit the market during the day when it is at its busiest. However, walking through the market just before it is about to close down for the night creates a completely different feeling of authenticity, as the only people left will be local shopkeepers who sit together, chat and pack up after a busy day at the market.

Vintage Mirrors At Khan El Khalili Market

Khan el Khalili is a medieval bazaar in central Cairo that is still predominantly occupied by Egyptian street vendors and shop owners. While many of the shops in Khan El Khalili do sell tourist souvenirs, there are still some true hidden gems to be found at the market. If you explore the tiny shops more closely you will find amazing 18th-century mirrors and wooden screens that continue to promote the art of traditional Egyptian craftsmanship. There are also some old goldsmiths that operate in the area and traditional coffeehouses.

Local artists

Local Egyptian artists continue to be true hidden gems in Cairo. There is a wide variety of art galleries, temporal exhibitions and even coffeehouses and restaurants that contribute to the promotion of local artists and their work across borders. Most notably, the 23 Artist exhibition at the Art Lounge, which exhibits everything from drawings to paintings and sculptures, as well as the Crystal Angels Gallery Exhibition in Zamalek’s Art Corner that features the important work of visual artist Ghada El Nagger, are worth a visit. More fascinating artwork can be found in the city’s many renowned galleries, such as Al Masar Gallery, Safar Khan Art Gallery or Zamalek Art Gallery.

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.