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Cairo

The mother of the world — 21 million people beside the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World.

Metro population
21,000,000
Country
Egypt
Region
Africa
Overview

Why visit Cairo

Cairo — 'the mother of the world' to Egyptians — is Africa's largest metro area and the only city on earth that can see an ancient Wonder from its edge: the Pyramids of Giza rise directly out of the city's western suburbs.

The new Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza (the world's largest museum devoted to one civilisation) houses the complete Tutankhamun collection; downtown, the old Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili's medieval bazaar and the Citadel of Saladin layer 5,000 years into one skyline.

Speed's 2025 Africa tour streamed from Cairo to enormous crowds. The pyramids, the Nile feluccas at sunset and the cacophony of a city of 21 million make it travel's greatest sensory overload.

Things to do

Top things to book in Cairo

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Plan your trip

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Top things to book in Cairo

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Fun facts

Things you didn't know about Cairo

  1. 01

    The Last Wonder

    The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only Ancient Wonder still standing — and it's visible from the suburbs.

  2. 02

    The Grand Egyptian Museum

    The new GEM is the world's largest museum for a single civilisation — the complete Tutankhamun collection is inside.

  3. 03

    4,500 Years

    The Great Pyramid was the world's tallest building for 3,800 years.

  4. 04

    Mother Of The World

    Egyptians call the city 'Umm al-Dunya' — mother of the world.

  5. 05

    A City Of A Thousand Minarets

    The medieval skyline earned the poetic nickname.

  6. 06

    Khan El-Khalili

    The 14th-century bazaar's lanes still sell gold, spices and lanterns.

  7. 07

    The Citadel

    Saladin's 12th-century fortress crowns the city — the Muhammad Ali mosque's alabaster dome on top.

  8. 08

    Nile Islands

    Zamalek island holds embassies, cafés and the opera — felucca sails drift past.

  9. 09

    Coptic Cairo

    The old Christian quarter holds churches built over the Roman Babylon fortress.

  10. 10

    Tahrir Square

    The 2011 revolution's heart remains the symbolic centre.

Random Cairo fact

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FAQ

Quick answers about Cairo

Where is Cairo located?

Cairo is in Egypt, in Africa.

What is the population of Cairo?

The greater Cairo area is home to about 21,000,000 people.

What is Cairo famous for?

Cairo is famous for the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum's Tutankhamun treasures, and Khan el-Khalili bazaar.

Did IShowSpeed stream from Cairo?

Yes — IShowSpeed streamed from Cairo on his 2025 Africa tour. See his full world tour map.

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