About Cairo

About Cairo Today

Islamic Cairo at Sunset
photo by ania.egypt

Cairo has a population of 16 million people. It sits on the banks of the Nile in the northern part of Egypt. The oldest part of the city is east of the Nile and to the west are the agricultural areas. The western part of the city has wide boulevards, beautiful public gardens and open areas. The eastern half of the old city is a mixture of crowded tenements with small lanes and random buildings.

There are hundred of old mosques in the eastern half of the city and the western half is filled with modern architecture and government buildings.

Bridges link Cairo to Giza and west of Giza is the ancient necropolis of Memphis, which sits on the Giza plateau. The pyramids are approximately 11 miles from Cairo.

Read more on Cairo Travel Guide.