Cairo offers an amazing number of places you can visit to really enjoy your trip. In this article, the focus will be on the top 13 must-see and Instagrammable places in Cairo. These places are some of the best photo spots in Cairo if you’re looking to take eye-catching photos for your Instagram feed.
Having great photos of Cairo on your Instagram account or page is a great way to get more followers. In this list, we will be giving you brief information about each place. You will also find example pictures that were taken and posted on Instagram feeds by each photographer. We hope this list of places in Cairo will offer you inspiration on where to go. The 13 places below are fun to visit and should hopefully give you ideas for taking gorgeous and Instagram-worthy pictures in Cairo.
13 Most Instagrammable Places In Cairo You Must Visit
Table Of Contents
1. The Pyramids And Sphinx Of Giza
2. Muhammad Ali Mosque
3. The Egyptian Museum
4. The Hanging Church
5. Cairo Tower
6. Al-Azhar Park
7. Ibn Tulun Mosque
8. Al Muizz Street
9. Abdeen Palace Museum
10. Manial Palace Museum
11. Cairo Citadel
12. Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
13. The Nile River
1. The Pyramids And Sphinx Of Giza
No top list of must-see or most Instagrammable places in Cairo can ever be complete without the Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza getting included. The Giza pyramid complex or Giza Necropolis, is the site on the Giza Plateau that includes the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. Photos of the Pyramids of Egypt and the Sphinx will undoubtedly be the most treasured and fascinating pictures to post on Instagram from your trip to Cairo.
You might also like our articles about the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza.
2. Muhammad Ali Mosque
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha or Alabaster Mosque as it’s also known as is located in the Citadel of Cairo. This great mosque was commissioned by Muhammad Ali and built between 1830 and 1848. The Mosque of Muhammad Ali was the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th century. You can see the beautiful twin minarets of this mosque from many parts of Cairo. You can be assured that taking pictures for your Instagram feed of the mosque will not leave your followers disappointed.
3. The Egyptian Museum
Located at the North side of the famous Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum is also known as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. This is a treasure vault of photo opportunities for your Instagram. The museum has around 120,000 items of Egyptian antiquity – although not all items are available on display, you’ll find you can take hundreds of photos on your visit.
The main attractions at the Egyptian Museum are by no doubt 1,700 items taken from Tutankhamun’s tomb. You might also like to read our article on the Mask of Tutankhamun.
4. The Hanging Church
The Hanging Church (Arabic: الكنيسة المعلقة al Muʿallaqah) in old Cairo, dates back to the third century. The Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church) is one of the oldest churches in Egypt. Although photography is not allowed inside the church, photos of the beautiful architecture of the church building is a must for your Instagram feed. The Hanging Church is named because of its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortress in Old Cairo.
5. Cairo Tower
Very close to the heart of the Egyptian capital, Cairo Tower looks amazing in photos. As well as photographing the tower, you can take stunning pictures of Cairo from the top. Standing at 187 metres tall, Cairo Tower offers amazing panoramic views of Cairo from the top.
You will have a great time at Cairo Tower, your trip won’t obviously be just for taking photos for Instagram. Cairo Tower has a beautiful revolving restaurant where you can enjoy stunning views of the Nile River and Cairo as you dine. Cairo Tower also has an amazing observatory with telescopes for a closer look at Cairo from the top. Cairo Tower really deserves to be in 5th position in our list of 13 most Instagrammable places in Cairo.
For more information about the tower, you might also like our article about Cairo Tower.
6. Al-Azhar Park
Al-Azhar Park is a great day out for you if you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon. The park is a great break from all the traffic and crowds of Cairo during the day. Al-Azhar Park is in the Islamic part of Cairo and boasts a beautiful and unobstructed view of the Mosque Of Muhammad Ali at the Cairo Citadel. You will find plenty of photos to take in the park – make sure you’ve got enough battery life in your phone or digital camera. The pictures you take at Al-Azhar Park are sure to impress your Instagram followers.
7. Ibn Tulun Mosque
The Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo is a piece of architectural beauty. This mosque is not exactly one of the most popular for tourists who go to Cairo. The lack of crowds is actually why you’ll be able to take amazing pictures without having to worry about people appearing in the frame. The Ibn Tulun Mosque is a must-visit place in Cairo for a great afternoon and for some stunning photos.
The majestic mosque was commissioned by Ahmad Ibn Tulun and was built between 878 and 879 AD. The Mosque of Ibn Tulun is the oldest mosque in Cairo that’s surviving in its original form. The mosque is also the largest mosque in Cairo and the third in the world in terms of land area (26,318 sqm).
8. Al Muizz Street
Al Muizz Street is another one of those locations that will not disappoint you when it comes to taking great photos. Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street (Arabic: شارع المعز لدين الله الفاطمي) in Old Cairo offers amazing photo opportunities.
Historically, Al Muizz Street was known as the “qasaba” in Arabic. This word’s meaning can be equated to the “artery” as the street was considered as a central part of the city. Al Muizz Street has many bazaars and little shops if you’re looking for buying some souvenirs from local craftsmen to take home.
9. Abdeen Palace Museum
The Abdeen Palace Museum is probably one of Cairo’s hidden gems that’s overlooked by many tourists. The palace served as the royal residence until the end of the monarchy in 1952. This very interesting site holds an extensive collection of arms. A walk through Abdeen Palace Museum is a great tour through the military history of Egypt.
Abdeen Palace Museum also has a beautiful collection of silverware and other items that belonged to the former royal family of Egypt. This classy and luxurious palace will definitely add many fantastic photos to your Instagram feed.
10. Manial Palace Museum
The Manial Palace Museum is perfect for a great day out and loads of photos to take. This palace was built by Prince Muhammad Ali and the palace complex includes six structures. There is a hunting museum belonging to the late King Farouk of Egypt, the prince’s residence and furnishings and an amazing garden.
The palace and grounds are on the “Rhoda Island” on the Nile River. The Manial Palace Museum is located in El-Manial district of southern Cairo.
11. Cairo Citadel
No list for the most Instagrammable places in Cairo will ever be complete without the Citadel. Perched high above the city, the Cairo Citadel or Citadel of Salah Al-Din is just one of those must-see locations in the Egyptian capital. You will be amazed by the views you’ll be able to see from the Cairo Citadel. This spot is fantastic for taking so many pictures. As well as the stunning views, the site also has 4 mosques – Muhammad Ali, Al-Nasir Muhammad, Sulayman Pasha and Al-‘Azab mosques.
12. Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
This busy open-air bazaar is popular for both tourists and Egyptians alike. Khan el-Khalili is perfect for finding the perfect souvenir or even jewellery to take back home with you. Do be prepared to haggle and you should be able to get yourself a good bargain. Khan el-Khalili is guaranteed to get that shutter clicking away.
You might also like our other article about Khan el-Khalili.
13. The Nile River
Last but not least is an afternoon or evening spent by the River Nile in Cairo. You will find plenty of cafes and floating restaurants by the banks of the Nile. The atmosphere in these places that are so close to the Nile is magical. Don’t forget to also take night shots of the buildings on the downtown Cairo side of the river. The views are much more amazing at night. If you’re into night photography, you’ll find plenty of photo opportunities when you’re next to the Nile.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the 13 must-see places in Cairo. The city is so big and full of great things to see and do. We shall be covering more about the places on this list but hopefully, this shortlist has inspired you to find more places to see in Cairo.
Cairo is truly an amazing city that’s full of restaurants, mosques and churches. You can also consider a walk around Downtown Cairo. The place is full of history and architecture as well. You will find many beautiful buildings that date back to the 19th century – these are a gem for photography. In case you would like to do some shopping while in Cairo, check out our article about the top 4 shopping malls in Cairo.
