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the second great pyramid of Giza was built by Khufu’s second son Khafre. Khafre lived during the ‘golden age’ of the Old Kingdom. The pyramids built by him and his family were the greatest in the history of Egypt and some of the greatest achievements in human history. In addition to this pyramid, the pharaoh also ordered the construction of his workers: The Sphinx, the Valley Temple, the processional road that goes from the pyramid to the funerary temple, and a solar boat. At the very top, a section of outer casing stones like those that would have originally covered all three of the Great Pyramids still survives. Although this monument appears larger than that of his father, it is actually slightly smaller but was constructed 10 meters higher on the plateau. The interior is much simpler than that of Khufu’s pyramid, with a single burial chamber, one small subsidiary chamber, and two passageways. The mortuary temple at the pyramid base was more complex than that of Khufu and was filled with statues of the king—over 52 life-size or larger images originally filled the structure.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a giant 4,500-year-old limestone statue situated near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. Measuring 73 meters long and 20 meters high, the Great Sphinx is one of the world’s largest monuments. It is also one of the most recognizable relics of the ancient Egyptians, though the origins and history of the colossal structure are still debated. A sphinx (or sphynx) is a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, with some variations. It is a prominent mythological figure in Egyptian, Asian, and Greek mythology. In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian and most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress—as is the Great Sphinx—and figures of the creatures were often included in tomb and temple complexes. For instance, the so-called Sphinx Alley in Upper Egypt is a two-mile avenue that connects the temples of Luxor and Karnak and is lined with sphinx statues.

Founded in AD 970 as the centerpiece of the newly created Fatimid city, Al Azhar is one of Cairo’s earlier mosques. The building is a harmonious blend of architectural styles, the result of numerous enlargements over more than 1000 years. The tomb chamber, located through a doorway on the left just inside the entrance, has a beautiful mihrab (a niche indicating the direction of Mecca) and should not be missed. The central courtyard is the earliest part, while from south to north the three minarets date from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries; the latter, with its double finial, was added by Sultan Al Ghouri, whose mosque and mausoleum stand nearby. A madrasa was established here in AD 988, growing into a university that is the world’s second-oldest educational institution. At one time the university was one of the world’s preeminent centers of learning, drawing students from Europe and all over the Islamic empire.

Located 40 km southwest of Cairo, Saqqara is one of the most important cemeteries of Memphis, which was itself one of the most important cities in ancient Egyptian history. The name of the site most likely derives from the god of this necropolis, Sokar. Saqqara is truly an open-air museum, one that has all of ancient Egyptian history on display. Kings and noblemen from the very first two dynasties (3100–2686 BC) were buried here, and this is also the location of the Step Pyramid of Djoser (2686–2613 BC), the world’s oldest monumental structure entirely made of stone. The pyramids of some of the most important kings of the Old Kingdom Fifth and Sixth Dynasties are located in Saqqara. One of these, the pyramid of Unas features the oldest pyramid burial chamber decorated with texts. These are the so-called Pyramid Texts, the purpose of which was to protect the deceased king on his journey to the afterlife. In addition to Old Kingdom royal burials, Saqqara is also full of the tombs of the noblemen of this period, which are decorated with scenes and texts of outstanding beauty and craftsmanship.

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is located inside the Citadel of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) in Cairo. It was built by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1848 AD on the site of Mamluk palaces. This mosque is known as the "Alabaster Mosque", in reference to its marble paneling on its interior and exterior walls. The mosque’s twin minarets are the highest in all of Egypt, each reaching a height of 84 meters. The mosque was built in the Turkish style that consists of an open court and prayer hall. The prayer hall is a square space surmounted with a large central dome which is surrounded by four semi-domes and four shallow domes in the corners. There are two minbars (pulpits) inside the mosque. The original of the two is made of wood decorated in green. The other was a later addition made of marble. ​ The outer open court contains a copper clock tower, which was gifted to Muhammad Ali Pasha by Louis Philippe of France in 1845 AD. Muhammad Ali Pasha reciprocated the gesture with an obelisk of Ramesses II’s (c.1279–1213 BC) that stood in front of Luxor Temple. Today, it stands in the Place de la Concorde Square, Paris.

Massive yet elegant, this grand structure is regarded as the finest piece of early Mamluk architecture in Cairo. It was built between 1356 and 1363 by Sultan Hassan, a grandson of Sultan Qalaun; he took the throne at the age of 13, was deposed and reinstated no less than three times, then assassinated shortly before the mosque was completed. Beyond the striking recessed entrance, a dark passage leads into a peaceful square courtyard surrounded by four soaring iwans (vaulted halls). The iwans were dedicated to teaching the four main schools of Sunni Islam. At the rear of the eastern iwan, an especially beautiful mihrab (niche in the mosque indicating the direction of Mecca) is flanked by stolen Crusader columns. To the right, a bronze door leads to the sultan’s mausoleum. During construction one of the minarets collapsed and killed some 300 onlookers sparking superstitious rumors that Sultan Hassan's rule was at an end. They weren't wrong. Just over a month later, he was murdered by his army commander.

This enormous mosque - the biggest in Cairo in terms of land area - was built in the 9th century CE under the orders of Ahmad Ibn Tulun. A slave-soldier, he was sent to govern Egypt under the Abassid Caliphate, and within four years had effectively established himself as an independent ruler. He created his own capital city, Al-Qata'i, and commissioned the mosque as its main focal point. When the short-lived Al-Qata'i was destroyed in the 10th century, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun was the only building that survived. Covering a space of over 6 acres (2.5 hectares), the Mosque of Ibn Tulun consists of an immense courtyard that was built to separate the inner sanctum from the secular society surrounding it. Four covered halls line each side of the courtyard, and in the center, a fauwara - fountain - from the 13th century has replaced the original 9th century gilt-domed version. One of the mosque's most magnificent features is its minaret, famous for its exterior spiral staircase, similar to that of the Great Mosque of Samarra, in Iraq.

The tallest building in North Africa since construction ended in 1961, the iconic Cairo Tower offers incredible panoramic views over the Egyptian capital. Cairo Tower, soaring over the Egyptian capital at 187 meter in height, was the tallest tower in the whole of Africa for ten years after it was built, and remains the tallest in North Africa to this day. From the outside, the intricate latticework of the concrete tower, open at the top to reveal its crown of an observation deck, is designed to represent a Pharaonic lotus flower, one of the symbols of Ancient Egypt. The landmark is illuminated each evening in different colors, making it a truly beautiful sight against the night sky. Reaching the top of the tower, there's an open-air observation deck with telescopes offering incomparable views over Cairo and its surrounding area. Spot the Saladin Citadel, the Pyramids of Giza and of Saqqara and more!

The Museum of Prince Muhammad Ali’s Palace in Manial is one of the most beautiful and important historical museum in Egypt. The museum exhibits an important period in the history of modern Egypt and is characterized by its architectural design. Its modern Islamic style merges with Persian and Mamluk elements. It was also inspired by Syrian, Moroccan and Andalusian motifs, as well as Ottoman style. The building thus harmonizes between a number of Islamic architectural traditions. The palace of Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfik was established between 1900-1929 AD and consists of an outer wall that surrounds the entrance to the palace. Inside the walls is the reception area, the clock tower, the Sabil, the mosque, the hunting museum, living quarters, the throne hall, the private museum, and the golden hall, in addition to the wonderful garden surrounding the palace.

The Mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah is the fourth oldest mosque in Egypt, and the second largest after the Mosque of ibn Tulun. The construction of the mosque was begun by al-Hakim’s father, the Fatimid Caliph al-Aziz bi Allah in 990 AD, but he died before its completion, leaving his son to finish it. The main entrance lies on the western facade of the mosque, and is monumental in size and design. It is one of the oldest architectural examples of projecting entrances, and was influenced by the great Mosque of Mahdiya in Tunis. The plan of the mosque consists of a triangle with four arcades centering a courtyard. Two minarets flank either side of the façade. The mosque has undergone several restoration phases throughout the years. The mosque has a long and intriguing history, including its role as a barracks during the French campaign, when its minarets were utilized as watch-towers. Its qibla arcade was used as a museum of Islamic art called the House of the Arab Antiquities.