Main Content
A lion with the face of a pharaoh, the 4,500-year-old Sphinx stands guard at Giza.
Photograph by Kenneth Garrett/National Geographic Stock
The world's original tourist destination, the seat of thought and influence in the Arab world. • The first Arab country to make peace with Israel. • Paper, the 365-day calendar, and novelist Naguib Mahfouz's unforgettable Cairo Trilogy are among its many gifts to the world. • Images of pharaonic culture—mummies, hieroglyphs, the Pyramids—suffuse our contemplation of this storied land. • The Nile bisects its vast expanse. • Crumbling Cairo contrasts with graceful fishermen's feluccas drifting on a river breeze. • A country of endless contrast, grindingly poor yet rich beyond words in history.
Related Features
-
48 Hours: Cairo Guide
Frenetic Cairo is a city of striking contrasts: sensual belly dancers and ancient relics, medieval bazaars and contemporary art.
-
The Black Pharaohs
An ignored chapter of history tells of a time when kings from deep in Africa conquered ancient Egypt.
-
The King Herself
What motivated Hatshepsut to rule ancient Egypt as a man while her stepson stood in the shadows? Her mummy, and her true story, come to light.
Egypt Map
Africa Photos
This requires the latest version of Flash Player. Click here to download.Advertisement
Travel With Us
Travel Top 10
-
Hideaways & Inns
Find a destination that's great for anyone in need of a getaway.
Geotourism
-
Center for Sustainable Destinations
Working to protect the places we love through wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship.
Special Ad Section
-
Audio Slideshow
Take a photographic journey through Montana and hear Annie Griffiths Belt's narrative.
-
Adventure Videos
Check out adventure videos and go "Behind the Lens."
