Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is the largest metropolitan region in the Arab world and Africa. It is located on the banks and islands of the Nile River, south of the Mediterranean delta. To the southwest are the city of Giza, conurbated with Cairo, and the necropolises of the ancient city of Memphis, including not only the sphinx and the monumental pyramids of Giza, but also the archaeological complexes of Saqqara and Dahshur. The chaotic metropolis, however, has much more to offer than the wonders of Ancient Egypt.

The city founded in 116 BC was the great epicenter of the protests known as the Arab Spring, which led to the fall of dictator Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, after more than 30 years at the helm of Egyptian government. Despite the decline in international tourism due to domestic instability and terrorism, a trip to Egypt will not be complete without visiting Tahrir Square, Cairo Museum, Khan el Khalili market or some of the countless mosques near the Nile.