Cairo in a day: what to see

The Pyramids of Giza, the sole survivor among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, deserve a morning: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, built over 4,500 years ago, remains the largest of the three and the only one partially climbable from within.

At the foot of the plateau stands the Sphinx, the statue with a lion's body and human head carved from a single limestone block, whose missing nose still fuels various legends about its origins today.

Returning toward downtown you reach the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, which houses over one hundred thousand artifacts, including Tutankhamun's treasure with his famous golden funeral mask.

For lunch, the surrounding neighborhood offers numerous places to taste dishes like koshari, the humble dish of rice, lentils and pasta considered Egypt's national dish.

In the afternoon the Islamic Cairo reveals the Citadel of Saladin, built in the 12th century to defend the city, with views over the metropolis and the nearby Muhammad Ali Mosque with its Ottoman-style domes.

The Khan el-Khalili, the grand bazaar active since the 1300s, is a labyrinth of alleyways dedicated to selling spices, silverware and handicrafts, a meeting point for locals themselves.

Toward evening, the historic cafés around the bazaar, where mint tea is served and shisha is still smoked, become the most natural spot to end the day.

The Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum make ancient Egypt unmistakable; the afternoon choice between Saladin's Citadel and Khan el-Khalili adds the Islamic layer.

The Grand Egyptian Museum, the new complex near Giza, and an evening Nile cruise alone justify a return visit. Seeing the pyramids rise against the traffic and modern buildings surrounding them is perhaps the most striking image Cairo has to offer.