[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="26233,26235,26228,26234,26232,26231,26229,26230"] Renad Ghanem Saudi Gazette Have you ever been to Cairo? If your answer is no, then you've never seen the real Egypt before, as Cairo is known as the city that never sleeps. The first impression you get when you touch down in Cairo is of the warmth of the city; Cario's inhabitants are always friendly and they always share smiles with the city's visitors. Cairo is a wide city with many attractions and things to see and do, from historical, cultural, musical, sports, shopping and dining. What could be better than a cruise on the Nile, or enjoying a dinner at one of the fine restaurants with views of the Nile. Talk of the famous river never stops, but how about a walk over the famous Kasr Al Nile Bridge? The bridge, with its famous lions that protect the city, features in many movies and music videos because of its beautiful views and location at the heart of Cairo. As for Cairo's historical attractions, well there are the Giza Pyramids that are one of the wonders of the world, and were built about 2560 years B.C. The Pyramids are located in the Giza area, and after learning some of ancient Egypt's history, you can go horse riding in the area, or take a tour around the pyramids on a camel. There are also magnificent sound and light shows that light up the pyramids at night. For more cultural understanding, visit the Egyptian Museum located in the heart of Cairo and considered one of the world's largest and most important museums. The museum was established in 1835, and includes an extensive collection of around 120,000 ancient Egyptian artefacts. Cairo has many historical Islamic locations as well, like the Salah Eldin Citadel - the medieval Islamic fortification in Cairo - and Mohammed Ali Mosque located in the Mokatam hills with panoramic views of the city. There is also the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo that is considered one of the greatest in the world, and includes about 102,000 pieces, including a collection of rare woodwork and plaster artefacts, as well as metal, ceramic, glass, crystal, and textile objects from many periods. If you want to see Cairo's skyline, you must pay a visit to the Cairo Tower in El Gazira, close to the downtown area and the Nile. It is one of Cairo's well-known modern monuments, and is sometimes considered Egypt's second most famous landmark after the Pyramids of Giza. If you love music and art, then Cairo Opera House is the place for you. The House opened in 1988, and is a cultural landmark renowned for leadership, excellence and imagination. It has carved itself a significant place in the cultural landscape of Egypt and the Middle East, and presents first-class productions of ballets, operas and symphonies. For more entertainment in Cairo, the city has many malls, such as Cairo Festival, the Mall of Arabia and City Starts. Cairo has also many parks, like Giza Zoo, Azhar Park, Dream Park and the International Garden in Nasr City. And if you love football of course you also have the chance to attended local league matches in the beautiful stadiums in Cairo.
