Past the Pyramids: 5 Ideas for Free Time in Egypt

There are a million reasons to make the journey to Egypt—the ancient history, the mysterious allure of the Great Sphinx, the famous Nile River, and of course, the pyramids. But if you find yourself with some free time, you’ll see that there’s so much more of Egypt to explore beyond the history-book highlights.

Whether you’re looking for souvenirs or just want to experience the frenetic bustle of Egypt’s marketplaces, you gotta hit up a souk. There’s a ton of them in Cairo, but the most famous is Khan el-Khalili, where you’ll find everything from perfume and spices to jewelry and textiles. Oh, and haggling over prices is an artform in the souks, so be prepared to play the game.

Finding good eats in Egypt is like throwing a rock and hoping to hit something historic—pretty easy. Try Ful Medames, or ful, a spiced fava bean stew that many Egyptians eat for breakfast. There’s also kushari, a taste bud-tickling mix of lentils, rice, pasta, onions, and chickpeas, topped with tomato and chili. Find some mint tea or Arabic coffee to sip and you’ll be noshing like a local.

Less than a mile from Khan el-Khalili is Al-Azhar Park, Cairo’s “Green Lung,” a 72-acre oasis that’s also listed as one of the world’s 60 greatest public spaces. The park features fountains, beautiful Islamic-inspired gardens, a lake, and even restaurants, but the highlight is the 800-year-old Ayyubid Wall. There’s a small fee to enter, but once you’re in, stroll away.

Wait, art that’s NOT part of an ancient tomb? Built as an aristocratic residence in 1907, the Aisha Fahmy Palace features oil paintings by masters like Delacroix and Renoir. If you’re in the market for more contemporary funk, the Townhouse Gallery is the first independent art space in Egypt and regularly hosts exhibitions showing the work of up-and-coming artists.

Wait, art that’s NOT part of an ancient tomb? Built as an aristocratic residence in 1907, the Aisha Fahmy Palace features oil paintings by masters like Delacroix and Renoir. If you’re in the market for more contemporary funk, the Townhouse Gallery is the first independent art space in Egypt and regularly hosts exhibitions showing the work of up-and-coming artists.

Okay so, yes, this is a blog post about stuff to do that's not super old-stuff centric, but there’s a PIZZA HUT in Giza with a bonkers view of the Sphinx and the pyramids, which sure beats the strip mall scenery and sweeping parking lot vistas that we’re accustomed to. If you can, head to the Hut, order a pie, and kick back with a slice of history.

There’s a ton of stuff to do in your free time in Egypt beyond Sphinx-gawking and pyramid-hopping (although those are awesome, too). Get yourself on a trip to Egypt, experience some of the local flavor, and discover what this bucket-list destination really has to offer.