Above: The St. Regis Cairo on the Nile River - RALF TOOTEN

It may be tempting to keep one’s time in Cairo brief, considering the city’s chaotic traffic and air pollution. But Egypt’s largest metropolis offers an array of breathtakingly beautiful sites. The Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are but some of many, including elegant mosques, atmospheric Coptic churches and colorful bazaars. Farther afield, the seldom-visited Bent Pyramid and the Step Pyramid of Zoser at Saqqara are even more ancient than those at Giza.

Join Andrew Harper today to continue reading our exclusive content.