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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Cairo

10 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

Updated May 21, 2020

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Unusual Attractions in Cairo

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Explore Cairo, Egypt

Architecture 4
Sacred Spaces 3
Wonder Cabinets 2
Eccentric Homes 2
Rivers 2
Churches 2
Homes 2
Ancient 2

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The Secret Language of Cairo's Goldsmiths

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Crowds on Al Moaz in Cairo.

The Ghost Airline That Has Linked Cairo and Tel Aviv for Decades

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Cairo's Sharia Khayamiya—the Street of the Tentmakers, aka the Tentmakers Market—is the only place in the world where the decorative appliqué textile is made.

This Ancient Egyptian Textile Is Hanging By a Thread

Only 20 khayamiya artisans are left, in one dusty alley in Cairo. Can e-commerce save them?
by Stephanie Vermillion
A falafel stand in Gaza.

Around the Middle East in Hummus and Falafel

A new book is an ode to chickpeas and the people that love them.
by Olivia Snaije
Behold!

Exploring a 'Treasure Trove' of Medieval Egyptian Recipes

A newly translated cookbook provides a tantalizing glimpse of Cairo's past.
by Abbey Perreault
A male reserve head found in the shaft of a tomb c. 1915.

Dozens of Mysterious 'Reserve Heads' Were Sealed in Ancient Egyptian Tombs

Over 30 have been found, but their function is unclear.
by Hadley Meares

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