Top 5 Undiscovered Historical Sites in Cairo

July 30, 2025

Name	Air Quality	Nomad Cost	Expat Cost	Cost Score	Leisure Score	Rating
Cairo Egypt	100	$910	$493	100	60

What does everyone think of when they hear Cairo or Egypt? That’s right, the pyramids. More informed tourists may say the Egyptian museum or bazaars - but is that all?

Cairo is rich in history and boasts a collection of historical sites that are often overlooked by mainstream tours. Here’s your guide to the top 5 undiscovered historical sites in Cairo.

The Nilometer in Rhoda Island

This structure was designed to measure the water level of the River Nile, allowing farmers to determine whether to expect a flood or drought. It dates back to 861 AD, and has marble columns and cylindrical wells, which are another demonstration of how Egyptian engineering was far ahead of its time. The Nilometer played an important role in planning agricultural activities and utilizing resources to prepare for periods of floods or droughts when farming wasn’t possible.

The Cave Church

This Cave church is the monastery of Saint Simon and is one of the largest churches in the Middle East. It is located in Mokattam Hills, and has a vast interior carved inside; like any church, it is decorated with biblical carvings and murals - but these date back centuries, making the colossal cave church even more fascinating. The church is mostly used by Cairo’s Zabbaleen community, and is also open for tourits.

Al-Andalus Garden

Built as a gift by Zulfugar Pasha in 1929 for this wife, these botanical-style gardens on Gezira Island are a romantic respite from the busy streets of Cairo. Al-Andalus garden stands out from other parks because of the preserved old structures designed in traditional Andalusian architectural style, with Moorish influence. The gardens display panoramic views of the Nile and Cairo’s cityscape, lush greenery paired with mosaic benches, and status of Pharoahs, lions and the famous Egyptian poet, Ahmed Shawky. The grandeur of these gardens is preserved to date and take visitors back to previous era of Cairo.

Cairo’s City of the Dead

Unlike the name suggests, many people live here - alive and well. The city of the dead is a cemetry (very vast, stretches for miles in Cairo and just outside it) with inhabitants living among the tombs and graves. It offers an awe-inspiring juxtaposition of life and death - but despite the morbid atmosphere, there is a strong sense of community here, complete with residents, local stores, workshops and schools. The inhabitants of this city have adapted to living among the mausoleums and tombs and surprisingly don’t seem bothered by it at all, making this an interesting spot on any tourist’s itinerary!

The Cairo Genizah

The Genizah is a collection of Jewish manuscripts, which were found in the storeroom of en Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo. Some of these documents are over a thousand years old, containing information about the social, economical and religious lives of the Jewish community. The Genizah is no less than a vault, harkening scholars/historians back to medieval Cairo.

That’s A Wrap!

Cairo history is rich with influences from various dynasties and empires; it hold structures demonstrating the ingenuity of Egyptian engineers, the lifestyles of average residents and royals, and has many preserved places that are centuries old. Next time, after you’re done touring the Pyramids and the Egyptian museum, give these undiscovered treasures a visit too - to make your trip truly memorable!

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