Egypt · Africa

Discover Cairo with Rafeek

Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate.

Seeing Cairo without the story is only half the trip

The problem

Group tours run on someone else's clock, printed signs say too little, and searching for context on your phone pulls you out of the moment. Most travellers leave Cairo with photos but no sense of what they actually saw.

How Rafeek fixes it

Rafeek is a personal audio guide in your pocket. Press play at each landmark in Cairo, listen at your own pace, and keep your eyes on the place instead of a screen. Guides work offline, so no roaming or signal worries.

What you'll discover in Cairo

34 landmarks with their own audio guide — tap any one to read what you'll hear.

Abdeen Palace Museum

One of the official residences of the President of Egypt, located in downtown Cairo. A section of the palace is open as a museum, displaying royal collections of arms, silverware, and gifts from foreign dignitaries.

Al-Azhar Mosque

Founded in 970 AD, this is one of Cairo's earliest mosques and the seat of Al-Azhar University, the world's second-oldest continuously run university. It is a masterpiece of Fatimid architecture and remains a revered center of Islamic learning.

Al-Azhar Park

A vast public park located in the heart of historic Cairo, created on what was a centuries-old rubbish dump. It offers lush green spaces, beautiful fountains, and panoramic views of the city's most famous Islamic monuments.

Al-Rifa'i Mosque

Located opposite the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, this mosque was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It serves as the mausoleum for many members of the Egyptian Royal Family, including King Farouk, as well as the last Shah of Iran.

Bab Zuweila

A massive gate from the 11th century, it is one of three remaining gates in the walls of Old Cairo. Visitors can climb its two minarets for a spectacular view over the historic district and the adjacent Al-Muayyad Mosque.

Baron Empain Palace

A distinctive and historic mansion in the suburb of Heliopolis, inspired by the Hindu temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Built in the early 20th century by the Belgian industrialist Edouard Empain, it is known for its unique architecture and rotating design.

Ben Ezra Synagogue

Located in Coptic Cairo, this is one of the oldest synagogues in Egypt. It is famous for being the location where the Cairo Geniza, a treasure trove of medieval Jewish manuscripts, was discovered in the 19th century.

Cairo Citadel (Citadel of Saladin)

A medieval Islamic-era fortification built by Saladin to protect the city from Crusaders. It was the seat of government in Egypt for nearly 700 years and now houses mosques, palaces, and museums, offering panoramic views of the city.

Cairo Tower

A 187-meter-tall freestanding concrete tower located on Gezira Island. It provides a panoramic, 360-degree view of Cairo and its surroundings from its observation deck and revolving restaurant.

Cave Church (Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner)

Located in the Mokattam mountain area, this is the largest church in the Middle East, with a seating capacity of 20,000. It is the main church for the Zabbaleen community, Cairo's garbage collectors, and is carved directly into the cliffside.

City of the Dead (Qarafa)

A vast Islamic necropolis and cemetery stretching for miles below the Mokattam Hills. It is unique because a large population of people live and work among the ornate tombs and mausoleums of this ancient burial ground.

Coptic Cairo

A part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, and numerous other Coptic churches and historical sites. It is a stronghold of Christianity in Egypt and a testament to the city's rich, multi-layered history.

Dahshur

A royal necropolis located in the desert on the west bank of the Nile, south of Cairo. It is known chiefly for several pyramids, two of which are among the oldest and best preserved in Egypt: the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid of Sneferu.

Fortress of Babylon

An ancient Roman fortress located in Coptic Cairo, originally built around 30 BC. The fortress's massive walls and towers now enclose several of Cairo's oldest Coptic churches, including the Hanging Church.

Gayer-Anderson Museum

This museum consists of two beautifully preserved 16th and 17th-century houses, joined by a bridge and adjoining the Mosque of Ibn Tulun. It is filled with an eclectic collection of furniture and artifacts, offering a glimpse into the life of a wealthy Cairene of the Ottoman period.

Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

A state-of-the-art archaeological museum located near the Giza Pyramids, set to be the largest in the world. It houses tens of thousands of artifacts from ancient Egypt, including the complete Tutankhamun collection and the monumental Khufu Solar Boat.

Great Sphinx of Giza

A colossal limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Located on the Giza Plateau, it is believed to represent the Pharaoh Khafre and stands as a sentinel before the pyramids.

Khan el-Khalili

A major souq in the historic center of Islamic Cairo, established in the 14th century. The bazaar is famous for its traditional crafts, spices, perfumes, jewelry, and souvenirs, offering a vibrant and bustling shopping experience.

Manial Palace Museum

The former residence of Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik, this palace is a unique architectural masterpiece. It showcases a blend of Ottoman, Moorish, Persian, and European Rococo styles, surrounded by beautiful gardens on Roda Island.

Memphis

The ancient capital of the first nome of Lower Egypt, and of the Old Kingdom of Egypt from its foundation until around 2200 BC. Today, it is an open-air museum featuring a colossal limestone statue of Ramesses II and a giant alabaster sphinx.

Mosque of Ibn Tulun

The oldest mosque in Cairo surviving in its original form, and the largest in terms of land area. It is renowned for its unique Samarran architectural style and its distinctive minaret with an external spiral staircase.

Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Situated within the Citadel of Cairo, this Ottoman mosque is often called the 'Alabaster Mosque' due to its extensive use of the material. Its grand twin minarets and large central dome dominate the city's skyline.

Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

A monumental mosque and madrasa from the Mamluk era, located near the Citadel. It is remarkable for its massive size and innovative architectural components, often considered one of the finest examples of early Mamluk architecture.

Museum of Islamic Art

This museum in central Cairo holds one of the world's most important and comprehensive collections of Islamic art. Its collection spans from the 7th to the 19th century, covering the entirety of the Islamic world.

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)

Located in Fustat, this modern museum presents a comprehensive overview of all the different historical periods that encompass Egypt. It is famously home to the Royal Mummies Hall, where the mummified remains of ancient kings and queens are displayed.

Nilometer on Roda Island

An ancient structure used to measure the clarity and water level of the Nile River during the annual flood season. This particular Nilometer, dating to 861 AD, is an ornate and well-preserved example of early Islamic architecture and engineering.

Pharaonic Village

A living history museum that takes visitors on a boat tour through canals to see reenactments of ancient Egyptian life. It features replicas of temples, homes, and gardens, providing an educational experience about the pharaohs.

Pyramids of Giza

The last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this complex includes the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. These monumental tombs were built for pharaohs during Egypt's Old Kingdom and are guarded by the Great Sphinx.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga)

A 4th-century Coptic church in Old Cairo, it is one of the oldest in Egypt. It is traditionally believed to have been built on the spot where the Holy Family rested in a cave at the end of their journey into Egypt.

Saqqara Necropolis

A vast, ancient burial ground that served as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. It is home to numerous pyramids, including the world-famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, considered the world's oldest major stone structure.

Tahrir Square

A major public town square in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. The square has been the location and focus for political demonstrations in Cairo, most notably those that led to the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

The Egyptian Museum

Located in Tahrir Square, this world-renowned museum houses an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It contains many important pieces of ancient Egyptian history, including the priceless treasures of King Tutankhamun.

The Hanging Church

Formally Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, it is one of the oldest churches in Egypt. Its name comes from the fact that its nave is built suspended over a passage of the ancient Roman Babylon Fortress.

Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center

A beautifully restored Mamluk-era caravanserai (Wekala) in the heart of Islamic Cairo. It now functions as a cultural center, most famous for its regular performances of the traditional and mesmerizing Tanoura Sufi dance.

How Rafeek works in Cairo

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About Cairo

Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate. It is home to more than 9.8 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. The Greater Cairo metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world by population with over 22 million people. Areas of what would become Cairo were inhabited from pre-dynastic and early-dynastic ancient Egypt c. 6000 years ago, as the Giza pyramid complex and the ancient cities of Memphis and Heliopolis are today within the city.