Cairo was once the Byzantine city of Babylon—the same as in the song "by the rivers of Babylon…"! In 969 AD, the Fatimid rulers captured the reigns of power, to be succeeded by the Mameluks, a slave dynasty. They left an impressive set of buildings in a quarter of Cairo now known as Islamic Cairo. This includes a warren of districts like Al-Muski, Darb al-Ahmar and Gamaliya. The old-world charm here is palpable, and well worth soaking in.

The Hanging Church (El Muallaqah/ St Mary) is a Coptic Church within the old Babylon fortress gets its name from a suspended nave. It has 29 steps leading to its entrance that gave it the name of 'staircase church'. Built in the 3rd or 4th centuries in the Basilican style, it was destroyed in the 9th century and rebuilt in the 11th century. There is an incredible collection of over a hundred icons within this church dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries and the oldest is from the 8th century. 

The Egyptian Museum at Cairo is not one you can rush through as part of your sightseeing itinerary but if you are really short on time, here's a tip: browse through the first section that houses treasures from Tutankhamen's time, take a quick look at the sixth section that has coins and papyrus and the seventh section that displays sarcophagi and scarabs. There is a hall for the royal mummies in a specially air-conditioned environment within the museum. This section has a separate entrance fee but it is well worth digging into your pockets to make it to this crypt that has eleven Pharaohs and their consorts.

Despite several efforts of the Egyptologists to preserve them the mummies are said to be degenerating. The Museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm on all days except Friday, when it is closed for a few hours. Students get a 50% discount on entry fee, which is US$6 and an additional US$18 if you want to see the Royal Mummy Room.

Perhaps, the location of the Alabaster Mosque makes it so popular with the tourists. Designed by a Greek architect, it is Ottoman in style and houses the tomb of the ruler of Egypt, Mohammed Ali Pasha. Unlike any other mosque in Cairo, it is very delicate with slender minarets and was built of alabaster in 1857.

 From the arcaded courtyard, there is a magnificent view of the city with the Pyramids of Giza as the backdrop. Climb to the southwest parapet for a good view of Cairo City and the mosques of Ibn Tulun and Sultan Hassan. 

The ancient city of Memphis bordering Cairo derives its name from the pyramid of Pepy I at Saqqara, which is called Mennufer (the good place). Very little of this huge city along the west bank of the Nile remains apart from the sprawling necropolises that have turned out to be the answer to Cairo's housing problems.

Take a trip to the small village of Mit Rahina and see the ruins of the Temple of Ptah, which is reputed to be the grandest monument in ancient Egypt.

This was excavated by the famous Egyptologist, W. M. Flinders Petrie between 1908 and 1913. Worth looking at are the Alabaster Sphinx and the Colossus of Rameses II along the southern enclosure wall.  

The Khan al-Khalili is a vast maze of shops that offer fantastic opportunities for souvenir hunting. Bargain like crazy!