From the majestic Pyramids of Giza to the winding alleys of Historic Cairo with their important Islamic monuments and bustling markets and the vibrant life that flows along the Nile, Cairo has long captivated travellers and historians with its unique blend of history, culture, commerce, learning, and energy.
The Egyptian capital has now earned a place among the world’s most beautiful cities, according to a recent ranking by the Civitatis platform, which included Cairo as the fourth of the 12 most beautiful cities across the globe.
Civitatis is a leading Spain-based travel platform specialising in tours, excursions, and travel experiences. Since its launch in 2008, it has grown into one of the largest curated marketplaces for tourism activities in the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking markets, offering experiences across destinations worldwide and serving more than 30 million travellers.
In explaining Cairo’s inclusion on the list, Civitatis highlighted the city’s exceptional diversity of attractions and experiences. It pointed to Cairo’s rich cultural heritage, from the world-renowned Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), and its vast collection of monuments to the city’s historic markets. It also noted the variety of experiences available to visitors, including Nile cruises and evening tours that offer a unique opportunity to experience the city’s atmosphere, history, and night life.
The recognition highlights the city’s remarkable diversity and growing appeal as a global destination. It reflects not only Cairo’s iconic landmarks but also its distinctive character. As Egypt continues to invest in preserving its cultural assets and enhancing the visitor experience, Cairo’s inclusion among the world’s most beautiful cities serves as a testament to its enduring ability to inspire and welcome travellers from around the world.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy described Cairo as “a standalone tourist destination”, where visitors can arrive in Cairo from the Sphinx International Airport to visit the Giza Plateau, the GEM, and Saqqara Necropolis and then Historic Cairo and Old Cairo with their Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish monuments.
From Cairo, they can go on a trip to Hurghada on the Red Sea or Alamein on the Mediterranean where they can enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.
Fathy pointed to the master plan, now under development, for the area surrounding the GEM and the Giza Plateau and extending from the Sphinx International Airport to Dahshour, with the aim of establishing one of the city’s premier tourism destinations. This seeks to create an integrated tourism and cultural corridor that enhances the visitor experience while preserving the exceptional historical and archaeological value of the area.
He explained that the plan includes major upgrades to infrastructure, transportation and mobility networks, tourism services, and hospitality facilities, alongside the development of new hotels, restaurants, and visitor amenities. All the proposed projects will be implemented in accordance with UN cultural agency UNESCO standards and international conservation guidelines to ensure the protection of the site’s authenticity and cultural significance.
Combining public-sector initiatives with private-sector investment, the strategy also aims to generate sustainable economic opportunities for local communities. It takes into account the anticipated increase in visitor numbers, particularly following the full opening of the GEM, by encouraging a diversified hospitality offering that includes both hotel accommodations and high-end residential developments.
Despite ongoing regional challenges, Egypt’s tourism sector maintained strong momentum in 2026. Tourist arrivals increased by seven per cent during the first four months of the year, reaching 6.1 million visitors compared to 5.7 million during the same period in 2025.
The growth reflects the resilience of the Egyptian tourism industry and the effectiveness of the country’s diversified market strategy. Egypt currently welcomes visitors from 179 countries and is implementing tailored promotional campaigns for key source markets as part of its long-term vision to attract 30 million tourists annually by 2030.
This is not the first time Cairo has received international recognition for its beauty. In 1925, in other words some 100 years ago, the Egyptian capital was awarded one of the world’s most beautiful city distinctions and was also recognised as the most beautiful and cleanest city in the Mediterranean and Europe.
At the time, the city was also praised for the elegance of its streets, the orderly flow of its traffic, and the architectural character of its buildings, whose distinctive designs contributed to Cairo’s reputation as one of the most attractive urban centres of its time.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 4 June, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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