Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Cairo is located in Egypt, part of Africa. Find essential geography and continue exploring more places in the same country.
Source: GeoNames geographical database. Population figures can use different geographic boundaries and should be read together with “Figure applies to”.
Cairo is Egypt’s capital and a vast metropolis along the Nile. Pharaonic history, Islamic architecture and dense everyday life meet across a city of considerable distances.
Cairo has a recorded population of 9,606,916. The figure applies to Cairo. The source does not provide a reference year; the source data was last checked September 3, 2026.
Downtown surrounds Tahrir Square, Zamalek is a greener Nile island, and Old Cairo contains churches and historic quarters. Islamic Cairo follows medieval streets and mosques.
The Giza pyramids, museums with ancient collections, Khan el-Khalili, the Citadel of Saladin and the Nile waterfront are central experiences.
October to April generally brings milder temperatures. Summer is extremely hot, and air quality and sun exposure require attention.
The metro covers parts of the city, but taxis and organised transport are often used between sights. Traffic can make journey times long.
Explore Giza, Alexandria and Fayoum.
Cairo has a recorded population of 9,606,916. The figure applies to Cairo. The source does not provide a reference year; the source data was last checked September 3, 2026.
Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Three or four days suit Cairo and Giza without overloading each day.
The Nile is the city’s defining natural feature, while desert landscapes begin west and east of the metropolis.