Although Cairo has over a dozen museums, most visitors limit themselves to the big three, devoted respectively to Egyptian Antiquities , Coptic and Islamic Art . Of these, the Antiquities Museum is the most popular and by far the largest, necessitating at least two visits to do it any kind of justice. The Coptic and Islamic Art museums can each comfortably be seen in a couple of hours and make fitting adjuncts to exploration of their quarters of the city.

 

On a practical note, unless you're planning to buy a photo permit, it's best to leave your camera at the hotel. Otherwise you'll have to check it in at the entrance to all three main museums, a process which occasionally leads to the wrong camera being returned to the wrong owner. For the smaller museums, given temporary closures and erratic opening hours, it's worth telephoning the distant ones before setting out.