60 Trivia Questions about Cairo (with Answers)

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Cairo, the ancient city straddling the Nile, holds thousands of years of history within its sprawling streets and magnificent monuments.

From pharaonic treasures to Islamic architectural masterpieces, this Egyptian capital serves as a living museum of human civilization. Whether you’ve visited Cairo or hope to someday, testing your knowledge about this fascinating metropolis can be both entertaining and educational.

Ready to challenge yourself with some brain-teasing questions about one of the oldest cities on Earth? These trivia questions cover everything from Cairo’s famous landmarks and historical figures to its cuisine, culture, and hidden gems.

Don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers right away – you’ll find them at the end of the quiz section. So grab a cup of tea (or perhaps some Egyptian karkade), get comfortable, and see how much you really know about the city nicknamed “The Mother of the World.”

Trivia Questions about Cairo

  1. Which river flows through Cairo? A) Tigris B) Nile C) Euphrates D) Jordan
  2. In which year did Cairo become the official capital of Egypt? A) 969 CE B) 1250 CE C) 1517 CE D) 1798 CE
  3. What is the name of Cairo’s famous ancient market? A) Souk El-Khalili B) Khan El-Khalili C) Bab Zuweila D) Al-Muizz Market
  4. Which ancient wonder can be seen from parts of Cairo? A) Hanging Gardens B) Great Pyramids of Giza C) Colossus of Rhodes D) Temple of Artemis
  5. What is the name of Cairo’s main square that became famous during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution? A) Liberation Square B) Freedom Square C) Tahrir Square D) Revolution Square
  6. Which museum in Cairo houses the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities? A) Coptic Museum B) Museum of Islamic Art C) Grand Egyptian Museum D) Egyptian Museum
  7. What does the Arabic name “Al-Qahira” (Cairo) translate to in English? A) The Victorious B) The Ancient C) The Powerful D) The Blessed
  8. Which Islamic dynasty founded Cairo in 969 CE? A) Ayyubid B) Fatimid C) Mamluk D) Ottoman
  9. What is the tallest structure in Cairo? A) Cairo Tower B) Great Pyramid of Giza C) Alabaster Mosque D) Cairo International Stadium
  10. Which of these is a traditional Egyptian dish commonly found in Cairo? A) Mansaf B) Koshari C) Tagine D) Biryani
  11. What is the name of Cairo’s historic citadel? A) Citadel of Saladin B) Citadel of Ramesses C) Citadel of Alexandria D) Citadel of Cleopatra
  12. Which famous Islamic university is located in Cairo? A) Al-Azhar University B) Al-Qarawiyyin University C) Zaytuna University D) Nizamiyya University
  13. What is the approximate population of Greater Cairo? A) 10 million B) 15 million C) 20 million D) 25 million
  14. Which district of Cairo is known for its Coptic Christian heritage? A) Maadi B) Zamalek C) Old Cairo D) Heliopolis
  15. What is the name of Cairo’s modern opera house? A) Royal Opera House B) Cairo Opera House C) Khedivial Opera House D) National Opera House
  16. Which famous Egyptian leader is buried in a mosque in Cairo? A) Anwar Sadat B) Gamal Abdel Nasser C) King Farouk D) Muhammad Ali Pasha
  17. What was Cairo called during the Roman period? A) Babylon B) Memphis C) Heliopolis D) Luxor
  18. Which of these Cairo landmarks features the largest collection of medieval Islamic art? A) Sultan Hassan Mosque B) Ibn Tulun Mosque C) Museum of Islamic Art D) Al-Azhar Mosque
  19. What is the name of Cairo’s famous cemetery where many people live? A) City of Peace B) City of the Dead C) Eternal Gardens D) Silent City
  20. Which ancient Egyptian capital city ruins can be found just south of Cairo? A) Thebes B) Memphis C) Amarna D) Avaris
  21. What type of tree lines many of Cairo’s streets and is symbolic of the city? A) Date Palm B) Sycamore Fig C) Acacia D) Tamarisk
  22. Which famous hotel in Cairo has hosted numerous celebrities and world leaders since 1869? A) Four Seasons Cairo B) Cairo Marriott C) Shepheard’s Hotel D) The Nile Ritz-Carlton
  23. What is the official language spoken in Cairo? A) English B) French C) Arabic D) Coptic
  24. Which famous archaeological site featuring step pyramids is located near Cairo? A) Valley of the Kings B) Saqqara C) Abu Simbel D) Karnak
  25. What is the name of Cairo’s international airport? A) Cairo International Airport B) Ramses International Airport C) Nasser International Airport D) Giza International Airport
  26. Which famous Cairo mosque features an alabaster exterior? A) Al-Azhar Mosque B) Ibn Tulun Mosque C) Muhammad Ali Mosque D) Sultan Hassan Mosque
  27. What is the name of the island in the middle of the Nile that houses many of Cairo’s luxury hotels? A) Zamalek B) Roda Island C) Gezira Island D) Manial Island
  28. Which ancient Egyptian god was particularly worshipped in Heliopolis (now part of Cairo)? A) Osiris B) Ra C) Anubis D) Horus
  29. What color are most of Cairo’s taxis? A) Yellow B) Blue C) Black and White D) Green
  30. Which Cairo neighborhood is known for its European-inspired architecture? A) Heliopolis B) Garden City C) Dokki D) Nasr City
  31. What is the name of Cairo’s main football (soccer) stadium? A) Cairo International Stadium B) Al-Ahly Stadium C) Nasser Stadium D) Egypt Stadium
  32. Which famous Nobel Prize-winning author was born in Cairo? A) Taha Hussein B) Naguib Mahfouz C) Alaa Al Aswany D) Nawal El Saadawi
  33. What is the name of the famous street in downtown Cairo known for its shops and cafés? A) Talaat Harb Street B) Road of the Pyramids C) Al-Muizz Street D) Qasr El Nil Street
  34. Which famous canal connects Cairo to the Red Sea? A) Mahmoudiyah Canal B) Suez Canal C) Ismalia Canal D) Cairo Canal
  35. What is the typical Cairo rush hour traffic like? A) Mild B) Moderate C) Heavy D) Extremely congested
  36. Which famous bridge in Cairo features four lion statues? A) 6th October Bridge B) Qasr El Nil Bridge C) 15th May Bridge D) Abbas Bridge
  37. What is the traditional Egyptian bread commonly eaten in Cairo? A) Pita B) Naan C) Aish Baladi D) Lavash
  38. Which famous Cairo mosque was built on the site of Fatimid caliphs’ tombs? A) Al-Hussein Mosque B) Al-Azhar Mosque C) Sayyida Zeinab Mosque D) Al-Hakim Mosque
  39. What is the name of Cairo’s famous outdoor book market? A) Khan El-Khalili Book Market B) Azbakeya Book Market C) Tahrir Book Fair D) Cairo Literature Bazaar
  40. Which dynasty built most of Islamic Cairo’s architectural treasures? A) Fatimid B) Ayyubid C) Mamluk D) Ottoman
  41. What is the oldest surviving mosque in Cairo? A) Ibn Tulun Mosque B) Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque C) Al-Azhar Mosque D) Al-Hakim Mosque
  42. What is the name of the famous gate in Islamic Cairo with its distinctive minarets? A) Bab Zuweila B) Bab al-Futuh C) Bab al-Nasr D) Bab al-Wazir
  43. Which ancient Egyptian obelisk still stands in its original position in Cairo? A) Luxor Obelisk B) Cleopatra’s Needle C) Hatshepsut’s Obelisk D) Heliopolis Obelisk
  44. What is the name of Cairo’s oldest functioning synagogue? A) Ben Ezra Synagogue B) Sha’ar Hashamayim Synagogue C) Maimonides Synagogue D) Etz Hayyim Synagogue
  45. Which famous Cairo coffee shop has been operating since 1773? A) Fishawi’s Coffeehouse B) El Horreya Café C) Groppi’s D) Café Riche
  46. What percentage of Egypt’s population approximately lives in Greater Cairo? A) 10% B) 20% C) 30% D) 40%
  47. What is the name of Cairo’s subway system? A) Cairo Transit B) Cairo Metro C) Cairo Underground D) Cairo Subway
  48. Which Cairo neighborhood is located on a hill and known for its panoramic views? A) Mokattam B) Maadi C) Nasr City D) Heliopolis
  49. What famous structure was moved from its original location to make way for the Aswan High Dam and now resides in Cairo? A) Temple of Philae B) Temple of Dendur C) Temple of Abu Simbel D) Temple of Kalabsha
  50. Which season typically brings sandstorms to Cairo? A) Winter B) Spring C) Summer D) Fall
  51. What is Cairo’s traditional weekend? A) Saturday and Sunday B) Friday and Saturday C) Thursday and Friday D) Sunday and Monday
  52. Which Cairo district was built as a garden suburb in the early 20th century? A) Zamalek B) Heliopolis C) Garden City D) Maadi
  53. What is the name of the ancient Egyptian site in Cairo that contains the remains of the sun temple? A) Memphis B) Saqqara C) Heliopolis D) Dahshur
  54. Which Cairo museum houses royal mummies? A) Egyptian Museum B) National Museum of Egyptian Civilization C) Grand Egyptian Museum D) Coptic Museum
  55. What is the nickname of Al-Ahly Sporting Club, one of Cairo’s famous football teams? A) The Pharaohs B) The Red Devils C) The Eagles D) The Kings
  56. Which famous Cairo palace is now a museum of Muhammad Ali’s family treasures? A) Abdeen Palace B) Manial Palace C) Qubba Palace D) Tahra Palace
  57. What is the name of Cairo’s largest public park? A) Azhar Park B) International Garden C) Family Park D) Orman Garden
  58. Which Cairo tower appears on the Egyptian pound note? A) Cairo Tower B) Mosque of Ibn Tulun Minaret C) Mosque of Muhammad Ali Minaret D) Qalawun Complex Minaret
  59. What is the primary means of public transportation in Cairo? A) Subway B) Buses C) Microbuses D) Trams
  60. What famous Cairo thoroughfare follows the path of an ancient canal? A) Ramses Street B) Qasr El-Aini Street C) Sharia Port Said D) Corniche El-Nil

Answers

  1. B) Nile
  2. A) 969 CE
  3. B) Khan El-Khalili
  4. B) Great Pyramids of Giza
  5. C) Tahrir Square
  6. D) Egyptian Museum
  7. A) The Victorious
  8. B) Fatimid
  9. A) Cairo Tower
  10. B) Koshari
  11. A) Citadel of Saladin
  12. A) Al-Azhar University
  13. C) 20 million
  14. C) Old Cairo
  15. B) Cairo Opera House
  16. D) Muhammad Ali Pasha
  17. A) Babylon
  18. C) Museum of Islamic Art
  19. B) City of the Dead
  20. B) Memphis
  21. A) Date Palm
  22. C) Shepheard’s Hotel
  23. C) Arabic
  24. B) Saqqara
  25. A) Cairo International Airport
  26. C) Muhammad Ali Mosque
  27. C) Gezira Island
  28. B) Ra
  29. C) Black and White
  30. A) Heliopolis
  31. A) Cairo International Stadium
  32. B) Naguib Mahfouz
  33. A) Talaat Harb Street
  34. B) Suez Canal
  35. D) Extremely congested
  36. B) Qasr El Nil Bridge
  37. C) Aish Baladi
  38. A) Al-Hussein Mosque
  39. B) Azbakeya Book Market
  40. C) Mamluk
  41. B) Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque
  42. A) Bab Zuweila
  43. D) Heliopolis Obelisk
  44. A) Ben Ezra Synagogue
  45. A) Fishawi’s Coffeehouse
  46. B) 20%
  47. B) Cairo Metro
  48. A) Mokattam
  49. B) Temple of Dendur
  50. B) Spring
  51. B) Friday and Saturday
  52. C) Garden City
  53. C) Heliopolis
  54. B) National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
  55. B) The Red Devils
  56. B) Manial Palace
  57. A) Azhar Park
  58. B) Mosque of Ibn Tulun Minaret
  59. C) Microbuses
  60. C) Sharia Port Said

How did you do? Whether you scored perfectly or learned something new, Cairo continues to fascinate people from across the globe with its blend of ancient wonders and modern life. This city, with layers of civilization stacked upon each other like pages in a history book, offers endless opportunities for discovery.

From the misty mornings along the Nile to the bustling energy of its markets, Cairo pulses with a unique rhythm that has captivated travelers for centuries. Next time you visit, these trivia facts might just make your experience all the richer as you recognize the stories behind the monuments, streets, and traditions of this extraordinary Egyptian capital.