Everyone recognizes the iconic Pyramids of Giza and the river Nile, but Egypt’s capital, Cairo, is a destination unto itself. The atmospheric, narrow lanes of the capital's Islamic Cairo district are crammed full of mosques, madrassas (Islamic schools of learning), and monuments dating from the Fatimid through to the Mameluke eras. This is where visitors will find the labyrinth shopping souk of Khan el-Khalili, where coppersmiths and artisans still have their tiny workshops, and stalls are laden with ceramics, textiles, spice, and perfume. Surrounding the market is a muddle of roads, home to some of the best-preserved architecture of the old Islamic empires. There is a wealth of history and culture to explore in Cairo, more than can ever be included in any single guidebook.