Cairo Tower, Cairo (must see)

The Cairo Tower or Borj al-Qahira in Arabic is the tallest tower in North Africa and the modern landmark of the city. It offers spectacular views of the ancient and modern parts of Cairo.

The Cairo Tower was constructed with American funds in 1956 and completed in 1961 with the help of the Soviet Union. It was designed by Egyptian architect, Naoum Chebib like a lotus which was the most sacred among flowers in the age of the Pharaohs. Extensive restoration was carried out between the years 2004 and 2009 to get the structure ready for its fiftieth-anniversary celebrations in 2011.

The Cairo Tower is 187 meters high. It is the second tallest tower in Africa. The Cairo Tower is 45 meters taller than the Great Pyramid at Giza. The walls are built using concrete and granite and the tower has a latticework exterior. There are a TV tower, a revolving restaurant and an observation deck at the top. Telescopes are stationed on the observation deck for visitors to see different parts of the city. It is lighted up at night and the twinkling lights through the latticework somehow blend with the stars above.

Tip:
You can skip the lift queue if you go to the revolving restaurant first, but you still have to queue for the tickets first. Works both ways: if you sit at the restaurant you can avoid the line to go back down.
Make sure you choose a clear day and wear warm clothes as it can be very cold up at the top.