Egyptians discovered how to use the Nile’s papyrus plant to make paper as early as 3,000 BC—and the age-old process still survives today. The Papyrus Institute takes visitors on a journey through the craft using step-by-step demonstrations and extensive displays of papyrus artworks to view and buy, with typical works showing Giza’s Pyramids, pharaohs, and hieroglyphs. The prices here are higher than in Cairo’s bazaars and regular souvenir shops as the artworks are certified for using genuine papyrus.
While you can explore the Papyrus Institute independently, most travelers visit during a private or group Cairo sightseeing tour. Tours typically start and end in Cairo and visit the center in-between stops at star attractions such as Giza’s Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum. The institute also features on Cairo day trips from places such as Sharm El Sheikh; and multi-day Egypt packages that combine Cairo with Nile cruises.