Top things to do in Cairo
Attractions, tours, and activities in Cairo
Recommended museums in Cairo
Where to find art and culture in Cairo
Cairo: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Cairo
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Heliopolis
8.1 miles from downtown
High tea in Heliopolis. Heliopolis is home to Cairo’s well-to-do and is known for its upmarket restaurants. Teacups clink at Le Chantilly café, shoppers swipe their cards at Tivoli Dome and Korba erupts with traditional folk beats at sunset. Affluence, wealth and prestige pervade this ancient and architecturally varied district.
Places to stay from $14 a night
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Zamalek
1.7 miles from downtown
Take your family to Zamalek for a mid-morning shopping jaunt. Breakfast kicks off on 26th July Street, where the restaurant “Left Bank” fills with convivial chatter. The family bonds strengthen at MarketMix over home décor and Mobaco Cottons, which sells fabrics fit for a queen. The malls and eateries here are known for their international flavour.
Places to stay from $22 a night
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Dokki
1.8 miles from downtown
Nobody really knows where Dokki ends and Mohandiseen begins. Nevertheless, both areas are known for cafes where men feverishly debate “the big issues” while smoking shisha. Prodigal daughters take their mothers to pricy Abou el-Sid for authentic Egyptian cuisine, or shop for brand-name handbags in the western-style stores along Lebanon Street.
Places to stay from $20 a night
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Giza
6.1 miles from downtown
Alice the camel had five humps. The Saharan Desert has six, in Giza at least. See the Pyramids of Giza in the most traditional way possible – set to the sound of camel groans and gargles. Rent a beast and a guide from the dusty township of Giza; it’s home to trinket salesmen, Giza Zoo’s bountiful beasts and the exciting Pyramid Street Cabaret.
Places to stay from $8 a night
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Maadi
6.2 miles from downtown
There’s more to Maadi than neon lights and slick storefronts. Whether or not you’re into strenuous outdoor activity, this district’s a bastion of outdoor living. Lizards scurry and saw-scaled vipers slither across the Wadi Degla Protected Area’s barren landscape. Rock climbers clamber up cliff faces and walkers trek in this desert valley.
Places to stay from $29 a night
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Garden City
0.6 miles from downtown
Gardens of prestige. The streets of this well-to-do suburb are lined with fragrant sycamores and cedars that look as ancient as those Queen Hatshepsut brought to Egypt from the land of Punt, millennia ago. Their subtle smell perfumes the air in Beit El-Sennari Museum, where Napoleonic scholars once ran the rule over a mammoth courtyard.
Places to stay from $18 a night
About Cairo
Including tips for the best time to visit Cairo
Old meets new in Egypt's capital city. While the sprawling cityscape straddling the Nile river continues to grow, there's no ignoring the ancient monuments looming in the distance – a constant reminder of Egypt's origins. The dry desert climate helps protect Cairo's centuries-old pyramids in the Giza Necropolis, which include the only still-standing Wonder of the Ancient World. Nearby, the iconic Sphinx statue has been standing guard since 2,500 BCE. You'll find smaller pieces of history inside the Egyptian Museum, which contains one of the world's largest collections of Pharaonic antiquities.
Pharaohs aren't the only ones that left an indelible mark on Cairo. The medieval Cairo Citadel commands Islamic Cairo, a UNESCO-listed neighbourhood home to one of the densest concentrations of historic Islamic architecture anywhere. Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Hussein Mosque, both built by Fatimid caliphs between the tenth and 12th centuries, are two highlights. Coptic Cairo, in contrast, remains a hub for Christianity with its churches and convents. The city's energy is most palpable in downtown Cairo, home to skyscrapers and street food stalls serving koshari – Egypt's national dish. At Cairo's heart is Tahrir Square, where political and social demonstrations continue to shape the modern city.
Head to the top of Cairo Tower for sweeping views of neighbourhoods old and new, where you might get to hear the call to prayer over the rooftops. You can also take a piece of Cairo home with you after a visit to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, which sells everything from spices to perfumes.
Tonight
From $6 per night
This weekend
From $12 per night
Next weekend
From $12 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | USD |
| Language | Arabic |
| Average weekend price | $9 per night |
| Average weekday price | $9 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Cairo
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Cairo
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Giza Pyramids
7.5 miles from downtown
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City Stars
7 miles from downtown
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Tahrir Square
0.1 miles from downtown
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Qasr el-Nil Bridge
0.4 miles from downtown
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Cairo Tower
0.7 miles from downtown
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Baron's Palace
6.4 miles from downtown
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Khan Al Khalili
1.4 miles from downtown
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The Egyptian Museum
0.3 miles from downtown
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Cairo Citadel
1.9 miles from downtown
Cairo reviews
What other travelers say about Cairo
I really liked the Egyptian Pyramids, this special feeling...
June 5, 2023
I really liked the Egyptian Pyramids, this special feeling is unforgettable. The city is very dirty, there is a lot of garbage everywhere and a lot of stray dogs that wander the streets in search of food. The traffic in the city is very chaotic, no one wants to give up lines to anyone. markings on the road, it was very unusual for me to see such traffic
For the first time in all the years visiting Cairo (we...
June 5, 2023
For the first time in all the years visiting Cairo (we travel once or twice a year) we were beyond disappointed. Taxi drivers trying to scam us all the time so we changed to using Uber that was much cheaper, better cars, great comfort, great price and good drivers. ALL the properties that we have booked through Booking.com this trip was beyond bad, scamming by lying about their properties and what was offered. We had to pay for Superior King rooms but there were no such rooms. Photos advertised on Booking.com is non existing and properties lied about their facilities and even about sea view when you looked directly into another old building. We were even told when a property's staff tried to scam us that Booking.com refused to accept the cancellation. So to give an honest feedback this time we had to fight during every booking we made on this platform due to incorrect information and photos and services offered. Our opinion and conclusion is that Booking.com do not care about the tiurist or traveler when it comes to feedback or requesting assistance. It is all about the money and too hell with the guest spending a lot of money payi g for a poir service that starts at Booking.com NOT VERIFYING HOSTS INFORMATION!!!!!!! SO BOOKING.COM IS JUST AS GUILTY AS THE PROPERTIES IN FALSE ADVERTISING!
Very interesting City with a lot of History.
June 4, 2023
Very interesting City with a lot of History. When you want to take a taxi or take a tour, you really need to negotiate the price and understand what you are getting before accepting. People are very friendly.
Foreign Travellers-GET A SIM CARD ASAP.
June 3, 2023
Foreign Travellers-GET A SIM CARD ASAP. Wifi is rarely avaliable anywhere. Preferred using Uber to get around to avoid negotiating with Taxis. Know that it takes 30mins to an hour to get anywhere. Always carry small change and toilet paper/ tissues. People with Scent allergies- Always carry your prescribed medicines and Bendryll. Many places use cheap sprays to mask smells and I couldn't breathe half my trip. Females- Bring feminine products (pads/Tampons ) very hard to find.
Lovely place lots of attractions and places to visit...
May 30, 2023
Lovely place lots of attractions and places to visit friendly people. Had a fun time there would definitely recommend going. Favourite place was the khan al khalil shopping there was so much to see and buy. Food was its best on the Nile restaurants they were very nice. Getting around Cario is easy with Uber only you need to make sure you set your location right.
A true travel destination.
May 29, 2023
A true travel destination. The central station is atmospheric. The old cairo museum is world class and the new grand Egyption museum ( I was part of the soft launch) will be spectacular once its opened towards end of 2023. Crossing the busy roads is problematic. just try and cross with a local. There is a local bus to the city train station (ramesis sq) from the airport (bus tstaion is 15 mins walk or via the airport shuttle ) cost is 6 le which is aroung 20p takes an hour . The green buses G1 & G2 are also good if you download their app
Popular places to stay in Cairo
Stay in some of the best accommodations Cairo has to offer
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pyramids view suite/vista piramidi Giza, Cairo
From $40 per night
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Pyramids Planet Hotel Giza, Cairo
From $22 per night
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The Stay New Cairo City, Cairo
From $45.90 per night
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Prime Select El Batal Dokki, Cairo
From $99 per night
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Pyramids Gate Hotel Giza, Cairo
From $22.75 per night
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Other accommodations in Cairo
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Cairo
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Apartments
From $13 per night
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Villas
From $45 per night
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Cabins
From $120 per night
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Cottages
From $45 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From $31 per night
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Vacation Homes
From per night
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Guest houses
From $8 per night
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Hostels
From $2 per night
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Motels
From per night
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B&Bs
From $10 per night
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Homestays
From $20 per night
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Boats
From $30 per night
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Self-catering Accommodations
From $6 per night
