Cairo Accommodations

Cairo accommodations

Cairo accommodations welcome you to a destination nicknamed “The City of a Thousand Minarets”.

Cairo known for: pyramids, mummies, shopping malls, museums, exhibition centers, parks, mosques, Orthodox churches, bazars, hypermarkets, Egyptian restaurants, spices

Cairo is set alongside the Nile River’s east bank. The world’s longest river at 4,130 miles, the Nile River branches into the Rosetta and Damietta Rivers in the Nile Delta. Across the Nile from Cairo with its great pyramids, the city of Giza stretches westward.

Within  / near central Cairo main attractions: Citystars Mall (shopping mall), ELAKABER (Egyptian restaurant), Khan el-Khalili (Bazar – souvenirs, crafts, jewelry, clothing, spices), The Egyptian Museum in Cairo (archaeological artifacts museum – Tutankhamun treasures), Carrefour – Maadi City Center (hypermarket), City Centre Almaza (shopping mall), Koshary Abou Tarek (Koshari restaurant), Al-Azhar Park (manicured gardens, lawns, fountains, cafes, restaurants, open-air theater, city views), Downtown Katameya (shopping mall), Genena Mall (shopping mall), Cairo Citadel (12th-century Saladin fortress / wall –  protected against Crusaders), Cairo Tower (tourist attraction), The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (sculptures, metal-ware, pottery, hall of mummies), Abou Haidar Shawerma (Shawarma restaurant), Semsema (fast food restaurant – shawarma), Al-Azhar Mosque (Cairo’s first mosque est. 970), Pharaonic Village (Egyptian history living museum – ancient village / Tutankhamen tomb replicas), Roxy Square (park), Shooting Club Dokki (sports club), Baron Empain Palace (Stately / abandoned Indian Hindu temple – carved wooden spiral staircase, gardens), حواوشى الربيع – Notes of Spring (Egyptian restaurant), Al-Ahly Sporting Club Nasr City, Egypt’s International Exhibition Center, Amr ibn al-As Mosque (minarets, inner courtyard, engraved marble), Cairo International Convention Centre (convention center), Al-Sayyida Nafesa Mosque, Al-Hakim Mosque (10th-century mosque – grand entrance, inner courtyard, arcades, 2 minarets), Royal House – Heliopolis branch (supermarket), Wadi Al Nile Seafood (seafood restaurant), People of Egypt Walkway (park), Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Manial Palace – historical landmark), Gamal Sholqamy (barbecue restaurant), The Hanging Church (Coptic Orthodox church – Noah’s arc-shaped wooden roof, 5th-century pulpit, icons), El Korba Square (3-sided square – grand buildings, ornate fracases, Byzantine-style basilica), Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo (art museum), Cairo Opera House, Habib Pasha El-Sakakini Palace (19th-century Rococo-style mansion – lavish interior décor, marble statues, rooftop cupola), Qasr El Nil Bridge (Nile River road bridge – 19th-century bronze lion statues), Aisha Fahmy Palace (museum), Tahona elbaba kirolos (Orthodox church), St. Simon “The Tanner” Monastery, Wadi Degla Reserve (sandy desert canyon – sheer rocky walls, camping, wilderness walks, biking trails)

Giza pyramids-area (just southwesterly): Giza Necropolis (archaeological site – Great Pyramids, Great Sphinx, other ruins), The Great Pyramid of Giza, Great Sphinx of Giza (monument), Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Lamour (wedding venue), Khufu’s Restaurant (Egyptian restaurant)

Extending southward along the Nile River: Saqqara Necropolis (historical place), Mit Rahina Museum, Red Pyramid (ancient Memphis necropolis – burial chamber, passages, guided tour), Serapeum of Saqqara (1400 BC Necropolis – stone tombs of sacred Api bulls)

Cairo main airport: Cairo International Airport

Rideshare service: Uber

Subway system: Cairo Metro

More fun things: Pyramids & Sphinx Tour, Egyptian Museum Ticket, Citadel Tour

A unique blend of ancient and modern worlds, the Cairo-area is about 900 miles from the Red Sea. Eastward from Cairo, The Suez Gulf, an artificial waterway, connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, the Great Pyramid of Giza (est. 2570 BC) stands at 481-feet tall, which, in comparison, is about 1/3 of the Empire State Building’s height. The Great Pyramid is estimated to have been built over a 20-year period, with costs at around $5 billion in present valuation. It is possible to visit inside The Great Pyramid. When visiting Cairo, keeping a good supply of bottled water (found in grocery stores) at your accommodation is advisable. Tipping in restaurants, dressing conservatively (especially in religious areas) and carrying your own roll of toilet paper when out in public are best practices. PDA (public displays of affection) such as hugging, kissing and even holding hands are not recommended in public. Keep in mind that security checks may occur more frequently in Cairo than with other destinations. Winners of 44 Egyptian Premier League titles, 39 Egypt Cups and 15 Egyptian Super Cups, Al Ahly SC plays at Al Ahly WE – Al Salam Stadium on the city’s north side. In Cairo, currency is the Egyptian pound, cars travel on the right-hand side of the road (most times!) and the drinking age is 21 years old. Cairo accommodations are some of northern Africa’s best. Before we get to Cairo accommodations, let’s take a look at some more background information on the area to help you along the way.

Built in the fertile Nile Delta, two of the first Cairo-area cities were Memphis (pre-31st century BC – 7th century AD) and Heliopolis (ancient Egypt). Southwesterly of present-day Cairo, Memphis served as the capital of Inebu-hedj (Lower Egypt – district number 1 nome), while Heliopolis, located in northeastern Cairo’s modern districts of Matariya and Ain Shams, was a major religious center and capital of Heliopolite (Lower Egypt – 13th nome). In ancient Egypt, provinces / districts were known as nomes, and deities such as Atum, Ra and Horus (sun gods) were worshipped. The Giza pyramid complex was built during the Fourth Dynasty (2613-2494 BC), also known as the Old Kingdom of Egypt’s “golden age”. The May 525 BC Battle of Pelusium (Egypt) between the Achaemenid Empire (Persian) and the Kingdom of Egypt resulted in a Persian victory, and Egypt being annexed by the Achaemenid Empire. Second “King of Kings” Cambyses II, who had led the Persian conquest, crowned himself pharaoh. Persian rule was disrupted briefly by the crowning of Egyptian-based Amyrtaeus of Sais circa 404 BC, though the Persians regained control by way of the Thirty-first Dynasty of Egypt (343–332 BC). Modern Cairo traces its roots to around the first millennium AD, a time when Memphis was already in decline. Known as Babylon, a large Roman fortress was built circa 300 AD by emperor Diocletian in present-day Old (Coptic) Cairo. Prior to Diocletian, Roman emperor Trajan had built a canal connecting the Nile River to the Red Sea. The 602-628 AD Byzantine-Sassanian War between the Byzantine (Roman) Empire and Sasanian (Iranian) Empire created hardship in the area and partial desertion. The Church of Saint Barbara and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus are examples of churches dating to this time-period. In September 640, by way of the Muslim conquest of Byzantine Egypt led by commander / companion of Muhammad Amr ibn al-As, Babylon Fortress was besieged and subsequently fell in April 641. Amr ibn al-As founded a new settlement next to Babylon Fortress known as Fustat. Around this time, the Mosque of Amr Ibn al-As was built. In 750, the Umayyad Caliphate was overthrown and the Abbasid Caliphate established a new provincial capital northeast of Fustat known as al-Askar. A Turk, Ahmad ibn Tulun ruled the area for a relatively brief period following the Abbasid Caliphate’s collapse. The Fatimid empire conquered Egypt circa 969 and founded a new fortified city northeast of Fustat known as al-Manṣūriyyah. The al-Azhar Mosque was commissioned around this time. The name “Cairo” (al-Qāhira) originates from Qāhirat al-Mu’izz (“The Vanquisher of al-Mu’izz”), which is attributed to Caliph al-Mu’izz li Din Allah of the Fatimid Caliphate. Around this time, the Great Palaces of the Fatimid Caliphs were built. The Crusaders attempted unsuccessfully to capture Fatimid circa 1168. First Sultan of Egypt, Saladin established the Ayyubid dynasty in Cairo in 1171. Shortly thereafter in 1176, Saladin began construction on the Cairo Citadel, which was completed in 1183. Enslaved mercenaries, slave-soldiers and freed slaves of Turkic, Caucasian, Eastern and Southeastern European decent, the Mamluks ruled Egypt from 1250 to 1517. The Mamluk Empire, often violent and chaotic, repelled the Mongols and eliminated the Crusader states in the Levant. The 1516 Battle of Marj Dābiq between the Mamluk Sultanate and Ottoman Empire / Mamluk rebels resulted in an Ottoman victory and the Ottoman annexation of Syria. Subsequently, the Ottomans conquered Egypt in 1517. Sultan Selim I, ruling from Constantinople, designated Egypt a province, with Cairo its capital. Cairo became the Ottoman Empire’s second-largest city behind only Constantinople. In 1796, Napoleon arrived in Cairo. The May-June 1801 siege of Cairo, or Cairo campaign, between the French Republic and United Kingdom / Ottoman Empire resulted in an Anglo–Ottoman victory. Subsequently in 1805, Albanian Muhammad Ali Pasha became viceroy of Egypt. Often regarded as the founder of modern Egypt, Muhammad Ali governed until his death in 1848. Ali’s grandson, Isma’il Pasha, took over governance and envisioned a Cairo inspired from Paris, incurring immense debt along the way. In 1882, the British conquest of Egypt, or Anglo-Egyptian War, between Khedivalist forces / United Kingdom and Urabilist forces resulted in a British victory, and the city’s economic center moving westward from Historic Cairo toward the Nile River. British occupation lasted into the 20th century, when in 1922 Egypt gained independence. A series of riots in late-January 1952, known as the Cairo fire, saw around 750 downtown Cairo buildings being burned and looted. In 1956, British troops left the country. Between 1950 and 2010, Greater Cairo’s population grew from around 3 million to over 16 million.

Egypt’s capital city, Cairo is home to around 10 million “Cairenes”. While Arabic is Egypt’s official language, most educated Cairenes are fluent in English, French, or both. Be aware that in places such as bazars, it’s possible that vendors, and even males toward foreign women, can take an aggressive tone, though these areas generally are considered safe. One of Africa’s biggest cities, The City of a Thousand Minarets accounts for the world’s 6th-most populated metropolitan area. Air quality can be poor at times. Typically, Egypt has the largest non-oil based GDP in the Arab world, with Cairo accounting for about 22% of the country’s purchasing power. In 2023, 14.9 million tourists visited Cairo. The Arab world’s largest and oldest film and music industries are based in the city. Al-Azhar University, established in 972, is one of the world’s oldest higher education institutions. Cairo’s climate is considered hot desert. Wind storms are common between March and May. Winter high temperatures range from 57 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, while summers often exceed 88 degrees. As with many desert climates, nighttime can be much cooler than daytime. Snowfall is extremely rare, though not impossible. Additional points of interest are Ibn Tulun Mosque, Al Hakim Mosque, Muizz Street (open-air museum / heritage site), Talaat Harb Square (historic street), Gezira Island (affluent area), Cairo University, Cairo International Stadium, Historic Cairo (Islamic Cairo) and  Coptic Cairo (Babylon Fortress). Local foods include falafel, shawarma, hummus, pita bread, simit (circular bread), hawawshi (pita stuffed with minced meat, vegetables, spices) and Koshary (Egypt’s national dish- lentils, rice, tomato sauce, cayenne pepper, pasta, onions). Keep in mind that public consumption of alcohol is prohibited, though beer, liquor and wine are commonly found in bars and hotels. With some background information on the area, we’re ready for Cairo accommodations that will help check one off the bucket list.

 

 

 

Le Méridien Cairo Airport

Cairo Airport , Terminal 3

Cairo International Airport

Hotel amenities: multiple restaurants, bar, buffet breakfast (surcharge), 2 outdoor pools. children’s pool, terrace, rooftop garden, garden, spa, gym, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk, concierge services, luggage storage, laundry facilities, business center, meeting rooms, conference space, parking, airport transfer

Nearby: Mezzeh Restaurant, China Red Restaurant

Within feet:

• • • Cairo International Airport

Within 3.6 miles:

• • • City Centre Almaza Shopping Mall

Within 4.8 miles:

• • • Tivoli Dome

Approximate cost per night (Presidential Suite): $694

Cost per person (three people): $231

 

 

 

The St. Regis Cairo

 

Hotel amenities: restaurant, bar, buffet, continental or vegetarian breakfast, outdoor pool, terrace, indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, fitness center, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffee machines, electric tea pots, safety deposit boxes, desks, hairdryers, Arabic, German, English and Italian-speaking reception staff, ATM, free bike usage, private parking

Nearby: La Zisa (Italian restaurant), Sirocco Restaurant & Pool Bar, J&G Steakhouse Cairo, مطعم الكوت – Al-Kout Restaurant, Sinan Pasha Mosque

Within feet:

• • • People of Egypt Walkway (park – river views)
    • Nile Beauty (sculpture)

Within 1.5 miles:

• • • Tahrir Square

Within 2 miles:

• • • Aquarium Grotto Garden

Within 4.5 miles:

• • • Cairo Citadel

Within 11 miles:

• • • Giza Pyramids

The St. Regis Cairo is 11 miles from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night (Royal Suite): $19,189

Cost per person (three people): $6,396

 

 

 

Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis

Orouba Street Cairo Heliopolis

Cairo Military Academy Stadium

Hotel amenities: multiple restaurants & bars, pool cabanas, personal concierge service, 5 event spaces, boardroom, business center, ballroom

Nearby restaurants / bars: Alla Grande! (Italian restaurant), BRASSERIE AYDA, Noble House (Asian restaurant), My Kind Of Place (breakfast restaurant), Darts BAR

Nearby misc.: Nola (dessert shop), Oriental Weavers (carpet store)

Within feet:

• • • Cairo Military Academy Stadium
    • Cairo International Airport

Within 3.1 miles:

• • • Baron’s Palace

Within 3.4 miles:

• • • Meriland Park

Within 5 miles:

• • • International Park

Approximate cost per night (Presidential Suite): $6,800

Cost per person (four people): $1,700

 

 

 

 

 

Crowne Plaza West Cairo

Plot 29, Arkan Plaza, Zayed Entrance 2

Arkan Plaza

Hotel amenities: restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, business center

Nearby restaurants: Clams and Claws Arkan Mall (seafood restaurant ), Al Beiruti – Arkan Plaza (Lebanese Restaurant), Willow’s – Arkan Plaza (restaurant)

Nearby misc.: Gourmet Food Stores – Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed (grocery store), Koffee Kulture (coffee shop), Specialty Būn (بُنْ) – Market Street (coffee shop), Patchi (chocolate shop), Chouchou Eclair Bar (pastry shop), Arkan Theatro (performing arts theater), ORANGESQUARE (clothing store)

Within feet:

• • • Arkan Plaza (shopping mall)

Within 8.1 miles:

• • • Giza pyramid complex

Within 13.2 miles:

• • • Gezira Island

Crowne Plaza West Cairo Arkan By IHG is 25.2 miles from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night (1 King Arkan Suite Club): $1,678

Cost per person (four people): $419

 

 

 

Life Pyramids Inn

5 Safi Eldien Street, Giza

Great Sphinx | Rooftop 7000

Inn amenities: restaurant, bar, continental breakfast, city views, terrace, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, shared kitchen, electric tea pots, 24-hour front desk, airport transportation

Nearby: Tree Lounge Pyramids Branch (restaurant), Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Free Walking Tour with Sherif, Hamada Al-Jabri – Horse Riding Haram (horse rental service – +20 12 21357817)

Within feet:

• • • Great Sphinx
    • Rooftop 7000 (Sphinx-area restaurant)

Within 1 mile:

• • • Giza Pyramids

Within 5 miles:

• • • Al-Mounib Subway Station

Within 9 miles:

• • • Croquet field

Within 21 miles:

• • • Sphinx International Airport

Life Pyramids Inn is 19 miles from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night (Junior Suite): $88

Cost per person (five people): $17

 

 

 

 

 

La Perle Pyramids

16 Hadayek Al Ahram, Kafr Nassar, Al Haram, Giza Governorate

Lamour

Apartment amenities: 2 living rooms, mountain views, terrace, balcony, soundproofing, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, fully-equipped kitchen, 24-hour front desk, currency exchange, bicycle & car rental service, free private parking, paid airport shuttle

Nearby: Bezzera & Pavoni (coffee shop)

Within feet:

• • • Lamour (wedding venue)
    • Giza Pyramids

Within 5 miles:

• • • Giza Suburbs Train Statio

Within 8 miles:

• • • Coptic Museum

La Perle Pyramids is 19 miles from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night (Superior Apartment): $149

Cost per person (four people): $37

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solana Sky Pool Boutique Hotel

Akoya Rd Solana Hotel, New Cairo

Aeon Mall

Hotel amenities: bar, outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, free parking

Also in the area:

Nearby: Reform Pilates Studios New Cairo

Within feet:

• • • Aeon Mall (shopping mall)

Within 4.9 miles:

• • • Petro Sport Stadium

Within 7.5 miles:

• • • Mirage City Golf Course

Solana Sky Pool Boutique Hotel is 10.8 miles from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night: $100

 

 

 

 

 

Piccolo Mondo Boutique Hotel

Raed Salam, Giza

Masjed El Salhen

Hotel amenities: bar, terrace, balconies, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, desks, continental breakfast, 24-hour front desk, currency exchange, luggage storage space, concierge service, private check-in/out

Nearby: Topaz Bazaar, Master Roof Top (coffee shop)

Within feet:

• • • Masjed El Salhen (mosque)

Within 1.2 miles:

• • • Great Sphinx

Within 7 miles:

• • • Fustat Park

Within 20 miles:

• • • Sphinx International Airport

Piccolo Mondo Boutique Hotel is 18 miles from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night (Three-Bedroom Apartment Suite): $86

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vibotel Residence Hotel Apartments

Andalos St., Katameya Gardens, New Cairo

Katemeya Dunes Palms Golf Course

Hotel amenities: air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, kitchens, laundry, free parking

Also in the area:

Nearby: Shimmers New Cairo (restaurant), Yafa Square

Within feet:

• • • Katemeya Dunes Palms Golf Course

Within 7 minutes:

• • • The American University in Cairo

Within 9 minutes:

• • • Point 90 Mall

Within 12 minutes:

• • • Maxim Mall

Vibotel Residence Hotel Apartments is 43 minutes from Cairo International Airport.

Approximate cost per night (Two-Bedroom Apartment): $4,235

Cost per person (six people): $705

 

 

 

 

So there they are, Cairo accommodations that will help make for an unforgettable experience. We hope you have found this information valuable and most importantly, that you enjoy your time in Egypt!