Accommodation in the land of the pharaohs: easy? Discover the best places to stay in Cairo, the capital of Egypt!
Before you start looking for a place to stay in Cairo, you need to know that the city is huge. With over 16.5 million inhabitants, it is the largest city in Egypt and the Middle East, and the second largest in Africa after Lagos (Nigeria). It is also the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the world. Situated upstream from the Nile delta, Cairo boasts a breathtaking historical and cultural heritage: it was a major center of influence in ancient Egypt as early as the third millennium BC. Today, Cairo is home to most of Egypt’s historic monuments – the pyramids, for example – and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Finding accommodation in Cairo isn’t difficult, but you do need to be patient and book in advance once you’ve found a place to sleep. Here’s our selection of areas to stay in Cairo.
Old Cairo
Photo credit: Flickr – Marwa Morgan
Five kilometers from Tahrir Square – made famous in 2011 during the revolution against Hosni Mubarak – lies Masr al-Qadima, on the banks of the Nile, the city’s oldest district: the Coptic Quarter, also known as the Christian Quarter. The remains of this quarter date back to Roman times, when Cairo was enclosed within the fortifications of the « Babylon of Egypt ». The ruins of the Al-Fostat Mosque, the Coptic Museum and the Hanging Church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, are among the area’s must-sees.
Don’t miss the Manial Palace and its botanical garden, the Moqqatam and the troglodyte church of Saint-Samaan-le-Tanneur. On the banks of the Nile, don’t forget to sample some excellent dishes in the dahabiya (floating houses) moored to the quays – a great place to stay in Cairo and visit the city.
Find a hotel in Old Cairo
Find an Airbnb in Old Cairo
Downtown Cairo
Photo credit: Flickr – Dan
Otherwise known as Wast El Balad, this district is the nerve center of the Egyptian capital. Here you’ll find a lively and effervescent life. Spend some time visiting the Cairo Museum, a panorama dedicated to the history of ancient Egypt (mummies, solid gold sarcophagi, luxurious jewelry). You won’t want to miss Place El-Tahrir, the district’s tourist heart. For shopping, head for Midan Talaa’t Harb and its shopping streets lined with department stores.
It’s worth noting that you’ll certainly have to learn the art of haggling, a real cultural practice here. While it’s not difficult to find hookah bars and restaurants in this district, it will be more difficult to find peace and quiet: Cairo is a noisy city, although the mini-quartier of Gardien City is more serene. If you’re not afraid of noise, this is the place to stay in Cairo.
Find a hotel in central Cairo
Find an Airbnb in central Cairo
Zamalek
Photo credit: Flickr – Andrew A. Shenouda
Zamalek is a favored area for tourists and expatriates alike, offering comfort and security within easy reach of the city center and Egypt’s tourist attractions: the pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza. It’s a bit like the Ile de la Cité in Paris, Egyptian-style: an ultra-modern district, with residential estates, shopping arcades and refined, verdant gardens. It’s bustling 24 hours a day, with bars and restaurants on the banks of the Nile.
Staying in Zamalek allows you to discover authentic Egypt, as the district has preserved its heritage: antique shops, boutiques and art galleries abound. While you’re out and about, head for the Khan Khalili souk, in Cairo’s Islamic quarter: a tangle of trinket shops and stalls selling spices, fabrics, perfumes, Turkish coffee, black tea and hookahs… A thousand colors and a thousand flavors: not to be missed!
Find a hotel in Zamalek
Find a hotel in Giza
Find an Airbnb in Zamalek
Main photo credit: Flickr – cliff hellis