Guidebook for Garden city
Food Scene
Super restaurant with snacks as well as Egyptian and international food as well as nice hot and cold drinks (no alcohol). Amazing atmosphere in the green and quite backyard - a hidden gem in central Cairo! Perfect to have a coffee or some food after a walk, to work for some hours or to just relax.
Oldish
20 Mohammed MahmoudSuper restaurant with snacks as well as Egyptian and international food as well as nice hot and cold drinks (no alcohol). Amazing atmosphere in the green and quite backyard - a hidden gem in central Cairo! Perfect to have a coffee or some food after a walk, to work for some hours or to just relax.
Zamalek is a good spot for restaurants, cafés, bookstores, bars. You will find everything from Sushi to classic Egyptian food.
36 locals recommend
Zamalek
Zamalek is a good spot for restaurants, cafés, bookstores, bars. You will find everything from Sushi to classic Egyptian food.
Authentic café and bookstore with old Arab furniture. Cozy and very nice atmosphere. They also sell (English) books, postcards and other souvernirs. Have also a look at the art/furniture gallery in the flat opposite of the café.
Sufi
Authentic café and bookstore with old Arab furniture. Cozy and very nice atmosphere. They also sell (English) books, postcards and other souvernirs. Have also a look at the art/furniture gallery in the flat opposite of the café.
Good sushi restaurant with a good variety of very high quality and all you can eat offer. Service is excellent.
6 locals recommend
Fuego - Grill and Sushi bar (Zamalek)
35B Abou El FedaGood sushi restaurant with a good variety of very high quality and all you can eat offer. Service is excellent.
Cheap and good quality Egyptian restaurant. Excellent for breakfast and lunch. Always a bit crowded but service is very fast. Also take away.
11 locals recommend
Kazaz
7 26 July StCheap and good quality Egyptian restaurant. Excellent for breakfast and lunch. Always a bit crowded but service is very fast. Also take away.
Very good Egyptian restaurant (bit pricy) with authentic atmosphere (and also serving alcohol). Best for dinner.
39 locals recommend
Abou El Sid Restaurant
157 26th of July CorridorVery good Egyptian restaurant (bit pricy) with authentic atmosphere (and also serving alcohol). Best for dinner.
Egyptian food at its best for moderate prices. Very clean and good quality.
18 locals recommend
Cairo Kitchen
El-Aziz OthmanEgyptian food at its best for moderate prices. Very clean and good quality.
French restaurant with good quality food (also serving alcohol). Bar is next to the restaurant.
8 locals recommend
Le Bistro
French restaurant with good quality food (also serving alcohol). Bar is next to the restaurant.
Decent restaurant serving Egyptian food in nice atmosphere. For a quick and cheap solution take sandwiches on the branch 20m from the restaurant in Talaat Harb street.
23 locals recommend
Felfela
15 Hoda ShaarawyDecent restaurant serving Egyptian food in nice atmosphere. For a quick and cheap solution take sandwiches on the branch 20m from the restaurant in Talaat Harb street.
Good Italian restaurant having also excellent coffee. Nice atmosphere. Sometimes they have brunch with jazz or oud music.
14 locals recommend
Eish + Malh
20 AdlyGood Italian restaurant having also excellent coffee. Nice atmosphere. Sometimes they have brunch with jazz or oud music.
Good lebanese restaurant (also serving alcohol) in authentic, very nice atmosphere. Perfect for dinner.
16 locals recommend
Taboula
محمود فهميGood lebanese restaurant (also serving alcohol) in authentic, very nice atmosphere. Perfect for dinner.
Café and bookstore in authentic, Egyptian (Nubian) style serving also food. Nice to chill or work.
10 locals recommend
Falak Book Store
7 Gamal Al Din Abou Al MahasenCafé and bookstore in authentic, Egyptian (Nubian) style serving also food. Nice to chill or work.
Café and art space with regular concerts, dance workshops or others. They also serve snacks. Look for concerts on their facebook page. Meet the cool youth of Cairo.
10 locals recommend
ROOM Art space, Dance studio & Cafe
10 Etehaad Al MohaminCafé and art space with regular concerts, dance workshops or others. They also serve snacks. Look for concerts on their facebook page. Meet the cool youth of Cairo.
Drinks & Nightlife
No entrance fees but quite expensive drinks (including alcohol) but good life music (actually no jazz but Egyptian pop/rock/indie/electro) or DJs and very liberal atmosphere. Meet the Cairene elite when they party!
67 locals recommend
Cairo Jazz Club
197 26th of July CorridorNo entrance fees but quite expensive drinks (including alcohol) but good life music (actually no jazz but Egyptian pop/rock/indie/electro) or DJs and very liberal atmosphere. Meet the Cairene elite when they party!
Very nice and intimate live concerts of traditional Egyptian music. Totally recommended! Look at their facebook page for their program (usually concerts several times a week).
10 locals recommend
Makan Egyptian Center for Culture and Art
1 شارع سعد زغلولVery nice and intimate live concerts of traditional Egyptian music. Totally recommended! Look at their facebook page for their program (usually concerts several times a week).
Classic Egyptian bar with Egyptian beer (and some other alcoholic drinks). Not fancy, rather underground. Many expats and Egyptian meet here.
16 locals recommend
كافيه وبار الحرية
Classic Egyptian bar with Egyptian beer (and some other alcoholic drinks). Not fancy, rather underground. Many expats and Egyptian meet here.
Sightseeing
Easily to access by metro (Mar Girgis), the whole street is full of churches and monastries. Don't miss the steps down to the second level behind St Marcus church - go until the Synagogue where the well stands where Mary once bathed little Jesus.
29 locals recommend
The Hanging Church
Easily to access by metro (Mar Girgis), the whole street is full of churches and monastries. Don't miss the steps down to the second level behind St Marcus church - go until the Synagogue where the well stands where Mary once bathed little Jesus.
The heart of downtown is best explored with a walking tour starting at Talaat Harb Square which was built by Haussmann like a square in Paris.
Talaat Harb
Talaat HarbThe heart of downtown is best explored with a walking tour starting at Talaat Harb Square which was built by Haussmann like a square in Paris.
Interesting mosque. Also recommended: Anderson museum next to the mosque showing Egypt of old times.
12 locals recommend
Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Ahmed Ibn Tolon Sq.Interesting mosque. Also recommended: Anderson museum next to the mosque showing Egypt of old times.
It is said that Hussein, the son in law of prophet Mohamed is burried here (his head). Shrine is inside. Separate entrance for men and women.
12 locals recommend
Al-Hussein Mosque
شارع Hasan El-AdawyIt is said that Hussein, the son in law of prophet Mohamed is burried here (his head). Shrine is inside. Separate entrance for men and women.
The centre of Sunni Islam. You can climb up the minaret for a small donation to the mosque.
9 locals recommend
Al-Azhar Mosque
The centre of Sunni Islam. You can climb up the minaret for a small donation to the mosque.
Old upper middle class house showing architecture and Arab building style of ancient times.
Beit El Seheimy
Haret Al Darb Al AsfarOld upper middle class house showing architecture and Arab building style of ancient times.
Ancient city gate. You can climb up for a small fee and enjoy the view on old Cairo and Al Azhar Park. From there, you can continue your tour to Al Azhar park (follow the signs), have a look at the close tent maker market or go back to Al Azhar street and Khan El Khalili.
6 locals recommend
Bab Zuweila
Ancient city gate. You can climb up for a small fee and enjoy the view on old Cairo and Al Azhar Park. From there, you can continue your tour to Al Azhar park (follow the signs), have a look at the close tent maker market or go back to Al Azhar street and Khan El Khalili.
Old palace of prince Mohamed Ali showing royal life in Egypt of the last century.
18 locals recommend
Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Al Manial Palace)
1 السراياOld palace of prince Mohamed Ali showing royal life in Egypt of the last century.
A must see. Be aware of hassle of vendors offering camel and horse rides. You can take a camel or explore the site on your own. Walk also to the slightly elevated view point to see all pyramids together.
93 locals recommend
Giza Necropolis
Al HaramA must see. Be aware of hassle of vendors offering camel and horse rides. You can take a camel or explore the site on your own. Walk also to the slightly elevated view point to see all pyramids together.
Shopping
The famous bazar in Cairo with touristic souvernirs as well as handicrafts made in this area. Scarfs, lamps, decoration - but negotiate the price before buying.
95 locals recommend
Khan Al-Khalili
The famous bazar in Cairo with touristic souvernirs as well as handicrafts made in this area. Scarfs, lamps, decoration - but negotiate the price before buying.
Nefertari
Excellent, hand made and locally produced natural oils, cremes and soaps.
Famous old street for fabric, tents and rugs hosting traditional artisans. You will enjoy the famous tent makers of Cairo. Can be combined with Bab Zuweila and Al Azhar Park or a tour through Islamic Cairo.
Khayameia Art
Famous old street for fabric, tents and rugs hosting traditional artisans. You will enjoy the famous tent makers of Cairo. Can be combined with Bab Zuweila and Al Azhar Park or a tour through Islamic Cairo.
Carrefour - Maadi City Center
Maadi City Center EntranceBiggest mall in the Middle East, hosting everything from IKEA, Debenhams, Carrefour, H&M, Zara, Victoria's secret, ...
59 locals recommend
Cairo Festival City
Biggest mall in the Middle East, hosting everything from IKEA, Debenhams, Carrefour, H&M, Zara, Victoria's secret, ...
Citystars Heliopolis
Big mall hosting a lot of international brands.
Torath Showroom
Fair trade and locally produced souvernirs of high quality.
Diwan Bookstore
159 26 July StGood bookstore with mostly English books.
Good bookstore with mostly English books, also many Arab literature in translation, guide books and books about politics and society in Egypt and the Middle East.
6 locals recommend
AUC Bookstore
113 Al Kasr Al AiniGood bookstore with mostly English books, also many Arab literature in translation, guide books and books about politics and society in Egypt and the Middle East.
Old German bookshop. Hidden gem with old postcards, prints and pictures of Egypt of the last centuries. Closes at 7pm.
Lenhert & Landrock
36 Abd El-Khalik TharwatOld German bookshop. Hidden gem with old postcards, prints and pictures of Egypt of the last centuries. Closes at 7pm.
Parks & Nature
Biggest and most beautiful park in Cairo (but don't go on Fridays or Sundays). Enjoy the beautiful view on the city as well as on the citadel. There are two restaurants inside the parks as well as some fast food restaurants. The lake side restaurant is recommended. Entrance fee is moderate.
85 locals recommend
Al-Azhar Park
Salah Salem StreetBiggest and most beautiful park in Cairo (but don't go on Fridays or Sundays). Enjoy the beautiful view on the city as well as on the citadel. There are two restaurants inside the parks as well as some fast food restaurants. The lake side restaurant is recommended. Entrance fee is moderate.
Opposite of the four seasons you find many offering felouka tours (sailing boat on the Nile). Good at sun set.
7 locals recommend
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
1089 Nile CornicheOpposite of the four seasons you find many offering felouka tours (sailing boat on the Nile). Good at sun set.
Arts & Culture
Look at their website or facebook page for events, there are almost daily operas, concerts or other events. The entrance fee is very cheap - enjoy a ballet, opera or classical concert for a modest price. There are almost always tickets available. For the main hall: no jeans, no sneackers, tie (men).
47 locals recommend
Cairo Opera House
Opera SquareLook at their website or facebook page for events, there are almost daily operas, concerts or other events. The entrance fee is very cheap - enjoy a ballet, opera or classical concert for a modest price. There are almost always tickets available. For the main hall: no jeans, no sneackers, tie (men).
Cultural center with changing exhibitions and occasional concerts/films (Sundays) and workshops. You also find many craft shops (lamps, recycling art, ceramic art) there.
8 locals recommend
Darb 1718
159 Kasr Al Shama'eCultural center with changing exhibitions and occasional concerts/films (Sundays) and workshops. You also find many craft shops (lamps, recycling art, ceramic art) there.
French Institut with French courses, Arabic classes, a library with working space and occassional cultural events (films, concerts). You also have a restaurant in the backyard.
المركز الثقافي الفرنسي
Al Madrasa Al FerincyahFrench Institut with French courses, Arabic classes, a library with working space and occassional cultural events (films, concerts). You also have a restaurant in the backyard.
Getting Around
Main train station with trains to Alexandria and Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan). Better to book tickets in advance.
Ramsis Train station
Main train station with trains to Alexandria and Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan). Better to book tickets in advance.
Cairo International Airport