Cairo/East

• Korba areaThe old center of Heliopolis, with beautiful Andalusian style architecture and lots of old churches and cultural centres from the days of cosmopolitan, multicultural Cairo.

• Baron Empain Palace

  address: al-Uruba St
  Erected by Baron Empain, this utterly bizarre structure was inspired by Angkor Wat and the Hindu temples of Orissa (now known as Odisha), and looks thoroughly out of place in Cairo. You can take a peek from the road, but alas, the interior has been off limits for years.

• Basilica of Notre Dame

  address: at the end of Al-Ahram Street
  A miniature version of Istanbul's Ayasofya, dubbed the "jelly mold" by expats. Especially worth a look.

• Uruba Presidential PalaceOnce a grand hotel that opened in 1910, the Uruba Palace is now the official residence of the Egyptian President. The hotel fell into disuse in the 1960s, and for a brief period, the palace was home to the Federation of Arab Republics. In the 1980s, the palace was restored and became the official residence.

• 6th of October PanoramaA museum dedicated to the 1973 war against Israel. Airplanes, tanks, and other hardware from both sides are on display. Inside the building, there are videos and murals. This museum is very similar to the one in Damascus, Syria, but of course Cairo is safer to visit these days. Both museums were built with the help of North Korean architects, and the influence shows.

• Unknown Soldier MemorialA striking-looking pyramid-shaped monument, standing 36 meters high. President Anwar Sadat is also buried here.

• Korba Street Festival

  address: Baghdad Street
  Annual cultural festival that takes place each spring, centering on Heliopolis’ Baghdad Street. The festival features Egyptian performing artists.

• City Stars

  address: Nasr City
  A modern shopping mall, with seven levels of shops and restaurants, such as the Virgin Megastore. A large multiplex cinema and indoor amusement center are also located at City Stars, along with a number of hotels including the Intercontinental and a Holiday Inn.

Budget

• Shabrawai'sIt's one of the best foul and tamiyya joints in town.

• Quick SandwichA pioneer in the Egyptian based chains offers some of the best Shawerma rolls and Shish-Kebab sandwiches, excellent value meals and great taste- delivery is an option by calling 16013. relatively cheap. You'll find a restaurant in the middle of the Merghani street and another in front of the Merryland Gardens.

Splurge

• Mei Shi

  address: Mövenpick Heliopolis Hotel
  Chinese cuisine served in an elegant setting.

• Petit Palmyra

  phone: +20 24171720
  address: 27 al-Ahram Street

• Rainforest Cafe

  address: City Stars, 5th Floor, Phase 1
  American theme restaurant, located at City Stars Mall.

• The Veranda

  address: 65 Abdel Hamid Badawi
  Offers buffet or a la carte, including buffet breakfast and international menu for lunch and dinner.

• Amphitrion

  phone: +20 2581379
  address: 18 Ibrahim al-Laqqani Street
  Amphitrion is an open air cafe and pub, providing a place to sit outdoors on the terrace with a beer. As old as Heliopolis itself, soldiers used to come here to unwind during World War II.

• Christo Liquors

  phone: +20226331518
  address: 92 Osman Ibn Affan St
  Beer shop offering chilled beers delivered right to your door.

• Pension Zamalek

  phone: +20 2 2735 9318
  address: 6 Salah el-Din St.
  Run-down and a bit basic, but not without charm, run by an Egyptian family, in a quiet and very safe embassy neighbourhood. A basic breakfast is provided. Discounts on longer stays, unmarried couples might face problems at this location and teenagers tend to get harassed by the manager's wife.

• Fairmont Towers Heliopolis

  phone: +20 2-26960000
  address: El Shaheed Sayed Zakaria Street
  Stunning new hotel built around a giant glass atrium.

• Le Méridien Heliopolis

  phone: +20 2-22905055
  address: 51 El Orouba Street
  Somewhat dated but comfortable hotel within striking distance to the airport, with a free shuttle service. Little of interest in the vicinity, but near the Cairo Conference Center.

• Novotel Cairo Airport

  phone: +20 2-22918520
  Closest hotel to the airport. The lobby and public areas have been given a facelift and are now bright, modern, and airy, but the rooms still look and feel like a cheap motel with lumpy beds, and noisy air conditioning. Adequate for a one-night transit, but you wouldn't want to spend your whole vacation here. Free half-hourly shuttle bus from/to airport.

• Sonesta Hotel and Casino Cairo

  phone: +20 2-22628111
  address: 3 El Tayaran Street
  A 257-room 5-star hotel with a pool, casino, and full service spa.

• InterContinental Cairo Citystars

  phone: +20 2 24800100
  address: Omar Ibn El Khattab st.
  A 790-room property.

• Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

  phone: +20 2 24803000
  address: Ali Rashed St. Heliopolis

• Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars

  phone: +20 2 2480333
  address: Emtedad Makram Ebeid St. Heliopolis

• Radisson Blu Heliopolis

  phone: +20 (2) 26 96 5656
  address: Abdel Hamid Badawy St, 114 Rawda Al Sheraton

• The Baron Hotel Heliopolis

  phone: +20 2 22915757
  address: P.O. Box 2531 P.C. 11361, 4 Ma'ahad Al Sahary St
  Overlooks Baron Empain Palace. 126 rooms & suites, several restaurants & bars and conference facilities.