Cairo/Garden City

By taxi

Local bus or micro bus

By Metro

• Beit El-Sennari

  phone: +20 2 23909471
  address: Harat Monge
  Built in 1794 by Ibrahim Katkhuda El-Sennari, a Sudanese occultist, Beit al-Sennari housed French artists and scholars after Napoleon arrived. The house was restored in 1995, and opened to the public in 2000. The house is home to the Institute for Applied Arts, which has glassware, pottery, and other works on display. You can also see the courtyard and open gardens, and the various sections of the house.

• Egyptian Parliament and Museum

  phone: +20 2 429-1920
  address: 128 Qasr el-Ainy
  Home to the People's Assembly. There are tours offered and a museum chronicling the Egyptian government. Unclear if the tours and museum are operating since the revolution.

• Ethnological Museum

  phone: +20 2 794 5450
  address: 109 Qasr el Aini St
  Part of the Geographical Society created by Khedive Ismail in 1895, this rather neglected museum displays more modern Egyptian cultural artifacts, and examples of daily life.

• Fellucca tourSail over the Nile in an original Egyptian ship. Felluccas are waiting in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. No reservation needed. In the summer it is recommended to sail a Fellucca late in the evening or at night because of the heat during the day. The view at night is also very spectacular. As with most things in Egypt negotiating about the price is needed. LE50 for an hour is a reasonable price.

• CornicheAn evening stroll along the Corniche is always a good idea. Take a stroll up to the Qasr el-Nil Bridge, where you can see the lion statues at the foot of the bridge. Qasr el-Nil Bridge is a popular spot for young Egyptian couples to have an inexpensive date. Many couples stay out for hours on the bridge, where you can often find vendors renting plastic chairs by the hour, and selling roasted lib (peanuts, pumpkin seeds) in small paper cones, and hot sweet tea served in glasses. Occasionally you will see amateur fishermen landing Nile perch from the bridge. A great place to see the lights over Cairo city at night.

• Scarabee

  phone: +20 2 794 3444
  address: Corniche el-Nil
  Enjoy a romantic evening cruising the Sofitel owned M/S Scarabee on the Nile. Scarabee offers belly dancing, live music, and international cuisine, grilled meats, and vegetable platters served buffet style.

• Marquis Cruise

  address: Grande Hyatt Hotel Garden City
  Enjoy a drink and cruise up the Nile in the evening on deck in the Moonlight Cafe, or enjoy lunch or dinner downstairs in the Baccarat Restaurant aboard the Grande Hyatt's private yacht the Marquis. Lunch is served 2:30PM-4:30PM. Dinner served 8PM-10PM. Reserve seats at Hyatt reception.

• Walking TourGarden City is a great place to wander around admiring architecture. Its streets are filled with what once were beautiful palaces and villas, homes to the elite of Cairo, and places of negotiation, intrigue, and brutal realpolitik. The British Embassy (Bayt al Lourd) on Ahmed Ragab Street, built in 1894, saw delicate garden conversations on the engagement of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II of Britain) to Prince Philip; and in 1942 saw the British Envoy storm forth in a military convoy to force King Faroukh to appoint a pro-British cabinet. The Grey Towers Building at 10 Itihad el Mohamyeen el Arab St was also known as 10 Downing Street as it was the British Army's GHQ during World War II, and here the independence of Syria and Lebanon were constructed.

Inexpensive

• Foul Mahous

  address: across from the Canadian Embassy
  The best foul in Cairo, don't let the looks of what is basically a stand with tables in the road fool you.

• Pyramids

  address: 75 Qasr al-Aini
  A local fast food joint with the standard Middle Eastern fare, delivery.

Splurge

• Abou Shakra

  phone: +20 2 531 6111
  address: 69 Qasr el Ainy St
  Abou Shakra is a chain restaurant with an Middle Eastern/ Northern African menu and the occasional french fry.

• Bird Cage

  address: Corniche el-Nil
  Thai cuisine, located on the second floor of the Semiramsis InterContinental Hotel.

• El Cinzano

  address: 1 Latin America Street
  Italian restaurant, near the embassies, featuring homemade pasta and other dishes.

• Revolving Restaurant

  phone: +20 2 2365 1234
  address: Corniche el-Nil
  Located on the 41st floor, the Revolving Restaurant offers cocktails and French cuisine, with splendid views of the Nile. Reservations required and dress code (no jeans).

• Spice

  address: 1089 Corniche el-Nil
  Cantonese cuisine served in an elegant setting, with dim sum buffet on Friday afternoons 1PM-4PM. Dress smart casual.

• Tabouleh

  phone: +20 2 792 5261
  address: 1 Latin America Street
  Reservations are essential at this very popular Lebanese restaurant. A very wide range of Lebanese mezzeh is offered.

Budget

• Garden City House Hotel

  phone: +20 2 2794 8400
  address: 23 Kamal El -Din Salah
  Used to be a well-run hotel owned by Italians, now just an average, grimy but functional hotel. The staff isn't particularly the best but the bedding is clean and the rooms are big. A variety of rooms from those with air conditioning and bathroom to those with no air conditioning and a shared bathroom.

• Juliana Hotel

  phone: +20 0124249896
  address: 8 Ibrahim Nagib
  Located on the third floor of an office building, this hotel offers free WiFi, breakfast, modest rooms with budget design, small double beds, and towels daily. You will have to ride an elevator up to the hotel and meander to the lobby.

Mid-range

Splurge

• Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

  phone: +20 2 2791 7000
  address: Corniche el-Nil
  Everything you would expect from this chain of hotels, with many rooms overlooking the Nile.

• Grand Nile Tower

  phone: +20 2 3651 234
  address: Corniche el-Nil
  Formerly the Hyatt, situated on the North tip of Rhoda Island.

• Kempinski Nile Hotel

  phone: +20 2 2798 0000
  address: 12 Ahmed Raghab Street
  High quality accommodation on the Corniche, 10 mins walk from Midan Tahrir. Contains Osmanli Turkish restaurant and rooftop poolside bar / cafe with great Nile views.
• Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel is on the Corniche on the boundary between Garden City and Downtown, see Downtown for listing.