If you’re coming to Cairo for the first time and trying to find advice on the best area and hotel to stay at, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re in town for a short stop, here for business, using Cairo as your base for other travels or returning because you can’t get enough, there’s options here for everyone.
Cairo is a BIG city – the largest in the Middle East in fact, with almost 20 million living throughout this sprawling metropolis. It can be overwhelming for first time visitors, the honking cars, the congested traffic, the unexpected calls to prayer but there’s so much charm in that chaos. If this will be your first time travelling to an Islamic country, the adhan or call to prayer will mesmerize you with it’s beauty.
Many travellers stop in Cairo for a mere one or two days on their way to a seaside resort or for a Nile cruise. While, I don’t think a day or two is anywhere near enough with all the incredible Cairo sights to see, I may be biased though!
When considering where to stay in Cairo, it’s important to keep in mind the length of your stay, what you’d like to see and what type of traveler you are.
If you’re a backpacker you may want to stay at a hostel or AirBnB for a more local experience close to nightlife. Whereas your priorities as a family might be to have a hotel with a pool in a more quiet area.
Cairo is a busy, chaotic and jam packed city and some sites can be spread out – be conscious of this while you plan out your time. If you don’t plan on doing organized tours (and sometimes even then), make sure to budget a lot of extra time in your itinerary. The traffic is no joke and there’s often no way to predict it! It also isn’t the most walking-friendly city, traffic is insane and it’s a risky (albeit fun!) game of crossing the road at times.
It’s a city where you can get amazing bang for your buck. You can stay at a 5 star hotels in Cairo for the equivalent price of a 3 star in some major cities in the US. Egypt in general is a place where your money can stretch much, much further. Consider looking into how you can splurge, I wouldn’t skimp on accommodations!
Tips for choosing hotels in Egypt:
- Luxury is more affordable. With tourism still recovering, even 5 star hotels in Cairo can be affordable. Take advantage while you can and enjoy feeling like Egyptian royalty! Many of these luxury hotels are either in beautiful historic buildings and/or offer the most incredible views, whether they are pyramid view hotels or Nile view hotels.
- Get a room with a view. Speaking of beautiful views, if you are staying either by the pyramids or the Nile in particular, make sure to book a room or request one with a view, you won’t regret it (plus those are some of the best places to get unique instagram photos in Cairo) .
- Try to get breakfast included. Most of the hotel breakfasts I’ve tried in Egypt have been incredible spreads. It’ll give you the opportunity to try a lot of local favorite foods like foul medames or tameya (Egyptian falafel).
Below I’ve provided a breakdown of the best neighborhoods, with an overview of the top sites in that specific area as well as the advantage of staying there. I’ll focus primarily on 4-5 star hotels in Cairo but will include some more budget friendly options as well. I’ll include estimated prices in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and based on a two-night stay with prices that of course may vary depending on time of the year.
Where to stay in Cairo: Zamalek
Top attractions in Zamalek: Cairo Tower, Felucca Rides, Nile City
Come for the Nile views and stay for the.. well Nile views! Zamalek, an area on Gezira Island, an island in the Nile that has grown to be the home of many expats and local high society. Compared to many other areas, Zamalek has lots of lush greenery which is odd for being located in the heart of the city. It’s a relatively relaxing place to take a stroll and is surrounded by loads of amazing places to eat and cute places to shop. Don’t even think about driving here though, finding parking (like in many places around Cairo) is very difficult. But while you are here you’re in the perfect spot to enjoy the many Nile centered activities, whether to enjoy a felucca (traditional Egyptian boat) ride or to go for some delicious food aboard Nile City, a board converted into several restaurants. In Zamalek you’ll find Cairo tower, which was for many years the tallest building in Africa. Go to the top where you’ll see beautiful panoramic views of the city and the Nile. Here you’re also not far from Downtown Cairo where many other must-see sites are located.
Top hotels to stay at in Zamalek
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
Prices: from $150/night
This historic hotel is worth a visit, whether it’s for a stay or just for some dinner. Their gardens are exquisite and the architecture of the former Palace is very traditional and unique.
Hotel Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
Prices: from $200/night
Incredible restaurants, views and ambiance.
Where to stay in Cairo: Downtown Cairo
Top attractions in Downtown Cairo: Khan El Khalili, Tahrir Square, The Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo, Al-Azhar Park, Abdeen Palace
When compared to Zamalek, Downtown Cairo has a more rugged and less refined feel to it, but it’s the historic heart of the city that has so much unique character. You’ll still see remnants of European architecture as it was once the intention to make the city more beautiful than Paris. It’s anything but quiet here and it’s a fascinating place to get a feel for the local way of life. In Downtown Cairo you’ll find the highest concentration of budget hotels and it’s conveniently concentrated around many of the popular sights.
Top hotels to stay at in Downtown Cairo
Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir
Prices: from $120/night
Here you’re right in the middle of all the action and a stone throw away from both the Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square.
InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
Prices: from $140/night
Situated on the Nile banks, these views certainly don’t disappoint!
Where to stay in Cairo: Giza
Top attractions in Giza: Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, The Grand Egyptian Museum (coming soon), Saqqara
If waking up to pyramid views is what you’re looking for, then Giza is the place for you. While technically Giza is a city or governate of it’s own, but as Cairo has grown by many it’s considered part of the metropolis. There are so many incredible hotels for all budgets that have pyramid views. Some of these views can be up close and personal and others a bit more from a distance. The Giza area is much more relaxed and quiet and a lovely environment for families and couples alike to stay in close proximity to one of the wonders of the world. Giza however on a good day is about 40-60 minutes from downtown Cairo, keep that in mind as you plan out your stay and if you plan to make time to see sights in the Downtown Cairo core.
Top hotels to stay at in Giza
Marriott Mena House
Prices: from $220/night
Genuinely THE most incredible hotel I’ve ever stayed at. If this is a once in a lifetime trip for you, you won’t regret staying here, or at least to come for breakfast or dinner!
Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa
Prices: from $100/night
Where to stay in Cairo: New Cairo
Top attractions in New Cairo: Lots of Shopping Malls – Cairo Festival City, Downtown Mall, Concord Plaza, Waterway, BreakOut Room Escape
New Cairo known also as the Fifth Settlement is a ‘suburb’ of sorts as it’s on the outskirts of the city, built from the ground up in the desert. However it has quickly grown and become almost a city of it’s own. Home to many multinational companies, large shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants and prominent universities like American University in Cairo (AUC) as well as the German University in Cairo (GUC). It’s a hotspot for both students and business travellers alike.
Top hotels to stay at in New Cairo
Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo
Prices: from $170/night
Beautiful hotel, spa and pool. Perfect for a relaxing stay!
Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski
Prices: from $180/night
There’s no shortage of incredible places to stay in Cairo, whether you’re here for the 5 star hotel experience, boutique hotels or are more budget conscious. Don’t forget to keep these neighbourhood tips in mind as you plan our your stay in the city!
If you’re still unsure of where to stay, here’s a recap:
- Zamalek: great base centrally located, more quiet and walkable
- Downtown Cairo: hustle and bustle, close to many attractions
- Giza: quiet, closest to pyramids but far from all other city focused sites
- New Cairo: far from Downtown, but great for business travellers
What are you waiting for? Yalla, come to Cairo!
Some additional guides that may help with your trip planning:
- Tipping Etiquette in Egypt with tips from a local (my hubby!)
- Amazing pyramid view hotels you should consider staying at
- The best 15 spots in Cairo for instagram photos
- What to wear in Egypt a guide for women
- 4-day Nile Cruise review from Aswan to Luxor
- What are the most unique souvenirs to buy in Egypt
- A two-day itinerary for Alexandria Egypt
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