Hotels in Cairo

Cairo hotels come in many shapes and sizes and fall within a range of price brackets...

You'll find budget hotels in city-centre buildings, mid-range accommodation at a bevy of interesting sites around Cairo and sprawling luxury hotels along the banks of the Nile.

Four- and five-star hotels can be booked in the areas of Zamalek, Gezira and Garden City, which feature tree-lined streets and high-quality restaurants. All are in supreme central spots and Nile-view rooms can be booked at many of the hotels in these areas.

Cheap hotels in Cairo are mainly located in the downtown district, which spreads out from Tahrir Square. Museums, galleries and the city's amazing collection of Islamic architecture are within easy reach of these central properties, though noise levels can be high – often the price to pay for being in the thick of the action.

Giza is the place to stay if you want a base close to the pyramids and the Sphinx. While walking to these attractions is not an attractive proposition, many of the hotels in this area boast great views and nice pool areas in which to seek a respite from the searing sun.

The area of Heliopolis, near the airport, features a number of good quality hotels, though access to the city is more limited.

Across the various areas of hotel concentrations, you will find well-known brands offering excellent quality at great prices from names such as Barcelo, Intercontinental, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Swissotel, Novotel, Mercure, Sofitel, Kempinski, Le Meridien, Four Seasons, Fairmont and Mövenpick.

The big attractions here are terrifically big – the Great Pyramid of Giza would have about 35 storeys if it were a skyscraper!

Top five attractions

Pyramids of Giza

Three pyramids stand against the blue skies and no-one can fail to be in awe of these ancient structures. The Great Pyramid of Giza stands above them all.

Great Sphinx of Giza

Also in the Giza Necropolis, the Sphinx sits in the shadows of the pyramids and both can be seen during a day trip.

Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

More than 100,000 items make up this vast, historic and impressive collection. Even kids will love this museum, which features mummies and King Tutankhamun's gold.

Khan el-Khalili

Tour this huge souk (market), marvelling at the architecture as you practice your haggling skills.

Felucca trip on the Nile

Escape the heat and the hubbub of Cairo's streets and book a trip aboard a felucca to float lazily along the Nile. Many operators run lunch and dinner cruises too.

A city not known for its annual events, Cairo nonetheless puts on a delicate feast of cultural nibbles...

Sham an-Nassim; March: Also known as “sniffing the breeze”, the start of spring is welcomed with public picnics.

Cairo International Song Festival; August: Performances celebrating the music and culture of Egypt take place at venues around Cairo.

Arabic Music Festival; November: Book tickets to see a unique musical experience at Cairo Opera House.