Cairo City Districts

Start here with an overview of the most important Cairo city districts if you are looking for a starting place in your Cairo travel plans.

Cairo City

The majority of tourists get used to the central parts of Cairo before exploring some of the older sections found in the Islamic quarters. When experiencing the westernized downtown region (called wust al-Balad), there is a difference in culture that is discovered. When looking past the security of high-end hotels located next to the Nile, there is mounting traffic and crowds that consist of buses, donkey carts, office workers scurrying to the job, cops directing the influx of limos and taxis, and an assortment of characters, including the Nubian to the soldier. The apartment buildings lining the buildings showcase Art Deco and Empire-style architecture, which serve as the domain for vendors and doormen alike.

Above the city streets, spacious rooms and pigeon getaways look below onto the street, which completes the vision of the center of Cairo.

Midan Tahrir

At the very center of this modernized city, large hotels, various transportation opportunities, and the Egyptian Museum are found.

Midan Tahrir (also known as Liberation Square or Tahrir Square) was established on the same spot as the British Qasr el-Nil Barracks left behind after the 1952 revolution. It is here that visitors get a taste of the setbacks that political occurrences of the past were responsible for.

Throughout the 1960s, a pair of ceremonial monoliths and a handful of transport stops greatly associated with Egypt and Greater Cairo City are situated at this location. This also highlights the Soviet-style centralization that Nasser sided with. Ten years later, Sadat dismissed "Arab Socialism" and pursued an Infitah (Open Door) to the Western ideals of capitalism, which led to private car ownership that rose just as quickly as the population of Cairo. Digging a metro would reduce the threat of an inevitable blast of gridlock, yet buses and roads are still heavily overcrowded.

Downtown Cairo

It is here that visitors come face to face with the commercial pulse of the modern Cairo city. The construction of downtown Cairo dates back to the 1860s, when Khedive Ismail was responsible for rebuilding the section in the same manner as Haussmann's fresh Paris boulevards, which was an attempt to make an impression on dignitaries that attended the installation of the Suez Canal.

The "X-shape" associated with this section of the city is joined by the primary thoroughfares called Talaat Harb and Qasr el-Nil (measuring about one kilometer long each). This is where the most inexpensive hotels, airlines, and travel agencies of the city are located. Nearly all visitors find their way to the downtown areas at least one time, while others are more concerned with browsing the regional shops, eateries, and bars.

Garden City

Positioned by the center of the city, this Cairo city district is referred to as the "garden suburb." Garden City has efficiently planned out and creates a spectacular spread of greenery that illuminates central Cairo, which is also situated directly south of the very middle of the contemporary city. Garden City is the position of more than a few sizeable hotels and embassies.

The curved, streets lined with trees, as well as the avenues of Garden City exposes the establishment of a well-designed suburb dating back to the early 1900s.

Midan Ramses

The great square in front of the main railway station in Cairo city is called Midan Ramses. Surrounding the vicinity is a collection of streets and neighborhoods that are found directly north of center of the city at Midan Tahrir. As it is not the most appealing of districts in modern Cairo, it is the traffic, huge overpasses, and peak-hour crowds that put a damper on Midan Ramses. Despite this visual setback, there are still reasons why a traveler will find appeal in a visit to the area.

At the eastern end of Ramses Station, the Egyptian National Railways Museum is found. Here, visitors will encounter an impressive collection of steam locomotives, which includes examples that Empress Eugenie utilized at the same time as her opening of the Suez Canal in 1863.

Midan Ataba

This Cairo city district is located in the central part of Cairo shares the same name with a square, which provides access to the medieval characteristics of Cairo.

Islamic Cairo

At the center of the historic Cairo city district, you will find Islamic Cairo, where the Cairo Citadel, Khan el Khalili (considered the main Cairo souq / market), significant mosques and medieval structural designs greet visitors.

Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo

Here, visitors find Coptic Cairo and Fustat (known as Cairo's historical kernel), which is currently situated in the southern part of the modern Cairo city.

Things to See in Coptic Cairo

• The Roman Fortress Towers of Babylon
• The Hanging Church (Kineeset al-Muallaqa), Sharia Mar Girgis. It is free to gain entrance here.
• The Coptic Museum, Sharia Mar Girgis (telephone: 02 363 9742) is open on a daily basis from 9am to 5pm with an admission of LE 30. This site was created in 1908. The Coptic Museum is home to Coptic art and artifacts of the Late Antiquity period, which took place from the late Roman Empire to the Islamic era.
• The Church and Monastery of St George
• The Convent of St George
• The Churches of St Sergius (Abu Serga) and St Barbara
• The Ben Ezra Synagogue, which is the oldest surviving synagogue in Egypt. A former church is where this attraction is found, which dates back to the 9th century, but the premises was constructed in the 4th century.

Gezira

In modern Cairo, Gezira is a district that takes up the southern portion of the main island about the Nile that is still part of the city. The name, "Gezira" actually translates into "island" in Arabic. The ritzy district of Zamalek in the north also shares the island with Gezira.

On Gezira, travelers visit the Cairo Tower (also known as Borg al-Qahira), which is quite a sight. The attraction is available for visits between 9am and midnight. The admission price for non-Egyptians is LE 50, children LE 25. The distinctive Cairo Tower is visible from most of the downtown parts of Cairo. Completed in 1961, the tower measures 187 meters tall. The night views of Cairo City are exquisite when peering off of the Tower. A revolving café and restaurant offers some of the best sights from high above.

Zamalek

This suburb is found in the northern section of a significant Nile island. When staying in Cairo City, checking out Zamalek is highly suggested. Among other things you will find beautyful old buildings located right next to the Nile river.

Giza

Viewing the Giza Pyramids is made possible when checking out the sights of Giza – a wide-ranging district in the west of the city.

Heliopolis

Residential and commercial interest is found in Heliopolis, which is also close to Cairo International Airport. Residents of Cairo often consider this one of the nicer places to settle, but for the tourist – it is a bit of a disappointment.

A visit to the Korba region is the aging center of Heliopolis, where lovely architecture reflects an Andalusian style. A host of historic churches and cultural sights showcases the diversity of the city. Situated at the end of Al-Ahram Street, the Basilica of Notre Dame is recommended when sightseeing. The Baron Palace is also worth paying a visit.

Nasr City

The residential and commercial feel of Nasr City is increasing by the minute and also provides easy access to Cairo City's International Airport.

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