Cairo/Downtown

Talaat harb at night by tinou bao - Midan Talaat Harb Downtown Cairo is the commercial heart of the modern city of Cairo. In addition to hosting the Egyptian Museum, Downtown is the convenient location of many smaller hotels, retail outlets, travel agencies and restaurants. Its central location makes it a natural "jumping off point" for exploration of the city.

Cairo/Downtown Halal Travel Guide

History

Downtown Cairo's wide boulevards and streets were laid out in the late 19th century on the orders of Ismail the Magnificent and the Paris of Baron Hausmann being the obvious model for a ruler wishing to Europeanise his capital and his country. The architecture of many buildings is clearly redolent of Paris in the 1870s, if now somewhat run down from neglect and dusty from the Cairene climate.

Orientation

Downtown Cairo is centered on Midan Talaat Harb 30.04759, 31.23859 , at the intersection of Talaat Harb Street (southwest-northeast) and Qasr El-Nil (west-east). The southern end of Downtown is Midan Tahrir (Tahrir Plaza). The east side is marked by Midan Ataba GPS 30.05063,31.24696 at the starting point of Cairo/Islamic Cairo|Islamic Cairo. If you are a confident traveler and used to navigating your way around city's and then Cairo should be no different for you. Talaat Harb Street was known as Soliman Pasha Street before 1964. The statue of the French General Jean Anthelme Seve, commonly called Soliman Pasha Al Faransawi, stood where the statue of Talaat Harb, founder of the Banque Misr now stands. Cairienes know this street by both names.

How to travel to Cairo/Downtown

Travel by train to Cairo/Downtown

All long-distance trains arrive at the Midan Ramses GPS 30.06298,31.24637 station, at the north edge of downtown. Midan Ramses is notorious for swirling, raucous traffic, massive overpasses and crowds at peak hour - it is basically the central traffic hub into and out of Cairo. Just below the square in front of the train station is Martyrs (الشهداء, Al-Shohadaa) metro station, which is an interchange between lines 1 and 2. From here it is a 25-minutes walk to Cairo/Midan Tahrir|Midan Tahrir, on the other side of downtown.

By metro

Cairo's three metro lines converge in downtown. The Sadat metro station is at Midan Tahrir, right beside the Egyptian Museum. Thit is at the south end of downtown, a 10-minutes easy walk to the centre of the neighborhood, via Talaat Harb Street. However, walking in that area especially at night is challenging, as Tahrir Plaza has become one of the most dangerous spots in Greater Cairo, since 2011 (see Cairo/Downtown#Stay safe). Sadat metro station is closed on occasion for security reasons because of demonstrations at Midan Tahrir. Downtown is accessed through two additional stations, Mohamed Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Travel on a Bus in Cairo/Downtown

The Abdel Mo'nem Riyad Coach Station: a 5-minutes walk from Tahrir Sq and behind the Egyptian Museum has four coach stations:

• One is the micro-bus station.
• Beside it is the local bus station serving the areas of Giza, Ma'adi, Helwan, Sheikh Zayid City.
• The third serves the East of Cairo, i.e., Heliopolis, Medinet Nasr, Cairo Airport and El Rehab.
• The fourth station is across the road from the other three stations and thit is where you can board the intercity coaches. The offices and bookings of Superjet, East Delta, West Delta and El Gouna are here with destinations including Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, Ras Sidr, El Gouna, Alexandria, Delta Cities, Marsa Matrouh, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, El Tur, El Arish, Nuweiba, Dahab, Rafah.

Best way to travel in Cairo/Downtown by a Taxi

From downtown, taxis to/from Zamalek should cost around LE5 and to/from Citadel, Coptic Cairo or Islamic Cairo around LE10. For more general information on Taxis in Cairo, see Cairo#By taxi.

What to see in Cairo/Downtown

The Egyptian Museum

Egyptian Museum in Cairo in May 2015 - Egyptian Museum facade Khafre statue - Statue of pharaoh Khafre ("Chephren"), approx 4,500 years old They've got the removals men in at the Egyptian Museum | Shelves are being cleared and exhibits photographed, labelled and crated, ready for their transfer to a new Grand Egyptian Museum near the Cairo/Giza|Giza Pyramids. It has open in 2022, but you can expect these deadlines not to be met like all of the previous deadlines. The present building will continue to be used to display some of the massive collections now stored in the basement. As of Nov 2022 and there is still much - indeed too much - to see here and it remains one of the world's great museums. The museum (officially and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and often called the "Cairo Museum") is in a pink neoclassical building on the northern edge of Midan Tahrir. It's the product of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, established by the Egyptian government in 1835, to try to curb the looting of antiquities sites and artefacts. It opened in 1858 with a collection assembled by Auguste Mariette Pasha and the French archaeologist employed by Isma'il Pasha. After residing in an annex of the Bulaq palace in Giza from 1880 and the museum moved in 1900 to its present location. It's a glorious ramshackle treasure-house that evokes Dylan Thomas' famous line about "The museum which should have been in a museum!" There are seven sections within the museum that are arranged in chronological order:

1. Tutankhamen's treasures
2. Pre-dynasty and Old Kingdom monuments
3. First intermediate period and Middle Kingdom monuments
4. Monuments of the Middle Kingdom
5. Monuments of the late period and the Greek and Roman periods
6. Coins and papyri
7. Sarcophagi and scarabs

The museum is open daily, 9AM–7PM. General admission is adults LE160, students LE80 (Nov 2023), which does not include the Royal Mummies room. Tickets for photography are available at LE50 per camera, but no photography is allowed in the Tutankhamen exhibition or in the Royal Mummies room. There are three separate checkpoints that have x-ray machines. There is one outside the courtyard and then there is one before the steps of the museum and a third right inside the doors. ☎ +20 2 33777263

Highlights

Tutanchamon (js) 1 - Cairo Museum: Funerary mask of Tutankhamen

• Objects from the Tomb of Tutankhamen, Upper Floor - discovered in 1922 and gradually revealed over the next few years, many of the objects from the tomb of the "boy king" were brought to the Egyptian Museum for display. A small number of objects found their way into foreign collections, whilst several, including the inner sarcophagus and the body of Tutankhamen himself, remained in the small tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The most famous objects from the tomb are the funerary mask of Tutankhamen and the inner coffin. The mask is made of solid Gold, inlaid with lapis lazuli, cornelian, quartz, obsidian, turquoise and colored glass. The inner coffin is made of solid Gold. It isinches 74 long,inches 20 wide, andinches 20 high. The king is shown as Osiris holding the crook and flail, traditional symbols of kingship. Many items from the Tutankhamen collection are on tour to museums in Europe and North America and the chariots have been moved to the new museum, which is not open as of Nov 2018. The complete collection of items found in the tomb has yet to be fully documented. It took almost ten years for the founder of the tomb, Howard Carter, to finish excavating the tomb.
• The Royal Mummies: To see the Royal Mummies room, you can either buy a combination ticket at the ticket office at the main gate for LE300, or a separate ticket at the mummies room for LE180 (Nov 2023). No photography is allowed. There are two rooms you can enter using same ticket so make sure that you see both of them: many of the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom period and later are displayed here in the Royal Mummy Hall, which is at the junction of the first floor lobby. Mummies of eleven kings and queens are kept in temperature- and pressure-controlled glass cabinets on display. Unfortunately, some mummies are not even identified by the name or the period to which they belong to and other chronological information.
• Jewelry: there is a large collection of Egyptian jewelry on display in the museum. Egyptians were concerned with creating harmonious forms and color combinations. To a large extent and the majority of Egyptian jewelry was made with Gold and semi-precious stones. Silver was used but it much less popular than Gold in the creation of jewelry. The majority of the jewelry found on display in the museum were found on the mummy of Tutankhamen himself.
• Egyptian Museum Library: created in the year 1902 and the library specializes in ancient Egyptian civilization and houses some 42,500 Books on the topic. However and the library is not open to the general public, with access restricted to accredited researchers and students.

Only the Gold Room and the Mummy Room are air-conditioned. A bookstore and several small gift stores are open during museum hours within the main entrance hall to the museum. Prices are often somewhat inflated. Be careful also that the proprietors do not pass on a dusty, grimy equivalent of the display copy you think you are purchasing.

Midan Tahrir

• Midan Tahrir 30.04438, 31.23566 (Arabic: ميدان التحرير, "Liberation Plaza", also commonly known as Tahrir Plaza) is the name given to the large public square at the epicentre of modern Cairo and (as a city neighborhood) to the streets and institutions located nearby. The Egyptian Museum and the American University in Cairo and the Arab League and the Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels are all located here, as are several important government offices. The metro also has its main nexus under Midan Tahrir and a great many buses and taxis make Tahrir Plaza a key part of their services. The square was known as Midan Ismaili until 1954, when President Nasser gave it its current name.

The relatively open vista of Tahrir Plaza affords the confused traveler a great opportunity to look about and gain some bearings within the bustling town center. Perhaps the most prominent building bordering Tahrir Plaza is the now somewhat jaded-looking Nile Hilton, which was Africa's first Hilton hotel, between the Plaza and the Nile Corniche. Immediately to the north and perpendicular to the hotel is the unmissable Egyptian Museum in reddish-pink stone. South of the Hilton Hotel stands the dingy Arab League Building. Somewhat further southeast, across the busy thoroughfare of Tahrir street, is the brutal Stalinist-looking Mogamma Building which houses 18,000 Egyptian government bureaucrats. This building is the most convenient place for tourists to renew or extend their Egyptian visas. From here, Sharia Tahrir heads due west to cross the Nile over the Tahrir Bridge and into Cairo/Gezira|Gezira (the island suburb) and beyond to Cairo/Giza|Giza and the Pyramids (several miles away) Next to the Mogamma Building is a small but attractive Mosque of Omar Makram, in which many state and business funerals are held. Only slightly further south can be found the Intercontinental Hotel. Bordering Tahrir Plaza to the east is a sizable frontage of large office buildings and stores, topped with neon signs. The downtown campus of the American University of Cairo lies across the busy Qasr al-Ainy. Midan Tahrir is served by the Sadat metro stop, but it is occasionally closed at times of expected demonstrations and some entrances seem to be permanently closed. There is a bus stop near the area at Talaat Harb Plaza. Probably one of the easiest ways to negotiate the busy Tahrir Plaza area is to use the interconnecting underground pedestrian tunnels linking the Metro station with various points in and around the square. This can save a great deal of time and prevent much negotiation of crazy traffic and the ongoing remodelling of the square.

Other sites

File:Midan tahrir by Daveness 98 - Midan Tahrir before the revolution

• Abdeen Palace Museum - Collections are showcased on the lower floors in the Silver Museum and the Arms Museum and the Royal Family Museum and the Presidential Gifts Museum and the Historical Documents Museum was added in 2006. The palace, designed in the 1800s by a French architect, is worth seeing including the fountain courtyard.
• Karim Francis Gallery - An art gallery
• Museum of Islamic Art - Established in 1858 under authority of Khedive Tawfiq and the museum showcases pieces from masjids, homes and palaces in Islamic Cairo.
• The Postal Museum - This museum holds a plethora of historical exhibits relating to all things postal, from the history of the post system dating back to the time of the Pyramids to extensive stamp collections.
• Yacoubian Building - For readers of Alaa al Aswani's best-selling book The Yacoubian Building. You can see the Yacoubian Building on Talaat Harb Street where it still stands and where the story was based, although in the book it is referred to by its old name of Soliman Pasha St.
• Prince Said Halim's Palace - Now almost derelict and often misleadingly called the Champollion Palace, this once beautiful building is worth a look for its beautiful architecture, baroque and classical archways. Built in 1896 by designer Antonio Lasciac from imported Italian marbles and stone. This once beautiful palace and gardens are a reminder of the 'Glory days of Cairo'. The building was nationalized by President Nasser and eventually transformed into Al Nassareya Boys School, which quickly destroyed the beautiful building. Today it is a temporary art gallery.
• Egyptian National Railways Museum - At the eastern end of Ramses Station, this museum houses an amazing collection of steam locomotives, including that used by Empress Eugenie during her opening of the Suez Canal in 1863.
• Al Fath Mosque - El Fatah - Completed in the early 1990s, this beautiful mosque is worth taking a look at.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Cairo/Downtown

• Cinema Metro - Once one of Cairo's most opulent movie palaces and the Metro has fallen on sadly disheveled, dusty, almost squalid times.
• Cairo Puppet Theatre - A fantastic way to spend an afternoon with the kids. The Cairo Puppet Theatre puts on a variety of shows including myths, fairy tales and fun children's stories.
• Ramses Hilton Cinema - Theater at the Ramses Hilton shows modern, mainstream movies. Best to get there by taxi.
• Midan Falaki - Falaki Plaza - A public square surrounded by Coffee merchants and Coffee shops. During the day you can sit and enjoy one of the many blends and play a game of backgammon with the more intellectual Egyptians who frequent the cafes during the day. However, a more raucous clientèle tends to congregate later in the evening. A nice place to people watch and buy some unusual blends of Coffee.

Shopping in Cairo/Downtown

Flickr - Daveness 98 - Midan Talaat Harb - Midan Talaat Harb The Downtown neighborhood of Cairo features a number of Egyptian department stores. These were once fantastic emporiums, full of the world's best products - until July 1961 when every one of Egypt's great department stores were nationalized. Those days are long gone and quality shopping has moved to upmarket malls in Heliopolis, Nasr City, Maadi and other upscale neighborhoods. Today, Downtown is the place to go for affordable fakes and local produce of variable quality and the full range of Arabic pop music (and films). The Midan Ataba area is home to large bookseller markets, where you can find affordable books, as well as electronics and clothing markets. Near the main post office and there are vendors selling stationary and cards. Talaat Harb Street is the place to find shoes, with one shoe store after another.

• Madbouli - Mostly Arabic bookstore with a range of political literature and other books.
• Omar Effendi | A large iconic Egyptian, 150-year-old department store. Sadly, filled with Chinese and poorly made Egyptian clothing even now since its privatization and takeover by the Gulf Kuwaiti Sultan Centre Company.
• Sednaoui Department Store - This once family-owned department store was nationalized in 1961 and now has the neglected feeling of an East (German) department store. It has 3 floors and has a grand sweeping staircase and a glass roofed atrium worth seeing for that alone, if you like old architectural building designs. Sells very affordable fabrics on the 2nd floor where you can buy shirts, blouses and curtain material and have made up by one of Cairo's many tailors.
• El Shawarby Street - The best street to bargain hunt for music, DVDs and clothes, don't be afraid to negotiate, watch how the local residents do it for tips.
• Shorouk Bookshop - Located on Midan Talaat Harb, Shorouk has two floors with a good selection of Arabic- and English-language books.
• Talaat Harb Mall - Most famous for its downstairs fast food restaurants. Many affordable clothes stores are also in the vicinity of the mall which is located just above Midan Talaat Harb.
• Attaba Bookstalls - Over 100 new and second hand book stalls all displayed in little Arabesque kiosks. Every type of book and magazine available in many languages. Usually hassle free and sellers are content to let you browse in peace. Always bargain and the price will come down the more you buy. Very old Books and classics up to newly released novels and magazines. A great place to find treasures and find a few Books for your trip. Visit Mahmoud at kiosks 83 and 84 for a great selection of used English Books and a fair price. Many Books are under LE10 each.
• AUC Bookstore - Hill House Campus AUC Tahrir | Great bookstore just minutes away from Cairo Museum in the AUC Hill House campus. Excellent selection of new Books and all the usual Egyptian authors' works can be found there amongst the latest releases.
• Al Bostan Mall - Large old mall mainly selling computers, second-hand PCs and laptops and computer accessories with some clothing and footwear stores and a few airline offices. Toilets on each of the 4 floors.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Cairo/Downtown

Downtown is not the main haunt for the greatest of culinary treats, although quality eating does exist. It is however heaven for Egyptian Snacks, sweets and fast food.

• Quick Sandwich - 2 El Fawala Street Downtown, Opera Plaza

A 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.

• Kushari al-Tahrir - Fast food restaurant, done Egyptian style. Usually very busy packed with local residents, but very good food at a very non-tourist price. Good fuul and falafel for about LE1.5 a sandwiches. Large restaurant located on 26th July St, just off Talaat Harb St, in downtown Cairo. A large schawerma 'Doner [ Halal Kebab sandwich' costs LE8.
• Al Tazaj Fakieh - Kebab with a Chicken twist, this Cairo chain serves up Chicken in all its oriental varieties.
• Fatari Pizzas Tahrir - Serves sweet fatirs and varieties with Cheese and Meat toppings. Has a small sitting area, or is good for take away.
• Koshari el-Tahrir - Popular koshari chain, serves koshari in various sizes though the small (1.4 kg/3 lb) is a good size portion. You can add hot Sauce or a lemon Sauces. For LE5.50, you can get a small koshari and a can of Coca-Cola. Eat-in or takeaway.
• Koshari Achmat - Decent and affordable Koshari
• Koshary Abou Tarek - Koshary is a filling Pasta tomato Sauces, dried onions, chickpeas, lenses dish and this restaurant is quite famous beyond Cairo for it and its speedy waiters. Rice with mild seems to be quite famous in combination (after) koshary.
• Directly opposite the gates of the American University in Cairo (AUC) in the south-eastern corner of the square are to be found all the central Cairo branches of McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC.

Flickr - dlisbona - The famous Groppi's cafe in Talaat Harb square - Groppi's cafe in Talaat Harb

• Alfi Bey - Egyptian Halal cuisine is served in this small restaurant, including kofta, kabobs, stuffed pigeon, lamb and Chicken.
• Felfela - A Cairo institution, this restaurant represents the original flagship of the now burgeoning Felfela chain of restaurants throughout Cairo. Long wooden tables and eclectic, somewhat souvenirsy décor: aquariums, clocks, half-lit grottos complete with mini-waterfalls. Somehow it all works. Specializes in classic Egyptian Halal cuisine. The Vegetarian dishes are better than the Meat. Try the lemonade - perfect refreshment on a hot day! Also serves soft drinks. Credit cars not accepted.
• Groppi's - Situated on the square itself is the once opulent Groppi's, formerly the most famous café, tearoom and patisserie in Egypt. Between the 1920s and early 1950s, Groppi's was the place to be seen by Cairene society. Its former glories stripped away to dusty memories, Groppi's is nonetheless still just open for business. Be sure to check out the ornate mosaics around the doorway - a relic of former times.
• La Chesa - Serving fondues and other traditional Swiss dishes, Pizzas, salads and patisseries, thit is one of the better continental restaurants in Downtown Cairo.
• After Eight - Middle Eastern brassiere - The basement of the Annex to the Hilton Hotel on Tahrir Plaza has a large number of internationally flavoured eateries in a mall-type setting, everything from Egyptian to (Thai) and hamburgers. Prices are reasonable and the setting comfortable.
• Beano's - Modern Coffee chain, serves salad, sandwiches, etc.
• Cilantro - Modern coffee-chain that also serves sandwiches, salads, etc. Wi-Fi available, credit cards accepted.
• Costa Coffee - Modern Coffee chain that also serves desserts and some sandwiches
• Café Riche - Another place of forlorn glory. Very popular with tourists, but the reasons for fame are questionable, it's rather expensive for what you get and service is slow and unsatisfying, even for Cairo. However, this might just be cause of all the tourists visiting here. So, come here if you fit in and skip it if you just in for the thrill and pictures.
• Peking | Branch of the Cairo Peking restaurant chain. All their branches offer relatively predictable, but very good Chinese food.
• Da Mario Italian restaurant - Nile Hilton Hotel - Authentic Italian cuisine and good service.
• Maharajah restaurant - Ramsis Hilton - Exotic Indian dining experience.
• Windows on the World restaurant - Ramsis Hilton Hotel - International cuisine with cocktails and evening dinner served in the 36th floor restaurant with stunning panoramic views over the Nile and to the pyramids beyond
• Bird Cage - Reportedly the best (Thai) Food in Cairo.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Cairo/Downtown

Cairo/Downtown - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Cairo/Downtown, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Cairo/Downtown. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Cairo/Downtown and its surrounding regions. With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Cairo/Downtown. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values. The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Cairo/Downtown. Key components include: Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Cairo/Downtown: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Cairo/Downtown. Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Cairo/Downtown: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Cairo/Downtown, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Cairo/Downtown. Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Cairo/Downtown, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations. Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Cairo/Downtown, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values. Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Cairo/Downtown and beyond. Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Cairo/Downtown, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Cairo/Downtown, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Cairo/Downtown without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients." The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Cairo/Downtown is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Cairo/Downtown. About eHalal Travel Group: eHalal Travel Group Cairo/Downtown is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values. For Halal business inquiries in Cairo/Downtown, please contact: eHalal Travel Group Cairo/Downtown Media: info@ehalal.io

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eHalal Group Cairo/Downtown is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Cairo/Downtown. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Cairo/Downtown. At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Cairo/Downtown ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property. For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Cairo/Downtown. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living. If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Cairo/Downtown, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values. For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Cairo/Downtown are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Ramadan 2024 Celebrations in Cairo/Downtown

Ramadan 2025 in Cairo/Downtown

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels in Cairo/Downtown

• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&SUltan+Hotel&hotelId=1914548205&&.Zz9e2e5246 b18a4df68f97afb-206204 Sultan Hotel - Homely family atmosphere, satellite TV, kitchen. Popular with (Japanese). In the same building are also the Safary Hotel and the Venice Hosokawaya Hotel.
• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&Travelers+House&hotelId=275851&&.Zz8ec1373b141548b493ffe65-206204 Traveler's House Hotel - Situated in downtown near the Orabi Metro station. Nice clean rooms with high ceilings and large windows. A large common room with a balcony is perfect for hanging out at the end of the day. Free breakfast, wireless internet and hot drinks throughout the day.
• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&Venice+Hosokawaya&hotelId=4396131&&.Zz3ab967dd9bbc4e04af45a55-206204 Venice Hosokawaya - Venice Hosokawaya Hotel was established in January 2008, after a complete renovation and staff replacement of the old Venice Hotel. Popular with Japanese and the owner is Japanese national, staff can speak English, Japanese, Arabic. Clean and comfortable. Free breakfast, free wireless internet, free kitchen.
• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&Conrad+Cairo+Hotel+%26+Casino&hotelId=190887&&.Zzaa34ce0efa034828b326 bb3-206204 Conrad Cairo | Located on the Western edge of Midan Tahrir, close to the Egyptian Museum and built on the site of the former barracks of the British garrison of Empire days. This branch of the Hilton chain was the first major international hotel to be built in Cairo after the war. Very convenient for transport connections, for the Egyptian Museum and for Downtown.
• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&InterContinental+Cairo+Semiramis%2C+an+IHG+Hotel&hotelId=275833&&.Zzba3823c6041c42ff9de950f-206204 Semiramis InterContinental Hotel - Opened in 1987 and the Semiramit is one of Cairo's premier hotels. Contains the Bird Cage (Thai) restaurant and Sabaya Lebanese restaurant.
• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&Talisman+Hotel&hotelId=275879&&.Zze325d9e2866e4a5a8a5acb4-206204 Talisman Hotel de Charme - Located on the 5th floor of an older building and the outside of the hotel may not be impressive, but this 25-room hotel provides clean, nicely decorated rooms, private marble bathrooms, air conditioning, free internet and breakfast. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing high-end service.
• io//2023-09-16&checkOut=2023-09-17&6658&&Ramses+Hilton+Hotel+%26+Casino&hotelId=275815&&.Zzed7d6 be83c51429a881e256-206204 The Ramses Hilton - Housed in a large, modern, purpose-built tower and the Ramses Hilton has great views from its upper floors, but lacks any real character. Still and the standards are what you would expect from the Hilton chain - as are the prices! Contains a business center, fitness center, outdoor pool, various restaurants.

Telecommunications in Cairo/Downtown

There are a handful of internet cafes around Midan Talaat Harb. Free wi-fi is available at Pottery Cafe. Free wi-fi (Orange) is also available at modern Coffee shops such as Cilantro and Costa Coffee, where you obtain access by getting a 2-hour "promotional" card from the waiter. McDonalds restaurants also offer free wi-fi.

Stay Safe

Be extra careful crossing the roads in and around Tahrir Plaza. Egyptian motorists drive fast and seldom obey red lights. Tahrir Plaza has become one of the most dangerous spots in Greater Cairo, as many political demonstrations have been held there, since 2011. The danger arises not only from the unfortunate escalation of demonstrations into violence, but also because thugs exploit the situation when security forces evacuate the area which makes it easier for them to steal, rob under the threat of injury and even rape. These incidents are made by a group of people riding motorcycles. Be careful at Midan Tahrir and Midan Ataba, as these seem to be epicentres for the agents and pretentious helpful local residents. They will pretend to innocently ask you where you where you are from and then point you in the wrong direction in direct you towards a friend's business. Only at Cairo/Giza|the pyramids does this happen more often. Ataba is always crowded and has a very high incidence of pickpocketing, in a scenario such as getting in the metro station from there.

Cope in Cairo/Downtown

Downtown has many small tourist-oriented tour kiosks. The problem that visitors face is these tours often are inflated in price and always include at least 2 stops to "uncle's" perfume, papyrus, or handicraft shops. This takes away many hours from the tour and time at monuments in the hope that at least a few from the coach will buy something. The better option would be negotiate a taxi for the day. Stop a few taxis and ask what the price would be for a whole day of sightseeing at the places you want to visit. If the price is mutual, a taxi driver will be happy to escort you around town and wait hours in the shade outside for you if he is sure of a good fare at the end of the day instead of driving around Cairo looking for fares.

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