Cairo - Garden City

Garden City is a well-planned and leafy district of central Cairo, immediately south of the very centre of the modern city at Midan Tahrir. Garden City is the location of several large hotels and embassies. There's not much to do here, but it's a reasonable place to stay, close to downtown, but in a quiet and high security area. This is one Cairo neighbourhood that once housed the elite of the 30's and 40's Egypt. It is considered, to this day, a posh place to live.

Culture and History

The curvy, tree-lined streets and avenues of Garden City reveal the creation of a planned suburb in the early 1900s.

Travel to Cairo - Garden City - Visa Requirements

By taxi

If you want to take the taxi to Garden City most taxi drivers will know Qasr al-Aini street. This street runs from the south of the district to Tahrir Square and through the heart of Garden City. The international hotels are located at the well known Corniche el-Nil, though if you state your destination to the taxi driver as the Four Seasons, other ritzy hotel, the driver expects you to pay more. Same goes for taking a taxi from Garden City to elsewhere. It is best to catch a taxi at some spot other than a hotel.

By Metro

Metro stations in Garden City are Sayida Zeinab Station and Saad Zaghloul Station, both part of the El Marg-Helwan line. Garden City is also within walking distance of Sadat Station at Tahrir Square.

Cairo - Garden City tourist attractions and sightseeing

• Beit al-Sennari, 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, 128 Qasr el-Ainy(close to the American University of Cairo), ☎ +202 429-1920, [1]. For those who take a political interest take the time to tour the Egyptian Parliament home to both the People (454 members) and the Shura Council (264 members) - this is the epicenter of the Egyptian government. There are tours offered and a museum chronicling the Egyptian government. (Note: Most likely not open, as a major fire occurred at the Parliament building in August 2008.) 

Cairo - Garden City city tours

• Felluka tour. Sail over the Nile in an original Egyptian ship. Fellukas are waiting in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. No reservation needed. In the summer it is recommended to sail a Felluka 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. 50 LE for an hour is a reasonable price. 

• Corniche. An 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. 

• Scarabee, Corniche el-Nil(by the Shepheard Hotel), ☎ +20 2 794 3444. Departures at 8 PM and 10:30 PM, cruises last two hours. Enjoy a romantic evening cruising on the Nile. Scarabee offers belly dancing, live music, and international cuisine served buffet style. 

Cairo - Garden City Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

The international hotels have several restaurants offering different cuisines from around the world. Local koshary (pasta, rice, lentil, chick peas, onions, garlic and tomato-chili sauce) is sold widely in small shops for a few Egyptian Pounds. These koshary shops might not look very inviting but the food is usually good and addictive.

Splurge

• Abou Shakra, 69 Qasr el Ainy St, ☎ +202 531 6111, [2]. 9am - Midnight. Abou Shakra is a chain restaurant with an Middle Eastern/ Northern African menu and the occasional french fry. 

• Bird Cage, Corniche el-Nil(Semiramis InterContinental). Thai cuisine, located on the second floor of the Semiramsis InterContinental Hotel. 

• El Cinzano, 1 Latin America Street. Italian restaurant, near the embassies, featuring homemade pasta and other dishes. 

• Revolving Restaurant, Corniche el-Nil(Grand Hyatt Cairo), ☎ +20 2 2365 1234. 7PM - 1AM. 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, Corniche el-Nil(Four Seasons Hotel). Chinese cuisine served in an elegant setting, with dim sum buffet on Friday afternoons. 

• Tabouleh, 1 Latin America Street(close to the American Embassy compound), ☎ +202 792 5261. Reservations are essential at this very popular Lebanese restaurant. A very wide range of Lebanese mezzeh is offered. 

Cairo - Garden City nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Qasr el-Ainy Street is dotted with several coffee shops serving shisha, coffee, tea and refreshments. Otherwise, the five star hotels are your best bet, all the big ones have at least one bar.

Cairo - Garden City cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Budget

• Garden City House Hostel, 23 Kamal El -Din Salah, [3]. Single/Double/Triple: Rates start at 63 LE without bathroom. This basic, budget hotel has received relatively good reports. (Beware, though, of their airport transfer, which they'll attempt to charge in US dollars.) 

Splurge

• Helnan Shepard's, Corniche el-Nil, ☎ +202-355 3800(fax: +202-355 7284). Views of the Nile from elegant rooms and enjoyable bars/restaurants. 

• Grand Hyatt Cairo, Corniche el-Nil, ☎ +20 2 3651 234, [4]. A semicircular hotel situated on the North tip of Rhoda Island, linked to the city center by a private bridge, and approximately 14 miles from Cairo International Airport. Has a revolving restaurant, a pool and great views of the city. An attached shopping mall with food court and a range of restaurants in the hotel with a terrace overlooking the fountain in the Nile make for an incomparable view if you eat outside. The food is good quality but there is no alcohol served in the restaurants. 

• Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Corniche el-Nil, ☎ +20 (2) 2791 7000(fax: +20 (2) 2791 6900), [5]. Everything you would expect from this chain of hotels. 

Contact

This page was last edited by Wikitravel user Aude. Based on work by Neil Dunlop and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Bennievermeer, Trew, Lakerhaug, Cacahuate and Pjamescowie and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license