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Locality in Cairo
Photo: JasmineElias, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The eastern districts of Cairo are a series of planned communities which have been built away from the congestion of historic Cairo. The most prominent communities are Heliopolis, Nasr City, and New Cairo. Cairo International Airport is also located in this area, just to the east of Heliopolis.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The old center of Heliopolis, with beautiful Andalusian style architecture and lots of old churches and cultural centres from the days of cosmopolitan, multicultural Cairo.
Erected by Baron Empain, this utterly bizarre structure was inspired by Angkor Wat and the Hindu temples of Odisha, and looks thoroughly out of place in Cairo. You can take a peek from the road, but alas, the interior has been off limits for years.
A miniature version of Istanbul's Ayasofya, dubbed the "jelly mold" by expats. Especially worth a look.
Once a grand hotel that opened in 1910, the Uruba Palace is now the official residence of the Egyptian President. The hotel fell into disuse in the 1960s, and for a brief period, the palace was home to the Federation of Arab Republics. In the 1980s, the palace was restored and became the official residence.
A museum dedicated to the 1973 war against Israel. Airplanes, tanks, and other hardware from both sides are on display. Inside the building, there are videos and murals. This museum is very similar to the one in Damascus, Syria, but of course Cairo is safer to visit these days. Both museums were built with the help of North Korean architects, and the influence shows.
A striking-looking pyramid-shaped monument, standing 36 meters high. President Anwar Sadat is also buried here.
Annual cultural festival that takes place each spring, centering on Heliopolis’ Baghdad Street. The festival features Egyptian performing artists.
Nature reserve along a dry riverbed, perfect for hiking.
Chinese cuisine served in an elegant setting.
Amphitrion is an open air cafe and pub, providing a place to sit outdoors on the terrace with a beer. As old as Heliopolis itself, soldiers used to come here to unwind during World War II.
Run-down and a bit basic, but not without charm, run by an Egyptian family, in a quiet and very safe embassy neighbourhood. A basic breakfast is provided. Discounts on longer stays, unmarried couples might face problems at this location and teenagers tend to get harassed by the manager's wife.
formerly Heliopolis Towers Hotel
Stunning hotel built around a giant glass atrium.
A 790-room property.
Overlooks Baron Empain Palace. 126 rooms & suites, several restaurants & bars and conference facilities.
A 5-star hotel close to the airport. It has 589 rooms and suites, 18 restaurants and lounges, outdoor pools, meeting rooms and business centre.
A 257-room 5-star hotel with a pool, casino, and full service spa.
Upscale golf resort.
A modern shopping mall, with seven levels of shops and restaurants, such as the Virgin Megastore. A large multiplex cinema and indoor amusement center are also located at City Stars, along with a number of hotels including the Intercontinental and a Holiday Inn.
By public transport
Heliopolis is located between Cairo International Airport and central Cairo and is reachable from downtown by the metro's line 3. Other parts of eastern Cairo is undeserved by public transport.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Cairo · International · CAI
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