14 of the best hotels in Cairo for 2024

With the Great Pyramid of Giza — the only surviving wonder of the ancient world — on its doorstep, Cairo is often the first port of call for travellers visiting Egypt. This is for good reason: a sense of history and rich culture is standard here, from the labyrinthine lanes of medieval Khan el-Khalili bazaar to the city’s ancient architecture and the Egyptian Museum, which heaves with more than 100,000 antiquities, some of which date to 5500BC.

Home to more than 22 million people, Cairo covers a lot of ground and as one of the biggest metropolitan areas in Africa, it’s often snarled with traffic. The River Nile runs through the city’s heart, and many of the best hotels line the riverbanks, but choosing a hotel near the sights you want to see is key if you’re looking to capitalise on your time. Here are the best hotels in Cairo.

1. Marriott Mena House Cairo, Giza

The Pyramids of Giza feel so close that you can nearly touch them from Marriott Mena House Cairo, one of the best luxury hotels in the capital. Originally built in 1869 as a hunting lodge for the Khedive of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, Mena House drips with history. It’s been a top choice for politicians, royals and dignitaries over the years and it’s also mentioned in Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. Rooms have been modernised since and the more expensive ones look straight out onto the Great Pyramid; an unforgettable sight as you sip your morning coffee.

2. Kempinski Nile Hotel, Garden City

Kick back on a lounger and watch the sun set across Giza and the Nile from the rooftop pool at the Kempinski Nile Hotel in Garden City — one of Cairo’s wealthier districts. In the parade of luxury hotels along the river’s banks, this property reveals calming rooms dressed in creams accented with vibrant pops of blue or lime green. Feast like a sultan at the hotel’s Turkish restaurant, Osmanly, on recipes once served to Ottoman royalty, before a cocktail in the swanky jazz bar overlooking the twinkling cityscape.

3. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Downtown

For easy access to some of Cairo’s best assets, you’d be hard pushed to beat a base at this lauded hotel. The mighty Nile flows by on one side, while Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum — housed in a salmon-pink historic building — lay claim to another. But the location is not the only selling point: inside, the elegant lobby is adorned with massive chandeliers and dark-wood panelling, creating a luxurious atmosphere that’s reiterated at the jasmine-scented spa. The west-facing rooftop lounge, NOX, serves up incredible views of the river and Cairo Tower, while a bask-worthy, ground-level pool flanked by cabanas and palm trees, adds to the hotel’s charm.

4. St Regis Cairo, Boulaq

5. Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah, Zamalek

Located at the southern tip of the island of Zamalek, the Sofitel occupies an enviable position overlooking the Nile. It’s a view the hotel capitalises on: a triple-height semi-circular window in the lobby framing the river beautifully. In fact, there really isn’t a single bad view to be had from this 27-storey blush-pink tower. Modern rooms decorated in ochre, aquamarine and gold reflect a colour scheme inspired by the point at which water meets desert. Breakfast is served on a blissful riverside terrace, while the infinity swimming pool appears to flow into the river beyond.

6. Cairo Marriott Hotel, Zamalek

Forgive the bland name: the Cairo Marriott Hotel actually has a grand backstory which makes for a wonderfully historic hotel stay. It was originally built as a royal residence resembling the Palace of Versailles to host French Emperor Napoleon III when the Suez Canal opened in 1869, and converted into a luxury hotel at the turn of the 20th century. Most rooms are spread across two large modern towers, but the central building maintains much of its period character, including a Middle Eastern-style colonnaded entrance and a grand restaurant with huge etched metal chandeliers and muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting) details on the ceiling.

7. Waldorf Astoria Cairo, Heliopolis

The Waldorf Astoria Cairo — the first Waldorf Astoria in Egypt — brings a touch of luxe to the growing districts of Heliopolis and New Cairo. Less than a 15-minute drive from Cairo International Airport, the hotel is perfectly placed for a late-night arrival or early-morning departure, as well as exploring the modern architecture and businesses set to open in the nearby New Administrative Capital. The hotel’s design is a blend of art deco and pharaonic motifs. It also features an iconic Waldorf Astoria clock — there’s one in each of the brand’s hotels — here surrounded by rings of water in tribute to the Nile.

8. Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Garden City

Four Seasons is synonymous with an elevated experience, and the group’s Nile Plaza property also makes a great choice for families. This hotel provides tons of amenities for those with children, including free-to-use video games and toys, child-size bathrobes and even complimentary nappies. Standard rooms are large enough to fit the whole family, and the hotel arranges family-friendly activities, such as boat trips on the Nile and rides on horses and camels. Children can splash around in the shallower kiddie swimming pool, and if parents want a night out in Cairo, the concierge can arrange babysitting.

9. Fairmont Nile City Hotel, Boulaq

Fairmont Nile City takes a more hip approach to its decor than many of Cairo’s other hotels, with sleek black accents offseting the taupe walls and soft furnishings. It’s also a romantic choice for couples visiting the Egyptian capital. Toast your trip at Gingko — the hotel’s stylish vine-covered rooftop bar with views of the Nile — and relax with a Cleopatra-approved spa treatment in the dedicated couples suite at Fairmont Spa. The sultry Bab el Nil restaurant serves Middle Eastern dishes amid an over-the-top gold, purple and blue interior where belly dancers shake their way out after dark.

10. Villa Belle Époque, Maadi

Egypt has a dearth of boutique hotels, but Villa Belle Époque — the country’s first when it opened in 2009 — is a real gem. It occupies two 1920s villas in the upscale neighbourhood of Maadi, home to a dozen embassies and a multicultural community of expats. Its 31 green-shuttered rooms, each one individually decorated, overlook a swimming pool surrounded by mango and guava trees. The on-site restaurant serves Egyptian favourites like grilled meats and mezze platters alongside Italian pastas, pizzas and Asian-inspired salads. Consider it a home-away-from-home.

11. InterContinental Cairo Semiramis, Downtown

Opened in the late 1980s, the InterContinental is one of the older five-star hotels along the Nile, and a good-value pick that ticks all of the amenities boxes without a sky-high price tag. This property is popular with the business crowd, so the rooms can come off a little staid, but it won’t stop you having a great stay. The Egyptian Museum is a short walk away, while the 26 sq m rooftop pool overlooks the Nile and the ever-busy Qasr El Nil Bridge.

12. Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, Giza

Green space is rare amid the urban sprawl of Cairo, but this Four Seasons snags a great spot near the botanical Orman Garden and the Nile. The property takes further advantage of this setting with culinary concept, First Nile Boat, a giant floating space docked on the river home to several restaurants. The hotel is also part of a complex that includes First Mall, which has dozens of high-end shops. While rooms with Nile views come at a premium, on haze-free days you can enjoy a glimpse of the distant Pyramids from suite balconies on the opposite side of the hotel.

13. Le Riad Hotel de Charme, Islamic Cairo

History reigns supreme at Le Riad Hotel de Charme, one of a handful of boutique hotels in Cairo. In fact, few other spots in the capital provide such a genuine sense of place. The themed rooms, such as the Belly Dancer Suite and the Calligraphy Suite, are decked out in bright colours and furnished with art and antiques from around the country. The narrow alleyways of Khan el-Khalili, Cairo’s famous medieval market, are on the doorstep. Zeeyara, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, is one of the best in the area with views of Cairo’s many minarets and the district’s historic buildings.

14. Cairo Pyramids Hotel, Giza

This Steigenberger-branded hotel stares straight at the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids, so guests here can be the first in line when the mega museum opens. While the property is a bit dated, this is a good-value stay on the doorstep of all the must-visit sights in Giza. The large swimming pool has a swim-up bar and views of the Pyramids. The staff stop at nothing to make sure you have a wonderful visit.
Book a stay