Travel

The City Of A Thousand Minarets - Cairo

Districts Of Cairo:

Down Town( Midan Tahrir):
Midan Tahrir is a the heart of Cairo where the transport connectivity is more systematic than other places in Cairo. This place can be described as commercial and modern , therefore down Town Cairo is located in Midan Tahrir Square ( Liberation square). The Egyptian Museum, The American University in Cairo, The Arab Leauge, The Hilton Intercontinental hotels and some government offices are located within the district as well.In addition to all this the Cairo City has its main metro connectivity built under the The Midan Tahrir Square.

Midian Ramses:
Midian Ramses is a twenty five minute walk away from Midian Ramses and it is a square in front of a railway station called Ramses station ( Mahattat Ramses)and the “Mubarak railway station”.The Alfath Mosque located in the southern end of Midan Ramses is the highest minaret in Cairo. The ramses train station is the capital of Egypt’s main train station and is the a main connection as a gateway to to the cities of the northern Delta and Mediterranean coast, and the upper Egyptian cities to the south. Destinations served on the rail network starting in Cairo heading north include Mansura, Zagazig, Suez, Ismailia, Port Said, Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh. And to the upper Egyptian cities south of Cairo including Giza, Assyut, Luxor and Aswan. Since Midian Ramses is the capital of Egypt’s main railway nexus it is a very crowded area especially at peak hours, some of the hotel accommodations available near Midian Ramses are are The Windsor Hotel, Fontana Hotel , Victocia and Happyton Hotel in the mid range budget whereas those who can afford the luxuries can affoed the Ramses Hilton Hotel. The Egyptian National Railways Museum is located at the east end of Midian Ramses , which contains a good collection of steam ,locomotives.

The Garden City:
The garden city is located at the south end of Midian Tahrir, there are a number of houses in Garden city which is posh and guarded with high security, 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.

Islamic Cairo:
Islamic Cairo is very different from Down Town Cairo as it contains some of the most important and historical monuments and landmarks in Cairo, like The Bab Al Futuh, Al mizz street,Al Hakim mosque, Bayt al-Sihaymi, Qalawun Complex, Khan el-Khalili market, Midan Hussein and Sayyidna al-Hussein Mosque, Al-Azhar Mosque, Al-Azhar Park, Midan Sala ad-Din (Saladin Square), Sultan Hassan Mosque, Rifaii Mosque. Ibn Tulun Mosque, Citadel , Mohammed Ali Mosque and the National Police Museum. These are are places where tourists can take a walk or shop or visit coffee shops and restaurants in these areas, which is full of medieval architecture. Also it is important to note since this place is a part of old Cairo with a mainly Islamic population, and many mosques In the area it is important to be modestly dressed, as a matter of respect for the Islamic population there.

Old Cairo:
Old Cairo is the home of the Coptic Christain community , many who are residing there and visitors are welcome for the church services which are generally held in Arabic, Copts use the Julian calendar, so Christmas falls on January 7th and Easter is celebrated 12 days behind the Gregorian dates. Some of the places that can be visited while in Coptic Cairo are Ben Ezra Synagogue, Church and Monastery of St George, Churches of St. Sergius (Abu Serga) and St. Barbara, Coptic Museum, Hanging Church, Roman Fortress Towers of Babylon.

Dokki and Mohandiseen:
Dokki and Mohandiseen are districts at the West Bank of the Nile river. Dokki can be reached via the Cairo Metro whereas Mohandiseen can be reached by taxi as the Cairo Metru does not serve in the Mohandiseen area which also contains the Agricultural Museum and the Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum. Mohandiseen is a good place for commercial activities such as shopping, eating out at restaurants and nightlife as well. Therefore Gamet el-Dewal al-Arabia Street is a main avenue for shops, restaurants, and modern coffee shops. The main areas in Dokki, include around Amman Square near the Shooting Club, as well as along Tahrir Street, and Cilantro's is located at Mesaha Square. Cairo University, the Giza Zoological Garden, and the Orman Botanical Garden are located just to the south of Dokki. Numerous embassies are located in Dokki, including the embassies of Russia, Syria, Jordan, and Pakistan. While visiting the areas of Dokki and Mohandiseen peole can also visit the Cairo Jazz club and Tahrir Cinema. Electronics can be purchased from the Best Buy - Apple Center, and gifts can be purchased from Bashayer and Om El Saad. The nominal budget eateries are at Al Omda, 131 El Tahrir St, Dokki, Chocofolie, 33 Amman St, Dokki, Cilantro's, McDonald's, Radwan, Teriyaki. The Abou el-Sid, Ataturk, Cafe Tabasco, Chili's and Kandahar, are a few of the eating places serving food with a high budget .

Gezira And Zamalek:
Gezira and Zamalek also known as Gezira is an Island in the Nile which is between Down Town Cairo and Giza and is connected b y two bridges . One can easily reach Zamalek from Down town or Mohandiseen via a taxi. Gezira has the Cairo Operra station of Cairo in line 2 is on the southern most tip of Gezira The places that can be visited in Zamalek are Akhenaten Centre of the Arts , Cairo Tower , Gezira Centre of Arts, Khan al-Maghraby, Museum of Islamic Ceramics , Picasso Gallery , Safar Khan Gallery, Zamalek Art Gallery. Zamalek is a very fashionable area for the upper middle class strata of society and contains some of the best eateries in Cairo as well The places that can be visited in Gezira are Cairo Opera House, El-Sawy Cultural Wheel , Gezira Sporting Club , Gezira Golf Club , Gezira Table Tennis,and Nile Maxim.

Giza:
Giza , although a City in its own right is mainly considered as part of cairo, and is famous for its pyramids and is adjacent to the The desert plateau of Giza. Giza falls to the west of Cairo ., and is a tourist attraction therefore is well equipped with accommodation eating joints , restaurants , pubs and various other forms of entertainmaent depending upon the individual's itinerary. Not only is Giza a famous tourist attraction , however it is also an important landmark. The places that can be vicited while inm Giza are Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) , Solar Barque Museum , Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren , Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus) , Sphinx and the Temple of the Sphinx , Various Queens' Pyramids and Nobles' Tombs. People can also attend the Pyramids Sound and Light Show at Giza People can occupy themselves with various other activities like Camel Rides. horse riding , watching the sunrise and going to the FB Stable for a proper tour program. Al Amir Perfume Palace and Legends and Legacies are places for shopping near around Giza.

Heliopolis And Masr El Gedida:
Heliopolis is place of historical importance though not much of a tourist attraction, however the modern part of Heliopolis was established 1907 with a streetcar line running between Heliopolis and central Cairo. The places that can be visited in Heliopolis are The Korba , Baron Empain Palace , Basilica of Notre Dame , Obelisk of Senusert I, Uruba Presidential Palace. The Korba Street Festival is the annual festival held during spring featuring Egyptian performers. City Stars is a shopping mall that can be visited while in the area with a multiplex and indoor amusement center.

Maadi:
Ma'adi is a part of suburban Cairo consisting of Old Ma'adi and New Ma'adi and was established in 1904 after a railway was built in the area, This railway connects Cairo and Helwan to the South, whereas the district of New Ma'adi extends outwards including the area of Digla. The places that can be visited are Hashemite Villa, Nile Crystal, Wadi Digla Protected Area, Ma'adi Mall.

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How To Get To Cairo