Mosques of Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai
Credit: Leonid Andronov/Getty
SLEEP
Sharing the streets with honking taxis, donkey carts, and the bustle
of 20 million people leaves travelers craving an escape from the urban
noise. Fortunately, you can sleep like a pharaoh in Cairo, whether
you’re looking for a chic, Nile-side getaway or you want to luxuriate in
more historic digs.
For an updated take on Cairo hospitality, soak up the African sunshine
by a rooftop pool at the Kempinski Nile Hotel. You can watch the
triangular white sails of traditional feluccas ferries on the Nile River, or
just stay in for an afternoon nap on Egyptian cotton sheets. Its location
in the Garden City neighborhood means blissfully quiet mornings
here, but you’re still just a 10-minute walk to the Egyptian Antiquities
Museum in Tahrir Square.
With a royal location near the Giza Pyramids, the Marriott Mena House
is among the city’s most storied hotels. Built on the site of an Ottoman
hunting lodge, it welcomed its first travelers 1886 and has hosted
royalty, presidents, and Hollywood stars ever since. Book one of the
hotel’s pyramid suites and to sip your morning coffee on a balcony that
overlooks swaying palms and the Great Pyramid.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 30 SUMMER 2019
And if you’re just touching down, The Gabriel Hotel is a convenient
and stylish pied-à-terre in Heliopolis, a high-end neighborhood that
abuts the international airport. Modern design is front and center
here, from jet-black bathrooms to contemporary artwork in the
glow of delicate chandeliers. Kid-friendly amenities make this a
comfortable spot for families — but night owls can join an attractive
crowd at the see-and-be-seen rooftop bar, complete with DJ-spun
music, craft cocktails, and shisha pipes.
GETTING THERE
EgyptAir will begin nonstop round-trip flights
from Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Cairo
International Airport (CAI) three times per
week starting June 3, 2019, aboard a Boeing
787-9 Dreamliner. Upon arrival in Cairo, reach
the city by taxi, shuttle, or bus.