Cairo Tower Tower

Address: Gezira Island (Zamalek), Cairo, Egypt

Cairo Tower is a freestanding concrete tower on Gezira (Zamalek) island in the Nile, offering panoramic views over Cairo. It stands 187 meters tall and includes an observation level and a revolving restaurant.

From the observation deck visitors can see broad city panoramas stretching to the Nile and, on clear days, to the Giza plateau. The tower’s rotating restaurant provides a full-rotation dining experience and a different viewpoint during a single meal.

Designed and built in the mid-20th century by Egyptian architect Naoum Shebib, the tower was conceived as a modern landmark for the capital and has been a notable feature of Cairo’s skyline since its completion. It has been maintained as a visitor attraction with lift access to the upper levels.

The tower sits on Gezira island in the Nile, within the Zamalek neighbourhood, close to Cairo’s hotel and diplomatic district and easily reached from central Cairo.

• Best time to visit: Best visited late afternoon for sunset views and again at night when the city lights are visible; the tower stays open later than many Cairo monuments.
• Height: The tower is 187 meters tall and is one of Cairo’s most prominent modern landmarks, easily visible from many parts of the city.

What to See#

• Observation deck: An enclosed observation deck near the top provides 360-degree views across Cairo, the Nile and the Pyramids on clear days.
• Revolving restaurant: A revolving restaurant below the observation level offers panoramic dining with the tower’s skyline views.

The Cairo Tower is on Gezira (Zamalek) island in central Cairo, beside the Cairo Opera and Gezira Sporting Club. The easiest way to reach it is by taxi or ride-hail from downtown Cairo (Tahrir/Opera area) - typically a short drive across Qasr El Nil toward Zamalek depending on traffic. From Cairo International Airport expect a car journey on the order of tens of kilometres and roughly 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

• Aim for sunset (or just after) to see the city lights come on and to get clearer views toward the Pyramids on good-weather days; evenings are also when the tower is most atmospheric.
• The tower is on Gezira (Zamalek) Island-head to the base entrance in Zamalek and allow extra time for security checks; weekends and holidays get noticeably busier, so midweek visits are generally quicker.
• Check opening hours and bring ID: entry times and security procedures can change, and some services (restaurant/observation deck) operate on separate schedules or close for private events.