Downtown Cairo

Built in the 1880s to modernize Cairo, Downtown also known as Wist El-Balad, meaning “heart of the country,” Downtown Cairo is a hub for transportation, business, and culture centered between Talaat Harb Square and the well-known Tahrir Square. Some of the highlights of Downtown Cairo are the Museum of Islamic Art, the Egyptian Museum, the Townhouse Gallery and Theater, and a wide variety of restaurants and cafes to visit, including Groppi, Egypt’s first and most popular ice cream shop. Downtown Cairo's architectural scene is unique as it was designed by prestigious French architects who were commissioned by Khedive Ismail, with a goal of resembling what he had experienced during his visit to Paris.