Review: Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir, Cairo
This review details my two-night stay at Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir, a centrally located hotel on Tahrir Square in Cairo.
Two more nights in Cairo
After a wonderful time in the Luxor area, I travelled back to Cairo on an Egyptian daytime train, which certainly was a fun adventure.
At the start of my trip, I had already spent three full days in Cairo, visiting the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, exploring Cairo’s Islamic old town, and heading to Mar Girgis to see the old Christian churches.
There were however still some sights which I wanted to see in the Greater Cairo area.
The following day, I planned to make a day trip to explore the Saqqara Necropolis and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Ancient Memphis, and the Dahshur Pyramids – all located just south of Cairo.
My late arrival in Cairo and the full day trip the following day meant that I had to spend an additional two nights in the Egyptian capital.
Check-in
I got off my train at Giza station, from where I took the Cairo metro to Sadat, the interchange station between the red and blue line built right underneath Tahrir Square.
From the metro station’s exit on the square, the Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir was just a stone’s throw away.
Steigenberger is a German hotel group which has a large portfolio in Egypt – it even operates its own Nile river cruise ships!
I opted for the Steigenberger El Tahrir because I managed to get an excellent deal and the hotel looked like a solid choice boasting modern rooms and facilities.
For my superior double room with city view I paid $45 per night, which I thought was excellent value.
In the bright lobby of the Steigenberger Hotel, a friendly receptionist managed to check me in within seconds.
Room
My superior city view room at the Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir was located on one of the upper floors of the hotel.
The air-conditioned room featured a comfortable double bed, seating corner, TV, desk and fridge.
There is plenty of storage space in and around the wardrobe for your clothes and bags.
Power sockets were conveniently placed next to the bed and at the desk, and the hotel’s Wi-Fi internet worked like a charm.
I was happy to see that there was a kettle in my room with tea and coffee supplies.
One complimentary bottle of water per day was also provided by the hotel.
Overall, I was certainly satisfied with my room as it offered a good environment to get some work done on my laptop, and I managed to get two nights of good sleep as well, something which was much-needed after some intensive sightseeing days.
View
From the window of my room at the Steigenberger Hotel, I had an excellent view over Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.
In the far distance I was able to see the River Nile and the island of Zamalek, where I had previously stayed at the Sofitel Nile El Gezirah.
Bathroom
The bathroom in my superior double room was spacious, and the shower had excellent water pressure.
Slippers, bathrobe, a hairdryer and some miniature bottles of shampoo and shower gel were provided.
Food and drinks
Breakfast wasn’t included in my room rate and incurred an additional cost of $10.
While I didn’t have breakfast, I did visit the lobby restaurant and bar at the Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir on both evenings of my stay as the menu sounded appealing.
On my first evening at the hotel, I enjoyed the lasagne and a cold Stella beer.
On the second evening, I went for a delicious burger, which was served with a small salad, onion rings and chips.
I also couldn’t resist some künefe, which was served with an ice cream scoop and fresh fruits.
Before both meals, I was given some complimentary bread and tapenades, which was a nice touch.
In general, I found the food quality to be good, and the prices were reasonable for a hotel restaurant.
Other facilities
The Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir also features a small outdoor swimming pool and a gym, although I didn’t get the chance to try them out during my stay.
Location
As previously mentioned, the Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir is situated right in the heart of modern-day Cairo on Tahrir Square.
It has easy access to public transport as Sadat metro station is just around the corner.
The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities – a must-see on your travels to Cairo and Egypt – is located directly opposite the hotel.
The Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir is however a bit further away from the Medieval old town of Cairo, as sights such as the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar are a good 45-minute walk away.
Conclusion
The Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir is a modern, well-run hotel that met all of my expectations.
My superior double room with city view was well-appointed, clean and comfortable and made for a nice environment to get some work done and have a good rest.
Located on Tahrir Square right opposite the Egyptian Museum in the heart of the city centre of Cairo, you can’t fault the location of the Steigenberger Hotel, as it makes from an excellent base for discovering the city sights.
The hotel restaurant is also well-worth a try if you don’t have the energy to eat out after a day’s exploring.
Trip report index
This article is part of the ‘Walk Like an Egyptian: A Grand Tour of Egypt‘ trip report, which consists of the following chapters:
1. Red-Eye Ramblings of a Late Night Flight to Cairo
2. A Visit to the Pyramids of Giza by Camel
3. Review: Sofitel Nile El Gezirah, Zamalek, Cairo
4. Exploring the Medieval Old Town and Islamic History of Cairo
5. Visiting the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo
6. Mar Girgis: The Churches of Christian Old Cairo
7. Review: Ernst Watania Sleeping Train Cairo to Aswan
8. The Ancient Quarry of Aswan and the Unfinished Obelisk
9. A Boat Ride From Aswan to the Temple of Isis at Philae
10. A Visit to the Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser
11. A Visit to the Nubian Village on Aswan’s Elephantine Island
12. Aswan Guide: A Visit to Egypt’s Most Stunningly Located City
13. A Half Day Trip From Aswan to Amazing Abu Simbel
14. Nile River Cruise Guide: All Info for Your Egypt Boat Trip
15. Review: M/S Princess Sarah Nile River Cruise Ship
16. Nile Cruise: Sailing From Aswan to Kom Ombo
17. A Visit to the Ancient Crocodile Temple of Kom Ombo
18. A Visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu
19. Nile Cruise: Sailing From Edfu to Luxor
20. Luxor, Egypt: Visiting the Sights of Ancient Thebes
21. A Visit to Luxor’s Giant Temple Complex of Karnak
22. Visitor Guide to Wonderful Luxor Temple
23. Valley of the Kings: A Visit to Luxor’s Ancient Necropolis
24. The Temple of Hatshepsut: A Visit to a Unique Mortuary Temple
25. Review: Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel, Luxor, Egypt
26. Review: Daytime Train Luxor to Cairo, Egypt
27. Review: Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir, Cairo (current chapter)
28. A Visit to the Pyramid of Djoser and the Saqqara Necropolis
29. A Visit to the Dahshur Pyramid Complex
30. Memphis: Exploring the Old Capital of Ancient Egypt
31. From Cairo to Alexandria by Train: My Travel Experience
32. Review: Paradise Inn Le Metropole Hotel, Alexandria, Egypt
33. Alexandria: A Visit to Egypt’s Historic Mediterranean Port City
34. Egypt: Impressions and Reflections After My Two Week Trip
35. Epilogue: Safety and How to Deal With Street Hassle in Egypt
