Tahrir Square

The basics

If you spend much time in Cairo, you’ll almost certainly pass through Tahrir Square, perhaps en route to the historic Egyptian Museum, which sits just off the square, in search of a restaurant, or, if you’re unlucky, to the Mogamma to process paperwork. It’s a reasonably common stop on Cairo city tours by car, coach, or minibus. Tour guides focus on Tahrir’s role in Egypt’s Arab Spring, where hundreds of thousands of ordinary Egyptians came together to bring down the dictator Hosni Mubarak. Unfortunately, the current regime is very far from democratic.

Things to know before you go

• Fans of brutalist architecture will appreciate Tahrir Square, in particular the Mogamma.
• The Tahrir area is rife with scams, most of which end up with travelers stuck in an over-priced tat shop. Do not believe anyone who tells you the Egyptian Museum is closed and avoid joining strangers at their store, gallery, or alabaster institute.
• Tahrir Square is flat, smooth, and reasonably wheelchair accessible. As with elsewhere in Cairo, dropped kerbs are few and far between.

How to get there

A good candidate for the center of modern Cairo, Tahrir Square sits about a 5-minute walk east of the Nile, opposite the Zamalek end of Gezira Island. Catch the metro to Sadat (Line 2).

When to get there

Tahrir’s choked traffic gets even more congested during Cairo’s rush hour (4–7pm) and after Friday prayers at lunchtime. Stay well away from the square if protests are underway.

A Few Ways to Explore Modern Cairo

Most visitors to Cairo focus on ancient Egypt, perhaps with a detour into the historic churches and mosques of Old Cairo. For a look at the modern city, try enjoying a performance at the Cairo Opera House, soaking up the views (perhaps with dinner) from the Cairo Tower, or taking a street food tour.