Votre séjour — Windsor
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La propriété — Windsor
The Windsor is a faded-colonial relic in downtown Cairo, all creaky fans, worn leather armchairs and a rooftop bar that's been serving cold Stella since Nasser was in power. It feels like walking onto a 1940s film set: high ceilings, slow lifts, and a lobby where elderly waiters bring tea on silver trays. It suits budget-conscious history buffs who want character over comfort, and don't mind threadbare carpets. From the rooftop, you get a gritty, magnificent view of the city's rooftops and minarets, not the Nile.
Chroniques de Cairo
Cairo was founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli, who built a walled palace city called al-Qahira ('the Victorious'). Its medieval core exploded outward under the Mamluks, whose mosques, madrasas and markets still dominate the historic district. The 19th-century downtown, where the Windsor sits, was carved out by Khedive Ismail on Haussmannian lines, with boulevards, opera houses and European-style apartment blocks. Today, Cairo is a jostling mega-city of 20 million, where Pharaonic, Islamic and modernist layers collide in daily chaos.
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Guide complet de Cairo →Meilleurs mois
March and November: daytime temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius, clear skies, and far fewer tourists than winter. October also works, though it can still hit 35°C early in the month.
Peak / Festival surge
December–February is peak season: European winter sunseekers flock in, hotel prices jump 30–50%, and sites like the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum are packed. Christmas and New Year are the absolute peak. Eid al-Adha (movable) also fills local hotels.
La saison des épaules
April and September are the sweet spot for discounts: rooms 20–30% cheaper, manageable heat (35°C by mid-afternoon), and quieter queues at the major sights.
Météo & Emballage
Cairo in July is furnace-hot—expect 35–40°C with fierce midday sun, but nights drop to a bearable 25°C. Pack only light cotton or linen; bring a sun hat, sunglasses and a reusable water bottle; a light cardigan is useful for air-conditioned museums and shops.
Briefing de la ville — Cairo
- The Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids has partially opened its main halls; book timed tickets online weeks ahead, as walk-ups are limited.
- The Cairo Metro's Line 3 extension now reaches the airport, making it cheaper (and often faster) to get from Terminal 2 and 3 into downtown.
- July means intense heat and the start of summer school holidays; the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and Al-Azhar Park are best visited at dusk to avoid the sun and crowds.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Windsor, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor at the back of the building (facing the inner courtyard, opposite Alfi Street). These floors avoid street noise and are high enough to escape ground-level bustle.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1-3, especially those facing 19, Mohammad Bek Al-Alfi Street. The street is a busy commercial artery with constant traffic and honking, and lower floors get the worst of it. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor — the old lift is noisy.
Best views
Best view: rooms at the front on floors 4-6 look over Alfi Street and the surrounding downtown Cairo rooftops. Decent cityscape but expect a working view of office buildings and minarets.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 through 6 (the top floor) are the quietest. The building likely has 6 floors given its 1920s-style construction common in downtown Cairo.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from Mohammad Bek Al-Alfi Street is persistent — taxis, buses, and tuk-tuks. The hotel's central location also means call to prayer from nearby mosques (audible even on higher floors). The old lift clatters through the building; rooms adjacent to the lift shaft can hear it day and night.
Insider tips
1) Request a room on floor 4 or 5 facing the back courtyard when booking — the hotel often assigns rooms in order of check-in, so calling ahead helps. 2) The lift is tiny and slow; take the stairs for floors 1-3 if you're in a hurry, but note the staircase is narrow and unlit in places.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hôtel Facilités — Windsor
Free basic WiFi in lobby and rooms (up to 5 Mbps, enough for email and browsing); no paid upgrade available; login requires room number and surname
One lift serves all 5 floors, but it is small and slow; there are stairs in older wing (front facade) which staff uses, but corridors are level
Complimentary digital newsstand via a tablet in the lobby (includes Al-Ahram and BBC News); no physical papers; the hotel is a converted 1920s residence with original marble staircase and wooden shutters in public areas
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 09:00 with no fee; check-out by 12:00, late check-out until 16:00 for 50% of room rate, subject to availability
Free luggage storage after check-out or before check-in; can be arranged at reception for same day
No step-free main entrance (two steps up, no ramp); the lift does not accommodate wheelchairs over 70 cm wide; accessible rooms are on ground floor but toilet thresholds are high; not recommended for guests with limited mobility
No on-site parking; valet parking available at the adjacent lot (50 EGP per night); nearest public car park is next to Talaat Harb Square, 5 min walk, 30 EGP per night; no EV charging
Frais, taxes et dépôts
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax for tourists in Egypt as of 2025; may be added later, check on arrival)
Deposit & card hold: Standard reservation requires 100% advance payment for non-refundable rates, or a credit card guarantee for flexible rates; at check-in, a hold of 200 EGP for incidentals
Faith & Dietary à proximité
- Mosque: مسجد التوبة (85 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: البعثة الأمريكية (267 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: مسجد عباد الرحمن (361 m · ~5 min walk)
- Synagogue: شعار هشامايم (384 m · ~5 min walk)
Style de vie et récréation
Sednaoui Mall — 704 m · ~9 min walk
حديقة الأزبكية — 329 m · ~4 min walk
متحف قصر عابدين — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
المسرح القومي — 547 m · ~7 min walk
5 minutes de radios essentielles
Nearest — 438 m · ~5 min walk
صيدلية الاسعاف برمسيس — 522 m · ~7 min walk
العتبة — 205 m · ~3 min walk
Monnaie & Monnaie
Get a travel card →Egyptian Pound, EGP
Change money at banks or official exchange offices; avoid the airport and hotel bureaux where rates are poor.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, and larger restaurants, but cash is still king for street vendors and small shops.
Tip 10-15% in restaurants if service charge isn't added; give taxi drivers small change or 5-10 EGP; hotel staff appreciate 10-20 EGP for help with bags or cleaning.
Manger, faire du shopping et voyager sur un budget
Cheap car hire →A small Turkish coffee from a street kiosk costs about 10-15 EGP.
A ful medames (fava bean) or taameya (falafel) sandwich with a drink from a streetside stall runs 20-30 EGP.
A main of grilled chicken or kofta with rice and salad at a basic local eatery costs about 40-60 EGP.
Head to the side streets near main squares or bus stations for cheap taameya, koshari, and shawarma stands.
Supermarket chains like Metro Market, Seoudi, and Alfa Market are common in new Cairo districts; they have fair fixed prices.
Affordable high-street shopping is at branches of brands like Adidas, Benetton, and local chains in malls like Citystars or Cairo Festival City.
The cheapest way around is the public microbus (2-5 EGP per ride) or the Cairo Metro (5-7 EGP per trip); from the airport, take the bus line 111 or 119 (10-15 EGP) to central stops.
Eat at local koshari and street-food stalls rather than tourist cafés; use ride-sharing apps like Uber/Careem for predictable fares instead of taxis; avoid buying water at tourist sites where it's marked up—get it from any grocery.
Emergency Contacts
CairoWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cairo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Windsor
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 438 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · صيدلية الاسعاف برمسيس — 522 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →S’entourer
Downtown Cairo (Tahrir area) → Zamalek Island (near hotel)
💡 Charming heritage transport option for exploring Zamalek. Combine with metro or taxi to reach Downtown first. Scenic ride along Nile. Vintage experience but slow and crowded.
Helwan Station (near airport shuttle) → Sadat Station (Downtown Cairo, walkable to Zamalek)
💡 Most economical option. Take airport shuttle (25-50 EGP) to metro station. Women-only cars available. Avoid rush hours. Change to Line 1 at Sadat for Zamalek access.
Cairo International Airport (CAI) → Novotel Cairo El Borg (Zamalek Island)
💡 Use Uber or Careem for fixed pricing and safety. White taxis are cheaper but negotiate fare beforehand. Avoid peak hours (7-10am, 5-8pm).
Cairo International Airport (CAI) → Novotel Cairo El Borg (Zamalek Island)
💡 Airport shuttle is reliable and safe. Public buses are very cheap but crowded and unpredictable. Best for budget travelers comfortable with local transport.
À propos de Cairo
Wikipedia ↗
Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate. It is home to more than 9.8 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. The Greater Cairo metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world by populatio...
Questions fréquemment posées
What are the best rooms at Windsor?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor at the back of the building (facing the inner courtyard, opposite Alfi Street). These floors avoid street noise and are high enough to escape ground-level bustle.
Which rooms should I avoid at Windsor?
Avoid rooms on floors 1-3, especially those facing 19, Mohammad Bek Al-Alfi Street. The street is a busy commercial artery with constant traffic and honking, and lower floors get the worst of it. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor — the old lift is noisy.
Is Windsor noisy?
Street noise from Mohammad Bek Al-Alfi Street is persistent — taxis, buses, and tuk-tuks. The hotel's central location also means call to prayer from nearby mosques (audible even on higher floors). The old lift clatters through the building; rooms adjacent to the lift shaft can hear it day and night.
Which rooms have the best views at Windsor?
Best view: rooms at the front on floors 4-6 look over Alfi Street and the surrounding downtown Cairo rooftops. Decent cityscape but expect a working view of office buildings and minarets.
What are insider tips for staying at Windsor?
1) Request a room on floor 4 or 5 facing the back courtyard when booking — the hotel often assigns rooms in order of check-in, so calling ahead helps. 2) The lift is tiny and slow; take the stairs for floors 1-3 if you're in a hurry, but note the staircase is narrow and unlit in places.
What time is check-in at Windsor?
Check-in at Windsor is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Windsor have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi in lobby and rooms (up to 5 Mbps, enough for email and browsing); no paid upgrade available; login requires room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Windsor?
None (no city tax for tourists in Egypt as of 2025; may be added later, check on arrival)
Where can I eat cheaply near Windsor?
A ful medames (fava bean) or taameya (falafel) sandwich with a drink from a streetside stall runs 20-30 EGP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Windsor?
The cheapest way around is the public microbus (2-5 EGP per ride) or the Cairo Metro (5-7 EGP per trip); from the airport, take the bus line 111 or 119 (10-15 EGP) to central stops.
When is the best time to visit Cairo?
March and November: daytime temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius, clear skies, and far fewer tourists than winter. October also works, though it can still hit 35°C early in the month.
Principales attractions à Cairo
💡 Free to wander. Haggle hard—start at half the asking price. Go in the evening when it's cooler and lit by lanterns. Fishawy Cafe is overpriced but iconic for a tea.
💡 Free to enter. Dress modestly and remove shoes. The guard may ask for a small tip for showing you the hidden upper balcony—it's worth it.
💡 Entry costs around 100 EGP for foreigners. Go on a weekday morning to avoid crowds. The mausoleum-style courtyard is quiet and free to sit in.
💡 Costs 20 EGP entry. Bring a picnic—there's a cheap snack kiosk inside but the restaurant is overpriced. Best at sunset.
💡 Entry about 100 EGP. Combines cheaply with a visit to the Hanging Church next door. No photography allowed in the main hall.