Cairo Neighborhoods

Downtown

Downtown, the hub of central Cairo, is close to the old AUC campus just off of Tahrir square and the most densely populated of the housing neighborhoods. Urbanites may enjoy the bustle of activity day and night, with good shopping and entertainment possibilities and the once-grand European architecture; many buildings date from the late 19th century. Among the drawbacks are traffic and noise. Students looking for a full local experience might enjoy downtown Cairo living. And affordable housing is available. The drawback is proximity to campus since New Cairo is a 45-60 minute commute (except for LLM students whose department and classes are held in the downtown campus).

Garden City

Garden City, a small oasis south of Tahrir Square, is about a 15 to 20 minute walk from campus. Though no longer retaining the premier status that it enjoyed during the first half of the 20th century, Garden City remains among the elite residential, business, and diplomatic areas of Cairo. The neighborhood population is mainly middle- and upper-class Egyptians, with a small blend of foreigners. The original plentiful green areas have shrunk considerably, and many of the imposing villas have been replaced by apartment buildings. However, with its winding narrow tree-lined streets, the Nile river bordering its western edge, and the remaining belle époque villas with their art nouveau grillwork still intact, it is a pleasant quarter in which to walk after the embassies and bank offices close and traffic virtually disappears from the streets. Students traditionally enjoy living in Garden City and have been able to find wonderful affordable flats. The commute to the New Cairo is substantial – about an hour each way, depending on the time of day.

Zamalek

Located on an island slightly to the northwest of central Cairo, Zamalek is a very urban, up-scale area with a large cosmopolitan population. Zamalek has some of the best shopping and restaurants. A private sporting club (the Gezira Club), public green areas, an opera house complex, and a new public library (the Greater Cairo Library) make Zamalek a pleasant place in which to live.

Zamalek is approximately 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mile) from AUC's downtown campus and 38 kilometers from the New Cairo campus.

Maadi

Ten kilometers (6 miles) south of downtown Cairo is Maadi, a rather upper-middle class cosmopolitan and westernized suburb. Once a neighborhood of large old homes and gardens, it is rapidly being built up with apartment buildings. Though new high-rises line the Corniche, a major thoroughfare along the Nile River, and the outskirts of town, most of Maadi consists of low and medium-rise apartment buildings surrounded, in the residential areas, by shade trees and gardens, where something seems to be in bloom in every season.
Maadi is relatively quiet compared to the other parts of Cairo, and the streets are fine for walking. Skateboards, bicycles, and scooters can be ridden on most of the side streets.

There is an abundance of groceries (with delivery) and other shopping facilities, but little nightlife in Maadi. While it does have many restaurants and fast food outlets, there is not the wide range of choice found in other parts of town. There are many private international schools such as Cairo American College and the French Lycée.

Maadi offers family-oriented activities, and most families who have children find Maadi the best area in which to live. The library, track, pool, tennis courts, and playground of CAC are available for community use. There is also an off-campus baseball field. There are local churches. The Community Services Association (CSA) offers a wide range of classes and activities and frequently sponsors art exhibits by local artists. Its facilities include a small gym, a paperback library, and a used clothing outlet.

The easiest transportation to central Cairo is by metro; there are three stations in the Maadi area. AUC offers a limited-hours shuttle bus to and from Maadi, Sunday through Thursday, on a fee basis.

New Campus

The new AUC campus, due to open in Fall 2008, is located 35 km (21.75 miles) east of the existing campus in the center of the developing area called New Cairo. University-owned housing for eligible relocated hires will be built, and a limited number of apartments will be available in time for the opening of the new campus. For more information, please visit the New Campus Housing pages.

Travel times between New Cairo and other areas of Cairo are roughly expected to range from half an hour (Maadi) to an hour (Garden City, Downtown), possibly longer for Zamalek. Afternoon return trips to some areas may require more time owing to traffic congestion. Shuttle bus service is being planned between New Cairo and other districts.