The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo

The Nile Ritz-Carlton occupies the landmark building on the Corniche between the Nile and Tahrir Square that opened in 1959 as the Nile Hilton. The Egyptian Museum is next door, the Arab League headquarters stands beside it, and the Cairo Opera House and Zamalek are just across Qasr El Nil Bridge. The Giza pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum are about 12 km away in a straight line, usually 30 to 60 minutes by car.

There are 329 rooms, including 49 suites, with views over the Nile and Cairo Tower or over the Egyptian Museum and Tahrir. Club-level rooms use a Club Lounge that looks out over the river.

The restaurants include Culina for all-day buffets, Vivo for Italian food with Nile views, and Bab El-Sharq for Lebanese mezze, grills and shisha. Bar'Oro serves cocktails with a cigar humidor, The Bar serves classic drinks, the Lobby Lounge is known for afternoon tea and Sweet Boutique sells pastries. The outdoor pool has the Aqua terrace bar, and there is a spa with cabanas, a fitness centre and a large ballroom. It suits travellers who want a central base for the museums, Islamic Cairo and the river.