Cairo Tower

Cairo Tower (Borg El-Qahira) on Gezira Island in the Zamalek district of Cairo, Egypt, is a 187-meter freestanding lattice tower completed in 1961 and designed by Egyptian architect Naoum Shebib in the shape of a pharaonic lotus plant — the open bloom at the top housing an observation deck and revolving restaurant. At the time of its construction it was the tallest structure in Africa and the Middle East, and it remains Cairo's tallest freestanding structure. The tower stands on a small island in the Nile, giving the observation deck unobstructed 360-degree views over the city: the Nile bisects the panorama below, with the dense urban fabric of central Cairo extending in every direction. On clear winter days the Giza pyramids are visible as pale triangles on the western horizon, approximately 13 km distant. The lower observation level at 160 meters is enclosed by glass panels; the upper open-air platform, weather permitting, allows unobstructed views and photographs. The revolving restaurant on the upper floor completes one full rotation approximately every 70 minutes. Lift access from the base is fast; queuing can be significant on weekends and national holidays. The tower is accessible from the Zamalek neighbourhood or by taxi from central Cairo. The view at blue hour — 20 minutes after sunset — when the city lights begin to outnumber the daylight and the Nile reflects the sky, is the most coveted photographic moment.