12 Must-See Palaces In Egypt (A Local’s Guide)

Egypt is known for medieval mosques and ancient wonders like the pyramids. But did you know it’s also home to some splendid palaces that range from pharaonic to Islamic and Rococo?

Egypt’s royal palaces are well worth exploring for their fascinating blend of Islamic, Ottoman and European architecture. You’ll even find a Hindu-inspired palace in Cairo built by a Belgian baron.

These palaces are dazzling hidden gems that aren’t nearly as crowded as Egypt’s main attractions.

I’m an expat living for over a decade in Egypt and I love exploring the country’s royal residences and majestic gardens. For me these palaces are fascinating for their fusion of architecture styles. And they’re a welcome escape from the crowded city.

So here’s my ultimate guide to the most breathtaking palace you must see in Egypt – from the pharaonic to the modern.

1. Abdeen Palace, Cairo

tickets: 100 EGP | open 9am to 3pm | on the map

This palace in the heart of downtown Cairo was once the Egyptian president’s sumptuous residence.

It’s now been transformed into a fascinating museum filled with paintings, gold clocks and millions of francs worth of Parisian furniture. It houses a vast silverware collection, an arms collection and another exhibit devoted to the royal family.

There are also some curiosities in the collection like gifts given to Egyptian leaders and presidents, including a Japanese model of a Samurai crown and a golden-plated AK-47 from Saddam Hussein.

2. Montaza Palace, Alexandria

3. Gezirah Palace, Cairo

The Gezirah Palace was built to entertain visiting dignitaries during the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.

And it’s now the centerpiece of the Cairo Marriott Hotel in Zamalek, a leafy island across from downtown. The palace is nestled between the hotel’s twin towers – and yes, you can visit even if you’re not staying there!

Have a drink at the hotel’s Garden Promenade cafe, right inside the palace’s ornate columns, for a look at this ornate Oriental gem. There are lavish rooms inside (that were once part of the palace) where you can unwind over a cup of mint tea.

This cafe inside a palace is one of my favorite hidden gems in Zamalek. And it’s a great spot to unwind after a day of browsing the surrounding art galleries and book shops.

4. Cairo Citadel

Built by Saladin in 1176-82 to protect Cairo from the threat of Crusaders, the Citadel housed Egypt’s rulers for 700 years from the 13th to the 19th century.

The Cairo Citadel is technically a palace because it housed Egypt’s rulers and royalty for centuries. Though it probably isn’t what comes to mind when you think of a palace!

Mohammed Ali was the last ruler based at the citadel. Before him, the Ayyubids, Mamluks and most Ottomans ruled over Egypt from this hilltop.

Later Khedive Ismail moved his residency to Abdeen Palace in the 1870s in his newly-built (and Paris-inspired) downtown Cairo.

Additionally, there are two separate palaces inside the Cairo Citadel that are now museums.

• The Gawhara Palace, used as a personal residence by Muhammad Ali, includes gold inscriptions and Ottoman-style majesty mixed with Turkish and European baroque. It houses Muhammad Ali’s gilded wood throne, and a 1,000-kilogram chandelier.
• The Harim Palace is now the Citadel’s Military Museum that chronicles Egypt’s military history from Ancient Egypt to modern times. The building was once Muhammad Ali’s luxurious private residence. You can still see the elaborate ceilings and frescoes in many of the rooms.

5. Baron Palace, Cairo

This strange and fantastical palace inspired by a Hindu temple is surrounded by urban legends.

Filled with a cacophony of deities, elephants and Roman statues, this architectural smorgasbord was built in 1910. It was the residence of Belgian Baron Empain, a wealthy entrepreneur who founded the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis.

The palace is surrounded by an outpour of twisting Hindu statues.

Inside, it boasts ornate ceilings, chandeliers and a beautiful spiral staircase. An exhibit narrates the story of the charismtic baron and the history of Heliopolis.

Urban legends say there’s a secret underground tunnel linking the palace to the baron’s crypt in a nearby cathedral. More sinister tales say it’s haunted by the ghosts of the baron’s wife and daughter, both suspected suicides.

6. Said Halim Palace (aka Champlion Palace), Cairo

This abandoned palace is a splendid example of Cairo’s fin de siecle opulence now turned into dusty decay.

It’s closed to the public but you can see the whole front facade through the gates. Walk around the building (which covers 1,800 square meters) to marvel at the crumbling regal architecture.

The palace was built for the Ottoman statesman Said Halim Pasha by Slovanian-Italian architect Antonio Lasciac, the builder of palaces in Cairo and Istanbul. It was later turned into a boy’s school after nationalization.

It’s a great stop on a walking tour through downtown Cairo. And the Egyptian street food legend Koshary Abu Tarek is just a few steps away.

7. Princess Fatma Al-Zahra Palace (Royal Jewelry Museum), Alexandria

8. Manasterly Palace, Cairo

9. Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Palace, Cairo

This Nile-side palace now houses a museum with a collection of Impressionist paintings to rival European exhibits.

It’s a real hidden gem that lets you enjoy Egypt’s royal history – and masterpieces by the likes of Monet and Renoir – in an intimate setting.

The 1905 neo-Classical palace stands alongside the Nile River and was purchased by Mahmoud Khalil and his wife for their family residence.

The palace is now the Khalil Museum, which finally opened after a decade-long closure and the high-profile theft of a priceless Van Gogh.

The Khalil Museum is a touching labor of love by the Egyptian politician and his French wife, brought together by their love of art. The museum contains a massive collection of Impressionists that the couple gathered over their lives.

10. Manial Palace, Cairo

This sumptuous 20th-century palace boasts lavish halls, quirky exhibits and wonderful gardens filled with exotic plants.

Manial Palace was built by Mohammed Ali Tewfik, a prince known for his love of collecting antiques and passion for Islamic art, heritage and culture. Though the prince never actually ascended the throne – Egypt became a republic in 1953 and the prince spent the rest of his life in exile.

Manial Palace is a testament to everything the prince collected and loved, from French tapestries to fine horse saddles and porcelain vases.

Because where else can you see Indian ficus trees, paintings of the pyramids and stuffed ducks all in one place?

11. Aisha Fahmy Palace, Cairo

The Aisha Fahmy Palace is a beautiful Nile-side gem in the ornate Italianate style with stained glass windows, art exhibits and winding staircases.

This palace is only open to the public during art exhibits – and those have varying times so it’s best to just stop by if you’re in the neighborhood.

Head inside for brilliant rococo interiors, frescoed and silk-lined walls, fireplaces and a grand staircase topped with stained glass windows. And don’t miss the summer rooms with sweeping views of the Nile and the surrounding gardens.

The palace was built in 1907 for Egyptian aristocrat Ali Fahmy, King Farouk’s army chief and Aisha’s brother. Aisha bought the palace after her brother’s death and lived there throughout her tumultuous life.

12. Beshtak Palace, Cairo