Zamalek

Cairo's safest area with tree-lined streets, international restaurants, and less harassment than elsewhere. Expensive and feels like a bubble, but gives you a break from the city's intensity.

Zamalek sits on the northern half of Gezira Island in the Nile - a leafy area with embassies, art galleries, expats, and upper-class Egyptian families. Tree-lined streets with 1920s architecture make it actually pleasant to walk around, which is rare for Cairo. Lots of Western women live and travel here, so solo dining and walking alone doesn't draw attention. Staff speak English and many cafes could be in Brooklyn or Berlin. The island location limits entry points, and police presence is high because of the embassies. Harassment still happens but less aggressively than other areas. You'll pay tourist prices for everything and it feels like a bubble that isn't really Egypt. But when Cairo gets overwhelming, Zamalek has safe streets, decent coffee, and restaurants where you can sit without being rushed.