The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

On the hunt for swimming pool day-use to escape from Cairo’s heat, we knew we were in for a day of luxury when we rocked up at Fairmont Nile City. Its looming towers glisten with an almost Art Deco twinkle – Gatsby, eat your heart out. The glass-fronted elevator whisked us up 24 stories, through the grandiose magnificence of the ballrooms, conference rooms, restaurants and bars contained in the hotel, to the hotel spa where we made our booking. And 24th floor spa means 25th floor pool – and that means rooftop pool!

We prayed for the sun to shine on our day at the pool, and it did us proud. While you’re sure to get a tan that high out of the smog of inner city Cairo, we also caught a nice breeze as we lounged atop the towering building.

The pool is technically part of Willow Stream Spa, where Fairmont’s guests pamper themselves and stay healthy in its gym, pool, massage parlour, hair salon, lounge, and spa. For 550LE, all of this, except for the massages and salon, is available.

In case you missed our hints, the view from this place is out-of-this-world, and is best enjoyed gazing down upon it from the Jacuzzi, with drink in hand. The hotel’s position means that the Nile snakes along below and the vast hulking mass of Cairo sprawls out where ever you look. The magnitude of the city is staggering from this vantage point, and the quiet of the rooftop calls for a moment of reflection.

There are plenty of chairs arranged around the pool and under canopies, so visitors can eat, chat and sunbathe as they wish. Pool attendants are ready with clean, fluffy towels for all and food and drink can be ordered. Although the pool isn’t huge, it’s fine for splashing about in, and there’s a separate toddler and baby pool as well.  Although a few families were out enjoying the weather, it was mostly adults swimming, and it would be possible for the keen swimmer to do a few short laps undisturbed. The water stayed cool and refreshing all day, but despite the rooftop setting, it still falls into shadow from about 5pm by a taller building next-door.

The pool can be used between 7AM and sunset each day, and although we arrived around 11AM and there were still spots to sit at, all the seats were filled up by about lunchtime. Overall, though, you cannot go wrong at Fairmont Nile City for a day of relaxing, replenishment and rejuvenation.