Garden City is a quiet diplomatic enclave immediately south of Tahrir Square, occupying a wedge of land between Qasr el-Aini Street and the Nile. It was planned in the 1900s as a garden suburb for Cairo's elite, with curving streets unusual in the city and a generous provision of greenery and open space. The resulting neighbourhood is visually distinctive: art nouveau and early modernist villas sit behind high walls, shaded by mature trees, with the facades of embassies and international organisations visible through the gates.
The Four Seasons and Kempinski hotels occupy the Nile frontage, with terraces overlooking the river. Garden City is quieter and more relaxed than downtown on its doorstep, making it a useful base for visiting the Egyptian Museum (a 15-minute walk north). The streets are pleasant for walking in the cooler morning hours.