The Winter Palace was built to attract Europe's aristocracy and is one of Egypt’s most famous historic hotels. A wonderfully atmospheric Victorian pile, it has a grand lobby, high ceilings and fabulous views across the Nile. The enormous garden with exotic trees and a huge swimming pool is a great place to laze at the end of a sightseeing day.
Rooms vary in size and decor, but all are very comfortable, although the building is now in need of an update. Service is generally excellent, but food can be variable, with afternoon tea a disappointment. Grand dining is still a pleasure. The newer Pavillon Wing in the garden has more functional rooms but use of the same public areas, and you can often get excellent discounts on the rooms when booking online. The pool, with its large shallow area, is particularly good for kids.