One of my biggest struggles living in Cairo was the lack of playgrounds, especially free and public ones. Back in Boston, I could go on random walks and always find new playgrounds and it was an effortless, inexpensive thing to do with your kids. Here in Egypt on the other hand is completely different, you can’t go on random walks easily not to mention finding free access to safe playgrounds for your children to play in. I was getting very frustration that my kids could hardly enjoy the outdoors in a safe place. So, I googled and searched everywhere in the internet for easy, inexpensive places that I could take my kids to on a weekly basis. There are 5 places that I would say, I enjoy visiting the most and my kids are beyond happy.
- First place, is the closest to Maadi and it is called Maadi Island, in Corniche which overlooks the Nile. There are many things to do for both adults with children or without. There are upscale restaurants and cafes. There’s also a gran space of greenery where you kid can run wild as well as playgrounds.
2. Al Azhar Botanic Garden is my favorite place to visit with children or without. Azhar garden has the most amazing panorama view of OId Cairo. It’s a perfect place to escape from the chaotic concrete metropolitan city and enjoy the scenery encompass with water fountains and vast greenery. It has upscale restaurants, wedding venues as well as street vendors selling affordable sandwiches and ice cream or you can plan a perfect picnic outing. There is a huge playground area build on sand which is totally safe for children of all ages. Azhar Garden is a Gem in Cairo!
3. If you need to take your children outside of home but the weather is too cold or not so great than Maadi City Centre a.k.a Carrefour in Zahraa Al Maddi is a perfect place to visit. It’s kind of killing two birds with one stone because you can make your grocery shopping at Carrefour and have your children play at the Magic Planet.
4. All children love to see animal so off course the Zoo would be the next option on the list. The Zoo is located in Giza not too far from Al Maadi and it’s pretty inexpensive. It’s not the best kept zoo in the world but you have a wide range of exotic animals and a nice space of greenery. It is also a nice place to have a picnic after an exhausting day of walking around the zoo.
5. The Orman Park right across the Giza Zoo is an old Botanic Garden that cost 1 Egyptian pound for the entrance (consider this free). This park is not as well kept as Al Azhar Graden, however, it is a perfect place to escape the city and enjoy nature for a very low prize. There is not much you can do besides having your children run around the park. There is also a playground inside the park which you have to pay a separate entrance to but I would not recommend any parents to let their children play inside it ( I REPEAT DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN IN). The playground is totally unsafe and design to have accidents. Other than that it is a nice place to visit with children. Not to mention every spring they run a Plant Festivel, where plant business owners get to showcase their many plants. During this time, the park is filled with people and gorgeous plants.
