Baron Empain Palace
Baron Empain Palace in Cairo's Heliopolis district was built in 1907–1911 in the style of Hindu temples and Angkor Wat. It reopened after restoration in 2020; a visit takes about 1 hour, and it is 20–30 minutes from downtown without traffic.
Few buildings in Cairo are as unexpected as the Baron Empain Palace (Qasr el-Baron): a mansion modelled on the Hindu temples of India and on Angkor Wat in Cambodia, standing in the middle of suburban Heliopolis.
It went up between 1907 and 1911 for Édouard Empain, the Belgian industrialist who created Heliopolis as a new garden city in the desert. His architect, Alexandre Marcel, dressed the reinforced-concrete walls in carvings of elephants, deities and dancers and added a tall tower. Local legend claims the tower turned to follow the sun; it never did.
The palace then stood empty for decades and gathered ghost stories, before restoration work saw it reopen in 2020. Inside, an exhibition covers the story of Heliopolis, and you can go up to the roof terraces.
What to see
- The facade carved with elephants, Hindu deities and dancers
- The tower and the roof terraces
- The exhibition on the founding of Heliopolis
- The restored gardens, lit up at night
Visiting
- Opening hours: daily, usually from morning into the evening
- Tickets: entry ticket at the gate
- Time needed: 1 hour
- Getting there: Uber or taxi to Heliopolis, about 20–30 minutes from downtown without traffic
- Nearby: Heliopolis (Misr al-Gedida), Unknown Soldier Memorial
Getting there
Coordinates: 30.0867, 31.3303
Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside Baron Empain Palace?
Yes. After decades empty it was restored and reopened in 2020, with an exhibition on the history of Heliopolis and access to the roof terraces.
How do I get to Baron Empain Palace?
Take an Uber or taxi to Heliopolis. Without traffic it is about 20–30 minutes from downtown Cairo.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour. The palace usually opens daily from morning into the evening, with tickets sold at the gate.