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Palace · Khedivial
Manasterly Palace and the Nilometer
A Nile palace beside the instrument that once measured a season’s fate
At the southern tip of Rawda Island, the nineteenth-century Manasterly Palace stands beside the Nilometer built in 861 CE to measure the Nile flood. Only steps separate them, but nearly a millennium separates their stories.
About this place
Manasterly Palace was built in 1851 by Hassan Fouad Pasha al-Manasterly, with interiors combining Ottoman and European influences. In its grounds is the Rawda Nilometer, ordered by Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil in 861 CE: a stone-lined well with a graduated marble column used to measure water levels.
Focus on the Nilometer’s function: flood height affected agriculture, taxation and water management. Then walk to the adjacent Umm Kulthum Museum.
It brings together an Abbasid scientific-administrative instrument, a nineteenth-century palace and a direct view of the Nile that connects both stories.
Visitor information
- Opening hours
- Sunday — 09:00 – 17:00
Monday — 09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday — 09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday — 09:00 – 17:00
Thursday — 09:00 – 17:00
Friday — 09:00 – 17:00
Saturday — 09:00 – 17:00 - Payment
- Card
- Amenities
- Toilets · Guides
| Tickets | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian | 20 | 2026-09-06 |
| Egyptian student | 10 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign | 120 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign student | 60 | 2026-09-06 |
Highlights
- The 861 CE Nilometer well and graduated column
- The decorated halls of Manasterly Palace
- The island setting beside the Umm Kulthum Museum
Tips from the visit
- Combine the visit with the adjacent Umm Kulthum Museum.
- Descend the Nilometer carefully; the stair is relatively narrow.
- Morning is best for a quieter visit and good Nile light.
Worth knowing
- The Nilometer stairs are relatively steep and may not suit visitors with mobility difficulties.
- Access to individual palace rooms may vary during events.
Location & getting there
Al-Malek Al-Saleh Street, Rawda Island, Manial, Cairo
Nearest landmark: متحف أم كلثوم
Nearest metro: الملك الصالح
From El-Malek El-Saleh metro, take a short taxi across the bridge to the southern tip of Rawda Island. The entrance is beside the Umm Kulthum Museum.
30.0072, 31.2251
Open in Google Maps ↗Nearby
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