HOTELS: When it comes to finding special places to stay, the uncontested choice is Marrakech. With its numbers of unique riads, there are few other cities in the world with such attractive accommodation. Riads are classic Moroccan homes turned into stylish boutique hotels, mostly located in the atmospheric medina and featuring a courtyard and tasteful décor. It’s this kind of authentic accommodation in authentic places that you still don’t find in Cairo, where the big bland hotel chains still dominate.

• Marrakech Hotels – Design, Boutique, Luxury, or Cheap Hotels
• Cairo Hotels – Design, Boutique, Luxury, or Cheap Hotels

URBAN LIFE: We love afternoons and nights by the Nile, but Marrakech beats Cairo in variety of dining choices, not to mention in singular, attractive spaces. The Moroccan city also has North Africa’s most cosmopolitan nights, when young visiting Europeans join the hippest locals at major bars and clubs. Go for a quick meal at Kechmara, dine at Dar Moha or Dar Zellij, and drink and dance at Pacha, and you’ll really get the sense that you’re in the North African capital of nightlife.

• Marrakech Cafes and Restaurants
• Cairo Cafes and Restaurants
• Marrakech Nightlife
• Cairo Nightlife

ATTRACTIONS: Marrakech’s Djemaa El-Fna Square is one of the world’s must-see-to-believe attractions, but nothing can beat the ancient wonders of Cairo. The mystical pyramids overlook the city, and the treasures of the Egyptian Museum are simply stunning. Cairo is the gateway to some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights, making it a destination you can’t miss.

• Cairo Sights & Attractions
• Marrakech Sights & Attractions

WINNER: Marrakech
The wonders of Cairo deserve a longer stay than just a short city break. Not only do you need time to get past the initial shock of the chaotic city and end up falling for its fascinating energy, but you also should take the opportunity to see other Egyptian treasures in places like Luxor and Abu Simbel. Visiting Cairo is visiting Egypt, and you should allow at least a week for that. A city break to Marrakech is enough to leave you mesmerized by its street life, its souks, its soul, and its spectacles, and allows you to do it in style. You get to experience the city’s exotic vitality and discover why it’s been an unexpectedly hip destination for decades.

• Marrakech City Guide
• Cairo City Guide

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Check into the Le Meridien Pyramids, which as the name indicates, looks out to the famous ancient wonders of the world. In addition to the unparalleled views of the pyramids, there are the surrounding landscaped gardens, a large outdoor pool, and spa and limousine services to guarantee the most memorable Cairo stay.

You can choose to dine at one of the hotel’s restaurants, although a better idea is to head to SEQUOIA, a hip hangout that’s also one of the most romantic spots for a dinner for two. Savor the sophisticated dishes of Egyptian and Lebanese cuisine as you sit practically on the Nile under a large white Bedouin-style tent.

During the day, after seeing the Giza Pyramid and the Sphinx up close, go on a Nile cruise, or leave Cairo to the town of Luxor from where the both of you can reach Egypt’s storybook temples on another voyage down the Nile.

As wonderful as the popular romantic European destinations are, they sure won’t top the wonders of Cairo this Valentine’s Day, especially when it’s also much more affordable and with better weather at this time of the year.

For detailed information about all the places mentioned above, see UCityGuide’s complete Cairo city guide.