Popularly known as Martyr Square, Tahrir square is a prime location in Downtown Cairo. The area around the square includes major attractions like the Egyptian Museum, the Mogamma government building, the Folklore Arts House, the Headquarters of the Arab League building, Kasr Al Dobara Evangelical church, the Nile Hotel, and the original Downtown campus-the American University of Cairo.
The square has been a focus for political demonstrations since the 20th century and has witnessed the Egyptian revolution of 2011 that led to the killing of a number of activists and protesters.