Omar Elsharawy, Unsplash License, Source

Cairo

Where ancient history meets bustling life

Cairo stands as Egypt’s bustling capital, where ancient history and modern life intersect daily. The city holds landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza just outside its limits and the Egyptian Museum inside, displaying artifacts from pharaonic eras. Streets buzz with markets selling spices, fabrics and handmade crafts alongside cafes serving sweet tea and strong coffee. Cairo’s neighborhoods range from old Islamic quarters to newer districts, each reflecting layers of culture shaped by centuries along the Nile River. The city feels alive through its sounds, smells and constant movement.

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City in Egypt

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.1

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	4

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by many locals, especially those working in the tourism industry. You can generally navigate the city without language barriers.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Cairo Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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World-class for ancient monuments and history. Visit the pyramids, explore museums, cruise the Nile and experience lively bazaars.

Place score

7.8

Best at:

Museums

Historic sites

Guided tours

Traditional culture

Ruins

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

💻 7

Digital Nomads

Egypt – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Egyptian Pound (EGP) £1 ≈ EGP 74.69
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in Egypt, especially in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and businesses, but cash is still preferred in many places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in Egypt, with a 10-15% tip in restaurants being standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Egypt, and alcohol consumption is limited to licensed establishments like hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is permitted in outdoor public spaces and licensed indoor venues such as cafes and bars, but it is prohibited in public transport and closed areas.

Revolution Day (25 January)	National holiday celebrating the 2011 revolution
Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)	Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 122 (Police), 123 (Ambulance), 180 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Egypt is known for its ancient history, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and numerous archaeological sites. It offers a rich cultural experience combined with desert landscapes and the Nile River.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Cairo, Egypt

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🔥

Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Sep.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Summer midday heat often exceeds 35°C: visit the pyramids and museums early morning or late afternoon

Ramadan: daytime food options limited, many restaurants closed until sunset, sights often close early

Christmas to New Year and Easter holidays are the busiest times at the Giza pyramids and Egyptian Museum

Don't miss

🗿 Explore the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
🏺 Visit the Egyptian Museum to see ancient treasures
🌆 Climb Cairo Tower for panoramic city views
🕌 Discover history at the Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque
🛍️ Shop for spices and crafts at Khan El Khalili Bazaar
🏘️ Wander through the colorful Al-Muizz Street old town

You've been here?

Why travel to Cairo?

Cairo is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and culture lovers. The city's awe-inspiring landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are just the beginning. Wander through historic markets, sail on the Nile and explore ancient temples and mosques. Despite the chaotic traffic and crowded streets, the city's energy is contagious and the hospitality of its people makes every visit memorable.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Giza
The Giza plateau features the iconic Great Pyramid, Sphinx and smaller tombs across several square kilometers of desert landscape. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers dramatic views of ancient monuments under a clear sky.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Saqqara
One of Egypt's most significant archaeological treasures, Saqqara lies just south of Cairo. Its vast necropolis features towering pyramids, intricate mastaba tombs and ancient burial chambers that span millennia of history.
2 Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo houses thousands of artifacts from ancient Egypt, including Tutankhamun's treasures. Its grand halls display mummies, jewelry and statues across multiple floors, offering a comprehensive glimpse into pharaonic history and culture.
3 Coptic Cairo
Explore Cairo’s historic heart where ancient churches, bustling markets and the Coptic Museum showcase early Christian heritage. Narrow streets reveal colorful mosaics, handwritten manuscripts, vibrant street life, daily traditions.
4 Museum of Islamic Art
5 Nilometer in Rhoda Island
6 Islamic Cairo
7 Mosque-Sabil of Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar
8 The Great Sphinx
9 Pyramids Walk Compound

🎡Places for activities

1 Cairo Opera House
2 Gezira Sporting Club
3 Aquarium Grotto Garden
4 Mohamed Ali Palace Museum

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Al Azhar Park
2 Ahram Plateau Officers Housing
3 Wadi Degla Protectorate Area
4 Scouts Club on the river, Giza

🛍️Shopping

1 Khan el-Khalili
The historic Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Cairo is a vibrant maze of shops, spices and crafts. This iconic market has drawn travelers for centuries, offering an authentic glimpse into Egyptian culture and daily life.
2 Cairo Festival City Mall
3 Bazaar
4 Mall of Egypt
5 City Stars Mall

🎈Events

Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo Jazz Festival
Ramadan Nights
Moulid an-Nabi Celebrations
Eid al-Fitr Festivities
Pharaohs' Golden Parade
Abu Simbel Sun Festival (nearby)
Coptic Christmas Celebrations
Art D’Égypte Exhibition
Spring Festival at Al-Azhar Park

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Avoid midday heat; plan major sightseeing for early mornings.
Book a licensed guide for the Pyramids to navigate touts, camel handlers and understand site history more comfortably.
Use reputable taxis or ride-hailing apps, carry small cash and negotiate fares when meters are absent or “broken.”
Stay near Downtown or Zamalek for easier traffic, Nile views, cafés and safer evening walks between restaurants and riverside promenades.

How to travel to Cairo

Cairo International Airport (CAI) is well-connected to major cities worldwide. You can also reach Cairo by train from other Egyptian cities, including Alexandria and Luxor. Long-distance buses and Nile cruises are additional options.

Access summary

From Cairo International (CAI): Taxi or shuttle to downtown, about 30–60 minutes.
From Alexandria: Trains or highway buses to Cairo, typically around 2.5–4 hours.
From Giza: Metro, bus or taxi across Greater Cairo, usually about 30–60 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Cairo

Cairo offers a range of accommodations, from budget hostels to luxurious hotels. Downtown, Zamalek and Giza are popular areas to stay, depending on whether you prefer vibrant city life, quieter surroundings or proximity to the pyramids.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Al Masa Hotel Nasr City

8.3

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir

8.8

Safir Hotel Cairo

8.2

Le Passage Cairo Hotel & Casino

Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah

8.0

InterContinental Cairo Semiramis By IHG

8.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Cairo

Public transportation includes the Cairo Metro, buses and taxis. Uber is widely used. The Metro is cheap and avoids traffic, while taxis and rideshares are more convenient for direct routes. Walking is feasible in historic areas like Islamic and Coptic Cairo.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-71 %

Daily expenses in Cairo are around 71% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-55 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EGP) is 55% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£23	£53	£142
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£30	£75
🍝 Food per day	£11	£22	£63
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£2	£4

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£8.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£3.70
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.30
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.27
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£2.40
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£8.50
🤧 Cold medication	£1.50
💇 Basic haircut	£2.10

Safety information overview

General safety

Cairo is generally safe for tourists, but you should be cautious of pickpockets in crowded areas. Avoid political demonstrations and follow local guidance for a safe visit.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Cairo vary, with high-quality care in private hospitals. It is advisable to have travel insurance. Be cautious with street food and drink bottled water to avoid stomach issues.

Accessibility

Accessibility can be challenging in historic sites and older parts of the city. Many modern hotels and attractions are more accommodating for visitors with mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled water, which is widely available and inexpensive. Be cautious with ice in drinks and use bottled water for brushing your teeth.