Cairo Travel FAQ

3-4 days for the core — the Pyramids of Giza + Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum (opened 2025), Khan el-Khalili, Islamic Cairo and a Nile felucca at sunset. Add 1-2 days for Saqqara (older than Giza) and Alexandria, or 2-3 days for Luxor (Valley of the Kings) by domestic flight. Most travelers combine Cairo with either Alexandria or Luxor — full 7-10 day Egypt circuits add Aswan and Abu Simbel.

October to April is the dry cool season (15-25°C) — the right time to visit. May to September is brutally hot (30-40°C), and June-August can hit 45°C at the Pyramids. December-January is the European peak and the Korean tourist peak; hotel prices run 30-50% higher than shoulder months. The Abu Simbel Sun Festival (October 22 + February 22) is a uniquely Pharaonic moment if your dates align.

Generally safe in the tourist core — Zamalek, Downtown, Giza, Khan el-Khalili. The main issues are aggressive vendors at the Pyramids (negotiate camel rides upfront for EGP 200-500 or refuse politely), hard bargaining at Khan el-Khalili (start at 25% of the asked price), and persistent low-level harassment for solo female travelers. Police presence is high at major sites. Avoid political demonstration areas; check the latest travel advisories before booking.

English works at major hotels and tourist restaurants. Arabic is the official language; functional English varies in the souks and outside the tourist core. A few words help: 'Marhaba' (hello), 'Shukran' (thank you), 'La, shukran' (no, thank you — for vendors). Hiring an English-speaking guide ($20-30/day) at the Egyptian Museum, GEM and the Pyramids is genuinely worth it.

Visa on arrival ($25 USD cash) for most nationalities — Korea, Japan, US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia. E-Visa ($25 online) also available. Travel insurance with medical coverage. Modest cover-up (covered shoulders and knees) especially for mosques — the Citadel mosques provide robes free. Insect repellent. Type C/F plug, 220V. Bring crisp US dollar bills (no marks or tears); torn or marked notes are often refused.

Egyptian Pound (EGP). EGP 49 ≈ $1 (May 2026). USD is widely accepted at tourist sites at slightly worse rates than dirham conversion; cards work at major hotels and mid-range restaurants. Cash for taxis, the bazaar and small shops. ATMs everywhere with $4-5 foreign fees. Bargain hard at Khan el-Khalili — start at 25% of the asked price.

Cairo: 22 million people, the Pyramids of Giza (Wonder of the World), the Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili, intense and chaotic, $50-300/day. Marrakech: 1 million people, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara base, walkable Medina, $50-450/day. Petra: a 2-day Nabataean rock-cut site in Jordan, usually combined with Wadi Rum. Cairo is the most-recognized Middle East destination for Pharaonic heritage; Marrakech is the easier first trip; Petra is a focused add-on.

Budget: $50/day (Downtown hostel, Uber, koshary and ful medames, Pyramids entry). Mid-range: $130/day (4-star Zamalek hotel, private guide, Khan el-Khalili dinner). Luxury: $400+/day (Marriott Mena House with Pyramid view, private 5-day Egypt circuit). Cairo is among the cheapest major Middle East destinations.

Hostels: $10-30/night in Downtown. 3-star Downtown: $30-80. 4-star Zamalek: $80-200 (Conrad, Sofitel, Hilton). 5-star: $200-900+ (Marriott Mena House with Pyramid views, Four Seasons First Residence Cairo, Four Seasons at Nile Plaza, St. Regis Cairo, Nile Ritz-Carlton).

Pyramids of Giza EGP 540 entry + EGP 540 to enter Khufu pyramid. Egyptian Museum (the old one) EGP 360. Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM, opened 2025) EGP 1,200 ($25). Khan el-Khalili free. Citadel of Saladin EGP 200. Nile felucca EGP 300-500/hour. Hire an English guide ($20-30/day) for the museums and the Pyramids — entry signage is limited.

Yes — tipping (baksheesh) is essential everywhere in Egypt. $1-2 at restaurants. $1 to mosque attendants. $1-2 to hotel bellhops. $5-10 per day for guides. $1 to taxi drivers as rounding. Cash USD or EGP. Carry small bills in both currencies — large notes are often 'unavailable for change'.

Pyramid entry is in tiers — basic site + entering Khufu pyramid (EGP 540 each) + Solar Boat Museum (EGP 100). Egyptian Museum mummies room is a separate EGP 200. GEM Tutankhamun gallery is a separate EGP 200 add-on. Camel rides at the Pyramids run EGP 200-500 (negotiate upfront, refuse 'free' offers — there is no free anything). Guide $20-30/day is essential. Khan el-Khalili bargaining — start at 25%.

Cairo International Airport (CAI). EgyptAir, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad all fly direct from major Asian and European hubs. Most long-haul routings from Korea transit via Doha (DOH) or Dubai (DXB). Airport to Downtown: Uber $10-15 (45 minutes). Pre-book a Klook airport transfer ($15-25) if arriving late; avoid the airport taxi touts.

Uber and Careem are the default — most reliable, cheapest ($2-5 for short rides), price upfront with no haggling. Cairo Metro is cheap ($0.10) but crowded; useful for Tahrir Square and a few central stops. Black-and-yellow taxis use a meter (or negotiate before getting in). Walking works in Downtown and Zamalek; everything else needs a car.

Yes — Uber and Careem are widely used and cheap. Reliable and price upfront. $2-5 for most central rides. These two apps cover almost all situations a tourist needs. Standard taxis exist but the app option is so much easier that most visitors never use them.

Uber from Downtown $5-10 (30 minutes). The standard day tour ($50-90) includes a guide, Solar Boat Museum, camel ride and lunch — pre-book via Klook for 15-20% off. If you DIY by Uber, hire an English-speaking guide on-site ($20-30) or pre-book through Viator. Visit at sunrise (8:00) to beat the heat and the crowds.

Uber to GEM in Giza $5-10 (30 minutes). The museum opened in 2025 and is the world's largest archaeological museum, with the full Tutankhamun collection. Pre-book online — the queue can be 30-60 minutes. Allow 3-4 hours minimum to see the highlights.

Koshary — Egypt's national dish (rice + lentils + pasta + chickpeas + tomato sauce + crispy onions), $1-3 a bowl at Abou Tarek. Ful medames (fava bean breakfast, $1-2). Ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel, $1-2). Mahshi (stuffed vegetables, $3-6). Kebab and kofta ($5-15). Mint tea and karkadeh (hibiscus tea, $1-3) at El Fishawi. Egyptian food is one of the cheapest cuisines in any major capital.

El Fishawi (opened in 1797 — the oldest café in Cairo, where Naguib Mahfouz wrote, 24-hour tea and shisha, $3-10). Naguib Mahfouz Coffee Shop (named for the Nobel laureate, more polished, $10-30). Felfela (heritage Egyptian sit-down, $3-8). Khan el-Khalili food court for casual street-style ($3-10).

Abou Tarek (the most-recognized Cairo koshary spot, 50+ years in operation, multiple Downtown branches, $1-3 a bowl). Koshary el Tahrir is the runner-up. Order it spicy with extra dakka (garlic-vinegar sauce). Cash and card.

Marriott Mena House (Pyramid view dining, $50-150) — the iconic Cairo splurge. Four Seasons First Residence Cairo (Nile views, $80-200). Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah ($60-150). The Nile dinner cruise ($40-80) is the standard for visitors who want Egyptian buffet + belly dancing + tanoura whirling dervish performance.

Koshary $1-3. Ful medames $1-2. Ta'ameya $1-2. Kebab $5-15. Mid-range Egyptian dinner $8-25. Marriott Mena House Pyramid view $50-150. Four Seasons $80-200. Cairo has one of the cheapest food scenes in any Middle East capital — budget travelers can easily eat well for $5-10/day.

Zamalek is the default first-visit base — a Nile island with embassies, restaurants and the major 5-star hotels, $80-900/night. Downtown is cheaper with Tahrir Square and walking distance to the (old) Egyptian Museum, $25-150. Giza Pyramids area for the iconic Marriott Mena House with Pyramid views, $200-900. Maadi is the quieter expat south, useful for longer stays, $60-200.

Marriott Mena House Cairo (the iconic 1869 hotel with Pyramid views from many rooms, $300-700/night). Four Seasons First Residence Cairo on the Giza side of the Nile ($400-900). Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza in Zamalek/Garden City ($400-900). St. Regis Cairo on the Nile ($400-900). Nile Ritz-Carlton ($300-700). Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah on Zamalek's southern tip ($250-500).

Yes — Egypt allows short-term rentals. Listings are widely available in Zamalek, Downtown and Maadi. Booking.com, Airbnb and Agoda are the main platforms. Many travelers stay in hotels for the first trip and switch to apartments on repeat visits.

Dahab Hostel ($10-25 in Downtown). Cairo Backpackers Hostel ($15-35 in Zamalek/Downtown). The hostel scene is smaller than in Marrakech — most budget travelers stay at cheap 3-star hotels instead.

Christmas-New Year peak (December 20-January 5): 3 months ahead. Abu Simbel Sun Festival (October 22 + February 22): 2 months ahead for Aswan/Abu Simbel hotels. Marriott Mena House Pyramid-view rooms: 1-2 months ahead. GEM and the Egyptian Museum: pre-book online; walk-ins face 60+ minute queues at peak times.

Right hand only for eating bread or shared dishes — left hand is impolite. Service charge sometimes included (10-12%). An additional 5-10% tip (baksheesh) is appreciated. Sharing food family-style is common. Mint tea and karkadeh (hibiscus tea) are a hospitality ritual — accept when offered.

Modest dress is mandatory at mosques — covered shoulders and knees, closed shoes. The Citadel mosques and most major sites provide free robes at the entrance. Remove shoes before entering. Don't take photos during prayer times. Friday prayer 12:00-14:00 affects some businesses. Ramadan restricts daytime eating publicly.

Cairo layers 5,000 years of Pharaonic heritage (Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, GEM) with 1,400 years of Islamic heritage (Khan el-Khalili, Citadel, Islamic Cairo mosques). Both are central to the city — don't skip one for the other. Coptic Cairo (Christian) is a separate small area near Old Cairo with the Hanging Church and Cavern Church.

Tipping (baksheesh) is built into almost every transaction — $1-2 everywhere. Aggressive vendors at the Pyramids expect refusal; a polite 'La, shukran' (no, thank you) and walking on is enough. Bargain hard at Khan el-Khalili (start at 25%). Solo female travelers face street harassment — modest dress and avoiding eye contact reduces but doesn't eliminate it.

Tipping (baksheesh) is essential — $1-2 at restaurants, $1 to mosque attendants, $1-2 to hotel bellhops, $5-10 per day for guides, $1 to taxi drivers as rounding. Cash USD or EGP. Small bills are critical; large notes get refused for 'no change'.

Twice a year at Abu Simbel — sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary of Rameses II's temple, illuminating three of the four statues at sunrise. A uniquely Pharaonic moment, designed 3,200 years ago. Hotels in Aswan triple in price; book 2-3 months ahead.

The Muslim holy month — eating publicly during daylight is restricted, many restaurants close during the day, and the city shifts to night. Iftar (the sunset meal) is the social highlight. Hotel restaurants and tourist services mostly stay open daytime, but neighborhood places shut. Plan around if possible.

December 20 to January 5 is the most expensive period of the year — European holiday season overlaps with peak dry weather. Marriott Mena House sells out 3+ months ahead. Hotels run 1.3-1.5× standard rates. Egypt circuit tours (Cairo + Luxor + Aswan) fill up similarly.

Egypt's national day — public holiday, Tahrir Square fills, parades. Tourism services mostly operate but expect government offices closed. Worth seeing if your dates overlap.

Desert — hot and dry. October-April is cool and dry (15-25°C), ideal. May-September is brutally hot (30-40°C; June-August can hit 45°C at the Pyramids). Rain is rare. UV is very high year-round. December-February nights are cool (8-12°C); pack a light jacket.

Modest cover-up clothing for mosques and temples (robes provided at most sites). Light layers year-round, warm jacket for December-February evenings and Pyramid early mornings. SPF 50 sunscreen + hat. Insect repellent for summer. Crisp US dollar bills (no marks or tears — torn notes get refused) + small EGP. Type C/F plug, 220V.

Modern Zamalek hotels and 5-star properties are accessible. Pyramid climbing inside is limited (steep, narrow passages with low ceilings). Egyptian Museum has stairs and limited ramps; GEM (2025) is fully accessible. Marriott Mena House has accessible rooms. Khan el-Khalili cobblestones are challenging.

Cairo Airport has paid storage (EGP 100-200 / $2-4 per 24h). Most hotels store luggage free of charge on check-in and check-out days. Egypt circuit tours (Cairo + Luxor + Aswan) usually arrange luggage storage at the Cairo starting hotel.

Pharmacies are everywhere, well-stocked, and pharmacists usually speak some English. Anglo-American Hospital and Dar Al Fouad are the main private hospitals foreigners use. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is essential. Emergency numbers: 122 (police) and 123 (medical). Cairo medical infrastructure is decent in the private system.