- CountryEgypt
- RegionAfrica
- Best time to goOct–Apr
Cairo is Egypt's sprawling, chaotic, and endlessly fascinating capital, where the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World rises on the desert edge and a thousand years of Islamic and Coptic history crowd the banks of the Nile.
When is the best time to visit Cairo?
The best time to visit Cairo is October to April, when the heat eases to warm, comfortable days ideal for sightseeing. Summer (June to August) is brutally hot, so any exploring is best done early or late in the day.
Top things to do in Cairo
Tap any experience for photos, a little history, and practical tips.
Stand before the Pyramids of Giza
The last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, three colossal pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx rising straight from the desert on the city's edge.
- History
- Built around 4,500 years ago as tombs for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure on earth for nearly 4,000 years, an astonishing feat of ancient engineering.
- Insider tip
- Go early to beat the heat and crowds, arrange a reputable guide or driver, and walk out to the panorama point for the classic line-up shot. Be firm with camel and 'guide' touts, and agree any price first.
- Good to know
- Entry is around 540 EGP, with extra to go inside a pyramid. On the Giza plateau, about an hour from central Cairo by car.
Explore the Egyptian Museum
A treasure house of pharaonic antiquities, from mummies to the dazzling golden mask of Tutankhamun, packed into a grand old building on Tahrir Square.
- History
- Opened in 1902, the museum holds over 120,000 artifacts spanning ancient Egyptian history. Many of its star pieces, including the Tutankhamun collection, are moving to the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza.
- Insider tip
- Hire a guide to bring the highlights to life, and check which treasures are at the new Grand Egyptian Museum versus the historic Tahrir building before you go. Allow at least a couple of hours.
- Good to know
- Entry is around 550 EGP. On Tahrir Square in central Cairo; the Grand Egyptian Museum sits out near the pyramids.
Get lost in Khan el-Khalili
Cairo's great medieval bazaar, a maze of alleys crammed with spice, lamp, jewelry, and souvenir stalls, plus historic coffeehouses.
- History
- Founded in the 14th century as a caravanserai trading hub, Khan el-Khalili has been a centre of commerce for some 700 years and remains one of the Middle East's most atmospheric markets.
- Insider tip
- Haggle hard, take a mint tea or coffee at the famous El Fishawy cafe, and wander into the surrounding Islamic Cairo streets. Go in the afternoon and evening when it's liveliest and cooler.
- Good to know
- Free to explore; prices are negotiable. In Islamic Cairo, near the Al-Azhar and Al-Hussein mosques.
Visit the Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque
A hilltop medieval fortress crowned by the great alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with sweeping views over the city's domes and minarets.
- History
- Built by Saladin in the 12th century to defend against the Crusaders, the Citadel was the seat of Egypt's rulers for nearly 700 years. The Ottoman-style mosque was added in the 1800s by Muhammad Ali Pasha.
- Insider tip
- Combine the mosque with the Citadel's other museums and the panoramic terrace, ideally on a clear day. Dress modestly and remove shoes to enter the mosque, and go in the morning to avoid the worst heat.
- Good to know
- Entry is around 450 EGP for the Citadel complex. On a hill in the southeast of the city, best reached by taxi or app.
Sail the Nile on a felucca
A gentle sail on a traditional lateen-rigged felucca, the timeless way to see Cairo from the water as the city slips by.
- History
- Feluccas have plied the Nile for thousands of years, and the river remains the lifeline of Egypt. A sunset sail offers a calm contrast to the city's frenetic streets and a classic Egyptian experience.
- Insider tip
- Negotiate the price and duration before boarding, ideally for around an hour at sunset. Boats gather along the Nile in the Garden City and Maadi areas, and going at golden hour is most atmospheric.
- Good to know
- Expect to pay a negotiated hourly rate per boat. Feluccas wait along the Nile's east bank in central Cairo.
Wander Coptic Cairo and the Hanging Church
The Christian heart of old Cairo, a cluster of ancient churches, a synagogue, and lanes built within the walls of a Roman fortress.
- History
- This is one of the oldest Christian areas in the world, said to include sites linked to the Holy Family's flight into Egypt. The Hanging Church, suspended over a Roman gatehouse, dates back to around the 7th century.
- Insider tip
- Visit the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum, and the old Ben Ezra Synagogue, dressing modestly. The area is quiet and walkable, and easily reached on the metro to Mar Girgis station.
- Good to know
- Most churches are free; the Coptic Museum charges a fee. In Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo), on the metro at Mar Girgis.
Step back at Saqqara
A vast ancient burial ground dominated by the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's oldest large stone monument and the prototype for all later pyramids.
- History
- Built around 2,650 BC by the architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser, the Step Pyramid was a revolutionary leap from earlier mudbrick tombs and launched the age of pyramid building that culminated at Giza.
- Insider tip
- Pair Saqqara with the nearby ruins of Memphis and the pyramids of Dahshur for a quieter, deeper day than Giza alone. Go with a guide and driver, and bring water and sun protection.
- Good to know
- Entry is around 450 EGP. About 30 km south of central Cairo, usually combined with Memphis and Dahshur.
Discover Islamic Cairo's mosques
A historic quarter packed with medieval mosques, madrasas, and gates, including the atmospheric old street of Al-Muizz, a living museum of Islamic architecture.
- History
- A UN study found Al-Muizz Street to have the greatest concentration of medieval Islamic architectural treasures in the world, lined with Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman monuments spanning a thousand years.
- Insider tip
- Walk Al-Muizz Street from Bab al-Futuh, climbing a minaret for rooftop views, and visit the vast Al-Azhar and Ibn Tulun mosques. Dress modestly, cover up at mosques, and go in the cooler afternoon.
- Good to know
- Many mosques ask a small entry fee or tip. North and east of Khan el-Khalili, walkable through Islamic Cairo.
Know before you go
Arabic is the official language, with Egyptian Arabic spoken locally. English is widely understood in tourist areas, hotels, and by guides.
The Egyptian pound (EGP). Cairo is very inexpensive for most visitors, though tipping ('baksheesh') is a constant and expected part of daily life.
Carry plenty of small notes for the near-constant baksheesh (tips) expected for almost any service. Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants, but markets, taxis, and sites are cash-driven.
Use ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem, which are cheap and avoid taxi haggling. The metro is fast and cheap with women-only carriages, though traffic across the city is famously heavy and chaotic.
Type C and F plugs, 220V / 50Hz, the standard European two-pin. UK and US visitors need an adapter.
Cairo is generally safe for tourists, with the main issues being aggressive touts, scams, and overcharging around the major sites, plus chaotic traffic. Be firm with hustlers, agree prices first, and take care crossing roads.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Cairo?
Three to four days lets you see the pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum (and the Grand Egyptian Museum), Islamic and Coptic Cairo, and the bazaar without rushing. Many travelers use Cairo as the start of a wider Egypt and Nile trip.
Is Cairo worth visiting?
Absolutely. Cairo is home to the only surviving Ancient Wonder and unrivalled pharaonic treasures, plus layers of Islamic and Coptic history. It is chaotic and intense, but for history lovers it is genuinely unmissable.
Is Cairo expensive?
Cairo is very inexpensive for most visitors. Comfortable hotels start from around €40–80 a night, meals and taxis are cheap, and the main cost is site entry fees. Budget extra for guides and the constant small tips known as baksheesh.
What is the best area to stay in Cairo?
Downtown and Garden City near the Nile and the Egyptian Museum are central and well connected; Zamalek is a leafy, upscale island district with good dining; while Giza puts you close to the pyramids but further from the old city.
Is Cairo safe for tourists?
Cairo is generally safe for visitors, with violent crime against tourists rare. The main issues are aggressive touts, scams, and overcharging at the big sites, plus chaotic traffic. Be firm with hustlers, agree prices first, and take care crossing roads.
What is the best time to visit Cairo?
October to April brings warm, comfortable weather ideal for sightseeing. Summer, from June to August, is intensely hot, so exploring is best at dawn and dusk. Spring can bring occasional dusty khamsin winds.