Visiting Cairo, Egypt is definitely a bucket list experience. Egypt is one of those places we had read about in textbooks for years, so getting to be there and experience it for ourselves was truly surreal. Between walking the ancient ruins of the Pyramids of Giza to wandering through the streets of Coptic Cairo, it truly feels like you’ve stepped back in time when you’re in Egypt. Plan to spend about two days in Cairo, so you have time to see and do everything the city has to offer. Here’s our Cairo, Egypt Travel Guide:
WHAT TO DO IN Cairo, Egypt: Travel Guide
Things to Know Before You Go:
How to Get Around:
The best way to get around is by taxi or Uber. If you’re using a taxi, we suggest getting one from your hotel and deciding on the price before hand to avoid getting scammed. If you use Uber, you won’t have to worry about negotiating a price, but we found that most of our Uber drivers would message us in Arabic, so download a translation app, so you can communicate back with them. We paid around $3 to $5 USD for a 15-20 minute drive. We also suggest getting a SIM card on arrival, so you have data to use Uber and know where you’re going while you’re there.
Visas:
Is It Safe?
What to Wear:
Egypt is a very conservative and religious country, so be respectful of the local culture and make sure you’re wearing clothes that aren’t too revealing. We suggest clothes that cover your shoulders and come to your ankle, like longer dresses, skirts, or pants.
Avoid Public Displays of Affection:
Don’t Bring a Drone:
Bring Sunglasses:
Plan Your Visit During the Cooler Months:
Egypt is a desert and can get unbearably hot during the summer. If you want to enjoy your time there to the fullest, you won’t want to be standing in the heat for hours on end. We went at the end of September and it was still very hot, but not totally unbearable. We’d recommend visiting between October and April.
What to Do:
Great Pyramids of Giza:
Entrance fee: 80 Egyptian pounds per person (about $5 USD)
Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha:
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha had the same architect as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, so they have a very similar look to each other. It has a beautiful design and is located on top of the Cairo Citadel, so it also has a beautiful view of the city.
Hanging Church:
Khan el Khalili Souk:
Khan el Khalili is one of the oldest open air markets in the world. It’s filled with rugs, lamps, spices, jewelry, and dozens of other goods. It’s the perfect place to go if you’re looking to bring home a souvenir or if you want to just wander around and look at all of the unique items. It feels like you’ve traveled back in time and are walking through Agrabah.
Visiting the Egyptian Museum:
If you’re a history buff, visiting the Egyptian Museum is an absolute must. It houses thousands of ancient Egyptian antiquities, including ancient mummies, artifacts from the Pharaohs, and the gold mask of Tutankhamun.
Entrance fee: 120 Egyptian pounds (about $7 USD)
Sunset Felucca Boat Ride Down the Nile:
Where to Stay:
We also highly recommend that you have the Intercontinental arrange a driver for you to get to and from the airport. They pick you up right as you get off the plane and help take you through customs and quickly get your luggage. Then the driver takes you directly to the hotel. When you’re leaving the hotel, the driver helps you get through check-in, customs, and the various security check points again, and it honestly made the entire process so much easier and more seamless. We highly suggest doing this to make your travel experience in Cairo easier.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT INTERCONTINENTAL SEMIRAMIS HERE!
What to Pack:
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So interesting! Egypt definitely seems so underrated to me. Love love this! P.s. your outfits are amazing Sam! & Such dreamy photos as usual 😉
It is totally underrated! We noticed there weren’t many tourists there either! And considering it’s such a historically significant part of the world, we thought that was pretty crazy. Thanks so much beautiful!
Egypt is mind glowingly beautiful, the people generous and hospitable. Try hot air ballooning at dawn from Luxor over the Nile and Valley of the kings. Don’t miss Karnak and Luxor Temples, just stand there and imagine!
If you do not want to be bothered by locals: ladies were a kaftan and something to cover your head, men invest in a local Egyptian galabeya and you will be left alone ( mostly) as you look like the locals. Most of all enjoy the felucca ride a dusk, so special.
Enjoy!!!!
Yes, we couldn’t agree more! We haven’t made it to Luxor yet, but it looks beautiful! Those are some great suggestions!
One of the advice listed is to "avoid public displays of affection" yet almost all of the photos include a couple displaying affection. LOL
What we mean is no kissing or holding hands while you’re walking around.
Thank you thank you thank you for posting this, It could not have come at a better time!!! I am planning my dream trip here, the end of October. I have a full 14 days for the trip, but I feel like this is to long? Do you agree? We also wanted to get to the resort town that is by the Red Sea. How long would you recommend staying and if not that long what other countries/cities did you all visit while on that side of the world that included Egypt?
So fun! I think 14 days in Cairo is kind of long. 2-4 is probably enough, but obviously that always depends on what you want to do. You spend the rest of your time going down to Luxor! Or doing a Nile cruise! And then staying by the Red Sea and snorkeling/swimming there would be amazing! We also went to Jordan and Israel and while we were in the Middle East and loved those places too!
I just spent a week in Cairo in February, 2020, right before all the pandemic craziness hit. I was solo, used Uber to get around everywhere and never felt unsafe- even when once my Uber driver got lost and we ended up in "garbage city," which was the saddest area I have ever seen. I would definitely recommend a guide to see the pyramids-mine helped to keep the aggressive people selling books and trinkets away. Also, the pyramids at Giza are amazing, of course, but the ones at Saqqarah and Darshur , just 30 minutes away, should not be missed!! There are more burial sites there and there was literally less than 10 people in both places on the day I went. I would also recommend finding a whirling dervish show in Old Cairo- so mesmerizing! I could easily spend two weeks just in Cairo! Don’t forget to try the local dish called Koshary- it will set you back about 15 pounds, which is about 85 US cents if you get it in Giza!!!!
I should mention I hired my guide prior to visiting the pyramids- she is a professional Egyptologist and not one that hangs out around the sites. She also arranged a driver to pick us up and drive us to Giza, as well as Saqqarah and Darshur. My total cost for an entire day of fantastic sightseeing and amazing history lessons from a native was about $140 USD. Totally worth it.
That’s amazing! Sounds like you had a great experience! We definitely need to go back to Egypt and experience the rest of the country.
https://geroytravel.com/10-фактов-о-пирамидах/
Hey, guys it’s amazing article
I spent 4-5 weeks in Egypt travelling by myself female and only had a few hassles. As for the trains, yes it’s really hard to get a ticket without buying the sleeper but if you ask some-one they will buy it for you.
Thanks
Really great article thanks to the publisher