Cairo Egypt Travel Guide: A Once in a Lifetime Trip

Cairo is a history-buff’s paradise. From walking the streets of Old Cairo, to marvelling at the pyramids, to the hubub of the Bazaar, you won’t run out of things to do and see while in Cairo.

Welcome to our Cairo travel guide! We have visited Egypt twice together, and Ahmed has been visiting almost yearly since he was a kid to visit family.  Our last visit was in September 2023 for an entire month.  We feel confident we can recommend activities to keep you busy during your stay in Cairo! 

Here’s what you can find in this guide (click to jump ahead):

• Staying Safe
• When to Visit
• Where to Stay
• Things to Do
• Extra Things to Do (that we haven’t)
• Day Trips & Tours
• A map to help you plan your itinerary
• Helpful Planning Tips

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Staying Safe in Cairo

One recommendation is to keep your wits about you (as you always should while travelling).  This means being aware of your surroundings, keep your bags/purses close, and listen to your gut.

Make sure you educate yourself on local customs and traditions.  For example, women will have an easier time if they ensure they are covered to their ankles and don’t wear anything too low cut.  As a tall, very pale woman, I stand out anywhere I go (in Cairo, even more so).  I did notice a drastic increase in the number of “looks” I got if I was wearing something above ankle-length or walking anywhere on my own (even just to the bathroom). However, I never felt unsafe (though I was always travelling with people who know where is safe and speak the language).

Many online forums and travel sites will recommend travelling with a guide throughout Egypt, and Cairo is certainly no exception. Locals will know which areas to steer clear of and which ones are safe to frequent.  Since we have family there, we haven’t used a guide and therefore do not have a specific recommendation for that, but we recommend checking out travel forums to get a personal recommendation.

When’s the best time to visit Cairo?

Cairo is in the desert, so it can get hot.  Visiting between October and April is therefore the best choice.  Though, with climate change, that window could get shorter to avoid the heat.  March, April, and May are good for smaller crowds and nice daytime temperatures, but there can be sandstorms during these months (especially March). Mid-October to February is considered high season, as many people come over Christmas and New Year’s and you’re likely to experience higher prices during these holidays.  Keep in mind that since you’re in the desert, it can also get quite cool at night during the winter.

The first time Ahmed brought me, it was August and 47 degrees Celsius when we got off the plane.  The most recent time, we thought going in September would be a good idea. Nope. It was 38 or warmer most of the time and very, very humid. My advice: do not go during the summer unless you want your days to revolve around when is safe to be outside due to extreme heat (yes, I do mean “safe”, as it can get that hot in the summer if you can’t cool yourself down).

Where to stay in Cairo?

As we have family here, we have stayed in 6^th of October, situated about a 45-minute drive west of Cairo.  Recommendations for areas to stay within Cairo are Garden City, Maadi, or Zamalek neighbourhoods.

Explore Cairo hotel availability below:

THINGS TO DO in CAIRO:

1. The Great Pyramids at Giza

You can’t visit Cairo and not visit the pyramids! And the Sphinx too, I guess (I mean, might as well, while you’re there).  There are 3 pyramids: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.  You must pay to get into the site and go through a metal detector.  Once there, you can also go inside the pyramids (which we didn’t do), which is apparently quite humid and claustrophobic.  There will also be locals trying to get you to take pictures with or ride the camels – beware, you will have to pay them if you do! 

If you don’t want the hassle of buying tickets on site, you can purchase tickets in advance, or purchase a tour that gets you in. There are even private tours that pick you up in Cairo, bring you to Giza, and include your ticket.

2. The Egyptian Museum

Right near Tahrir Square you will see an odd salmon coloured building that houses The Egyptian Museum.  We spent 4 hours here and didn’t nearly see everything, as the museum is not air conditioned and it was so hot.  There are locals who are trained as guides outside who will try to sell you on a tour (we caved…and should have haggled).  No photos are allowed inside the Egyptian Museum. You’ll buy your tickets on the spot for this one.

When we visited Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum was not yet open (opening spring 2024). This means that when we visited, the Egyptian Museum housed the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities including goods from King Tutankhamun’s tomb. However, the King Tut exhibit has been moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum. If you’re only choosing one museum, I’d visit the Grand Egyptian Museum instead.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is quite busy, so it would be smart to purchase tickets ahead if you want avoid some of the lines. The grand museum is also located right near the pyramids, so it is common to book a tour to do them together.

3. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

Located in Old Cairo, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is a newer addition to Cairo’s museums.  It is air conditioned, so can be a nice break from the heat.  You’ll first visit the hall of Royal Mummies, which contains 22 mummies in protective, temperature-controlled cases. No pictures are allowed here.  Most of the artefacts are in the Main Hall, but you can also visit the Textiles Hall which showcases a history of Egyptian textiles. It’s super easy to just buy tickets on site, but you can pre-book private tours if you’d prefer (though we don’t really think they’re necessary here).

4. Coptic Cairo

An enclosed complex that includes the Hanging Church (Coptic Church of St. Mary), a museum, a Greek Orthodox church (Church of St. George), Ben Ezra Synagogue (no photos allowed here), and the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga).  The Synagogue is where baby Moses is believed to have been found, and Abu Serga is believed to have been a resting place for Mary and Joseph.  There is a museum on site as well. Walk around and take in the history and beauty!

We bought a ticket on-site and explored ourselves. There aren’t really pre-booked tickets online, unless you’re getting a tour.

Book a Coptic Cairo tour HERE

5. Khan el-Khalili Bazar

Located in the heart of Cairo, the bazar is best described as “chaotic”.  There are people everywhere, shops everywhere, old, new, and everything in between.  You can go day or night and will find a mix of tourists and locals alike.  If you’re wanting souvenirs or gifts for friends and family, you are sure to find something that fits the bill here. Don’t forget to barter and be firm and move along if you don’t want to buy something.  Grab a lemonade at the 200-year-old café El Fishawy. You can get tours to visit to the Bazar, but they are not required (just keep your wits about you). If you have a local guide, they can help you navigate this as well.

6. Abdeen Palace Museum

A last-minute addition to our recent trip, Abdeen Palace was a pleasant surprise.  It has been meticulously restored and preserved. The grounds and architecture are stunning.  There are five museums on site, the largest of which is the Arms Museum, including a very large selection of daggers, swords, rifles, and handguns.  Other museums include the Presidential Gifts, Royal Family, Historical Documents, and Silver museums. We only had an hour and were very rushed for time, so I’d allow at least 2 hours to explore here. We purchased tickets on site, and have not found any reputable 3rd-party sellers of advanced tickets. If you have a local guide, this is where their help might come in handy if you’re wary of buying tickets on the spot.

7. Museum of Islamic Art

Housing a rare collection of woodwork and tile work, you’ll travel through the Museum of Islamic Art chronologically first.  Afterwards, you can head into themed areas housing calligraphy, rugs, coins and weapons, science, medicine, and daily life.  The colours are vibrant and the intricacy of the woodwork and tiles are amazing! Again, we purchased tickets on site, and have not found any reputable 3rd-party sellers of advanced tickets. If you have a local guide, this is where their help might come in handy if you’re wary of buying tickets on the spot.

8. Felucca on the Nile

You may already be planning a Nile dinner cruise or taking a boat on the Nile down to Luxor, but if not, a felucca may be the perfect opportunity to get out on the Nile! Since we were going with family, they were able to haggle in the local language and pick us a good choice for our tour.

Ask your hotel to book you a tour on a felucca with someone reputable that they have dealt with before, and ensure they provide you transportation from the hotel to the docks (and back if possible). There are some reasonably rated tours you could book in advance as well if you’re more comfortable having something secured in advance – you can even find felucca tours that come with dinner!

Book a Felucca tour HERE

9. View the Nile

If you are not taking a boat on the Nile at any point during your trip, it can be tough to find an unobstructed view.  Much of the waterfront has been occupied by boarding areas for the boats or restaurants charging top dollar for the view.  Instead, you can drive across the famous Qasr el Nil Bridge.  It’s common for people to pull aside and put 4-ways on while tourists jump out to take photos.  Last time we visited, we had people honking and yelling “Welcome to Cairo!”.

10. Dahshur & Saqqara

We like to refer to these as the “prototype” pyramids.  These two locations showcase pyramids that were made almost as “trial runs” before the Great Pyramids at Giza were built. At Dahshur you will find the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid, which will be decidedly less busy than almost anywhere else on our list as not many tourists go here. 

At Saqqarah you’re likely to encounter many other tourists/tour busses and vendors trying to sell you a photo, trinket, or cold drink.  Saqqarah is where you will find the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which is the oldest complete stone building complex in the world.  There is a museum here as well, but we didn’t go. We drove ourselves here, but don’t highly recommend that. You can book tours that will bring you to both locations from Cairo.

11. Al-Rifa’i Mosque & Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

These two mosques are located just opposite of each other and are both spectacular. Al-Rifa’i is also known as the Royal Mosque, is where the Shah of Iran is buried, and is used by the Egyptian Royal Family.  It is one of the largest mosques in Cairo, with exquisite marble work and stained glass.  Mosque-Madrasa is one of the largest mosques in the world and is considered one of the most important mosques from an architectural point of view.  The mosque has a beautiful courtyard centered around a domed fountain. Make sure you are dressed appropriately to visit the mosques, and be prepared to remove your shoes.

12. Shopping

If you want to do some higher end shopping, there are 3 places I can recommend.  You’ll want to head west out of Cairo to 6^th of October or Sheikh Zayed.  Here you will find the largest mall in Egypt, called Mall of Egypt, which has an entire ski hill inside.  You will also find the slightly smaller Mall of Arabia, which still is huge and has lots of stores and restaurants.  If you want a less mall-like experience, head to the open air and popular local spot Arkan.  Arkan has more local or independent shops (less chains), as well as a ton of restaurants and a movie theatre.

13. Safe Neighbourhoods

If you’re wanting to wander around some neighbourhoods without a guide or without feeling at risk, two good neighbourhoods are Zamalek and Maadi.  This is where many expats live.  A great little gem in Maadi is CSA (Community Services Association).  There are local shops here where you can find artisanal products made by Egyptians. In CSA there is a small acai bowl place called Acairo (with gluten-free options). You can try Ratios Bakery (not gluten free) in Maadi, which is very popular among the locals and expats who live in the neighbourhood.

Other Things to Do:

These are things we still haven’t seen on our trips to Cairo, but here are some activities that come highly recommended on many “Things to Do in Cairo” lists or by family:

• Citadel of Cairo (or the Saladin Citadel)
• The Grand Egyptian Museum (see above)
• Al-Azhar Park
• Cairo Tower (bring your passport!)
• Cave Church (free)

Day Trips & Tours from Cairo:

• Go to Alexandria! See our Alexandria city guide to self-direct, or take a tour from Cairo.
• Go on an all-day desert safari
• Combine multiple Cairo stops: Pyramids, Grand Museum, & the Bazaar
• From Cairo, visit the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, & city of Memphis all in a day
• Take a full day tour of Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and Old Cairo
• Take a walking tour of Old Cairo (with tons of Mosque visits – cover up!)
• Combine sites like Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo, and the Bazaar in one tour

Note: most locations in Egypt that would be safe for tourists are not really “day trip” distances. Many require overnight stays or even flights. The above suggestions, while many are still in and around Cairo, would still take the majority of the day to do.

MAP of Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all of the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.

Helpful Planning Tips

I rely on these tools when planning my trips:

• Get Your Guide – skip-the-line or timed entry tickets to attractions such as the Great Pyramids at Giza
• Airalo eSIM – get Egyptian data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
• Stay22 – compare hotels across Cairo at a glance
• Wanderlog – keep track of your trip details, organize your itinerary, and map out your stops
• Bring cash – tips are expected for everything (they love US dollars)
• Bring a photocopy of your passport, as you will need it to get tickets at some sites
• If you’re married to an Egyptian, bring a copy of your marriage certificate – at sites where you tend to pay on-site, you can get in for the Egyptian price!