Top places to visit in Cairo

• Pyramids of Giza & Great Sphinx

  ancient pyramid complex · 4.7 rating · about 3.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World — three pyramid tombs for pharaohs Khufu (146 m), Khafre and Menkaure, built 2560–2510 BCE on the Giza Plateau. The Great Sphinx guards the complex carved from a single limestone outcrop.…

• Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)

  archaeology museum · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The original pink Neoclassical building on Tahrir Square; 170,000 pharaonic artefacts. Retains the Royal Mummies Room (Ramesses II and 10 others), Tutankhamun golden death mask, and the haunting Amarna Room with Akhenaten statues.…

• Khan el-Khalili Bazaar

  historic bazaar · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Cairo's great medieval market founded 1382 CE — 640+ years of continuous trading. Labyrinthine alleys with oud perfume, hammered copper, gold jewellery, spices, papyrus and alabaster. El Fishawy coffeehouse (est. 1797, open 24 hrs) is…

• Citadel of Saladin & Mohamed Ali Mosque

  medieval citadel and mosque · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hilltop medieval fortress built 1176 CE by Saladin, crowned by the Ottoman-Baroque Mohamed Ali Mosque (Alabaster Mosque, 1848). The twin minarets define Cairo's skyline. Terrace panorama: medieval city in the foreground, pyramids 20 km…

• Cairo Zoological Garden

  Wildlife · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Africa's oldest zoo (1891), 6,000+ animals across 34 hectares in Giza. Notable for Nile hippo pool, lion enclosures and Victorian iron cages. Popular Egyptian family destination on weekends.

• Tahrir Square

  Cultural · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The iconic heart of modern Cairo — where the 2011 revolution took place. Adjacent October War Panorama museum features a 360° painting depicting the 1973 Sinai crossing with narrated military history.

• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

  national archaeology museum · 4.8 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest single-civilisation archaeology museum (opened 2024), beside Giza Plateau. All 5,398 Tutankhamun objects including the golden death mask displayed together for the first time. The 800-m Grand Staircase flanked by…

• Coptic Cairo & Hanging Church

  Coptic Christian heritage district · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Walled enclave in Old Cairo atop the Roman Babylon Fortress. The Hanging Church (Al-Mu'allaqa, 4th–7th century CE) is suspended over a Roman gatehouse with a 1,400-year-old carved wooden pulpit. Coptic Museum holds the world's finest early…

• Saqqara & Step Pyramid of Djoser

  Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's oldest stone monument (2650 BC) by architect Imhotep. Predates Giza by a century. Complex includes the Pyramid of Teti, mastaba tombs and the Serapeum — underground gallery of giant alabaster Apis bull sarcophagi.

• Giza Sound & Light Show

  Activity · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Dramatic 45-minute show projected onto the Pyramids and Sphinx after dark. The Great Sphinx "narrates" 5,000 years of Egyptian history against illuminated monuments. One of Cairo's most atmospheric evenings.

• Cairo Tower (Gezira Tower)

  Viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  187m lotus-flower concrete tower (1961) on Gezira Island. Observation deck with 360° panoramic views of Cairo, the Nile and the Pyramids on the horizon. Revolving restaurant at the top.

• Al-Azhar Park

  urban park · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  74-acre Aga Khan-funded park on a hill above Islamic Cairo. The upper terrace delivers Cairo's finest medieval skyline panorama — Citadel, Sultan Hassan Mosque, dozens of minarets. Roses, fountains, Mediterranean planting. On-site…

Things to do

• Pyramids of Giza + Sphinx Half-Day Tour Sightseeing · 4 h · from EGP 1,500 per person
• Guided Tour of the Egyptian Museum Cultural · 3 h · from EGP 880 per person
• Hot Air Balloon over Cairo & Pyramids Adventure · 1.5 h · from EGP 5,900 per person
• Old Cairo & Coptic Quarter Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from EGP 590 per person
• Khan el-Khalili Bazaar Guided Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from USD 25 per person
• Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment Cultural · 3 h · from USD 45 per person
• Islamic Cairo Heritage Walking Tour (Al-Muizz Street) Cultural · 3.5 h · from USD 30 per person
• Saqqara & Dahshur Pyramids Day Trip Cultural · 6 h · from USD 55 per person

Day trips and tours

• Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum Full Day 10 h · from EGP 3,500
• Islamic Cairo, Coptic Quarter & Khan el-Khalili 8 h · from EGP 1,800

Where to stay in Cairo

• Downtown Cairo & Tahrir Square about EGP 3,500 per night

  The historic commercial heart. Close to Egyptian Museum, Nile Corniche and major transport links. Midrange hotels and easy metro access.

• Zamalek (Gezira Island) about EGP 7,500 per night

  Upscale, leafy island in the Nile. Boutique hotels, Cairo's best restaurants and cafés, gallery scene. Quietest and most walkable central neighbourhood.

• Giza (Pyramid Road) about EGP 4,500 per night

  Stay here for Pyramid-morning access before crowds. Mostly midrange chain hotels. Traffic noise but unbeatable proximity to the plateau.

Hotels

• Marriott Mena House Hotel 5-star · EGP 5,500 to EGP 18,000 per night
• Kempinski Nile Hotel Cairo 5-star · EGP 3,800 to EGP 10,000 per night
• Cairo Hostel — Zamalek 2-star · EGP 220 to EGP 600 per night
• Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir 5-star · EGP 2,200 to EGP 5,500 per night
• Conrad Cairo Hotel
• InterContinental Cairo Semiramis

Where to eat

• Koshary Abou Tarek Egyptian · about EGP 30 per person
• Andrea El Mariouteya Egyptian, Grills · about EGP 350 per person
• Sequoia Mediterranean, International · about EGP 600 per person
• Naguib Mahfouz Café Egyptian, Middle Eastern · about EGP 200 per person
• Abou El Sid Egyptian · about EGP 235 per person
• Felfela Restaurant Egyptian · about EGP 85 per person
• Kazaz Restaurant Egyptian · about EGP 85 per person
• El Fishawy Café Cafe, Egyptian · about EGP 85 per person

Getting to Cairo

Airport: Cairo (CAI)

How visitors arrive in Cairo

• Fly into Cairo International Airport By air from International · common

  Cairo International Airport in Heliopolis is the main hub and the country's primary entry point. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Ramses station By train from Upper Egypt, Alexandria · common

  Cairo is the hub of Egypt's railways and almost all trains start or end there. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Intercity bus By road from Egyptian cities · common

  Buses from Suez, Port Said, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and others arrive at the main terminals such as Cairo Gateway. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi

  White metered taxis serve the airport but meters are not always used, so agree the fare first. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Careem, inDrive or Uber

  Ride-hail apps are preferred by locals; Careem needs an Egyptian phone number, so a local SIM helps. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• The metro does not currently reach the airport, so plan on a taxi or ride-hail. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro

  The Cairo Metro has several operating lines, with an interchange at Sadat station beside Tahrir Square.

• Ride Hail

  Uber, Careem and inDrive operate in Cairo and are used as an alternative to hailing a street taxi.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake Papyrus Shop Scam

  Khan el-Khalili & museum exits

  Touts outside the Egyptian Museum direct tourists to "official papyrus institutes" that sell cheap banana-leaf prints marketed as genuine papyrus at inflated prices.

  How to avoid it: Only buy papyrus certified by the Dr Ragab Papyrus Institute or reputable galleries. Rub a corner — genuine papyrus doesn't flake.

• Pyramid Camel/Horse Bait-and-Switch

  Giza Plateau approach roads

  Men offer a free camel or horse ride "just for a photo," then demand EGP 500–1000 to help you dismount or return the animal.

  How to avoid it: Decline all unsolicited free rides. If you want a camel photo, agree a price in full before mounting and pay only after.

• Taxi Overcharging (No Meter)

  Cairo city-wide

  Unlicensed taxis quote 5–10× the fair price to tourists. Fares to the Pyramids from Downtown should be ~EGP 80–120; touts quote EGP 500+.

  How to avoid it: Use Uber or Careem exclusively. If taking a street taxi, agree the fare before entering; reference actual Uber prices on your phone.

• The Perfume Shop Hustle

  Downtown & bazaar areas

  A friendly local offers to show you a "government perfume factory" selling oils at special price. Prices are grossly inflated — EGP 2000+ for EGP 50 worth of oil.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline all unsolicited local guides and "free tour" offers. If you want perfume oil, shop in established bazaar stalls.

Best time to visit Cairo

• Jan 19°C
• Feb 21°C
• Mar 25°C
• Apr 30°C
• May 34°C
• Jun 37°C
• Jul 39°C
• Aug 38°C
• Sep 36°C
• Oct 31°C
• Nov 26°C
• Dec 21°C

More in Egypt

• Luxor
• Sharm El-Sheikh
• Hurghada
• Aswan
• Alexandria
• Dahab

Frequently asked questions about Cairo

How many days do you need in Cairo?

A typical trip to Cairo is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Cairo?

The highest-rated places in our Cairo guide are Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Pyramids of Giza & Great Sphinx, Saqqara & Step Pyramid of Djoser, Citadel of Saladin & Mohamed Ali Mosque, Al-Azhar Park.

Where should I stay in Cairo?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Cairo: Downtown Cairo & Tahrir Square, Zamalek (Gezira Island), Giza (Pyramid Road).

How do I get around Cairo?

Ways to get around Cairo covered in our guide: Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Cairo?

Scams reported to us for Cairo include Fake Papyrus Shop Scam; Pyramid Camel/Horse Bait-and-Switch; Taxi Overcharging (No Meter). Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Cairo?

Average daytime highs in Cairo run from 19°C in Jan to 39°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Cairo?

The nearest airport to Cairo has the code CAI.