Cairo is the gateway to ancient wonders — the Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, and Khan El Khalili bazaar on the banks of the Nile.
Cairo is the gateway to ancient wonders -- the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum's Tutankhamun treasures, and the Khan El Khalili bazaar on the banks of the Nile. Africa's largest city with 20 million people is a sensory explosion where pharaonic heritage meets Islamic architecture from the Citadel of Saladin to the Muhammad Ali Mosque, and a vibrant contemporary culture of cafes and shisha lounges. The city has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years with layers of history visible at every turn.
October through April offers comfortable temperatures for sightseeing at 20-28 degrees C. May and September are shoulder months. Summer (June-August) is extremely hot at 35-45 degrees C with cheapest flights but challenging outdoor exploration. Ramadan timing affects restaurant and business hours. December and January are the coolest months. Spring and fall are the peak tourism seasons with the highest prices.
EgyptAir operates from Cairo with one of Africa's largest international networks covering the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad connect Cairo via their hubs. Turkish Airlines serves Cairo from Istanbul. British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France offer European connections. Air Arabia and Flynas provide budget Middle Eastern connections. Saudi Arabian Airlines serves the Hajj and Umrah routes.
Cairo International Airport (CAI) is 22 km northeast with three terminals -- T1 for most international, T2 for EgyptAir, T3 for other international. The Cairo Metro Line 3 reaches the airport area. Bus services and taxis take 45-60 minutes depending on traffic. The airport has undergone major renovations in recent years. Taxis should be booked through the Uber app or official airport counters. A new terminal is under construction.
Cairo is very affordable -- street food like taameya and koshari costs 20-50 EGP (under ). The Egyptian Museum costs under for world-class Pharaonic artifacts. Hire a taxi for the day to visit the pyramids instead of booking organized tours. The Khan El Khalili bazaar requires aggressive haggling starting at 30% of the asking price. Al-Azhar Park offers city views for a small entry fee. The Giza Plateau is worth the entry fee for the pyramids themselves. Drink only bottled water.
Cairo's Metro has three lines (M1, M2, M3) with Line 2 being the most useful for tourists connecting Giza and downtown. Single fares cost 5-15 EGP (.15-0.50 USD). The Metro has dedicated women-only carriages. Cairo traffic is notoriously congested and chaotic -- allow double the time you think you need. Uber and Careem are widely available and very affordable at 20-100 EGP for most central trips, and they are the safest option for tourists. The public bus system is confusing and not recommended for visitors. Taxis are cheap but meters are often not used -- negotiate before riding. The Nile micro-buses are chaotic and best avoided. Walking in Cairo requires constant alertness for traffic. The city is very spread out so you need transport between the Pyramids, downtown, and Khan El Khalili.
Zamalek on Gezira Island offers upscale hotels with Nile views and quiet streets, from $70-150 USD per night. Garden City provides elegant 19th-century architecture near the Egyptian Museum with mid-range hotels from $40-80 USD. Giza near the Pyramids offers hotels with pyramid views from $40-100 USD. Downtown Cairo (Tahrir Square) offers budget hostels from $5-25 USD. Maadi provides an upscale suburban area popular with expats with hotels from $50-100 USD.