Cairo
Twenty million people, traffic that makes Bangkok look orderly, and the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World sitting on the city's edge. Cairo is not a polished tourist destination — it's loud, dusty, chaotic, and genuinely overwhelming. But standing in front of the pyramids at Giza wipes all of that away. The Egyptian Museum is a treasure pile that would take weeks to properly see. Khan el-Khalili bazaar is a sensory overload of brass, spices, and tea. A koshari (the national comfort food) costs 20–30 EGP from any street stall.
Create itineraryQuick Facts
Top things to see in Cairo
Book your Cairo trip
Hotels, flights, and activities — all in one place
Bookings handled by partner sites, not by TripPlan
Cairo travel FAQ
How many days do I need in Cairo?
3–4 days covers the essentials. Day 1: Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx first thing in the morning (gates open at 8am), spend 3–4 hours. Camel rides are offered everywhere — negotiate hard, 200–300 EGP is fair for 30 minutes. Day 2: Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, then Coptic Cairo in the afternoon. Day 3: Islamic Cairo — Al-Azhar Mosque, Khan el-Khalili bazaar (plan to get lost, haggle for everything), rooftop tea overlooking the old city. Day 4: Day trip to Memphis and Saqqara (the step pyramid, older than Giza) — about an hour south.
Is Cairo safe for tourists?
The tourist areas are well-policed and generally safe — Egypt depends heavily on tourism revenue and takes security seriously. You'll see tourist police everywhere near major sites. The main hassles are aggressive touts and scam artists at the pyramids and Khan el-Khalili — people offering 'free' gifts, unwanted guides, wildly inflated prices. Learn to say 'la, shukran' (no, thank you) firmly and keep walking. Use Uber or Careem instead of street taxis. Women traveling alone should dress conservatively — it helps significantly. Violent crime against tourists is very rare.
How do I get around Cairo?
Uber and Careem are your best friends — cheap, reliable, no negotiating. A ride across the city is usually 50–100 EGP ($2–4). The Cairo Metro covers some useful routes (Tahrir to Giza area) for 8 EGP but gets crushingly packed during rush hours — women-only cars are available. Regular taxis exist but expect broken meters and inflated prices. Traffic is genuinely terrible — a 5km drive can take an hour. Plan for it and avoid rush hours (7–10am, 4–7pm).