Cairo travel guide
Egypt
A vast, loud city on the Nile where medieval mosques, belle-époque apartment blocks and the Pyramids of Giza share one skyline. Cairo is intense, but it rewards the traveller who slows down and drinks the tea.
Essentials
- Language
- Arabic; English is common in hotels and tourist areas
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP)
- Plugs
- Types C and F, 220 V
- Emergency number
- 122 for police, 123 for an ambulance, 126 for the tourist police
- Tipping
- Baksheesh, small tips for small services, is part of daily life; leave around 10% in restaurants on top of any service charge.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $20-40, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $60-110, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Cairo
- Zamalek: a leafy island in the Nile with cafés, galleries and a calmer pace.
- Downtown: faded grand buildings, cheap eats and Tahrir Square.
- Islamic Cairo: Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Al-Azhar Mosque and centuries of minarets.
Getting around Cairo
The metro is cheap and avoids the traffic, with carriages reserved for women. Ride-hailing apps are easier than street taxis for everything else.
Best time to visit Cairo
October to April, before the summer heat sets in.
Top things to do in Cairo
- See the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, ideally at opening time
- Give half a day to the Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza, home to the Tutankhamun collection
- Walk Al-Muizz Street from the Khan el-Khalili bazaar past centuries of mosques and madrasas
- Visit Coptic Cairo for the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue
- Take a felucca out on the Nile in the late afternoon
What to eat in Cairo
- Koshari: rice, lentils and pasta with tomato sauce, chickpeas and crispy onions, the city's favourite cheap meal
- Ful medames: slow-cooked fava beans with oil, lemon and cumin, eaten at breakfast
- Ta'meya: Egyptian falafel, made with fava beans rather than chickpeas
- Feteer meshaltet: a flaky layered pastry, served sweet with honey or savoury with cheese
Day trips from Cairo
- Saqqara and Dahshur: the Step Pyramid and the Bent and Red Pyramids, about an hour south
- Alexandria: the Mediterranean seafront, the modern library and Roman catacombs, about two and a half hours by train
Local etiquette
Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove shoes in mosques, where women should also cover their hair. During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public during daylight.
Staying connected
Vodafone, Orange, e& and WE sell SIM cards at the airport and in town with a passport, and eSIMs are available.
Staying safe
Expect persistent touts at Giza and in the bazaars, so agree any price for a camel, horse or guide before you start. Traffic is the bigger hazard: cross with locals, and use ride-hailing apps for agreed fares.
A local tip
Reach the Giza plateau at opening time, and watch sunset over the old city from Al-Azhar Park.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Cairo on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Cairo for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Cairo, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Cairo
- What currency is used in Cairo?
- Cairo uses the Egyptian pound (EGP).
- What is the emergency number in Cairo?
- In Cairo, call 122 for police, 123 for an ambulance, 126 for the tourist police.
- When is the best time to visit Cairo?
- October to April, before the summer heat sets in.
- How much does a day in Cairo cost?
- Roughly $20-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Cairo?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Cairo without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.