What You Need to Know About Cairo, Egypt

This blog post will help you save time and find out everything you need to know about visiting Cairo, Egypt.

If you’re planning to come to Cairo, Egypt for the first time, you may be thinking: what do I need to know about Cairo Egypt before I go? If you’re visiting Cairo as a woman, you may be even extra worried about the potential chaos that the city has to offer. Not to worry, I’ve got you covered because I asked myself the same questions you’re probably asking yourself now before I went to Cairo; then I made a blog post to answer everything I wish that I knew in advance.

In this blog post, you’ll find Egypt tips for first-timers from what to wear, how to get a sim card, what to eat, see, do, etc.

Egypt in Egyptian Arabic is Misr. You may see this word around a lot. Now you know the meaning! 🙂

Know about Cairo: The Cairo Airport

Cairo Airport code: CAI
Postal Code for Cairo Egypt list: Click here

The Cairo International Airport is very modern, clean, and easy to navigate. I half expected it to be a bit more chaotic than it was. Reaching customs control after the flight was a short 5-10 minute walk. Everything was very well marked in both Arabic and English. Here are the steps to move through the airport (additional details below):

1. Tourist visa
2. Passport Control (they will stick the visa in the passport)
3. Double-checking passports (show passport with visa to exit)
4. Pick up luggage
5. Customs and bag scan (selective scanning- you may or may not get chosen)
6. Head to the main exit (it’s obvious and there is only one direction)
7. Buy a SIM card if needed (open 24h)

Using Wifi

Most international airports understand that international travelers need wifi and don’t have local numbers. CAI is not one of those airports. Egypt is not one of those countries. In theory, wifi exists in the airport. But to access the wifi, you must enter your phone number. If you do not have a local Egyptian phone number, you will never receive the confirmation code to get on the wifi.

Because of this, you should not expect to rely on wifi for contacting your ride, ordering an Uber, contacting your family, etc. Do not expect to have access to wifi at the Cairo airport. It is the same story with all airports in Egypt.

Visitor Visa

It is possible, and very easy, to get a visa on arrival. The cost of the Egypt visa on arrival is $25 and must be paid in cash. Try to have USD, Euro, or Pounds with you in advance. If you don’t have cash with you, there is an ATM where you can take out money.

You can pay the visa on arrival at the Banque Misr (see photo below on the left). When you come down the escalator, you’ll see it immediately on your right. Get in the line with your cash. Pay the USD 25 and the worker will give you the visa.

Take that visa and get in the passport control line (see photo below on the right). The passport officer at the window will stick the visa in your passport and stamp it. Don’t put your passport away yet though. You’ll need to show it again to another officer to exit the passport area.

After passing through the passport control, you’ll arrive at the luggage area. Grab your luggage and pass through the Customs and Bag Scan. You may or may not be selected to put your bag through the scanner. Then grab your bag, head out through the doors, and go left.

You’ll enter into a large room in the airport where men will ask if you are looking for a taxi. If you have arranged for a driver to pick you up, they will most likely be waiting for you outside the exit, across the street. You can also buy a SIM card in this room before exiting the airport.

Note: The Egypt tourist visa is for 30 days. However, I was not asked for proof of onward travel at any point.

E-Visa

It is possible to arrange an e-visa in advance before arriving in Egypt. You should do this a day or two before your flight. In my personal opinion, it is easier and less of a hassle to just get the visa on arrival. Leaves less room for error or issue.

How to Reach the City from the Airport

When you pass through the Customs and bag scan, you’ll enter into the large lobby area of the airport. Here you will find many men asking if you would like a taxi. To the left, there is a counter to arrange a taxi as well. There are also several men outside asking if you need a taxi.

I find it much easier to arrange a ride in advance. After a long international flight, the last thing I want to do is haggle over the price of a taxi. We arranged a ride (and several other rides/tours) with a company called We Know Egypt, and I highly recommend them. This company was recommended to me by a friend who lived in Cairo for 6 years. You can contact Nick (the owner) on his WhatsApp and let him know Nicki (it’s me, hi!) sent you.

Nick: +20 122 799 3732

A ride from the airport to our Airbnb (in Maadi) cost us 400 EGP (USD 13) in January 2024.

Departing from the CAI Airport

Arriving at CAI is fairly relaxed. Trying to leave it is hectic. Make sure to give yourself extra time, especially if you’re flying internationally. There are long lines that people do not disrespect. Expect to be cut in line.

There are several X-ray stations to pass through. One to enter the airport, and another to enter the terminal. If you need to pass through immigration, you’ll need to fill out a departing form which you can get from your airline. I suggest checking in online if possible, if you have only carry-on luggage. Then go to the front of line to get this form from the agent and head directly to the immigration line.

If you have luggage to check, you should expect long and chaotic lines. Arrive early to avoid panic.

Know about Cairo: Getting a SIM card

Important note: You can NOT use an e-SIM in Egypt.

Physical SIM card

If your phone can use a physical SIM card, you can easily purchase one at the airport. In the photo below, you can see the two main phone companies: Vodafone and Orange. The counters are located in the lobby area of the airport just after the bag scan before exiting the airport. These counters are open 24 hours a day, so no matter the time you arrive, you’ll be able to purchase a physical SIM card.

e-SIM card

As of January 2024, Egypt does not allow e-SIMs from local carriers. There are a few ways to navigate this situation if you have a phone that no longer has a physical SIM card tray, like me.

While in Egypt, I used a combination of Airalo (E-Sim) and Google Voice to keep my US phone number.

Third-Party e-SIM

You can use an e-SIM from a third-party company like Airalo or eSIMple. I chose Airalo because the prices were better. These companies are not service providers like Vodafone or Orange, but they do use their networks to connect. Airalo put me on the Orange network. I would say the service is 5/10 in Cairo. It works in some places, but in many others it does not. Therefore, I suggest downloading things like Google Maps for Cairo just in case.

You can use code NICHOL5388 to get $3 off your first Airalo purchase.

Below you can see the prices for eSIMple in Egypt (blue) and Airalo in Egypt (green).

Local Modem

If you don’t want to purchase an e-SIM from one of the above companies, then your best option is to purchase a small modem from a local company (Orange or Vodafone). It is about the size of a credit card but thicker. You can purchase a local physical SIM card to put inside. Carry that around with you and then just connect your phone to the modem when you need data/internet.

The cost of a local modem you can carry around with you in Egypt is around 28 USD. You can choose the data plan you’ll need at the shop.

Read More: 13 Necessary Things to Know Before Going to Egypt.

Know about Cairo: Plugs

The electrical system in Egypt is 220V/50Hz. Egypt uses two plug types: Type C & Type F. Plug C is the type with 2 round pins. Plug F also has 2 round pins, but has two earth clips on the sides. Type C is the same plug that is used in most of Europe, and many parts of South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Know about Cairo: Transportation

Cairo is a massive city. If you’re moving around your neighborhood, you should be fine (and safe) to walk. However, if you want to move around a bit further out, then figuring out transportation will be necessary.

Getting around Cairo: Metro

The Cairo metro has 3 main lines: blue, red, and green. The most important thing to know is the name of the stop you’ll get off at, and the direction you’re headed. The center of the city surrounds the area where all three lines intersect. For example, the Egyptian Museum is at the Sadat station (red/blue) and the Khan El-Khalil Market is at the Bab El Shaariya station (green).

Metro prices

Depending on how far you’re going, prices may vary. You will receive a different color ticket depending on where you go. Each metro station has a map showing the different colored sections from that stop. For example, we went from Maadi to Sadat (all blue line) and received a yellow ticket (8 EGP). When we went from Maadi to Bab El Shaariya (transfer at Nasser) we received a green ticket (23 EGP).

Buying metro tickets

To purchase a metro ticket, you need to wait in line at the ticket office (see top right photo below). Tell the officer the number of tickets and final destination. He will then tell you the price. Have cash ready. Each line has an entrance area and an exit area between metal bars.

Using the metro

Take your ticket and insert it into the hole on the turnstile. The screen will light up green, and you can go through. Grab your ticket on the other side of the turnstile and keep it safe because you’ll need it to exit.

Using the metro

Make sure you always know the name of the last stop. There are signs indicating the direction you need to go towards. For example, if you’re going from Sadat to Maadi, you need to follow the signs that say “Direction: HELWAN.” Each platform will have a sign indicating the direction it is headed. If you’re a solo female traveler in Egypt, I suggest taking the “Ladies Only” metro cars. They are usually the last 2 cars on the metro. Look for the signs in pink.

Exiting the metro

To exit the metro, put your ticket in the hole on the turnstile again. When the screen lights up, you can pass through. The machine will keep your ticket; you won’t get it back. There are often guards monitoring the exits.

Getting around Cairo: Taxi

Taxis are quite affordable in Cairo. There are city taxes (yellow and white) and Uber. If you use a city taxi, you will often need to negotiate the price before you get in. When we used a white taxi from the Khan El Khalil market back to Maadi, the driver originally quoted us 10 euros (USD 12). We eventually negotiated to 200 EGP (USD 6). An Uber for the same distance should be around 150-200 EGP.

Uber is probably the easiest way to move around the city (in theory) as the price is obvious from the start and the route is clear. The only issue we faced with using Uber was that wait times were quite long and many times we were never connected to a driver before just deciding to take the metro or use a white taxi. My local Egyptian friend said Uber was the best way to go as well.

Leaving Cairo: Bus

There are city buses and shared vans around Cairo. We were told by locals to avoid using them because, without the language, they would be too confusing. There is also the potential of being overcharged. However, I think it is possible if you’re comfortable approaching the van drivers to ask for the destination you’re going to. They will be able to point you in the right direction of the van you desire.

If you plan to take a bus from Cairo to other cities around Egypt, the main bus station is in Abdel Moneim Riad Square. You should buy your intercity bus tickets in advance. You can do so online with a credit card from Go Bus.

Just to note, we had issues every time we tried to book online with our credit card. In each case, we contacted GoBus who kept telling us to try again with a different card because they were doing a site update. But we tried several times throughout our trip and it never worked. I hope you won’t have this issue.

In each case, we asked a local friend to book the tickets for us and we paid them directly.

Leaving Cairo: Train

The train station is called Ramsis Station and is located just north of the center of town, near the Al-Shohadaa metro stop. You can catch a train between Cairo and Luxor or Alexandria, though the prices seem unreasonably high compared to all other prices in Egypt. Prices for foreigners are of course much higher than those for locals.

Trains between Luxor and Cairo take about 11 hours. You have the option for both day and night trains (chairs only) and sleeper trains (get a bed). From what I’ve heard, there is no real difference between first and second class on the day and night trains with just chairs.

Here are the quoted prices we received between Luxor and Cairo:

Train Type	First Class	Second Class
Day Train	$41 ($57 for express train)	$31 ($41 for express train)
Night Train	$57 – $62	$41 – $52
Sleeper Train (beds)	$91

Know about Cairo: Tours

I’m not much of a tour person. I generally prefer to do things on my own. But if there is any place to do a tour, it is in Cairo. There is so much to do and see in Cairo, and so much history to know about Cairo. Not only that but many of the tourist sites are quite far apart from one another; it would be difficult to maximize your time here on your own, or with public transportation.

Having a driver and a guide eases all of those burdens. As mentioned above we booked our Pyramid day tours (and several other rides to/from the airport and bus station) with the company We Know Egypt. I cannot speak of them highly enough. This is a genuine recommendation. My friend used to live in Cairo for several years, so I trusted him when he connected me to Nick from We Know Egypt. Nick was a great resource the entire time we were in Cairo, answering many of our questions, and generally making our life so much easier.

You can tailor your tour to the things you are most interested in, and they will accommodate you. This is the tour that we did:

We Know Egypt Tour Itinerary

8 am – Pick up at our Airbnb
9 am – Arrive to Saqqara. Our English-speaking guide walked us around and shared in-depth information and history. We had the opportunity to ask many questions.
11 am – Arrive to Dahshur. We went inside both the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid. More history and information were given.
1 pm – Lunch. We selected to have a quick local lunch on the run which we ate in the car. This was our choice. If you prefer to stop at a restaurant near the pyramids, you can do this.
2 pm – Arrive to the Pyramids of Giza. Walk around, take photos, and discuss history and information.
4 pm – Leave the Pyramids and get dropped off back at our Airbnb.

We Know Egypt Tour Guides and Driver

They were both fantastic and both spoke English. Our tour guide spoke English, Italian, and Romanian in addition to Arabic. He had a ton of information in his brain, it’s amazing he can retain all of that history in there and explain it in his second language. He also knew all the best photo poses and photo locations, often volunteering to take photos for us. The driver was kind and drove very safely. Despite the chaos of Cairo’s streets, we always felt safe in his car. The car was very clean and comfortable.

I honestly wouldn’t want to see these amazing sites without a driver and guide. It made everything so much easier. We didn’t have to think about travel logistics all day. We had our guide to explain everything to us, as well as ward off people trying to sell us things. Then we were able to hop back into a clean car that took us to the next location safely. Doing this any other way would be extremely stressful. Instead, we had an incredible day in Egypt seeing the last of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

If you’re wondering what to do in Cairo for a day, your answer is a pyramid tour with We Know Egypt.

We Know Egypt Tour Prices

The prices listed below are in Egyptian Pounds for the tour that we chose. The driver and guide are the total prices (not per person). The site prices are listed per person. You will also need to purchase the tour guide’s ticket to enter, though it is much lower than the price you’ll pay as a foreigner. The prices in parentheses show the total price we paid for 2 people + the tour guide’s ticket).

USD 1 = 30 EGP

Driver: 1500 EGP (for 7 hour day) [USD 48]
Guide: 1200 EGP (for 7 hour day) [USD 39]
Saqqara entrance: 450 EGP (920 EGP) [USD 15/USD 30]
Dahshur entrance: 150 EGP (310 EGP) [USD 5/USD 10]
Giza entrance: 500 EGP (1100) [USD 16/USD 35]
Tip: 500 EGP (200 EGP to driver/300 to guide) [USD 16]

Click here to see my Instagram reel about our tour prices.

We Know Egypt Contact Information

Website: http://weknowegypt.com/
Whatsapp (Nick): +20 122 799 3732

Know about Cairo: What to Wear

One of the biggest questions I had before I came to Egypt was wondering what to wear in Cairo, especially as a female traveler.

What to wear in Cairo Do’s and Dont’s

Do
Dress conservatively
Cover inappropriate tattoos
Cover your shoulders, stomach, and knees
Cover your head if you want less attention (not required)
Wear linen or light clothing in the summer months
Bring a light jacket in the winter months
Wear comfortable shoes for walking a lot

Don’t
Wear jeans with holes
Wear tank tops
Wear shorts
Wear shirts with inappropriate images (nudity, alcohol, drugs, etc.)

Know about Cairo: Money

It is worth noting that I found Cairo (and Egypt in general) to be an incredibly affordable travel location, by Western standards. A little money can go a long way here. I also strongly suggest bringing cash on hand to exchange. Read on and I’ll explain more Egpyt money tips in detail.

Currency Exchange

EGP = Egyptian Pound

As of January 2024, the official Egyptian Pound currency exchange is:
1 USD: 30.97 EGP
1 Euro: 33.71 EGP
1 BG Pound: 39 EGP

The numbers listed above are the official exchange rates. These are the rates you will receive if you take money out of an ATM, exchange at the airport or bank, etc. Egypt also has a black market. For this reason, you should carry cash (USD or Euro is the best) on you to exchange at a better rate.

The Egyptian Black Market prices as of January 2024 are:
1 USD: 50 EGP – 65 EGP
1 Euro: 55 EGP – 70 EGP

Money Exchange

Official Rate: The best place to exchange at the official rate is the airport. They are open 24 hours and you can get Egyptian Pounds out right away. You can also exchange at official Egyptian banks. Many of the banks have a machine that looks like an ATM. One of the options on the screen is “foreign exchange.” You can, in theory, insert your cash, and the machine will recognize and count it, and return the amount in EGP to you. I tried this and it didn’t work. Not sure if that was just the machine I used, or if several people have that issue.

If you use a credit card, you will get charged the official rate. I found many places accept credit cards such as supermarkets, convenience stores, museums, and tourist sites. However, you will also need to have cash on hand for a lot of things like buying a metro ticket, small restaurants, street food, etc. Most tourist sites in Egypt require that you pay with a credit card only.

Black Market: This is usually done directly with a person on the street or in a shop. I didn’t find anyone to do this exchange in Cairo, to be honest. But I also didn’t ask around about it. It felt effortless to meet people to do this in Dahab though.

You will find random people on the streets in city centers asking if you want to exchange money. If you decide to do this, make sure you have both agreed to an exchange rate and a total amount you will receive in advance.

When I did this exchange in Dahab, I was able to transfer money directly to the person’s account via Wise (international bank account). Then they will give you the cash.

Read More: 21 Exciting Things to do in Dahab

Prices of food

If you eat at regular Egyptian food restaurants in a local neighborhood, you’ll find that food prices are quite low and very affordable. If you eat at high-end restaurants (both foreign and Egyptian), the prices will be much higher, though still lower than what you might pay for a night out at home (depending on where you’re from, of course).

Also keep in mind that when purchasing food or drinks at tourist sites, like the Egyptian Museum, you will find very inflated prices.

We found the best Egyptian food in Cairo in our neighborhood in Al Maadi. I don’t know the name, but check the photos below for the location. It was usually less than USD 1 per person per meal.

Here are a few examples of food we purchased in Cairo:

Fuul Breakfast for 2 people: 60 EGP (USD 2)
Mini pancakes (several in a package) on the street: 30 EGP (USD 1)
2 water bottles, skittles, and a granola bar at the Egyptian Museum: 300 EGP (USD 10)
Egyptian fast food crepe: 90 EGP (USD 3)
1 cappuccino at Ratio’s Bakery: 70 EGP (USD 2.50)

Know about Cairo: How long to spend in Cairo

When considering Egypt travel, it can be tricky to know how to create your itinerary. How much time do I need in each city? How much time do I need in Cairo? In our case, we didn’t want to spend too many days here because we heard it was noisy, chaotic, and overwhelming. In the end, we had a great time. But I think the magic number of days to stay in Cairo would be 3.

In three days, you can dedicate one day to see the pyramids (especially if you book a tour with a driver), and two days to see the main sites (museums, tower, mosques, churches, market, Nile cruise, etc.). If you’re really in a hurry, I think you could make it work in two days if you don’t mind being a little tired at the end of each day.

Know about Cairo: What to do

This is a city full of history so it can feel overwhelming when deciding what to see in Cairo. Here is a list of just a few of the things you can do and see in Cairo.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Price: 450 GEP

You can see my Egyptian Museum reel on Instagram here.

The Egyptian Museum is a massive two-story pink building filled with tons of ancient Egyptian artifacts. I think it’s an important place to visit and see the history and so many thousands of years old artifacts, but I’ll be honest- it was so full that it felt overwhelming.

There are some places with descriptions and others without. We didn’t have a guide, but having one would make things a bit more focused. If you want to hire a guide, you can find them near the ticket office in front. The going price is USD 20/hour per group. This is a great price if you have a group.

GEM (Grand Egyptian Museum)

The GEM is the newest museum in Cairo. As of January 2024, it is not completely finished, but it is open. They are currently moving several of the items from the Egyptian Museum into the GEM to give them new life and showcase them better. There is a very popular Tutankhamun immersive exhibit that is very popular.

Pyramids of Giza

This one is obvious. You can’t visit Cairo without visiting the Pyramids of Giza. You can take a taxi here if you want to go it alone. However, I do suggest going with an arranged tour guide. That way you can see other pyramids in the same day, and have a driver to take you between them. Also, having a guide helps you to be less hassled by tour guides at the site looking for customers.

Cairo Tower

You can find the Cairo Tower in the center of town not far from the Egyptian Museum, where you can see it at a distance. From the top of the tower you can see a view of the entire city of Cairo. The price is 250 EGP, and be prepared for crowds.

Hanging Church

The Hanging Church is free to enter. It is a Coptic Orthodox Church from the 5th century, located in an area called Coptic Cairo. The roof of the church is shaped like Noah’s Ark. The story goes that Mary and Joseph stayed here on the way to Bethlehem. You need to cover your shoes while inside the church.

Khan El-Khalili Market

This might be the place to go if you’re looking for something to buy in Cairo. Haggling for prices is expected. Just be cautious for scams. A great local place inside the market is the El Fishawy cafe (bottom right photo below). It is very crowded and full, and people are constantly trying to sell you stuff, but it was a unique experience. The people next to us were singing and playing instruments. Vibes were immaculate.

The market itself is massive. There are many alleyways to go down. More market shops extend well beyond the official walls of the market.

Visit the Nile

The humble Nile casually meanders through the middle of Cairo like it’s no big deal, as if it’s not the longest river in the world. A highway runs along the length of the Nile in Cairo, so it’s not always easy to get close to just admire it. But there are some restaurants and Nile Cruise companies along its banks.

You can take a Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo if you’re up for it. You can also take a felucca (small boat) for a one-hour mini cruise around the Nile. You can find a felucca at Drop’s Dock in the al Maadi neighborhood.

Read More: 13 Necessary Things to Know Before Going to Egypt.

Know about Cairo: What to Eat

Cairo has some pretty incredible food and you should try as many new things as possible.

Fuul

My absolute favorite food is fuul, a dish made from fava beans. You can mix in some salt and lemon juice and it’s chef’s kiss. Get some bread to use as a spoon and scoop up that creamy delicousness. You can see fuul in the photo above.

Falafal/Taamaya

These foods are very similar and look nearly identical. The only difference is that falafal is made with chickpeas, whereas taamaya is made with fava beans and many herbs. Absolutely delicious. You can see it in the top right of the photo above.

Aish Baladi

This is basically what we know as pita bread. You’ll see it everywhere and be served it with nearly every meal. Walking down the street you’ll see the aish baladi resting on drying trays. This is the bread you can see in the photo above.

Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush is a delicious dip made with cooked eggplant and tahini sauce. You can eat it with the bread, aish baladi.

Koshari

Koshari is basically a carbohydrate overload. It is full of several ingredients all mixed together (noodles, lentils, rice, etc.) and topped with spices and tomato sauce. I suggest eating this hot as it just doesn’t taste quite as good once it has cooled down.

Levan

This was our first meal in Cairo and we had no clue what we were eating. We just ordered it because someone else was eating it and it looked alright. It tasted to us like liver once we tried it. The levan is on the blue plate in the photo below.

Sahlab

Sahlab is a great dessert of yogurt, nuts, and dried fruit. It was really tasty. You can see it in the photo above on the left.

Hummus el Sham

Hummus el sham is a savory treat, served often in a parfait glass. It is full chick peas swimming in a tomato broth with herbs.

Know about Cairo: Where to Eat

Eat Local

If you want to find the best food in Cairo, you’ll find it at the local places where you’ll spend $1 per meal. Our favorite restaurant in all of Cairo was on a busy street in the Maadi neighborhood, near where we were staying. We went several mornings in a row for breakfast. You should be able to find these types of small local restaurants all over.

You can see my Instagram reel here about our favorite breakfast restaurant in Cairo.

El Fishawy Cafe

This is a traditional and very crowded cafe situated inside the Khan El Khalil Market. Be prepared for tight quarters and several sellers passing by with henna, candy, candles, etc.

Ratio Bakery/Fyngyn Cafe

We loved spending time here. The bakery is in the front, and the cafe is in the back garden, but they are essentially the same place. The garden is quiet and peaceful and the drinks are very good.

Estro

This is a more upscale Italian restaurant on the rooftop of the Royal Maadi Hotel, in the Maadi neighborhood. Good food and views, relaxing. More popular with foreigners and wealthier Egyptians.

Greek Club

The Greek Club is located in downtown Cairo. Usually crowded but nice atmosphere. You need to pay an entrance fee and there is a minimum price per person. But you can get alcoholic beverages here.

Where to Stay in Cairo

When deciding where to stay in Cairo, you should first consider what you want to do and see in the city, and then choose the best location based on proximity. We enjoyed staying in Maadi, but ultimately it was quite far from the things we were interested in seeing and so we spent a lot of time on the metro and in taxis traversing the city.

Many people also think that staying in a hotel across from the Great Pyramids is a fun and exciting idea. The reality is that it puts you quite far from everything else in the city. If you want this experience, you should do it for just one or two nights. But there are better locations in the city than across from the Pyramids. Here are a few options:

Hostels

Holy Sheet Hostel

The Holy Sheet Hostel is centrally located and allows you to walk to many sites easily. Dorms are USD 8-10, and private rooms are USD 35-45.

Book the Holy Sheet Hostel HERE for one of the best hostels in Cairo

Pyramids Planet Hotel

If you want the best view of the pyramids from the roof of your hostel in Cairo, this is the place to stay. It is a bit far from downtown Cairo, but you could aim to spend just one night here to experience the views. Prices range from USD 18-50.

Book the Pyramids Planet Hotel HERE for the best hostel views of the pyramids.

Hotels

Lemon Spaces VINTAGE- Downtown

The Lemon Spaces Vintage is centrally located downtown near Tahrir Square, making many sites within walking distance. Prices range from USD 100-150.

Book the Lemon Spaces Vintage downtown hotel HERE

Regent Pyramids View

The Regent Pyramids View offers one of the best views of the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo. There is a restaurant/cafe on the rooftop where you can enjoy your meals and watch the sunset behind the pyramids. Prices range from USD 25-40.

Book the Regent Pyramid View Hotel HERE for a great room and rooftop view.

Horus Mini Resort

The Horus Mini Resort is a unique little hotel with a view of the pyramids in the distance. Prices range from USD 28-52.

Book the Horus Mini Resort HERE for a great stay and great views of the pyramids.

Know about Cairo: Culture and Etiquette

Coming from a Western country and culture, it can be tricky to know the cultural practices while traveling in the Middle East, as things can often be very different from what we’re used to. Here are a few Egypt Travel tips to help you adjust to your surroundings.

Tipping in Cairo

Tipping is a very common practice in Egypt, and particularly in Cairo. You need to tip your tour guides, drivers, servers, etc. In many cases, you can just round up. We tipped our tour guide 300 EGP after an 8-hour tour, and we gave our driver 200 EGP. When taking taxis we usually tipped 10%. Make sure to have some small bills on hand for extra tips.

Religion in Egypt

The most common religion in Egypt is Islam. Next would be Christianity. You can find churches in Cairo, but many more mosques. Islam considers many things ‘haram,’ such as drinking, which is why you will not commonly find alcohol or beer in restaurants or shops.

Call to Prayer in Egypt

Because Islam is the largest religion represented in Egypt, it is not hard to see the ways the culture is shaped by the religion. The call to prayer is one of those ways. Muslims must pray five times per day (just before sunrise, just after noon, late afternoon, just after sunset, and when there are no traces of sun left in the sky). At each prayer time, you will hear a prayer singing throughout the city from several mosques all at once. It is a really beautiful moment to hear but can be difficult at 5:30 am if you’re not used to it.

If you go into a mosque, you should always cover your knees, head, and shoulders.

Fridays off

In the West, we are accustomed to a weekend consisting of Saturday and Sunday. In Egypt, the week goes from Sunday to Thursday, and Friday and Saturday are the weekends. You will find that things run differently on Fridays, such as fewer bus times for example.

Shaking Hands

Many Muslim men do not touch women who are not their wives or family members. Therefore, you should not be the first to initiate a handshake as a woman. Wait to see if they put out their hand to shake first.

Credit Cards & Cash in Cairo

The main tourist sites require you to pay with a credit card, and Apple Pay has worked great for me in those places. In smaller supermarkets or shops you can pay with a credit card, but you may need to have the physical card with you. Other than that, you’ll need to pay with cash at a large majority of places like markets and local restaurants. If you can exchange money at the Black Market rate, it is better to pay with cash anyway.

Water in Cairo

Do not drink the tap water in Cairo. You should buy bottled water here. If you can, I suggest buying a large 10L bottle to keep in your accommodations; then use that large bottle to fill up smaller bottles. You can also use a LifeStraw bottle with a filter inside, which is what I used in Cairo.

Toilets

Public toilets generally cost 5-10 EGP. Have small bills ready if you think you’ll need to wee outside your accommodation. Also, bring a small pack of toilet paper or tissues with you in your bag, as it is uncommon for it to be provided.

Know about Cairo: WIFI

Before coming here, I had heard that the wifi wasn’t great in Cairo and that there were frequent power outages. That just wasn’t our experience. There was one power outage in 5 days that lasted about 30 minutes. Otherwise, the wifi at our Airbnb worked great. You can see in the photo below the upload and download speeds in January 2024 which I checked on SpeedTest.

Know about Cairo: Safety

One of the biggest questions people want to know about Cairo is: Is Cairo safe to travel?

In my personal experience, I would say yes. I felt very safe walking around during the day, and the night, with my male friend and by myself. I know that Cairo has a bad reputation so I was prepared for worse. Maybe it was because my expectations for the city were so low initially, but I ended up having a great time and loving Cairo.

Is Cairo safe for female tourists?

Of course, the difference between walking alone as a female traveler and walking with my male friend was slightly different.

Walking alone as a solo female, I received several car honks and a few unwanted comments from men. But I never felt threatened or unsafe. One day I decided to wear a scarf on my head, and that did cut down on some of the stairs. People even spoke to me in Arabic.

Overall though, I do believe Cairo is safe for female tourists. I have met very kind, thoughtful, and respectful people in the streets of Cairo who made me feel very welcome and comfortable.

Is it safe to walk around Cairo?

For the most part, yes, it is safe to walk around Cairo. As in any big city, don’t wear expensive, flashy jewelry, and keep your important things close to your body. It wasn’t the people in the street that made me nervous. It was the cars. There are lots of cars driving through very tight spaces, and sometimes it feels like you may get hit.

The emergency number is 11.

I think it’s a very good idea to have travel insurance when you visit Cairo, as you just have no clue what could happen. I always use SafetyWing.

Is Cairo safe at night?

Yes, Cairo is safe at night. We walked all around the Maadi neighborhood at night, went to the Khan El-Khalil market at night, and took the metro and taxis at night. I never felt unsafe in any of these situations. There are often so many people around that you feel protected by the public.

Read More: 13 Necessary Things to Know Before Going to Egypt.

Know about Cairo: What is it like for Tourists?

Is it safe to walk around Cairo as a tourist? Yes. Although you should be prepared for minor annoyances. If you stand out (like me), then you can expect to be approached often by children to buy bracelets or candies. I didn’t find Cairo to be overly touristy. Sure there are a ton of tourists at the pyramids and museums, but in general, walking outside and around the city, I didn’t see a lot of other tourists.

You can expect to be approached by touts at all tourist sites wanting to sell scarves, and statues, offer tour guide services, ride a camel, etc. If you are a man or with a man, just a firm “no, thank you” usually works. If you are a female solo traveler, you can expect them to be slightly more determined and persistent.

Know about Cairo: What is the best time to visit?

The summer months in Cairo are extremely hot, but the winter months are very pleasant. But because of that, the winter months are also slightly more busy with tourism. I came in January 2024 and found that a light jacket and jeans were sufficient. A scarf for the early mornings and evenings.

The best times to come to Cairo are the shoulder seasons when temperatures are moderate and tourism slows down: March/April and October/November.

Know about Cairo: Final Thoughts

In this blog post, I have tried to provide all the things I wanted to know about Cairo before coming here, and I hope it has been a benefit to you.

I genuinely never had a great desire to visit Egypt, despite the complex and amazing history and culture. But when I had the chance to travel to Egypt with a friend, I went for it. I was so totally blown away and loved my time spent in the capital city. Time and time again I met kind, loving, and funny people welcoming me to their city. My time in Cairo was overwhelmingly positive and I hope you’ll also be able to share this experience. Happy Travels!

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