The essential guide to visiting Cairo

Fueled by sugar and caffeine, Cairo is a late-night city, and the energy in both its ancient heart and wealthy ‘New’ Cairo is boundless. A city with layers of history; the top drawcards are its most ancient: the Nile River and the Pyramids of Giza, which have towered over this frenetic megalopolis for millennia. And documented stories of Egypt’s empires and eras are on display in a collection of museums spearheaded by the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Our essential guide will help you plan your trip to Cairo to see the highly anticipated museum.

Best times to visit Cairo 

Spring: Day temperatures are 80°F, and nights are for dining beneath the stars. Set in a 15th-century palace, the open-air Mamai restaurant serves classic Arabian grilled meats, including kebab and kofta, with Egyptian music and whirling dervish performances. 

Summer: The city empties as Cairenes head to the north coast of Egypt for the long, hot summer. It’s also low season for travelers, as temperatures reach 110°F; take refuge in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations, home of the Golden Mummies. 

Autumn: “From October, the weather is mild, the Nile is at its most serene and every ancient site reveals its timeless beauty in perfect light,” says Egyptologist and Cairene Ahmad Aziz, co-founder of tour company High End Journeys. Pack a picnic and take a felucca (traditional wooden sailboat) down the Nile at sunset to view the city’s islands and a few remaining farmlands from the deck. 

Winter: This is peak tourist season, and perfect weather for exploring the pre-Giza pyramids at Saqqara and Dashur, just outside Cairo. “Beyond the iconic Giza Plateau, I always recommend a visit to Dahshur,” says Ahmad Aziz. “It’s one of the few places where you can still feel the raw genius of ancient Egyptian engineering without the crowds. Walking inside the Red Pyramid’s narrow passageway is unforgettable; it’s Egypt in its purest, most authentic form.” 

Key areas to explore

Pyramids of Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum: The Pyramids have been pulling in tourists since the Greek historian Herodotus gushed over them in the 5th century B.C. New experiences include a couple of stylish restaurants and a hop-on, hop-off e-bus loop. The Grand Egyptian Museum is key to this ‘Pyramids precinct’. Connected to the Giza necropolis by an elevated walkway, the museum is a well-curated collection of priceless artifacts.  

Sharia al-Muizz & Khan al-Khalili: Al-Muizz Street is the major thoroughfare of medieval Cairo. Built in 969 A.D., it’s lined with palaces, mosques, and schools, and has modern shisha-scented cafés and artisan workshops wedged in between. Visit the historic buildings during the day. The street is then dramatically floodlit at sunset. Al-Muizz abuts Cairo’s most famous souk (market), Khan al-Khalili, which has been trading rugs, lamps, gold, and jewelry for 600 years, and is one of the best ways to spend a day in Cairo.  

Old Cairo: Ancient Muslim, Christian, and Jewish places of worship are intertwined in this district, also known as Coptic Cairo. Narrow alleyways lead to the 5th-century Hanging Church, the 9th-century Ben Ezra synagogue, and the 4th-century Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus, built over the cave where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are said to have sheltered on their flight into Egypt—all put into historical context in the Coptic Museum. 

Where to stay

Marriott Mena House, Cairo: The gates to this former hunting lodge are a 10-minute walk to the entrance, and the windows of the best rooms in the historic hotel frame the view of the Pyramids perfectly. The register of former guests includes kings and movie stars.

The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo: Set on the Nile, the hotel overlooks the original Egyptian Museum, and the curious can explore the 19th-century architecture of Downtown Cairo on foot. Its rooftop bar, Nox, is one of the best places for a Nile sunset. 

Taste of Cairo

Egyptian cuisine: “Egyptian food is often swamped under the big umbrella of Middle Eastern cuisine, but has many unique dishes born of its colonial past,” says Laila Hassaballa, co-founder of food tour company Bellies En-route. She suggests trying ta’amiya (Egyptian falafel), the national dish of koshary, and feteer, a flaky pastry that dates back to ancient times between 1450-1500 B.C.

The top restaurant in town, Khufu’s, looks directly at the pyramid of the same name. Currently No. 4 in the 50 Best Restaurants in the MENA region, make a reservation for a long breakfast. Otherwise, watch feteeremerge from the ovens at nearby Nine Pyramids Lounge; both restaurants are within the Pyramids’ ticketed zone. 

Ful & ta’amaya: In the early morning, street carts serve the classic Egyptian breakfast of ful (mashed fava beans with cumin and garlic) and crisp ta’maya (made with fava beans and coriander). Try it at Zooba’s casual restaurants; there’s one at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Koshary: Egypt’s cheapest and favorite dish is a carb-heavy bowl of rice, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), and lentils, that includes a rich tomato sauce, chili, and onions—eaten any time of day. Koshary Abu Tarek, near the Egyptian Museum, has been serving this vegetarian and vegan-friendly dish since the 1950s. 

Molokhiya: Long-standing Felfela’s menu features Egyptian dishes rarely found outside the home. Go for the molokhiya, a garlicky spinach soup ladled over rice, and pigeon stuffed with mint-flecked rice. 

Getting around 

By air: Cairo Airport (40 minutes to an hour to Downtown Cairo) is the country’s major airport. Only a few low-cost carriers currently service the new Sphinx International Airport.

By bus: Bus fares cost around 50 cents, but buses are haphazard, crowded, and air-condition-free. Drivers usually don’t speak English. 

By taxi or rideshare: Uber and Careem apps both work in Cairo, and their established fares make them far less hassle than the ‘broken meter’ taxis; all are extraordinarily cheap.  

By bike: Bike travel is rare in Cairo: the only bike riders you’ll regularly see are boys balancing great trays of hot bread on their heads. 

By train: Ramses Station in Downtown Cairo is the terminus for long-distance trains to Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria.

Know before you go

LGBTQ+: Same-sex marriage and relations are illegal; however, people of the same sex sharing a room is common (in separate beds). Overt public displays of affection are not tolerated.  

Alcohol: Egypt brews its own beer and produces wine. Alcohol is available in bars, some restaurants, and liquor stores. Avoid imitation brand alcohol, which may be tainted and can cause blindness and even death. 

Dress code: Cairo is relaxed about dress codes for tourists; however, modest attire (below the knees) is appreciated. At religious sites, women must cover their hair. 

How to visit the city sustainably 

Shopping: Carry your own tote instead of using the thousands of plastic bags Cairenes love to use to package purchases. 

Drinking: Single-use plastic water bottles pollute Egypt’s landscape; consider bringing your own reusable water bottle and filling it in your hotel.  

Ethical and eco-conscious shopping: “Ethical shopping is about respect for the artisans, their time, and their craft,” says Khadiga Mofeed of Fairtrade Egypt, which works with mostly women from marginalized communities. “It also respects customers by offering fair, fixed prices and a no-bargaining, hassle-free experience,” she adds. The group’s two shops in Cairo sell home décor and gifts while promoting cultural crafts that are otherwise at risk of disappearing.