City guide · Egypt

Cairo

Cairo is a vast Nile metropolis whose visitor geography includes Downtown, Historic Cairo, Coptic Cairo, Zamalek and the Giza plateau. Downtown holds modern civic and cultural landmarks; medieval Islamic streets extend east and south; Coptic sites cluster around Old Cairo; and Giza lies across the river but forms part of the standard Greater Cairo visit. Give each area its own block and expect slow cross-city journeys.

Practical information

Language spoken: Arabic; National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code: +20; International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP); Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number: 122 police · 123 ambulance · 180 fire; Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type: Type C and F · 220 V; Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water: Not recorded; No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Cairo

Planning a visit

Suggested stay: Not recorded
Getting around: Metro, bus, metered taxi and ride-hailing

January: best time to visit
February: best time to visit
March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
April: viable with meaningful trade-offs
May: viable with meaningful trade-offs
June: recurring difficult conditions
July: recurring difficult conditions
August: recurring difficult conditions — current month
September: viable with meaningful trade-offs
October: viable with meaningful trade-offs
November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
December: best time to visit

Best time
Good time
Viable with trade-offs
Difficult conditions

Sources

worldweather.wmo.int Checked 2026-08-28
www.eeaa.gov.eg · 1 Checked 2026-08-28
www.eeaa.gov.eg · 2 Checked 2026-08-28

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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How the city is laid out

Downtown centres on Tahrir Square and the nineteenth-century street grid. Zamalek occupies an island in the Nile and connects by bridge to Downtown and Giza. Historic Cairo includes Al-Muizz Street, mosques, gates and markets, while Coptic Cairo forms a separate southern cluster. The Giza pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum lie west of the Nile. Saqqara and Memphis are farther excursions and should not be combined with a full central-city day.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Metro, buses, metered taxis and ride-hailing services cover Greater Cairo, while Nile taxis and local ferries provide selected river connections. The official tourism authority advises ensuring a taxi meter is operating. Use the Metro for suitable cross-city corridors, then allow time for the final road journey. Giza, Saqqara and airport transfers require specific planning, and access to remote archaeological areas should be confirmed through authorised operators or official guidance.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How is Cairo organised for sightseeing?

Downtown, Historic Cairo, Coptic Cairo, Zamalek and Giza are separate clusters

How many days should I spend in Cairo?

No fixed stay length is recorded; allocate time by cluster and by any archaeological excursion.

What is the easiest way to get around Cairo?

Use Metro where practical, then metered taxis, buses or ride-hailing for final connections.

Which places need a separate trip from central Cairo?

Giza lies west of the Nile and needs a dedicated road or tour connection.

What is the most practical way to plan a day in Cairo?

Selected Historic Cairo routes are walkable once you reach the area by planned transport.

🇪🇬Cairo