About Cairo
Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate. It is home to more than 9.8 million people. The city is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. The Greater Cairo metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world by population with over 22 million people. Areas of what would become Cairo were inhabited from pre-dynastic and early-dynastic ancient Egypt c. 6000 years ago, as the Giza pyramid complex and the ancient cities of Memphis and Heliopolis are today within the city.
Cheap flights to Cairo
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $970 from New York, travelling 24 Nov – 1 Dec. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
Airlines travellers compared most often: ITA Airways.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to CairoPlaces to visit in Cairo
-
Giza Pyramid Complex
Historic · 8 mi from centreThe Great Pyramid, its companion pyramids and the Great Sphinx stand on the desert plateau west of Cairo, among the most famous ancient monuments on Earth; arrive early to avoid heat.
-
Grand Egyptian Museum
Museum · 8 mi from centreA vast museum near the Giza pyramids dedicated to ancient Egyptian civilization, including treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun and a monumental statue of Ramesses II in its atrium.
-
Egyptian Museum
MuseumThe historic museum on Tahrir Square holds a huge collection of pharaonic antiquities, including statues, sarcophagi and artifacts from many dynasties, in atmospheric old galleries.
-
Khan el-Khalili
Market · 2 mi from centreA historic bazaar in Islamic Cairo with narrow alleys of shops selling lamps, spices, textiles and souvenirs, plus traditional coffeehouses such as El Fishawy; bargaining is expected.
-
Cairo Citadel
Historic · 2 mi from centreA medieval hilltop fortress built by Saladin, with the Ottoman-style Mosque of Muhammad Ali, several museums and terraces offering views across Cairo's skyline of minarets.
-
Al-Azhar Mosque
Religious · 2 mi from centreOne of the oldest mosques in Cairo and a renowned center of Islamic learning, with a beautiful marble courtyard and minarets from various eras; visitors should dress modestly and remove shoes.
-
Coptic Cairo
Religious · 3 mi from centreAn old quarter with historic churches, including the Hanging Church, along with the Coptic Museum and Ben Ezra Synagogue, reflecting the city's long religious diversity.
-
Saqqara
Historic · 12 mi from centreSouth of Cairo, this vast necropolis is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, among the oldest large stone monuments, and many tombs with finely carved and painted walls.
Things to do in Cairo by type
90 tours, tickets and experiences across 11 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
-
Art & culture 53 experiences 2 Days / 1 Night: Magical Western Desert Adventure - From Cairo -
Day Trips & Excursions 27 experiences Cairo Adventure Tour | Cave Monastery & Historic Citadel -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 15 experiences Egyptian Museum in Tahrir - Half-Day Tour -
City tours 11 experiences El Moez Street - Private Half-Day Tour -
Outdoor activities & Adventure 4 experiences 3 Days / 2 Nights: Magical Siwa Oasis Adventure - From Cairo -
Specialist tours 3 experiences 2 Days / 1 Night: Magical Western Desert Adventure - From Cairo -
Tour & activities 3 experiences Full-day Memphis, Sakkara, Giza Pyramids and Sphinx tour from Cairo -
Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 2 experiences 2 Days / 1 Night: Magical Western Desert Adventure - From Cairo -
Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours 2 experiences Cairo Aerial Sightseeing Tour -
Cruise & Water Tours 2 experiences Nile Dinner Cruise -
Gastronomy & nightlife 2 experiences Desert night with Bedouin dinner, Arabic coffee and show from Cairo
- Over 6 hours 28
- 3-6 hours 19
- 1-3 hours 6
- Flexible 3
- Couples 5
- Senior 5
- Youth 4
- Families 4
- Adult only 1
- Private 24
- Small group 4
Top experiences in Cairo
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 90 available.
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids - Full-Day Tour
From $119 per adult
Nile Dinner Cruise
From $34 per adult
Pyramids and Museum (Excluding Grand Egyptian Museum) - Private Full-Day
From $66 per adult
Discover Giza Plateau- Full-Day Private Tour
From $57 per adult
Modern City and Islamic Cairo - Full-Day Private Tour
From $66 per adult
Pyramids and Museum (Excluding Grand Egyptian Museum) - Full-Day Tour
From $93 per adult
The New Grand Museum and Giza Pyramids with lunch from Cairo
From $157 per adult
Full-day Memphis, Sakkara, Giza Pyramids and Sphinx tour from Cairo
From $142 per adult
Visit to Memphis, Sakkara and Dahshour - Full-Day Tour
From $119 per adult
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum - Half-Day Tour
From $93 per adult
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, Sakkara and Memphis - Private Full-Day Tour
From $144 per adult
Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum - Full-Day Tour with Lunch
From $168 per adult
Where to stay in Cairo
Popular hotels in Cairo, out of 588 properties you can book.
Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
From $315 per night
Amarante Pyramids
From $49 per night
Al Masa Hotel Nasr City
From $100 per night
Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo
From $340 per night
Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
From $453 per night
Holidays Express Hotel
From $35 per night
Indiana Hotel Cairo
From $27 per night
Safir Cairo
From $201 per night
Pyramisa Hotel Cairo
From $168 per night
Golden Tulip Flamenco Cairo
From $110 per night
Pyramids Park Resort
From $240 per night
Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Cairo
From $219 per night
Best time to visit Cairo
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Cairo is November to March, when average daytime highs are around 70–81°F and rain falls on about 1 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Cairo weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 83° 60° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 86° 62° 0%
- Fri 23 Oct 87° 66° 0%
- Sat 24 Oct 86° 65° 0%
- Sun 25 Oct 85° 65° 0%
- Mon 26 Oct 82° 69° 0%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP)1 US dollar ≈ £53.9
- Language
- Arabic
- Calling code
- +20
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Africa/CairoUTC+3
Upcoming public holidays in Egypt
- Christmas Day (Orthodox)عيد الميلاد المجيد
- Revolution Day 2011 / National Police Dayعيد الثورة 25 يناير
- Sinai Liberation Dayعيد تحرير سيناء
- Labour Dayعيد العمال
- Easter MondaySham El-Nessim
- Islamic New Year
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Cairo
These are the airports closest to central Cairo. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- CAI Cairo International Airport11 mi (19 km) from the city centre
- CCE Capital International Airport36 mi (59 km) from the city centre
Getting around Cairo
You will find that it's useful to have several maps handy if you are looking to get around Cairo on your own. Spellings of street and place names can vary from map to map and from map to actual location, and not every street will appear on every map.
By metro
Cairo is home to Africa's first and largest metro system. While modern and sleek, the three lines are all too limited in scope. As of October 2024, a single trip ticket ranges from LE8-20, depending on the number of stations covered:
By bus
The large red, white and blue public buses cover the entire city and are much cheaper, costing LE4-6, but are usually crowded and slow. However, there are the similar air-conditioned buses that charge LE7-12. They can be found in the main squares in Cairo. Also found in main squares are the smaller mini-buses that are usually orange and white or red, white and blue. Because of problems with sexual harassment women travellers are advised only to take the small minibuses and buses which prohibit standing.
By taxi
Taxis in Cairo are solid white. They are equipped with meters but these are not always used. They can be hailed from the street, and are common enough to be used perhaps exclusively (given a little patience) by any traveler.
Cairo travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Cairo?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Cairo is November to March, when average daytime highs are around 70–81°F and rain falls on about 1 days a month.
What is the weather like in Cairo?
July is usually the warmest month in Cairo, with average highs of 104°F (40°C). February is the coolest, with average lows of 50°F (10°C). The wettest month is typically January, with about 3 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Cairo?
Cairo International Airport (CAI) is the closest airport, about 11 miles (19 km) from the centre of Cairo. Other nearby airports include Capital International Airport (CCE, 36 mi).
How much are flights to Cairo?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Cairo in the last 30 days was $970 from New York, travelling 24 Nov – 1 Dec.
What currency is used in Cairo?
Cairo uses the Egyptian pound (EGP). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ £53.9.
What time zone is Cairo in?
Cairo uses the Africa/Cairo time zone (currently UTC+3). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Cairo?
You will find that it's useful to have several maps handy if you are looking to get around Cairo on your own. Spellings of street and place names can vary from map to map and from map to actual location, and not every street will appear on every map.
What are the best places to visit in Cairo?
Top sights in Cairo include Giza Pyramid Complex, Grand Egyptian Museum, Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili. The Great Pyramid, its companion pyramids and the Great Sphinx stand on the desert plateau west of Cairo, among the most famous ancient monuments on Earth; arrive early to avoid heat.
What are the top things to do in Cairo?
Popular experiences you can book in Cairo include Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids - Full-Day Tour, Nile Dinner Cruise and Pyramids and Museum (Excluding Grand Egyptian Museum) - Private Full-Day. Destina Holidays offers 90 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Cairo?
The most popular types of experiences in Cairo are art & culture (53), day trips & excursions (27), tickets & attraction passes (15) and city tours (11). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Cairo?
Popular areas for hotels in Cairo include Central Cairo, Giza and Heliopolis. Well-reviewed options include Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo and Amarante Pyramids.
How many hotels can I book in Cairo?
Destina Holidays currently lists 588 properties in and around Cairo, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
