Cairo holidays

A bucket-list must for history buffs, the largest city in the Arab world sits at the crossroads of antiquity and modernity. A holiday to Cairo invites you to walk in the footsteps of pharaohs, sail down the Nile and hone your bartering skills at a 600-year-old bazaar. Need an escape from the heat? The gentle waves and coral reefs of the Red Sea are a short trip away.

Cairo holiday highlights

Panayis Chrysovergis

Ancient wonders

No holiday to Cairo is complete without visiting the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Be aware that thereтАЩs a fee to access the Giza complex and additional costs to enter the pyramids. Book a tour or a local guide in advance and plan to spend at least four to five hours exploring the area to get the most out of your visit.

Nile adventures

Whether youтАЩre on a short break to Cairo or enjoying a longer stay, donтАЩt miss exploring the Nile on a тАШfeluccaтАЩ, a traditional Egyptian sailboat. Trips typically last a few hours with the option to add dining experiences. Or bring along a picnic and watch an unbeatable sunset as you sail down the river.

A walk through history

El-Moez Street in Old Cairo is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit during any holiday to Cairo. Visit the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan and the Cairo Citadel, home to EgyptтАЩs rulers for 700 years. Lose yourself in the Khan Al Khalili Market, sip mint tea at El Fishawy Cafe (open since 1771) and admire city vistas from the Bab Zuweila gate.

Cairo: Know before you go

Language

Arabic

Currency

Egyptian pound (E┬г)

Time zone

UTC+2 (EET) and UTC+3 (EEST)

High season

November тАУ March

Low season

June тАУ August

Find the best time to go to Cairo

Weather in Cairo

May тАУ October: EgyptтАЩs desert climate has a hot season and a cold season. Summers in Cairo can get toasty, though the shoulder months of May and October, when temperatures cool down at night, are more pleasant. The city also sees little rainfall, but the Nile keeps things humid, especially between June and August.

November тАУ April: The cold season is fairly mild and warm. October to December are the most popular months to visit the city. If you donтАЩt mind braving the crowds, youтАЩll enjoy high daily temperatures averaging between 21 and 30┬░C and cooling evening breezes. Be aware that Cairo can experience sandstorms between March and May.

Events in Cairo

Sham El-Nessim (April or May): Held on Orthodox Easter Monday, this ancient spring festival dates back more than 4,500 years. Picnic in the parks with locals, and try the traditional тАШfeseekhтАЩ (fermented mullet).

Wafaa el-Nil (August): This nationwide event celebrates the Nile and its role in Egyptian life. The two-week-long festival includes processions of boats decorated in flowers and lanterns, storytelling and traditional music and dance.

Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (October to November): Showcasing EgyptтАЩs contemporary art scene, D-CAF takes over CairoтАЩs downtown for three weeks each year. Expect performance pieces, visual art installations and workshops in the cityтАЩs historic buildings.

We scan 100 billion prices, so you donтАЩt have to

Compare prices to bag a cheap holiday to Cairo

Book your holiday to Cairo, all in one place

The best neighbourhoods in Cairo

Zamalek

Located on Gezira Island, Zamalek is one of the best areas to stay in Cairo for Nile river views. An affluent neighbourhood, itтАЩs packed with galleries, restaurants, boutiques and river-facing palaces. Admire the cityscape from Cairo Tower and steal a quiet moment in the Aquarium Grotto Garden. At night, catch a concert at the Cairo Opera House or indulge in sugar cane juice cocktails at Abou El Sid.

Good for: Galleries, restaurants, green spaces

Downtown

ItтАЩs all about culture and 19th-century architecture in bustling Downtown Cairo, the capitalтАЩs commercial centre and home to some of the cityтАЩs most famous sights. Admire the artefacts at The Egyptian Museum in El-Tahrir Square, stroll through the Baehler Passage, and grab lunch at Felfela. Crowded and bursting with life, this is a great area to stay for first-time visitors.

Good for: History, museums, shopping

Heliopolis

The historic suburb of Heliopolis is defined by its blend of modern and traditional architecture, with beautiful gardens, elegant boulevards and a plethora of upscale boutiques and cafes. Visit the Baron Empain Palace and enjoy tea outside the Aswan Cafe. With its proximity to the cityтАЩs international airport, Heliopolis is where to stay in Cairo for convenient travel.

Good for: Architecture, green spaces, upscale shopping

Things to do in Cairo

Panayis Chrysovergis

Beaches

While you wonтАЩt find any beaches in Cairo itself, you can get your seaside fix in Ain Sokhna, less than two hours away from the capital. Sitting on the Red SeaтАЩs Gulf of Suez, itтАЩs ideal for a day trip. Expect peaceful sands, dolphin pod sightings and excellent snorkelling among the coral reefs.┬а

Shopping

With an abundance of тАШsouksтАЩ (markets), bazaars and excellent malls, shopping in Cairo is second to none. Make a beeline for Zamalek, where boutiques specialise in handicrafts and artisan goods, or explore the labyrinthine streets of Khan El-Khalili and its famous gold and spice markets. Need to escape the heat? Look no further than HeliopolisтАЩ huge Citystars Mall.

Take in the culture

Once youтАЩve picked over the Egyptian MuseumтАЩs massive collection of ancient artefacts, explore some of the other museums in Cairo too. Head to Old Cairo for the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Abdeen Palace. For something totally different, stop by the Umm Kulthum Museum in Old Cairo, dedicated to EgyptтАЩs most famous singer.

Nightlife

Despite the cityтАЩs strict alcohol regulations, thereтАЩs still a thriving nightlife in Cairo. If you are looking for a budget-friendly night out, youтАЩll appreciate the тАШbaladiтАЩ (local) bars serving beers and bites downtown. For a more typically Western nightlife experience, check out the scene in ZamalekтАЩs hotel bars and rooftop cocktail lounges.

Places to eat

Between sightseeing adventures, refuel at one of the many street food stalls and restaurants in Cairo. Head downtown to Abou Tarek for тАШkosharyтАЩ, EgyptтАЩs national dish of lentils, pasta and rice. Or explore ZamalekтАЩs wide choice of traditional and international restaurants. The Maadi area is also known for its dining scene, tempting visitors with family-run eateries, bakeries and hipster coffee spots.

Free things to do

Visit the Hanging Church in the Coptic Cairo area (part of Old Cairo) or admire contemporary art exhibitions at the Zamalek Art Gallery and the Aisha Fahmy Palace. Other free things to do in Cairo include the Al Azhar Mosque and Mosque of Ibn Tulun. But remember to dress modestly when visiting places of religious worship.

Plan your holiday to Cairo

Budget

You can easily enjoy a cheap holiday in Cairo. Tuck into a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for about 200 Egyptian pounds (E┬г). And donтАЩt forget all the delicious street food that can be had for even less. A cappuccino is around E┬г75, and a short ride in a taxi should cost about the same.

Day trips from Cairo

Beyond the famous Pyramids of Giza is the Saqqara necropolis. Among its many tombs, youтАЩll find the Step Pyramid of Djoser тАФ the oldest pyramid in the world. If you want to escape the bustle of Cairo, travel about 90 minutes to the Faiyum Oasis, home to picturesque lakes, Greco-Roman ruins and prehistoric whale fossils.

Getting around Cairo

Getting around Cairo is easy by metro and taxi. The cityтАЩs cabs are usually metered, but itтАЩs good practice to negotiate the fare ahead of time. Rideshare apps like Uber are also common. We recommend avoiding car hire on your holiday to Cairo тАФ the cityтАЩs traffic is legendary and not for the faint-hearted.

FAQs about Cairo holidays

The warmest month in Cairo is July, when temperatures peak at 40┬║C (104┬║F).
The airline you pick, where you depart from, and the timing of your trip can impact the cost of a city break in Cairo. Prices for Cairo flights and hotels can vary widely, but planning in advance and keeping your travel dates flexible can help you save.
Around here, you'll mostly hear Arabic. Mastering a few local expressions can be an easy way to start conversations and connect with others during your city break in Cairo.
Organise your Cairo holiday for January and you'll be there when the weather is at its coolest. 8┬║C (46┬║F) is as cold as the city gets.
You can check most things off your sightseeing to-do list on a short break to Cairo, but we recommend at least three to four days to fully immerse yourself in the cityтАЩs history and culture.
The rainiest month is March, which gets an average rainfall of 0.2 inch. But don't let that take the shine off your Cairo trip тАФ there's still plenty to do indoors like indulging in retail therapy, visiting an art gallery, or checking out cosy cafes.
Holidays to Cairo are generally safe, provided you take the necessary precautions. As in most large cities, petty crime and scams do sometimes occur, and CairoтАЩs notorious traffic means additional care is needed when crossing the road. For the latest updates on CairoтАЩs political situation, we recommend checking governmental websites ahead of travel.
Weather-wise, we recommend planning a holiday to Cairo between November and February for mild temperatures. If you donтАЩt mind the heat, however, June to August is the low season for tourists, meaning youтАЩll experience CairoтАЩs attractions without the crowds.
The Egyptian pound (EGP) is the official currency. From tipping to shopping at local markets, having some cash on hand during your trip to Cairo will be useful.
Whether you're just getting started or returning for more, this city knows how to leave you wanting more. If exploring attractions is on your list of things to do in Cairo, you'll want to include giza pyramids and Egyptian Museum.

More holiday inspiration

Do I need a visa travelling from India?

Flight cancellations and delays: What to know about claiming compensation

Expert advice: Planning your first independent trip