How many days do I need in Cairo as a first-timer?
expand_more
Three full days is the sweet spot: one for Giza (pyramids, Sphinx, panoramic viewpoint), one for Islamic Cairo (Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Al-Muizz Street, Khan El-Khalili at night), and one for museums (Grand Egyptian Museum plus the Museum of Islamic Art). Four days lets you add Coptic Cairo, Saqqara, or Al-Azhar Park at sunset without rushing. Two days is possible but you'll skip something worthwhile.
Is it safe to visit Cairo as a solo female traveler?
expand_more
Yes, with the usual caveats. Verbal harassment exists but violent crime against tourists is rare and the tourism police are visible at major sites. Use the women-only metro carriage (front car, or center on Line 3), dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), stick with Uber/Careem rather than street taxis at night, and avoid walking alone in the City of the Dead or the cemeteries after dark. Solo female travelers consistently report Cairo as more manageable than reputation suggests.
Should I book Giza Pyramids tickets in advance?
expand_more
Yes — book plateau entry and any pyramid interior add-on on egymonuments.com one to three days ahead, especially for a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. The Khufu interior is capped at roughly 300 tickets per day and sells out on peak days. Booking online also gets you a QR code that skips the ticket-window queue and locks in the current Ministry price before the next jump.
How much cash should I carry in Cairo?
expand_more
Plan on 500–1,000 EGP in small denominations (10s, 20s, 50s) on you at all times. Monuments increasingly take cards, but taxis, tuk-tuks, tips, street food, shoe-keepers at mosques, and many small sites are cash-only. Foreign credit/debit cards sometimes fail on Egyptian Uber — cash is your fallback. Withdraw from CIB, QNB or NBE ATMs inside bank branches to avoid skimmers.
Can I use Uber in Cairo and how does it work at the airport?
expand_more
Uber, Careem and DiDi all work well inside the city with fixed in-app prices. At Cairo International Airport, Uber cannot legally pick you up at the terminal curbside — you must buy a local SIM at an official Orange or Vodafone counter in arrivals, walk out to the outer parking zone, request the ride from there, and keep EGP cash on hand in case the app rejects your foreign card.
What should I wear to visit Cairo mosques?
expand_more
Shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Men need long trousers; women should carry a loose scarf (not mandatory inside most mosques but appreciated, and required at some). Shoes come off at the threshold, so bring socks. Shorts, sleeveless tops and flip-flops can get you refused entry. Many mosques keep a rack of cover-up robes at the door as a last-resort loan — aim to arrive prepared instead.
Is drinking tap water safe in Cairo?
expand_more
No — stick to bottled or filtered water even for brushing teeth. A 1.5L bottle is 10–15 EGP at supermarkets, 20–40 EGP at tourist restaurants. Refuse ice in drinks unless you're at a four- or five-star hotel or an international chain. Fresh juice from street carts is delicious but higher-risk; if in doubt, buy whole fruit and peel it yourself.
What's the tipping culture (baksheesh) in Cairo?
expand_more
Tipping is pervasive but amounts are small and specific. Expect: 10–15% cash for restaurant servers (separate from the 12% service charge, which doesn't reach staff), 2–5 EGP for restroom attendants, 10–20 EGP per bag for bellhops, 20–50 EGP per night for hotel housekeeping, 10–20 EGP for mosque shoe-keepers, 300–500 EGP for a full-day licensed tour guide. Always in cash, always small denominations.
Which interior pyramid should I climb — Khufu or Khafre?
expand_more
Khafre. It's 280 EGP versus 1,500 EGP for Khufu, the descending passage is more dramatic, and the burial chamber still contains its sarcophagus. Khufu's interior is a narrow, steep climb to an empty granite room — impressive only if you specifically want to say you went inside the Great Pyramid. Menkaure (200 EGP) is the quietest option if you just want any pyramid interior at minimal cost.
When is the worst time of year to visit Cairo?
expand_more
June through August — daytime temperatures on the Giza Plateau regularly exceed 38°C with zero shade, and the khamaseen sand winds can cut visibility. Ramadan (a shifting lunar month) means reduced monument hours and altered restaurant schedules; it's culturally rewarding for iftar evenings but logistically harder. October to April is the comfortable window, with December–February being peak tourist season and highest prices.