Cairo: your first hour after landing
You have just landed in Cairo International (CAI), in Heliopolis on the city's north-east edge, and the first decision is the ride: 22 km to Tahrir Square that can take 45 minutes at dawn or two hours at dusk. Uber and Careem run from signed pickup points outside the terminals, white taxis wait on the kerb if you agree the fare first, and airport bus 356 rolls to Tahrir for EGP 15. Beyond the airport lies the densest sightseeing city on earth: the Giza pyramids and the fully open Grand Egyptian Museum, the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, a medieval bazaar, and day trips to Saqqara and Alexandria. This guide walks the arrival in order — the visa kiosks, the ride in, where to base yourself, the first koshary, and the honest safety picture as of October 2026.
In this guide
You just landed in Cairo. Sort the US$25 visa at the bank kiosks before passport control, then ride in by pre-booked transfer or Uber — 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. Base in Downtown, Zamalek or Giza, keep data live with an Airalo eSIM, and give day one to the Giza plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Quick facts
Airport
Getting in
Currency
Languages
Time zone
Emergency
Plugs
Tap water
Tourist tax
Best months
Map
Stays, sights, and landmarks in Cairo — live hotel prices plus the key places from this guide.
Settle in
Cash and cards
Change a little at the airport banks or use the ATMs after customs. You want small notes (EGP 10, 20 and 50) from the start — taxi drivers, porters and tips run on them. If your flight was disrupted, AirHelp can check whether you are owed compensation.
Mind the clock
The same 22 km takes 45 minutes at dawn, nearly 2 hours at 6 pm — build the buffer in.
You have just landed in Cairo International (CAI), a big airport in Heliopolis, about 22 km north-east of Tahrir Square.
Before passport control, most visitors buy their visa at the bank kiosks (see Language, visa and entry). After baggage claim, a gauntlet of drivers offers rides.
Getting around
Times are airport to city centre.
App ride (Uber or Careem)
Uber and Careem both serve CAI with signed pickup points outside each terminal (Terminal 2 uses the lower-level parking); fares are fixed in the app before you ride, and the downtown run swings from 45 minutes at dawn to two hours at peak. Both apps also work across the city all day.
Pre-booked private transfer
The no-negotiation option for late landings and heavy bags: a driver waits in arrivals with your name and the price is fixed when you book. Kiwitaxi and Welcome Pickups both cover Cairo International; hotel-arranged cars run a little more.
White taxi
White taxis queue on the kerb outside arrivals; meters are often 'broken', so settle the full fare before the car moves, every time, and keep small notes ready. A ride across to Giza costs more — agree that figure separately.
Airport bus 356 or 400
Bus 356 (air-conditioned, about EGP 15) and the near-24-hour 400 (about EGP 10) leave the Terminal 1 bus station for Abdel Moneim Riad by Tahrir Square, via Ramses. Slow and crowded with luggage, but the price of a coffee; a free shuttle links the terminals every 10 to 25 minutes.
Cairo is vast, loud and not built for walking. Sights sit in clusters — Giza, Downtown and Tahrir, Islamic Cairo, Zamalek, Coptic Cairo. The metro is fastest across the centre, app rides easiest door to door.
App rides are the default. Uber and Careem work at the airport and across the city, with signed pickup points outside each terminal (Terminal 2: lower-level parking). Fares are fixed in the app; cars are air-conditioned.
Taxis and transfers. White taxis are metered in theory, but meters are often "broken" — agree the full fare before you move off, every time. For a late landing or heavy bags, a pre-booked car removes the negotiation: Kiwitaxi and Welcome Pickups both cover Cairo International. Driving yourself is no shortcut — lanes are advisory — but for Saqqara trips, AutoEurope compares the airport desks.
The metro. Three lines, cheap and air-conditioned, 05:30 to midnight. Sadat station, under Tahrir Square, is the Lines 1 and 2 interchange. Line 2 serves Giza station — a short taxi hop from the plateau. Fares run EGP 5 to 10 by distance.
On foot. Inside one district, walking is the pleasure: Zamalek's tree-lined streets, the Corniche at sunset, the lanes of Khan el-Khalili.
In the city
Do this
- Start at the Grand Egyptian Museum — The world's largest museum complex, open since November 2025 beside the Giza plateau: 100,000 artifacts, the complete Tutankhamun collection, and Khufu's solar boat. Tickets are timed, online only at tickets.gem.eg; foreign adults pay about EGP 1,590 (about US$29).
- Walk the Giza plateau early — Gates open at 07:00 in winter. Entry is EGP 700 (about US$13); Khufu's Great Pyramid interior is a separate EGP 1,500 ticket (about US$28), capped daily — buy it first. Enter via the new Visitor Centre on the Cairo–Fayoum Road.
- See the old museum in Tahrir too — The 1902 Egyptian Museum still holds some 120,000 pieces, for EGP 550 (about US$10), open daily 09:00–17:00. Tutankhamun's treasures have moved to the GEM.
- Climb into Islamic Cairo — The Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (about EGP 550 with the grounds) for the city's best panorama, then Khan el-Khalili, the bazaar trading since 1382, and tea at El Fishawy café.
- Sail a felucca at sunset — An hour on the Nile resets any arrival day. Boats leave from docks by the Qasr El Nil bridge.
- Eat koshary where Cairenes do — Egypt's national dish — rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, fried onions — costs a couple of dollars and tastes like the city itself. The names locals swear by are in Where to eat first.
Skip that
- Skip the unofficial "guides" at the Giza gates — Anyone who says the site is closed today, tickets are sold out, or you must take their camel is running a script. Buy at the official windows or online.
- Skip crossing the city at rush hour — From about 16:00 to 20:00 the bridges and Corniche lock solid — use the metro.
- Skip shorts-and-vest sightseeing at mosques — You will be turned away or handed a robe. Carry a light scarf or cover-up and walk straight in.
- Skip the old Solar Boat Museum stop — It has closed; Khufu's boat now sits in its own hall at the GEM.
For bookable versions of the big days out, the operators on GetYourGuide's Cairo page are the ones we checked; three anchor Day trips and more below.
After you land in Cairo: Bookable experiences
Where to stay your first nights
Marriott Mena House Cairo.
Best for the pyramids-at-breakfast splurge — 40 acres of gardens with Khufu on the horizonThe grande dame at the foot of the pyramids: a former royal hunting lodge on 6 Pyramids Road in Giza, set in 40 acres of gardens, with pyramid-view rooms and breakfast at the 139 Pavilion. Best for: waking up to the pyramids.
Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Cairo.
Best for the downtown base — pool deck, Egyptian Museum two minutes away, Sadat metro under the squareA high-rise at 2 Kasr Al Nile Street, effectively on Tahrir Square: 295 rooms, an outdoor pool, the Egyptian Museum a two-minute walk, Sadat metro under the square. Best for: a central, full-service base.
Meramees Hostel.
Best for the budget downtown base — balconies, shared kitchen and free breakfast by Talaat Harb SquareA travellers' hostel at 32 Mohammad Sabri Abou Alam Street by Talaat Harb Square: high ceilings, wooden floors, balconies, shared kitchen, free breakfast, Tahrir a short walk away. Dorms from about US$10. Best for: downtown on the cheap.
Giza puts the pyramids outside your window and the GEM at walking distance. Downtown and Tahrir are the practical heart: old museum, metro interchange, bazaar within reach. Leafy Zamalek, on its island, is the calm, café-lined upgrade.
Where to eat first
Eat Egyptian first; the international scene can wait. Koshary is the city's defining bowl; two names below fight over the crown. Ta'ameya (broad-bean falafel), ful medames, hawawshi and kunafa round out the first-day list. Alcohol is limited to hotels and some restaurants.
Zooba
— 16 26 July Street, Zamalek. The modern face of Egyptian street food: koshary, ta'ameya sandwiches and hibiscus coolers in a bright room on the MENA 50 Best list. EGP 200–400 (about US$4–7). Open about 08:00 to midnight.
Koshary Abou Tarek
— 16 Marouf Street, Downtown, near Talaat Harb. A koshary institution serving nothing else since the 1950s: pick your size, watch the bowl assembled layer by layer, pay EGP 60–120 (about US$1–2). Cash is king.
Abou El Sid
— 157 26 July Street, Zamalek. The sit-down classic: duck, molokhia, stuffed pigeon and mezze in a moody, old-Cairo interior. Book for dinner; budget EGP 600–1,200 per person (about US$11–22). Open 13:00 to 01:00.
To graze with a local steering, try the food-walk versions on Klook; GetYourGuide's Cairo listings include the Nile dinner cruises.
Day trips and more
Giza plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Plateau at opening time, GEM after lunch while the heat peaks: pyramids and Sphinx in the morning cool, then the full Tutankhamun collection in air-conditioned halls. Guided versions add pickup and skip the ticket lines — but this tour's price excludes entrance fees, so budget on top. Check availability →
Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur
The older, quieter necropolises to the south: Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara (about EGP 600, about US$11), the fallen Ramses II at Memphis (about EGP 200, about US$4), and the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur, which you can climb inside almost alone. A private guided trip covering all three takes about 5 hours. Check availability →
Alexandria
220 km north, about 3 hours each way: the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, the Roman amphitheatre at Kom El-Deka, seafood lunch on the harbour, and Qaitbay Citadel where the Lighthouse stood. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a photo stop on this tour (closed Fridays). A ten-hour day. Check availability →
When to go and what it costs
When to go.
October to April is Cairo season: days of 18–28°C, cool evenings. December and January are busiest and coolest; March and April can catch the khamsin wind. From May the heat builds past 35°C. Late October is close to perfect.
What it costs.
Cairo is a great-value capital. The big-ticket items are the sights: Giza EGP 700, the GEM about EGP 1,590, Khufu's interior EGP 1,500. Around them, life is cheap: metro EGP 5–10, koshary lunch EGP 60–120, a sit-down dinner EGP 600–1,200, app rides for a few dollars. A comfortable day lands around US$60–90 excluding your hotel.
What to pack
Tap items to check them off — your list is saved on this device.
Pack for sun, dust and walking on uneven stone. Days are warm from October, evenings cool enough for a layer. Modest dress earns its place twice: at mosques, where shoulders, knees and (for women) hair need covering, and everywhere else it draws less attention.
- Comfortable walking shoes — see reviews Shop walking shoes on Amazon →
- Sunscreen — see reviews Shop sunscreen on Amazon →
- Reusable water bottle — see reviews Shop water bottle on Amazon →
- Phone charger and power bank — see reviews Shop power bank on Amazon →
- Daypack — see reviews Shop daypack on Amazon →
- Sunglasses — see reviews Shop sunglasses on Amazon →
- Light rain jacket — see reviews Shop rain jacket on Amazon →
Language, visa and entry
! Check visa requirements before you fly
Visa and entry.
Most visitors — including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders — can buy a 30-day single-entry visa on arrival for US$25 in cash, paid at the bank kiosks before passport control (carry small US bills; cards not always accepted). The same visa is sold in advance via the official eVisa portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg, also US$25 — apply about a week ahead. Your passport needs six months' validity. The catch: the free Sinai resorts stamp covers Sharm El Sheikh arrivals only, not Cairo. One 2026 report flagged a possible rise in the fee to US$30.
Money, briefly.
Change money at banks and official exchanges, not with touts; ATMs are everywhere.
Six phrases that carry the day:
Safety and health
Read the advisories first
As of October 2026, the US State Department rates Egypt Level 3, Reconsider Travel, citing terrorism, with Level 4 Do Not Travel zones in North Sinai and near the Libyan border; Britain's FCDO advises against those same areas but not Cairo, Giza or the Nile Valley. Cairo runs on visible security — expect bag scanners at hotels, museums and sights. Check your own nationality's current advisory before you book.
Hassle is the everyday tax, not danger
At Giza and in the bazaar the routine is well-worn: the closed-site story, the free gift that isn't free, the camel whose photo costs more than the ride. Agree every price before anything moves, buy only at official windows, and keep a polite no ready.
Traffic is the real hazard
Crossing Cairo streets takes commitment: judge the flow, move steadily, never assume a car will stop. Stick to bottled water, ease into raw salads and ice at first, and respect the sun.
Dress, photos and emergencies
Cover shoulders and knees at religious sites (a scarf for women), never photograph police, military or airport security, and leave drones at home. In an emergency: police 122, ambulance 123, tourist police 126.
Related destinations
If you liked Cairo, try these next:
Frequently asked questions
The visa, the ride in, the museum and the money, in short.
Facts checked October 2026.
Most nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders, can buy a 30-day single-entry visa on arrival for US$25 in cash at the bank kiosks before passport control. The same visa is sold via the eVisa portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg, also US$25 — apply a week ahead. Passports need six months' validity; the free Sinai-only stamp doesn't cover Cairo.
An Uber or Careem to Downtown or Zamalek runs about EGP 150–250 (roughly US$3–5): 45 minutes in light traffic, up to 2 hours at peak. White taxis agree roughly EGP 200–300 before departure. Cheapest is airport bus 356 or 400 from Terminal 1 to Tahrir Square, EGP 10–15.
Yes — it opened in stages from October 2024, fully on 4 November 2025, including the complete Tutankhamun collection and Khufu's solar boat hall. Tickets are timed, sold online only at tickets.gem.eg; foreign adults pay about EGP 1,590 (roughly US$29). It sits 2 km from the pyramids — pair them in one day.
October 2026 checks: Giza plateau EGP 700 (about US$13) for foreign adults, EGP 1,500 (about US$28) extra for the Great Pyramid of Khufu's interior, capped daily, about EGP 600 for Saqqara. The old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Citadel charge EGP 550 each. Tickets sell by card at most gates, or via the egymonuments portal.
October to April, with days around 18–28 degrees and cool evenings. December and January are busiest and coolest; from May the heat passes 35 degrees and sightseeing shifts to dawn and dusk.
The city is security-conscious, with scanners at hotels and sights. In October 2026 the US State Department rates Egypt Level 3, Reconsider Travel, citing terrorism, with Level 4 Do Not Travel zones in North Sinai and near the Libyan border; the UK FCDO warns against the same areas, not Cairo, Giza or the Nile Valley. Agree every fare in advance and skip the unofficial guides at the Giza gates.
Prices are October 2026 checks. The pound moves fast — figures were converted at roughly EGP 54 to US$1, so treat the dollar amounts as the steadier guide.
Cairo, in your pocket
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Sources and last verified
Prices in pounds were checked in October 2026 at roughly EGP 54 to US$1 and will drift — dollar figures are the steadier guide. Facts were drawn from the US State Department and UK FCDO advisories; the Grand Egyptian Museum's official pages and ticket portal; the Egyptian eVisa portal; and the hotels', restaurants' and operators' own pages, each opened during research.
Last verified: October 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: hotel names, transfers, experiences, and products linked in this guide may earn After You Land a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and times were checked in Oct 2026 and change often — confirm before you book.