Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum opened late 2025, Khan el-Khalili's lanes and the Citadel's minarets, Cairo packs 5,000 years of history. Here's how to tackle it in 2 or 3 days.
Cairo at a glance
Population
22M (metro)
Airport
CAI
Ideal stay
2 to 3 days
Budget / day
€30-200
Flight Paris
~4h30 direct
Time diff
+1h winter, 0h summer
Current climate
Best season
In brief
Book the Grand Egyptian Museum online
Opened to the public in November 2025, 2 km from the pyramids. Timed-slot ticket mandatory via the official site, card payment only. Around 1,200 EGP (~€22) for non-residents.
Pyramids of Giza at opening
700 EGP (~€13) for the plateau, 1,500 EGP to enter Khufu. Arrive at 8am to dodge the bus crowds and the heat. Card-only tickets at the gate.
Khan el-Khalili: early morning or after 8pm
The historic souk comes alive at dusk. Mandatory stop at El Fishawy café, 250 years old. Haggle at 40-50% of the asking price on tourist items.
Uber and Careem everywhere
Reliable pricing, English-friendly. Always prefer the app to white taxis with no meter, especially from the airport (inflated flat fares). About 200-300 EGP from downtown to Giza.
Cash nearly useless, card everywhere
Since 2025, 99% of archaeological sites refuse cash. Keep 500 EGP in notes for taxis, baksheesh and street stalls, everything else goes on card.
Must-see
The three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure on the plateau, guarded by the Sphinx. The only surviving wonder of the Ancient World.
Inaugurated late 2025 at Giza. 100,000 pieces, including the full Tutankhamun collection and Khufu's solar boat. The world's largest archaeological museum.
The historic red museum on Tahrir Square, partly emptied for the GEM but still holds the royal mummies and beautiful pieces. Old-school charm.
The Fatimid grand bazaar, open since 1382. Copper, spices, jewelry, shisha pipes. Legendary cafés El Fishawy and Naguib Mahfouz inside.
12th-century fortress overlooking the city. At the top, the two-minaret Mohamed Ali Mosque with its alabaster interior. Panoramic view of Cairo.
Old Christian quarter around the Babylon fortress: Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa), Saint Sergius, Coptic Museum. Calm and out of time.
30 km south: Djoser's step pyramid (the oldest), Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid. Far less crowded than Giza.
The 9th-century nilometer that measured the annual flood, and the Manial Museum in an overlooked princely palace. Quiet on the Nile.
187 m on Zamalek, Africa's tallest structure when inaugurated in 1961. Panoramic deck to grasp the scale of the megalopolis.
Floating restaurant with Sufi tanoura and raqs sharqi shows for 2 hours. Touristy but enjoyable, Cairo lit up by night.
Choose your district
Island on the Nile, calm and residential. Cafés, galleries, embassies. The best compromise for a serene stay. From €40/night.
★ Recommended
Next to the Egyptian Museum, faded Belle Époque buildings, photogenic. Buzzing day and night, constant noise. From €25/night.
Central
At the foot of the pyramids, hotels with plateau views. Handy for the GEM, far from the historic center. From €50/night.
Pyramid view
Around Coptic and Islamic Cairo, historic immersion. Few hotels, mostly guesthouses. From €30/night.
Authentic
Getting around
Uber & Careem
The easiest: fixed fare, identified driver, in-app or card payment. Downtown to Giza costs 200-300 EGP. Available 24/7.
Cairo Metro
3 lines, fastest way to cross town. Dirt cheap (8 EGP per ride), women-only cars at the front. Packed at rush hour.
Airport bus
Cairo Airport Shuttle lines 27 and 381 to downtown, 5-10 EGP. Slow and complex, just take Uber from CAI (250-400 EGP).
On foot in Khan el-Khalili
The souk and Islamic quarter are best explored on foot. Downtown is walkable too. Elsewhere, taxi by default given the distances.
Climate & crowds
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Winter
Nov to Mar · 10-22°C, dry · Ideal: mild days, cool evenings, crisp skies
Spring
Apr to May · 18-30°C, warm · OK, watch for khamsin (sandstorm winds) in April
Summer
Jun to Aug · 25-38°C, scorching · Avoid: 38°C by day, heavy pollution, exhausting sites
Autumn
Sep to Oct · 22-32°C, hot · Good in October, still hot in September
How much
Backpacker
€30
per day
Comfort
€90
per day
Premium
€260
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
30 km away · Step pyramid and Memphis necropolis
2h30 by train · Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Mediterranean corniche
2 h away · Lake Qarun, Wadi El Rayan white desert, whale fossils
📍 1h flight · Valley of the Kings and Theban temples
FAQ
Thomas Bernard ✓
·Geographer & traveler
Last updated: June 9, 2026.