31 Dynasties · One City
From the first stone pyramid at Saqqara to the last treasures of Tutankhamun — Cairo holds five thousand years within a day's reach.
The latest guide
Leaving Cairo step by step: when to set off from your part of the city, the screening at the terminal door, check-in cut-offs, exit passport control, security, duty free and the VAT refund that is harder to claim than it looks.
What happens after you land at Cairo: passport control, baggage reclaim, customs rules on alcohol, cash, drones and phones, and how to get cash, a SIM and a fair ride through the arrivals-hall taxi gauntlet.
The visa-on-arrival process at Cairo airport in 2026, step by step: the new USD 36 digital QR visa, the kiosks, the USD 30 paper sticker at the bank counters, the queue order and what to do when things go wrong.
Every lounge at Cairo airport, terminal by terminal: who gets in with Priority Pass, LoungeKey or airline status, walk-up prices of USD 38–50, the three-hour limits, EgyptAir's own lounges and when a lounge is worth it.
Where to sleep at or near Cairo airport: the sixteen sleep pods terminal by terminal, the reality of the benches, the Le Méridien bridge to Terminal 3, shuttle hotels, Heliopolis, and the visa question that decides it.
How to choose a Cairo layover tour that gets you back in time: tour types, 2026 price bands, what is included, where to book, the questions to ask and the return-cutoff rule that should drive everything.
The honest layover maths for Cairo: how much of your connection you really get, when you can leave the airport, Egypt's free 96-hour transit visa, what happens to your bags and when EgyptAir pays for a hotel.
Every subject we cover, and the most recent writing on each.
The metro, ride-hailing apps, white taxis, the river bus and airport transfers: what each costs and when it beats the alternatives.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir, and the Coptic and Islamic collections: hours, prices, and how long each really needs.
Tickets, timing and entry to the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum, plus reaching the plateau and handling the touts.
Realistic daily costs in Egyptian pounds, currency exchange, ATMs and cards, tipping and baksheesh, and how to see Cairo on very little.
Koshari, ful and taameya, riverside restaurants and street stalls. What to eat in Cairo, where to find it, and how ordering actually works.
Day-by-day Cairo and Egypt itineraries, from a single day to two weeks, built around what actually fits.
Planning the trip itself: when to visit, e-visa and entry, how many days Cairo needs, safety, and itineraries that fit the city’s distances.
Dress, mosque visits, Ramadan, photography rules, useful Arabic and advice for women travellers: the local norms that keep a Cairo trip smooth.
Saqqara, Dahshur, Memphis, Alexandria, Fayoum and Luxor. How long each takes, what it costs, and whether it justifies the early start.
Feluccas, dinner cruises, the Corniche walk, and Gezira and Zamalek island. How to get onto the river in Cairo and what each option is like.
Khan el-Khalili, Egyptian cotton, papyrus, spices and handmade crafts. Where to buy, what things should cost, and how to bargain without stress.
Sights, walks and experiences across the city, from the Giza plateau and Islamic Cairo to Al-Azhar Park, Cairo Tower and the quieter corners.
Zamalek, Downtown, Garden City, Maadi and Giza compared: what each neighbourhood costs, what it puts you near, and which hotels earn the money.
