Cairo Travel Guide: What to See, Where to Stay & Local Tips

Cairo — Al-Qahira, "the victorious" — is a city of 20+ million people, ancient monuments, medieval mosques and modern chaos. It's overwhelming on arrival but unforgettable by departure. This guide focuses on what tourists actually need in the first 72 hours.

Top things to see

• Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx (see our Giza guide).
• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.
• Khan el-Khalili bazaar — 700-year-old Islamic Cairo market.
• Coptic Cairo — the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue.
• The Citadel of Saladin & Muhammad Ali Mosque.

Where to stay

Zamalek is a leafy island neighborhood popular with expats and easy for tourists. Downtown/Tahrir puts you close to museums but is noisy. Garden City is quiet and central. For a splurge, Nile-facing rooms at Four Seasons, Sofitel or Kempinski Nile.

What to eat

Try koshari (Egypt's national dish), ful medames, ta'amiya (Egyptian falafel), molokhia and fresh Nile fish. Popular local spots include Abou Tarek (koshari), Felfela (Egyptian classics) and Zooba (modern Egyptian street food).

Safety & scams

• Cairo is generally safe — millions of tourists visit each year without incident.
• Ignore anyone claiming a monument is "closed" and offering an alternative.
• Use Uber or Careem instead of hailing white taxis.
• Agree to prices before accepting anything (photos with locals, camel rides, etc.).

Staying online

An Egypt eSIM makes Cairo dramatically easier — Google Maps translates street names, Uber loads instantly, and you can WhatsApp your hotel from the airport.