Cairo is captivating chaos: a tangle of honking traffic, crowded cafés, lively markets and shouting vendors. While most tourists come for the big attractions—the Pyramids of Giza and the museums—it’s worth getting to know the Egyptian capital on its own.

Visit ancient mosques and Coptic churches. Take in the view from the minarets at the medieval Bab Zuweila gate. Cruise the Nile at sunset in a felucca, a traditional wooden sailboat.

For the best experience, visit Cairo in the shoulder season: March-April or September-October. Prices are lower then (although Cairo is an affordable destination any time of year) and the weather is pleasant. We’ll take you on a quick tour of Cairo: what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Egypt

1. Coverage for medical emergencies is essential. In Egypt, as in many other countries, medical providers usually demand cash payment for care provided. The U.S. Embassy “strongly recommends supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation,” the U.S. Department of State cautions, “since medical transport out of the country can be prohibitively expensive or logistically impossible.”¹ Trip insurance with emergency medical benefits can reimburse the cost of care for covered medical emergencies.
2. Without travel insurance, last-minute cancellations can be devastating. Don’t risk losing your vacation investment! Travel insurance with trip cancellation/interruption benefits can reimburse you for nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs if you must cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason.
3. 24-hour assistance provides help and reassurance. Cairo can be a difficult place to navigate, even for experienced tourists. If anything goes seriously wrong on your vacation—such as losing your passport or being injured in a car accident—contact 24-hour assistance for immediate help. Download the Allyz® TravelSmart app for rapid access to assistance.

What’s the best travel insurance plan for Egypt? OneTrip Prime is our most popular pick for vacations and international travel, and it covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). The Cancel Anytime optional upgrade, available on OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier, can reimburse 80% of your lost non-refundable trip costs if you cancel your trip for almost any unforeseeable reason your plan does not already cover.

3 of the Best Things to Do in Cairo

1. Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum. Twenty years and $1 billion in the making, the Grand Egyptian Museum (slated to open in 2023) is the world’s largest archaeological museum. Visitors can see some 100,000 artifacts, including the 5,000 recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.²
2. See the Pyramids of Giza. These ancient marvels are a must-see when you’re visiting Cairo, but the throngs of tourists, vendors, and scammers can be overwhelming. The best way to see the Pyramids: Hire a reputable guide in advance, go as early as possible, and bring plenty of water. Ignore the random people who demand to see your ticket, and avoid taking a horse or camel ride. Animal abuse is a long-standing and well-documented problem at the Pyramids.³
3. Hunt for treasures in local markets. The best-known souk (open-air bazaar), is Khan el-Khalili, a maze of merchants that dates to the 14^th century. Strolling around is one of the best things to do in Cairo—just be aware that bargains can be hard to come by. Less touristy markets include Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya) and Souk el Fustat, an indoor spot to browse Egyptian handcrafts and art.

3 of the best hotels in Cairo

At Marriott Mena House, you can wake up to a sunrise view of the Pyramids and stroll to see the Sphinx. This 5-star hotel boasts one of the finest locations in Cairo, as well as crisp and luxurious rooms, a pool, beautiful gardens and high-quality dining.

Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo is considered one of the best all-around hotels in Cairo for its hospitality, spectacular views of the Nile and the city skyline, and elegant rooms. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, the butler service, and the breakfast buffet.

If you’d prefer to be in the heart of Old Cairo, book one of the 17 suites at Le Riad Hotel de Charme. True to its name, this boutique hotel is charming, with colorful décor, friendly staff, a tea lounge and a highly rated rooftop restaurant. This hotel’s proximity to the historic Bayt Al-Suhaymi and the Khan el-Khalili market makes it an exciting (though perhaps not serene) place to stay.

3 of the best restaurants in Cairo

Befitting its long history as an international crossroads, Cairo’s restaurant scene is incredibly varied. Celebrated restaurants serve excellent Japanese, Chinese, Indian, French, Italian, Mediterranean, Thai and more—there’s even a popular American-style sports bar. But you didn’t come all this way to eat burgers and fries, right?

Instead, experience the spectrum of local flavors. Begin with a visit to El-Fishawy café, a storied spot that opened in 1797. While often packed with tourists, El-Fishawy retains is magical atmosphere. The house specialty is shai barad, tea which is heated in a basin of sand.⁴

In Zamalek, a neighborhood on the Nile island of Gezira, you’ll find Abou el Sid: a restaurant with moody décor and a huge menu of specialties like tajins cooked in earthenware pots, roasted eggplant, stuffed pigeon, and bessara (fava bean dip).

Finish with dinner at Al Khal Egyptian Restaurant, an acclaimed fine-dining spot that some call the best restaurant in Egypt. Al Khal is known for its grilled meats, as well as iconic Egyptian dishes like molokhia (a soup of leafy greens, garlic and your choice of meat) and koushary (rice, pasta, chickpeas and black lentils with fried onion and tomato sauce).

Be sure to buy travel insurance for your Egypt adventure! See affordable plan options from Allianz Travel Insurance.

What Do I Need to Travel to Cairo?

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