Travel to Egypt – Cairo
All my life, I’ve wanted to see the Egyptian pyramids. We grew up on King Tut, pyramids, and the tombs of Luxor. I wanted to climb inside, see the Egyptian hieroglyphs, and visit King Tut’s mask. I was fortunate to do it all. In July 2024, my brother and I traveled to Egypt. Below, I lay out the thought process to traveling.
If choosing to travel with children, it’s recommended that they’re older and can appreciate more. Maybe, high school ages could work. College age is best. I do not recommend bringing toddlers or elementary school aged children unless you’re visiting family. This overview is for the professional tourist and not for the family who’s visiting other family in Egypt.
Season to Travel
Traveling to Cairo will be hot. It’s mostly a dry heat and can be compared to being in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s cheaper to travel when no one wants to visit, but it’s more comfortable to travel when it’s colder. Sometimes, your schedule is dictated by children’s schedules. Traveling during the holidays will impact your travel costs. We went in the summer since children were out of school, travel costs were down, and we had better deals.
Note: Flip your mobile phone sides to better view the table.
| Area of Concern | Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
| Flight Costs | $700s to 900s | $800s to $1200s | $800s | $700s |
| Weather | Warm | Hot | Cooling | Comfortable |
Source: https://weatherspark.com/y/96939/Average-Weather-in-Cairo-Egypt-Year-Round#Figures-Summary
How to pack for this country
Depending on what time of year that you go, you’ll want to consider your packing style. Egypt may be less conservative than other Arab countries. How you dress will attract attention. It’s better to wear pants and polo or button down shirts to blend in, but it’s not unreasonable to wear shorts. Girls and women may need to consider their outfits. Try not to have too revealing of clothes and also keep in mind that about UV protection. Most indoor places have air conditioning. If you need heat relief, plan for it.
Suggested Packing List:
| Packing Item | Where to Buy |
| International Power Charger Block (existing two-prong US chargers will work on certain sockets) | $8 : https://amzn.to/409WiZW |
| Portable Recharging Battery | $26: https://amzn.to/49RmLyO |
| Cell Phone Cables | Bring existing cables. I would recommend a main and backup set. |
| Durable Travel Luggage | $210: https://amzn.to/3VPUnHC I’ll create a luggage post soon. I use this very case. |
| Travel Fold-able Duffel Bag (For shopping overflow) | $15 or less : https://amzn.to/41Pf2z7 |
| Travel Backpack (Try low weight, small space types) | $19 or less: https://amzn.to/4fyODZL |
| Non-Expensive Sunglasses and Hat | Existing if you can. Can get dirty and trashed |
| 5 days of underwear and socks | Existing if you can |
| 2 pants, 2 day shorts, 4 shirts,1 workout outfit, 1 belt | Existing if you can |
| One pair of walking shoes | Existing and expect to get dirty |
| Toiletry Items – Travel toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, and shampoos | Existing or buy at home. Place in gallon zip lock bag |
| Prescribed Medicines and Melatonin (for sleep) | All other medicine is available there and 1/20th the cost found in USA |
| Cell phones, electronic entertainment | Existing cell phone, Nintendo Switch, tablets |
| Travel Cell Phone Tripods | $40 : https://amzn.to/3BHkjOI I’m a fan of Manfotto for quality and resale |
| Wireless headphones | $20 : https://amzn.to/3VTPuxa Cheaper than airport costs |
| American Cash | $100 to $200 (for Tourist Visa and pop ups). Be sure it’s in $5,10, or $20 bills. Nothing over $20. For visiting sites, have $1 bills as easy bribes. |
| International Travel for Cell Phone | Check your provider. Getting eSIMs may work, but unsure about Egypt. I was charged $10 day for Egypt. Could hotspot if you need others to borrow traffic. |
| Printed copy of your travel plans power point. Includes copy of your passport. |
Things to Probably Not Pack
- Travel pillows – Why? It’s extra stuff and you could use your jacket. However, disregard if you’re a professional travel with a travel pillow
- Open toe shoes – It’s hot, but you’re going to walk everywhere. Probably best to not bring the flip flops. I recommend traveling light.
Picking Flights
When and Where to Leave: If you’re traveling alone or with a few people, it’s best to pick something that fits the slowest person in the group. It’s best to pick major airports such as LAX, JFK, or Washington’s Dulles in order to get the best flight times for the price. Best times to begin travel is between hours of 10 AM and 6 PM. Why? Comfort. 6 AM flights mean that you must get up at 3 AM that includes waking up, getting ready, travel time, check in, security lines, and passport control. If you’re comfortable sleeping on a plane, it’s OK to leave in the evening. A few alcohol drinks and you’re sleeping well. Keep in mind that your arrival to Cario may impact your ability to check into a hotel or AirBnB. Be ready for 2 AM arrival when everyone’s tired and there are limited taxi options. When it comes to eating, the airline will ensure that you’re taken care of and well fed before arrival. Try not to eat the airport if you’re trying to save money. Lastly, check in your luggage. Overhead space is limited. Bring your backpack full of electronics, battery back, and cables. If there’s a layover, you’re not dealing with your luggage and can enjoy jetting out.
When it comes to picking a seat, be sure to get a window or an aisle seat. SeatGuru.com is great for figuring out bad seats. It’s most likely that you’re not paying the money for business or first class. If you’re doing that, why are you reading my blog? Pay someone to do the planning and stay somewhere fancy. Do consider sitting near the middle of the plane for stability. I like it on the wings. When the plane lands, it doesn’t matter when you get off.
Lay overs and Hops: The adventure traveling in me seeks out layovers. From LAX to Egypt, I have options for London, Zurich, Rome, and Istanbul to name a few. You’ll need to decide how long the layover will be and how much you can see. Is it worth it? If you have 4 hours or less, it may not be worth leaving the airport since it’ll take customs, visas, travel (traffic included) and come back. I recommend two hours arrival before you fly out. Look for 4 to 10 hour layovers to get your best return. We did Rome and it was worth it. We had 10 hours and it was enough to leave the airport (30 minutes), get on a train (1 hour), and several minutes to figure out the subway to the spots we wanted. We ended up walking most of it and that was part of the joy. I’m a big fan of beer photos next to historic items. Take your special social media pictures. Pull out cash ($100 if you can do it) for emergencies. If you’re wondering about quick tours, research ahead if there’s a long line and if it’s worth skipping. It may be worth dedicated a future trip to that spot. It’s nice to get a teaser. I recommend picking up local alcohol from the duty free at airport and food while you’re out. Make sure you’re back at the airport 2 hours prior to lift off.
Also, never book a flight that has less than 1 1/2 hours layover. You need time to get off the plane and back onto the next one. It’s never worth it for 30 minutes because you’ll most likely not make it. As for the number of hops, it comes down to your comfort level and when you plan to arrive. It’s OK to have 2 hops. We went from LAX to Rome to Cairo. It’s OK to have more if it fits your budget and time. However, if you’re dealing with people with airline anxieties, keep the hops low and the layovers short. Just get from point A to B.
Arriving at airport
Arriving to this airport should be non-eventful. You’ll get off and walk a short period of time until you come to the customs line.
Important: $25 for 30 day tourist visa required before entering the passport exit line. It is best to have cash since they’ll try to say that their credit card machines aren’t working. Following the other tourists as they get their visa. If possible, you might want to get the visa online and have it printed out: https://www.ivisa.com/. The ATM at the airports may be out of service and you’re stuck. They’ll have mercy and their credit card machines may automatically work, but it’s a hassle.
I think there was wifi in the airport, but it’s slow. It’s time to turn on your international cell phone roaming.
Once through the gates, pick your luggage and be ready to travel to your lodging.
Travel to Lodging
I recommend not driving or renting a vehicle. Take a taxi as your visit. Expect a man to greet you and find a taxi. Ask for the price from A to B right away. He’ll give you an amount and that’s what you pay the taxi drive. He’ll want a tip. This is where your $5 or $10 cash tip will help. It’s best to have American dollars. Expect $10 – $30 to reach your destination. Most hotels will allow you to drop off your luggage early if you’re not able to check in before most 2 PM times.
Busses are going to take longer and most likely won’t help. I’d skip them.
Uber does work here (Not in Luxor), but other apps do! Careem is what the locals use. We used it and it was very affordable. While you’re waiting for a Careem pick up, you’ll be harassed by taxi drivers. You’re welcome to tell them you’re waiting for someone to pick you up. They’ll continue to offer you a cheaper price when you’re waiting and it gets annoying.
Picking Lodging
When it comes to lodging, there are three options. You can stay safe by getting an upscale hotel in the middle of the city, get lodging next to the Pyramids in Giza, or find an AirBnb for your family. It comes down to what you’re willing to pay. AirBnb is king on the price and can get the best views. We did one with the view of the Pyramids. It cost us around $115 a night and the host was amazing. Below is the link to where we booked. We could book in the same area for $50 night, but we had extra rooms just in case. You should check if your hotel or AirBnB has laundry washing capability and air conditioning.
If you’re taking a family, stay in the center of the city. It is marked green in the middle of Cairo. Stay next to the river. Teenagers will be more comfortable with the hotel options and restaurants. You can easily take taxis to the sites and back. However, if you’re an adventure traveler, I highly recommend finding a place right next to the Giza pyramids. The view is one of a kind and pictures do not do justice. If you’re staying in Giza, expect to be solicited for everything. For those who aren’t use to 3rd world countries, you may find the poverty to be too much and dirty.
How to daily travel
Walking will be a challenge when it’s hot. You’ll always be solicited for taxi rides or sold stuff. When you leave the lodging location, figure out your travel routine. Crossing the roads are dangerous. There are people jaywalking and crossing the streets at all times of the day. Figure out how they do and try it. If you’re dealing with kids, don’t try it. Just go to the stop lights or order a taxi. Kids aren’t use to it and may risk getting hurt.
How to take photos
If you’re taking a DSLR camera, you’ll want to take a wide angle and regular kit lens. The wide angle will get your landscape shots while the regular kit lense will get everything else. Play with your manual settings to get better shorts inside of the low light places.
However, the best is mobile cameras. Samsung Ultra 24 or the latest IPhone will have all the best abilities that a DSLR provides without the hassle of changing lenses. Just turn the camera around and use the selfie mode. You’ll get plenty of good photos without needing someone else or a tripod. Also, selfie sticks are dumb. Leave them at home or better yet, put them in the trash. It’s best to get a better phone with cameras that support turning it around.
I didn’t get a GoPro or Ace270. I found that my mobile camera did much better in low light. I found it easier to start, stop, and delete recordings than the GoPros. We went up inside the pyramids with this method and it worked very well. Also, the mobile phone cameras are starting to allowing recording at 4K and 8K. You can do so much with this as being your option.
I honestly believe most people are able to take decent photos. I would recommend spending time take as many photo as you can. When will you ever come back to Egypt again? Go for broke.
How to eat and drink
Egypt is very friendly on food. You’ll find everything to be so cheap, you’ll not believe the prices. A meal could cost you $4 and if you feel like you’re not paying enough. Don’t bother going grocery shopping. You’re best to order take out and bring it back to the lodging location. Microwave and enjoy the leftovers. If you have children, there are plenty of options for chicken and fast foods. You’ll not be disappointed. Everything is a value menu. Deserts are tasty and kids should eat well. If you’re a foodie who is too good for fast food, then maybe you should skip my section. Fast food in Egypt isn’t the same as the United States. It’s a comfort food for children and maybe, you’ll need that for a start.
As seen on instagram, it’s totally worth getting KFC and Pizza Hut food next to the Pyramids. It’s a killer picture!
As in most 3rd world countries, avoid the ice and stick to bottled waters or drinks. This goes for your lodging. Don’t think that they have a filtering system. Brush your teeth with bottled water and don’t put the shower water in your mouth.
I didn’t find any exotic foods in Egypt that were found in other parts of the world. Most of the time, the food is very healthy and affordable. Most people speak English in the tourist areas.
When it comes to alcohol, there are liquor stores in the areas called Drinkies. You’re best to get all your booze and bring it back to the lodging. It is difficult to find some places that serve alcohol, but they exist. The Turkish coffee is amazing. Since it’s always hot, travel with water in your backpack.
Traveling during Ramadan is a whole different experience. Be ready for limitations and local Muslims to limit day time experiences. While staying in Abu Dhabi, we’ve noticed that everyone shifted their schedules to at night and slept during the day. Maybe this applies to Egypt too.
Must haves to visit
These are the must haves if you’re spending any money to travel to Egypt. Even if you plan to go back, make this happen for your first visit.
Giza Pyramids Spinx
Official Website: https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/giza-plateau
You can show up yourself or pay for someone to take you. If you’re not an adventure traveler, you’re best to pay for someone to take you through. If you’re going solo, like we did, be sure to reserve tickets online and scan with your phone or best print them out. Expect to spend 4 hours onsite and arrive as early in the morning as you can. The later in the day, the busier and hotter it’ll become. You’ll be charged money to take any ride either by car, on camel, or wagon. Also, buy the addons to go inside the pyramids. It’s an experience and expect a workout. Below is an example video of your possible experience. After taking pictures next to the sphinx, climbing inside the largest pyramid and walk around to see the others, it’s tiring. I didn’t find interest in the other tombs or other sites in the area. You could get those, but aren’t must to haves.
New Egyptian Grand Museum
Official Website: https://grandegyptianmuseum.org/
This museum is new and is still in progress. However, through online reservations, some can visit this in the early months prior to a public opening. There are so many artifacts that you can look up close and touch. It’s clean and well kept. There are affordable places to eat and drink. It’s very family friendly. This is a must have for anyone. When you climb the stairs, you’ll see those pyramids. Do pay for the audio tour. It’s worth it.
Original Egyptian Museum
Source: https://egyptianmuseumcairo.eg/
This is where you’ll find the King Tut exhibit until it’s moved to the new Grand Museum. It’s worth buying the ticket online and having it ready before you go in. You may find yourself solicited for guides and that’s OK. You can pay them to show you around, but you’ll want to know what you’re looking for. Look for King Tut’s treasures, the two brothers painting, and the book of the dead (framed on a wall). You can knock this place out in two hours or more if you’re hiring a guide. It’s dusty and the exhibits are old fashion. Make sure you get what you came for.
“Nice to haves” to visit
If you’re traveling with a family, you’re going to take them to the mall. Let them shop and eat. The world is becoming a smaller place as we see places we have in common. Shopping malls is a part of the modern world. There is only so many history sites you can visit before you become numb. Hence, these are nice to haves. Instagram places such as the Pizza Hut & KFC is good to try, but not a must. We weren’t disappointed. We left Cairo knowing we did enough.
- Coptic Churches
- Khan Al-Khalili (open-air bazaar)
- Pizza Hut & KFC next to the Pyramid
- Hookah Bars and Turkish Coffee cafes
- Cairo Citadel
- Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- Saqqara (Sakkara) Pyramids
How to leave to airport
Finally, you’re ready to leave. It’s best to leave after 12 PM. Leave enough time to eat, pack, clean, and make it to the airport. Taxis or ride shares are best. Don’t take a bus. Leave yourself an hour just to arrive to the airport and 2 hours for international, 1 1/2 hours for domestics. The airport security is old school and they must scan your luggage. It’s going to be stressful. Once inside, be prepared to eat and pay attention to the leaving times. Thanks for coming to Cairo. I hope this gives just enough to make your trip easier.
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