Capycation

Cairo holidays

Ancient monuments and a dense, modern capital share the same stretch of the Nile, with the pyramids of Giza on the city's edge and a fast-growing museum quarter around them.

39°C AugustBest Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec3–5 nights

Check flights on Aviasales

At a glance

  • history and archaeology
  • museums and old-quarter markets
  • short cultural breaks

Trip cost

4 nights in Cairo≈ €350–€470 pp
Return flight
≈€209
Stay
≈€220
Food & local
≈€40

Includes the return fare from London Gatwick. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.

Stays

Stays in Cairo

From €5/night · Typical €43 · 302 stays · 4-night stay assumed

Booking.com
View all 302 stays
Map

The interactive stay map is provided by Stay22 (a third-party service) and loads only with your consent. See our privacy policy.

Review or change this anytime on our privacy page.

Plus 298 more places to stay.

Getting to Cairo

  • AirportCairo International Airport (CAI)
  • Transfer optionsTaxi

Cairo International Airport sits northeast of the city; taxis are the standard way into central Cairo, arranged directly or through hotels.

Flexible-date fares from London Gatwick

August from €378 return

Typical €595 · 13 nights

Tue 25 Aug

Wizz Air UK

See August flights

September from €245 return

Typical €328 · 2 nights

Mon 21 Sept

easyJet

See September flights

October from €226 return

Typical €297 · 7 nights

Tue 20 Oct

easyJet

See October flights

November from €209 return cheapest

Typical €294 · 6 nights

Sat 21 Nov

easyJet

See November flights

Indicative, per traveller. You book with Aviasales.

Cheapest and typical return fare to Cairo by month, from London Gatwick.
See fare details — 4 months as a table

Pick a month to set your trip to its real dates.

MonthLowestTypicalOptions
Aug€378€5959
Sep€245€32813
Oct€226€2975
Nov€209€2944

Areas of Cairo

A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.

  • Downtown / TahrirThe historic centre and the most practical base for reaching the Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and transport links on foot or by short taxi ride.
  • ZamalekA quieter island district on the Nile, suited to travellers who want tree-lined streets, cafes and easy river views away from the main traffic.
  • Islamic CairoBest for visitors prioritising mosques, historic gates and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar over a modern hotel base.
  • GizaThe practical choice for a stay built entirely around the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, further from the old city centre.

When to go

Monthly climate normals (ERA5 reanalysis, 2022–2024). Gold months are the best weather fit.

Best overall
March · April · November · December
Hottest
July · 40°C
Wettest
February · 11mm
  • Jan20°5mm
  • Feb21°11mm
  • Mar25°5mm
  • Apr32°2mm
  • May34°0mm
  • Jun38°0mm
  • Jul40°0mm
  • Aug39°0mm
  • Sep37°0mm
  • Oct32°4mm
  • Nov27°1mm
  • Dec23°6mm

What each season is like

Spring
March and April warm up quickly; mornings stay pleasant for the Giza plateau before afternoon heat builds.
Summer
June to August is hot and dry with little relief in the middle of the day, so sightseeing works best planned around early mornings and evenings.
Autumn
September and October cool gradually from summer's peak, a comfortable and quieter alternative to winter's crowds.
Winter
December to February is Cairo's most comfortable season for sightseeing and its busiest with tour groups, with mild days and cool nights.

Compare Egypt destinations

Still deciding? Other Egypt destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.

DestinationAugTypical stay
Hurghada36°C5–10 nights
Luxor43°C2–4 nights
Marsa Alam37°C5–9 nights
Sharm el-Sheikh41°C5–10 nights

Good to know about Cairo

Worth it for

The Giza pyramids and the Sphinx sit on the city's western edge, a short drive rather than a separate trip.

Keep in mind

The Giza plateau and other major sites offer little shade, and midsummer heat makes a full day of sightseeing uncomfortable.

Why go

  • The Giza pyramids and the Sphinx sit on the city's western edge, a short drive rather than a separate trip.
  • The Grand Egyptian Museum, close to the pyramids, brings together the full Tutankhamun collection for the first time, alongside the older Egyptian Museum downtown.
  • Islamic Cairo's mosques and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar sit within a walkable old quarter, with Nile-side Zamalek offering a calmer, greener base nearby.

Worth knowing

  • The Giza plateau and other major sites offer little shade, and midsummer heat makes a full day of sightseeing uncomfortable.
  • Traffic and noise are heavy across central Cairo, and journeys between sights on opposite sides of the city take longer than the distances suggest.
  • Persistent touting around the main tourist sites is common and can wear on a first visit.