30.06.2026 г. · 9 min read · By Mohamed Hassan · Last updated 11.07.2026 г.
Written by Mohamed Hassan
Licensed Egyptian tour guide, based in Cairo, 30+ years leading trips across Egypt.
Zamalek at golden hour — where I usually meet guests on their first evening.
Cairo rewards travellers who prepare a little. Do these things and the city opens up to you; skip them and you'll spend a day being pitched. Here is what I tell every guest before their first Cairo day.
Quick answer
The five habits that make a great Cairo trip:
- ✓ Use Uber / Careem — never street taxis without price agreed
- ✓ Two-wallet system: 800 EGP daily, rest in hotel safe
- ✓ Bottled water only, including for teeth-brushing
- ✓ Long trousers / long skirts + covered shoulders in the city
- ✓ Say 'la, shukran' and keep walking past touts at the Pyramids
Quick facts
- Best season:
- October to April (cooler, sunny)
- Ideal duration:
- 2–3 days for a proper Cairo stay
- Budget:
- €60–150 per day depending on hotel category
- Perfect for:
- First-time visitors, culture lovers
- Family friendly:
- Yes — Egyptians spoil children
- Luxury friendly:
- Yes — Marriott Mena House, Four Seasons Nile Plaza
- Difficulty:
- Easy with a guide, moderate DIY
Money — the two-wallet trick
ATMs at CIB, HSBC and QNB give the best rates. Withdraw Egyptian pounds in reasonable amounts (2,000–3,000 EGP at a time). Keep a small daily wallet with 500–800 EGP in small notes for taxis, tips and street purchases; keep the rest in a separate hotel-safe wallet. Cards are accepted in most hotels and better restaurants; small shops, markets and taxis are cash-only. Euros and US dollars are widely accepted in tourist zones but at a mediocre rate.
Taxis — Uber every time
Uber and Careem both operate everywhere in Cairo. Fares are clear, drivers rated, no negotiation. Street taxis (white or the older black-and-white) work fine too but you must agree the price before you sit down — otherwise you'll be quoted five times the fare on arrival. Never accept a taxi from the airport arrivals hall touts; walk to the official desk or use Uber directly from the app.
Food and water
Cairo restaurants are safer than the tap water. Eat freely in mid-range and hotel restaurants; be picky with street food (busy stalls are safer than empty ones). Drink bottled water only, including for teeth-brushing at hotels below 5-star. Skip salads and unpeeled fruit at hole-in-the-wall places for the first three days. My personal safe-list: Andrea El Mariouteya (chicken), Abou Shakra (grill), Zooba (modern Egyptian street food), Sequoia (Nile-view dinner), Felfela (Egyptian classics).
Tipping — the honest numbers
Tipping ('baksheesh') is a real part of the culture. Hotel porters: €1 per bag. Restaurants: 10% if not already included. Taxi drivers: round up. Bathroom attendants: 10 EGP. Guides and drivers on a private tour: €10–15 per day for the guide, €5–10 per day for the driver. It's not required, it's expected — and it's how a lot of families earn their living. Bring small notes.
Dress code — cover, don't smother
Cairo is more relaxed than reputation suggests but more conservative than the Red Sea resorts. Long trousers or long skirts, shoulders covered, and closed shoes will take you anywhere including mosques (women add a scarf). Shorts are fine at your hotel pool, awkward on the street, and forbidden in mosques.
How to handle touts and 'guides' at the Pyramids
At the Pyramids gate you will be approached by people offering horse rides, 'special tickets', private tours and photograph deals. Walk past them. Say 'la, shukran' (no, thank you) and keep moving. If you truly want a camel photo, negotiate €10 flat before you touch the animal and pay only after the photo — no exceptions. A licensed guide accompanying you cuts 95% of this.
Language and greetings
'Salaam alaikum' (peace be upon you) opens every door. 'Shukran' is thank you. 'La shukran' is no thank you. 'Bikam?' is how much? A few words of Arabic go a long way — everyone will smile and try to teach you more. English is widely understood in tourism, less so in older neighbourhoods.
Health and pharmacies
Cairo has excellent private hospitals (Cleopatra, As-Salam) and pharmacies on almost every corner selling most common medications over-the-counter at low prices. Bring your basics — antihistamine, painkiller, imodium, sunscreen — but replacements are easy to find. Egyptian pharmacists often speak English.
The Cairo mindset
Egyptians are warm, direct, funny and hospitable. If you smile and take an extra minute, you'll get invited for tea in the strangest places. Don't confuse enthusiasm with pressure — a merchant showing you fifteen scarves is enjoying the theatre, not forcing you to buy. Take your time, joke back, drink the tea, and only buy what you actually want.
Cairo essentials — cost and habits
| Item | Typical cost | Local habit |
|---|---|---|
| Uber across central Cairo | €3–6 | Book in-app, cash or card |
| Lunch at Andrea / Abou Shakra | €15–20 | Order too much, share |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | €0.30 | Buy 5 at a time |
| Hotel porter tip | €1 per bag | Small notes ready |
| Guide + car full day | €80–120 pp | Book in advance |
Expert Tip
The single biggest upgrade to a Cairo trip is booking a licensed guide for your first day. Not because you can't navigate — you can — but because that first day sets the tone. With a guide you skip touts, understand what you're looking at, and land into the city with confidence for the rest of your stay.
— Mohamed Hassan
Related on EGT Travel
Frequently asked questions
Is Uber cheap in Cairo?
Very. Most rides in central Cairo are under €5. It's the most reliable and safest way to get around the city.
How much cash should I carry in Cairo?
About 800 EGP for a typical day out — enough for taxis, tips, snacks and small purchases. Keep the rest in your hotel safe.
Is Cairo tap water safe to drink?
For locals, yes. For travellers, no — stick to bottled water, including for teeth-brushing.
Do I need a guide for Cairo?
For the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, yes — you get context, no touts, and skip-the-queue. For a coffee in Zamalek, absolutely not — Cairo is a city to walk.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in Cairo?
For first-timers: Zamalek (central, leafy, safe). For Pyramids proximity: Giza. For old-Cairo atmosphere: Garden City. Avoid downtown-Ramses for a first trip.
How do I avoid scams in Cairo?
Three rules cover 90% of scams: never accept a 'free' invitation into a shop, agree taxi price before you sit down (or use Uber), and buy tickets only at official windows or through a licensed guide — never from someone approaching you at the gate.
Want a Cairo day run properly — no touts, no queues, no logistics? Book a licensed private guide with EGT Travel.
Book a Cairo licensed guideТази статия е част от нашата разширяваща се база знания за пътувания в Египет. Запазете блога на EgyGo за свежи пътеводители всеки месец — и пишете на нашия екип за персонален съвет.