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Sultan Hasan and Al-Rifa’i mosques below Cairo’s Citadel, with the city skyline beyond
Egypt · Destination guide
Cairo, Egypt
CurrencyEgyptian pound (EGP)
Plug typesC, F · 220 VCheck adapter →
Time zoneAfrica/Cairo (UTC+3)
Emergency number123 (ambulance), 180 (fire), 122 (police), 126 (tourist police)
Destination guide

A first look at Cairo

Cairo rewards a few well-chosen neighbourhoods rather than a race across the map. Pair the Egyptian Museum with a Downtown koshary lunch, explore the great mosques around Salah al-Din Square, and save a separate outing for Khan el-Khalili’s market lanes. Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum need their own travel allowance.

Explore our Cairo guides

Weather guide

Weather in Cairo

Cairo has very hot, largely dry summers and mild winter days with cool evenings. Rain is infrequent but possible in the cooler months. Exposed mosque courtyards and archaeological sites feel much hotter than shaded interiors; pack breathable coverage and plan outdoor stops around the forecast.

28–32°C

Hot days and warm evenings

October · representative month, not a forecast
Evenings
17–21°C
Rain
Very little rain
Daylight
Keep unfamiliar outdoor routes to daylight
See weather details →

What this means for packing

Wear breathable layers for the mosques and keep a light top for the return journey; warm afternoons still need water and sun protection. Use this list as a starting point, then download Packtricia for a detailed personal list and quantities tailored to your actual dates, trip length, luggage, weather, preferences and plans.

Choosing a season

The best-season badge suggests months for general sightseeing, using the typical daytime temperatures and rainfall in our monthly guides. Beach holidays, festivals, winter sports and northern lights trips may suit different dates.

Climate methodology

Packing bands are approximately 2°C either side of the rounded monthly mean daily maximum (29.7°C) and minimum (19.0°C) from the WMO World Weather Information Service Cairo 1981–2010 normals supplied by Egypt. They are historical reference bands, not forecasts or extremes. Mean rainfall is 0.4 mm; the source defines rain days using a 0.01 mm threshold. Check the forecast before travel.

Reviewed 2026-10-21

WMO World Weather Information Service — Cairo 1981–2010 normals

About the climate in Cairo

Cairo has very hot, largely dry summers and mild winter days with cool evenings. Rain is infrequent but possible in the cooler months. Exposed mosque courtyards and archaeological sites feel much hotter than shaded interiors; pack breathable coverage and plan outdoor stops around the forecast.

Packing guide

What to wear in Cairo in May.

An example packing list for Cairo in May

Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.

Clothing

  • Underwear
  • Bras (if worn)
  • Socks
  • Sleepwear
  • Loose breathable tops
  • Trousers or long skirt
  • Comfortable closed walking shoes
  • Sun hat
  • Light layer for indoor cooling
  • Scarf for religious-site coverage (if required)
  • Swimwear (if using a pool)

Toiletries

  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body wash or soap
  • Deodorant
  • Sunscreen
  • Personal hygiene products (if used)

Essentials

  • Passport
  • Travel tickets and booking confirmations
  • Wallet and payment cards
  • Cash in Egyptian pounds
  • Phone
  • Charging cable and charger
  • Travel adapter (if needed)
  • Medication (if needed)
  • Glasses (if used)
  • Secure day bag
  • Drinking water
  • Sunglasses
  • Saved accommodation directions
Monthly weather and packing notes

Keep mosque visits compact in the heat and carry drinking water; the Egyptian Museum makes a useful change from an exposed courtyard. Use this list as a starting point, then download Packtricia for a detailed personal list and quantities tailored to your actual dates, trip length, luggage, weather, preferences and plans.

Daytime
30–34°C
Evenings
16–20°C
Rain
Very little rain
Daylight
Keep unfamiliar outdoor routes to daylight
Packing style
Breathable coverage and strong sun protection

Packing bands are approximately 2°C either side of the rounded monthly mean daily maximum (31.9°C) and minimum (18.4°C) from the WMO World Weather Information Service Cairo 1981–2010 normals supplied by Egypt. They are historical reference bands, not forecasts or extremes. Mean rainfall is 0.4 mm; the source defines rain days using a 0.01 mm threshold. Check the forecast before travel.

Outfit ideas for your outings

May mosque courtyard visit

  • Loose breathable top
  • Trousers or long skirt
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Scarf for coverage (if required)
  • Sun hat

Egyptian Museum and Downtown outing

  • Comfortable closed walking shoes
  • Secure day bag
  • Light layer for indoor cooling
  • Sun hat

Khan el-Khalili market walk

  • Breathable clothing
  • Sunglasses
  • Drinking water
  • Sun protection

What to leave behind

  • Only beach sandals: mosque approaches and market streets need comfortable walking footwear.
  • Heavy outdoor equipment solely for city sightseeing; include specialist items only for a separately planned activity.

Reviewed 2026-10-21

WMO World Weather Information Service — Cairo 1981–2010 normals

Transport guide

Getting around Cairo

Use the metro for journeys between served districts and walk within a compact sightseeing area. Mobility Cairo is the official Green Line 3 operator app: it offers journey planning, a downloadable metro map and Line 3 service alerts. Its app is not a verified phone ticket; the operator directs visitors to station ticket offices. Buy the ticket for your destination, follow gate instructions and retain it for exit. Line 3 information does not establish live coverage of every bus or other metro line. Use Cairo Metro’s network information for Lines 1 and 2, with Sadat useful for Tahrir. Plan a separate road transfer for the Citadel, the Giza plateau or the Grand Egyptian Museum; a metro trip is not a through ticket to those attractions. Leave generous traffic allowance and confirm your pickup point when using a licensed taxi or booked car.

Check the operator’s current service notices and ticket instructions before travelling.

Practical essentials

Language and calling code

Language
Arabic
Calling code
+20
Useful essentials for Cairo
  • Comfortable closed walking shoes
  • Loose breathable tops
  • Trousers or long skirt
  • Sun hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Secure day bag
  • Water bottle
  • Light layer for indoor cooling

Do you need a visa?

Check travel-document and visa requirements for your passport, destination and transit stops.

Check your requirements on TravelDoc

Use the checker as a starting point, then confirm requirements with the relevant government or embassy before travelling.

Things to do in Cairo

Find a guided walk or an attraction visit to fit around your plans in Cairo.

Stay connected

Mobile data for your trip. Check what your current plan includes for roaming. If you need another option for maps, messages and booking details, compare NXTL eSIM coverage and rates. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and check coverage for every stop. Download important maps and confirmations for offline use too.

Photo: Simon Berger / Pexels