When to go
Cairo is hot and dry. The most comfortable months are October through April — daytime highs in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit, almost no rain, and the desert nights are mild. May through September the city pushes well over 100°F most afternoons. If you’re visiting the pyramids or doing a Nile cruise, late October and March are the sweet spot: good weather, fewer crowds than the December peak, and cheaper hotel rates.
Getting there
EgyptAir runs a nonstop New York JFK → Cairo flight roughly five days a week (typically a Boeing 777-300ER, 11 hours eastbound, 12 westbound). From Newark (EWR) the only realistic itineraries are one-stop — usually via Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Istanbul (Turkish), or Paris (Air France). One-stop fares are often $200–$400 cheaper than the nonstop, but you add 4–7 hours of connection time. JFK nonstop is by far the most comfortable; price the one-stops when budgets matter.
Visa & entry
US, UK, EU, Australian, and Canadian passport holders can get a 30-day visa on arrival at Cairo airport for $25 USD (cash, exact change helps). Or buy the e-Visa online before you fly at visa2egypt.gov.eg for the same price — saves you the airport queue. Your passport must have at least six months’ validity remaining.
Money
The Egyptian Pound (EGP) trades around 48–50 to the US dollar. Skip the airport currency-exchange counters — the rate is terrible. ATMs at Banque Misr and CIB inside Cairo give the official rate. Most mid-range hotels and restaurants take Visa/Mastercard; small shops, taxis, and the souks are cash-only. Tip in cash — 10% at restaurants, 50–100 EGP to porters and drivers.
What to see
The Giza pyramids and Sphinx are 30 minutes from downtown — go at opening (8am) before the heat and crowds. The new Grand Egyptian Museum opened in late 2024 and is genuinely worth a full day. The Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Islamic Cairo, the Coptic quarter, and a felucca sunset sail on the Nile round out a 4–5 day trip. For a longer stay, fly south to Luxor or Aswan (1-hour EgyptAir domestic flight) for the temples and a Nile cruise.