Cairo from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Cairo, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Cairo tripDay to day in Cairo, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £7 | £7 |
| A balanced mix | £17 | £18 |
| Mostly restaurants | £24 | £25 |
- Local transport: about £1 a day. Taxi: £0 to start, then £0.14 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £3 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: numbeo.com, budgetyourtrip.com, dailynewsegypt.com; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
18°F
20°M
25°A
29°M
34°J
37°J
39°A
38°S
35°O
31°N
25°D
20°
The most pleasant months are November to April. May is the driest month (0 mm of rain) and November the wettest (17 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Egypt, place by placeVisa for British travellers
A visa on arrival (Egypt tourist visa)
Fee: $30 a person.
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Cairo
Al-Azhar Mosquemosque · a couple of hours
Cairo Towertower · a couple of hours
Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinxruins · half a dayGo early; a licensed guide or driver makes the plateau far easier
Khan el-Khalili bazaarmarket · a couple of hoursHave a mint tea and shisha at El Fishawy's coffee house
Grand Egyptian Museummuseum · half a dayAllow at least four hours; the Tutankhamun galleries are the highlight
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (royal mummies)museum · a couple of hours
Coptic Cairo and the Hanging Churchchurch · a couple of hours
Citadel of Saladin and the Mohamed Ali Mosquecastle · a couple of hours- Felucca sail on the Nileexperience · a couple of hours
Best at sunset; agree the price before boarding
- Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur day tripexperience · a full day
Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, then the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Cairo cost?
Food and getting around come to about £7 a person a day eating street food, £18 with a balanced mix and £25 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Cairo?
The most pleasant months are November to April. May is the driest month (0 mm of rain) and November the wettest (17 mm); daytime highs run from 18 to 39 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Egypt?
A visa on arrival (Egypt tourist visa), $30. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Cairo?
Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo Tower, Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Grand Egyptian Museum.
Your whole Cairo trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Cairo trip