Egypt travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 10 min read

Egypt is one of the few places where the sights live up to a lifetime of pictures. The pyramids at Giza are bigger than you expect, the temples at Luxor are painted and carved on a scale that stops conversation, and the Nile runs through all of it, green ribbon between desert on both sides. It is also a living country: busy, loud, generous, with a food culture of its own and a sense of humour that carries you through the delays.

It rewards planning. Distances are long, the heat is serious in summer, and the main sights are best done early in the day. This guide covers when to go, where to go, a ten-day route and what to settle before you book, especially if you are going with friends.

Capital: Cairo
Currency: Egyptian pound (E£)
Languages: Arabic; English is widely spoken in tourism
Plugs: Type C and F, 220 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer
Best time to go: October to April
Daily budget: About US$70–140 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Winter (December to February) is the high season in Egypt. Days are warm and dry in Cairo and the south, and the sights are comfortable to walk. Nights are cool, and cold in the desert. Christmas, New Year and the school holidays are the busiest and most expensive weeks, so book Nile cruises and hotels early. The Red Sea is cool for swimming, though diving and snorkelling are still popular.

Spring (March to April) is warm and still pleasant, though the south starts to heat up from late March. In Cairo, a dusty wind called the khamsin can blow in spring. It is a good time for Luxor and Aswan before the heat arrives.

Summer (May to September) is very hot. Luxor and Aswan often pass 40 °C, so the Valley of the Kings and the temples are only comfortable at dawn. Prices are lowest, crowds thin, and the Red Sea and Mediterranean beaches are at their best. Visit the south early in the morning and rest in the middle of the day.

Autumn (October and November) is warm and bright. The heat has eased, the sea is warm, and the season is beginning. It is one of the best times to go.

Ramadan moves about eleven days earlier each year. During the day, local restaurants close or serve discreetly, and tourist hotels and sites carry on. Evenings are lively, with lanterns, special meals and late shopping. Eid holidays bring a rush of domestic travel to the coast. Egypt uses daylight saving in summer, so check your phone's clock has updated.

Where to go

Cairo and Giza

Cairo is huge, loud and overwhelming, and nowhere else is quite like it. The pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza are on the edge of the city, and you can go inside some of them. Go early, before the heat and the crowds. Cairo's museums hold some of the greatest collections of pharaonic objects anywhere. In Islamic Cairo, you can wander the markets of Khan el-Khalili, visit mosques such as Al-Azhar, and climb to the Citadel for views over the city. Coptic Cairo has some of the oldest churches in Egypt. Give it three or four days.

Saqqara and Dahshur

South of Cairo, Saqqara has the Step Pyramid, the oldest large stone building in the world, and Dahshur has the Bent and Red Pyramids, which you can often see with few other people. A good half-day trip with a driver and a guide.

Alexandria

Founded by Alexander the Great, Egypt's Mediterranean city is faded, cosmopolitan and breezy, with a corniche, the Qaitbay Citadel at the harbour mouth and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It is about two and a half to three hours from Cairo by train. A day trip or a night.

Luxor

The ancient city of Thebes is often called the world's greatest open-air museum. On the east bank are Karnak, a vast temple complex, and Luxor Temple, lit at night. On the west bank are the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Hot-air balloon flights at dawn show the whole valley. Allow three days, and start every day early.

Aswan

A calmer, greener town on the Nile, with granite islands, feluccas, a Nubian village you can visit and the island temple of Philae. From Aswan, a road of about three hours south leads to Abu Simbel, the temples of Ramses II beside Lake Nasser, usually reached by an early start on the road or a short flight. Two or three days.

A Nile cruise

Most cruises run between Luxor and Aswan for three or four nights, stopping at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way. It is a slow and comfortable way to see the sights: you unpack once, the meals are included, and the temples come to you. Or take a felucca, a traditional sailing boat, for a night or a day.

The Red Sea and Sinai

Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab are the places for beaches, diving and snorkelling in warm, clear water, with coral reefs close to shore. Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery are in the south of the Sinai peninsula. The Red Sea is a good place to relax after the sightseeing. Check your government's current travel advice for each area before you plan.

Siwa and the western desert

A remote oasis town near the Libyan border, with palm groves, salt lakes and hot springs. The White Desert, further east, has chalk formations and camping. Both are for travellers with several extra days and a good guide; check your own government's current travel advice for the Western Desert before you plan a visit.

A 10-day itinerary

Days 1–3: Cairo. Spend the first day gently, with Islamic Cairo and the souk. On day two, go to Giza at the start of the day, and continue to Saqqara or Dahshur if you have energy. Keep the evening free.

Day 4: Fly or take the night train to Luxor. A flight takes about an hour; an overnight sleeper train runs between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, and is a classic way to travel. See our guide to night trains for what to expect.

Days 5–7: Luxor. Spend a day on the west bank at the Valley of the Kings and the temple of Hatshepsut, a day at Karnak and Luxor Temple, and an easy morning or a balloon flight.

Days 8–10: Aswan. Drive from Luxor, about three to four hours with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo, or take the train. Spend a day at Philae and on the river, and make the early trip to Abu Simbel. Fly back to Cairo to connect with your flight home. With a few more days, a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan replaces the drive.

With more time, add a few days on the Red Sea at the end, or a night in Alexandria. Egypt pairs well with Jordan, which is a short flight away; see our Jordan travel guide.

Getting around

Flights are the quickest way to cover the distances: Cairo to Luxor or Aswan takes about an hour, and there are links to the Red Sea resorts. Book early in winter.

Trains run along the Nile. The overnight sleeper to Luxor and Aswan is comfortable, and the Cairo to Alexandria express is fast. Reserve ahead in busy months. Our guide to night trains covers what to bring.

Nile cruises are the way many visitors travel between Luxor and Aswan. Check what is included, such as excursions, meals and drinks.

In Cairo, the metro is quick and cheap and avoids the traffic. Ride-hailing apps are widely used and often easier than negotiating a taxi fare. Traffic is heavy, so allow extra time, especially for the airport and Giza.

Drivers and guides. Many visitors hire a driver and a licensed guide for the day at the big sights, which saves time, queues and arguments. Arrange them through your hotel or a trusted agency, and agree the plan and the price beforehand.

Driving yourself is not recommended in cities, as traffic is chaotic. On the open roads of the south and the Red Sea, with a driver or a car, it is simpler.

Money and costs

Cards are accepted in larger hotels, some restaurants and shops in Cairo and the resorts. Elsewhere, cash is best, especially for taxis, tips, markets, small restaurants and local guides. Withdraw from bank ATMs in towns, and keep small notes. The pound's value changes, so check the rate near your trip.

Tipping, called baksheesh, is part of everyday life in Egypt: a little for the person who opens a door, carries a bag, guides you in a temple, watches your shoes at a mosque, or helps you at a viewpoint. Carry many small notes. In restaurants, about 10% is usual if a service charge isn't included. Our guide to tipping around the world has more.

Bargaining is expected in markets and for taxis without meters; agree the fare before you go. Food is among the cheapest in the region: koshari, falafel, fuul and fresh juices cost very little, and grilled meat and fish are good value. Entrance tickets at the big sites, Nile cruises, balloon flights and private guides are the largest costs.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$35–70, with hostels or simple hotels, local food and trains.
Mid-range: about US$70–140, with good hotels, domestic flights, a driver and guide at the main sights.
Comfortable: US$220 and up, with luxury hotels or a river cruise, private guides and a balloon flight.

Planning Egypt as a group

Egypt is a good fit for a group, since a driver and guide cost the same for one person or six.

A driver and a guide. Sharing a licensed guide and a minibus is the best value, and it lets you plan around the heat. Agree the start time, the sights and the price for each day, and confirm who pays for entry tickets.

Cruise or hotels. A Nile cruise with cabins for each pair is easy to book as a group and avoids repeated check-ins. Book the whole group on the same boat and the same dates.

Cash. So many small payments happen in cash, from tips to taxis to the guide, that someone always ends up covering for the others. Log each one in pounds as it happens, rather than rebuilding it at the end.

Early starts. The best days start at dawn. Agree a meeting time and a plan for anyone who wants to rest.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Egypt and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs and any activities such as diving or ballooning.
Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM works well in cities and resorts.
A plug adapter for Type C or F if you are coming from outside continental Europe. Most chargers handle 220 V.
Health: no special vaccines are usually needed for most visitors; ask a travel clinic. Drink bottled water, avoid ice from unknown sources, and bring stomach medicine, a hat and strong sunscreen.
Customs: dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, especially away from the resorts, and more so in mosques. Ask before photographing people. Public affection should be discreet. Say no politely and firmly to sellers; a smile helps.

What to pack

Light, loose, long-sleeved cotton or linen is the best base: it protects you from the sun and works at religious sites. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, strong sunscreen and a refillable bottle. Our hot-weather packing list covers the rest.

Comfortable shoes with good grip matter, since the ground at temples and tombs is sandy and uneven. A scarf helps against dust and for mosques. For winter, add a warm layer for the desert at night and for early mornings at the pyramids and balloon flights. A small bag of tissues and hand sanitiser is useful, along with a pouch for small notes.