Cairo Travel Safety Guide — Egypt

Safety Score: 6.2/10 · Value: 8.5/10 · Beauty: 8.2/10

Cairo is a sprawling, frenetic megacity of over 20 million, loud, dusty, intense and utterly unforgettable. On its western edge stand the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, while the new Grand Egyptian Museum nearby now houses Tutankhamun's treasures in a vast modern complex. It overwhelms first-timers: the traffic is anarchic, the touts at major sites relentless, and crossing the road is an art form. Petty scams and overcharging are common, but violent crime against tourists is rare and Egyptians are famously warm and hospitable once the hustle drops away. Islamic Cairo's medieval mosques and the labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili bazaar reward those who push past the initial chaos. A felucca sail on the Nile at sunset is the city's great moment of calm. Visit October to April for bearable heat; summer is fierce, and the dusty khamsin winds blow through spring. Negotiate everything, carry small notes for tips (baksheesh), and pace yourself.

Tripvey Score — estimated from travel advisories and publicly available data. Not official safety advice.