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Overview
Egypt asks you to hold two things at once: the oldest monuments most people will ever stand beside, and a modern country that is loud, hot and busy around them. The Pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel and a slow felucca on the Nile at Aswan are all as good as their reputation. The Red Sea adds some of the cheapest good diving and snorkelling anywhere.
It is also a place where you will be asked, politely and repeatedly, to buy something. Expect touts at the big sites, haggling over almost everything, and a daily rhythm built around heat. Most of the sightseeing is best done from October to April, early in the morning, with a driver or a licensed guide booked in advance. The Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza is now the headline stop in Cairo, and it deserves at least four hours. Egypt rewards patience and punishes impatience: bargain calmly, carry small notes for tips, and go in the cooler months.
General admission to the Giza plateau was about EGP 700 (about $13 (≈ €12 / £10)) in April 2026, with the Great Pyramid interior extra. Go at opening, then give the Grand Egyptian Museum at least four hours; its tickets are sold online only.
Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple fill two days.
Cruises from Luxor to Aswan cover temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Philae and Abu Simbel are near Aswan.
Best time
Best months for most visitors: Oct–Apr. Good weather, thinner crowds and fairer prices.
October, November, March and April are warm and good for sightseeing, with fewer crowds than midwinter.
December to February is peak season: pleasant days of about 19 to 25 degrees Celsius, cool nights, and busy sites, especially around Christmas and New Year.
June to September is very hot, often above 40 degrees Celsius in Luxor and Aswan.
Booking window: reserve flights and stays 2–3 months ahead for Oct–Apr, and 4–6 months ahead for peak season (Apr, Sep).
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Weather
Current temperature loads here when your browser can reach Open-Meteo.
Weather data: Open-Meteo Historical & Live API. A single reading for the main town or area, not the whole destination.
Warm days and cool nights, the best time to visit.
Very hot, often over 40°C / 104°F in Luxor and Aswan.
Nile cruises and Luxor hotels sell out and prices are at their highest, so book ahead.
March to May can bring sandstorms and dusty khamsin winds, and rising heat in Upper Egypt. The Red Sea is pleasant for swimming from about April to June.
Prices drop, crowds thin, and temples are quiet at dawn, but afternoons are punishing. If you must go then, focus on the Red Sea coast, Alexandria or early mornings only.
Weather data: Open-Meteo Historical & Live API (live reading). Typical highs and season notes are our own summaries. How we verify →
Safety
Last updated: government levels come from our editor-verified table (October 2026). When the live UK FCDO check succeeds, its exact UTC time appears in the panel below. The banner takes the most cautious of the five agencies, so a live UK warning always outranks a green entry in our table and any part-country warning shows as red. We never show a level we haven’t checked. How we verify →
Government levels: editor-verified table, October 2026 How we verify →
Five official agencies, one view. Ratings change, so each pill opens the agency’s own page for today’s level.
Tier 3/5 · Increased caution. Normal to increased caution in main tourist areas; some border and remote regions are advised against.
The UK FCDO, US State Department and Australian DFAT publish detailed advice for Egypt, and it varies by region. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to North Sinai and to within 20 km / 12 mi of the Libyan border, and against all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai, the part of Ismailia east of the Suez Canal, the Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil, and most of the Western Desert away from named routes and oases. Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings and the Red Sea resorts are outside those areas. FCDO also notes a high threat of terrorism and, in its 27 October 2026 update, a high risk of sudden escalation in the wider regional conflict. Check all three official pages before booking and again before you go.
Our plain-English summary of what the UK FCDO, US State Department, Australian Smartraveller, Japan MOFA and South Korea MOFA publish. We quote no live ratings from memory; each button above opens the agency's own page.
Our opinion, not an official warning
Regional nuance: Government advice for Egypt varies by region: North Sinai, the Libyan border zone, northern South Sinai, east Ismailia, the Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil, and much of the Western Desert are advised against, while Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts see regular visitors. Check the official pages before you book and stay on standard routes.
The concerns that are real: Day to day, the problems are petty: touts, overcharging, fake guides, taxi fare disputes and pushy shop owners. Women travellers often report staring and verbal harassment in busy areas, so modest clothing and confident, brief replies help. FCDO also reports sexual assaults, mostly in Red Sea resorts and often by someone the victim had already met, such as hotel or excursion staff, and advises against travelling alone in taxis at night. Safety standards on Red Sea dive boats and some Nile boats vary, so check an operator’s record and insurance. Road traffic is chaotic, and tap water and food hygiene cause stomach upsets more often than anything else.
What headlines overstate: Regional news can make the whole country sound unstable, but the areas advised against are far from the standard tourist circuit. Most visitors who book licensed guides and use trusted transport describe a trouble-free trip.
Written by our editors from general travel knowledge and kept apart from the agencies above. How we verify →
Costs
Backpacker
$45 (≈ €40 / £35) per person per day
What it covers: Hostel dorm or simple hotel, street food such as koshari and ful, metro and local transport, and one paid site entry a day.
Mid-Range (default)
$100 (≈ €90 / £80) per person per day
What it covers: Comfortable three- or four-star hotel, restaurant meals, private driver or Uber for some days, site tickets and a guide for the major monuments.
Boutique
$220 (≈ €195 / £175) per person per day
What it covers: Five-star hotel or Nile-view suite, private guide and driver, a Nile cruise cabin, fine dining and domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan.
Cost source: Audited Local Lodging Taxes, Rail Tariffs & Dining Averages (our own estimates, flights excluded). How we verify →
Source: Should I Go's own estimates, October 2026, in USD per person excluding international flights; euro figures are rough conversions. A couple shares a room, so accommodation drops 25% per person. Prices move, so treat these as a planning range, not a quote.
Estimated total: $0 (≈ €0 / £0)
Estimate in USD per trip, excluding international flights. Two or more travellers share rooms, so accommodation drops 25% per person. Budget and luxury tiers are scaled from the mid-range figure.
Cost source: Audited Local Lodging Taxes, Rail Tariffs & Dining Averages (our own estimates, flights excluded). How we verify →
Where to base yourself
Pyramids, markets and the museum.
The world's largest open-air museum.
Nile views, Philae and Abu Simbel trips.
Diving, snorkelling and beaches.
Itineraries
Getting between stops: EgyptAir domestic flights Cairo–Luxor take about 1 hour. Express trains take about 10 hours, run overnight too, and foreigners pay a steep premium over local fares.
Getting between stops: Luxor to Aswan cruises run roughly two to four nights depending on the boat and direction. Abu Simbel is a road convoy of about 3 hours each way, often leaving around 4 am, or a short flight from Aswan.
Getting between stops: Fly Luxor to Hurghada; coach and ferry options exist.
Routes and timetables change. Confirm transit times with the operator before you book.
Do and stay
Best for: First-timers
Pros: Wake up to a view of the pyramids and beat the crowds to the gates. Many hotels have rooftops with sightlines, and the new Grand Egyptian Museum is nearby.
Watch for: Touts around the plateau can be relentless, restaurants are touristy and the area is a long drive from downtown Cairo's other sights.
Best for: Cafes and calm
Pros: A leafy island in the Nile with good restaurants, galleries and cafes, and a quieter feel than central Cairo. Easy by Uber to Islamic Cairo and the museums.
Watch for: Prices run higher than elsewhere in Cairo, and the island is not on the metro. Traffic on the bridges can be heavy.
Best for: Temples and tombs
Pros: The east bank has Karnak, Luxor Temple, restaurants and transport links. The west bank has guesthouses near the Valley of the Kings, farmland views and a slower pace.
Watch for: Touts and caleche drivers on the east bank are persistent. The west bank has fewer restaurants and needs transport for sights.
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Trade-offs
Final verdict
Editorial opinion from Should I Go, written from general travel knowledge and reviewed periodically. Verify prices, entry rules and advisories before you book.
Typical costs and rules change; confirm with official sources before you travel.
November to March is the most comfortable time, with warm, dry days that suit long hours outdoors at temples and tombs. October and April are also good but warmer, especially in Luxor and Aswan. Avoid June to August if you plan to sightsee, because temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Most visitors to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts have trouble-free trips, though governments advise extra caution and advise against travel to some regions such as parts of North Sinai and certain border areas. Expect petty hassle more than danger. Check the FCDO, State Department and DFAT pages for current advice before booking.
Ten days to two weeks is a good first trip: three or four in Cairo and Giza, three or four in Luxor, and two in Aswan with Abu Simbel, with a flight or train between them. A week is possible if you focus on Cairo and Luxor. Add three or four days for the Red Sea if you want to dive or snorkel.
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