Egypt does not have a single coherent “tourist infrastructure” — every city handles arrivals, taxis, queue logic and tipping in its own way. The notes below are written for travellers who plan independently and prefer to understand the local rules before they walk out of the airport.
Cairo
Population: around 22 million in the greater metropolitan area. Arrive: Cairo International Airport (CAI), Terminal 2 for most international airlines. Stay: Downtown for atmosphere, Zamalek for quiet, Garden City for proximity to embassies, Heliopolis for the airport area, Giza for first-night convenience before the pyramids.
The first overwhelming impression is traffic. Use a ride-hailing application from arrival rather than negotiating with airport taxis. The Cairo Metro is fast and cheap (the three lines together cover most useful tourist destinations including Mar Girgis for Coptic Cairo, Sadat for Tahrir Square, and Helwan if you are going to the Pharaonic Village). The first walking day is best dedicated to a single neighbourhood — Khan El Khalili and Islamic Cairo, or Downtown plus the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir.
For monuments: Giza Plateau and GEM occupy a full day on the western edge. The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir and the Coptic quarter in Old Cairo are two more half-days easily reachable by metro. See the day-tour collection for ready-made schedules.
Alexandria
Arrive: by train from Cairo (Sidi Gaber station, around 2.5 hours) or by short flight to Borg El Arab Airport (HBE). Stay: the Corniche district between Mansheya and Saraya. Climate: Mediterranean — markedly cooler and more humid than Cairo, especially November to March.
Alexandria is a coastal city built layer upon layer over its Hellenistic and Roman past. The first orientation walk should follow the Corniche from Fort Qaitbey at the western end to Bibliotheca Alexandrina at the eastern end (about 6 kilometres, easy in cool weather). Eat seafood — the city is justifiably famous for it — and try to be on the Corniche at sunset, when the light over the harbour earns the city its reputation.
Luxor
Arrive: domestic flight from Cairo (LXR airport), or overnight sleeper train. Stay: East Bank near Luxor Temple for restaurants and the Karnak walking distance; West Bank if you prefer quiet villages and quick access to the tombs.
The smallest of the major Egyptian cities and probably the easiest to walk. The East Bank Corniche runs along the Nile between Luxor Temple and Karnak (around three kilometres). The West Bank is reached by motorboat ferry or by the road bridge a few kilometres south. Allocate three days minimum to do justice to the open-air monuments. See our archaeological sites page for the full Theban necropolis breakdown.
Aswan
Arrive: domestic flight from Cairo (ASW), train from Luxor (around 3 hours), or onward from a Nile cruise. Stay: Corniche al-Nil for views over Elephantine Island.
Aswan is the gentlest city in Upper Egypt. The Nile narrows here, the Nubian villages on the west bank are reachable by motor launch, and life moves at a slower pace than in Cairo or Luxor. The first half-day belongs to a felucca cruise around Kitchener’s Island; the rest of the visit is structured around the Nubian Museum, the unfinished obelisk, Philae Temple, and the optional sunrise convoy to Abu Simbel.
Hurghada
Arrive: direct international flights (HRG) or domestic from Cairo. Stay: El Gouna for quieter beach atmosphere, Sahl Hasheesh for resort-style stays, central Hurghada for value and the marina.
The Red Sea’s most established resort hub. Use Hurghada as a base for marine days (snorkelling, diving, dolphin watching) and for one inland desert excursion. The city itself does not reward extensive sightseeing — your time is better invested on the water. Pair with our Red Sea day tour.
Sharm El Sheikh
Arrive: direct international flights (SSH). Stay: Naama Bay for nightlife and restaurants, Nabq Bay for quieter family resorts, Ras Um Sid for diving access.
South Sinai’s major resort city, primarily a base for Ras Mohammed National Park diving and Saint Catherine’s Monastery excursions. Sharm itself is built around the resort economy; for deeper Sinai exploration, consider a couple of days in Dahab as a complement.