Cairo, Egypt uses Africa/Cairo, currently EEST (UTC+03:00). Clocks move back 1 hour on 29 October 2026.
Cairo is the capital of Egypt, with a population of about 9.6 million. Local clocks move forward and back with daylight saving time each year.
The band below is your local scale — accent shows when everyone's business hours overlap. Add or remove a city on the left and this updates too.
Written for people arriving, calling in, or planning a trip around the time difference.
Central areas near the Nile put major sights and transit within easy reach, while neighborhoods closer to Giza suit visitors focused on the pyramids. Traffic can be heavy, so proximity to a metro station is worth prioritizing.
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are most comfortable to visit in the cooler early morning, both for the light and to avoid the midday heat. The Egyptian Museum and older parts of the city are worth a slower, unhurried visit.
The metro is an efficient way to avoid Cairo's notoriously heavy road traffic, though it doesn't reach every area. Taxis and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps, and fares are worth confirming or arranging through an app before setting off.
The cooler months from October through April bring far more comfortable temperatures for sightseeing outdoors. Summer is very hot, particularly in the middle of the day, making early mornings the more comfortable time to explore.
Egypt uses the EGP, calling code +20.
Egypt uses the Egyptian pound, and Arabic is the official language, though English is commonly understood in tourist areas. Modest dress is appreciated, especially at religious and historic sites.