Is Cairo safe? The short answer
Millions of people visit Cairo and Khan el-Khalili without trouble, and the city is not a general no-go area in the advice below. At the same time, no travel advice can promise safety, and no crime figures are published for the bazaar. The practical answer is to read the current advice for your country, know the usual risks and plan the day with care.
The risks that matter for a visitor are crowds, pushy intermediaries and night travel, not the monuments themselves. A guided walk can take some of the planning off your hands: look at the Cairo tours to Khan el-Khalili and Islamic Cairo if you prefer that.
Our pick: a private guided visit
A private guide and car can take the navigating off your hands in the old quarter.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cairo tours and evening walks
Guided walks through the bazaar and Islamic Cairo, evening tours and day trips, with live prices and availability.
What the travel advice says
Three governments, with dates. Check the live page for your own country before you travel.
| Country | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Level 2, increased caution; higher risk named for North and Central Sinai, the Western Desert and border areas | Advisory of 15 July 2025 |
| United Kingdom | Advice against travel to named regions; Cairo is not listed as its own area to avoid | Updated 4 August 2026 |
| Germany | Partial travel warning; terror risk across the country | Unchanged since 29 September 2026 |
The US risk areas are far from the old city. That is not a safety guarantee for any street, because the UK advice also warns of terrorism at religious sites and tourist destinations and asks for care in crowds. For most visitors, the practical step is to read your own government's page the week before you fly.
Scams and crowds in the bazaar
What to expect and how to handle it calmly.
Pushy intermediaries and scams
Travel advice warns in general of scammers and insistent middlemen at tourist sites. Be polite and firm, agree on the price before any service or ride, and do not follow a stranger who says a monument is closed.
Crowds
Khan el-Khalili is busy in the late afternoon and evening. Keep your bag closed and in front of you, and keep your phone in an inner pocket. Pickpocketing is described as rare across the country, but a crowded lane is where care helps most.
Tickets
Monument tickets are sold on the state ticket website, in the Experience Egypt app and at the counters on site. Buy there, and remember that paid tickets cannot be refunded.
Shop prices
Some shops have fixed prices and some allow bargaining. Ask before you pick something up and take your time.
Haggling and tipping tips →
At night and for women travelling alone
The bazaar is mostly visited in the late afternoon and evening, and many shops and cafés keep their own hours. No advice guarantees a safe evening, and the monuments are not open at night, so do not plan on visiting an interior after dark.
The UK advice asks women travelling alone to take special care at night in taxis. Share the ride and driver details, or your live location, with someone you trust. Prefer a ride booked in an app or arranged by your hotel to a car hailed on the street.
Dress, photos and practical rules
Small points that avoid problems.
Dress
For mosques and other religious sites, cover shoulders and legs, and carry a scarf. Check the rules at the door of each place.
Photography
Smartphone photos are allowed at monuments without a separate permit. Do not photograph military or police sites, vehicles or staff. Drones need permission from the Ministry of Defence.
Building works
Restoration was announced in 2025 for streets around the Al-Hakim Mosque, Al-Muizz Street and Bab Zuweila. Some lanes may have works, so ask at your hotel about the day.
Short-notice changes
Closures, building works or police measures can happen at short notice anywhere. Keep your plan flexible and have a second stop ready.
For the Giza side of the city, where the advice and the crowds differ, see the tips in the Giza visitor tips.
Emergency numbers
Save them before you land.
Is Cairo safe? Frequently asked questions
Is Khan el-Khalili safe for tourists?
Millions visit, but safety cannot be guaranteed. Take care in crowds, keep your bag closed, avoid pushy intermediaries and check the travel advice for your country.
Is Cairo safe for women travelling alone?
The UK advice asks for special care at night in taxis and suggests sharing ride and driver details with someone you trust. Dress covers shoulders and legs at religious sites. This is general care, not a statistic for Cairo.
What is the risk of scams?
Travel advice warns of scammers and insistent middlemen at tourist sites. Agree on prices first, buy tickets at official counters and do not follow strangers.
Can I visit Khan el-Khalili at night?
The market district is visited in the late afternoon and evening, and shops keep their own hours. Monuments do not open their interiors at night.
Who do I call in an emergency?
The tourist police number is 126. The tourism ministry runs a hotline on 19654.