What to pack for Cairo in April

UV index of 10.8 burns skin in under 15 minutes without protection.

Glare off sand and stone reflects intense light into your eyes all day.

Insects breed in the Nile and bite at dusk.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Cuts get infected fast in heat and dust without proper cleaning.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Heat drains batteries faster than usual, and outlets are scarce outside hotels.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Airlines serving Cairo enforce strict carry-on limits, so size matters more than capacity.

Day trips to the pyramids and museums mean you carry water, sunscreen, and a camera.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

Sand and wind at 19 km/h scour exposed skin on the face and neck.

Anything heavier than linen is a mistake at 86°F.

Sweat evaporates fast in 43% humidity, but moisture-wicking prevents salt buildup and chafe.

UV hits 10.8 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

Desert terrain and heat call for footwear that sheds sand and dries quickly.

Twelve hours of direct sun requires shade that covers the scalp and face.

Heat and low humidity pull water from your body faster than thirst signals it.

Cold water at 3pm is worth the weight.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water isn't safe, so dehydration hits harder when you can't drink freely.

Unfamiliar water and food cause digestive trouble for most visitors.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Crowded streets and markets attract pickpockets working tourist routes.

Luggage moves through busy terminals and between guides, making tracking essential.

Sand gets into everything, so organized packing keeps clothes clean until you wear them.

Laundry service is cheap but slow, so light rotation stretches your wardrobe.

Calls to prayer, traffic, and street vendors make quiet rest nearly impossible without them.

Highs of 86°F mean legs stay bare most days.

Lips crack and burn in desert sun and wind.

Tap water isn't potable, making hand sanitizer your defense between meals.

Sunburn and insect bites both inflame skin, so relief must not worsen either.

One outlet per room means devices must charge in sequence, not parallel.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

International travel and police checkpoints require documents on your person at all times.

Shared accommodations and transport mean bags sit unattended for hours.

Humidity sits at 43% but spikes near the Nile, making wet toiletries a problem.

Long flights and early site visits mean sleep on planes and buses.