What to pack for Cairo in December

Glare off sand and stone intensifies at this UV level and makes eyes strain.

December brings mosquitoes to Cairo despite the cooler month, especially near water.

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

Tap water causes stomach trouble for most visitors, so cuts and scrapes need attention.

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.

One outlet per room is standard at budget guesthouses across the city.

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

Dark by 5:55pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Flights to Cairo allow carry-on only if it fits the overhead bin size.

Markets and archaeological sites require a separate bag for water, snacks, and layers.

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

Desert wind at 15 km/h dries and chaps exposed skin on the neck and face.

Sweat evaporates fast in 61% humidity, but moisture-wicking fabric keeps salt from building up.

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

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Dehydration happens fast in desert air even when temperatures feel mild at 72°F.

Unfamiliar food and water trigger digestive upset within the first few days.

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.

Petty theft and pickpocketing target tourists in crowded markets and transit.

Luggage moves through multiple hands between airport, hotel, and tour operators.

Packing cubes compress clothes into tight spaces and organize items by type.

Laundry costs add up fast, so treating clothes stretches time between washes.

Loud traffic, construction, and street noise make quiet time rare in the city.

Ten hours of daylight and a UV index of 4.4 mean direct sun exposure all day.

Tap water isn't safe, so hands need sanitizing before eating or touching your face.

Insect bites swell and itch in the heat, but sunburn relief won't worsen them.

Charging cables get lost or forgotten, so backups fit easily in a daypack.

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

Checkpoints and border officials ask for your passport constantly throughout the country.

Shared dorms and budget hotels don't always secure bags in rooms or lockers.

Humidity at 61% and dust everywhere make a hanging toiletry bag essential.

Long flights and early museum tours mean sleep becomes harder without familiar support.