Is Cairo Worth It? Hurghada to Cairo Day Trip Review

Picture this: you’re enjoying the breezy shores and pretty turquoise water of Hurghada, but, like, something deep inside is urging you to discover the captivating history of Cairo. That ancient city, filled with pyramids and a crazy amount of stories, it’s calling your name. Well, heaps of travelers who find themselves vacationing in Hurghada actually face a really tough choice: should they set aside one of their precious beach days for a quick hop to Cairo? If you’re asking yourself if the ‘From Hurghada Full Day Trip to Cairo by Plane’ deal is all that, well, stick around. I’m going to run through the experience, tell you the things I liked, give you a heads-up on the parts that could be a bit better, and hopefully, you can decide if it’s actually a trip that fits with the type of vacation you are hoping for.

Booking the Flight: Easy Enough, Right?

Okay, so, before you even think of seeing the Pyramids, first thing is first: you will need to book the thing. Heaps of tour companies in Hurghada propose a day trip to Cairo using a quick flight. We used one that lots of hotels seem to pair with, and, to be honest, it was fairly painless. Most deals include your plane tickets, transportation as well, tour guides, and even lunch. Pricing can change, obviously, based on when you are going and whatever extras get thrown in, but, expect to pay a fairly handsome amount – enough that you should totally do some comparing so that you get a deal you are more or less okay with. I think it might be nice if they were a bit clearer from the get-go about the added costs, because the entrance fees to some of the spots weren’t actually included, which is just, like, one of those things you should have in mind.

Taking Flight: What to Expect

So, it’s almost time to say bye to the peaceful vibes of Hurghada as you’re carted off, often super early, towards Hurghada Airport. Expect things to get rolling, it’s just the start, okay? Flights are usually pretty spot-on time, and it’s more or less a quick skip over to Cairo, which is amazing. I would say that, that said, tiny domestic airports are typically simple—it’s all just kinda plain sailing. Once you touch down in Cairo, the contrast is immediate, you know? It’s as if you are exiting one spot to be put down right in the heart of all the craziness, all the hustle and bustle. Oh, there are traffic jams you are not going to even believe! So, just prepare for things to seem just a bit full-on after your serene start to the day. The airport in Cairo, basically, it’s bigger and busier than Hurghada’s, but the tour guides generally, they are holding signs, and meeting up is rarely a problem.

Pyramids of Giza: Seeing the Wonders

And then there it is – the thing you probably booked the flight for: seeing the Pyramids of Giza. Seriously, being close to those massive structures will pretty much blow your mind! Pictures really don’t come close. I mean, it’s one of those places you have just got to experience, you know? Our guide actually did a nice job giving a backstory, and talking us through some cool historical stuff, even going into how the pyramids were built and all that. So, of course, that enhanced the trip a ton. The area surrounding the Pyramids can get kind of jam-packed with people, and, yep, expect to deal with heaps of vendors trying to sell you souvenirs or camel rides. Basically, just smile and stay firm if you are really not interested and keep a pretty close eye on your personal stuff. Remember to get great camera shots – but basically, soak it all in!

The Egyptian Museum: History overload!

After the pyramids, often you will go straight to the Egyptian Museum. To be fair, this place, it is overflowing with a collection of old Egyptian artifacts. Think: statues and jewelry and mummies! Seriously! Okay, so it’s one for history buffs and those of us keen to learn a little. You could potentially spend a whole day there and just, maybe, start to absorb it all, you know? That said, sometimes it feels very crowded in the museum, and it might be nice to have a little longer there so that you aren’t running round like a headless chicken just to tick it off. Yet it’s still cool to actually see real historical bits and pieces close-up—makes it totally worth tolerating the throng of tourists. Just imagine the wealth of knowledge on display.

Lunch and Other Stops: Mixed bag?

Lunch is included as part of the trip, but, it can feel rather hit or miss. What we were served was fairly okay – kind of the average tourist-type buffet— but I think sometimes people may be a bit worried that food is not always super fresh, you know? See if you can read reviews of specific locations beforehand, basically. We also went to some stores— places where they sold perfumes and papyrus—that our tour guide suggested. And basically, these seemed extremely touristy and felt like the main reason for being there was to get us to spend cash. To be honest, I was kind of expecting it, but it might irritate some visitors who are trying to experience a little real Egypt instead. Obviously, do your research and make choices aligned with how you’re hoping to spend time on holiday, okay?

Back to Hurghada: Was It Worth It?

After that busy, jam-packed day checking out the best sites in Cairo, it’s time to go back to the airport and then catch that flight back to Hurghada. When you are sitting back at your hotel, feet up, that, that is a nice feeling, let me tell you! If you want to know my take, well, going to Cairo for a day from Hurghada, it makes for a long day but definitely lets you get a good look at the Pyramids and other key cultural sites even if your base happens to be a ways away. Obviously, you might feel short on time at each location. Having said that, if you’re squeezed for time and want a taste of Egypt’s treasures without needing to book a super-long trip, it’s possibly just right for that. Simply weigh how much the historical hot spots mean to you, how well you deal with fast travel, and whether that outlay meets your budget. Oh, and perhaps most of all, work out if you like extremely busy days when you are actually on holiday!