ROUTES
Cheap flights to Egypt from the USA: Cairo, the Nile and the e-visa
What round trips to Cairo cost from US cities on November 2, 2026, the New York nonstop, the best months for the Nile, the $30 e-visa and the areas the State Department says to avoid.
Of the African cities in our travel partner's fare data on November 2, 2026, Cairo was the cheapest to fly to from the US. A round trip from New York started at $391, and Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington all had fares around $500. Most visitors start in Cairo for Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then go south to Luxor and Aswan or east to the Red Sea. Plan those onward legs before you lock in the international ticket.
What fares to Cairo cost
These are the round trips from US cities in that data, for travel between November 2026 and mid-2027.
| From | Lowest seen | Typical | Month of lowest |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $391 | $779 | Feb 2027 |
| Los Angeles | $483 | too few fares | Mar 2027 |
| Chicago | $510 | $747 | Nov 2026 |
| Washington, DC | $518 | $1,176 | Nov 2026 |
| Boston | $813 | too few fares | Jan 2027 |
| Atlanta | $823 | $827 | Dec 2026 |
| Dallas | $854 | too few fares | Nov 2026 |
| Miami | $917 | $979 | Nov 2026 |
Lowest seen is the cheapest round trip we found from each city; typical is the middle of all the fares we found from it, shown where there were at least three. These are recently found prices in our travel partner's fare data on November 2, 2026, for travel between November 2026 and mid-2027. They are not live quotes and they change daily.
New York had both the most fares and the lowest. Its typical fare, $779, is the better guide to what you'll pay, since the $391 trip was a February one. Washington had the widest spread, from $518 up to a typical $1,176, so try several dates from there before you decide it's expensive.
Nonstop or one stop
Schedule data lists EgyptAir's New York (JFK) to Cairo flight as the only nonstop between the US and Egypt. It takes about ten and a half hours eastbound and nearer eleven and a half coming back. The number of weekly departures changes with the season, so check that it flies on the day you want before you plan around it.
Every other route connects, often in Europe, Istanbul, Amman or the Gulf. The cheapest fares in our data had one stop each way.
For Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, you can fly into Cairo and take a domestic flight, or connect in Europe or the Gulf on an airline that flies straight to the city you want. Going through Cairo suits a trip that starts with Giza. Flying straight to Luxor or the coast suits a trip that ends in Cairo, and it can save a night in transit.
When to go
October to April is the comfortable season, especially in Luxor and Aswan, where summer afternoons get dangerously hot. It's also the busy season, and hotel prices peak around Christmas and New Year. In our fare data, the cheapest trips from Chicago, Washington and Miami were in November, when the south has cooled down and the holiday peak hasn't started.
Ramadan in 2027 is expected to begin around February 8 and end around March 9, depending on the moon sighting. Some sites keep shorter hours, and the cities come alive after sunset. If your trip overlaps it, check the opening hours of the places you most want to see.
The visa
US citizens need a visa for Egypt. Apply on the official e-visa portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, at least a week before you fly. Look-alike sites charge extra, so check the address before you pay. A single-entry tourist visa costs $30, and you can also buy one on arrival at the main airports. Egypt plans to raise the fee to $33 on January 1, 2027, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association. The portal shows the fee it will charge you, and that's the one that counts.
For vaccines and health advice, see the CDC's Egypt page.
Where the advisory says not to go
The State Department rates Egypt Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", in an advisory last reissued on July 15, 2025. It says do not travel to North and Middle Sinai, to the Western Desert unless you're with a licensed tour company, or to Egypt's border areas. Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh sit outside those zones. If you also hold Egyptian citizenship, the advisory notes that Egypt treats dual nationals as Egyptian only, which limits what the US Embassy can do if you're detained.
The wider region is a separate risk. The US Embassy in Cairo's security alert of August 1, 2026 tells Americans to expect flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures. It says those outside the Middle East should "seriously reconsider travel to and through the region", and it says Iran has expanded attacks "to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt)". Read the embassy's latest alerts before you pay for anything non-refundable, and pick fares you can change.
Arriving in Cairo
Cairo International is on the northeastern edge of the city, and Giza is on the far side of the Nile. In traffic, the drive across can take well over an hour. After a long flight, a pre-booked transfer saves the haggling at the curb; our guide to airport transfers explains how they work. If you're in Cairo mainly for the pyramids and the museum, a hotel in Giza puts you next to both.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, beside the Giza plateau, opened fully to the public in November 2025. Buy tickets ahead on its official ticketing site. With one day, do the pyramids first thing and spend the hot afternoon inside the museum.
Quick answers
How much is a flight to Egypt from the USA?
In our travel partner's fare data on November 2, 2026, round trips to Cairo started at $391 from New York. Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington had fares around $500, and the typical New York fare was $779.
Is there a direct flight from the US to Egypt?
Yes. EgyptAir flies nonstop between New York JFK and Cairo, and schedule data puts the eastbound flight at about ten and a half hours. From other US cities you'll connect, usually in Europe, Istanbul, Amman or the Gulf.
Do US citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. Apply on the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, or get one on arrival at the main airports. A single-entry tourist visa costs $30, and Egypt plans to raise the fee to $33 on January 1, 2027.
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
October to April, when Luxor and Aswan are cool enough for long days outside. Hotel prices peak over Christmas and New Year.
Is Egypt safe to visit?
The State Department rates Egypt Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", and says do not travel to North and Middle Sinai, to the Western Desert without a licensed tour company, or to the border areas. The US Embassy in Cairo's alert of August 1, 2026 also warns of flight cancellations and airspace closures linked to the conflict in the region.
Before you book
- Apply for the e-visa on visa2egypt.gov.eg at least a week before you fly.
- Price the New York nonstop against one-stop fares from your own city.
- Decide whether Luxor, Aswan or the Red Sea comes first, then price the domestic flights.
- Buy Grand Egyptian Museum tickets on the museum's official site.
- Read the embassy's latest alert and the State Department advisory before you pay.
- Check Ramadan's dates if you're traveling in February or March 2027.
Comparing destinations? Our guide to cheap flights to Africa shows how Egypt sits against the rest of the continent, and our guide to flights to Morocco covers the other low-fare option in North Africa.
