Egypt from the UK & Ireland
Planning Egypt from the UK or Ireland: nonstop flights from Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Dublin, the visa, the time difference, the best months and how long to go for.
6 min read · Updated 2026-10
Key takeaways
- British Airways and EgyptAir fly nonstop from Heathrow to Cairo in about five hours; EgyptAir also flies from Manchester, Birmingham (from late October 2026) and Dublin
- British and Irish passport holders can get the tourist e-visa online before flying, or a visa on arrival
- Cairo is two hours ahead of London and Dublin for most of the year — no real jet lag
- October to April is the season; half-term, Christmas and Easter are its busiest weeks
- A long weekend covers Cairo, a week adds Luxor, and ten days takes you up the Nile to Aswan
Nonstop flights from the UK and Ireland
Four airports in the UK and Ireland have a nonstop flight to Cairo. Frequencies change by season, so check the current schedule when you book. Holiday flights also reach the Red Sea resorts from several UK airports; we meet you on arrival, in Cairo or on the coast.
- London Heathrow — British Airways and EgyptAir, about five hours.
- Manchester — EgyptAir.
- Birmingham — EgyptAir, from late October 2026.
- Dublin — EgyptAir, about five and a quarter hours.
Note: There is no nonstop from Gatwick. From Scotland, Belfast and other regional airports, one stop — through London, Dublin or a European or Gulf hub — is the simple route.
The visa
British and Irish passport holders can apply for Egypt's tourist e-visa online before they fly, on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg, or get a visa on arrival. The paper visa on arrival is paid in cash and allows up to 30 days; since 1 August 2026 Cairo airport has also been piloting a digital version, paid by card with a QR code.
The fee changed during 2026 and a further rise has been announced for January 2027: check the current amount on the official portal, and pay only there. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your stay.
The free "Sinai only" stamp given at Sharm el-Sheikh airport covers stays of under 15 days in Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba — nothing more. For Cairo, Luxor or the Nile you need the full visa.
Important: Pay for an e-visa only on visa2egypt.gov.eg. Look-alike sites add their own fee.
The time difference
Cairo is two hours ahead of the UK and Ireland for most of the year, and one hour ahead from late March, when your clocks go forward, to the last Friday of April, when Egypt's do.
In 2026 Egypt's summer time ends at the end of Thursday 29 October, four days after the UK and Ireland put their clocks back. For those few days, during the October half-term, Cairo is three hours ahead — check the local times on your tickets.
When to go, and the holiday weeks
October to April is Egypt's season. November to February is the most comfortable time for temples — 24–26°C by day in Luxor in December, 19–21°C in Cairo in January. March and April are warmer, with longer days. From May to September Upper Egypt is hot and the temples are visited at dawn, while the Red Sea and Alexandria come into their own.
The October and February half-terms (mid-term breaks in Ireland), Christmas and New Year — the single busiest fortnight of Egypt's year — and Easter all fall in the season. Book three to four months ahead for half-term and Easter, and as early as you can for Christmas.
How long to go for
The short flight means Egypt works at almost any length:
- A long weekend: Cairo alone — the pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, an evening in Islamic Cairo.
- A week: Cairo and Giza, then a short flight to Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings — or a three-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
- Ten days: Cairo, Luxor and the Nile to Aswan at an easy pace, with Abu Simbel if you wish.
- Two weeks: all of it, with Alexandria or a few days on the Red Sea to finish.
Money and payment
Egypt's currency is the Egyptian pound. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; keep some pounds for small purchases and tips — we send a short tipping guide with your itinerary. Our prices are set in euros: from the UK, the amount in sterling depends on the exchange rate when you pay; from Ireland there is nothing to convert. You can pay us by PayPal, by card or by bank transfer.
How a private journey works
Everything is private: your own licensed Egyptologist, your own vehicle and driver, and hotels chosen for the room rather than the star rating. The days are shaped around you — an early start in the Valley of the Kings, a long lunch, the Nile at sunset. Tell us your dates and how many of you are travelling; we reply within one working day with a real itinerary and a clear price, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Do British and Irish citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, but it is simple: apply for the tourist e-visa online before you fly, on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg, or get a visa on arrival. Check the current fee on the official portal — it changed during 2026 and a further rise has been announced for January 2027.
Are there direct flights from the UK to Egypt?
Yes. British Airways and EgyptAir fly nonstop from Heathrow to Cairo in about five hours. EgyptAir also flies nonstop from Manchester, and from Birmingham from late October 2026. There is no nonstop from Gatwick.
Is there a direct flight from Dublin to Cairo?
Yes. EgyptAir flies nonstop from Dublin to Cairo in about five and a quarter hours. Frequencies change by season, so check the current schedule when you book.
What is the time difference between the UK and Egypt?
Cairo is two hours ahead of the UK and Ireland for most of the year, and one hour ahead from late March to late April. In 2026 Egypt's clocks go back at the end of 29 October, four days after the UK's, so Cairo is three hours ahead for those few days.
How many days do we need in Egypt?
A long weekend covers Cairo and the pyramids. A week adds Luxor or a short Nile cruise; ten days takes you up the Nile to Aswan at an easy pace; two weeks adds Alexandria or the Red Sea.
- For a nonstop flight, fly from Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham (from late October 2026) or Dublin — there is no nonstop from Gatwick.
- Book half-term and Easter three to four months ahead, and Christmas as early as you can.
- Check the visa fee on visa2egypt.gov.eg when you book — it changed in 2026 and a further rise has been announced for January 2027.
- Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your stay in Egypt.
- The free Sinai-only stamp at Sharm el-Sheikh does not cover Cairo, Luxor or the Nile.
Related destinations
Places covered in this guide.
Cairo
Egypt's capital on the Nile — medieval Islamic and Coptic quarters, the Egyptian Museum, and the gateway to Giza.
Explore →Giza
Home of the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, on the desert plateau across the Nile from Cairo.
Explore →Luxor
The open-air museum of ancient Thebes — Karnak, Luxor Temple and the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings.
Explore →Aswan
Egypt's tranquil southern city on the Nile — Nubian culture, the High Dam and the island temple of Philae.
Explore →Related tours
Cairo VIP Short Stay
The essential Cairo, concierge-run: fast-track immigration, private plateau morning, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and lantern-lit Islamic Cairo by night.
Egypt Icons & Nile Cruise
Our signature journey: Cairo, Alexandria, a sleeper train south, and a three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor — every layer of Egypt in one arc.
The Grand Tour of Egypt
Our most complete journey: Cairo and Alexandria, a Nile cruise, Ramesses II's mountain temple at Abu Simbel, and three Red Sea nights to absorb it all.
Related guides
Egypt for Half-Term (and Easter)
Egypt in a British school holiday: why the October and February half-terms fall in Egypt's season, what fits in nine days, the flights, the visa and booking in time.
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Egypt's best travel season is October to April, when Nile Valley temperatures are mild and monuments are comfortable to explore. Here is what to expect season by season and destination by destination.
The Ideal 10-Day Egypt Itinerary
A field-tested 10-day Egypt route — Cairo and Giza, a flight south, Luxor's two banks, a three-night Nile cruise to Aswan and Abu Simbel — with the pacing mistakes to avoid.
Related experiences
Private activities at the destinations covered in this guide.
Sunrise at the Giza Pyramids
Be in place before sunrise at a quiet viewpoint where all nine pyramids of Giza stand in one line, with time of your own for sunrise yoga, a photo session or simply the view — then the plateau with a licensed Egyptologist before it opens to day visitors.
Private Felucca Sailing on the Nile
Charter an entire traditional felucca and drift down the Nile past ancient temples, granite boulders and palm-lined riverbanks — at the same unhurried pace Egyptians have sailed for millennia.
Old Cairo Walking Experience
Walk the medieval lanes of Islamic Cairo and the Coptic quarter with a historian guide who reads nearly two thousand years of layered city — from Roman fortifications to Ottoman merchant palaces.
Book a travel consultation
A short conversation can save weeks of research. Speak to our team about destinations, timing, budgets and what to expect.