Wheelchair Accessible Cairo, Egypt: How to Enjoy a Week in the City

Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of visiting Egypt. In fact, I can tell you exactly when my obsession with Egypt started. As I watched the movie “The Mummy”, starring Brendan Fraser, in 1999, I immediately became intrigued by Egyptian history and wanted to learn more about it. From then on, at every Scholastic Book Fair, I was the kid buying the books about mummies. I hoped that I could visit Egypt in-person one day, but I didn’t know if it would even be possible as a wheelchair user. After all, didn’t it just have sand everywhere and no streets or pavement?! Yes, that’s really what I thought at the age of nine.

As I got older, I learned that Egypt definitely had more than just sand everywhere and within the past five years or so, I also learned that Egypt can be visited by wheelchair users. Thanks to wheelchair accessible tour companies and an increase in accessibility, I started feeling comfortable with the idea of visiting Egypt, so I finally decided to book my dream trip. In June 2023, I was Egypt-bound for a week of accessible fun!

My entire itinerary was arranged by Memphis Tours and they had an adapted van with a ramp to get my mom, our friend Kayla, and I around. We also had private guides for our tours every day, and they were incredibly friendly and helpful. Traveling with our knowledgeable guides from Memphis Tours undoubtedly made our experience in Egypt much better than it would have been otherwise. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to visit Egypt without a guide and pre-arranged wheelchair accessible transportation, so I am thrilled that these options exist thanks to Memphis Tours. 

From seeing the pyramids of Giza to exploring museums and so much more, my week in Cairo, Egypt was truly beyond my wildest dreams. If you dream of a wheelchair accessible trip to Egypt, this blog post is the perfect place to start planning your trip. I’ve included all of my suggestions for wheelchair accessible Cairo Egypt attractions and things to do, plus information about where I stayed during my time in Egypt. So, without further delay, here’s everything to do if you’re visiting Egypt as a wheelchair user –

Wheelchair Accessible Cairo Egypt Attractions & Things to Do

Check out the video below to see some of the best wheelchair accessible things to do in Cairo, Egypt!

See the Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are the largest and most recognized pyramids in the world, and they’re undoubtedly the most popular attraction in Egypt. I wanted to see the pyramids of Giza since I was a little kid and they definitely lived up to my expectations. 

The Pyramids of Giza were constructed approximately 4,500 years ago (around 2,500 B.C.) and there are three pyramids here that you will see. The largest one was built as a burial complex for Pharaoh Khufu and the other two pyramids were built for Pharaohs Khafre (he was Khufu’s son) and Menkaure. In ancient Egypt, people believed that the afterlife was just as, if not more, important than life on Earth, and they built these massive burial tombs and filled them with everything they’d possibly need in the afterlife, including lots of treasures. 

The largest pyramid is about 480 feet tall and is made of 2.3 million stone blocks. Each block weighs between 2.5 to 15 tons, so it is really wild to think about how they transported all of those stones and built the pyramids 4,500 years ago. And that’s why the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world… and the only one that still exists today. 

I was really surprised by how wheelchair accessible the area around the pyramids was. There were accessible viewing areas, where I could enjoy wonderful views of the pyramids and Sphinx. The accessible viewing areas were paved and some had boardwalk paths. I couldn’t get close enough to touch the pyramids from these viewpoints, but I had spectacular views and was in awe of their magnitude. It’s incredible to see them up-close. As you probably expect, none of the pyramids are wheelchair accessible to go inside, as there are lots of stairs.

If you’d like to ride a camel and get that ultimate photo op, there are dozens of camels at the pyramids. I don’t have much upper body strength and it’d be hard for me to remain stable on the camel without an adaptive camel saddle (like the one I used in Morocco several years ago), so I opted to just get a photo of me kissing a camel instead. 

Visiting the Pyramids of Giza with Memphis Tours was such a great experience. They drove us in an accessible van to each pyramid and took us to the best viewing areas. If you’ll be in Cairo, I’d highly suggest visiting the pyramids with this tour company. 

Tour the Egyptian Museum (or the Grand Egyptian Museum)

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is another must-visit! There was so much to see in this museum (it houses over 120,000 items!) and I learned all about Egyptian history while on tour. In fact, there is so much to see in the Egyptian Museum that if you spent just 5 seconds looking at every object in this museum, it would take 3 months to see everything! 

Accessibility within the museum was fantastic. There were ramps to enter the museum and an elevator was available to access both levels of the museum. One of the Egyptian Museum’s staff members did have to let me into the elevator with a special key, but it was a quick process during my visit. However, I have heard from other wheelchair users that the staff can be problematic sometimes and may not want to go find the key. If you encounter issues, just stay persistent and ask other staff members instead because the second level of the museum is the best part.

My favorite part of the Egyptian Museum was on the second level, where King Tut’s treasures were on display. You can see his coffins, burial mask, his golden throne, and so much more. It was awesome, but unfortunately, pictures are not allowed inside the King Tut exhibit. I was able to take a picture with his golden throne though, as seen below. 

Speaking of King Tut’s treasures, the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum, which is next to the Pyramids of Giza, will house all 5,000+ of his treasures once it finally opens. It is expected to open in late 2023 or early 2024 and when it does, it will be the largest museum in the world devoted to one civilization. 

I was able to do a special preview tour of part of the highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum during my time in Cairo. It was absolutely remarkable and it’s going to blow minds once it opens. It cost over one billion dollars to build, so you can imagine how impressive it is! 

If you’ve been thinking about possibly visiting Egypt, maybe wait until the Grand Egyptian Museum opens (hopefully soon!!), so that you can experience it. And I might just have to plan a return trip to Egypt once it opens as well. But until the Grand Museum opens, the smaller Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo is a wonderful museum to explore.

Roll Through the Khan El Khalili Bazaar

There is nearly nothing I love more than visiting local markets. They’re usually a great way to interact with locals, find some souvenirs, and try new foods. And in Cairo, Egypt, the Khan El Khalili Bazaar was so much fun to experience! 

At this bazaar, there are hundreds of vendors and my favorite part was bargaining with them. You can usually get at least 25-30% off of whatever price they originally tell you, but I got 50% off on a stuffed camel after going back and forth a few times. This is a wonderful place to practice your bargaining skills. 

The Khan El Khalili Bazaar was mostly wheelchair accessible and I was able to easily shop. The roads throughout the bazaar were a bit bumpy in some areas, but not too rough. My powered wheelchair handled the terrain quite well and I was able to shop for about an hour. If you’re in need of some souvenirs to remember your time in Egypt by, this is definitely the place to buy them. 

We also had lunch at a restaurant in the bazaar. We had falafel and koshari. Koshari is widely considered the “national dish” of Egypt and it’s basically like spaghetti, but with more ingredients. There are lentils, rice, pasta, and chickpeas, and it’s topped with tomato sauce and fried onions usually. It was really tasty and probably my favorite food that I tried while in Egypt, so I’d definitely recommend trying it. A random cat even came up and jumped on our table, and enjoyed some koshari as well.

The Khan El Khalili Bazaar was such a fun experience and it was a great way to interact with the locals. Whether you need some souvenirs, want to eat some delicious Egyptian food, or you want to meet the local people, this bazaar is the perfect place to do it!

See Mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization 

While not quite as large as the Egyptian Museum, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) was equally as impressive… to me, at least. This museum provides a vision of past and current Egyptian civilizations, and it’s pretty fascinating to explore. 

On the main level of the museum, you’ll find the “Main Hall”, which has numerous unique objects to admire. It’s designed to give visitors a holistic experience of the evolution of the Egyptian civilization. I spent about an hour wandering around the Main Hall and trying to learn as much as possible. The exhibits were spacious and easy to navigate in my powered wheelchair. 

The Main Hall was great, but what really made NMEC stand out to me was on the lower level. An elevator was available to access the lower level, where the “Royal Mummies’ Hall” was located. 

In the Royal Mummies’ Hall, I saw the mummies of 20 of the ancient Kings and Queens of Egypt. Some of the most famous mummies on display here are Ramses II and Hatshepsut. I was amazed at how well preserved they were, but unfortunately, photos were not allowed inside the Royal Mummies’ Hall. Without a doubt though, this was one of my favorite places that I visited while in Egypt. 

Watch the Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids

On our last night in Egypt, we attended the Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids of Giza. This show tells the history of ancient Egypt while displaying images and lights on the pyramids. It was a fun and unique way to learn more about ancient Egypt.

We had VIP tickets, which meant that we had front row seats and complimentary food and drinks. It was fantastic and the seating area was completely paved, so easily wheelchair accessible. Our tickets were booked by Memphis Tours and they also provided our accessible transportation to and from the show.

Before going to Egypt, I read reviews of the Sound & Light Show online, and many of them said that it was outdated and not worth visiting. I do agree that the show could certainly be updated, but I think that it was still completely worth visiting. It was the perfect way to close out my trip and I would highly suggest that you end your own trip to Egypt the same way. 

Where to Stay in Cairo: Marriott Mena House

While in Egypt, we stayed at the Marriott Mena House. This hotel was spectacular and it’s one of the only hotels that you can see the pyramids from. When I say it’s truly a BEAUTIFUL hotel, I mean it is unbelievable… I was in constant awe every time I rolled around the property. 

In our wheelchair accessible room, there was one king sized bed. A hoyer lift could easily roll under the bed and it was a perfect height if you need to self transfer. I needed the bed to be a bit higher though (I can’t self transfer) and the staff quickly figured out a way to raise it. They were so helpful and kind at Marriott Mena House. 

In the bathroom, we had a roll-in shower with grab bars and a fold-down shower bench, a pull-under sink, and there was a grab bar behind the toilet. It was perfect for my accessibility needs. 

The Marriott Mena House also has 3 restaurants on-site. 139 Restaurant has great views of the pyramids and serves a breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner. The Italian restaurant, Alfredo, has accessible outdoor seating, but there is one step to get inside the restaurant. We ate outside one night though and the food at Alfredo was delicious, so if it’s a nice night, it’s a tasty option. The third on-site restaurant is an Indian restaurant and we never had a chance to try it. 

Marriott Mena House has a spa as well, which is wheelchair accessible via an alternative entrance. I highly enjoyed a facial and Dead Sea mud mask in the spa, and the prices were very reasonable. It was only about $60 total for a one hour treatment.

If you’re visiting Cairo, Marriott Mena House is undoubtedly the place to stay! I wouldn’t want to stay anywhere else during my time in Cairo and if/when I return, I’ll definitely be back here. Learn more about Marriott Mena House and book your own stay here. 

Other Random Facts & Things to Know Before Visiting Egypt

• Traffic in Egypt is extremely crowded. It reminded me of India in many ways. It can take over an hour to get from the pyramids to the downtown area, for example, and that’s only about 11 miles. 

• I depended on Memphis Tours for all of my transportation, but if you want to use a wheelchair accessible taxi in Cairo, contact London Cab Egypt. They offer the only accessible taxis in the city. 

• When originally planning my trip to Egypt, I asked Memphis Tours about accessible options for a day trip to Alexandria or even a Nile River cruise. Unfortunately, they checked and there aren’t any cruises currently that are accessible for a powered wheelchair. And they said that Alexandria, Egypt would be extremely difficult with a powered wheelchair, so I opted to just do more activities in the Cairo area instead. 

• If you’re looking for a great souvenir in Egypt, consider buying a “cartouche”. Wondering what a cartouche is? Well, I bought a cartouche bracelet at a jewelry store called Topaz Bazaar and they engraved my name on the bracelet in hieroglyphics. The cartouche represents good luck and protection from evil. You can get your hieroglyphic name engraved on gold or silver. Be prepared to spend between $200-500 on your cartouche. 

• Everyone that I met in Egypt was extremely nice, but many people were very curious about my wheelchair. They wouldn’t necessarily ask me about my wheelchair, but there were LOTS of stares. It didn’t bother me at all, but if staring does irk you, it’s something to keep in mind before planning your trip. 

• The last thing that you should be mentally prepared for is this: Upon arriving in Cairo, the airport staff refused to bring my wheelchair to the gate of the plane. Instead, they took me to baggage claim in one of the airport’s wheelchairs and I then got my powered wheelchair there. When I was leaving Egypt, they also wouldn’t allow me to stay in my powered wheelchair until departure. I had to transfer into a manual airport wheelchair at the check-in counter and go through security in it. It wasn’t the most comfortable experience in the world, but Egypt is worth the hassles. 

My week in Cairo, Egypt was everything that I wanted it to be. I saw majestic pyramids, met amazing people, experienced fantastic museums, and so much more. It’s a place unlike anywhere else on Earth and I am so thankful that I finally had the opportunity to visit. If you have ever dreamed of visiting Egypt as a wheelchair user, I hope that you now feel more confident to start planning your own trip! 

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