Comparison · Amman vs Cairo · Jordan / Egypt
Amman vs Cairo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Bjorgen, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Choose Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and free sights; choose Cairo for Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Cairo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 495 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 495 km
- Less expensive
- Cairo
- Best time for Amman
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Cairo
- October–March
Side by side
| Amman | Cairo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jordan | Egypt |
| Known for | Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street | Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx and Tutankhamun's treasures |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | October–March |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $70–$150 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | July, 35°C (95°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 2 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AMM | CAI, SPX |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Amman for…
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and free sights. Jordan's capital spreads across a series of hills, or jabals, around a compact downtown (Al-Balad) where a 6,000-seat Roman theatre faces the Citadel and its Umayyad palace. Above downtown, Rainbow Street on Jabal Amman and the leafy lanes of Jabal…
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Choose Cairo for…
Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Cairo is one of Africa's largest cities, sprawling along the Nile where the river valley meets the delta. On its western edge the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum hold the legacy of the pharaohs, while east of the river Islamic Cairo's mosques…
Top sights compared
| # | Amman | Cairo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amman Citadel | Pyramids of Giza |
| 2 | Roman Theatre and Odeon | Great Sphinx |
| 3 | Jordan Museum | Grand Egyptian Museum |
| 4 | Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque | Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) |
| 5 | King Abdullah I Mosque | National Museum of Egyptian Civilization |
Food compared
| Amman | Cairo |
|---|---|
| Mansaf | Koshari |
| Falafel | Ful medames |
| Hummus and ful breakfast | Ta'ameya |
| Knafeh | Molokhia |
Which is cheaper?
Cairo is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 per person there, against $110–$200 in Amman (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cairo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Amman and Cairo are about 495 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Amman and 4 in Cairo.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amman or Cairo cheaper?
Cairo is usually less expensive: about $70–$150 a day mid-range against $110–$200 (estimates).
+Is Amman or Cairo better for a first trip?
Pick Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and free sights, or Cairo for Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter.
+How far is Amman from Cairo?
About 495 km in a straight line.