3 days in Cairo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx

   Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum, then Khan el-Khalili in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pyramids of Giza

      The Great Pyramid of Khufu, built about 4,500 years ago and the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, stands with the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and smaller queens' pyramids on the desert plateau west of the Nile.

   2. Late morning

      Great Sphinx

      Leave the Sphinx for the end of your plateau loop, and return for the evening sound-and-light show if you want to see it lit.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Koshari

      Koshari restaurants across the city; Abou Tarek on Champollion Street Downtown is the best known.

   4. Afternoon

      Grand Egyptian Museum

      Opened in full in 2025 about 2 km from the pyramids, the GEM is described as the largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilisation.

   5. Evening

      Khan el-Khalili

      Come in the late afternoon and stay into the evening, when the lanes and the square by Al-Hussein Mosque are at their liveliest; bargain firmly but politely.

2. Day 2: National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Al-Azhar Mosque

   National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Al-Azhar Mosque and Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque, then Al-Muizz Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

      Go straight down to the Royal Mummies Hall first, and combine the museum with Coptic Cairo nearby.

   2. Late morning

      Al-Azhar Mosque

      Founded in 970, Al-Azhar is one of the oldest continuously working centres of Islamic learning in the world.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ful medames

      Street carts and ful shops in every neighbourhood, busiest early in the morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque

      Visit in the morning, take a taxi up, then walk down to the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques below.

   5. Evening

      Al-Muizz Street

      Walk it in the late afternoon and stay for the evening, when the monuments are lit and the northern section is largely pedestrianised.

3. Day 3: Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)

   Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) and Al-Azhar Park, then Felucca ride on the Nile in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

      Built between 1356 and 1363, this vast Mamluk mosque and school has a towering carved portal and a courtyard enclosed by four lofty vaulted iwans.

   2. Late morning

      Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)

      A guide helps make sense of the dense galleries, which are full of pieces you won't see elsewhere.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ta'ameya

      Ful and ta'ameya shops and breakfast carts all over the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Al-Azhar Park

      Built on a centuries-old rubbish mound and opened in 2005 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, this 30-hectare park of lawns, fountains and palm-lined paths gives some of the best views over Islamic Cairo and the Citadel.

   5. Evening

      Felucca ride on the Nile

      Agree the price for the boat and the length of the trip before boarding, and bring your own drinks and snacks.

Before you go

• Pyramids of Giza: Tickets for the Great Pyramid's interior are limited and sold separately from plateau entry; buy them early in the day or online.
• Grand Egyptian Museum: Buy timed tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and the winter high season.

If it rains

• Swap in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo): Take Metro Line 1 to Mar Girgis station, which stops right outside, and dress modestly for the churches.
• Swap in Manial Palace (Roda Island): It is a short taxi ride from Garden City and makes a quiet break from the big sights.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Downtown keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Zamalek ($$$) suits couples, first-timers, food lovers, families and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 23–28 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.2 hours in December to 14.1 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cairo
• 2 days in Cairo
• 4 days in Cairo
• 5 days in Cairo
• 7 days in Cairo

Questions travellers ask