5 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

      Arrive at opening to beat the heat and the tour buses, and agree the price, route and length of any camel or horse ride before you get on. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   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. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Koshari

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

   4. Afternoon

      Grand Egyptian Museum

      Allow at least half a day, head to the Tutankhamun galleries before they fill, and pair the museum with the pyramids on the same side of the city. (4–5 hours, expensive).

   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 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Al-Azhar Mosque

      Remove your shoes at the entrance; women should cover their hair, and scarves are often provided. (45 minutes, free).

   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. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   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

      Visit just before or after the Citadel, which looms over the square. (1 hour, low cost).

   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. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ta'ameya

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

   4. Afternoon

      Al-Azhar Park

      Come in the late afternoon for sunset, when families picnic and the minarets glow, and stay for dinner at one of the park restaurants. (2 hours, low cost).

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Saqqara

   About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Car with driver or tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Saqqara

      About 1 hour by car (Car with driver or tour); about 30 km.

   2. Day

      Saqqara

      The vast necropolis of ancient Memphis holds the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built about 4,700 years ago and the oldest large stone building in Egypt, along with richly decorated Old Kingdom tombs and the huge granite sarcophagi of the Serapeum. Best for culture and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cairo

      Dinner: try Molokhia.

5. Day 5: Coptic Cairo and Mosque of Ibn Tulun and Gayer-Anderson Museum

   Coptic Cairo, Mosque of Ibn Tulun and Gayer-Anderson Museum and Cairo Tower, then Tanoura show at Wekalet El Ghouri in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Coptic Cairo

      Take Metro Line 1 to Mar Girgis station, which stops right outside, and dress modestly for the churches. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Mosque of Ibn Tulun and Gayer-Anderson Museum

      Climb the spiral minaret for one of the best rooftop views in Cairo, then visit the house museum next door. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Molokhia

      Traditional Egyptian restaurants Downtown and in Zamalek, and home-style eateries.

   4. Afternoon

      Cairo Tower

      Go about an hour before sunset; haze often hides the pyramids, but the evening city lights are dependable. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Tanoura show at Wekalet El Ghouri

      Arrive early for a good seat and check the current schedule locally, as it can change.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Pyramids of Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 29–35 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Cairo
• 4 days in Cairo
• 7 days in Cairo

Questions travellers ask