7 days in Cairo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx

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

   1. Morning

      Pyramids of Giza

      Giza · 3–4 hours · mid-priced. Tickets for the Great Pyramid's interior are limited and sold separately from plateau entry; buy them early in the day or online.

   2. Late morning

      Great Sphinx

      Giza · 1 hour · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Koshari

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

   4. 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: Grand Egyptian Museum and National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

   Grand Egyptian Museum and National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, then Al-Muizz Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Grand Egyptian Museum

      Giza · 4–5 hours · expensive. Buy timed tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and the winter high season.

   2. Late morning

      National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

      Fustat · 2 hours · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ful medames

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

   4. 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: Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Azhar Park

   Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Azhar Park, then Tanoura show at Wekalet El Ghouri in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Al-Azhar Mosque

      Islamic Cairo · 45 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Al-Azhar Park

      Islamic Cairo · 2 hours · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ta'ameya

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

   4. Evening

      Tanoura show at Wekalet El Ghouri

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

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

      It is much quieter than Giza.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cairo

      Dinner: try Molokhia.

5. Day 5: Bab Zuweila and Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque

   Bab Zuweila and Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque, then Felucca ride on the Nile in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bab Zuweila

      Islamic Cairo · 1 hour · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque

      Citadel · 2 hours · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Molokhia

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

   4. 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.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Dahshur

   About 1–1.5 hours by car each way. Getting there: Car with driver, often combined with Saqqara.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Dahshur

      About 1–1.5 hours by car (Car with driver, often combined with Saqqara); about 40 km.

   2. Day

      Dahshur

      Crowds are thin and the desert setting is striking.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cairo

      Dinner: try Stuffed pigeon.

7. Day 7: Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)

   Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), then Cairo Tower in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

      Citadel · 1 hour · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)

      Downtown · 2–3 hours · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Stuffed pigeon

      Egyptian grill houses and traditional restaurants.

   4. Evening

      Cairo Tower

      Go about an hour before sunset; haze often hides the pyramids, but the evening city lights are dependable.

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 7 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 26–31 hours of visiting over 7 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
• 5 days in Cairo

Questions travellers ask