Day 1
Pyramids & the Grand Museum
Start at the Giza pyramids and Sphinx at opening, then cross to the Grand Egyptian Museum next door for Tutankhamun's treasure and the royal statues.
Sprawling, loud and gloriously alive, Cairo is a megacity of some 20 million where the call to prayer rolls over honking traffic and the pyramids loom at the end of the road. The "Mother of the World" carries five thousand years of history at once — pharaonic, Coptic, Islamic and modern — layered along the banks of the Nile.
It rewards travellers who lean in: haggle in the bazaars, sip mint tea in a smoky ahwa, and eat like a local for a couple of dollars. Chaotic at first, Cairo quickly becomes one of the most hospitable and unforgettable cities on Earth.
Itinerary
Day 2
Islamic Cairo & the Citadel
Walk Al-Muizz Street and the Citadel's alabaster mosque, then lose yourself in Khan el-Khalili over mint tea at El Fishawy.
Day 3
Coptic Cairo & the Nile
Wander the ancient churches of Coptic Cairo, browse the old Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, and end with a felucca ride at sunset.
Highlights
🏛️Landmark
Pyramids of Giza
The last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still stands on the desert edge of the city — three pyramids raised over 4,500 years ago and guarded by the Great Sphinx. Arrive at opening to beat the heat and crowds, and buy the extra ticket to step inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
🖼️Museum
Grand Egyptian Museum
Opened in 2025 beside the pyramids, GEM is the largest museum on Earth devoted to a single civilisation, and the first to display all 5,000-plus pieces of Tutankhamun's treasure together. Give it half a day, and start on the grand staircase lined with towering royal statues.
🛍️Market
Khan el-Khalili
This labyrinth of medieval alleys has been Cairo's great bazaar since the 14th century, heaped with brass lamps, spices, silver and perfume. Pause for mint tea at El Fishawy, the storied café that has barely shut its doors in over 200 years.
🏛️Landmark
The Citadel
Saladin's medieval fortress crowns a hill above the city, topped by the silver domes of the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Its ramparts offer the finest panorama of Cairo's minaret-studded skyline, reaching all the way to the pyramids on a clear day.
🏘️Neighbourhood
Coptic Cairo
The city's oldest quarter is a quiet, car-free tangle of ancient churches, among them the Hanging Church suspended over a Roman gate. Tradition holds that the Holy Family sheltered here, in the crypt beneath the Church of Abu Serga.
✨Experience
Felucca on the Nile
Hire a felucca — a lateen-sailed wooden boat — for an hour on the river as the sun sinks behind the skyline. It's the calmest hour in a frenetic city; go at sunset and split the modest fee with a group.
Neighbourhoods
Zamalek
A leafy island in the Nile and Cairo's most cosmopolitan district — embassies, galleries, garden cafés and the best boutique hotels.
Downtown (Wust el-Balad)
Belle-époque boulevards laid out in the 1860s to echo Paris, now gloriously faded, full of old cafés and buzzing after dark.
Islamic Cairo
The medieval heart around Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street — a dense weave of mosques, madrasas and markets.
Giza
Out by the pyramids; base here for sunrise views from a rooftop, though it's a fair way from the city's other sights.
Where to eat
Koshari
Egypt's beloved national dish — rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas under tomato sauce and crisp fried onions. The temple is Abou Tarek downtown.
Ful & ta'meya
The classic breakfast: slow-stewed fava beans and Egypt's fava-bean falafel, scooped up with warm baladi bread.
Hamam mahshi
Pigeon stuffed with spiced rice or freekeh, a true Cairene delicacy — try it at old-school Abou El Sid in Zamalek.
Om Ali
A warm, milky pudding of flaky pastry, nuts and raisins — Egypt's comforting answer to bread-and-butter pudding.
Good to know
Best time to visit
October to April is ideal, with warm, dry days and cool evenings; December and January are the mildest. Summer (June to August) is punishingly hot, often topping 38°C. Spring can bring the dusty khamsin winds, so pack for grit if you come in March or April.
Getting around
Traffic is chaotic, but Uber and Careem are safe, cheap and the easiest way around — most cross-town rides cost only a few dollars. The metro is quick and inexpensive on its core lines (with a women-only carriage), reaching both the pyramids and Coptic Cairo. Save half a day for a felucca on the Nile.
- Currency
- EGP £
- Languages
- Arabic
How much does Cairo cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Backpackerج.م.500per person / day
Mid-rangeج.م.1,500per person / day
Comfortج.م.3,000per person / day
Cairo offers a range of options for every budget, making it an affordable destination.
Local tips
- ✓Carry small cash for tips (baksheesh) — it smooths everything from restrooms to photos.
- ✓Agree the price before any taxi ride, camel or "helpful" guide at the pyramids.
- ✓Hit the pyramids right at opening for cool air, soft light and empty sand.
