Cairo itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · EgyptJune–September
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 33
- Per day
- ≈ 2,800 EGP
- First stop
- 07:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Cairo itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 33 stops, hour by hour, for June–September. The first three days:
- Day 1 Giza Pyramids and Sphinx
- Day 2 Grand Egyptian Museum
- Day 3 Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 2,800 EGP a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 07:00–20:00
Giza Pyramids and Sphinx
Culture
Giza Pyramids
Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure. Arrive at the 07:00 opening for cool, quiet conditions. Entering the Great Pyramid costs an extra 1,500 EGP (narrow tunnel). Haggle camel rides to 200-300 EGP. Card payment only.
≈ 700 EGP per personCulture
Great Sphinx of Giza
Included with the pyramid ticket. Approach from the Valley Temple, where the morning light hits the face.
FreeLandmark
Panorama Point Giza
A desert viewpoint that takes in all three pyramids at once: the classic photo.
Free- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Khufu's Restaurant Giza
Modern Egyptian cuisine with pyramid views. Book ahead; 9 Pyramids Lounge is an alternative.
≈ 900 EGP per person- 6 h · travel, break, free time
Culture
Giza Sound and Light Show
A sound and light show in front of the Sphinx. Nights are cool; buy tickets in advance.
≈ 600 EGP per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- 9 Pyramids LoungeLunch in the desert with pyramid views. Go here if Khufu's is full.
- Giza Camel Ride30 minutes on a camel in the desert. Fix the price beforehand.
Day 2 · 08:30–18:00
Grand Egyptian Museum
Culture
Grand Egyptian Museum
The vast museum opened in 2025. It holds Tutankhamun's complete treasure (5,000 pieces) and Khufu's solar boat. Book a timed ticket online (~1,450 EGP), allow 3-4 hours and take a morning slot.
≈ 1,450 EGP per personFood
GEM Food Court
The eating area inside the museum, with pyramid views.
≈ 300 EGP per personLandmark
Grand Egyptian Museum Garden and Obelisk
The hanging obelisk and the outer courtyard. Good for photos with the pyramid skyline.
Free- 3 h · travel, break, free time
Food
Koshary Abou Tarek
Cairo's most famous koshary (rice, lentils and pasta) since the 1950s. Downtown, four floors, 80 EGP.
≈ 80 EGP per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Zooba DowntownModern Egyptian street food: ta'meya and hawawshi.
- Egyptian Museum TahrirThe old museum, home to the mummies and artefacts not moved to the GEM.
Day 3 · 08:30–19:00
Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili
Culture
Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque
A fortress and an alabaster mosque. The terrace has views over Cairo and the pyramids.
≈ 550 EGP per personCulture
Sultan Hassan Mosque
A Mamluk masterpiece with a huge courtyard and a sense of calm.
≈ 300 EGP per personLandmark
Al-Muizz Street
A Fatimid street of mosques, sabils (public fountains) and the Beit el-Suhaymi house, lit up at night.
FreeFood
Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
Run by Oberoi inside Khan el-Khalili. Try the molokhia (jute leaf stew) and mint tea; air-conditioned.
≈ 400 EGP per person- 3 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Khan el-Khalili
A 14th-century bazaar selling copper, spices and papyrus. Haggle down to a third of the first price. El Fishawy cafe is open 24 hours.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- El Fishawy CafeA mirrored cafe since 1773: mint tea and shisha.
- Al-Azhar MosqueA mosque-university since 970. Go here instead of Sultan Hassan.
Day 4 · 08:30–19:00
Coptic Cairo and the Nile
Culture
Hanging Church
A 3rd-century church built over a Roman fortress, in Coptic Cairo. Take the metro to Mar Girgis.
FreeCulture
Coptic Museum
Coptic art and the Nag Hammadi texts.
≈ 300 EGP per personCulture
Ben Ezra Synagogue
Said to be where Moses was found. Home of the Cairo Geniza.
Free- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Abou El Sid Zamalek
Egyptian food in 1920s-style decor in Zamalek. Try the stuffed pigeon and molokhia.
≈ 450 EGP per person- 3 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Nile Felucca Ride
A one-hour sail on a felucca from Zamalek at sunset. Agree the price per boat.
≈ 400 EGP per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Sequoia ZamalekA terrace on the Nile with shisha and meze. Go here instead of the felucca.
- Cairo TowerA 187 m tower in Zamalek with city views.
Day 5 · 08:00–14:15Day trip
Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis
Culture
Saqqara Step Pyramid
The world's oldest pyramid (Djoser). The Serapeum, with its underground bull sarcophagi, costs an extra ticket. Cooler in the morning.
≈ 700 EGP per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Dahshur Red Pyramid
Entry inside the Red Pyramid is included (steep tunnel). The Bent Pyramid is next door and there are few tourists.
≈ 150 EGP per personCulture
Memphis Open Air Museum
The ancient capital, with a colossal statue of Ramses II and an alabaster sphinx.
≈ 200 EGP per personFood
Saqqara Country Club Lunch
A farm restaurant among palm trees. Grills and Egyptian bread.
≈ 400 EGP per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Saqqara Carpet School
A hand-woven carpet workshop. No pressure to buy; just watch.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Abou Shakra GizaA kebab classic, for the way back.
- Bent Pyramid DahshurInside the Bent Pyramid. Go here instead of the Red Pyramid.
Day 6 · 09:30–17:00Day trip
Alexandria
Culture
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
2.5 hours from Cairo by train. A modern library and museums in a disc-shaped building.
≈ 70 EGP per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Qaitbay Citadel
A 15th-century fortress on the site of the ancient lighthouse, with Mediterranean views.
≈ 150 EGP per personFood
Fish Market Restaurant Alexandria
Fish on the Corniche. Choose from the counter and eat with Mediterranean views.
≈ 600 EGP per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Kom El Shoqafa Catacombs
Roman-era underground tombs, a blend of Egyptian and Greek styles.
≈ 200 EGP per personNature
Alexandria Corniche
Walk the seafront boulevard and take the tram to Montaza. Return train at 18:00.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mohamed Ahmed Foul AlexandriaAlexandria's classic for ful and falafel.
- Pompey's PillarA Roman column. Go here instead of the catacombs.
Day 7 · 08:30–13:00
Zamalek morning, gentle farewell
Nature
Gezira Island Zamalek Walk
The island neighbourhood: ivy-covered embassy streets and the Nile.
FreeCulture
Aisha Fahmy Palace
An art nouveau palace and gallery in Zamalek.
≈ 50 EGP per personFood
Ovio Zamalek
Zamalek's breakfast and brunch cafe, for a farewell meal.
≈ 300 EGP per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Zamalek Nile Bank Last Tea
A last tea at a cafe with Nile views. The airport is 45 minutes away.
≈ 100 EGP per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Cairo Kitchen ZamalekHome-style cooking. Go here instead of Ovio.
- Museum of Islamic Art CairoOne of the world's best Islamic art collections. Go here instead of the Zamalek plans.
Good to know: 6 things that make a Cairo trip easier
- Uber and Careem are safe and cheap. You can't get taxi drivers to switch on the meter, so haggle. For Coptic Cairo, take Metro Line 1 (Mar Girgis). Giza is 1 hour away in traffic.
- From June to September it is 38-42°C: visit the pyramids at 07:00, museums at midday and the Nile in the evening. Bring a hat and 3 litres of water.
- Monument entrances take card only (2026), no cash. Book the GEM online with a timed ticket. Entering the Great Pyramid inside the Giza complex costs 1,500 EGP.
- Koshary costs 50-80 EGP, ful and ta'meya 30, restaurants 300-600. Tipping (baksheesh) is expected everywhere: 20-50 EGP, or 10% in restaurants.
- There are no 'free' photo or camel offers at the pyramids. Say 'la shukran' (no, thank you) and keep walking. Women should dress comfortably, with shoulders and knees covered.
- In mosques, take off your shoes and women should cover their hair. Do not visit during Friday midday prayer.
Spending: ≈ 19,500 EGP per person for 7 days
- Food6,500 EGP
- Entry and tours7,500 EGP
- Local transport3,500 EGP
- Other2,000 EGP
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
On world lists: 1 place in this city
We did the planning. You just pick the dates.
TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.
Download on the App StoreFor iPhone · English and Turkish · Free to download
Your next trip
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Cairo?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Cairo cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 2,800 EGP per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Cairo?
The first stop is at 07:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.