Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 3.03 Days in Cairo: Pyramids, Mosques, and Coptic Cairo
Classic Cairo in three unhurried days, all inside the city: the Giza pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum on day one, the Citadel and the mosques of Islamic Cairo on day two, and the churches and palaces of Coptic Cairo on day three. The plan re-plans itself around how you travel - your style, pace and budget.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
9 stops · 6 meals · 3 hotelsThis is the editor’s pick.
3 days
Each day takes one part of Cairo, kept close so you walk more than you ride. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
The billion-dollar museum beside the pyramids: more than 100,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years, including the complete Tutankhamun collection, finally displayed together. Do Giza first, the GEM after.
- It's 2km from the pyramids - do Giza first, the GEM after.
The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World, still standing after 4,500 years. Go at opening to beat the heat and the tour buses - and climb inside to the King's Chamber if you're fit, with a separate ticket.
- Go early morning to beat the heat; the plateau pairs with the Grand Egyptian Museum 2km away.
Casual rooftop in Nazlet El-Semman: straightforward Egyptian plates with straight-on pyramid views, cheap and cheerful.
Mint tea and light bites above the pyramid rooftops - a relaxed cafe stop between plateau visits.
The limestone guardian gazing east toward the sunrise, carved for Pharaoh Khafre some 4,500 years ago. Best seen in the morning, when it gazes east into the rising sun.
- Best seen in the morning, when it gazes east into the rising sun.
- Walk the plateau from Khufu down to the Sphinx - about nine minutes apart - and see them as one outing.
- After the Sphinx, mint tea and straight-on pyramid views at the casual rooftop in Nazlet El-Semman.
Egyptian and Middle Eastern grill terrace in the village at the plateau's edge, a local favorite near the pyramids.
Steigenberger's Giza resort hotel: pools, pyramid-facing balconies and family amenities minutes from the plateau.
A 14th-century Mamluk mosque-madrasa widely considered the finest of its kind in the world: a 38-meter facade with four great iwans around a courtyard. The portal steps face the illuminated Citadel opposite.
- Entry is about 220 EGP; allow 45-60 minutes.
The alabaster Ottoman mosque crowning the 12th-century Saladin Citadel, dome 52 meters high, twin minarets visible across the city. The citadel terrace sweeps over Cairo.
- Remove shoes before entering; head scarves are usually available at the entrance.
- The Citadel's alabaster mosque faces Sultan Hassan across the square - eight minutes on foot between the two, the classic Islamic Cairo pairing.
Worth the trip
Historic bazaar restaurant named for Egypt's Nobel laureate: Egyptian home-style classics - molokhia, hamam mahshi, kofta, Om Ali - with live traditional music in an oriental dining hall. Open daily 10am to midnight.
- Evening live music; recent visitors report a minimum charge around 600 EGP.
The only surviving southern gate of Fatimid Cairo (1092 AD), twin-towered with 15th-century minarets you can climb for old-city views. Allow 30 minutes.
- Entry is about 220 EGP and covers the minaret climb.
Old-school kababgy by Al-Azhar Mosque, famous for stuffed pigeon, kofta and tarb, packed with locals late into the night. Open daily 12:05pm to 4am.
- Open daily from 12:05 PM to 4 AM.
Switch bases tonight. An unrestored colonial-era landmark built in 1893 near Opera Square: faded grandeur, period furnishings and the famous Barrel Bar - a time-capsule stay for a fraction of luxury prices.
Prince Muhammad Ali's 1901-1929 fantasy palace on Roda Island: Fatimid, Mamluk and Ottoman halls, rare manuscripts and lush gardens - a museum of revived Islamic arts. Open daily 9am-5pm.
Neighborhood pastry shop near Coptic Cairo for baladi sweets and bakery snacks between sightseeing.
The 7th-century 'suspended' church of St. Mary, built over the gatehouse of the Roman Babylon Fortress: carved screens, icons and 13 ancient pillars. Combine with Abu Serga and Ben Ezra on foot.
A family-friendly local-cuisine spot in the heart of Coptic Cairo, next to Amr ibn al-As Mosque - good for large groups and a relaxed lunch between churches. Open 10am-1am.
One of Egypt's oldest churches, a 5th-century basilica built over the crypt where the Holy Family is believed to have sheltered. Tour the crypt below the church.
Chinese restaurant on the moored Peking boat by the Nile near Coptic Cairo, run by the Andrea family; dinner with river views in Old Cairo.
Switch bases tonight. Budget Nile-view B&B on Roda Island near El Malek El Saleh metro - the closest affordable stay to Coptic Cairo. Rated 8.3/10 from 1,964 reviews, with 24-hour front desk and free WiFi.
- Rated 8.3/10 from 1,964 reviews; 24-hour front desk and free WiFi.
Where to stay in Cairo
Ranked for first-timer travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo
Steigenberger's Giza resort hotel: pools, pyramid-facing balconies and family amenities minutes from the plateau.
Windsor Hotel
An unrestored colonial-era landmark built in 1893 near Opera Square: faded grandeur, period furnishings and the famous Barrel Bar - a time-capsule stay for a fraction of luxury prices.
Nile View Inn
Budget Nile-view B&B on Roda Island near El Malek El Saleh metro - the closest affordable stay to Coptic Cairo. Rated 8.3/10 from 1,964 reviews, with 24-hour front desk and free WiFi.
Flights to Cairo
Fly into CAI (CAI)
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Getting around Cairo
How to actually move around the city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Public transit
Cairo's metro is the fastest way across the megacity and the backbone of any visitor itinerary. Lines 1 and 3 connect downtown, Tahrir, Coptic Cairo and the airport; buy single-journey tickets at station ticket offices.
- Cairo Metro
Africa's first metro: 3 lines, ~75 stations, running roughly 05:00 to 01:00 daily. Single-journey tickets are sold at station ticket offices; fares are distance-based (about EGP 8-20). Sadat station serves Tahrir/downtown, Mar Girgis serves Coptic Cairo.
Tip: The middle two cars of each train are women-only — respect the signage.
Rideshare
For most visitors, app-based rideshare is the practical way to move around Cairo: fixed upfront pricing, GPS tracking and driver ratings remove the taxi-negotiation game entirely.
- inDrive, Uber, Careem and DiDi
inDrive, Uber, Careem, DiDi and Bolt all operate in Cairo, with inDrive's bid-your-fare model popular on longer routes and Uber/Careem offering the most predictable pricing for tourists. Download and set up the app before you arrive.
Tip: Compare inDrive against Uber for the same route; inDrive is usually cheaper, Uber more consistent at peak hours.
Bikes
Cairo is not a cycling city in the European sense — traffic is chaotic and bike lanes are limited to a few downtown streets — but a genuine bike-share exists in the areas visitors walk most.
- Cairo Bike
Cairo Governorate's bike-share, launched with UN-Habitat: 250 bikes across about 26 docking stations in downtown Cairo (Tahrir, Mohamed Farid and Abdel-Moneim Riyad squares, El-Falaki street and Zamalek), rentable by the hour through the Cairo Bike app or a prepaid card.
Tip: Stick to the protected downtown lanes and squares; do not attempt arterial roads or the Giza plateau by bike.
Taxis
Cairo's street taxis are plentiful but a negotiation exercise. White metered taxis are the safer pick; for the airport run, a pre-booked fixed-fare transfer removes all haggling.
- White metered taxis and pre-booked transfers
White taxis are metered (black-and-white older ones are not and require agreeing a fare before you get in). Always confirm the meter is on, carry small bills, and allow extra time in rush-hour traffic (roughly 8-10am and 4-7pm).
Tip: For airport arrivals, pre-book a fixed-fare transfer such as Welcome Pickups rather than accepting offers inside the terminal.