3 Days in Cairo: Pyramids, Museums and Old Cairo

Cairo rewards those who take it at a measured pace. Three days gives you enough time to explore the ancient wonders at Giza, walk through one of the world’s great museums, and lose yourself in the medieval streets of Islamic and Coptic Cairo. This itinerary balances major sights with local dining and practical logistics so you can make the most of a short stay.

Day 1: Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx

Morning — The Pyramids of Giza

Start early. The Giza Plateau opens at 8:00 AM and the first two hours offer the smallest crowds and the most tolerable temperatures. General admission costs approximately EGP 540 (USD 11 as of 2026). Entry to the Great Pyramid interior is an additional EGP 1,000 (USD 20) and limited to 300 visitors per day — buy your ticket at the gate as soon as it opens.

Walk the full plateau from the Great Pyramid of Khufu to the Pyramid of Khafre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure. The panoramic viewpoint on the desert side offers the best photo angle of all three pyramids together. Allow approximately 2.5 hours for the full circuit.

Late Morning — The Sphinx and Valley Temple

The Great Sphinx sits at the base of the plateau near the Valley Temple of Khafre. It is included in your general admission ticket. The Valley Temple itself is one of the best-preserved Old Kingdom structures in Egypt and worth spending 20 minutes inside.

Lunch

Andrea El Mariouteya is a Cairo institution located just minutes from the pyramids, serving grilled chicken, kofta and mezze in a garden setting. Expect to pay approximately EGP 400–600 (USD 8–12) per person. For something quicker, 9 Pyramids Lounge offers decent food with direct pyramid views, though prices run higher at approximately EGP 600–900 (USD 12–18) per person.

Afternoon — Solar Boat Museum and Surrounds

The Khufu Solar Boat Museum (now housed within the Grand Egyptian Museum complex) displays the reconstructed 4,600-year-old cedar vessel discovered in a pit beside the Great Pyramid. If you have energy remaining, the Sound and Light Show runs nightly at the pyramids (approximately EGP 500 / USD 10 per person, starting times vary by season).

Evening

Return to central Cairo via Uber (approximately EGP 80–120 / USD 2–3 from Giza to Downtown, 30–50 minutes depending on traffic). Dinner at Abou Tarek on Champollion Street — Cairo’s most famous koshari restaurant. A large bowl costs approximately EGP 60–80 (USD 1–2). No-frills, always packed, and exactly the Cairo experience you want on your first night.

Where to Stay

• Budget: Hotel & Hostel Aussie House (Downtown) — from approximately EGP 800 (USD 16) per night for a private room
• Mid-range: Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir (Downtown) — from approximately EGP 3,500 (USD 70) per night
• Upscale: Kempinski Nile Hotel (Garden City) — from approximately EGP 8,000 (USD 160) per night with Nile views

Day 2: Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili

Morning — Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the Giza Plateau, is the world’s largest archaeological museum. General admission costs approximately EGP 1,000 (USD 20 as of 2026), with a supplementary ticket for the Tutankhamun galleries at approximately EGP 500 (USD 10). The museum opens at 9:00 AM. Allow at least 3 hours — the collection spans 100,000 artefacts across multiple floors.

Take an Uber from Downtown Cairo (approximately EGP 80–120 / USD 2–3, 30–40 minutes).

Lunch

Naguib Mahfouz Café on the edge of Khan el-Khalili serves traditional Egyptian dishes in a restored Ottoman-era building. Mains run approximately EGP 300–500 (USD 6–10). The café is named after Egypt’s Nobel Prize-winning novelist and makes a fitting transition from museum to medina.

Afternoon — Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili

From the café, walk directly into Khan el-Khalili, Cairo’s grand bazaar dating to the 14th century. Spend an hour browsing the brass, spice and jewellery lanes, then continue south along Al-Muizz Street — the spine of medieval Cairo.

Key stops along Al-Muizz Street (all free entry unless noted):

• Bab el-Futuh and Bab el-Nasr — the northern Fatimid gates
• Al-Hakim Mosque — massive 11th-century mosque, free entry
• Qalawun Complex — stunning Mamluk mausoleum and madrasa (approximately EGP 100 / USD 2)
• Sultan Hassan Mosque — one of the largest mosques in the world (approximately EGP 200 / USD 4)

Evening

El Fishawy Café in Khan el-Khalili is Cairo’s oldest café (established 1773). Order a mint tea or sahlab and watch the bazaar wind down. For dinner, Zooba on 26th July Street in Zamalek serves modern Egyptian street food — ful, taameya and hawawshi with a contemporary twist. Expect approximately EGP 250–400 (USD 5–8) per person.

Day 3: Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and Al-Azhar Park

Morning — Coptic Cairo

The Coptic Quarter (Old Cairo) is a compact area that you can cover in 2–3 hours. Take the Metro to Mar Girgis station (Line 1, approximately EGP 12 / USD 0.25 per ride).

Key sites:

• Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa) — built atop the Roman Babylon Fortress, free entry, opens 9:00 AM
• Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga) — tradition holds that the Holy Family sheltered in its crypt, free entry
• Ben Ezra Synagogue — the oldest synagogue in Cairo, free entry
• Coptic Museum — houses the world’s finest collection of Coptic art, approximately EGP 200 (USD 4 as of 2026), open 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Lunch

Bab Al Qasr at the InterContinental Citystars offers a lavish Egyptian buffet lunch for approximately EGP 900–1,200 (USD 18–24) per person. For a budget option, grab a shawarma and fresh juice from the street vendors near Bab Zuweila for approximately EGP 80–120 (USD 2).

Afternoon — Citadel of Saladin

The Citadel of Saladin dominates Cairo’s eastern skyline. Built in the 12th century, it served as Egypt’s seat of government for nearly 700 years. General admission is approximately EGP 450 (USD 9 as of 2026). The complex opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM (4:00 PM in winter).

Inside the Citadel:

• Mosque of Muhammad Ali — the alabaster mosque is the Citadel’s centrepiece, with panoramic views across Cairo from its terrace
• Al-Gawhara Palace — 19th-century palace with period furnishings
• Military Museum — housed in the former Harem Palace

Late Afternoon — Al-Azhar Park

Walk or take a short ride (approximately EGP 30–50 / USD 1) downhill to Al-Azhar Park, built on a former rubbish dump and opened in 2005 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Entry costs approximately EGP 120 (USD 2.50 as of 2026). The park offers the best sunset views in Cairo — the Citadel to the south, the minarets of Islamic Cairo to the west, and the Mokattam Hills to the east.

Farewell Dinner

Sequoia on the northern tip of Zamalek offers Nile-side dining with views of both banks. Expect to pay approximately EGP 800–1,200 (USD 16–24) per person for mains and drinks. Book ahead for a terrace table at sunset.

Budget Summary

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Upscale
Accommodation (3 nights)	EGP 2,400 (USD 48)	EGP 10,500 (USD 210)	EGP 24,000 (USD 480)
Food (3 days)	EGP 1,200 (USD 24)	EGP 3,600 (USD 72)	EGP 7,500 (USD 150)
Sightseeing	EGP 2,500 (USD 50)	EGP 3,500 (USD 70)	EGP 4,500 (USD 90)
Transport	EGP 500 (USD 10)	EGP 1,000 (USD 20)	EGP 2,500 (USD 50)
Total	EGP 6,600 (USD 132)	EGP 18,600 (USD 372)	EGP 38,500 (USD 770)

All prices approximate as of 2026. The Egyptian pound fluctuates — check current rates before travel.

Practical Tips

• Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees for mosques. Women should carry a lightweight scarf. Shoes are removed at mosque entrances.
• Cash: Many smaller restaurants, cafés and market stalls are cash-only. ATMs are widely available in Downtown and Zamalek. EGP is the only accepted currency for admission tickets.
• Timing: Start outdoor sightseeing by 8:00 AM to avoid both crowds and heat. Museums make ideal mid-afternoon stops when temperatures peak.
• Ramadan: During Ramadan, some restaurants close during daylight hours. Museums and sites maintain normal hours but may close earlier on Fridays.
• Tipping: A tip of 10–15% is customary at restaurants. Small tips of EGP 20–50 are expected at mosques, monuments and for parking attendants.