How many days in Cairo? 4 days: Giza, the new Grand Egyptian Museum and old Cairo
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Cairo is a city of 20 million people built over 5,000 years of history, and it is exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure. Four days gives one to the Pyramids of Giza and the new Grand Egyptian Museum next to them, one to the older pyramids of Saqqara and Dahshur, one to Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, and one to Coptic Cairo, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Nile. Traffic is extreme, so plan each day around one area, and use Uber or Careem rather than street taxis.
Short answer
Three days covers Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara and Islamic Cairo. The fourth adds Coptic Cairo and the Nile, and gives you a buffer for traffic and heat.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Morning. Be at the Giza Plateau gate at opening (about 7:00-8:00). The general ticket (several hundred Egyptian pounds for foreigners) covers the site, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure from outside, and the Sphinx; entering the Great Pyramid's narrow passage costs extra. Walk or take a short ride to the Panorama point for the classic view of all the pyramids.
Afternoon. Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a 2 km walk or a short taxi from the pyramids, opened in full in 2025. It holds the complete Tutankhamun collection, the colossal statue of Ramesses II in the atrium and the Grand Staircase of statues. Allow 3-4 hours; buy timed tickets online.
Evening. Watch the Sound and Light show at the pyramids, or have dinner at a restaurant in Giza with a view of the pyramids lit up.
Camel and horse handlers at Giza are aggressive. Agree a total price in Egyptian pounds before getting on, and prefer the official ones near the Panorama point.
Day 2: Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis
Morning. Hire a driver or join a tour (about 30-40 minutes south of Giza) to Saqqara, home of the Step Pyramid of Djoser (around 2650 BC), the oldest large stone building in the world, and the decorated tombs of nobles such as Mereruka.
Afternoon. Continue to Dahshur for the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, the first true smooth-sided pyramid, which you can enter by a steep passage, often with no one else inside. Stop at Memphis, the ancient capital, for the giant fallen statue of Ramesses II.
Evening. Return to Cairo and eat koshari (rice, lentils and pasta with tomato sauce and crispy onions), the city's favourite cheap meal, at Abou Tarek downtown.
Saqqara and Dahshur are much quieter than Giza and many visitors find them more impressive. A private car for the day costs much less than expected; arrange it through your hotel.
Day 3: Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili
Morning. Visit the Citadel of Saladin (12th century) and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the 'Alabaster Mosque', with the best view across Cairo. Then walk down to the Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Al-Rifai Mosque opposite.
Afternoon. Take a taxi to Al-Azhar Mosque (founded in 970) and walk Al-Muizz Street, an open-air museum of medieval mosques, madrasas and sabils. Climb the minarets of Bab Zuweila, the old city gate, for the view over the rooftops.
Evening. Get lost in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, then sit at El Fishawy, a café open for more than 200 years, for mint tea or a shisha. Dinner nearby.
Women should cover hair, arms and legs in mosques; men need long trousers. Shoes come off at the door.
Day 4: Coptic Cairo, the Egyptian Museum and the Nile
Morning. Take the metro to Mar Girgis for Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, built over a Roman gate, the Ben Ezra Synagogue where the Cairo Geniza documents were found, and the Coptic Museum.
Afternoon. Visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the original pink museum of 1902. Many treasures have moved to the GEM, but it still holds thousands of statues, the Amarna-period art and the Old Kingdom collections; check what is on display.
Evening. Rent a felucca, a traditional sailing boat, for an hour on the Nile at sunset from the Corniche (about EGP 300-600 per boat per hour), then dinner in Zamalek, the leafy island district.
The royal mummies are now displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Fustat, close to Coptic Cairo, worth adding if you have time.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1, 2 and 3. You lose Coptic Cairo, the Tahrir museum and the Nile felucca.
Got extra days?
With more time, take an overnight train or flight to Luxor for the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, and cruise the Nile to Aswan, or go to Alexandria (about 2.5 hours by train).
Where to stay in Cairo
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Downtown (Tahrir) | Cheapest hotels, metro, near the Egyptian Museum. | EGP 1,500-3,000 |
| Mid-range | Giza (pyramid-view hotels) | Wake up to the pyramids, walk to the GEM. | EGP 3,000-6,000 |
| Mid-range | Zamalek | Calm island district with restaurants by the Nile. | EGP 3,500-7,000 |
| Comfort | Nile Corniche hotels | International hotels with Nile views. | EGP 9,000-25,000 |
Getting around
Use Uber or Careem for almost everything: they are cheap and avoid haggling. The metro is useful for Coptic Cairo and downtown (women-only carriages are available). Traffic is heavy at all hours; allow 1-1.5 hours from downtown to Giza. From Cairo airport, Uber takes about 45-60 minutes to downtown and 1-1.5 hours to Giza. Most visitors need a visa (e-visa or on arrival).
What to eat in Cairo
Cairo's street food is cheap and excellent: koshari, ful medames (stewed fava beans) and ta'meya (Egyptian falafel made with fava beans) for breakfast, hawawshi (spiced meat in bread), feteer (flaky layered pastry, sweet or savoury) and mahshi (stuffed vegetables). Try molokhia (a green soup), hamam mahshi (stuffed pigeon) and om ali (bread pudding) in restaurants. A street meal costs EGP 50-150; a restaurant meal EGP 300-800. Drink bottled water.
Best time to visit
October to April, with highs of 20-28°C. November to February is the most comfortable and busiest. From May to September, highs reach 35-40°C; sightseeing must be done early. The khamsin, a hot sandy wind, can blow in spring. During Ramadan, opening hours are shorter but the evenings are festive.
Month-by-month weather for Cairo →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | EGP 1,000 | EGP 2,500 | EGP 8,000 |
| Food & drink | EGP 500 | EGP 1,200 | EGP 3,000 |
| Sites & tickets | EGP 1,000 | EGP 2,000 | EGP 3,500 |
| Transport (Uber, driver share) | EGP 300 | EGP 800 | EGP 2,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about EGP 2,800 | about EGP 6,500 | about EGP 16,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Egyptian pounds; ticket prices for foreigners have risen sharply and are now often quoted in pounds but pegged to hard currency. Check the official ticket sites before you go.
Before you go
Common questions
How do I avoid scams at the pyramids?
Buy tickets only at the official gate or online, ignore people who say the entrance is 'closed' or 'this way', agree all prices in advance and refuse 'free' gifts. Licensed guides carry ID.
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum worth it?
Absolutely. It is the largest archaeological museum in the world, with the full Tutankhamun treasure displayed together for the first time. Allow half a day.
Is Cairo safe for tourists?
Generally yes, with tourist police at the main sites. The bigger challenges are traffic, touts and heat. Women may get unwanted attention; modest clothing helps.
Should I tip?
Yes: baksheesh is part of daily life. Small tips (EGP 20-50) for guards who open a tomb or help you; 10-15% in restaurants unless service is included.
Can I go inside the Great Pyramid?
Yes, with an extra ticket. The passage is steep, narrow and hot; the burial chamber is bare. Many people prefer the empty Red Pyramid at Dahshur.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Egypt trips. Ticket prices and museum displays change often; confirm on the official Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (egymonuments.com) and Grand Egyptian Museum websites before booking.
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