🇪🇬

Cairo

Egypt · Pyramids, pharaohs & the Nile

The only surviving Ancient Wonder of the World stands at the city's edge. Cairo is chaotic, ancient, and utterly mesmerizing — 5,000 years of civilization in one city.

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Weather
18-38°C
Hot & Dry
✈️
Flight Time
11h from East Coast
💰
Budget Range
$10-250/night
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Itinerary
4 days
26 activities
Sample Itinerary

4 days in Cairo

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1

Pyramids & Sphinx

Face to face with 4,500 years of history.

🏛️Great Pyramids of Giza
7:00 AM · 3h · $15
Go at opening — fewer crowds, cooler temps
🦁The Sphinx
10:30 AM · 45min · Free
Included with pyramid ticket — iconic limestone guardian
🐪Camel ride around pyramids
11:30 AM · 1h · $15
Classic desert experience with pyramid backdrop
🍗Lunch at Andrea
1:00 PM · 1.5h · $10
Grilled chicken and mezze with pyramid views
👑Grand Egyptian Museum
3:00 PM · 3h · $20
World's largest archaeological museum — Tutankhamun's treasures
+2 more activities
2

Islamic Cairo & Khan el-Khalili

Medieval city of a thousand minarets.

🕌Citadel of Saladin
9:00 AM · 2h · $8
Muhammad Ali Mosque with Cairo panorama
🕌Sultan Hassan Mosque
11:30 AM · 45min · $3
One of the largest medieval mosques in the world
☕Lunch at Naguib Mahfouz Café
12:30 PM · 1h · $10
Named for Nobel laureate, in Khan el-Khalili
🛍️Khan el-Khalili bazaar
2:00 PM · 3h · Free
Labyrinthine 14th-century market — haggle everything
🌳Al-Azhar Park
5:30 PM · 1.5h · $2
Oasis of calm with old Cairo skyline views
+1 more activities
3

Coptic Cairo & Nile

Christian heritage and river life.

⛪Coptic Cairo
9:00 AM · 2.5h · Free
Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Roman fortress
🏛️Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)
12:00 PM · 2h · $10
Mummies, ancient artifacts — treasure trove
🌯Lunch at Zooba
2:30 PM · 1h · $5
Modern Egyptian street food — taameya wraps
⛵Felucca ride on the Nile
4:00 PM · 2h · $10
Traditional sailboat at golden hour
🚢Nile dinner cruise
7:00 PM · 2.5h · $30
Buffet dinner with belly dancing show
4

Memphis, Saqqara & Farewell

Older pyramids, fewer crowds.

🚗Drive to Saqqara
7:00 AM · 45min · $15
South of Cairo, ancient necropolis
🏛️Step Pyramid of Djoser
8:00 AM · 2h · $10
World's first pyramid — 4,700 years old
🗿Memphis open-air museum
10:30 AM · 1h · $5
Colossal Ramses II statue, alabaster sphinx
🍖Lunch at local restaurant
12:00 PM · 1h · $5
Grilled kofta and fresh bread
🏔️Dahshur Pyramids
2:00 PM · 1.5h · $5
Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid — you can enter!
+3 more activities
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Where to Stay

Neighborhoods & Hotels in Cairo

✦ Luxury · Giza
Marriott Mena House
Gardens facing the Pyramids directly
$250/night⭐ 4.8
◆ Mid-range · Islamic Cairo
Le Riad Hotel de Charme
Boutique in Islamic Cairo
$70/night⭐ 4.5
$ Budget · Downtown
Wake Up! Cairo Hostel
Downtown with rooftop Nile views
$10/night⭐ 4.3
Safety Info

Know Before You Go

⚠️ Common Scams
• Perfume shop and papyrus commission guides at Pyramids
• Camel ride overcharging — agree price before mounting
• 'Closed today' scam at major sites — always go directly to official ticket window
🏥 Health Notes
• Don't drink tap water
• Stomach issues common — stick to reputable restaurants
• Good hospitals in Zamalek and Maadi
💡 Local Tips
• Book Pyramids tickets online to avoid touts
• Use white metered cabs or Uber — no unlicensed taxis
• Baksheesh (tipping) is expected for most services — carry small bills
Getting Around

Transport in Cairo

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Flight
Direct from JFK
$550 · 11h
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Airport Transfer
Uber to downtown
$5 · 40min
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Daily Transport
Uber + metro
$5 · 1 day
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