Cairo, Egypt is Africa’s largest capital city, and it’s considered the largest capital city in the middle east. It can be incredibly tricky to navigate on your own, with the chaotic traffic, maze of streets, and language barrier if you don’t speak Arabic. But this 3 Day Cairo Itinerary will help you organize your time in Cairo in a way that makes sense. You’ll get to see the iconic Ancient Egyptian sites in and around Cairo and get a taste of modern day Egyptian culture.
Want to extend your time in Egypt and visit other places? Our 9 day Egypt itinerary incorporates 3 days in Cairo with a Nile River Cruise!
Why should you listen to us?
Because we lead group trips to Egypt and include Cairo in every itinerary. We have personally experienced everything listed in this 3 day Cairo itinerary, and we’ve included timestamps for each activity to give you an idea of how much time to set aside for them.
If this is your first visit to the land of pyramids and mummies, our 20 Things To Know Before You Visit Egypt gives helpful tips on how to be mindful and respectful of the culture, societal norms to be aware of, and things that pleasantly surprised us on our first visit. Our Egypt packing list can also be found HERE, and you can download the PDF version via the form below.
Is a guide necessary for 3 days in Cairo?
We 100% think that Egypt is best seen with a guide – even if it’s just for a 3 day Cairo itinerary. As much as we absolutely love Egypt, it would be incredibly overwhelming to navigate on your own. And you’ll notice that the people who went to Egypt and did not enjoy it are usually the people who tried to do it all on their own. For us, a local guide is nonnegotiable for a trip to Egypt.
Lucky for you, we’ve got one to recommend: Wanderluxe Tours is who we have used for our trips to Egypt, and who we’ve got lined up for our future trips. They can recreate this exact 3 day Egypt itinerary for you and take care of all the behind the scene logistics!
We’re not exaggerating when we say that Wanderluxe Tours is the best tour company we’ve had anywhere in the world. They truly go above and beyond to make sure your trip to Egypt is the bucket list trip you always dreamed of whether it’s just for a long layover or a trip like this 3 day Cairo itinerary. And if you book through them and mention The Stickered Suitcase, they’ll take especially good care of you!
Where should you stay in Cairo?
Wanderluxe Villa – This is our top pick for Cairo if you want a local feel. These recently opened luxury serviced apartments are located only 20 minutes from the Cairo Airport. This is a fantastic option for families or larger groups who want something spacious and conveniently located but at a lower cost than big chain hotels in Cairo. There are 7 apartments with each one having 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, a dining room, and a large living room. It also has a rooftop terrace that offer fantastic views of New Cairo, and some of the apartments have a balcony with New Cairo views.
The villa is in an extremely safe area and steps away from several restaurants. If shawarma is on your foodie list for Egypt, there’s a great spot that’s only a 2 minute walk away. We love supporting locally owned businesses when we travel, and staying at Wanderluxe means you’re supporting a local family’s business.
Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino – Luxury accommodations in the heart of Cairo that offer Nile River and city views. There are several delicious restaurants on site, including a breakfast buffet that tops any other we’ve seen in our travels. The beds are comfortable and and the staff is very pleasant. This is a safe, reliable, and centrally located option in the city center.
Marriott Mena House – If you have a big budget and want pyramid views, Marriott Mena House is a very popular option. The luxury hotel is next door to the pyramids and the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum. It has 3 restaurants on site that offer international, Italian, and Indian cuisine.
Day 1 in Cairo
Pyramids + The Great Sphinx
9am-12:30pm: Let’s kick off your 3 day itinerary in Cairo with what everyone thinks of when they think of Egypt – The Great Pyramids.
Wake up early and get to the pyramids around 9am. You’ll buy your tickets on arrival which are around 700-900 EGP ($14.50-18 USD), and if you want to go INSIDE the Great Pyramid, it’s an additional 1,5000 EGP ($30ish USD).
You should know that going inside the pyramid is not a task for the claustrophobic or physically impaired – it’s a very narrow passageway with no airflow up a steep incline. If you’re up for the challenge though, it’s pretty cool to get to say you went inside one of the pyramids!
There is a small visitor center near the ticket counter where you can learn about the overall history of the pyramids and the sphinx and see some of the tools and methods used for building them. Then, head outside and take one of the buses to the Giza Plateau (the buses are included in your ticket price).
If you want to do a camel ride in front of the pyramids, there are several vendors there to do it through. Booking with a tour company, like Wanderluxe, means this cost will likely be included. A good company will choose one of the vendors where the camels are treated the most humanely. If you’re going without a guide, expect to pay 800-1035 EGP ($15-20 USD) for a 20-30 minute camel ride.
If you decide to go inside the pyramids, do that after your camel ride The inside closes sooner than the rest of the pyramid complex. Otherwise, take your time exploring the pyramids! Who knows when you’ll get to be in the presence of one of the 7 Wonders of the World again.
12:30-1pm: After you are finished with the pyramids, head over to the The Great Sphinx for even more iconic photos. You’ll only need around 30 minutes here though to get all the pictures you want.
Lunch + Papyrus Institute
1pm-2:30pm: Grab lunch from a local restaurant. For fantastic pyramid views, 9 Pyramids Lounge is a popular option. The food was mediocre compared to the rest of the food we had in Egypt, but the views here are spectacular.
3-4pm: Visit Golden Eagle Papyrus to see a demonstration of how papyrus paper is made plus the opportunity to buy some for yourself as a souvenir! This is a fantastic lightweight souvenir that’s unique to Egypt. You will see papyrus artwork throughout the trip, but buying it directly from the Papyrus shop ensures authenticity and quality. As with every place in Egypt though, you’ll need to haggle to get the best price
Optional Evening Activities
Evening: You’ve had a big day! Go back to your hotel and rest. If you don’t want the fun to end though, here are some fun options to round out your first day in Cairo:
Pyramids Sound and Light Show: Currently undergoing refurbishments and expected to come back bigger and better than ever before in 2026! Lights are projected onto the pyramids to paint a picture of Ancient Egypt’s history.
ATV ride in front of the pyramids: See the pyramids from a different vantage point as you race around the desert on quad bikes.
Cooking Class with an Egyptian family: This class has over 100 five star reviews, with many people saying it was their favorite experience of their entire trip to Egypt. You’ll get to visit a local family’s home, cook traditional food, and eat dinner with them.
Day 2 in Cairo
Mit Rahina Open Air Museum Near Memphis
9:30-10:15am: Memphis was one of the ancient capitals of Egypt and is technically south of Cairo. Today, you can find the Mit Rahina open air museum near Memphis that houses an 11 meter long statue of Ramses II. Outside the museum is a sphinx thought to be Hatshepsut of Amenhotep II.
Step Pyramid
10:30-11:30am: See the oldest Egyptian stone structure (AKA the first pyramid) and explore the tombs nearby to see unique hieroglyphics featuring fish, hippos, ducks, birds of all kinds, and mongoose.
The Step Pyramid of Djoser was the first pyramid to ever be built. The step formation shows the thought processes that went into the initial designs for the Pyramids of Giza and signifies a turning point in how Ancient Egyptians handled the funerary process.
Carpet School + Lunch
12:00-1:00pm: Visit the Oriental Carpet School to see demonstrations on how the carpets are made by hand on giant looms. Then have the chance to shop for carpets or wall hangings. If you buy a larger carpet, they will include shipping in the price for you!
1:15-2:00pm: Enjoy a farm to table meal at Valley of Kings Restaurant off Saqara Al Syahi Road. During our visit, we also got to see a demonstration on how Egyptian bread is made, enjoy some live music, and get hand rolled ice cream for dessert.
Coptic Cairo
2:30-4:00pm: Spend some time visiting the places of worship in Coptic Cairo and wander its cobbled streets. You should visit the Ben-Ezra Synagogue first upon arrival, as it closes earlier than the other places of worship you’ll be visiting.
Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church is probably the most famous place of worship in the area though, as you can take the stairs down to a cavern and see where Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus are said to have spent some time as they fled from King Herod.
The Hanging Church is also worth a visit. It is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, dating back to the 3rd century. There are colorful mosaics outside the entrance, and the inside has intricate woodwork that differs from the other churches in Coptic Cairo.
After you’ve visited these three churches, spend some time shopping. This is a fabulous area to get books, artwork, or other souvenirs that you might not have seen during other parts of this 3 day Cairo itinerary.
Shop ’til You Drop
4:15-5:15pm: If you’re wanting an inexpensive and unique souvenir, visit the pottery shops on Al Fostat Street. This is your warning that you might need to purchase an additional suitcase to bring back all the pottery you buy though! Our group really enjoyed shopping here, because they have one of a kind pieces varying in sizes and prices that we didn’t see anywhere else on our trip!
5:30-7:30pm: End day 2 of your 3 day Cairo itinerary by visiting Khan el-Khalili bazaar. The bazaar dates back to 1382 and is designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s a bustling place selling everything from incense to handcrafted jewelry to artwork and brass lamps. They have run of the mill souvenirs that you can find pretty much everywhere else in Egypt, but if you do some digging, you can find treasures here also!
Day 3 in Cairo
Grand Egyptian Museum (AKA The GEM)
9am-12:30pm: Lucky for you, the Grand Egyptian Museum (AKA the GEM) is officially open! This is the world’s largest archaeological facility dedicated to a single civilization. You could easily spend several days exploring everything the GEM has to offer. But here are the highlights you should definitely see on your first visit:
As soon as you walk into the GEM, you’re met with a giant statue of Ramses II. Similar to Abu Simbel, on the summer and winter solstices, light streams through a window at the GEM’s entrance and illuminates the face of the pharaoh.
You’re going to feel inclined to immediately start exploring the main building. Instead, go straight from the entrance out the back of the building to Khufu’s Boat Museum. In the 1950s while archaeologists were working outside the pyramids, they found discovered 2 sealed pits. Each pit was filled with dismantled boats.
It took over 10 years to reconstruct one of the boats, and you can now see it on display within the museum. It is absolutely spectacular in design and size. The second boat is currently undergoing reassembly efforts with a designated place already created for it at the museum beside the first one.
Head back to the main building after you’ve finished with Khufu’s boats, and take the central staircase (or escalator) to the top. Along the way, you’ll get to enjoy a vertical exhibition along the stairs that ascend through history. The bottom portion is dedicated to how pharaohs were depicted throughout Ancient Egyptian history and the top of the climb ends with common burial practices.
The next highlight you should absolutely see on your first visit to the GEM is the Tutankhamun collection. The GEM holds the world’s largest collection of King Tut’s treasures. It is truly a magnificent display.
Tut’s tomb was filled to the brim with artifacts when it was discovered. Some of the highlights from King Tut’s tomb at the GEM include the golden burial mask, ornate sarcophagi, the royal diadem that he actually wore, his beds, shoes and clothing, his golden throne, chariots, jewelry, and even his mummy wrappings.
After you’ve finished with Tut, head over to the magnificent statue of Queen Hatshepsut coming into power. This statue differs than the ones at her temple that you saw on day 4 of this itinerary. Here, she can be seen kneeling making an offering of Maat (translation: order, truth, or justice) to the god Amun.
Spend your remaining time at the GEM getting lost in the collections that interest you most!
1-2pm: Grab lunch near the GEM, pyramids, or Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Abou Tarek is our fav place to get the national dish of Egypt – koshary. It’s even won an award for the best koshary in the middle east! It’s situated between the GEM and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, making it a good option for your last lunch on your 3 day Cairo itinerary. Check out our list of Must Try Foods in Egypt for more ideas of what to order for your meals in Egypt!
Mosque of Muhammad Ali
2:30-4pm: Take a peek inside the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. This mosque was one of Cairo’s most iconic landmarks and dates back to the 1800s. We had several people on our recent group trip to Egypt comment that this stop was one of their favorites from the trip. Head coverings are not required inside the mosque, but it is important that you have shoulders to knees covered out of respect, as this is an active place of worship.
The mosque has a lovely quiet white marble courtyard outside the entrance. Inside the alabaster mosque, the walls and ceiling are decked out in ornate gold and green intricate designs, beautiful chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and orb lights illuminate the space creating a dramatic effect.
Outside the mosque, head over to the wall that lines the courtyard for panoramic views of Cairo that make for a great photo opportunity!
Sail on the Nile in Style
Evening: Sail on the Nile in a felucca. You can’t go to Egypt without seeing the Nile River, and this tour lets you sail down it on a traditional felucca boat. Dinner is included plus hotel pickup and drop off. This is an iconic way to end your 3 day Cairo itinerary.
Let us know in the comments below if we need to add anything to our 3 day Cairo itinerary!
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4 comments
Agnes
Cairo is definitely on my bucket list, and this itinerary makes it feel much more doable. I love how you balanced the iconic sites like the Pyramids and the Sphinx with cultural spots like Coptic Cairo and the Nile experience. The tip about using a local guide is really helpful, especially for a first visit. This looks like a great plan to see a lot without feeling overwhelmed!
Maricla
I totally loved the article! Egypt is on my bucket list so I’m going to save it for later. I also appreciate when recommendations are made by people like you, who didn’t just visit the city a couple of times, but are experts.
Sharyn
Cairo and Egypt are on my bucket list so I loved this itinerary. 2 days learning and seeing the history – the pyramids, mummies, museums are right up my alley. So is shopping till i drop in Cairo!
Gabby Leopard
This is very interesting. I only got to visit Cairo for a day and knew I must have missed a lot. It would be great to go back and see some of the coptic sites, and Khan el-Khalili.