Dear travelers,
Our 3-Day Cairo Itinerary
Here’s a quick look at how I would organize the trip:
Day 1: Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum
Day 2: Islamic Cairo, Saladin Citadel, Khan El Khalili and Al-Muizz Street
Day 3: Coptic Cairo, Garbage City and the Cave Church
So let’s start with the place everyone comes to Cairo to see at least once.
Day 1: Pyramids of Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum
Morning at the Pyramids of Giza
Our first big stop in Cairo was the Pyramids of Giza.
I don’t think the Pyramids need much of an introduction. You’ve seen them in photos, movies, books, documentaries… probably hundreds of times.
But seeing them in real life is different.
It’s difficult to understand their size until you’re actually standing next to them.
We booked a private tour through GetYourGuide, which I would recommend if it’s your first time visiting. The Giza complex is huge, and having someone organize the different stops made everything much easier.
Our guide also explained the history along the way, which makes a big difference when you’re looking at something that’s been standing there for thousands of years.
One thing I would definitely recommend is going early.
The Pyramids are obviously one of the busiest attractions in Egypt, so arriving before the bigger tour groups makes the experience much nicer. It’s also better for photos, especially if you’re visiting during the warmer months.
During your visit, make sure you see:
- The Great Pyramid
- Pyramid of Khafre
- Pyramid of Menkaure
- The Great Sphinx
- Panorama Point
You can also go inside the Great Pyramid if you want to.
We spent a good part of the morning moving between the different viewpoints, and every time you change location, the Pyramids somehow look completely different.
Perfume and Papyrus Workshop
After visiting the Pyramids and the Sphinx, our tour also took us to a perfume shop and a papyrus workshop.
At the papyrus workshop, they showed us how traditional papyrus is made, which was actually really interesting to see.
We also stopped at a perfume shop where we learned more about Egyptian perfume oils and different scents.
These kinds of stops are often part of organized tours in Egypt, and of course there is an opportunity to buy something afterward, but we enjoyed seeing the demonstrations.
Lunch With a Pyramid View
After spending the whole morning around the Pyramids, we went for lunch at Rooftop 7000.
And if you’re looking for a restaurant with a Pyramid view, add this one to your list.
The view is incredible.
You basically sit down for lunch with the Pyramids directly in front of you.
It was also one of those moments where we finally had time to sit down after a busy morning and just look at where we were.
If you want a table with the best view, I would recommend reserving in advance.
And yes, this is obviously another great photo spot.
Afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum
After lunch, continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM.
It makes sense to combine the museum with the Pyramids because they’re located relatively close to each other, and the whole day stays focused on ancient Egypt.
I would leave at least a few hours for the museum.
It’s huge, modern and completely different from the historical sites you’ve just spent the morning exploring.
One thing I really liked is that the building itself is part of the experience. It’s very spacious, and there are some beautiful areas for photography in addition to all the artifacts.
If you love museums, you could easily spend much longer here, so I wouldn’t plan too much for the evening.
Day 2: Islamic Cairo & Khan El Khalili
The second day felt completely different from the first. After spending Day 1 surrounded by ancient Egyptian history, we moved on to Islamic Cairo.
And this is one of the things I loved about Cairo.
You can spend one day looking at the Pyramids and the next walking through historic streets filled with mosques, markets, cafés and beautiful architecture.
Saladin Citadel
Start the morning at the Saladin Citadel.
Built by Salah al-Din (Saladin) in the 12th century, the Citadel was created to defend Cairo from the Crusaders. It remained the seat of Egypt’s rulers for centuries, and because it sits high above the city, you get some of the best panoramic views over Cairo.
Inside, one of the main places to visit is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Built in the 19th century, it’s often called the Alabaster Mosque because of the alabaster covering its interior and lower walls. Its huge central dome and Ottoman-style architecture make it feel quite different from Cairo’s older Mamluk mosques.
It’s probably one of the most recognizable mosques in Cairo, and the interior is just as beautiful as the outside.
Take your time here.
There are so many little architectural details that it’s easy to walk straight past when you’re trying to fit several attractions into one morning.
Sultan Hassan Mosque
From there, continue to the Sultan Hassan Mosque.
One of Cairo’s great architectural masterpieces. Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk era, it was designed as both a mosque and a religious school. The scale is incredible — think massive stone walls, soaring ceilings, a monumental entrance, and a huge open courtyard. Standing inside really gives you a sense of how powerful and wealthy Mamluk Cairo once was.
When visiting the mosques, remember to dress respectfully. Keep your shoulders and knees covered, and women should carry a scarf in case it’s needed.
Lunch at Naguib Mahfouz Café
For lunch, head towards Khan El Khalili and stop at Naguib Mahfouz Café.
It’s located right in the historic area, which makes it a convenient stop before spending the afternoon exploring the bazaar.
This is a good place to try some Egyptian dishes. And one thing you definitely need to try is koshary.
Koshary is one of Egypt’s most famous dishes and is basically a mix of rice, pasta, lentils and chickpeas topped with tomato sauce and crispy onions.
There is a lot going on in one bowl.
But somehow it works.
It’s filling, inexpensive and one of those foods you should try at least once while you’re in Egypt.
After lunch, don’t make too many plans.
This is one of those places where it’s better to just start walking.
Khan El Khalili Bazaar
Khan El Khalili was one of my favorite areas to explore.
It’s busy, colorful and full of small shops selling everything from lanterns and jewelry to spices and souvenirs.
You could easily rush through it in an hour, but I wouldn’t.
Take your time.
Walk through the smaller streets, look inside the shops, stop for something to drink and just enjoy the atmosphere.
If you’re creating content, this is also one of the best areas in Cairo for street photography.
There is always something happening around you.
Day 3: Coptic Cairo & Garbage City
For the third day, we explored another side of the city.
Garbage City
We continued to an area often referred to as Garbage City, or Manshiyat Naser.
This was probably one of the most unusual places we visited in Cairo.
The neighborhood is home to the Zabbaleen community, who have developed a large informal recycling system based around collecting and sorting Cairo’s waste.
It’s very different from the tourist areas of Cairo, and I think it’s important to visit respectfully.
People live and work here, so especially if you’re taking photographs, remember that this isn’t an attraction created for tourists.
The main reason many visitors come to this area is the Cave Church of Saint Simon the Tanner.
The Cave Church
The Cave Church is built into the Mokattam mountain and is completely different from any other religious site we’d visited during the trip.
The scale is what surprised me most.
You enter this enormous space surrounded by rock, and it almost doesn’t feel like you’re still in Cairo.
It’s a really interesting final stop because by this point you’ve seen so many completely different sides of the city.
The Real Reason We Came to Cairo: Anyma at the Pyramids
Now back to the reason this trip happened in the first place.
Anyma at the Pyramids.
Honestly, it was an unforgettable experience.
The festival had two stages, the production was incredible, and seeing the Pyramids behind the stage while we were dancing was one of those moments where you have to stop for a second and think:
Are we actually here right now?
There aren’t many places in the world where the venue itself is as impressive as the show.
That said, there are definitely a few things I wish we’d known before going.
Getting Into the Festival Took Almost Three Hours
The biggest issue was the organization.
Between transportation, different checkpoints and security checks, it took us almost three hours to get to the actual stage.
We arrived just in time for Anyma’s set.
And I really mean just in time.
There were definitely a few stressful moments when we weren’t sure whether we were going to make it.
A lot of you asked me whether I would recommend attending an event like this in Cairo.
And my answer is yes.
The location is truly one of the most unique venues in the world, and seeing a show there is something I’ll never forget.
But I really hope they improve the transportation and entry process because that was the one part that took away from an otherwise incredible experience.
If you’re attending a festival or concert at the Pyramids, my biggest advice is simple:
Leave much earlier than you think you need to.
Expect everything to take longer.
And then add some more time.
Would I do it again?
Yes.
Because how many times in your life do you get to dance with the Pyramids as your backdrop? 🇪🇬🎶
Is 3 Days in Cairo Enough?
For your first trip, I think 3 days in Cairo is enough to see the main highlights.
You won’t see everything.
But you also shouldn’t try to.
Three days gives you time to see the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum, explore Islamic and Coptic Cairo, visit Khan El Khalili and experience some of the city’s different neighborhoods without making every day feel like a race.
If you have another day, you could add places like Saqqara and Dahshur.
But for a first visit, I was happy with how much we managed to experience in three days.
Final Thoughts on Our 3 Days in Cairo
Cairo can feel like several completely different cities at once, and I think that’s what made it so interesting for me.
You have places you’ve seen in history books your entire life, but then you turn a corner and find a completely different side of the city.
If you’re visiting Cairo for the first time, I hope this 3-day Cairo itinerary helps you plan your trip and gives you enough time to actually enjoy each place instead of simply ticking attractions off a list.
Truly yours,
The Creation of Us
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