Few journeys contrast time and place like a 7-day itinerary through Cairo and Dubai. You start with 5,000 years of history—pharaohs, pyramids, and medieval alleys—then leap into a city that sketches tomorrow’s skyline each year. It’s a sweep from hieroglyphs to hyperloops.

Cairo’s story winds from Memphis and Saqqara to Fatimid avenues and the Nile’s timeless rhythm. You’ll wander the Giza Plateau, sip mint tea in labyrinthine souks, and taste Egypt’s greatest hits: koshary, molokhia, and flaky feteer. Practical note: Uber/Careem are widely used; modest dress is needed in mosques.

In Dubai, glass and steel meet coral-stone wind towers. You’ll glide by abra across Dubai Creek, stand atop Burj Khalifa, and ride dunes into a bronze desert sunset. Expect spotless metros, year-round sunshine (winter is ideal), and a food scene that spans Emirati staples to Michelin-rated bistros.

Cairo

Egypt’s bustling capital is a living museum. The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx need no introduction, but the city’s soul also hums in Al-Muizz Street’s medieval mosques, Coptic shrines in Old Cairo, and feluccas drifting at dusk. For stays, Zamalek (leafy, central) and Garden City (quiet, riverside) are favorites.

• Where to stay: Browse stays on Hotels.com Cairo or apartments on VRBO Cairo. Consider Zamalek for cafés and river views; Garden City for embassies and calm; Maadi for leafy, expat-friendly streets.
• Arrival/transport: Fly into CAI using Trip.com flights (frequent one-stop from most hubs). Airport to Zamalek/Garden City is ~45–60 minutes by Uber/Careem (~$8–15, traffic-dependent).
• Food & coffee snapshot: Don’t miss koshary at Koshary Abou Tarek (a Cairo institution), classic mezze at Abou El Sid (Zamalek), modern street-food takes at Zooba, and specialty coffee at 30 NORTH or Kafein.

Day 1: Arrival, Downtown Cairo, and a Nile Sunset

Morning: Fly into Cairo. Book your ticket on Trip.com and aim for early afternoon arrival. Ride-share to your hotel; check in and freshen up.

Afternoon: Ease into Cairo with Downtown’s belle-époque boulevards. Grab a late lunch at Eish + Malh (handmade pasta and Egyptian breakfast plates in a revived 1920s space). Coffee at Kafein or 30 NORTH for single-origin pours.

Evening: Take a private felucca on the Nile at golden hour (about $15–25 per boat/hour; negotiate beforehand). Dinner at Abou El Sid (rich molokhia, stuffed vine leaves, and slow-cooked lamb). Optional nightcap in Zamalek’s bar scene or an early night.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and Saqqara

Morning: Head early to the Giza Plateau to beat the crowds. See the Great Pyramid (Khufu), Khafre, and Menkaure; book a short camel or horse ride to the panoramic viewpoint (agree on price before mounting). Entry ranges roughly $10–30 depending on add-ons; bring cash and sunscreen.

Afternoon: Lunch with a view at 9 Pyramids Lounge (traditional grills, mezze, and mint tea overlooking the desert). Continue to Saqqara to see Djoser’s Step Pyramid and finely painted Old Kingdom tombs; time permitting, swing by ancient Memphis’ open-air statues.

Evening: Return to town for casual Egyptian eats at Zooba (taameya falafel, hawawshi, and dips) or try Koshary Abou Tarek for the city’s beloved carb symphony. Optional: Giza Sound & Light show for a theatrical retelling of pyramid history.

Day 3: Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo

Morning: Explore the grand Mamluk complexes around Salah El-Din Square: Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa’i Mosques (modest attire; women may need a scarf). Continue along Al-Muizz Street for carved stone portals, khanqahs, and sabils from the 10th–15th centuries.

Afternoon: Lunch at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant in Khan el-Khalili (molokhia, grilled meats, and stuffed pigeon for the adventurous). Sip tea at El-Fishawi, a storied café open for generations. Then transfer to Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga), and Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Evening: Consider a Nile dinner cruise (live music, mezze, grilled seafood) or dine aboard Le Pacha 1901’s cluster of restaurants anchored in Zamalek. Wrap with konafa or basbousa at Mandarine Koueider.

Dubai

Dubai sets records then breaks them: record-tall towers, record-sized malls, record-fast transformations. Yet Old Dubai’s coral-stone houses and wooden abras keep the city’s trading heritage alive. Base yourself in Downtown for easy sightseeing or by Marina/JBR for beachy evenings.

• Where to stay: Browse Hotels.com Dubai or find apartments on VRBO Dubai. Downtown = Burj Khalifa/Fountain at your doorstep; Marina/JBR = beach, yachts, lively promenades; Al Fahidi = heritage ambience.
• Getting there from Cairo: Nonstop Cairo–Dubai flights take ~3 h 45 m. Expect ~$180–$300 one-way in economy if booked early. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Dubai Metro and plentiful taxis make getting around simple; grab a Nol card for metro/tram/bus.
• Food & coffee snapshot: Breakfast at Tom & Serg (Aussie-style), Emirati bites at Arabian Tea House, Pakistani staples at Ravi, charcoal kebabs at Al Ustad, seafood at Bu Qtair, and contemporary standouts like Orfali Bros or 3 Fils. Coffee? Nightjar and % Arabica are excellent.

Day 4: Fly to Dubai, Downtown Icons

Morning: Morning flight from Cairo to Dubai (book via Trip.com). Land at DXB, taxi or Metro (Red Line) to your hotel. Check in and hydrate—desert air is dry.

Afternoon: Explore Dubai Mall: the aquarium tunnel, Souk Al Bahar, and countless boutiques. Coffee with fountain views at % Arabica. Time your Burj Khalifa “At The Top” visit for late afternoon light; standard decks are 124/125, while 148 offers a premium lounge. Tickets typically range ~AED 179–399 ($49–$110) depending on level and timing.

Evening: Dinner options nearby: Time Out Market Dubai (chef-led stalls from shawarma to sushi), or Coya for Peruvian flair. Catch the Dubai Fountain shows every 30 minutes after sunset; best views from the waterfront promenade.

Day 5: Old Dubai—Fahidi, Creek, and Souks

Morning: Breakfast in the leafy courtyard of Arabian Tea House (regag bread, balaleet, chai). Wander the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood—wind-tower houses, galleries, and museums. Pop into the Coffee Museum for beans-by-history.

Afternoon: Ride a wooden abra across Dubai Creek for AED 1 (coins help). Browse the Spice Souk’s saffron and cardamom, then the Gold Souk’s glittering windows. Lunch at Al Ustad Special Kebab (since the 1970s; juicy kebabs, yogurt dips) or pop to Ravi Restaurant in Satwa for Pakistani classics (nihari, chicken tikka).

Evening: Head to the Dubai Frame at sunset—Old Dubai on one side, the new city on the other (tickets ~AED 50/$14). Late dinner at Bu Qtair near the fishing harbor: pick your fresh catch and have it fried or grilled with spicy masala, then eat at plastic tables like a local.

Day 6: Beach Morning, Desert Afternoon

Morning: Beach time at Kite Beach or JBR. Breakfast at Tom & Serg (ricotta hotcakes, shakshuka) or Stomping Grounds (great flat whites). Stroll along the JBR Walk for casual boutiques and juice bars.

Afternoon: Get picked up for a desert safari (most run 3–4 pm to 9–10 pm). Expect dune bashing in 4x4s, sandboarding, brief camel rides, and time for sunset photos among rippling dunes. Packages run roughly $45–$90 per person depending on inclusions.

Evening: At the desert camp, tuck into a barbecue buffet, salads, and sweets. Many camps offer henna, oud music, and tanoura performances. Back in the city, stop for gelato along Jumeirah Beach Road if you still have a sweet tooth.

Day 7: Museum of the Future or Alserkal Avenue, Departure

Morning: Two great options before your flight. Culture/tech lovers: the Museum of the Future (immersive exhibits on sustainability, space, and AI; tickets typically ~AED 149/$41, book ahead). Art/design fans: Alserkal Avenue warehouses with contemporary galleries; grab coffee at Nightjar.

Afternoon: Last-minute lunch at 3 Fils (creative Asian plates by the fishing harbor) or Orfali Bros (inventive small plates). Transfer to DXB for your afternoon departure—plan 30–60 minutes to the airport by taxi/Metro plus ample time for security.

Getting Between Cities and Booking Tips

• Flights (Cairo ↔ Dubai): Nonstop ~3 h 45 m; one-way economy often $180–$300 if booked early. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Local transport: Cairo: Uber/Careem are easiest; allow buffer for traffic. Dubai: Metro Red Line links DXB–Downtown–Marina; taxis are plentiful and metered.
• Dress & etiquette: Modest attire in mosques; shoes off before entering prayer halls. Friday is the main prayer day; some sites have limited hours.

Dining Shortlist (Save This)

• Cairo: Abou El Sid (classic Egyptian), Koshary Abou Tarek (koshary), Zooba (modern street food), Naguib Mahfouz (Old Cairo ambience), 30 NORTH/Kafein (specialty coffee), Mandarine Koueider (desserts).
• Dubai: Arabian Tea House (Emirati), Al Ustad Special Kebab (Iranian grill), Ravi (Pakistani), Bu Qtair (seafood shack), Tom & Serg and Nightjar (coffee/brunch), 3 Fils and Orfali Bros (contemporary standouts).

Where to book stays: Hotels.com Cairo | VRBO Cairo • Hotels.com Dubai | VRBO Dubai

This one-week Cairo and Dubai itinerary marries pharaonic grandeur with twenty-first-century dazzle. From the Giza Pyramids and Khan el-Khalili to Burj Khalifa heights and a rosy desert sunset, you’ll taste, see, and feel the breadth of the Middle East in seven vibrant days.