Few cities fire the imagination like Cairo. Here, modern life hums alongside 5,000 years of history: pharaohs’ tombs, golden treasures, and minarets piercing a pink desert sky. With the Nile at its heart and Giza’s Great Pyramid on the horizon, Cairo is an epic classroom for curious kids and a feast for travelers who love culture, food, and stories.

Fun facts to prime your trip: Greater Cairo is home to 20+ million people; the Giza Pyramid complex is the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World; and the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is opening galleries and special exhibits in stages, putting Tutankhamun’s world under one roof. You’ll also taste Egypt’s soul in a bowl of koshary, a spoon of molokhia, and on a breezy Nile felucca at sunset.

Practical notes: Uber and Careem work well; modest dress is appreciated at mosques; carry small bills for tips; drink bottled water; and start early to beat heat and traffic. With a mid-range budget, you’ll find excellent hotels, family-sized VRBO apartments, and value-friendly eats that kids love.

Cairo

Cairo is a living museum—from Coptic churches and Mamluk mosques to Belle Époque Downtown and the art-filled island of Zamalek. Base yourself near the Nile for easy access to sights, leafy cafés, and kid-friendly strolls.

• Top sights: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), Coptic Cairo, Citadel of Salah al-Din, Khan el-Khalili, Al-Azhar Park, Cairo Tower.
• Kid-friendly fun: Felucca rides at sunset, Aquarium Grotto Garden (Zamalek), Al-Azhar Park playgrounds, Cairo Tower views, ice cream stops at Mandarine Koueider.
• Foodie musts: Koshary at Abou Tarek, grilled kofta at Sobhy Kaber, homestyle dishes at Fasahet Somaya (lunch only), classic mezze at Abou El Sid, Egyptian street-food twist at Zooba.

Where to stay: For families, look in Zamalek (leafy, central), Garden City (quiet, by the Nile), or near the Pyramids if you want a view. Browse family-sized apartments and hotels here: VRBO Cairo and Hotels.com Cairo.

How to arrive: Compare fares into CAI and multi-city options via Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com.

Giza

Giza is where the desert edge meets the city—and humanity’s most famous skyline takes shape. The Pyramids plateau is vast; go early, book a guide, and bring hats and water.

• Highlights: Great Pyramid of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure pyramids, Great Sphinx, 9 Pyramids Lounge, camel viewpoints on the panorama ridge.

Optional base with a view: If you want sunrise pyramid views, consider a night or two in Giza. Search options on VRBO Giza or Hotels.com Giza.

Alexandria

Alexandria brings Mediterranean breezes, Greco-Roman ruins, and family-friendly beaches. It’s a classic Cairo day trip with sea views, seafood feasts, and a relaxed corniche stroll.

• Highlights: Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel (built on the Lighthouse site), Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Montazah Gardens, Stanley Bridge and beach clubs.

Thinking of an overnight? If you fall for the sea air, you can always add a night: VRBO Alexandria or Hotels.com Alexandria.

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo, Nile Stroll, and Comfort Food

Afternoon: Land at CAI and head to your hotel (Uber/Careem are easiest). Settle in, then stretch your legs along the Nile in Zamalek or Garden City—great for first-day energy and kid-friendly people-watching.

Evening: Welcome dinner near the Nile. Try Abou El Sid (classic Egyptian—molokhia, stuffed vine leaves, mixed grills), or go casual at Abou Tarek for the national dish, koshary (lentils, pasta, chickpeas, tangy tomato sauce). Sweet stop: Mandarine Koueider for mango ice cream or basbousa.

Day 2: Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Views, and Dinner with a Desert Sunset

Morning: Beat the crowds with a guided visit to the Giza Plateau. For a family-friendly, good-value bundle that includes lunch and a pyramid interior: All inclusive Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, lunch, Camel, inside 3rd pyramid.

Expect wow-moments on the panorama ridge and kid-pleasing camel photos. Bring small bills for tipping handlers.

Afternoon: If energy allows, add Saqqara’s Step Pyramid and Memphis (usually part of the tour’s options). Otherwise, return to the hotel for pool time or naps.

Evening: Dine with pyramid views. 9 Pyramids Lounge serves simple Egyptian plates with jaw-dropping silhouettes at sunset; or try Khufu’s for a sit-down meal. Back in town, Zooba (Zamalek) riffs on street food—taameya (Egyptian falafel), hawawshi, and beet tahina—fun for kids to sample.

Day 3: Grand Egyptian Museum + Night on the Nile

Morning: Dive into the Grand Egyptian Museum (new galleries and special exhibits are opening in stages). A guided half-day makes the most of it: New Grand Egyptian Museum half day tour (GEM museum).

Focus on the colossal statues hall and Tutankhamun items—captivating for all ages.

Afternoon: Lunch in Zamalek: Crimson Bar & Grill (daytime terrace, burgers, kids’ options) or Left Bank (riverfront salads, pasta). Let the kids explore Aquarium Grotto Garden’s quirky caves, then rest pre-cruise.

Evening: Celebrate with a floating feast on the Nile: 2-Hour Nile River Dinner Cruise From Cairo.

Expect a buffet, music, and a family-friendly folkloric show. Prefer something quieter? Hire a private felucca for an hour at sunset and bring take-away sandwiches from TBS (The Bakery Shop).

Day 4: Islamic Cairo, Souks, and a Tanoura Show

Morning: Explore the Citadel of Salah al-Din and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (modest dress; scarves for women). Views sweep over the whole city. For a pick-me-up, grab fresh sugarcane juice from a street stand (kids love it).

Afternoon: Wander Khan el-Khalili’s maze for brass lamps, spices, and playful haggling. Lunch at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant (cool interior, classic Egyptian stews, grills) and mint tea at historic El Fishawy Café. Then taxi to Al-Azhar Park for green lawns and a playground with skyline views.

Evening: Book the Sufi tanoura show at Wekalet Al-Ghouri (most evenings; check times). It’s mesmerizing and very family-friendly. Post-show dinner: Sobhy Kaber (charcoal-grilled kofta, pigeon, tahini, oven-fresh baladi bread) or El Prince in Imbaba for street-side grills and liver sandwiches.

Day 5: Alexandria Day Trip—Sea Air, Seafood, and Citadel Views

Full day: Depart around 7:00 a.m. (2.5–3 hours by private car). A guided day keeps logistics easy: Alexandria Day Trip From Cairo.

See the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, and Qaitbay Citadel (built on the legendary Lighthouse site). Lunch on the corniche at Fish Market (grilled bouri, calamari, rice with nuts) or Balbaa Village (hearty Egyptian grills and seafood). If weather and time allow, add an hour at Montazah Gardens and its family beaches, or a photo stop at Stanley Bridge with ice cream from Gelateria Azza.

DIY option: Express trains run roughly 2h40–3h from Cairo’s Misr Station; first-class seats are typically around $8–12 per adult. Taxis are easy on arrival at Alexandria’s Misr Station. Return to Cairo by early evening.

Day 6: Coptic Cairo, Museum Gems, and Sunset from the Tower

Morning: Immerse in Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Bacchus (with the Holy Family cave), and the Coptic Museum’s icons and textiles—compact and engaging. Nearby, the Ben Ezra Synagogue tells another layer of Cairo’s story.

Afternoon: Lunch at Fasahet Somaya (tiny, lunch-only; rotating homestyle dishes like okra stew, macarona béchamel) or Zooba City Walk for easy kid-pleasers. Then pop to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir for a greatest-hits hour (royal mummies may rotate exhibitions; ask at the desk) or browse crafts at Fair Trade Egypt (Zamalek).

Evening: Ride up Cairo Tower for a golden-hour panorama. Dinner in Zamalek: Crimson (sunset terrace), Maison Thomas (old-school pizzas—kid comfort), or U Bistro (smart casual). Nightcap stroll along the island’s leafy streets for gelato at Gelato Mio.

Day 7: Local Life and Last Bites, Then Departure

Morning: Easy breakfast at 30 North Coffee (excellent beans, pastries) or TBS. Duck into a neighborhood fruit stand for dates and pomegranates in season. If you collect souvenirs, swing by Khan el-Khalili or the crafts shop strip in Zamalek for handblown glass and brass trays.

Afternoon: Airport transfer for your flight home. Grab a final koshary to-go if you’re hooked!

Optional/Alternate Ideas (Swap Into Any Day)

• Focused Pyramids morning: Private Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Tour with Optional Pyramids Entry

  

  for a shorter day with younger kids.
• Combo day (museum + pyramids): Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx Tour

  

  if you prefer one big highlight day.

Family Food and Coffee Cheat-Sheet

• Breakfast/coffee: 30 North Coffee (multiple branches), Cake Café (Zamalek), TBS (The Bakery Shop).
• Lunch classics: Abou Tarek (koshary), Zooba (street food remix), Felfela (Downtown, fast Egyptian plates), Fasahet Somaya (tiny, home food).
• Dinner favorites: Abou El Sid (traditional), Sobhy Kaber (meat grills), El Prince (local grill legend), Crimson (Nile terrace), 9 Pyramids Lounge (sunset views).
• Sweets: Mandarine Koueider (ice cream, pastries), NOLA (kunafa twists), El Malky (rice pudding).

Getting around: Uber/Careem are convenient and budget-friendly; for day trips, private drivers or guided tours simplify logistics. Carry small change for museum entries and tips; most major spots accept cards but some smaller vendors are cash-only.

Inspired by pharaohs and fueled by falafel, your week in Cairo mixes headline sights with local rhythm: museum mornings, souk wanderings, Nile-lit evenings, and a splash of Mediterranean blue in Alexandria. With kid-friendly pacing and great food at every turn, this itinerary makes Egypt’s capital a family favorite you’ll talk about for years.