Egypt’s storied Nile has nourished empires and imagination for millennia. In just one week, you’ll touch the limestone bones of the Pyramids, stand beneath towering hypostyle halls in Luxor, and sip mint tea where merchants have bargained for centuries. This itinerary balances blockbuster sights with slow, sensory moments so the history lands—and lingers.

Cairo thrums with energy: horns, vendors, call to prayer, and café chatter. Here, ancient Memphis blends into modern megacity, and meals can range from a humble bowl of koshary to refined contemporary Egyptian plates. You’ll explore Islamic and Coptic quarters, museums old and new, and the Giza Plateau by day, then unwind on a felucca at sunset.

In Luxor, the pace softens as the river widens. Temples glow honey-gold at dawn, and the West Bank’s necropolis hides the artistry of pharaohs and artisans alike. Expect early starts, cool stone, and a sky so wide it seems to carry voices from the past.

Cairo

Why go: Cairo is Egypt’s heart—chaotic, creative, and deeply historical. From the Pyramids of Giza to Al-Muizz Street’s Mamluk facades, you’ll move through 4,500 years in a few metro stops.

• Top sights: Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx; Saqqara and Dahshur; Egyptian Museum (Tahrir); National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (Royal Mummies); Islamic Cairo (Sultan Hassan, Al-Rifa’i, Al-Azhar, Al-Muizz); Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church, Ben Ezra, Saints Sergius).
• Food highlights: Koshary, ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel), hawawshi, molokhia, and slow-cooked fattah. Seek out street classics and modern interpretations.
• Neighborhood notes: Zamalek (leafy, artsy cafés), Garden City (quiet, central), Maadi (residential, green), Downtown (Belle Époque facades, near museums).

Where to stay: Browse city-wide options on VRBO Cairo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Cairo. Aim for Zamalek or Garden City for easy sightseeing and evening strolls.

Getting in: Fly into Cairo International (CAI). Check fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights. CAI to central Cairo is ~45–60 minutes by taxi/Uber depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Khan El Khalili, and Old Cairo Evenings

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Shake off the flight with a gentle loop around Zamalek’s tree-lined streets. Coffee at 30 NORTH (carefully sourced single-origin pour-overs) or cold hibiscus karkadeh from a local kiosk sets the tone.

Evening: Head to Khan El Khalili and Al-Muizz Street. Duck into Café El Fishawy for mint tea in one of the city’s oldest cafés, then wander past lantern shops and copper workshops. Dinner at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant (classic Egyptian stews, grilled meats, and mezzes in an atmospheric setting) or Abou El Sid in Zamalek (slow-cooked molokhia, stuffed pigeon, and warm bread). If you still have energy, a brief night view of the illuminated mosques of Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa’i is magical.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, and Dahshur

Morning: Get to the Giza Plateau early to beat crowds and haze. Stand before Khufu’s Great Pyramid (c. 2560 BCE) and the Sphinx, then consider a camel or horse ride along the panoramic ridge. Hire a licensed guide on-site for nuanced history and navigation.

Afternoon: Continue to Saqqara to see Djoser’s Step Pyramid—architect Imhotep’s radical leap in stone—and nearby tombs with vivid Old Kingdom reliefs. If time allows, add Dahshur for the Bent and Red Pyramids, precursors to Giza’s perfection. Lunch with a view at 9 Pyramids Lounge (reserve ahead; grilled kofta, mixed meze, and mint lemonade).

Evening: Back in town, dinner at Sachi Zamalek (refined, seasonal plates and excellent seafood crudo) or Zooba (modern takes on street favorites—ta’ameya sandwiches with dukka and vibrant pickles). Nightcap on a felucca from Zamalek for a quiet drift on the Nile.

Day 3: Islamic Cairo Masterpieces + Downtown Eats

Morning: Tour the mosque-madrasa of Sultan Hassan and the neighboring Al-Rifa’i Mosque—twin giants framing Salah El-Din Citadel’s skyline. Stroll Al-Azhar and Al-Muizz Streets for restored Mamluk facades, ancient sabils, and wood-latticed mashrabiya windows.

Afternoon: Lunch at Koshary Abou Tarek, where layers of pasta, lentils, rice, chickpeas, fried onions, and garlicky tomato sauce are built to your heat tolerance. Continue to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to see Old Kingdom statuary and treasures that still reside here while Egypt expands its new facilities.

Evening: Cross to Imbaba for El Prince—beloved for sizzling meat tagines, liver sandwiches, and street-side buzz. Prefer something calmer? Try Kazoku in New Cairo for elegant Japanese; book ahead. End with gelato at Dara’s (seasonal flavors, Egyptian riffs like basbousa).

Day 4: Coptic Cairo, Royal Mummies, and Nile Night

Morning: Explore Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. The lanes here are compact—perfect for a slow, reflective wander.

Afternoon: Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) to meet the Royal Mummies—Ramesses, Hatshepsut, and company—presented with modern conservation and context. Coffee break at Kafein (Maadi) for specialty espresso or iced drinks, then a quick spin through Downtown’s vintage bookshops.

Evening: Sunset felucca ride or a simple dinner cruise. For a river-view dinner on land, book Pier 88 Zamalek (Mediterranean plates; great for shared antipasti and pasta) or return to Abou El Sid for a final Cairo feast.

Luxor

Why go: Luxor is ancient Thebes—an open-air museum with the world’s densest concentration of temples and tombs. The West Bank hides the Valley of the Kings and artisans’ villages; the East Bank dazzles with Karnak’s forest of columns.

• Top sights: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahari, Medinet Habu, Valley of the Queens, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Museum, Mummification Museum.
• Local flavor: Sunrise hot air balloons, Nile-side cafés, and West Bank garden restaurants serving slow-cooked rabbit, stuffed vine leaves, and fresh bread from clay ovens.

Where to stay: East Bank (walkable to Luxor Temple; easy taxis) or West Bank (quieter, near the tombs). Compare options on VRBO Luxor and Hotels.com Luxor.

Getting there from Cairo: Morning flight CAI–LXR is ~1 hour, often $50–$120 one-way. Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights. Overnight sleeper trains exist but are slower; flying preserves precious sightseeing time.

Day 5: Fly to Luxor, Luxor Temple, and Souq Stroll

Morning: Fly to Luxor and check in. Grab a light breakfast at your hotel or a quick espresso at Aboudi Bookstore & Café near Luxor Temple.

Afternoon: Visit Luxor Temple—its obelisk, colossi, and Abu el-Haggag Mosque layered atop ancient stones tell Luxor’s continual story. Meander the Luxor souq for spices, scarves, and alabaster (buy from reputable workshops; inspect for quality and weight).

Evening: Dinner at Sofra (a 1930s villa with a rooftop—order pigeon with freekeh, tahini beets, and lemony spinach). For a special occasion, reserve 1886 at the Sofitel Winter Palace (white tablecloths, jacket suggested; classic French-Egyptian tasting menus).

Day 6: West Bank Icons — Balloons, Kings, and Hatshepsut

Morning: Optional hot air balloon at sunrise for ethereal views over fields, temples, and the Nile. Then head into the Valley of the Kings; choose a handful of tombs to avoid “carved stone fatigue.” Tutankhamun (KV62) is small but storied; Ramesses IV and IX offer vivid ceilings. Add Seti I’s tomb if you want the finest reliefs (separate high-cost ticket).

Afternoon: Continue to Hatshepsut’s Temple at Deir el-Bahari—clean lines against a cliff amphitheater—and pause at the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch at the historic Marsam Hotel on the West Bank (garden courtyard; try stuffed vine leaves, lentil soup, and fresh baladi bread). If time allows, Medinet Habu’s colored reliefs are among Egypt’s best preserved.

Evening: Cross back by local ferry at sunset. Dinner at Al-Sahaby Lane (terrace with Nile views; grilled fish, tagines, and fresh salads). Finish with mint tea or mango juice as the river darkens to velvet.

Day 7: Karnak, Luxor Museum, and Departure

Morning: Karnak Temple deserves a few unhurried hours. Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes, then lose yourself among 134 papyrus-bundle columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall—one of ancient architecture’s jaw-droppers. Seek out the Sacred Lake and Hatshepsut’s obelisk.

Afternoon: The compact Luxor Museum is a jewel—beautiful lighting, finely curated statuary, and artifacts rescued from the temples. Grab lunch at Sunflower Restaurant on the West Bank (home-style dishes, rooftop breeze) or a final mezze spread back at Sofra. Depart in the afternoon; if you’re flying internationally, allow time to connect via Cairo. Check options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights.

Insider Tips and Practical Notes

• Tickets and guides: Many sites use contactless payment; carry some cash for tips. Hiring a licensed Egyptologist elevates the experience, especially in Giza and the West Bank.
• Transport: In Cairo, Uber/Careem are straightforward. In Luxor, taxis and the local ferry are easy; confirm fares before riding.
• Dress and etiquette: Shoulders/knees covered for mosque visits; carry a scarf. Ask before photographing people. Tipping (bakshish) is customary—small bills help.
• Food safety: Opt for busy spots, bottled water, and well-washed fruit. Don’t miss fresh sugar cane juice and hibiscus karkadeh.

Summary: One week in Egypt can hold a lifetime of stories—from the geometry of Giza to Karnak’s forest of stone. With smart pacing, great meals, and a few river breezes, Cairo and Luxor reveal the country’s past and present in vivid color.