Egypt is where time folds back on itself—Old Kingdom pyramids, golden New Kingdom tombs, and a living culture still steeped in the Nile’s rhythm. Over 7 days, you’ll trace a grand arc from Cairo’s energy and Giza’s geometry to Luxor’s temple avenues and desert-gold West Bank. This plan balances must-see sights with neighborhood eats, coffee stops, and breezy Nile evenings.

Fun fact: the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure on Earth for nearly 3,800 years. In Luxor, the Avenue of Sphinxes once linked two great sanctuaries—Karnak and Luxor Temple—forming the stage for festivals that enthralled ancient Thebes. Today, you can walk parts of that sacred way at twilight.

Practical notes: October–April offers the best weather. Dress modestly, carry small bills for tips (baksheesh), and hydrate constantly. Check current guidance for the Grand Egyptian Museum’s phased opening; many tours combine it with the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square.

Cairo

Cairo is a living palimpsest: Pharaonic stone, Coptic alleyways, Mamluk minarets, and Art Deco cafes all coexist under a desert sun. Spend your days between the Giza Plateau and storied neighborhoods like Zamalek and Downtown, then barter for spices and copper in Khan el-Khalili.

Top sights include the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) previews, the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), the Citadel of Saladin, and Old Cairo’s churches and synagogues. Evenings shine on a felucca sail or a terrace with mint tea and skyline views.

• Where to stay (Cairo): For Nile views and easy access, consider Zamalek or Garden City. Browse stays on VRBO Cairo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Cairo.
• Getting to Cairo: Search international flights via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From CAI to central Cairo: 45–75 minutes by car depending on traffic; budget ~$12–$25 for a taxi or ride-hail.

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo, Nile Stroll, and Downtown Eats

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk along the Nile Corniche near Zamalek or Garden City. Pop into 30 North for specialty coffee and a pistachio croissant, or grab mango fresh juice from a Corniche kiosk.

Evening: Classic Cairo dinner options: Abou El Sid (slow-cooked molokhia, stuffed pigeon, and brass-lamped ambience), or Zooba for a casual spin on street staples like taameya and koshary. If you want a view of Giza, time a ride to 9 Pyramids Lounge for sunset tea, then consider the Pyramids Sound & Light Show. Finish with kunafa or basbousa at Mandarine Koueider downtown.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and the GEM Preview + Felucca

Morning: Head early to the Giza Plateau. Walk the causeways, then step inside a pyramid if you’re comfortable with steep passages. For a guided, efficient day that also includes museum time and a Nile option, consider:

Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum , Nile Felucca OR Bazaar

Afternoon: Museum time—either the GEM preview (check status) or the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. Don’t miss the animal mummies and the Amarna galleries. Lunch: Koshary Abou Tarek for the city’s iconic carb symphony—lentils, pasta, rice, chickpeas, tomato sauce, and a chile-vinegar kick.

Evening: Take the felucca add-on from the tour or arrange locally at sunset. Dinner on the Nile: the Le Pacha 1901 boat offers multiple cuisines; for Egyptian grills, try the BBQ section. Nightcap: mint tea and shisha at a rooftop cafe in Zamalek.

Day 3: Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur + Old Cairo Evening

Morning–Afternoon (day tour): Delve into Egypt’s architectural dawn at Saqqara’s Step Pyramid of Djoser and the Unas pyramid with its spellbinding Pyramid Texts. Continue to Memphis for colossal statuary of Ramses II and Dahshur for the Bent and Red Pyramids—vast and peaceful compared to Giza.

For a seamless day with an Egyptologist and transport, book: Private Day Tour Saqqara Pyramids, Memphis and Dahshur Pyramids

Lunch ideas nearby include countryside grills or a return to town for Felfela’s herb-packed taameya and meze. Bring small notes for site guardians who share hidden reliefs or vantage points.

Evening: Explore Old Cairo: the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, and lanes around Coptic Cairo. Dinner options: Kazaz for shawarma wraps, or Darb 1718 area pop-ups if there’s an event. Finish with rose-scented sahlab or cardamom coffee.

Luxor

Luxor was once Thebes—the spiritual crucible of ancient Egypt. The Nile splits its story: the East Bank for life and temples (Karnak, Luxor Temple), the West Bank for death and resurrection (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s terraces).

Sunrise paints the Theban hills pink; sunset turns the river bronze. Between tombs, refuel at family-run eateries and watch feluccas skim past banana groves.

• Where to stay (Luxor): The East Bank is convenient for evening strolls and restaurants; the West Bank is calmer and closer to tombs. See options on VRBO Luxor and Hotels.com Luxor.
• Travel to Luxor: Morning flight from Cairo takes ~1h10; expect ~$50–$150 one-way with checked bag. Search Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Sleeper trains exist (10–11 hours), but flights maximize your temple time.

Day 4: Fly to Luxor, Luxor Temple, and Nile Promenade

Morning: Depart Cairo on an early flight (assume 7–9 a.m. departure; arrive by ~10 a.m.). Transfer to your hotel and drop bags.

Afternoon: Explore Luxor Temple. Seek out the Roman frescoes in the rear chapels and the mosque integrated into the complex—a vivid timeline in stone. Coffee and gelato break at Wenkie’s or a fresh-squeezed sugarcane juice along the Corniche.

Evening: Dinner at Sofra (vine-leaf dolma, rabbit with molokhia, and antique-tiled rooms) or Al-Sahaby Lane Restaurant for rooftop views and tagines. Stroll the Avenue of Sphinxes lit after dusk—magical and uncrowded.

Day 5: West Bank Masterpieces—Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, and More

Morning: Cross to the West Bank by bridge or local ferry. In the Valley of the Kings, rotate through three included tombs, then consider a separate ticket for Seti I or Tutankhamun. Continue to the elegant colonnades of Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahri.

Afternoon: Stop at the Colossi of Memnon, then artisan time at Deir el-Medina or the tombs of the nobles for vivid daily-life scenes. For a guided deep-dive covering both banks, try:

Full Day Tour to East and West Banks of Luxor

Lunch: West Bank cafés near Hatshepsut serve grilled chicken, tahini, and baladi bread; ask for hibiscus (karkadeh) iced tea.

Evening: Return to the East Bank. Dine at The Lantern Room (Egyptian-meets-homey classics) or the historic 1902 Restaurant for a special splurge (jacket suggested). End with mint tea on your hotel terrace.

Day 6: Sunrise Balloon, Karnak Temple, and Felucca Sunset

Morning: Optional sunrise hot-air balloon over the West Bank—spectacular over fields and mortuary temples. Most hotels can arrange pickup pre-dawn; you’ll be back by 8–9 a.m. for breakfast of feta, olives, falafel, and sesame bread.

Afternoon: Explore Karnak. Walk the hypostyle hall’s forest of papyrus-bundle columns, find Hatshepsut’s obelisks, and the Precinct of Mut if open. Visit the Luxor Museum afterward for exquisitely lit statues and New Kingdom artifacts.

Evening: Sunset felucca sail from the Corniche—calm, photogenic, and cool. Dinner back in town: El Hussein Restaurant for mixed grills and mezze, or Al-Sahaby Lane’s lemon-grilled fish. Treat yourself to date-filled cookies from a local bakery.

Day 7: Last Look at Luxor + Departure

Morning: If time allows, pop into the Mummification Museum, then browse alabaster workshops for hand-carved vases—look for translucent veins in real stone. Coffee at Aboudi Bookstore Café facing Luxor Temple.

Afternoon: Depart from Luxor Airport. Search fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re looping back to Cairo for an international flight, allow a generous connection window.

Optional Cairo Add-Ons (If You Swap a Day)

• Optional ViP all-inclusive Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Inside Pyramid — efficient private half-day with camel ride and entry option.

• Old Cairo + Islamic Cairo combo: Coptic quarter, Citadel, Sultan Hassan Mosque, and Khan el-Khalili for brass lamps and oud sellers; dinner at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant & Café inside the bazaar.

Daily Food and Coffee Shortlist

• Cairo breakfast: 30 North (espresso drinks), Simonds (Egyptian bakery classics), Zooba (baladi bread, taameya).
• Cairo lunch: Koshary Abou Tarek; Felfela for meze and grills.
• Cairo dinner: Abou El Sid; 9 Pyramids Lounge for sunset; Le Pacha 1901 boat for variety.
• Luxor breakfast: Hotel spreads; Wenkie’s for coffee and German pastries.
• Luxor lunch/dinner: Sofra (traditional), Al-Sahaby Lane (viewy Egyptian), The Lantern Room (comfort favorites), 1902 Restaurant (fine dining).

City-to-City Logistics (recap): Cairo → Luxor morning flight (~1h10). Typical economy fares $50–$150; search on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Aim for a 7–9 a.m. departure so you can sightsee after check-in.

In seven days, you’ll experience Egypt’s headline wonders and its quieter pleasures: museum hush, felucca breezes, and family-run kitchens serving recipes with deep roots. You’ll leave with desert light in your photos and the cadence of the Nile in your memory—ready to return for Abu Simbel, Aswan, or a multi-day cruise next time.