Ancient Egypt still stuns: pharaohs carved their legacy in stone, from the Great Pyramid to Hatshepsut’s terraced temple. In one week you can trace 5,000 years—from Old Kingdom wonders in Cairo to the river-hugging calm of Aswan and the temple masterpieces of Luxor.

Expect big-sky desert light, palms along the Nile and the warm rhythms of daily life—souks alive with spice, boats gliding past islands, and café tables crowded with mint tea and baklava. Egyptian cuisine fuels it all: ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel), koshary layered with lentils and pasta, molokhia with rice and grilled river fish.

Practical notes: carry some Egyptian pounds for tips and small purchases; Uber works well in Cairo. Dress modestly at religious sites. Major sights now have card-enabled ticket windows, but cash is handy. Check current entry/visa guidance and any travel advisories; purchase travel insurance, hydrate often and plan early starts for desert heat.

Cairo

Cairo is the megacity heartbeat of Egypt—muezzins at dawn, traffic horns by day and Nile breezes by night. It’s your launchpad to the Pyramids of Giza and a deep dive into Islamic and Coptic heritage.

• Top sights: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), NMEC with the Royal Mummies Hall, Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue), Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque, Al-Azhar Park views.
• Why go: See the last standing Wonder of the Ancient World, then wander centuries of art and faith in a single day.
• Food to try: Koshary, ta’ameya sandwiches, hawawshi, grilled pigeon, fresh mango juice, basbousa and kunafa.

Stay: Browse stays in Cairo on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting in: Fly into Cairo (CAI). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival, Islamic Cairo Stroll and Nile Evening

Morning: Travel day. Book your flight into Cairo using Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Aim for an early afternoon arrival to beat rush hour.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Khan el-Khalili’s labyrinth. Pause at the historic Naguib Mahfouz Café for mint tea and basbousa. Visit the nearby Al-Azhar Mosque (one of the world’s oldest universities) and peek into brass, spice and gold lanes.

Evening: Sunset from Al-Azhar Park’s lake terrace with a skyline of minarets. Dinner at Abou El Sid (Zamalek) for molokhia and stuffed vine leaves, or Zooba (Zamalek) for modern takes on ta’ameya and koshary. Cap with mango ice cream at Mandarine Koueider.

Day 2: Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Old Cairo

Morning: Early start to the Giza Plateau (40–60 min drive). Explore the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure; step down to the Sphinx for close-up photos. For a memorable meal with views, book 9 Pyramids Lounge for Egyptian mezze and grilled meats.

Afternoon: Return to downtown for the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir). Its gilded sarcophagi and treasures from Tutankhamun still mesmerize. Coffee pick-me-up at 30 North Coffee (Zamalek) for local roasts.

Evening: Consider a 1.5–2 hour Nile dinner cruise (live music and whirling tanoura). Prefer land? Cairo Tower’s 360-degree deck glows at night. Dinner at Felfela (Downtown) for classic kofta and falafel in a leafy, retro setting.

Day 3: Coptic Cairo, Mummies and Neighborhood Eats

Morning: Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Bacchus (tradition links it to the Holy Family), and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Breakfast before or after at Tabali (Zamalek) for feteer meshaltet and fresh baladi bread.

Afternoon: National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) to meet the Royal Mummies—astonishingly preserved New Kingdom pharaohs. Late lunch: Koshary El Tahrir (multiple branches) for the national comfort dish with extra dakka and crispy onions.

Evening: Stroll leafy Zamalek island. Coffee at Kafein or dessert at The Batter Half & Co. Dinner options: Kazoku (New Cairo) for slick sushi and grills, or smaller-budget Kebdet El Prince (Imbaba) for sizzling liver platters and street-side energy.

Aswan

Aswan is the Nile at its most serene: granite outcrops, palm islands and pastel sunsets. Ancient temples meet Nubian culture and colorful villages, with feluccas gliding at golden hour.

• Top sights: Philae Temple (reached by boat), Unfinished Obelisk, Nubian Museum, Elephantine Island, Aga Khan Mausoleum view, day trip to Abu Simbel.
• Vibe: Laid-back river life, spice market strolls and starry nights from the corniche.

Stay: See options in Aswan on VRBO or compare on Hotels.com.

Getting there (Day 4): Fly Cairo → Aswan (approx. 1.5 hours, often $70–160). Search on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 4: Fly to Aswan, Philae Temple and Felucca Sunset

Morning: Morning flight to Aswan. Drop bags, sip hibiscus tea (karkadé) and head to the marina for a motorboat to Philae Temple, saved from flooding and reassembled on Agilkia Island—reliefs glow in angled light.

Afternoon: Visit the Unfinished Obelisk (reveals ancient quarrying) and the excellent Nubian Museum for context on indigenous culture. Lunch at Al Dokka (Elephantine Island) for Nile views and grilled tilapia or tajin.

Evening: Sail a traditional felucca at sunset around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Island—soft wind, amber water, camera heaven. Dinner at 1902 (Sofitel Old Cataract; smart attire) for a historic dining room and fine Egyptian-French plates; simpler alternative: Aswan Moon on the corniche for mixed grills.

Day 5: Abu Simbel Day Trip and Nubian Village Evening

Full day tour: Pre-dawn departure (by road ~3.5 hours each way) to Abu Simbel, where Ramses II’s colossi guard two rock-cut temples dramatically moved in the 1960s to escape Lake Nasser. Expect to return mid-afternoon; flights run too (about 45 minutes each way if you prefer to save time). Pack snacks and water.

Evening: Unwind in Gharb Soheil (Nubian Village): painted houses, spice shops and friendly cafes by the water. Dinner at Nubian Dream or Kato Dool for home-style stews, okra tajin and fresh bread; finish with date cake and mint tea.

Luxor

Luxor is ancient Thebes, an open-air museum split by the Nile: East Bank temples for the living god Amun, West Bank necropolis for the dead. Few places on earth condense this much history.

• Top sights: Karnak Temple complex, Luxor Temple, Avenue of Sphinxes, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Medinet Habu, Luxor Museum and Mummification Museum.
• Fun fact: The Avenue of Sphinxes runs nearly 2 miles, once lined with processional statues connecting Karnak and Luxor Temples.

Stay: Browse Luxor stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting there (Day 6): Fly Aswan → Luxor (about 40 minutes, often $50–120) via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 6: Fly to Luxor, Karnak and Luxor Temple at Dusk

Morning: Early flight to Luxor and check in. Brunch at Wenkie’s German Bakery (West Bank) for coffee, croissants and sandwiches before temple-hopping.

Afternoon: Explore Karnak: the Great Hypostyle Hall’s forest of papyrus-bundle columns and sacred lake are highlights. Stroll part of the restored Avenue of Sphinxes toward Luxor Temple.

Evening: Visit Luxor Temple as lights come on—obelisks, colossal statues and courtyards turn cinematic after sundown. Dinner at Sofra (East Bank) for stuffed pigeons, duck with pomegranate and mezze; or rooftop Al-Sahaby Lane with temple views and Egyptian-Moroccan dishes.

Day 7: West Bank Tombs, Hatshepsut and Departure

Morning: Optional sunrise hot air balloon (weather-permitting; budget ~$80–150) for an unforgettable sweep over fields and temples. Then tour the Valley of the Kings (consider adding Tutankhamun’s tomb), the elegant terraces of Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Marsam Café (artists’ haunt near the West Bank sites) for salads and tajin; or Al Gezira Garden for simple grills. Head to Luxor Airport for your afternoon departure; check flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If returning to Cairo first, allow a 1-hour hop plus connection time.

Evening: If you have extra time, stroll the corniche for last Nile views and pick up alabaster or papyrus souvenirs; toast the week with sugarcane juice or hibiscus tea.

Eating and coffee cheatsheet by city:

• Cairo breakfast/coffee: Tabali (feteer), Kafein or 30 North (specialty coffee). Lunch: Koshary El Tahrir, Zooba. Dinner: Abou El Sid, Felfela; Nile dinner cruise if you fancy a show.
• Aswan breakfast/coffee: Hotel terrace or small corniche cafés; karkadé everywhere. Lunch: Al Dokka (island grills). Dinner: 1902 (historic splurge) or Aswan Moon (casual grills).
• Luxor breakfast/coffee: Wenkie’s German Bakery. Lunch: Marsam Café (West Bank). Dinner: Sofra or Al-Sahaby Lane with night-lit temple backdrop.

Logistics at a glance: Internal flights are fast and affordable; book Cairo→Aswan and Aswan→Luxor on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Allow early starts for desert sites, carry small bills for tips and agree on taxi/boat prices in advance if not using metered rides or Uber.

This 7-day Egypt itinerary balances iconic sights with river time and great food. From the Pyramids to Philae and the West Bank’s tombs, you’ll touch the country’s greatest hits without rushing—and still leave with reasons to return.