Egypt packs 5,000 years of history into a country that still surprises at every turn. You’ll trace the Nile from the capital’s buzz to Luxor’s desert calm, stand before the Great Pyramid, and watch the sun gild temple pylons built for gods and queens. Markets hum, feluccas drift, and mint tea cools the heat of the day.

Across millennia, pharaohs raised stone mountains, Greeks founded seaside libraries, Romans left frescoes, and Coptic and Islamic artisans shaped Cairo’s lanes into living galleries. Today, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) nears full opening with select halls accessible—always check the latest on which galleries are open. Meanwhile, Luxor remains Egypt’s unrivaled “open-air museum.”

Practical notes: summer heat is intense—plan early starts and carry water. Dress modestly for mosques; a scarf helps for women. Cash (EGP) is king for small purchases; cards are widely accepted at hotels and upscale venues. Tipping 10–15% is appreciated. Buy a local SIM at the airport (Vodafone or Orange) and use Uber/Careem in Cairo for easy rides.

Cairo

Welcome to a city that never sleeps. Cairo’s energy crackles along the Nile, from leafy Zamalek and Garden City to the minarets of Islamic Cairo and the ancient splendor of the Giza Plateau. Spend your days with kings and sphinxes, and your evenings with mezze, music, and strong coffee.

• Don’t-miss: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx; Grand Egyptian Museum (soft-opening access); Khan el-Khalili; Al-Muizz Street; Coptic Cairo’s Hanging Church; sunset on the Nile.
• Where to stay: For easy sightseeing, base in Zamalek (quiet, central, leafy) or Giza (pyramid views). Search stays on Hotels.com Cairo or browse apartments on VRBO Cairo.
• Arrival flights: Compare fares to CAI on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Most long-haul arrivals land at Terminal 3; ATMs and SIM kiosks are just past customs.

Day 1: Arrival, Coptic Cairo, and Nile Evening

Afternoon: Land in Cairo and check in. Shake off the flight with a gentle stroll in Coptic Cairo—visit the Hanging Church and the serene Church of St. Sergius, where tradition says the Holy Family sheltered. Keep it easy and air-conditioned if jet-lagged; the Coptic Museum is compact and high-impact.

Evening: Dinner at Abou El Sid (Zamalek) for molokhia, stuffed vine leaves, and slow-cooked lamb; reservations help. Prefer street-classics? Try Abou Tarek downtown for the city’s most famous koshary—lentils, pasta, chickpeas, and spicy tomato. Cap the night with mint tea by the Nile or a short sunset felucca ride from Zamalek docks.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum

Morning: Head early to the Giza Plateau to beat crowds and heat. Consider this guided day to maximize context and skip headaches:

Cairo 8 Hour Private Tour of Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum — a private Egyptologist-led day taking in the Great Pyramid, Khafre, Menkaure, and the Sphinx, paired with GEM highlights when open.

Lunch: Book a table at 9 Pyramids Lounge inside the plateau for unrivaled views (expect premium pricing, worth it for the panorama). Alternatively, head to Koshary El Tahrir in Dokki for a quick, cheap, delicious refuel.

Evening: Ride to Zamalek for espresso at 30 North (specialty roasts) or dessert at Mandarine Koueider (Egyptian pistachio mastic ice cream). If you still have gas in the tank, ascend the Cairo Tower at twilight for a 360° cityscape.

Day 3: Saqqara, Memphis, Dahshur, and Old Cairo by Night

Morning: Venture south to the necropolis of Saqqara, home to Djoser’s Step Pyramid (the world’s first large-scale stone monument) and the richly painted Tomb of Mehu. A guided day helps with distances and hidden gems like the Pyramid of Unas interior.

Private Day Tour Saqqara Pyramids, Memphis and Dahshur Pyramids — covers Saqqara highlights, Ramses II colossus at Memphis, and Dahshur’s Bent and Red Pyramids (you can often enter the Red Pyramid).

Lunch: On the return, stop at Andrea El Mariouteya for charcoal-grilled chicken, hot baladi bread, and tahini in a breezy garden setting—an old Cairo favorite.

Evening: Dive into Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street after dusk, when lamp shops glow and Fatimid facades are floodlit. Settle into Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant for meze and live oud, then sip sahlab (warm orchid milk) at El Fishawi, a coffeehouse from 1771.

Day 4: Full-Day Trip to Alexandria (Mediterranean Air and History)

Full-day tour (no morning/afternoon/evening split needed): Travel 2.5–3 hours each way to Alexandria, the city of Alexander and Cleopatra, for sea breezes and Greco-Roman layers. Typical stops include the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Citadel of Qaitbay (on the site of the Lighthouse of Pharos), the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, and Pompey’s Pillar.

1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo — a convenient, private day with an Egyptologist that trims logistics and adds context.

Lunch idea: Try Fish Market or the Greek Club by the harbor for ultra-fresh grilled catch, Egyptian salads, and sea views. Return to Cairo by evening; grab a late bite at Zooba for playful takes on taameya (Egyptian falafel) and hawawshi.

Luxor

Luxor is where Egypt’s mythology feels close enough to touch. The Nile divides the living and the dead: East Bank temples for life and worship, West Bank tombs for eternity. Here, dawn comes up like gold over pylons and palm groves.

• Don’t-miss: Karnak and its forest of columns; Luxor Temple at sunset; Valley of the Kings; Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple; Colossi of Memnon; hot air balloon at sunrise.
• Getting there: Fly Cairo → Luxor (about 1 hr 10 min, $60–150 one-way). Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Private transfers hotel↔airport take ~20–30 minutes.
• Where to stay: East Bank for convenience near temples; West Bank for village calm near the tombs. Browse Hotels.com Luxor or find villas with Nile views on VRBO Luxor.

Day 5: Fly to Luxor, Luxor Temple, and Sphinx Avenue

Morning: Depart Cairo on a morning flight (1 hr 10 min). Taxis or arranged transfer to your hotel (20–30 min). Drop bags and hydrate.

Afternoon: Explore Luxor Temple, whose reliefs glow in late light. Walk a section of the restored Avenue of Sphinxes connecting Luxor and Karnak—imagining festival processions that once crossed here.

Evening: Dinner at Sofra Restaurant & Café (East Bank) for pigeon mahshi, feteer, and date-studded desserts in a 1930s townhouse. For a nightcap with Nile breezes, try the terrace at the historic Winter Palace.

Day 6: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon, Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut

Morning: If you do one splurge in Luxor, make it this:

Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup — drift over green fields, the Nile, and the Theban hills as the sun lights the West Bank.

After landing, cross to the West Bank: visit the Valley of the Kings (three included tombs rotate; consider paying extra for Seti I or Tutankhamun), the elegant terraced temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, and the Colossi of Memnon.

Lunch: Pause at El Mesala or Sunflower Restaurant (West Bank) for grilled kofta, baba ghanoush, and fresh lemon-mint.

Evening: Return to the East Bank. For a casual meal with rooftop views, try Al-Sahaby Lane near Luxor Temple. Craving sweets or a caffeine boost? Wenkie’s German Ice Cream & Coffee scoops homemade gelato and strong espresso.

Day 7: Karnak Temple and Departure

Morning: Tackle Karnak early. Wander the Great Hypostyle Hall’s 134 papyrus columns, the Sacred Lake, and the Precinct of Amun-Re. Allow 2–3 hours; a guide adds nuance to reliefs and the temple’s astronomical alignments.

Afternoon: Quick browse at the Luxor Museum if time allows—small, superbly curated statues and royal mummies—then head to the airport for your flight. Search same-day options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Food for the road: Grab baladi bread sandwiches stuffed with taameya or eggplant from a local bakery, or a quick plate of foul (stewed fava beans) with tahini.

Optional Cairo Add-Ons (if you have extra time on any day)

• Nile felucca at golden hour: A 45–60 minute sail offers a peaceful counterpoint to city streets.
• Islamic Art Museum: A gem of carved wood, metalwork, and glass from across the Islamic world.
• Nile dinner cruise or ATV by the pyramids: If you prefer a packaged experience, consider a combined option like the one that includes evening cruising and city transfers.

Where to Eat and Drink (Cairo and Luxor Shortlist)

• Classic Egyptian: Abou Tarek (koshary), Abou El Sid (slow-cooked classics), Felfela (downtown institution), Sofra (Luxor), Al-Sahaby Lane (Luxor rooftop).
• Grills & street favorites: El Prince (kebda and mixed grills), Andrea El Mariouteya (charcoal chicken), Hawawshi stands near Doqqi.
• Cafés & sweets: 30 North (specialty coffee), Mandarine Koueider (oriental desserts), Wenkie’s (Luxor gelato & coffee).

Pre-book These Top Tours (recap)

• Cairo 8 Hour Private Tour of Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum
• Private Day Tour Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur
• 1 Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo
• Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor

Getting Around and Practical Tips

• Intercity: Flights Cairo↔Luxor ~1 hr 10 min; fares often $60–150 one-way. Book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Within cities: Uber/Careem are straightforward in Cairo. In Luxor, use hotel taxis or arranged drivers; West Bank sights are spread out.
• Timing: Start early (7–8 a.m.) for outdoor sites. Many temples stay open into the evening; Luxor Temple is magical after dark.
• Tickets: Keep small bills for tips and site add-ons (e.g., Seti I, Tut). Carry water, sunscreen, hat; winter nights can be cool—bring a layer.

Summary: In one week you’ll scale from the Great Pyramid’s shadow to balloon-high views over Luxor, with a salty Alexandria breeze in between. This itinerary balances big-ticket sights, unhurried meals, and insider logistics so you leave Egypt with sand on your shoes and stories you’ll tell for years.