Egypt has been captivating travelers for millennia. From the Old Kingdom pyramids at Giza to the pharaonic tombs of Luxor, this is where human ambition was carved in limestone and painted in lapis and gold. Cairo, a city of 20+ million, thrums with life—car horns, the call to prayer, and cafes where backgammon clacks late into the night.

You’ll trace timelines that leap thousands of years in a single day: step inside a pyramid, walk the alleyways of Islamic Cairo, then stand where Howard Carter read Tutankhamun’s name by lantern-light. Along the way, taste Egypt’s soul in bowls of koshary, fresh-baked baladi bread, and charcoal-grilled kofta.

Practical notes: the best weather is October–April; summers are hot, especially in Upper Egypt. Dress modestly for mosques and markets, carry small bills for tips, and use rideshare or hotel taxis. For flights into Egypt and between cities, see options via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Ramadan brings magical nights but altered hours; plan museum/restaurant times accordingly.

Cairo

“Umm al-Dunya” (Mother of the World) is the beating heart of modern Egypt and gateway to its ancient past. Here you’ll find the Giza Plateau—home to the last remaining Ancient Wonder—as well as Islamic Cairo’s soaring minarets and the legendary bazaar of Khan el-Khalili.

• Don’t miss: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, Saqqara’s Step Pyramid, Dahshur’s Bent and Red Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum (and, if open during your dates, the Grand Egyptian Museum).
• Eat and drink: Koshary at Abou Tarek (a cult classic), mezze and molokhia at Abou El Sid, street-food upgrades at Zooba, and breakfast pizzas at Eish + Malh.
• Views: Sunrise or sunset from the 9 Pyramids Lounge near Giza; city lights from a Nile-side café in Zamalek.

Where to stay: Browse stays near Zamalek, Downtown, or Giza via VRBO Cairo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Cairo.

How to get there: Fly into CAI; typical nonstop fares from Europe/Middle East can be $150–$400 round-trip and from North America $650–$1100+ depending on season. Check Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival, Zamalek Stroll, and Nile Evening

Afternoon: Arrive at CAI and transfer to your hotel (45–75 minutes depending on traffic). Shake off the flight with a leafy walk in Zamalek, popping into 30 NORTH for single-origin coffee and a pistachio croissant or Kafein for cold brew and local art.

Evening: Early dinner at Abou El Sid (Zamalek) for stuffed vine leaves, hawawshi, and rabbit molokhia. Then a relaxed Nile-side tea at Left Bank or a casual promenade along the Corniche. If you’ve got fuel, swing by Cairo Jazz Club (Giza) for live local acts.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx

Morning: Fuel up at Eish + Malh (Downtown) on shakshuka and sourdough. Head to Giza for the pyramids—arrive at opening time to beat crowds and desert heat.

Afternoon: Explore with a curated local guide and camel ride:

Optional ViP all-inclusive Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Inside Pyramid

Includes hotel pickup, a 30-minute camel ride, and time to enter one of the pyramids—having a qualified Egyptologist adds context that makes the plateau come alive.

Evening: Celebrate with sunset dinner at 9 Pyramids Lounge—order grilled kofta and tahini while the last light hits Khafre’s peak. Nightcap back in town at Zooba (Zamalek) with taameya (Egyptian falafel) and beet tahini if you want something lighter.

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

Morning: Quick breakfast at Cake Café (Zamalek) then drive south to the necropolis that predates Giza. The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara rewrote architecture; Dahshur’s Bent and Red Pyramids show pyramids “learning” their perfect angle.

Private Day Tour Saqqara Pyramids, Memphis and Dahshur Pyramids

Afternoon: Return via Memphis’ open-air statues of Ramses II. Grab a late lunch at Andrea New Giza for spit-roasted chicken, crisp fries, and salata baladi.

Evening: Dive into Islamic Cairo: stroll Al-Muizz Street’s Mamluk facades and browse Khan el-Khalili. Dine at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant (in the bazaar) for mezze and tagines; finish with mint tea and baklava as oud music drifts through the alleys.

Luxor

Luxor is an open-air museum stretched along the Nile. The East Bank honors the living with temples to Amun-Ra; the West Bank honors the dead with cliff-cut tombs and colossi that keep their ancient watch at sunrise.

• Must-sees: Karnak’s hypostyle hall, Luxor Temple at blue hour, Valley of the Kings (including Tutankhamun and Seti I if open), Hatshepsut’s terraced temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.
• Local moments: Sunset felucca ride, fresh-squeezed sugarcane juice on the Corniche, and rooftop dinners watching the West Bank glow.
• Where to eat: Sofra (Ottoman-Egyptian classics in a period townhouse), Al-Sahaby Lane (rooftop views and tajines), Marsam Hotel Restaurant (quiet West Bank garden lunches), Wenkie’s German Bakery (coffee, cinnamon rolls).

Where to stay: East Bank is handy for temples; West Bank is calmer and closer to tombs. Compare stays on VRBO Luxor or browse hotels via Hotels.com Luxor.

Getting there from Cairo: Fly in the morning (≈1h10m; $50–$140 one-way on EgyptAir, Air Cairo, or Nile Air). Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxis/ride-hailing from Luxor Airport to the East Bank take ~20 minutes.

Day 4: Fly to Luxor, Karnak, and Luxor Temple at Sunset

Morning: Depart Cairo on a morning flight. Check in and refresh. Coffee and a spinach-feta pastry at Wenkie’s German Bakery gets you moving.

Afternoon: Explore Karnak Temple—the hypostyle hall’s 134 papyrus-bundle columns are a forest of stone. Don’t miss the sacred lake and the reliefs of Seti I and Ramses II.

Evening: Walk the Sphinx Avenue (lit at dusk) to Luxor Temple for a gorgeous golden-hour visit. Dinner at Sofra: order stuffed pigeon, molokhia, and lemon-mint juice in their lantern-lit courtyard.

Day 5: West Bank Highlights with an Egyptologist

Full Day Tour to East and West Banks of Luxor

Morning: Cross the Nile to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings; prioritize well-preserved tombs like Ramses IV (colorful scenes) and, if available, Seti I (additional fee, but incomparable). Your guide decodes underworld texts and star ceilings.

Afternoon: Continue to Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, then pause for lunch at Marsam Hotel Restaurant—grilled chicken, tahini, and garden-fresh salads in a serene courtyard. Stop by the Colossi of Memnon as they glow in afternoon light.

Evening: Return to the East Bank for a calm felucca ride at sunset (book via hotel or negotiate at the Corniche). Dinner rooftop at Al-Sahaby Lane: try the lamb tajine and baba ghanoush with panoramic temple views.

Day 6: Slow Luxor, Museums, and Local Flavors

Morning: Optional hot air balloon at dawn for aerial views of the Nile and Theban hills (widely available; confirm safety and weather with your hotel). Otherwise, linger over Turkish coffee and date cake at Wenkie’s before visiting the Luxor Museum—small, superbly curated statues and royal mummies without the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore the Mummification Museum to learn about embalming rites; then shop for alabaster on the West Bank—look for hand-chiseled pieces and demonstrate authenticity with a backlight. Lunch at Africa Restaurant (East Bank) for kofta, okra stew, and hibiscus karkadeh.

Evening: Dinner at El Tarboush (Nile Palace) for Lebanese-Egyptian mezze and mixed grills, or circle back to Sofra for anything you missed. End with sugarcane juice on the Corniche while the city quiets.

Day 7: Lazy Morning and Departure

Morning: Farewell stroll along the Nile. Pick up last souvenirs—papyrus art from reputable galleries, or spices (cumin, hibiscus, fenugreek) sealed for the flight. Brunch at Al-Sahaby Lane or a quick bite at Wenkie’s if you’re short on time.

Afternoon: Transfer to Luxor Airport for your flight. If you’re flying back via Cairo, allow a comfortable connection window. Check options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Logistics at a Glance

• City choice for 7 days: 2 cities (Cairo 3 days, Luxor 3 days) with a morning flight on Day 4.
• Cairo → Luxor flight: ≈1h10m; $50–$140 one-way. Morning departure recommended.
• Getting around: Rideshare/taxis are convenient; carry cash for short hops and tips. Dress modestly for religious sites.
• Dining tips: Reserve dinners with pyramid or Nile views for sunset; try national staples—koshary, taameya, ful medammes, and konafa for dessert.

Optional Add-Ons (If You Extend)

• Day trip to the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria from Cairo for Greco-Roman history and seafood: Alexandria Day Trip From Cairo

  

• Multi-day Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor if you add 3–4 days for slow river travel and Abu Simbel.

Across one week you’ve touched Egypt’s greatest hits: the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the temples of Karnak and Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings. You’ve also tasted Egypt—koshary, mint tea, sugarcane juice—and watched the sun melt into the Nile. Keep this guide handy; Egypt rewards return visits with new layers each time.