Few cities stage history as dramatically as Cairo. The skyline is punctuated by minarets and the modern Cairo Tower, while the desert horizon frames the Giza Pyramids—the last standing Ancient Wonder. Layered on top are vibrant neighborhoods, café culture, and a food scene where a simple bowl of koshary can be as memorable as a royal tomb.

In three days, you’ll trace 5,000 years: from the Step Pyramid at Saqqara to Old Cairo’s churches and the medieval marvels along al‑Muizz Street. Expect lively markets, masterful Islamic architecture, and art-filled museums that contextualize it all.

Practical notes: Cairo rewards early starts and comfy walking shoes. Dress modestly for mosques (shoulders and knees covered), carry small cash for tips, and expect variable traffic. Hydrate, especially from April–October. During Ramadan, hours shift and some dining spots open after sunset—an atmospheric time to visit.

Cairo

Cairo is Egypt’s beating heart—an energetic mix of pharaonic wonders, Fatimid and Mamluk heritage, and 19th‑century boulevards. By day, explore pyramids, citadels, and museums; by night, cruise the Nile or sip mint tea in a centuries‑old café. It’s a city of grand stories and small discoveries.

• Top sights: Giza Pyramids & Sphinx, Saqqara & Dahshur, Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), Cairo Citadel & Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church), al‑Azhar Mosque, al‑Muizz Street, Khan el‑Khalili.
• Neighborhood vibes: Zamalek (leafy, artsy, Nile views), Garden City (quiet and central), Downtown/Tahrir (historic facades, walkable), Giza (closest to pyramids).
• Where to stay: Browse stays on Hotels.com (Cairo) or apartment-style options on VRBO (Cairo).

Getting to Cairo: Fly into Cairo International (CAI). Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. From the airport to Zamalek or Downtown is ~45–70 minutes by taxi/Uber depending on traffic.

Good to know: Many pyramid and museum entries are separate; bring a credit card and small bills. Photography policies vary by site; inside some tombs/pyramids, phone photography may be restricted or ticketed. Currency swings—expect posted prices in EGP with rough USD equivalents.

Day 1: Touchdown Cairo, Nile Sunset, and Zamalek Flavors

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, ease in with specialty coffee at 30 North (Zamalek; single‑origin pours and cold brews) or a pistachio cronut from TBS – The Bakery Shop nearby. Stroll leafy Brazil Street for galleries and boutiques.

Afternoon: Arrive and check in to your hotel or VRBO in Zamalek or Garden City for central access and calmer streets. Stretch your legs at the Nile‑side Gezira promenade, then ride up the Cairo Tower (187 meters, lotus‑inspired, c. 1961) for panoramic views—the pyramids shimmer on clear days. Expect 60–90 minutes total including elevator wait; entry is modestly priced in EGP.

Evening: Sail into Cairo with a private felucca at sunset (45–60 minutes; typically $10–20 per boat depending on bargaining, capacity 6–8). After, dine at Abou El Sid (Zamalek): slow‑cooked molokhia, stuffed vine leaves, and hamam mahshi in a warm, antique setting. Prefer grills with a view? Crimson Bar & Grill pairs Nile sunsets with seafood sayadeya and charcoal meats. For a nightcap or live sets, Cairo Jazz Club (Agouza) curates Egyptian bands and DJs most nights—check the schedule.

Day 2: Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur—A Full Day with the Pharaohs

Morning: Beat the heat and crowds at the Giza Plateau (arrive ~8:00). See the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, then walk or ride a camel to the panoramic viewpoint for that iconic wide shot. Entry to the plateau and the Great Pyramid interior are separate; interior tickets are limited and can sell out by late morning. Pause for a late breakfast or mint tea at 9 Pyramids Lounge, an outdoor Bedouin‑style spot with sweeping views.

Afternoon: Continue 45–60 minutes south to Saqqara to admire the Step Pyramid of Djoser—designed by Imhotep, history’s earliest named architect. Don’t miss the Serapeum’s colossal sarcophagi and the Imhotep Museum for context. If time allows, add nearby Dahshur: enter the Red Pyramid (first true smooth‑sided pyramid, Sneferu) and examine the Bent Pyramid’s unique change of angle. For lunch, classic grills at Andrea El Mariouteya (near Saqqara/Giza) feature spit‑roasted chicken, orientale salads, and fresh baladi bread.

Evening: Return to town (60–90 minutes, traffic dependent). Option A: Sound & Light Show at Giza (1 hour; multiple language slots most evenings) for a theatrical retelling beneath the Sphinx. Option B: Head to Khan el‑Khalili for copperware, spices, and inlaid wood souvenirs; sip in atmospheric El Fishawy (c. 1773), candlelit and mirror‑lined. Cap dinner at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant inside the bazaar—mezze, lamb shanks, and live oud set the mood.

Day 3: Coptic & Islamic Cairo, Egyptian Museum, and Departure

Morning: Start in Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church (suspended over a Roman gate), Abu Serga (where tradition holds the Holy Family rested), and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Reserve ~2 hours to wander lanes and small museums. Make your brunch stop at Eish & Malh (Downtown)—shakshuka, ricotta pancakes, and strong espresso in an airy, Art Deco space.

Afternoon: Walk to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, still housing a vast collection while the new Grand Egyptian Museum completes phases. Prioritize the royal mummies (if on display), Old Kingdom statuary, and the Amarna rooms; budget 1.5–2 hours. Quick lunch nearby at Abou Tarek—Cairo’s koshary institution since 1950: layers of lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, and crispy onions with tangy tomato and garlic‑vinegar sauces. If time remains before your flight, take a short taxi to al‑Muizz Street to see the Qalawun complex, Al‑Hakim Mosque, and city gates Bab al‑Futuh and Bab Zuweila—Cairo’s greatest open‑air museum of medieval architecture.

Evening: Departure day. Head to CAI (arrive 3 hours before international flights). If you’re extending, celebrate with grills at Sobhy Kaber (Shoubra; famed for kofta and tarb) or Kebdet El Prince (Imbaba; sizzling liver and tawagin), and dessert at Mandarine Koueider (try the mango or ashta konafa).

Logistics, Tickets, and Where to Book

• Flights: Compare routes and fares to Cairo on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Nonstop times: ~4–5h from Central Europe, ~3–4h from the Gulf, ~11–13h from the U.S. East Coast (usually 1 stop).
• Local transport: Uber/Careem are reliable; metro is handy for Downtown and Heliopolis. To Giza, allow 30–60 minutes from central Cairo in the morning, longer at rush hour.
• Typical costs (subject to change): Giza Plateau $10–20; Great Pyramid interior $20–35; Saqqara $10–15; Dahshur $5–10; Cairo Tower ~$10. Felucca private sail $10–20 per boat per hour. Most venues accept cards; keep small EGP for tips.
• Where to stay: Search centrally located hotels and apartments on Hotels.com (Cairo) and VRBO (Cairo). Zamalek and Garden City are traveler favorites for walkability and Nile views.

Food notes: Don’t leave without trying koshary (Abou Tarek), taameya (Egyptian falafel—try Zooba or street stalls), hawawshi (spiced beef in bread), and feteer meshaltet (layered, buttery pastry). Many restaurants open late; reservations recommended Thursday–Saturday.

With pyramids, medieval lanes, and the Nile all in reach, this Cairo itinerary balances must‑see icons with flavorful detours. Three days will fly—yet you’ll leave with a reel of golden‑hour memories and a shortlist of reasons to return.