Ancient Egypt doesn’t whisper—it speaks in stone. From the Great Pyramid’s perfect geometry to Luxor’s forest of columns, this country invites you to step inside a 5,000-year story. In a single week, you’ll trace the Nile from Cairo to Luxor, wander old markets, and try dishes Egyptian families have cooked for generations.

Expect vibrant city energy in Cairo, a seaside breeze in Alexandria, and golden light in Luxor that makes temples glow. The Grand Egyptian Museum is steadily rolling out galleries and preview experiences—book ahead to see what’s open during your dates. Egypt is modest, friendly, and surprisingly easy on the wallet; you can eat well and see a lot on a mid-range budget.

Practical notes: Carry small bills for tipping, dress for sun and dust (hat, scarf, sunscreen), and keep shoulders/knees covered for mosques. Tap water isn’t recommended; buy bottled. For families, plan early starts, a hotel pool break at midday, and plenty of snacks. Rideshare and official taxis are plentiful; licensed guides unlock context and keep logistics smooth.

Cairo

Sprawling, fast, and full of layers, Cairo is both medieval alleys and modern cafes. Zamalek’s leafy island is a calm base, while Downtown hides Art Deco gems. Children love the scale of the pyramids and the stories of pharaohs, and adults love the food—grilled kofta, koshari, stuffed pigeon, and just-baked baladi bread.

• Don’t miss: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, the (progressively opening) Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili bazaar, sunset felucca on the Nile.
• Eat & drink: Koshari at Abou Tarek (beloved since the 1950s), falafel and ta’ameya at Zooba, grills at Sobhy Kaber, classic Egyptian fare at Felfela. Coffee? Try 30 North or Brown Nose Coffee.
• Family tip: Bring cash for camel rides, and aim for early-morning pyramid visits to beat heat and crowds. Strollers struggle on sand—use a carrier.

Where to stay: Browse family apartments near Zamalek or Garden City on VRBO Cairo or compare hotels with pools on Hotels.com Cairo.

How to get here: Search international flights into Cairo (CAI) on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop regional hops run 1–4 hours; from North America expect 12–16+ hours with a connection.

Day 1: Arrival, Nile breeze, and Downtown flavors

Afternoon: Land in Cairo and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle stroll along the Nile in Zamalek. Pop into 30 North for excellent espresso and a sweet date cake, or grab fresh juice from a corner stand (try sugarcane or mango).

Evening: Welcome dinner: pick Felfela Downtown for family-friendly Egyptian staples (tajines, stuffed vine leaves) in a kitschy folkloric setting, or Zooba for colorful takes on classics (beet tahini, ta’ameya sandwiches). If little legs still have energy, ride an evening Nile corniche carousel or peek at illuminated bridges.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, and felucca sail

Book this guided day that neatly covers ancient icons plus a Nile experience (great for families).

Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum, Nile Felucca OR Bazaar (Private Day Tour)

Morning: Arrive early at the Giza Plateau. Your guide explains Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure’s pyramids and how the Sphinx once guarded a causeway. Choose a short camel ride for the classic panoramic photo; families love the gentle slope viewpoint.

Afternoon: Continue to the (rolling-open) Grand Egyptian Museum to see select galleries and mega-statues like the colossus of Ramesses II and royal treasures as available. Lunch nearby: Abou Tarek (Giza branch) for fast, tasty koshari; or Tabali Bistro for salads and grilled chicken.

Evening: Unwind with a private felucca sail at sunset. Bring snacks and let the kids take the tiller for a minute while you sip mint tea. Dinner in Zamalek: Sobhy Kaber for smoky kofta and lamb chops, or Maison Thomas (est. 1922) if pizza comforts are needed.

Day 3: Saqqara step pyramid, Dahshur’s red desert, and old Cairo nights

Private Day Tour Saqqara Pyramids, Memphis and Dahshur

Morning: Head to Saqqara to see Djoser’s Step Pyramid—the prototype that led to Giza. If open during your visit, peek inside the Pyramid of Unas to admire the Pyramid Texts (oldest religious texts on earth). Kids love spotting the animals in the mastaba reliefs.

Afternoon: Continue to Dahshur for the Bent Pyramid’s curious angle and the Red Pyramid’s vast, echoing chambers. Picnic-style lunch with falafel, fries, and tahini, or a sit-down grill house en route back.

Evening: Explore Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Sip mint tea at the historic El Fishawi café as oud music drifts by. Dinner at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant in the heart of the souk for molokhia, pigeon, and mezze. Optional: Whirling Dervish (Tanoura) show—check schedules.

Day 4: Day trip to Alexandria—sea breeze and library light

1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo

Morning: Early start (about 2.5–3 hours). Walk the catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and see Pompey’s Pillar—Roman echoes on Egyptian soil. Coffee and a date cookie at a Corniche café with sea views.

Afternoon: Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s striking modern library and museum spaces; then pause at the Citadel of Qaitbay, built atop the Pharos lighthouse site. Lunch: Lebanese-Egyptian grills and seafood mezze by the water; try fried calamari and sayadiyah rice.

Evening: Return to Cairo (arrive ~8–9 pm). Light dinner near your hotel—Zooba bowls or a shawarma wrap—and pack for tomorrow’s flight.

Cairo stays and flights: Compare family rooms on Hotels.com Cairo or apartments on VRBO Cairo. For internal flights to Luxor, shop Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com (Cairo–Luxor is ~1h 10m; expect ~$60–$150 per person one-way; add time for airport security and transfers).

Luxor

The world’s greatest open-air museum. On the East Bank, Luxor and Karnak Temples celebrate god Amun with towering pylons; on the West Bank, the Valley of the Kings hides royal tombs painted with stars and spells. Families love the scale, the stories, and the relatively relaxed pace along the Nile.

• Highlights: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor and Karnak Temples, felucca at sunset.
• Eat & drink: Sofra Restaurant & Café (Ottoman-Egyptian recipes), Al-Sahaby Lane (rooftop Nile views), The Lantern Room (comforting grills and curries). Ice cream and espresso at Wenkie’s.
• Fun facts: Many tomb pigments are made from ground minerals; some blues still pop like fresh paint. The Avenue of Sphinxes once linked Luxor and Karnak for festivals.

Where to stay: River-view hotels with pools help with midday heat—see options on Hotels.com Luxor or family flats near the Corniche on VRBO Luxor.

Day 5: Fly to Luxor, settle in, and sunset at Luxor Temple

Morning: Fly Cairo to Luxor (~1h 10m). Book on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a pool break and lunch (try grilled tilapia and tahini).

Afternoon: Visit Luxor Temple—thrilling at golden hour when columns and obelisks glow. Kids can hunt for cartouches (royal name ovals) while you admire colossi of Ramesses II.

Evening: Dinner at Sofra Restaurant & Café. Order stuffed vine leaves, pigeon or chicken molokhia, and kunafa for dessert. Optional: Karnak Sound & Light show (post-sunset), which dramatizes temple history in a way kids enjoy.

Day 6: Sunrise hot air balloon and Nile time

Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup

Morning: Pre-dawn pickup to float over green fields, the Nile, and the West Bank temples as the sun rises—unforgettable photos and very calm for kids 6+ (height restrictions may apply). Post-flight, celebrate with croissants and cappuccinos at Wenkie’s.

Afternoon: Rest time: hotel pool or spa. Consider a short family bike ride on the West Bank’s farm lanes (rent near the ferry; helmets recommended). Snack on seasonal fruit—Egyptian strawberries and dates are excellent.

Evening: Private felucca ride to Banana Island or a simple sunset sail. Dinner at Al-Sahaby Lane Restaurant: order lentil soup, okra tagine, mixed grill, and mango juice. Try local Egyptian wines where available; beer options include Stella or Sakara.

Day 7: Valley of the Kings and Karnak, then depart

Full Day Tour to East and West Banks of Luxor (covers West Bank tombs and Karnak/Luxor)

Morning: Start early at the Valley of the Kings (3 tombs included on standard ticket; consider adding Tutankhamun for the golden mask context, or Seti I if open for a splurge). Continue to Hatshepsut’s terraces and the Colossi of Memnon. For keen walkers, a short, guided ridge stroll near Deir el-Bahari offers sweeping views—avoid midday heat.

Afternoon: Explore Karnak Temple’s Great Hypostyle Hall—134 columns that dwarf everyone in photos. Quick lunch on the go (falafel wraps, fresh pomegranate juice). Return to your hotel, check out, and transfer to Luxor Airport for your afternoon departure or evening hop back to Cairo for onward flights. Search options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have extra time before your flight, pop into Luxor Souq for last-minute spices (dukkah, hibiscus) and small alabaster pieces—bargain with a smile.

Extra options to consider (if you extend):

• 4-Day Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor incl. Abu Simbel & Balloon—ideal add-on for boating lovers.
• Top Rated Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel ride, lunch & inside pyramid—an alternative pyramid day if you want the inside-entry guaranteed.

Food & coffee short list (family-friendly):

• Breakfast: 30 North (beans-to-cup roaster), Beano’s (kid-pleasing pastries), Wenkie’s (Luxor espresso + gelato).
• Lunch: Abou Tarek (koshari); Tabali Bistro (salads/grills); Al-Sahaby Lane (mezze + view).
• Dinner: Sofra (Egyptian classics), Sobhy Kaber (lively grill house), The Lantern Room (comfort fare).

Sports, spas, and low-key nightlife: Check Cairo Opera House for concerts; Cairo International Stadium occasionally hosts big football matches (family sections available). For spa downtime, look for hotels with day passes in Cairo or riverfront spas in Luxor. Evenings skew gentle: tea houses, oud music, and riverside strolls.

Budget notes (mid-range ~50/100): Expect roughly $40–$70 per adult per day for meals and local transport, plus entry fees and any private tours. Family rooms with pools typically $80–$180+/night depending on season and view.

In one week you’ll have met pharaohs, sailed the Nile, and watched dawn light temples aflame with color. Egypt rewards curiosity—and families discover that history feels most alive when you can touch the stone and taste the spice. Maʿa as-salāma, and see you by the river.