A bustling city on the northeast corner of Africa, Cairo is a mix between modern and ancient, Middle East and Africa, desert and oasis. You can spend countless days exploring the many facets of Cairo and still have plenty to see, but in this Cairo itinerary, we have condensed it down to four days. In these four days you will experience the following:
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National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Arrival and Accommodations
Most people arrive in Cairo via Cairo International Airport. The airport is 20 kilometers northwest of the downtown Cairo area. It can take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour depending on rush hour traffic to get from the airport to downtown Cairo.
The streets of Cairo are very busy, so expect to be jolted around as you speed to your destination.
For this Cairo itinerary, we recommend staying in the downtown Cairo area if you are visiting for just a few days. It is a very walkable area with lots to explore, eat, and do. From this area you can easily walk to the Nile River and to the Egyptian Museum. When we travel our family prefers to stay at budget places, so when we found the Freedom Cairo Hostel it was a perfect place for us to stay. The price was reasonable for our family and the location being near the Egyptian Museum was perfect.
Here is a list of other hotels we recommend in the same area that are a step above the budget: Berling Hotel, or the Casablanca Hotel
Arrival Day
If you arrive midday, I always suggest getting to your accommodations first then spending the rest of your arrival day getting your bearings in your new surroundings and exploring the streets near your accommodations.
Cairo is densely populated and if you are staying in downtown Cairo, there is plenty to see and check out just by walking around!
Here are a few local spots that our children enjoyed checking out during our time in Egypt:
The Nile River Walkway
Staying in downtown Cairo means it is a simple walk to the Nile River. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and considered by many to be the longest river in the world. The history surrounding the Nile is also substantial and something that we read about with our kids when we visited.
When you reach the Nile, there is a pedestrian walkway next to the river, so that you are not mixing with traffic on the street. You can walk for quite a way and watch the water traffic.
Juice shops
Something our children came to love was the fresh fruit stores around the center of the city. The one chain that we visited most often was called Sindbad. They had options for juice and smoothies as well as nut and candy options.
Patisseries
Egyptian desserts are delicious! We enjoyed going to patisseries around the center of town and trying the different dessert trays they sell. You can buy them with a set price or if you don’t see a price tag, you can take them up to be weighed at the counter to buy by weight.
Cairo Itinerary Day 1: Egyptian Museum
Your first full day of this Cairo itinerary is getting to know Egyptian history! Ancient Egypt has many layers and deciphering the centuries takes a lot of education. In Cairo, you can see well over 4,000 years of history! The best place to get all the date and history in one place is the Egyptian Museum.
What better way to learn Egyptian history than to head to the Egyptian Museum? This place is FULL of artifacts. Even with new museums opening up all around Egypt, the Egyptian Museum still overflows with artifacts from archeological digs throughout Egypt’s lengthy history.
Along with learning the different eras of history, the Egyptian Museum introduces you to Egyptian artifacts – what were found in the pyramids, pieces of daily life in ancient civilization and how they mixed with other civilizations.
We suggest at least 5 hours in the Egyptian Museum. You do not need a guide to take you through. A guide will show you only the most popular areas of the museum and you will keep up with the schedule and itinerary of the guide.
Instead, you want to spend time seeing what interests you as a family. So much of the Egyptian museum is about exploring different nooks and crannies, all brimming with artifacts. During our time there (in all we ended up spending 7 hours there even with a 6-year-old!), we found areas that were nearly overflowing with amazing artifacts, but all the guided tours were bypassing. This allowed us to fully explore those areas at our leisure and not compete against the crowds of people.
There are small signs on many of the pieces in the museum but in order to dive deeper and gain more information about the era and importance of the artifacts, we suggest buying a book to guide you. We used the book, The Egyptian Museum in Cairo – Art and Archaeology, to take us through the museum.
During Your Visit
Spend the first thirty minutes getting to know the building and deciding as a family what is your priority to visit. Then go in order of priority to make sure you see what you want to see. There are enough artifacts that you could spend days in the museum and never see it all.
Our family’s favorites from the Egyptian Museum:
The Narmer Palette
The Narmer Palette, made around 3000 BC, the Narmer Palette is one of the oldest artifacts in the Egyptian Museum. It was fascinating to see something so old. They had the original behind glass displayed, and next to it they had a replica out so it can be looked at closer up and see the details up close.
The Statues of Rahotep and Nofret
These roughly life-size statues from the 4th dynasty, 2575-2551 BC, are unusual because of the detailed paint still remaining and visible on them, and we all loved how close we could get to such a priceless artifact.
Model of Daily Life
The Egyptian Museum has a whole room filled with models that were created in the 11th dynasty, 2135-1994 BC. These models range from fishing scenes, boats with sails, scenes of daily life in houses like weaving and carpentry. The models were mostly found in Meketre’s tomb. Our boys specifically liked the model of the fishing boat.
Mummified Animals
Our family also found it fascinating that there were displays showing how the Egyptian mummified animals. Although not mentioned in the guide book, the mummified animals had a separate room explaining all the different animals that have been found mummified. They also had many examples of the mummies out on display.
Hieroglyphics
There were many examples of hieroglyphics throughout the Museum. Our whole family, but our teenage daughter especially enjoyed learning how to read them. We had purchased a book on how to read hieroglyphics, so the kids enjoyed finding symbols from the book in the artifacts and knowing what the word meant.
Scrolls
Another place that our family enjoyed was the display of unrolled scrolls. Located near one of the restrooms they did not have a place of honor in the museum, but we found it fascinating how the scrolls were opened up fully and being able to see some of the complete texts was very cool.
Information
The ticket office is at the gate of the building. There is a security checkpoint and then you can enter the museum. You will have to have your bag go through x-ray and walk through a detector, much like in an airport.
Hours
9 am – 5 pm
Open every day
Location
Found right in the center of downtown Cairo next to the Nile River
Cost
Adult – 550 Egyptian pounds
Child – 275 Egyptian pounds
Under age 6 – free
Souvenirs on Location
There is an extensive souvenir shop at the back of the museum. You will have to pass through it while you exit the museum.
Food on Location
At the exit of the building, you can find several cafes with high tourist prices. We recommend waiting until you exit the perimeters before eating. There is a snack shack right after the souvenir shop that sells bottled water and other drinks.
Koshary Abou Tarek
For dinner that first day, we recommend a dinner experience at Koshary Abou Tarek. This restaurant is right in downtown Cairo, a mere 9 minute (650 meter) walk from the Egyptian museum.
Koshary is a popular dish across Egypt and a must-try food when visiting Cairo. It is made with a mix of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, and toppings such as tomato sauce. There are a few varieties, but most have the mixture of the above ingredients.
At Koshary Abou Tarek, they are all about the main koshary dish. It is a fun experience with lots of English to help you along the way. They will explain how the restaurant works, what is in your food, and how to combine it all together when your food arrives. The dishes run from 22 Egyptian Pounds for a small koshary dish, 30 Egyptian Pounds for standard, and up to 57 Egyptian Pounds for one with all the extras added on top.
For the kids, they also have a child’s koshary option which comes with a drink and a toy for 30 Egyptian Pounds.
They also have amazing dessert options, like rice pudding. I recommend trying several desserts before leaving if you are not too full from your meal. Desserts are 25 or 20 Egyptian Pounds.
If you cannot get to Koshary Abou Tarek because you are staying in a different part of town, I recommend doing a quick search for another Koshary restaurant in your area as you definitely want to try a koshary restaurant! They are an excellent cultural experience as well as a culinary delight.
Cairo Itinerary Day 2: Great Pyramids of Giza
Now that you have your overview of the wide range of history throughout Egypt, we suggest going to explore the most ancient of sites – the Great Pyramids of Giza.
As this is the largest tourist destination in Egypt, you can follow these tips to see the pyramid on your own and away from the crowds.
Hours
7 am – 5 pm
Location / Getting there
Giza is a town about a 30-minute drive from downtown Cairo, so it is not accessible by the metro. You will need to take a taxi to get there. I suggest using one of the taxi services available instead of hailing a taxi. You can take the metro to get yourself as close as you can by going to the Giza Station.
Uber is available in Egypt. If you already have your credit card attached to your account, the Uber will just charge your foreign bank account and you do not need to worry about paying in Egyptian pounds.
InDrive is another taxi service in Egypt. This taxi app allows you to enter your destination and then once a taxi driver is interested, you can barter for the price that you want to pay them. The inDrive app will recommend a starting price. We recommend using inDrive throughout your whole Cairo itinerary.
To go to the pyramids, we suggest taking your taxi to Pizza Hut. It is directly across from a side entrance to the pyramids.
This is wonderful because you are away from all the tour buses and entering through this gate will be way less crowded. During our visit, we entered into the Pyramids of Giza through both gates and found ourselves swamped in throngs of tour groups going in the main entrance. Going in this side entrance (pictures above) gives you space to enjoy the pyramid complex without the overwhelming crowds.
Please note that you will still be confronted by people who want to be your guide or sell you horse rides or camel rides. Just go up to the counter, buy your tickets, and enter. Keep saying “no” unless you are indeed interested. If you are interested just be aware that bartering is the name of the game.
Cost
Adult – 700 Egyptian pounds
Child – 350 Egyptian pounds
This entrance fee is for entry into the pyramid area. If you wish to go inside the pyramids there is additional cost.
- Khufu adult – 1500 / child 700
- Menkaure adult – 280 / child -140
- Khafre adult – 280 / child – 140
The complex has the three great pyramids which are built for three different pharaohs. However, there are also smaller pyramids in the complex built for the queens, princesses, and sisters.
Entering by the side gate will give you a hike up a road to the attraction. Once there, you can explore!
Remember that the 3 great pyramids are quite a distance from each other, but it is very walkable. It took us about 10 minutes to walk between one pyramid to the next. Once you are walking between them, you feel like you are alone in a great big desert. This is because the tours are kept to only one side of a pyramid and the tours also drive between the pyramids so there is no one walking. You can walk along the road which loops around the pyramids, or you can walk directly on the sand and go straight from one to the other.
As the images below show, once inside the area of the Great Pyramids of Giza we were allowed to walk about freely and explore as we wished.
We loved seeing different excavations around the pyramids, such as a boat that was excavated that was said to have brought the pharaoh to the afterlife and cemetery areas with tombs that have been excavated.
Remember that the sphinx is also quite a walk away from the pyramids. Everything takes time to get to, so give yourself plenty of time. Also, bring along plenty of WATER!
You can buy water along the road from vendors, but because they are walking around and they might not be right there when you need them, we highly recommend bringing in a lot of water with you. The water price is also extremely high inside the Pyramids of Giza, so having plenty extra as you enter is a good idea.
A word about camel rides
The camel owners will be extremely persistent in trying to barter with you for a camel ride. If you wish to take one, be ready to haggle hard for the price. Remember that you do not need to do a full camel excursion, but that you can decide how long and how far. Always say no if you don’t want it.
When you enter the gate, you will see a sign with a set price for camel rides. Use that set price to your advantage to get the camel ride that you want. The owners should not be asking you for a higher price, but they will.
If you do not want a camel ride, you need to be just as persistent in saying no to the owners. They will eventually give up if you keep walking away from them.
Souvenirs on Location
There are places to buy souvenirs within the Great Pyramids of Giza area, up near the three main pyramids, along the road where the buses and van park for the tours.
Cairo Itinerary Day 3: Coptic Cairo / National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
For day 3 of your Cairo itinerary, you will go to two different places in the same part of the city – Coptic Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
Coptic Cairo
Begin with Coptic Cairo first thing in the morning. You want to go to Coptic Cairo firstly because it is mostly outdoors and this way you can beat the heat. Secondly, you can hopefully beat the tour crowds.
Coptic Cairo is the Christian orthodox area of Cairo and with history focusing on Christians in Egypt throughout history. There are also specific attractions focused on Jesus’ life living in Egypt as a young child.
Two ways to get to Coptic Cairo include Uber/inDrive and the metro. For Uber/inDrive – From downtown Cairo, it will take about —— mins in a taxi. Have the taxi drop you as close to the Roman tower as possible as that is a good starting point to your visit. When we visited, regular public vehicles were only allowed to go as far as the Old Coptic Bazaar. From there you have to walk a few minutes to get to the entrance.
*Tip: Prepare your kids for lots of security around this area. Our experience was that there were guards stationed at many entrances and police walking around the streets.
The second way to get to Coptic Cairo is to take the metro. Coptic Cairo is located nearest the Mar Girgis Station along the blue line. Starting from the downtown station of Sadat, you can get directly on the blue line. From there you will only have to go 4 stops to get to Mar Girgis. If you are closer to another station along either the red or green lines, you will need to transfer trains to get to Mar Girgis. Check the metro website for up to date information.
Once you arrive at Mar Girgis, follow signs and take the stairs to climb over the wall to get to the street surrounding Coptic Cairo. The Roman Tower and entrance to the Coptic museum are directly across from the metro station.
The Coptic Museum
The adults in our family really enjoyed this museum, but as this is a really busy day and if your children are already tired from the pyramids yesterday, I recommend skipping this museum. It’s more important to wander the streets and see the orthodox churches than to walk through the museum.
If your kids are up for learning about another aspect of Egyptian history – the Copts – the Coptic Museum will give you an overview of who the Copts are and their cultural heritage.
Inside the museum were various displays. Our favorites were: coins, icons, and old religious texts. The oldest book of Psalms from the Bible ever found is also kept at this museum.
After the museum, take a quick look at the Roman tower before heading into the churches around Coptic Cairo. There are many churches and a synagogue that you can visit inside Coptic Cairo. I will outline three here that I believe are the most essential to visit if you are limited on time.
Churches around Coptic Cairo
Hanging Church
When looking at the entrance to the Coptic Museum, you will see the hanging church to your right. The real name of the church is Saint Mary Church, but it is called the Hanging Church because it was built “hanging” over the Roman towers.
It dates back to the late 4th century. The religious artwork inside the church is extensive and it is easy to lose track of time as you look at each painting and mosaic.
St. George’s Church
When looking at the entrance to the Coptic Museum, you see St. George’s Church to the left. This church is a Greek orthodox church. The circular architecture of the church makes for a beautifully painted domed ceiling. It is incredibly ornate and worth the time to go inside and look around.
Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church
Once inside the Coptic Cairo neighborhood, you will find this church. It is named after two saints who were martyred for their beliefs. It was built in the 4th century, but has been rebuilt due to fire.
The Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church is also known as the Cavern Church. This is because the church was built over the cave where Jesus is said to have stayed for three months after his family fled to Egypt. You can go down the steps inside the church and see a piece of the original rock of the cave as well as a well that Mary and Joseph are said to have drank from.
After visiting these three churches, continue to explore the area!
Walk through the narrow alleyways. Stop to shop for some books. Check out the other churches. Though they may pale in historical significance to the more well-known three churches mentioned above, they will broaden your family’s understanding of the Copts and their culture in Egypt.
Lunch
After exiting the Coptic Cairo neighborhood, instead of going back to the metro station of Mar Girgis, turn right and go down to the end of the road to the Old Cairo Bazaar.
The street will be lined with cafes and souvenir shops. We recommend eating here as there are very few restaurants in this area of Cairo and so you may not find another spot to stop at.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
From the Old Cairo Bazaar, you can call for an Uber or inDrive to take you to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This is only a 4 minute drive away.
The NMEC Museum is not to miss due to its extensive collection of mummies in the mummy hall. After learning so much history at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, the mummies in the Hall of Mummies will add dimension to each of these eras.
To actually view the pharaoh’s family’s preserved bodies is an awesome! They have them displayed generationally which is super educational and an amazing experience. There is no photography allowed inside the Hall of Mummies to help preserve the bodies.
The bottom floor of the museum is the Hall of Mummies. The top floor houses other artifacts to view. I urge you to take a quick walk through the top floor even if the kids are getting tired.
Dinner
When it comes to food, it is good to note that Cairo is full of kebabs. Kebab stalls are everywhere, and we highly recommend you find one and enjoy it.
Cairo Itinerary Day 4: Modern Cairo
We totally switch gears on day 4 of our Cairo itinerary from ancient to modern. The contrast is incredible as you leave downtown Cairo for the outskirts.
Nothing shouts modern quite as distinctly as a modern-day mall. And Cairo gives you multiple options in the way of glamorous malls.
Mall of Egypt
We visited several malls during our time in Cairo, but our pick for you with a short time frame, is the Mall of Egypt.
Why?
-It is flashy!
-It has a variety of entertainment and food options
-And most of all, it has snow in Cairo! The renowned Ski Egypt is housed in the Mall of Egypt.
Even if you choose not to go to Ski Egypt, your kids will have a great time exploring this mall. Some other entertainment options are a trampoline park, an indoor playground, arcade center, and go karts.
The restaurant choices are extensive. If your kids are ready for some fast food, you can find it. If you are still craving more middle eastern food, that is available as well.
As a family, we enjoy exploring supermarkets all over the world. The Carrefour supermarket in the Mall of Egypt did not disappoint. It is massive with both local and international products.
Lastly, a trip to the mall in your Cairo itinerary gives you the chance to see how Egypt looks today through people watching. Unlike tourist attractions and downtown Cairo where people are responding to the tourism, the mall is people watching in their daily lives. This is a glimpse into the international city that Cairo is. With a city so full of history it would be a shame to miss out on experiencing the history and culture of the modern Cairo.
Tips for being out and about in Cairo
- Hydrate! We cannot stress this enough. You need water to keep you going through the hot days.
- Feel free to decline people who walk up to you selling something (tours, transport, etc.) Just say “no thank you” and move on.
After this 4 day Cairo itinerary, I hope that you feel you’ve had a full Cairo experience. Though it’s just a few days, you should have an overload of history, seen ancient civilization up close, and observed the stark contrast between the old and the modern Cairo.
