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2 days in Cairo: an itinerary day by day

The Giza pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu with the small queens' pyramids in front and riders on the sandVisitors walking to the entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum with its triangular-patterned facade under a clear skyPink neoclassical facade of the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square with sphinxes by the lotus pool

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
2 of 6 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
Duration
2 days, 9:30 to 17:17 each day
Start and finish
Giza Pyramids → Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque
On foot
≈ 4 min in total
Transport
3 rides, ≈ 1 h 5 min
Lunch
around 12:30
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
October to April. Avoid a Friday for day two: the mosque closes to visitors at midday and some bazaar shops stay shut.

Day-by-day plan

Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.

Day 1 · Cairo09:30–16:52 · 2 places · 7 h 20 min

  1. Giza Pyramids

    · 3 h · EGP 700, Great Pyramid inside extra

  2. Lunch · 1 h
  3. 22 min · transport or taxi

  4. Grand Egyptian Museum

    · 3 h · ≈ EGP 1,830, online only

Day 2 · Cairo09:30–17:17 · 4 places · 7 h 50 min

  1. Egyptian Museum

    · 2 h 30 min · EGP 550, students EGP 275

  2. Lunch · 1 h
  3. 23 min · transport or taxi

  4. Khan el-Khalili

    · 1 h 30 min · Free

  5. 4 min on foot

  6. Al-Azhar Mosque

    · 30 min · Free

  7. 20 min · transport or taxi

  8. Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque

    · 1 h 30 min · 550 EGP, students 275 EGP

Go · start

Add nearby

Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.

Memphis

Cairo, Egypt

↝ 1 h 10 min45 min

What the route costs

2 of 6 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

1Giza Pyramids433 hEGP 700, Great Pyramid inside extra
2Grand Egyptian Museum413 h≈ EGP 1,830, online only
3Egyptian Museum472 h 30 minEGP 550, students EGP 275
4Khan el-Khalili431 h 30 minFree
5Al-Azhar Mosque4530 minFree
6Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque441 h 30 min550 EGP, students 275 EGP
Total12 h2 of 6 free

Tips for each stop

Day 1

  1. 1

    Giza Pyramids. The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. The plateau is 700 EGP; inside Khufu is a separate 1,500 EGP ticket. Gates open at 7:00 — come early, before the heat.

  2. 2

    Grand Egyptian Museum. 2 km from the pyramids: Tutankhamun's entire tomb, the colossus of Ramesses II and Khufu's boat. About 1,830 EGP, online only for a timed entry; no re-entry.

Day 2

  1. 3

    Egyptian Museum. The old museum on Tahrir Square: the Narmer Palette, the gold mask of Psusennes I, the colossus of Amenhotep III. 550 EGP, 9:00–17:00; Sadat metro.

  2. 4

    Khan el-Khalili. Islamic Cairo's main bazaar since the late 14th century: lamps, spices, silver. Free to wander, haggling expected, cash only. El Fishawy café never closes.

  3. 5

    Al-Azhar Mosque. A 10th-century mosque across the street from the bazaar, the origin of the university. Free between prayers; cover up and take off your shoes.

  4. 6

    Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque. Saladin's hilltop fortress and the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. 550 EGP, last entry 16:00; the terrace overlooks the whole city.

Who this route is for

Good for
  • A first trip to Cairo
  • Independent, by taxi
  • Pyramids and the old city
Not for
  • Saqqara and Memphis are day three
  • Coptic Cairo is in the 3-day itinerary
Best time

October to April. Avoid a Friday for day two: the mosque closes to visitors at midday and some bazaar shops stay shut.

How the two days work

Day one is the one-day Cairo itinerary in Giza on the west side. Day two is in the centre: Tahrir and Islamic Cairo, where the bazaar and Al-Azhar face each other and the Citadel is 20 minutes away by taxi.

Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.

Two Egyptian museums — which one?

Both. The Grand Egyptian Museum by the pyramids is new, with all of Tutankhamun and Khufu's boat. The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir has been open since 1902 and still holds the Narmer Palette, the gold mask of Psusennes I and thousands of objects in old wooden cases. 550 EGP; Sadat metro is right under the square.

Islamic Cairo

Khan el-Khalili has traded since the late 14th century; pay cash and haggle. Across the street, Al-Azhar is free between prayers. Al-Muizz Street begins nearby, lined with medieval mosques and madrasas — a combined ticket for its monuments is 220 EGP.

Is 2 days in Cairo enough?

For the highlights, yes. With more time, add the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo (Mar Girgis metro), the royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, and Saqqara with the Step Pyramid of Djoser — all in the 3-day itinerary.

How to do it right

  • Reach the Citadel before 16:00 — that is the last entry.
  • At the bazaar, ask prices in a few shops before you start haggling.
  • Tickets for museums and sites are sold on Egymonuments, the Experience Egypt app and at the gate; they are dated and non-refundable. Under-6s go free.
  • Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP). Museum and monument tickets take Visa and Mastercard; bazaars, taxis, ferries and tips need cash in small notes.
  • Mosques want shoulders and knees covered and a headscarf for women; shoes come off at the door. Temples and museums have no strict dress code, but cover up in town.

Questions

What to do with 2 days in Cairo?

Day one: the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Day two: the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir, Khan el-Khalili, Al-Azhar and the Citadel.

Is 2 days in Cairo enough?

For the main sights, yes. Saqqara, Memphis and Coptic Cairo need another day.

Is the old Egyptian Museum still worth it?

Yes: the Narmer Palette, the mask of Psusennes I and thousands of objects are not in the new museum.

How much is Saladin's Citadel?

550 EGP, students under 24 275 EGP; the mosques inside are included.

Can tourists enter Al-Azhar Mosque?

Yes, free between prayers, dressed modestly; shoes off at the door.

When is Khan el-Khalili open?

The streets always; shops roughly 10:00–23:00.

How much does it cost?

Pyramids 700, Grand Egyptian Museum about 1,830, Egyptian Museum 550, Citadel 550 EGP, plus taxis.

How do I get around?

Uber, Careem or inDrive; the metro to Sadat for Tahrir.

Is it good with kids?

Yes; under-6s are free at every museum and site.

What currency is used in Egypt?

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP). Museum and monument tickets take Visa and Mastercard; bazaars, taxis, ferries and tips need cash in small notes.

Sources and fact-check

  • Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
  • Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Egymonuments
  • Wikipedia: Egyptian Museum, Cairo Citadel, Khan el-Khalili
YesGo editorial team ·
How we checkedDay one is the city's one-day route; the next days were put together by hand, one area per day. The YesGo planner works out the order within each day, the transfers and lunch. Prices, hours and closing days come from the place pages.

More Cairo routes

Other cities in Egypt: one-day routes