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3 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 skyCovered lane in Khan el-Khalili bazaar lined with shisha pipes, lamps and souvenirs, with shoppers walking through

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
3 of 9 free; 6 paid — see “Cost”
Duration
3 days, 9:30 to 17:27 each day
Start and finish
Giza Pyramids → Egyptian Museum
On foot
≈ 4 min in total
Transport
5 rides, ≈ 2 h 51 min
Lunch
around 12:30
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
October to April. Saqqara has no shade — leave by 8:00 on day three.

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 · Cairo09:30–15:51 · 4 places · 6 h 20 min

  1. Khan el-Khalili

    · 1 h 30 min · Free

  2. 4 min on foot

  3. Al-Azhar Mosque

    · 30 min · Free

  4. 20 min · transport or taxi

  5. Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque

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

  6. Lunch · 1 h
  7. 27 min · transport or taxi

  8. Hanging Church

    · 1 h · Free

Day 3 · Cairo09:30–17:27 · 3 places · 8 h

  1. Memphis

    · 45 min · EGP 200, students EGP 100

  2. 28 min · transport or taxi

  3. Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara

    · 2 h · EGP 600, pyramid interior +280

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 74 min · transport or taxi

  6. Egyptian Museum

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

Go · start

Add nearby

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

What the route costs

3 of 9 are free; 6 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
5Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque441 h 30 min550 EGP, students 275 EGP
7Memphis4845 minEGP 200, students EGP 100
8Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara402 hEGP 600, pyramid interior +280
9Egyptian Museum472 h 30 minEGP 550, students EGP 275
Other 3 places3 hFree
Total15 h 50 min3 of 9 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

    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.

  2. 4

    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.

  3. 5

    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.

  4. 6

    Hanging Church. The Coptic church of the Virgin Mary built over a gate of the Roman fortress of Babylon. Free, 9:00–16:00; Mar Girgis metro is right outside.

Day 3

  1. 7

    Memphis. Egypt's first capital: the reclining colossus of Ramesses II and an alabaster sphinx. 200 EGP, about an hour; pairs well with Saqqara.

  2. 8

    Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt's oldest. 600 EGP, inside the pyramid another 280 EGP. Little shade — bring water.

  3. 9

    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.

Who this route is for

Good for
  • Starting an Egypt trip in Cairo
  • History beyond the pyramids
  • Taxi or a driver for day three
Not for
  • Luxor and Aswan need a flight and their own days
  • Beach only — go straight to Hurghada or Sharm
Best time

October to April. Saqqara has no shade — leave by 8:00 on day three.

How the three days work

Day one: Giza in the west. Day two: Islamic Cairo and the Coptic quarter in the centre and south of the old city. Day three: Saqqara and Memphis 20–30 km south, with the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir on the way back.

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

Saqqara and Memphis

Saqqara is the necropolis with Egypt's oldest pyramid, Djoser's Step Pyramid. The site ticket is 600 EGP, inside the pyramid another 280 EGP, the Serapeum 340 EGP. Memphis was the first capital of a united Egypt; it is now an open-air museum with the reclining colossus of Ramesses II, 200 EGP.

Public transport is awkward here — hire a taxi for half a day or a car with a driver.

Coptic Cairo

The Hanging Church sits over a gate of the Roman fortress of Babylon: free, 9:00–16:00. Services on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings may close it to visitors. The Coptic Museum next door is 280 EGP.

Is 3 days in Cairo enough?

Yes, with time to spare. A fourth day could cover the royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which also opens on Friday evenings, a train to Alexandria in 2.5–3 hours, or a flight to Luxor.

How to do it right

  • The Grand Egyptian Museum is online only, with a timed ticket.
  • For day three, agree a half-day fare with a taxi driver: Saqqara and Memphis are far from the metro.
  • 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 is a good 3-day Cairo itinerary?

Giza with the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum; Islamic and Coptic Cairo; Saqqara, Memphis and the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir.

Is 3 days in Cairo enough?

Yes. A fourth day could add the Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Al-Muizz Street.

How much is Saqqara?

600 EGP for the site, another 280 EGP inside the Step Pyramid.

How do I get to Saqqara independently?

By taxi or with a driver: it is 20–30 km south and public transport means several changes.

Can you visit the Hanging Church?

Yes, free, 9:00–16:00; during morning services visitors may be turned away.

Where can you see the royal mummies?

At the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, 550 EGP including the mummy hall.

How much are tickets for three days?

Pyramids 700, Grand Egyptian Museum ≈ 1,830, Citadel 550, Saqqara 600, Memphis 200, Egyptian Museum 550 EGP.

Is it good with kids?

Yes; under-6s are free. Bring water and hats for Saqqara and the plateau.

When is the best time to visit?

October to April.

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: Saqqara, Memphis, Coptic Cairo
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.

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