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7 days in Egypt: an itinerary by city

The sandstone keep of the Citadel of Qaitbay with corner towers and a flag, palms and cannons in frontThe Giza pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu with the small queens' pyramids in front and riders on the sandCovered lane in Khan el-Khalili bazaar lined with shisha pipes, lamps and souvenirs, with shoppers walking through

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
10 of 29 free; 19 paid — see “Cost”
Duration
7 days, 9:30 to 17:35 each day
Start and finish
Citadel of Qaitbay → Hurghada Museum
On foot
≈ 2 h 5 min in total
Transport
11 rides, ≈ 5 h 13 min; 3 transfers between cities
Lunch
around 12:25
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
October to April: warm but not hot in Cairo and Luxor.

Cities in order

  1. Alexandria1 day · 6 places
  2. ≈ 2.5–3 htrain to Ramses station
  3. Cairo3 days · 9 places
  4. ≈ 1 h by airflight or overnight train
  5. Luxor2 days · 9 places
  6. ≈ 4 hcar or bus
  7. Hurghada1 day · 5 places

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 · Alexandria09:30–17:33 · 6 places · 8 h

  1. Citadel of Qaitbay

    · 1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP

  2. 15 min on foot

  3. Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque

    · 20 min · Free

  4. 20 min · transport or taxi

  5. Alexandria Corniche

    · 1 h · Free

  6. Lunch · 1 h
  7. 18 min on foot

  8. Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    · 1 h 30 min · 150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums

  9. 20 min · transport or taxi

  10. Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka)

    · 45 min · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP

  11. 15 min on foot

  12. Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

    · 1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP

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

Morning transfer: train to Ramses station · ≈ 2.5–3 h

  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 3 · 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 4 · 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

Day 5 · Luxor09:30–17:35 · 5 places · 8 h 10 min

Morning transfer: flight or overnight train · ≈ 1 h by air

  1. Temple of Hatshepsut

    · 1 h · EGP 440, students EGP 220

  2. 9 min on foot

  3. Valley of the Kings

    · 2 h 30 min · EGP 750, Tutankhamun extra

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 20 min · transport or taxi

  6. Ramesseum

    · 45 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110

  7. 14 min on foot

  8. Colossi of Memnon

    · 20 min · Free

  9. 17 min on foot

  10. Medinet Habu

    · 1 h 30 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110

Day 6 · Luxor09:30–16:54 · 4 places · 7 h 20 min

  1. Luxor Temple

    · 1 h 15 min · EGP 500, students EGP 250

  2. 18 min on foot

  3. Luxor Museum

    · 1 h 15 min · EGP 400, students EGP 200

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 6 min on foot

  6. Avenue of Sphinxes

    · 40 min · Free to view (unofficial)

  7. 20 min · transport or taxi

  8. Karnak Temple

    · 2 h 30 min · EGP 600, students EGP 300

Day 7 · Hurghada09:30–16:56 · 5 places · 7 h 30 min

Morning transfer: car or bus · ≈ 4 h

  1. El Dahar Old Town

    · 1 h 30 min · Free

  2. 24 min · transport or taxi

  3. El Mina Mosque

    · 30 min · Free

  4. 3 min on foot

  5. Hurghada Fish Market

    · 45 min · Free

  6. Lunch · 1 h
  7. 6 min on foot

  8. Hurghada Marina

    · 1 h · Free

  9. 38 min · transport or taxi

  10. Hurghada Museum

    · 1 h 30 min · 300 EGP, students 150

Go · start

Add nearby

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

What the route costs

10 of 29 are free; 19 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

1Citadel of Qaitbay451 h200 EGP, students 100 EGP
4Bibliotheca Alexandrina451 h 30 min150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums
5Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka)3845 min200 EGP, students 100 EGP
6Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa421 h200 EGP, students 100 EGP
7Giza Pyramids433 hEGP 700, Great Pyramid inside extra
8Grand Egyptian Museum413 h≈ EGP 1,830, online only
11Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque441 h 30 min550 EGP, students 275 EGP
13Memphis4845 minEGP 200, students EGP 100
14Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara402 hEGP 600, pyramid interior +280
15Egyptian Museum472 h 30 minEGP 550, students EGP 275
16Temple of Hatshepsut441 hEGP 440, students EGP 220
17Valley of the Kings492 h 30 minEGP 750, Tutankhamun extra
18Ramesseum3945 minEGP 220, students EGP 110
20Medinet Habu361 h 30 minEGP 220, students EGP 110
21Luxor Temple521 h 15 minEGP 500, students EGP 250
22Luxor Museum371 h 15 minEGP 400, students EGP 200
23Avenue of Sphinxes4340 minFree to view (unofficial)
24Karnak Temple502 h 30 minEGP 600, students EGP 300
29Hurghada Museum281 h 30 min300 EGP, students 150
Other 10 places8 h 30 minFree
Total38 h 20 min10 of 29 free

Who this route is for

Good for
  • A first trip to Egypt
  • Independent: trains, a flight, taxis
  • Antiquities and some beach
Not for
  • Aswan and Abu Simbel need 2–3 more days
  • Beach only — go straight to Hurghada or Sharm
Best time

October to April: warm but not hot in Cairo and Luxor.

How the week works

The route runs north to south and ends by the sea: Alexandria — Cairo — Luxor — Hurghada. Each day is a YesGo city itinerary: three days in Cairo, two in Luxor, one each in Alexandria and Hurghada.

Fly into Cairo, take the train to Alexandria on day one and come back, and fly home from Hurghada.

The cities on the route

Alexandria is the Ptolemies' city on the Mediterranean: Qaitbay, the Library, the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs. Cairo has the Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum with Tutankhamun, Khan el-Khalili and Saladin's Citadel. Luxor is ancient Thebes: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple. Hurghada is a Red Sea resort with a harbour, a fish market and reefs.

Getting around independently

Cairo to Alexandria: the train from Ramses station, 2.5–3 hours. Cairo to Luxor: a flight of about an hour or an overnight train. Luxor to Hurghada: about 4 hours by car or bus. In cities, use Uber, Careem or inDrive; in Luxor, the ferry crosses the Nile.

Museum and temple tickets

Tickets are sold on Egymonuments, the Experience Egypt app and at the gate, by Visa and Mastercard. The Grand Egyptian Museum is online only, with a timed entry. Luxor has a 5-day Luxor Pass, but over two days single tickets are usually cheaper.

Egypt itinerary for 5 or 10 days

Five days: drop Alexandria and the third Cairo day — two days in Cairo, two in Luxor, one in Hurghada. Ten days: add Aswan south of Luxor and a couple of beach days in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh.

How to do it right

  • Buy the Grand Egyptian Museum ticket online in advance.
  • In Luxor be on the West Bank by 6:00, before the heat.
  • The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is closed on Fridays — plan Alexandria for another day.
  • 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 7-day Egypt itinerary?

Alexandria for a day, Cairo for 3, Luxor for 2 and Hurghada for 1.

Can you travel around Egypt independently?

Yes: trains, domestic flights and ride-hailing; museum tickets online or at the gate.

How do I get from Cairo to Luxor?

A flight of about an hour or an overnight train.

How long from Luxor to Hurghada?

About 4 hours by car or bus.

How do I get from Cairo to Alexandria?

By train from Ramses station, 2.5–3 hours.

What can I see in Egypt in 5 days?

Two days in Cairo, two in Luxor and a beach day in Hurghada.

When is the best time to go?

October to April. In summer Cairo and Luxor reach 40 °C by day.

Is it good with kids?

Yes; under-6s are free at every museum and site. Hurghada has its own with-kids itinerary.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

Yes, a 30 $ visa on arrival in cash. For the Sinai resorts alone, a free 'Sinai only' stamp is enough.

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 National Railways: Cairo–Alexandria and Cairo–Luxor trains
  • Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Egymonuments
YesGo editorial team ·
How we checkedEach day is a YesGo city itinerary of 1–3 days: the main sights, the order with the shortest transfers, lunch. Journeys between cities are rough times; check train and flight schedules before you go.

Cities on this route

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