Cairo, the largest city and capital of Egypt, is your entrance to the mystical wonders of the country. If you have been troubled thinking about how many days are enough for Cairo, then you have come to the right place – 3 days in Cairo is enough. This will give you ample amount of time to visit the major attractions, and also relax! Sure, you can cram everything into two days, but we would recommend you visit a place like you are on a vacation, instead of as a tourist. Read on for a detailed 3 day Cairo itinerary, and do check out our 7 day Egypt itinerary, that will help you explore the magical sights across Egypt.
3 Days in Cairo Itinerary
Day 1: Visit the museums in Cairo
Start your 3 days in Cairo trip with a visit to their famous museums. Thankfully, a vast majority of Egypt’s ancient civilization is safely protected in many of their museums within the country. While there are several that you can visit in Cairo, the two museums that you cannot miss are the Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian civilization.
The Egyptian Museum has the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world. They have more than 100 galleries with more than 100K historical pieces safely preserved in the museum. Tickets are required to enter, but there is no need for advance reservation. You will spend at least 3 hours here, and if you are into history and art, you can certainly spend half a day at this museum.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is another museum where masterpieces from the ancient world are showcased. The highlight of this museum is the Royal Mummies’ Hall, where mummies of the most famous Kings and Queens of Egypt are stored in temperature-controlled glass caskets, specifically those of Hatshepsut (Maatkare), Thutmose III (Menkheperre) and Seqenenre Tea II. The hall has more than 20 royal mummies, and photography is prohibited. Tickets are required to enter here too. Plan to spend at least 3 hours here as well.
If time permits and you are still looking to explore more museums on day 1, check out:
- Coptic Museum – It has the world’s largest collection of Coptic artifacts and is located in Old Cairo. Tickets are required to enter.
- Museum of Islamic Art – The museum has Islamic art collections not just from Egypt, but also from other Arab and non-Arab countries. Entry to the museum is free.
- Abdeen Palace Museum – Formally a palace architected in the European style, this was used as a seat of the government from 1874 until the 23rd revolution in 1952, and then turned into a museum. Tickets are required to enter.
Day 2: Explore the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx
Day 2 is going to be the highlight in your 3 days in Cairo itinerary. The Great Pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the Great Sphinx are located in Giza, a city around 30 minutes away from Cairo during peak traffic. We recommend visiting these attractions with a tour operator, since they will handle all the tickets, pick-up, drop-off, and based on what selection you choose, lunch is included as well.
The tour can be 4-hours or 8-hours in duration, the longer one includes more sights in Giza, but we recommend the 4-hour one. The cost for a quality half-day tour per person is around $30 to $40, so pick your tour operator based on customer reviews and not on price. Read our article to know how much does it cost to go to Egypt.
The tour guide will pick you up from your hotel (it’s more convenient if you are staying in Giza) and first take you to visit the Great Pyramids. They will walk you through the ancient Egyptian history and the stories behind the Kings and the Queens. They will click as many pictures of you as you want, including some funny ones as well!
After spending an hour absorbing the marvel of the Great Pyramids, you will head for a camel ride in the desert. The ride is quite bumpy, so you need to brace yourself and be careful. The ride lasts around 30 minutes, and at the end of it, don’t forget to tip the camel owners in Egyptian pounds.
From here, the tour will continue to visit the Great Sphinx. Expect this place to be packed with tourists, and capturing good photos is going to be tough. You have to see the Sphinx from quite a distance, since the area is barricaded off. This is where your trip ends. You can spend as much time as you want at any of the locations, the tour guides do not create any issues with this. If lunch is included in your tour, the guide will then take you for lunch. Beware of the quality of the seating arrangements in the restaurant; if this is isn’t up to your liking, carry the food out with you.
The tour ends when you are dropped at your hotel. At this time, don’t forget to generously tip the driver and the tour guide. Read our article on essential things to know before traveling to Egypt, to understand their tipping culture and more.
Day 3: Visit Mosque of Muhammad Ali and do some souvenir shopping
On day 3, the last day in this 3 days in Cairo trip, start the day with a visit to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali that is located in Old Cairo. This mosque was built in 1848 by Muhammad Ali Pasha. Tickets are required to visit the grounds and can be purchased directly at the counter. You need to dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering the mosque.
After spending an hour exploring the mosque on your own, head to the National Military Museum, which is located right next to the mosque. This museum is maintained by the Egyptian Armed Forces and is a good place to explore and spend some time.
Next, head to Khan El-Khalili market in Old Cairo, which is the best place for souvenir shopping. The area is filled with souvenir shops selling unique Egyptian gift items. Remember that this is street-side shopping, so expect haggling by the vendors. Politely refuse them if you aren’t interested in purchasing anything. The spot is home to many cafes selling Egyptian delicacies, so stop by one of them for your heart’s fill.
Plan Your Trip To Egypt
Now that you know how to spend 3 days in Cairo, go ahead and plan that magical trip to Egypt! Here are some articles that will help you put together the trip that you have been waiting for.
- How to enjoy a lush vacation in Egypt for 7 days
- The best time to visit Egypt
- How much does it cost to visit Egypt
- Essential things to know before traveling to Egypt
Email us if you are looking for a custom and luxurious itinerary for your trip to Egypt, including the perfect 3 days in Cairo itienrary!