Cairo in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

Cairo has a lot to see and do and in five days you can get the full experience. Read on to discover the best itinerary if you don't want to miss anything.

There are some places in Egypt's capital that are a must-see. On this tour I propose you to be impressed by the pyramids, meet the pharaohs, visit museums, get lost in charming neighbourhoods, a trip to Alexandria and, of course, a cruise on the Nile. Enjoy!

I suggest you start your trip to Cairo in style, with a half-day visit to the pyramids of Giza and a stroll through one of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods: the Coptic Quarter. Are you ready to look up and be amazed?

Book an organised tour to visit the pyramids of Giza: Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus

Giza is located 18 kilometres from Cairo and is home to the pyramids of the pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. Each of the tombs is surrounded by an impressive burial complex built more than 4000 years ago. And of course, I can't forget the famous Sphinx.

If you travel to Cairo, a visit to Giza is worthwhile. To make the most of it, I recommend that you hire an organised tour: they take care of the transport and the visit to the pyramids with a guide specialised in Egyptian history.

There are different options among these tours: some of them include, in addition to the explanations and transport to Giza, a camel ride (a very cool experience that I recommend), lunch or tickets to the funerary monuments. Check the conditions offered by each one and choose the one you are most interested in. If you go on your own and you have to fit in the timetable, the complex opens between 6:00 and 20:00, and the pyramids tickets cost approximately between 4€ and 8€.

Enjoy wandering the narrow streets of the Coptic Quarter

The Coptic Quarter is a network of narrow streets fullof surprises for the traveller. Do you want to know everything there is to see in this neighbourhood? I'll tell you about the most emblematic places.

The Coptic Quarter is located within the walls of the ancient fortress of Babylon. You can try walking through its streets and let your intuition guide you: you are sure to stumble upon corners and monuments along the way that will leave you speechless, such as the Hanging Church of Cairo, the Church of St George, the Church of St Sergius or the Ben Ezra Synagogue. All of these places are impressive monuments that are concentrated in a relatively small space, so you can get around on foot.

It's not a very big neighbourhood, but it's so full of history that you can spend several hours here. If you want to learn all about what happened in these streets, I also recommend a visit to the Coptic Museum. Its collections are amazing and the explanations give you a clear idea of life in Cairo and the evolution of the city.

(The museum is open from 9am to 5pm and you need to book a ticket. Tickets cost about €5).

End the day with dinner in the neighbourhood

To unwind after all you've seen today, I recommend staying for a drink in the neighbourhood itself. This way you can not only get an impression of the monuments, but also of everyday life.

A very cosy place near the Coptic Museum is HanaDaysKitchen, the food is typical of this part of the Mediterranean, the place is very nice and the price is good (you can eat for about 15€ approximately).

And if you like to enjoy the city at night, take a look at these recommendations.

On the second day of your Cairo itinerary, I suggest a visit to the Citadel of Saladin and the buildings within this impressive compound, as well as a visit to Al Azhar Park and its mosque.

Start the day with a historical walk: visit the Citadel

• The Cairo Citadel or Citadel of Saladin: This medieval fort was begun in the 13th century on a promontory (so it has a good view) to defend the city from the Crusaders.
• Subsequent rulers of Cairo added to it until the 19th century, so a walk around this compound will give you a good idea of the city's history: There is much to see in Saladin's Citadel.
• Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is divided into two parts: the North and South Enclosures, where the National Military Museum and the Muhammad Ali Mosque are located. There you can also find other buildings not to be missed. It is open from 9am to 4pm and admission is approximately €4.

Ana's Traveller Tip

Public transport does not reach the Citadel, so I recommend taking a taxi. The price will depend on your point of departure, of course, but taxis in Cairo are very reasonably priced: the flag-down fare is approximately €0.25 and the price per kilometre is approximately €0.15. You can calculate the total cost of your journey here.

Admire the Alabaster Mosque

The Muhammad Ali Mosque is also known as the Alabaster Mosque because it is covered with alabaster. It is also famous for housing the tomb of Muhammad Ali and for its dome-on-dome shape.

Pretty cool, isn't it? The opening hours are also from 9am to 4pm, but you have to pay a separate entrance fee (about €3).

Look in the mirror of the Gawhara Palace

Just outside the entrance to the Citadel is a building that will catch your eye. It's the Gawhara or Jewellery Palace, a palace that Muhammad Ali designed as a private residence for his wife.

As soon as you enter there is a beautiful gilded mirror, and this palace also housed the famous hall from which Ali ruled Egypt. You can also see the original furniture and the small garden.

• Take a break at Al Azhar Park: It's about time for a break, don't you think? This park is about 7 kilometres away and can be reached by taxi in less than 15 minutes for about 5€. From Al Azhar Park: You can enjoy unique views and peaceful surroundings. You can also take the opportunity to stroll around, breathe in the clean air and have a drink in the cafes. The service is good, and the setting is luxurious. And another thing! The Ayyubid wall or Ayubi wall, more than 800 years old, was discovered there. One more reason to visit this magical place. It is open between 9am and 10pm, and the entrance fee is about €1.
• Be impressed by the Al Azhar Mosque: This incredible building is home to the oldest university in the world. The Al Azhar Mosque is located in El-Darb El-Ahmer (if you go by public transport, the nearest station is Bab El-Shaaria) and can be visited every day except Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00. Admission is free, but it is customary to tip the person who opens the doors.

End the day with a delicious Middle Eastern meal

Very close to the Al Azhar Mosque is a restaurant I really liked. At 126 El Azhar Street is Kababgy El Azhar Fahrahat, where they offer typical Middle Eastern food. They specialise in grilled food.

It does get crowded and it's not exactly spacious, but the service is fast and the prices are affordable. You can get a good dinner for around 15€.

On your third day in Cairo, I suggest a very special tour: start at the famous Khan-El-Khalili souk, pass by the Mirror Café and spend the afternoon at the Museum of Islamic Art. It's a sure hit.

• Takea stroll through the Khan-El-Khalili souk: I recommend that you start your third day in Cairo with a magical experience: visit the Khan-El-Khalili souk. This typical Egyptian souk is open from 10am to 3pm, where you can find everything: spices, jewellery, clothes and decorative objects, hidden and piled up in the small shops that give the market its shape and identity. A must-see for travellers in Cairo.
• Have lunch at El Fishawi, the Mirror Café: Very close to the souk, in El Gamaliya, is a typical café famous for its atmosphere. The walls are full of mirrors and the café's history is full of legends: it is said that it takes its name from a bazaar gangster.
• Discover the treasures of the Old Quarter: walking towards the Museum of Islamic Art you can enjoy some of the treasures of this neighbourhood, such as Bab Zuweila, one of the gates of the wall of the Old City of Cairo. You don't have to book or pay an entrance fee; it's an open-air monument for the enjoyment of everyone who passes through. Also nearby is the Palace of Abdullah, an impressive building where the former royal quarters have been converted into a museum.
• Enjoy the Museum of Islamic Art: In the old quarter you will also find the Cairo Museum of Islamic Art, with one of the most important collections in the world. They have pieces dating from the 7th to the 19th centuries and not only from Egypt. A jewel. The Museum is located at 20 Square, Ghayt Al Adah. It is open between 9:00 and 17:00 and costs about €5.
• Try Cairo's seafood at a local restaurant: Very close to the Museum there is a seafood restaurant where you can end the day with local products. Gambary Afandi is a place where you can eat a good seafood dish for less than €10. It's at 18 Sami Al Barodi and you don't need to book.

Alexandria is a world-famous place, so I recommend you don't miss it. There are organised tours that pick you up at your hotel and take you there by private transport (it takes about two and a half hours by bus), as well as telling you the history and anecdotes about each of the places you visit. There is so much to see that they usually take the whole day (approximately 12 hours).

The different tours offer tours that usually include such interesting places as the Roman Amphitheatre, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Library of Alexandria and the City of Quatby. Don't miss out on this tour!

Travel back in time: The Roman Amphitheatre

Don't miss Alexandria's Roman Amphitheatre (open from 9am-5pm and costs around 3€, although if you go with a tour they'll arrange the itinerary and tickets).

It was an open-air performance hall, built in marble and prepared to stage plays for 800 people. Can you imagine? Around it there is a beautiful garden, and some mosaics. The mosaics belonged to the baths next to the amphitheatre - ask your guide!

• Visit the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa: These catacombs are spectacular. Opening hours are from 8:00 to 16:00 and entry to visit them costs about 4€, although entry is usually included in all organised tours because it is a must-see in Alexandria. This is one of the monuments that belong to the 7 Wonders of the Middle Ages, and when you take a look at it you will understand that this classification is completely justified. Breathtaking.
• Stroll through the Library of Alexandria: Introductions are superfluous. The Library of Alexandria is a library and cultural centre built in memory of the famous library of antiquity, burnt down in the fire of Alexandria. It houses 8 million books, four museums, four other art galleries and a manuscript restoration laboratory. Not to be missed. It is open from 10:00 to 19:00 and the entrance fee is about 4€.

Admirethe Quatbay Citadel: Built on the ruins of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Citadel is a 15th-century defensive fortress restored in the 20th century. It served its purpose in different war conflicts during the past centuries, but today it houses a Naval museum and the Oceanographic Museum of Alexandria

I have booked some very special things for this last day in Cairo. Something that is not very common in this city is a lookout point high enough to appreciate the city in its entirety. I recommend you to climb the Cairo Tower and let yourself be impressed. Also visit the Egyptian Museum and, above all, don't miss a cruise on the Nile, the watery heart of Egypt. The rest I'll tell you about below, read on!

• Visit Gezira Island: Geriza Island is a piece of land located in the Nile River. It was formed in the 14th century but was uninhabited until Mehmet Ali built a palace on it in 1830. Other palaces of later rulers followed, and today it is also home to such interesting sites as the Museum of Islamic Ceramics, the Egyptian Museum of Modern Art,

and the Cairo Opera House.

• Enjoy the city from the heights: Climb the Cairo Tower The Cairo Tower

is more than 180 metres high, higher than the pyramids of Giza. It was built in the 20th century, but the architect decided to use the same materials as in Ancient Egypt: it is made of granite. You will recognise it immediately: it is a telecommunications tower that resembles a lotus flower with its metal latticework.

• At the top there is an observation deck that you can't miss, as well as a revolving restaurant that gives diners a 360º view of the city (although I recommend you check the weather forecast before you go, because sometimes the city of Cairo is covered in a thick fog). Getting there is very easy, as it's in the Zamalek neighbourhood on Gezira Island, easily accessible by metro line 2. Admission is around €4 and it's open all day from 8am to midnight.
• Treat yourself to a bite to eat: There are plenty of places to eat near the Egyptian Museum. If you want to enjoy Egyptian or Lebanese cuisine in a special setting, the Carlton Hotel has an open-air restaurant in its garden called Bab El Sharq, with views of the museum and belly dancing shows. It's open daily between 5pm and 1:30am and the address is 1113 Corniche El Nil.
• Spend the afternoon at the Egyptian Museum: A 15-minute taxi ride from the souk (the trip will cost you about 5€), in Qsar El Nil, the Egyptian Museum is a marvel to discover. It has the most important collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world, but it also has earlier and later historical remains: from the pre-dynastic period to Greek and Roman antiquity.

It is a unique and immense collection, so to make the most of it I recommend you hire a guided tour. It is well worth it.

End your trip with a Nile cruise

To end your five-day tour of Cairo, I have a very special activity in store for you: a dinner cruise on the Nile. This river is a fundamental part of the city and its history, and you have many options for cruising it.

Some cruises take advantage of the sunset, others are the start of a trip to Luxor or Alexandria. I suggest you book a dinner cruise with a belly dance show for tonight.

These cruises usuallylast about 3 or 4 hours and average between €30 and €50, depending on whether they include a show or the menu. A unique way to say goodbye to Cairo.

What did you think of the itinerary? Egypt is a country so full of treasures that it is inexhaustible for the traveller, but with this five-day tour you can have a great experience.

If you have more days available in the area, I recommend that you also visit places close to Cairo. For example, nearby destinations that are very worthwhile are the Red Sea, which is very accessible from Cairo, or an organised excursion to Fayoum. I hope you enjoy Cairo as much as I did. Have a good trip!