The capital of Egypt is often visited for only a short time. According to many, one or two days would be enough. However, the opposite is true. We spent over a week in Cairo and could have easily stayed much longer. Because in addition to a visit to the ancient pyramids of Giza, the Old City, and one of the most impressive museums in the world, you can also find a stunningly beautiful nature.
Egypt was the 51st country I visited, but the deeply rooted, ancient, and captivating culture, combined with the stunningly beautiful desert, makes it a destination that is hard to surpass. It’s the land of pharaohs, papyrus, and of pyramids.
Ancient Egypt is written in history books as one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Even today, it is difficult to comprehend the complex society that existed thousands of years ago. The Egyptians have many significant developments to their credit. Consider the hieroglyphs, which were like a kind of rebus before the concept had a name, and one of the first writing systems in the world. Only cuneiform in ancient Mesopotamia was even older.
What to do in Cairo?
But, that being said, let’s return to the essence of this blog. What is there to do in Cairo?
Visit the Pyramids of Giza
One of the main reasons to visit Cairo is the pyramids of Giza. On the site, you can find three large pyramids: the Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafra), and Mykerinos (Menkaure). Additionally, there are also six smaller pyramids, known as the queens’ pyramids.
The entrance to the pyramids can be found at the end of the tourist street in Giza. You can find the ticket office here. Admission is 700 Egyptian pounds for adults and 350 Egyptian pounds for children. For Egyptians, the prices are significantly lower. You can find the current rates here.
There are several ways to visit the pyramids. Most people who have not booked a bus tour approach the plateau from the main entrance on a camel or in a horse-drawn carriage. We personally debated for a long time whether to choose one of these options since there is a lot of controversy surrounding them. Of course, we do not want to encourage animal suffering and exploitation. So make a conscious choice, and feel free to visit the pyramids on foot if you have enough time.
There are several places from where you have a beautiful view of the pyramids. We had a guide who took us to the Khafre pyramid and to a viewpoint. You could also enjoy a nice view from the 9 Pyramids Lounge where you can have lunch. However, make sure to book a spot in advance via WhatsApp.
A fun option is a quad tour in the desert around the pyramids. However, this is only possible with children aged 12 and up, which is why we could not do this.
Visit the Sphinx Monument
You can also visit the sphinx on the site. We accessed it via the temple of Chephren. Do expect a great deal of crowds here.
We saw that there is also an alternative way to visit the sphinx, but it seemed reserved for the bus tourists.
Sail on a Felucca on the Nile
The Nile has always played an important role in Egyptian society. More than 4,000 years ago, the Egyptians developed the felucca, a sailboat that was perfectly adapted to the conditions of the Nile.
Take an Uber to Zamalek, the artistic district of Cairo with cozy restaurants along the banks of the Nile. From the terrace of the restaurant LUUMA, you can head to the dock where various feluccas are moored. A private tour of about an hour can already be arranged for 600 Egyptian pounds (€10), though there is definitely room for negotiation.
Visit the Pyramids of Saqqara
About 20 km south of Giza, you can find one of the most important archaeological sites: the Pyramids of Saqqara. Here lies the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in Egypt, designed by Imhotep around 2,650 BC.
It is much quieter here than in Giza, and moreover, you can find beautiful paintings of hieroglyphs in the many tombs. The mastabas were used as burial chambers for pharaohs, high officials, and nobles.
We visited the pyramids of Saqqara with a driver on the same day as the pyramids of Giza and the site of Memphis.
The entrance fees are 600 Egyptian pounds for an adult and 300 Egyptian pounds for a child.
Visit the Memphis site
Ten minutes from the site of Saqqara, you can find the site of Memphis. This was once the ancient capital of Egypt. Today, the site is primarily known for the gigantic statue of Ramses II that you can find there.
The tickets cost 200 Egyptian pounds for an adult and 100 Egyptian pounds for a child.
Strolling through Old Cairo and the Khan el Khalili Market
Begin your journey at the vibrant Khan El Khalili, the famous market of Cairo. Let yourself be carried away by the colorful stalls, the aroma of spices, and the lively chatter of the market. From here, stroll to the impressive Qalawun Complex, a beautiful example of Mamluk architecture with its rich decorations and striking mausoleum.
Continue your walk to the serene Mosque of al-Hakim, a historical gem. End at Bab al-Futuh, one of the ancient city gates of Cairo, which reminds us of the city’s rich medieval history.
We even went to the Old City and the Khan El Khalili market twice because there is so much to see. It’s definitely a recommendation to take your time here!
Take a Two-Day Tour to the White Desert
Further afield, there is so much to experience. We took a two-day tour to the White Desert, a magical landscape of bizarre white rock formations and silence as far as the eye can see — complete with camping under the stars and an adventure that stayed with us for a long time. This deserves its own story that you can read below.
Read more: Sleeping in the desert: our two-day tour to the White Desert in Egypt
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum
At the end of 2025, the revamped Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, will reopen its doors to the general public. It made headlines worldwide because it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The project cost no less than 1 billion and has been constructed over the past ten years by the Belgian company Besix.
It is said that you need three days to fully visit the museum, and we happily believe that. The impressive entrance with the statue of Ramses II first catches your eye. Many tourists have already fallen for it, but we won’t let ourselves be fooled.
You can follow the stairs to the twelve ‘Main Galleries’ through the links. Here, you can find various artifacts, ranging from sarcophagi to statues to jewelry. Additionally, you will find the galleries of Tutankhamun, which are the most impressive. More than 5,000 artifacts can be found here, including the famous death mask. However, you will need to queue for the latter.
In the large hall downstairs, you can also find various restaurants and shops. After visiting the galleries, we first had lunch before participating in the Discovery Challenge, which you can purchase in addition to your ticket. This challenge is an exciting one-hour quest where you must solve a puzzle. The winners receive a prize, and yes, we finished in first place.
Afterward, we visited the museum of Khufu’s boat. The two boats of King Khufu are displayed in their own building. It took years to reconstruct both boats, and they are showcased beautifully in the architecture of the building.
Tickets are best purchased in advance via the official website. You pay 1450 Egyptian pounds for an adult and 730 Egyptian pounds for a child and a student. Children under six years old have free access to the museum. A ticket for the GEM Discovery Challenge costs 125 Egyptian pounds. You will need a smartphone with internet access to participate. Additionally, you can also optionally buy a ticket for the interactive Children’s museum.
The museum opens its doors every day at 8:30 AM. The doors close again at 7 PM, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when they remain open until 10 PM.
Discover everything about papyrus
We have all heard about papyrus, hieroglyphs, and pharaohs in history lessons. But I can definitely recommend going into one of the papyrus shops and listening to the beautiful stories. One of the most important images is the Last Judgment or the weighing of the heart. In this story, the heart of the deceased is weighed against the feather of Ma’at, symbolizing truth and justice. If the heart was too heavy, then there was no eternal life.
Where to stay in Cairo?
We chose to stay in Giza, which is half an hour from Cairo city. Our room and the hotel terrace had an impressive view of the pyramids.
Would you rather stay in Cairo itself? Then the neighborhoods of Zamalek, Downtown Cairo, and Garden City are recommended.
Have any questions or want to know more? Feel free to send me a message.