Begin here
3 nights recommended
Give Giza and the museum a full day. Add historic Cairo separately rather than racing across the city.
Give priority to
Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Best first tour
Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Continue to
Luxor
Best first day in Egypt
Short drives within Cairo and Giza · Most of the 7 hours, split between the plateau and the museum at sites
Do the plateau first while it is cool, and give the museum the afternoon rather than the last hour of the day.
See full detailsShort on time
Short drive from central Cairo or Giza · Most of the 4 hours on the plateau at sites
A good half day if the Grand Egyptian Museum gets its own day. Choose an early start.
See full detailsGo inside
Short drive from central Cairo or Giza · Most of the 5 hours at Giza, including the pyramid interior at sites
Worth it if the climb itself is the point. The chamber is empty; skip it if you dislike tight, warm spaces.
See full detailsBefore Giza
Saqqara is about 25 km south of Cairo; short drives between the three sites · Most of the 6 hours across three sites at sites
Do this before Giza if you can: the Great Pyramid makes more sense once you have seen the attempts that came first.
See full detailsFamilies, deeper questions and flexible pacing
Solo travellers and good-value essentials
Connecting Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan