3 days in Cairo: pyramids, caliphs & Coptic churches

A history-first Cairo route: the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then medieval Islamic Cairo on foot from the Citadel to Khan el-Khalili, closing with Coptic Cairo and the royal mummies at NMEC.

1. Day 18 am – 5 pm · 3 stops
2. 8 am 1

   Pyramids of Giza: the Great Pyramid of KhufuGiza

   Start at plateau opening for cooler hours and thinner crowds, the order every Cairo itinerary agrees on (GridTrotter, Anywhere We Roam). Khufu is the largest of the three pyramids; Khafre still shows its limestone cap and Menkaure is the smallest. Book a dated plateau ticket online in advance.

3. 11:15 am 2

   The Great SphinxGiza

   The lion-bodied guardian at the plateau's eastern edge, seen from the Sphinx viewpoint after the pyramids. No coordinates supplied here: the map lookup returned an unrelated business, so the server geocodes the name.

4. 1 pm 3

   Grand Egyptian MuseumGiza

   The vast new museum beside the plateau, fully open and holding the Tutankhamun galleries; allow a full afternoon, about four hours (GridTrotter, esimphony). Book a timed slot online; from 1 Nov 2026 the adult ticket is reported at about US$35 online-only.

5. Day 29 am – 5 pm · 5 stops
6. 9 am 4

   Citadel of SaladinCairo

   Saladin's 12th-century hilltop fortress, the start of the classic downhill Islamic Cairo walk (GridTrotter). Sweeping city views and the fortress museums; adult ticket reported at EGP 550.

   3 min walk · 0 m
7. 10:30 am 5

   Mosque of Muhammad AliCairo

   The alabaster mosque inside the Citadel, visible across the city. Dress for mosques: shoulders and knees covered, scarf for women (GridTrotter, Egypt Tours by Locals).

8. 12 pm 6

   Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan HassanCairo

   The great 14th-century Mamluk mosque-madrasa at the foot of the Citadel, on the Islamic Cairo walk. No coordinates supplied: map lookups returned a different mosque of a similar name, so the server geocodes the name.

9. 2 pm 7

   Al-Azhar MosqueCairo

   Founded in 970, one of Cairo's oldest mosques and the heart of the historic university quarter; free to enter, with coverings provided at the entrance (Hungarian Abroad). No coordinates supplied: map lookups returned nearby shops, so the server geocodes the name.

10. 3:15 pm 8

    Khan el-KhaliliCairo

    Cairo's famous medieval bazaar, the natural end of the Islamic Cairo walk (GridTrotter, Anywhere We Roam). Come for the Fatimid-era lanes and craft workshops as much as the shopping; haggle from around 30-40% of the first price.

11. Day 39 am – 4:30 pm · 4 stops
12. 9 am 9

    The Hanging ChurchCairo

    The Church of the Virgin Mary built over the gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon in Coptic Cairo, one of Egypt's oldest churches (GridTrotter, Anywhere We Roam). Coptic sites close around 4pm, so start the day here.

    3 min walk · 100 m
13. 10 am 10

    Coptic MuseumCairo

    The world's largest collection of Coptic art: textiles, manuscripts and icons tracing Egyptian Christianity from its earliest days (Anywhere We Roam). Adult ticket reported at 280 EGP.

    3 min walk · 150 m
14. 11:30 am 11

    Ben Ezra SynagogueCairo

    Cairo's oldest synagogue, inside the same fortress walls, where the Cairo Geniza trove of medieval documents was found (GridTrotter, To Travel Too).

    8 min by train or taxi · 1.6 km
15. 2 pm 12

    National Museum of Egyptian CivilizationCairo

    NMEC in Fustat, a short ride from Coptic Cairo (Mar Girgis metro, Line 1). Its underground Royal Mummies Hall holds the kings and queens moved here in the 2021 Pharaohs' Golden Parade, Ramesses II among them. Open daily 9am-5pm, last ticket 4pm, reported EGP 550 (GridTrotter).