The Pyramids of Giza look over the vast city, paying tribute to the rich and ancient history of Egypt.
Explore this bustling city, taste the street food, barter at the markets and wonder at preserved ancient culture. Cairo is full of energy and life, a top destination when visiting Egypt.
How to spend 72 hours in Cairo
Three days in Cairo is enough time to see the major historic sites and experience the city’s endless energy. Choose from these nine things to do in Cairo or fit them all in — this trip is an opportunity to prioritise these fascinating destinations.
Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Egypt by Dennis Bunnik
The Pyramids of Giza are the oldest structures still standing and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The three pyramids of kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure sit on the Giza plateau in greater Cairo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can enter a pyramid to see the ancient granite sarcophagus, which is now empty.
Not to be missed is the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue of a mythical creature with a human head and lion’s body, reaching 20 metres high and stretching for 73 metres along the plain.
There are a total of nine pyramids in Giza, and nearby the 9 Pyramids Lounge, the first restaurant established in the area in 2020, provides diners with unforgettable views of the Great Pyramids.
Step Pyramid of Sakkara
Reaching 62 metres above the plains, the Step Pyramid was built during the Third Dynasty as a tomb for Pharaoh Djoser. Constructed with six stepped layers, designed to facilitate a successful afterlife and eternal rebirth for the king, the pyramid’s architect Imhotep was later deified.
This amazing structure was a milestone in limestone construction, with prior pharaohs buried in mastaba tombs. Underneath the Step Pyramid is 5.7km of shafts, tunnels, chambers and galleries, where a central corridor connects 400 rooms.
Pyramid of Sakkara, Egypt by Megan Pearce
Serapeum of Saqqara
Serapeum of Saqqara, Egypt by Dennis Bunnik
The Serapeum of Saqqara is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of ancient Egypt. A long corridor adjoins several side chambers, each containing a massive granite sarcophagus weighing up to 80 tonnes.
This colossal underground structure holds the tombs of the sacred Apis bulls, believed to be oracles and protectors of the pharaoh and the people, and associated with the god Ptah, creator and patron of craftsmen. This belief system permeated Greek and Persian religions, influencing cultures with symbolism of rebirth, fertility, balance and eternity. The Serapum of Saqqara gives insights into the power of religious and cultural practices in the ancient world.
World-famous Egyptian Museum
Egyptian Museum, Egypt by Dennis Bunnik
The Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest in the world dedicated to archaeology with over 170,000 artefacts, including King Tut’s entire treasure collection. Located in Tahrir Square in Cairo, it spans more than 13,600 square metres and is divided into over 100 exhibition halls.
The original collection was established in the late 19th century and was initially housed at a building in Bulaq. An 1895 competition selected the most practical design for this first national museum in the Middle East, with French architect Marcel Dourgnon emerging as the winner. This building set the precedent for future institutions to preserve ancient cultures in the Middle East.
Inside, exhibits feature the Pre-Dynastic Period to the Graeco-Roman Era (c. 5500 BC - 364 AD). Unrivalled collections include the complete burials of Yuya and Thuya, the Narmer Palette which commemorates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under one king and splendid statues of great kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, builders of the Great Pyramids.
12th-century Saladin Citadel
Saladin Citadel is an iconic fortress in Islamic Cairo, dating back to the Middle Ages. Strategically located on the Muqattam Hills in a formidably defensive position, it provides an unobstructed panoramic view of the city. Between the completion of construction in 1207AD and the end of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in 1952 (when Egypt became a republic), many monuments were added to the citadel.
Saladin Citadel, Egypt by Megan Pearce
Mohammed Ali Mosque
Mohammed Ali Mosque, Egypt by Megan Pearce
One of the prettiest buildings is the Muhammad Ali Mosque, a central dome with four small and four semicircular domes, topped with unusually two high minarets that reach about 82 metres into the sky. The spectacular Ottoman mosque has 136 stained glass windows and a sparkling dome.
Haggle for gifts at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, Egypt by Megam Pearce
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is a major souk in Cairo’s Islamic district since the 14th century. The marketplace is famous for hand-made crafts, perfect for picking up gifts and mementoes from Egypt. From customised jewellery to spices, incense, small cups for mint tea or mini hookahs (water pipes), items have no fixed prices, so be prepared to haggle!
Shopping builds an appetite, which can be satisfied at nearby rows of cafes serving hot bowls of koshari, a vegan street food combining rice, macaroni, lentils, tomato sauce, and fried onions.
Tour Manial Palace and see the ancient nilometer
The Manial Palace is an inspiring complex built by Prince Mohammad Ali early in the 20th century. The interior is embellished with a mix of Ottoman, Moorish, Persian and European rococo styles, adorned with tiles, crowned with chandeliers and carved ceilings.
Beyond the palace walls, the gardens display exotic and rare tropical plants collected by Prince Mohammed.
Manial Palace, Egypt by Adobe Stock
Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo
Coptic Cairo predates the founding of Cairo by Muslim Fatimids in 969 AD, part of the original ‘Old Cairo’ centre, an area with fortresses, churches and synagogues. In Coptic Cairo, Christianity was the choice of religion in the period after pharaonic religions died out and before Islam arrived. Coptic Orthodox Christians are the largest Christian denomination in Egypt and the Middle East, and the Coptic language evolved out of the Demotic Egyptian language.
Inside the complex look for the ‘Hanging Church’ above the fortress gatehouse. Believed to be the first Basilica-style church built in Egypt, it houses 10 icons shaped from ebony, some inlaid with ivory, and the oldest and holiest dating back to the 8th century.
Many other churches, synagogues, cemeteries and museums display the religious history of this historic part of Cairo.
Explore the lively energy of Cairo with the comfort of a small group
One of the best ways to discover Egypt is with a small group of like-minded travellers. With transport pre-arranged, small group members can focus on the wondrous historical sights around Cairo and take the perfect picture.
Make lasting memories, share an adventure with friends or family, and take a once-in-a-lifetime Egyptian journey to explore the ancient world of the pharaohs.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough in Cairo?
Three days in Cairo is enough time to see the major sites like the Pyramids, Sphinx and Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Then there’s time to visit Khan el-Khalili Bazaar for souvenirs, see the museums and Step Pyramid and even tour the exquisite Manial Palace.
What is Cairo best known for?
Cairo is most famously known for the Great Pyramids of Giza, where among nine pyramids on the plain is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramid of King Khufu. Here is also the oldest and largest Sphinx statue.
What is the must-see in Cairo?
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, plus the Nile River are must-see locations on a first visit to Cairo.