Best Things to Do in Cairo and Giza: What We Actually Did
The best things to do in Cairo and Giza are the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili and at least one meal with a pyramid view. My biggest tip is not to squeeze the museum and pyramids into the same day. We gave each one its own day, and I am so glad we did.
We arrived in Egypt at around 2:30am, waited for friends and reached our Giza apartment at roughly 4am with Egyptian music blasting in the taxi. We were exhausted, then looked out and saw the pyramids lit up. It was one of those arrivals we will talk about forever.
Our best things to do in Cairo and Giza
1. Visit the Pyramids of Giza with an Egyptologist
Nothing prepares you for standing beside the pyramids. They are enormous, the plateau is exposed and the entrances can feel chaotic, so this is one place where paying for the right guide genuinely improved our day.
We booked a private tour with Rose, an Egyptologist who explained what we were looking at and handled the movement between sites. It meant we could listen, ask questions and take everything in rather than spend the morning working out entrances and transport.
This is the private Pyramids and Great Sphinx tour we booked. Ask whether Rose is available. The listing includes a camel ride, but we chose not to ride camels or horse carriages because the animals we saw did not look healthy.
2. See the Great Sphinx
The Sphinx sits within the same archaeological area, but it deserves more than a rushed photo on the way out. Rose's explanation helped us understand how the causeway, temples and pyramid complex fitted together.
Go early, carry water and check the official ticket arrangements before visiting. The official Experience Egypt Cairo and Giza guide is the source I would use for current attraction information.
3. Give the Grand Egyptian Museum its own day
We visited the Grand Egyptian Museum while parts were still opening and still spent hours inside. The scale is huge, the building frames the pyramids in the distance and the collection deserves far more attention than a quick stop after the plateau.
The museum has developed since our visit, so check the current Grand Egyptian Museum information before you go. Opening hours, galleries and ticket arrangements can change.
4. Eat Egyptian food with the pyramids in view
One of our favourite meals was at Zeeyara Pyramids Elite. We could see the pyramids while eating traditional Egyptian food, which sounds like it should feel overly touristy, but the food and view made it one of the most memorable evenings of the trip.
The streets around the plateau can be noisy and hectic. Sitting down once the sightseeing finished made the whole day feel calmer.
5. Walk through Khan el-Khalili
Khan el-Khalili gives you a completely different side of the city after the open desert around Giza. Expect narrow streets, lamps, spices, jewellery, cafés and plenty of people trying to get your attention.
We prefer markets when we can wander without a tight schedule. Go later in the day, keep your valuables close and leave room for tea or dinner rather than treating it as a quick shopping stop.
6. Make time for Islamic Cairo
If you have a fourth day, use it for Cairo rather than adding another rushed Giza attraction. Historic mosques, old streets and the city atmosphere show why Cairo deserves time beyond being the gateway to the pyramids.
Our Cairo or Giza accommodation comparison explains why I would split a first stay between both areas. Giza gives you the ancient sites and views. Cairo is better for the markets, food and the city itself.
How many days do you need in Cairo and Giza?
I would allow four nights if this is your first visit:
Scroll to see the full table →
| Day | Base | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giza | Arrive, settle in and have dinner with a pyramid view |
| 2 | Giza | Grand Egyptian Museum |
| 3 | Giza | Pyramids and Sphinx with a guide |
| 4 | Cairo | Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili |
Three nights still works if you start early, but I would not combine the museum and pyramids just to tick both off. Both are hot, large and mentally full-on. Giving them separate days was one of our best decisions.
Where should you stay?
Stay in Giza for the pyramids and museum, then move to Cairo for the city. We stayed in a Giza apartment with a pyramid view and later returned for one night in Cairo. Our ideal first trip would be two nights in each.
These are the two I would book to do exactly that.
Nights 1 and 2, for the view
The Stay Pyramids Inn
Book this for the first half of the trip. The terrace is the entire point: you eat breakfast looking at the pyramids, and you are close enough to the Sphinx entrance to start early on your plateau day.
Nights 3 and 4, for the city
Swiss Hotel Cairo Downtown
Move here once the ancient sites are done. It puts Khan el-Khalili, Islamic Cairo and the city's restaurants on your doorstep instead of behind an hour of traffic each evening.
Read our full Cairo or Giza: where should you stay? guide for the exact comparison, our costs and why we would split a first visit between both.
Mistakes I would avoid
- Do not trust journey times without allowing for Cairo traffic.
- Confirm the exact entrance with your driver. Our Uber dropped us at the wrong pyramid entrance, where we were told we needed a horse and carriage. We refused and changed plans.
- Do not plan the Grand Egyptian Museum and pyramids on one rushed day.
- Carry water, sunscreen and small cash.
- Use a qualified guide for the major ancient sites, but do not feel pressured into animal rides.
Watch our Cairo and Giza vlog
Our vlog shows the 4am arrival, our pyramid-view apartment, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the exact private tour we booked.
Watch our 72 Hours in Giza vlog on YouTube
Frequently asked questions
What should you not miss in Cairo and Giza?
Prioritise the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili. Add Islamic Cairo if you have a fourth day.
Can you visit Cairo and Giza in three days?
Yes, but keep the Grand Egyptian Museum and pyramids on separate days. Use the third day for central Cairo and Khan el-Khalili.
Do you need a guide for the pyramids?
You can visit independently, but our Egyptologist made the history far more meaningful and removed much of the logistical stress.
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids?
Yes. It is in Giza near the pyramid complex, which is why Giza is a useful base for the first part of the trip.
