Are you stopping in Cairo for a 2-day layover or staying here at the start or end of a longer Egypt trip? This is how to spend your 2 days in Cairo the right way. 

Today, we will let you in on a secret. In this 2 day Cairo itinerary, we will show you how you can experience Cairo both from the eyes of a tourist and the eyes of a local in just 48 hours. Without further ado, let’s begin. 

Key Takeaways 

• Plan no more than 2-3 activities per day in Cairo to avoid feeling rushed and to manage the city’s heavy traffic.
• Stay in Downtown Cairo for a central location that provides easy access to major attractions and dining options.
• Use Uber or ride-sharing apps for transportation within Cairo and between airports and the city center.
• Dress modestly when visiting religious sites, and schedule rest time to escape Cairo’s daily chaos and heat.

Where to Stay in Cairo? A Quick Overview 

When spending 2 days in Cairo, we recommend staying in central Cairo. These are the best hotels in Downtown Cairo for you to stay at: 

Hostel	Rhala Hostel	starting from $13 per night	Click for link.
Boutique Hotel	Downtown Antique Hotel	starting from $99 per night	Click for link.
Luxury Hotel	Nile Ritz-Carlton	starting from $200 per night	Click for link.

5 Things to Consider Before You Visit Egypt 

Whether you are staying in Cairo for a multi-day stopover or using your stay in Egypt’s capital city as a launching point for a greater Egypt trip, these are 5 things you should know before you board your flight to Cairo: 

• How to Find Cheap Flights: There are two main airports servicing Cairo, Cairo International Airport (CAI) and Sphinx International Airport (SPX). While the latter is technically located in the Giza Governorate, it is still less than an hour away from Downtown Cairo. Search for flights to Sphinx International Airport to find deals with low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air.
• How to Get into Egypt: Upon leaving the airplane, you will be handed an entry card that you have to fill out with your personal and flight information. After this, buy a $25 visa sticker at one of the official stands and continue on to the immigration line. There, officers will examine your passport, place the sticker and stamp it. Note: Egypt is currently working on a new visa on arrival system. 
• How to Get Around: From Sphinx or Cairo Airport to the city center, we recommend using a ride-sharing app such as Uber to hail a ride. Fares are much better than any taxi rates offered in front of the airport – especially, if you don’t speak Arabic. Within Cairo, Uber & Co. also reign supreme. For commuting between Downtown Cairo and Zamalek you may also use the Cairo Metro. 
• How to Plan Your Itinerary: When planning your Cairo itinerary, less is more. Cairo is a huge city, sites are far apart and traffic can be dense. Leave gaps in between activities to account for delay and schedule ample rest time for you to escape from Cairo’s daily chaos and heat. We recommend planning no more than 2-3 activities per day in Cairo. 
• How Much to Budget: Generally, Cairo is not an expensive city to visit. You can have plenty of fun there, with just $10 a day. Things that you should account for in your budget are hotel stays, meals, entry fees and souvenirs. The average daily budget for Cairo is estimated to be around just $97 per person. Travelling on a budget, we managed to stay well below that, however. 

How much should one budget for Cairo? To find out in detail how much to budget for your Cairo trip, check our article “Is Cairo Expensive to Visit?”. 

Day 1: Explore Ancient Egypt 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but no visit to Cairo is complete without a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Khufu (‘Cheops’) is the only remaining ancient wonder of the world and the main reason why millions of people make the trip to Egypt each year. 

So, we’ll start out strong and do a deep dive into the history of Egyptian civilization with a visit the the newly-opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza: 

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

The Grand Egyptian Museum is Egypt’s newly-opened flagship museum, showcasing well over 100,000 artefacts of Ancient Egypt in a spectacular, state-of-the-art exhibition. The museum, the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation, is a work of art in itself and the exhibitions are, without a doubt, the best way to learn about Egyptian history. 

In the Grand Egyptian Museum, you will also find the full collection of artefacts found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. This is the first time since the tomb’s discovery that all artefacts are displayed at once. Before relocation, some artefacts were exhibited at the Old Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square, but concerns about the age of the old museum inspired it to be moved. 

For your visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum you should take an Uber to the museum’s entrance at 9 a.m. to enter the museum right after opening. This way you will avoid the midday rush in the museum and have enough time to discover the full exhibition. For the museum, you should schedule at least three hours. Please note that tickets have to bee bought online in advance. 

Pricing Information: Adults pay an entry fee of 1,450 EGP, students 730 EGP and children under 6 years pay 0 EGP.

Lunch at the GEM 

Once you are done gawking at the endless ancient treasure of the Grand Egyptian Museum, it is time to get a quick bite. But instead of leaving the museum and hunting for lunch in the streets of Cairo, you can just have lunch in the Grand Hall of the museum. There, you will find several local restaurants and cafés that have great food options at very reasonable prices. Having lunch in the museum will not only save time, though. 

The Grand Egyptian Museum is directly connected to the Giza Pyramid Complex, meaning that you can walk directly from the museum to the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramids without having to battle Cairo’s traffic again. Only a fool would say no to that. So, take a breather, have your lunch in the museum, get a souvenir or two and make your way to the GEM Walkway to the pyramids. 

The Great Sphinx

From the GEM Walkway, you will get to the pyramid complex within 10-15 minutes when waking at. leisurely pace. For those, who prefer not to walk, there is also an electric shuttle service connecting thee two sites. Once you have arrived at the other end of the walkway, you will have to pay the entry fee to the Giza Plateau. The general admission includes both the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. 

Once you are inside of the pyramid complex, you will get to see the Great Sphinx with her marquee broken nose. Side note: Her nose was NOT broken off by Napoleon Bonaparte, but much earlier, possibly due to religious motifs. When taking photos of the Sphinx take a moment to look at her paws. You will see just how much restoration has had to be done to preserve this iconic monument. 

Pricing Information: General admission tickets are 700 EGP, student tickets 350 EGP and tickets for children under 6 years pay 0 EGP. 

The Great Pyramids of Giza 

From the Great Sphinx, a leisurely uphill walk will take you straight to the Great Pyramids of Giza. Along the way, locals may ask you to ride their camels, charming name ‘Lamborghini’ or ‘Ferrari’. Avoid booking rides spontaneously, however. If you wish to ride a camel in Cairo, research beforehand to get fair prices and pay attention to booking ethical camel riding experiences. 

On the Giza Plateau, you will find the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramid of Khafre, and the pyramid of Menkaure along with some more pyramid complexes and worker’s villages. Each of the pyramids, you can explore from the outside with the general admission ticket. If you wish to enter one of the pyramids, you need to buy an extra ticket. Buy tickets online to avoid any confusion when visiting. 

When visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza, make sure to bring along a hat, a bottle of water and to apply sunscreen to protect yourself from the intense sun. Also, make sure not to touch or scale any of the monuments, regardless of what anyone tells you – even if they are wearing a police uniform. Not following the rules, even when incentivised, will only lead to you having to give out hefty ‘tips’. 

Pricing information: General admission already included in Great Sphinx entry fee; entering any of the pyramids comes at any additional cost, e. g. 1,000 EGP per adult or 500 EGP per student entering the Great Pyramid. 

Dinner in Downtown Cairo 

Once the sun has worn you out, it is time to end this day of exploring and head back to your hotel in Downtown Cairo. By now, it should be around 3 p.m., giving you plenty of time to refresh in your hotel room and head out for dinner. Leave the Giza Pyramid Complex through the main gate, call an Uber to your hotel and enjoy the 30-60 mins ride back to Central Cairo. 

In Downtown Cairo, there are plenty of dinner options from traditional Egyptian food to international cuisine. For your first day in Cairo, however, there is only one right place to go: Koshary Abou Tarek. At About Tarek’s restaurant, the Egyptian national dish is served. Koshary is a mix of lentils, rice, macaroni, vermicelli, chickpeas, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, vinegar, and spices that is served for as little as 24 EGP, that is even tastier than its ingredient list is confusing. 

After your hefty dinner at Abou Tarek’s, it is time for a nightcap. And what better way to end your first day in Cairo than a cold drink? You might be surprised, but Downtown Cairo breaks several stereotypes with its bustling bar scene. In between restaurants, you will find famous establishments such as Carol’s Bar, Café Riche and the Greek Club, that serve locally-made beers and wines. Before leaving Cairo, you must have tried the local Stella beer at least once. 

Day 2: Explore Modern Egypt 

On your second day in Cairo, we will stick with breaking stereotypes about Egypt. For that, we’ll do a quick mental exercise: Without thinking much, what are the first three things to come to mind about Egypt. Your answer likely included, the Great Pyramids, ancient wonders and the Nile river. 

While these are certainly true, focussing on Ancient Egypt only, means that you will miss more than 90 % of Egyptian history and culture. So, we recommend discovering Modern Egypt on your second day in Cairo: 

Al-Azhar Mosque 

Before jumping from 2,500 B.C. – when the Great Pyramid was built – all the way to 2026, you should make a stop in the 7th century A.D. This was the time when Islam first arrived to Egypt and Islamic Cairo started to develop. From then on, Islam would steadily rise to become Egypt’s main religion, with over 90 % of Egyptian being Muslim today (the other 10 % are mostly Christian, by the way). 

Visit Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo to grasp just how profound the influence of Islam on Egyptian society has been throughout the years. Al-Azhar Mosque was not only the first mosque established in newly risen Islamic Cairo, but also stands proudly as the world’s second-oldest continuously operating university – yes, you read that right. 

Come in the morning hours between prayer times for the best experience exploring the main prayer hall and the extensive courtyard. Remember to dress modestly for your mosque visit and follow etiquette by taking off your shoes and respecting areas for men and women. After your tour of Al-Azhar Mosque, we highly recommend Abdelzahers Atelier right around the corner, to buy a locally-bound book with an imprint of your initials – a truly unique souvenir. 

Lunch in Zamalek 

A visit to Old Cairo can be overwhelming. The medieval center of the city is not only the site of the city’s oldest most, but also the location of one of Cairo’s largest open air markets. If you are not one for the hustle and the bustle of a market that serves tens of thousands a day, we recommend you to head over to Zamalek for lunch. 

Zamalek is an upscale, modern neighborhood on the northern half of Gezira Island, an island on the Nile river. Along its leafy avenues, you will find plenty of local restaurants and cafés serving anything from Egyptian and Arab classic to international cuisine and fast food. To get to Zamalek from Al-Azhar Mosque, either walk to Attaba Metro Station and take the GL3 to Safaa Hegazy or simply call an Uber to take you there. The Uber ride should take roughly 15 minutes. 

Local Stores & Brands in Zamalek 

Even more than its restaurants and café, Zamalek’s boutiques stand out with displays of local brands and unique souvenirs from all over the country. Some boutique stores you cannot miss while in Zamalek, are Maison 69, a high-end concept store and lifestyle boutique featuring national and international brands, and Localista, a collective displaying up-and-coming fashion brands from Egypt.

If you are lucky, you will even be in Zamalek while the Cairo Flea Bazar is happening. The Cairo Flea Market takes place regularly in Al-Horreya Garden, Zamalek. At Cairo Flea Bazar, you will find a colorful mix of priced Egyptian second-hand items at great prices, even more locals brands offering anything from fashion to perfumes and lots of street food carts selling fast food and sweets. 

Pricing Information: Please note that the entrance to Al-Horreya Garden costs 20 EGP per person. The Cairo Flea Market itself is free of charge. 

Cairo Tower 

After having a good go at browsing through Cairo’s bustling fashion and lifestyle scene, it’s time to go back to exploring. But for now, we will stay within the calms and shaded realms of Zamaleek and hd over to Cairo Tower. Located just 10 minutes by foot from Al-Horrey Garden, no Uber will be needed to get to this destination. 

Cairo Tower is a 187-meter tall telecommunications and observation tower close to the southern tip of Gezira Island on the Nile River. On the top floor of Cairo Tower, you can find an observation deck from where you can admire unobstructed views of Zamalek, Cairo, Giza and the Nile river. Additionally, the top of the tower features a fine-dining revolving restaurant that offers romantic setting for date nights.

For your visit to Cairo Tower, we recommend arriving at least one hour before sunset to avoid long lines at the ticket office. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a way to buy tickets online, so you’ll have to buy them onsite. Fast-line tickets come at an extra cost and allow you to skip the general admission time. We recommend visiting Cairo Tower on clear days only. 

Pricing Information: Adults pay an entry fee of 350 EGP and children under 6 years pay 0 EGP. Fst-lane tickets, binoculars and the use of telescopes cost extra. 

Felucca Ride at Night 

To wrap up your ephemeral stay in Cairo, it is only right to tip your metaphorical toes in the Nile River. Commonly considered as Egypt’s lifeline, the Nile not only serves as major source of water for Cairo and Giza, but also invites to lavish dinners, dancing and music aboard of traditional feluccas and party boats. 

For your felucca ride, make sure to confirm any bookings in advance online. This way, you will know exactly how much you will be paying and what you will be paying for. On tour platforms such as Trip Advisor and Get Your Guide, you will find plenty of tour offers ranging fromm simple rides to full-blown parties on the Nile. 

If you don’t feel like splurging on a felucca ride, you may also take advantage of the the Nile Taxi service. The Nile Taxi is a public boat service that transports passengers from Zamalek to numerous locations along the Nile up until Maadi with much cheaper prices than the traditional felucca ride. The Zamalek Culture Tour, a route along the shores of Zamalek, costs as little as 130 EGP per person. 

Pricing Information: There are plenty of felucca rides and Nile cruises available on Get Your Guide with prices starting from as little as 700 EGP per person. 

Honourable Mentions: Tune Your Cairo Itinerary 

It is impossible to do Cairo’s historical and cultural richness justice in just 2 short days. So, if you are feeling especially motivated or if you would like to replace one or more of the sites described in our Cairo itinerary, these are some honourable mentions you should consider: 

• The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation: While not as pompous as the new Grand Egyptian Museum, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation provides a much more rounded account of all of Egyptian history.
• Cairo Citadel: The Cairo Citadel, also known as Salah El-Din Citadel, is a medieval Islamic fort and one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. The compound of the citadel also includes the Muhammad Ali Mosque. 
• Khan El-Khalili Bazaar: This sprawling open air bazaar starts just over the street from Al-Azhar mosque. On this bazaar you can find just about anything one could need in everyday life. As a tourist you can also find plenty of souvenirs, especially in the small shops around Galal Souvenir Shop. 
• The Hanging Church: Besides Islam, the Coptic Christian faith has left a lasting mark on the city of Cairo. One of the most famous Coptic sites in Cairo is the so-called Hanging Church. Constructed on top of a gatehouse to the Babylon fortress, this church seems suspended in the sky. 
• Saqqara Necropolis: You only care about ancient pyramids and nothing else? Then, complete the home run of Cairo pyramids by visiting the Giza Pyramids, the Saqqara Necropolis and the Dahshur Necropolis. At Saqqara, you can find the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest known pyramid of Egypt. 

Planning a longer Egypt trip? Find out how to organise a 6-day Egypt trip that actually makes sense. 

Where to Stay in Downtown Cairo

If you are planning to spend 2 days in Cairo, your hotel should be located as centrally as possible. This makes Downtown Cairo the ideal location for your hotel stay. From affordable hostels to comfortable luxury hotels, you re guaranteed to find what you are looking for in Central Cairo. 

These are the 3 best hotels in Cairo at 3 drastically different price points: 

• Hostels: Our favourite hostel in Downtown Cairo is Rhala Hostel. This cozy hostel is located a stone’s throw away from the Armenian Catholic Cathedral and surrounded by restaurants, cafés and bar – everything you need during your Cairo stay. Both dorms and private rooms are available at this hostel with nightly rate starting from as little as $13 per night – breakfast included. 
• Boutique Hotels: For a less social and more cozy respite, you may choose to stay at one of Downtown Cairo’s boutique hotels. Located just around the corner from Opera Square, the fittingly named Downtown Antique Hotel combines modern interiors and comfort with a distance Ottoman touch. Rooms start from just $99 per night and include a complimentary breakfast in bed. 
• Luxury Hotels: When talking luxury stays in Cairo, the Nile Ritz-Carlton cannot be missed. Positioned centrally between Tahrir Square and the shores of the Nile river, this historic hotel has become as much of a tourist site as any of the main sites of Cairo City. Luckily for you, it can be all yours for the night, for just $200 per night. 

The Bottom Line 

From Ancient to Medieval to Modern Cairo, this itinerary has not only has plenty of action to offer for 2 days in Cairo, but also give you the most complete glimpse of the city you can get in just 48 hours. Feel free to adjust this itinerary here and there, but never forget the golden rule when visiting Cairo: less is more. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What to see in Cairo for 2 days?

When in Cairo for 2 days, you should take one day to explore the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and use the other to get to know Islamic Cairo and Modern Cairo. 

Should Americans be traveling to Egypt right now?

It is absolutely safe for American to be traveling to Egypt right now. When in doubt, we recommend you to check out the Egypt Travel Advisory by the U.S. Department of State. 

Do and don’ts in Cairo?

Make sure to explore both Historic and Modern Cairo, but don’t plan more than three separate activities for one day. Sites in Cairo are far apart and traffic is dense, making activity-packed itineraries very draining . 

Is it better to stay in Cairo or Giza?

Personally, we prefer staying in Cairo over Giza. Hotels in Cairo are much more strategically located to explore all of Cairo. While Giza hotels tend to be cheaper, they are only really conveniently located to visit the Pyramids of Giza early morning.