Pyramids of Giza 3-day itinerary

Arrive at the Giza Plateau at opening (8am) to beat the tour buses. Buy a ticket that includes access to the interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu — the ascending corridor and King's Chamber are genuinely awe-inspiring. Spend the first hour moving between all three pyramids on the main plateau and then loop down to the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Khafre for close-up views of the limestone causeway.

On the south side of the Great Pyramid sits the Solar Boat Museum, housing a 4,600-year-old cedar funerary barque reassembled from 1,200 pieces. It's one of the oldest intact vessels on earth. Afterwards, hire a camel or horse for a ride to the panoramic viewpoint on the desert ridge southwest of the plateau — this is where the classic "three pyramids in a line" photograph is taken. Grab lunch at a restaurant on Nazlet El-Semman street.

The Sound & Light Show runs on the Giza Plateau most evenings after dark, projecting coloured light onto the pyramids and Sphinx while a narration recounts ancient Egyptian history. It's theatrical and unmistakably touristy — but watching the illuminated Sphinx narrate its own story in the desert night air is a genuinely memorable experience. Book tickets in advance as shows sell out in peak season.

Take a taxi or guided tour 30km south to Saqqara, the vast ancient burial ground that predates Giza by centuries. The centrepiece is the Step Pyramid of Djoser — the world's oldest monumental stone structure, built around 2650 BCE. Unlike Giza, Saqqara sees far fewer visitors, so you can wander the mortuary complex and painted interior chambers of the Pyramid of Teti with genuine solitude. The site stretches for kilometres and rewards slow exploration.

A short drive from Saqqara, the open-air museum at Mit Rahina marks the site of Memphis, the original capital of unified Egypt. The highlight is a colossal limestone statue of Ramesses II — 10 metres long and laid on its back after its legs broke off — displayed in its own building. The alabaster sphinx in the garden is smaller than Giza's but better preserved. The surrounding palm groves and quietness make it feel like a genuine discovery.

Return to Giza or Cairo for the evening and explore the local neighbourhood restaurants away from the tourist strip. The area around El Haram Street has traditional Egyptian kushary joints — a comforting dish of rice, lentils, pasta, and spiced tomato sauce that costs almost nothing. Wash it down with fresh sugarcane juice from a street vendor. This is the side of Cairo that most visitors staying in hotel restaurants never see.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, adjacent to the pyramids plateau, houses the complete treasures of Tutankhamun — over 5,000 artefacts including the iconic gold death mask, chariot, and gilded throne. The Royal Mummy Room displays over 20 pharaonic mummies. Arrive at opening to avoid school groups. Even a partial visit through the Tutankhamun galleries and the Atrium Hall with its colossal Ramesses II statue justifies the entry fee.

Cairo's medieval bazaar has been trading since the 14th century. Khan el-Khalili is a warren of souks selling spices, perfume oils, lanterns, papyrus, jewellery, and hand-beaten copper. The surrounding lanes of the Al-Hussein neighbourhood are as interesting as the market itself — the Al-Azhar Mosque is free to enter and stunning. Drink a glass of mint tea at El Fishawy cafe, which claims to have operated without closing for over 200 years.

End your final evening with a sunset felucca ride on the Nile — the traditional wooden sailboats have been carrying passengers along the river for millennia. Negotiate an hour-long sunset trip from the Corniche El Nil embankment. Afterwards, head to one of the riverfront restaurants near Zamalek or Garden City for a farewell dinner of grilled kofta, ful medames, and Egyptian flatbread while watching the lights of Cairo reflect in the water.