Start at The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square when it opens, usually around 9 a.m.; allow about 2½ hours for the major galleries and the museum’s remarkable collection of ancient objects. Check the official ticketing information shortly before you go, as hours and foreign-visitor prices can change; budget roughly E£550–700 per adult. The building is large, and labels can be sparse, so a guide or a quick look at the gallery map will help you make the most of your visit.
Walk or take a short Uber to Abou Tarek in downtown for its signature koshari: lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas and crisp onions, finished with tomato sauce and as much chilli and garlic vinegar as you like. Set aside an hour and about E£150–350 per person. After lunch, wander around Talaat Harb Square and the surrounding streets for an easy architecture walk—look up at the ornate balconies and grand early-20th-century façades, and pause at a café when you need a breather. Keep this unhurried; the area is lively, and crossing busy streets can take patience.
Take an Uber from downtown to Cairo Tower on Gezira—often 10–20 minutes, depending on traffic—and aim to arrive before sunset, around 5:30 p.m. in early October. The tower is generally open into the evening, but confirm the day’s hours and ticket price before setting out; allow about 1½ hours for the lift, viewing deck and a look at the Nile as the city lights come on. If traffic is moving slowly, leave downtown with a little extra time rather than cutting it close.
Leave central Cairo early—around 7 a.m. is ideal—to beat both traffic and the heat on the drive to the Giza Plateau (allow roughly 45–90 minutes, depending on where you’re staying). Give the Pyramids of Giza a full three hours: walk around the complex, and consider the extra-cost entry inside a pyramid only if you’re comfortable with steep, narrow passages. Continue to the Great Sphinx of Giza and its temple area for about 45 minutes. Tickets, hours and access rules can change, so check the official Egyptian tourism ticketing channel before you go; bring water, sun protection and some cash for small purchases.
Take a proper break at 9 Pyramids Lounge, on the plateau, where the pyramid views are the main attraction. Budget about E£500–1,200 per person and reserve ahead if possible; allow 1–1½ hours, and confirm the restaurant’s current opening arrangements and whether you need to show your plateau ticket. Then head back across town to Khan El Khalili Bazaar in Islamic Cairo—traffic can make this a long transfer, so leave plenty of slack. Spend around 1½ hours wandering the lanes; browsing is more enjoyable than trying to cover every alley, and a polite “no, thank you” is enough if you’re not interested in a sales pitch.
For dinner, settle in at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant, within the bazaar, for Egyptian dishes; allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly E£700–1,500 per person. It’s popular, so reserve if you can, and check the bill for service charges. If you’re taking the overnight sleeper to Luxor tonight, arrange your transfer to Ramses Station in advance and leave a generous buffer after dinner—Cairo traffic is unpredictable, and the station is not beside the bazaar.
After arriving in Luxor, leave your bags at your hotel if your room isn’t ready, then head to Luxor Temple for the first visit. Go early, when the air is cooler and the statues and colonnades are less crowded; allow about 1½ hours. The temple generally opens around 6 a.m., but check current hours and ticket prices before you go—budget roughly E£500–700 for admission.
Walk or take a short taxi north along the East Bank to Luxor Museum. Its compact, carefully displayed collection makes a good contrast with the monumental temple; allow about 1½ hours. It typically opens around 9 a.m., with hours that can vary by season, and admission is often around E£400–500. If you arrive before it opens, take a relaxed stroll along the Nile corniche rather than trying to squeeze in another stop.
Continue along the corniche to the Mummification Museum, a focused visit of about an hour that explains the techniques behind ancient preservation. Check its current opening hours before setting out, as afternoon breaks or seasonal schedules can affect visits; allow roughly E£200–300 for entry. Finish at Sofra Restaurant, a short taxi ride or an easy walk inland from the river, for traditional Egyptian dishes in a restored historic house. Set aside about 1½ hours and around E£500–1,000 per person; after a night of travel, it’s a welcome, unhurried end to the day.
Leave your hotel around 5:30–6 a.m. and arrange a private driver for the West Bank; having the same car wait between sites saves time and hassle. Start at the Valley of the Kings as it opens, usually around 6 a.m., and allow 2½–3 hours for the included tombs. Your ticket typically covers a selection of open tombs; special tombs such as Tutankhamun’s cost extra. Take water and wear shoes with good grip—the paths are uneven, and the tombs can feel hot even early.
Continue to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, about 15–20 minutes by car, and spend roughly 1½ hours among its terraces beneath the cliffs. Then drive to Medinet Habu—allow around 20–30 minutes—and give its vivid reliefs and spacious courtyards about 1½ hours. For a relaxed lunch nearby, Marsam Restaurant is a convenient West Bank choice; settle in for shade and a proper break before crossing back to the East Bank.
Have your driver take you across the Nile to Karnak Temple; allow around 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic and the crossing. Arrive in the late afternoon for your two-hour visit, when the light softens across the columns and open courtyards. The site generally closes around 5 p.m., though hours can vary, so check the day’s schedule and leave enough time at the other stops. As a rough guide, budget about E£1,500–2,000 per person for standard foreign-adult entry across the four sites, with special-tomb tickets extra; confirm current prices on the official ticketing system before you go.
An early train should get you into Aswan in time for a late-morning visit, though delays could make the schedule tight. From town, take a taxi or pre-arranged car to the Philae boat dock at Shellal; the boat ride to Agilkia Island is part of the visit. Allow about 2½ hours for the crossing and temple, and agree the boat price and return time with the operator before boarding. Check current ticket prices and opening hours before you go, as both can change.
From the dock, continue by car to the Aswan High Dam—about 45 minutes is enough for the viewpoint over Lake Nasser and the Nile. Then head back toward town for the Nubian Museum, near the Old Cataract area; give its galleries around 1½ hours, and check its closing time so you don’t arrive too late. A taxi or ride-hailing car is the easiest way to link these stops; ask your driver to wait or arrange pickups in advance.
Finish at 1902 Restaurant inside the Old Cataract Hotel. Reserve ahead, especially for dinner, and bring smart-casual clothes; the setting is elegant, with prices around E£2,500–5,000 per person. Allow 1½–2 hours, and check the restaurant’s current hours and any hotel access arrangements when booking.
Take a local ferry or small motorboat from the Aswan riverfront to Elephantine Island and spend about two hours wandering its village lanes and archaeological area. Boats are frequent, but agree the fare and return arrangement before boarding; keep small Egyptian-pound notes handy. The archaeological site has a separate ticket and typically opens in the morning, though hours can vary, so check locally before setting off. Wear shoes suitable for uneven paths and bring water.
From the island, arrange a short boat ride to Aswan Botanical Garden on Kitchener’s Island. Allow about 1½ hours to follow the shaded paths through palms and tropical planting; it’s a peaceful change of pace after the ruins. There’s an entrance fee, and boat fares are usually negotiable—confirm whether your ride includes waiting and the return trip to the riverfront.
Return to the Aswan riverfront for a relaxed felucca sail on the Nile. Late afternoon is a lovely time to drift among the river islands as the light softens; book through a boat operator on the corniche, settle the duration and price before boarding, and bring a light layer for the breeze. Finish at Aswan Moon Restaurant on the Nile corniche for Egyptian and regional dishes; budget roughly E£500–1,200 per person, and ask for a riverside table if one is available.
No packing list attached yet.