24 Hours in Cairo
The last surviving wonder of the ancient world, a brand new museum housing the entire Tutankhamun collection under one roof for the first time in history, and a market that’s been trading since 1382, one proper day in the largest city in Africa.
Cairo packs an unusual amount into a single day, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, the largest archaeological museum on earth, and a bazaar that’s genuinely centuries old. Here’s how I’d spend 24 hours here.
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Start early at the Giza Plateau, home to the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, alongside the Great Sphinx, the oldest known monumental statue in the world. Arrive right at opening, the heat and crowds both build fast, and the plateau photographs considerably better in the softer morning light.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
Head to the Grand Egyptian Museum, just over a mile from the Pyramids, the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation. Its galleries hold the complete Tutankhamun collection displayed together for the first time, over 5,000 pieces, alongside more than 100,000 other pharaonic artefacts.
Getting there A short drive from the Giza Plateau
A Nile felucca and Khan el-Khalili
End the day with a sunset felucca ride on the Nile, a traditional wooden sailboat offering a genuinely peaceful view of the Cairo Tower and riverside skyline. Finish at Khan el-Khalili, a bazaar founded in 1382, its lantern-lit lanes among the oldest markets in the Middle East.
Getting around
Giza and the museum sit close together, a short taxi or rideshare covers the distance. Central Cairo and Khan el-Khalili are a longer drive, traffic can be heavy, worth building in extra time for road journeys.
If you only have time for one thing
Make it the Pyramids of Giza. They’re the single most iconic sight on the planet, and standing before them is a proper introduction to Cairo’s ancient history before you’ve even reached the museum.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
