The Best Things to Do in Cairo in Three Days

There's an old saying, once you drink from the Nile, you're fated to return to Cairo. You don't have to drink the famous river's water (and quite frankly, it's a risky idea), but Cairo is an intoxicating blend of history, markets, minarets and - simply - some of the world's greatest monuments.

This itinerary helps you discover the best things to do in Cairo in three days. 

Before the Great Pyramids, Egypt's architects and engineers were practising at Dahshur and Saqqara, further away on the Giza Plateau. Some attempts, such as the Step Pyramid, were successful, others, like the wonky Bent Pyramid, less so. The modern-day village of Mit Rahina is built on the footprint of Memphis, one of Egypt's many former capitals, now an open-air museum. 

A 2000-year-old warren of churches and synagogues, the highlights of Coptic Cairo are the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum, and the crypt beneath Church of St. Sergius & Bacchus; where the Holy Family sought refuge in their flight from Herod's army. Take a deep breath and dive in! Egypt's first mosque, the 7th-century Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, is next door. 

The 16th-century Sultan Al-Ghouri complex is an architectural masterpiece of the Fatimid dynasty. Now an arts centre, it hosts regular dances by sufis, Islamic mystics whose whirling dances and chanting send them into trances that they say brings them closer to God.

This is why you're in Cairo, right? The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are the world's oldest tourist sites, and genuinely, utterly awe-inspiring. If you're feeling intrepid, follow the passageways into the burial chambers of the Great Pyramid (Khufu) to really appreciate the mastery of the construction.

If you’d prefer an activity without all the gear and accreditation requirements, snorkelling in Sharm El Sheikh delivers plenty of underwater excitement too. 

With calm waters and thriving marine life, Naama Bay, El Fanar Beach, and Shark’s Bay are ideal snorkelling spots. Just be ready to be amazed by the kaleidoscope of colours beneath the surface. You might spot rainbow-coloured parrotfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish – who kids (and some adults) may remember as Gil from Finding Nemo.  

You should plan to head out in the early morning to catch the reef at its liveliest, and you might want to bring along an underwater camera. 

The world's largest archaeological museum is only 2km from the Pyramids of Giza, and stuffed with artefacts from not only the Pharonic era, but the Greek and Roman periods, as well. The colossus of Ramses II in the foyer is just a taster of the riches to come; it will house the phenomenal wealth of King Tutankhamun's tomb and the Solar Boat of Cheops. If you're travelling with kids 6 to 12, book a kid-friendly guided tour in the Children's Gallery. 

In downtown Cairo, the banks of the Nile are lined with riverboats, from humble skiffs to flashy cabaret boats with the hottest, most sultry bellydancers in town. Less hectic, a gentle felucca ride at sunset is fun if you're travelling with kids, and connects you with this iconic riverway. 

Home of the Golden Mummies, the NMEC's stars are 20 of Egypt's past royals, most originally buried in the Valley of the Kings. Here in one of Cairo's top museums, you’ll find some of the stars of the Pharaonic era, including Ramses II and the female pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut. 

Get your haggle on in Khan al-Khalili, Cairo's stupendous maze of a market, which has been wheeling and dealing for 700 years. Best buys are the locally made lanterns. When the maze gets too much, stop for tea or fresh juice at Fishawy or Naguib Mahfouz cafes.

Lined with ornate palaces and mosques, great gates and city walls, a walk down the thoroughfare of medieval Cairo is a walk through centuries. You can play pharonic dress-ups with the street photographers and recharge in its pillow-strewn cafes. Half an hour before sunset, the palaces and mansions are floodlit with coloured lights. A photographer's dream.

Usually eaten late, and often on the street, the quintessential Egyptian breakfast is ful (cumin-spiked fava beans mashed into a paste) and ta'ameya (Egypt's take on falafel), wrapped in soft pockets of bread. And tea, always tea.  

• 9 Pyramids (Giza Pyramids): looking straight at the Giza pyramids, order the hot, flaky pastry fiteer, baked inhouse and served with jam and honey, or savoury with feta cheese, tomatoes and olives. 
• FIshawy Cafe (Khan al-Khalili market): the city’s oldest cafe hasn't closed its doors - neither day nor night - since it opened in 1797. Stop for mint-spiked tea, a short, sweet Turkish coffee and shisha. 
• Maison Thomas (Zamalek): this 100-year-old French cafe is an elegant start to the day, with legendary pizzas.

The biggest meal of the day is often a leisurely affair. Expect kebab and kofta, maybe a rotisserie chicken served with rice, salads, and always at least one bowl of moreish tahina to top it all. If you're on the go, as most of this city always is, the go-to is koshary; a carb-bomb bowl of rice, spaghetti, lentils, chick peas and fried onions, slathered with a tomato salsa, a dollop of hot sauce and spritzed with a vinegary-lemon finish. Live for the addiction.

• Khufu's (Giza Pyramids): eat Egypt's best-loved dishes in front of its namesake, the Great Pyramid. Unbeatable. 
• Zööba (branches across the city including the GEM): cheap, speedy, and fun, it serves up a healthy take on Egyptian street food.
• Abu Tarek (Downtown Cairo) Cairo's beloved koshary restaurant, serving since 1950. It's the only thing on the menu.

Dinner is usually late and lighter than lunch, and Egyptians usually restaurant hop for dessert and coffee. While you can find Japanese and Italian in Cairo, you're here to eat local. 

• Cafe Frais (Zamalek): With a busy grill, pizza ovens and pasta station, you've really come to the rooftop for Nile views and the stuffed pigeon. Tender, crispy-skinned, stuffed with mint-spiked rice, it's an Egyptian classic.
• Crimson Bar & Grill (Zamalek): Cairo's chic, modern face is on show at this sleek waterfront bar and grill on the tip of the island of Gezira.
• Mandarine Koueider (branches across Cairo): at Cairo's favourite, longstanding sweets cafe, trawl the displays for mouthwatering trays of petit fours and classic Arabian sweets such as bassbousa and knafeh. Ice cream and fresh juices are also on offer.

Novotel El Borg Cairo is set in the upmarket suburb of Zamalek, on an island in the middle of the River Nile, which cuts through the centre of this hypercharged city. Tahrir Square and the original Egyptian Museum are just on the other side, and some of the best dining and edgy bars are found nearby.
 

The 141-room hotel has a spa, sauna, and an outdoor pool, great for downtime with hot kids. Like many restaurants here, the rooftop restaurant, Cafe Frais, is alcohol free and therefore family friendly, a great place to while away the warm evenings without having to brave Cairo's traffic to get home. 

Egypt's a modest country, so best leave the hot pants and singlets behind. While its street fashion has become noticeably less conservative over the past few decades, it's still polite to rein in revealing clothing. A great tip is to throw a scarf in your bag every morning, which you can use to cover your head if you're entering a mosque, or as a shield against the sun. 
 

If you're visiting mosques, remember to take off your shoes before you step inside. You'll usually see an old man who keeps it all tidy - tip him on the way out. Egyptians are a dressy bunch: if you're going out for dinner, spruce up. 

Cairo is hot, hot, hot in summer (June to August), with temperatures regularly in the 40s. Even the locals get outta town, making a beeline for the beaches, sea breezes, and parties in Egypt's Mediterranean and Red Sea resorts. Best to time your travel for spring or autumn. 

It's 1am and you're stuck in a traffic jam; relax, you're simply having a classic Cairo moment. This is a city of 25 million people, so you've got to expect some traffic jams, no matter what time of day. Stop looking at the watch, you'll get there...
 

This is a tipping culture - in public bathrooms, at cafes, for porters. Get your hands on a small stash of LE5 notes; tips are appreciated by these low-paid workers.