Gallery
Cairo City Break: A Flexible 3 to 5 Night Stay
The complete guide to your city break in Cairo with SEM Elegant Voyage. Choose 3 nights (essential), 4 nights (standard) or 5 nights (full) - the same must-see sites, the same private English-speaking guide, and a 4-star Steigenberger or 5-star Marriott Mena House with pyramid views. Itinerary tips, the best time to visit, budgets and FAQs, all pulled together by our team, based in Cairo since 2020.
Visiting Cairo in 3, 4 or 5 nights? Our flexible Cairo city break covers every essential: the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Memphis and Saqqara, the Citadel of Saladin, Coptic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili. An affordable Cairo trip from £310 per person (3 nights, 4-star) or an extended Cairo weekend from £390 (4 nights). To work out what to do in Cairo based on how long you stay, see our day-by-day Cairo itinerary below. Cairo tourism designed for English speakers: a private English-speaking guide, airport transfers, 4 and 5-star hotel recommendations and 24/7 WhatsApp support. It also works beautifully for Cairo with the family (from age 6) and for a short 3-day Cairo break or a 4-night stay with a Nile cruise add-on.
Our Cairo stay packages - a quick comparison
The weekend format: pyramids, the GEM and Khan el-Khalili. Private English-speaking guide, breakfasts and transfers included. Ideal for first-time visitors who are short on time.
Everything in Essential plus a dedicated Memphis/Saqqara day, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin. The best balance of pace and content.
Everything in Standard plus a full 4-hour GEM visit, the Ibn Tulun Mosque, Al-Muizz Street and a Nile dinner cruise. Half a day free for shopping.
A room with pyramid views, the Mena Health Club spa and dinner at the 139 restaurant facing the floodlit pyramids. Everything in Full plus breakfast on the garden terrace.
Most popular add-ons
- +£75: upgrade to a pyramid-view room (Marriott Mena House)
- +£110: full-day trip to Alexandria (Qaitbay Citadel, the Bibliotheca, the catacombs)
- +£18: entry inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu
- +£50: Nile dinner cruise with a folkloric orchestra
- +£35: pyramids sound-and-light show in the evening
- +£70: domestic flight Cairo to Luxor (for a Nile cruise combo)
What to do in Cairo - 8 must-see sites
Pyramids of Giza
The last of the 7 ancient wonders: Khufu at 146 m, Khafre and Menkaure, plus the 73 m Sphinx. Allow 3 to 4 hours with a guide.
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
The largest archaeological museum in the world (168,000 m², opened in 2024). The complete Tutankhamun gallery. 4 hours recommended.
Memphis and Saqqara
The ancient capital (the colossus of Ramesses II) and the world's oldest pyramid (Djoser, 2670 BC). A full day.
Citadel of Saladin
A 12th-century fortress with the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (alabaster, Ottoman) and panoramic views over Islamic Cairo.
Khan el-Khalili
A 14th-century Fatimid bazaar of perfumers, spices and coppersmiths. The El Fishawy cafe, open since 1797. Best in late afternoon, 2 hours.
Coptic Cairo
The Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa), the Ben Ezra Synagogue, St Sergius (the Holy Family crypt) and the Coptic Museum. 2 hours.
Ibn Tulun Mosque
The oldest surviving mosque in Cairo (876-879), in the Samarran style. Little visited, and sublime. 45 minutes.
Al-Muizz Street (UNESCO)
The main axis of medieval Fatimid and Mamluk Cairo. The Qalawun and Al-Nasir mosques and their mausoleums. A 1 km pedestrian route, 1 to 2 hours.
Cairo itinerary day by day (5-night Full)
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome at CAI airport | Hotel check-in, rest | Welcome dinner |
| 2 | Giza pyramids + Sphinx (3 h) | Grand Egyptian Museum (4 h) | Dinner at leisure in Zamalek |
| 3 | Memphis (colossus of Ramesses II) | Saqqara + Djoser + Unas | Return to hotel |
| 4 | Coptic Cairo + Ben Ezra | Citadel of Saladin + Mosque of Muhammad Ali | Khan el-Khalili + El Fishawy |
| 5 | Ibn Tulun + Al-Muizz | Free shopping / Alexandria add-on | Nile dinner cruise (optional) |
Cairo trip budget - what SEV includes
| Item | SEV Essential 3N | SEV Full 5N | Evaneos | Marco Vasco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total price | £310 | £470 | £400-550 | £520-680 |
| Central 4-star hotel | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Private English-speaking guide | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ group | ✅ |
| Airport transfers | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Site entries + GEM | ✅ (6 sites) | ✅ (10 sites) | ⚠️ partial | ✅ |
| 24/7 WhatsApp coordinator | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ 9am-6pm |
| Bottled water in the vehicle | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
Cairo hotels - our recommendations by budget
Steigenberger Tahrir 4*
Downtown Tahrir, by the museum metro, double rooms from £60/night. Breakfast included. Our most reliable partner.
Steigenberger Pyramids 4*
In Giza near the pyramids, outdoor pool, spa, rooms from £75/night. Ideal for maximising your time at the pyramids.
Marriott Mena House 5*
Historic, dating from 1886, with optional direct pyramid views (+£75/night), the "139" restaurant and the Mena Health Club spa. From £150/night.
Pyramids View Inn 3*
A boutique property with guaranteed pyramid views, simple rooms but an unbeatable location. From £45/night. Not recommended for groups.
FAQ - Visiting Cairo
When is the best time to visit Cairo?
The best time to visit Cairo runs from October to April (18-28°C, clear skies). The most pleasant months are November, December, February and March. Avoid June to August (40°C+ on open-air sites). January is ideal for crisp, clear photos but the nights are cool (8-12°C). Ramadan (dates vary) restricts restaurant hours, so check the dates before you book.
How many days do you need to visit Cairo?
For the essentials (pyramids + GEM + Khan): 3 days are enough (the Essential package, £310). To add Memphis/Saqqara, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel: 4 days (Standard, £390). To see everything at a relaxed pace with a free half-day: 5 days (Full, £470). Beyond that, combine with a Luxor-Aswan Nile cruise (+3 to 4 nights).
Is it safe to visit Cairo?
Yes. The tourist sites are very secure (a dedicated tourist police, checkpoints). Your driver and English-speaking guide stay with you throughout the day. Simply avoid wandering alone at night in non-tourist districts. Our solo female travellers, and our guests from the UK and across Europe, have travelled with us regularly. Incidents touching tourists in Egypt have become rare and isolated.
Can you visit Cairo as a family with children?
Absolutely. Cairo with the family works from age 6: the pyramids amaze, the GEM captivates (the Tutankhamun gallery is a magnet for children) and Khan el-Khalili bursts with colour. A lighter version for under-6s: pyramids + GEM + hotel pool. Triple and quadruple rooms are available at the Steigenberger. Our guides are patient with children - several are fathers themselves.
How can you keep the cost of a Cairo trip down?
Three ways to keep a Cairo trip affordable: (1) choose the Essential 3-night package at £310, (2) travel off-peak (May, September: around -10%), (3) avoid Christmas, Easter and Eid (+20%). Steer clear of "free pyramids" scams - always pay through your guide. Tips of around £5-7 a day for the guide and £2-3 a day for the driver are the local custom.
Which Cairo hotel do you recommend?
It depends on your budget: a central 4-star Cairo hotel = Steigenberger Tahrir (£60/night, close to the Tahrir museum). A 4-star in Giza = Steigenberger Pyramids (£75, with a pool). The iconic 5-star = Marriott Mena House (£150, with optional pyramid views at +£75). A boutique with direct views = Pyramids View Inn 3* (£45). We negotiate 15-20% off partner rates versus Booking.com.
Is a Cairo weekend long enough?
A 3-night Cairo weekend (Friday evening to Monday morning) is just enough for the pyramids, the GEM and Khan el-Khalili. Fine if your flight to Egypt is direct. Not recommended for first-timers: too short for Memphis/Saqqara, the Citadel and Coptic Cairo. Go for 4 nights (the Standard package, £390) if you won't be coming back.
What scams should you avoid in Cairo?
The main ones: (1) fake "official guides" at the pyramids (insist on your SEV guide with ID), (2) a "free" camel ride that then charges £40 to get back down - the official rate is £10-12 return, agreed in advance, (3) Khan jewellers who pass off "brass as gold", (4) unmetered taxis from Giza to the centre (£8-10 maximum, prefer Uber/Careem). With SEV, all transfers and tickets are included, so no haggling is required.
Is the internal Cairo-Luxor flight worth it?
Yes if you are combining with a Nile cruise: an EgyptAir/Air Cairo flight of 1h10 (£70-95) versus a 10-hour sleeper train (£35). The flight saves a whole day of your trip. The train is only recommended for adventurous travellers or very tight budgets. It is included in our Glory of the Gods and Little Golden Program combos.
Can you combine Cairo with the Red Sea?
Yes, three popular combinations: Cairo + Nile + Hurghada, 12 days (culture and beach), Cairo + Nile + Marsa Alam (diving), or Cairo 4N + Sharm El Sheikh 4N (a direct beach combo, £710). Transfer by internal flight (£70-95) or private van (a 4-hour Cairo-Hurghada drive). Ask for a WhatsApp quote.
