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5-Day Cairo Getaway: Pyramids, Museum & Saqqara
Our 5 day getaway Cairo concentrates the essentials in a mini-week: pyramids of Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), necropolis Memphis Saqqara (also noted Memphis and Saqqara), Coptic Cairo, Saladin citadel (Saladin citadel), Khan el-Khalili. Private English-speaking guide, airport transfers, 4* or 5* Marriott Mena House hotel with pyramid view. Perfect for Cairo weekend extended or travelers wanting to complete a Nile cruise.
Visit Cairo in 5 days is the golden format: enough to see the essentials without the fatigue of a 10-day tour, long enough to include Memphis and Saqqara (the oldest pyramids, often skipped by tourists in a hurry). Our Cairo program alternates 3 days of guided tours (Giza, Saqqara, Coptic + Islamic + historical Cairo Khan el Khalili, also spelled Khan el-Khalili) and 2 days of arrival/departure with comfortable margins. Alexandria option +$130 to add 1 Mediterranean day. Cairo trip 5 days from $670/person in 4*, $960in 5* pyramid view.
Our 4 5-Day Cairo Getaway Packages
Unbeatable value for money. Pyramids + GEM + Memphis/Saqqara + Historic Cairo + Khan. Private English-speaking guide, transfers included, breakfasts.
- 4 nights 4* breakfast
- 3 days private guided tours
- GEM tickets + pyramids
- Return airport transfers
All Essentials + full GEM visit (4 hours instead of 2 hours), dinner cruise on the Nile evening 2 with folk orchestra, spa hammam hotel access.
- GEM complete visit + Tutankhamun
- Nile dinner cruise with show
- Spa/hammam access
- Private transfer any duration
Historic 1886 hotel with direct view of the pyramids from the room. 139 Restaurant for dinner facing the illuminated pyramids, breakfast on the garden terrace.
- Pyramid view room (option +$90)
- All Comfort +
- Dinner 139 pyramids view
- Spa Mena Health Club
Alexandria day trip: Qaitbay citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, fresh Mediterranean fish lunch.
- Private van return to Alexandria (3 hours drive)
- Dedicated English-speaking guide
- All tickets included
- Fish Market Lunch
Program: 5 Days to See Everything in Cairo
Arrival & Acclimatization
Welcome from Cairo International Airport (CAI) by English-speaking driver with sign. Private transfer to the hotel (45 min). Check-in, free time to recover from the lag. Optional: sound and light show evening at the pyramids (+$20French Mon/Wed/Sat 8:30 p.m.).
- Home CAI + visa assistance
- Private hotel transfer
- Free or included dinner depending on the formula
Giza Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum
Departure 8 a.m.: Giza plateau (3 pyramids + panorama + Sphinx + Valley temple, 3 h). Lunch near the plateau. Afternoon: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), 2 to 4 hours depending on the formula (Ramses II, complete Tutankhamun, solar boat, monumental staircase).
- Giza Pyramids (Cheops, Chephren, Mykerinos)
- Sphinx + Valley Temple
- GEM fast-track + English-speaking guide
Memphis & Saqqara - The Origins
Day dedicated to the sites oldest in Egypt. Departure 9 a.m.: Memphis (former capital of the kingdom of Ouna), colossus of Ramses II, alabaster sphinx. Then Saqqara: step pyramid of Djoser (-2650, the oldest in the world), mastabas of Ti and Mererouka (dazzling bas-reliefs of daily life).
- Memphis: colossus Ramses II + alabaster sphinx
- Saqqara: Step Pyramid of Djoser
- Mastabas Ti + Mererouka
- Dahshur optional (red pyramid + rhomboidal) +$30
Coptic Cairo, Citadel & Khan el-Khalili
Morning: Coptic Cairo (hanging church, Ben Ezra synagogue, Coptic museum, Saint-Serge). Then Saladin citadel (Muhammad Ali mosque, panoramic view of the city). Afternoon: Khan el-Khalili, Fatimid bazaar of the 14th centurye s. (El Fishawy coffee break 1797), Al-Muizz street medieval mosques.
- Hanging Church + St. Sergius
- Citadel + Muhammad Ali mosque
- Khan el-Khalili + El Fishawy
- Al-Muizz Street (evening if possible)
Free time & Flight
Free morning: final shopping, Coptic museum, Zamalek district (island on the Nile, contemporary art galleries). Free lunch or farewell lunch at Marriott Mena House. Airport transfer 3 hours before flight. Alexandria option +$130 = replace this day with an excursion to the Mediterranean.
- Free time shopping or museum
- Zamalek or Mena House Lunch
- Private CAI transfer
- Option: Alexandria day +$130
The Major Sites of Your Cairo Getaway
Giza Pyramids (Cheops, Chephren, Mykerinos)
The 3 pyramids of IVe dynasty: Cheops 146 m (only one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world still standing), Khafre 136 m (preserved limestone summit), Mykerinos 66 m. Khéops interior option +$20Khéphren interior +$10
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
Inaugurated in 2024, the largest archaeological museum in the world (168,000 m², 100,000 objects). Ramses II statue 12 m in the large hall, monumental staircase, complete Tutankhamun gallery (5000 pieces including the gold funerary mask weighing 11 kg). 4 hour visit possible in Comfort/Luxury.
Memphis, Ancient Capital
First capital of unified Egypt (~3100 BC). Today, a small open-air museum exhibits the reclining colossus of Ramses II (10 m) and a alabaster sphinx of 80 t. Very photogenic, 1 hour is enough.
Step Pyramid of Djoser (Saqqara)
The oldest pyramid in Egypt (-2650), humanity's first monumental stone construction, work of the genius Imhotep. 62 m high, 6 levels. Around: mastabas of Ti and Mererouka with polychrome bas-reliefs of daily life (net fishing, banquets).
Cairo Coptic
One of the oldest Christian neighborhoods in the East (Ier-Xe s.). Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa, Ve s.), Ben Ezra synagogue (where Moses was saved from the waters), Saint-Serge church (refuge of the Holy Family according to tradition), Coptic museum (icons, papyri, textiles).
Saladin Citadel & Muhammad Ali Mosque
Fortress built by Saladin in the 12th centurye s. against the Crusaders. Dominating Cairo, it houses the mosque of Muhammad Ali (XIXe s., alabaster, Ottoman style), the Al-Nasir Muhammad mosque and the military museum. Panoramic view of the pyramids on a clear day.
Khan el-Khalili (Bazaar)
Fatimid Bazaar of the 14th centurye century, the commercial heart of Islamic Cairo. Spices, chiseled copper, silver, oud perfumes, carpets. Break at El Fishawy cafe (open 24/7 since 1797, favorite of Nobel Naguib Mahfouz). 30-40% negotiation required.
Alexandria (option +$130)
The “Mediterranean pearl” of Egypt: Qaitbay citadel built on the ruins of the lighthouse of Alexandria (ancient wonder), Bibliotheca Alexandrina (2002, heir to the ancient library), Roman catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa (underground IIIe s.). Grilled fish lunch at the Fish Market.
Our 3 Selected Hotels
| Hotel | Category | Pyramids view | Spa | Breakfast | Tripadvisor rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steigenberger Pyramids | 4* superior | No (Dokki area) | Yes + swimming pool | Buffet included | 4.3/5 (2100+ reviews) |
| Pyramids View Inn | 3* shop | Yes (direct) | No | Included | 4.5/5 (800+ reviews) |
| Marriott Mena House | 5* historical | Yes (optional room) | Yes Mena Health Club | Buffet + terrace | 4.6/5 (5000+ reviews) |
The Marriott Mena House is the historic 1886 hotel where Churchill, Sadat, Begin and Carter stayed for the 1978 peace accords.hotel view pyramids the most iconic in Egypt.
Comparison SEV vs Memphis Tours vs TUI vs Civitatis
| 5-day Cairo package | SEV | Memphis Tours | TUI | Civitatis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4* Essential | $670 | $730 | n/a | $630-$730 |
| 4* Comfort + full GEM | $770 | $830 | $870 | $780-$830 |
| 5* Luxury pyramid view | $960 | $920 | $1,070 | n/a |
| Add-on Alexandria 1d | +$130 | +$140 | included (combo) | +$150 |
| Private English-speaking guidance | ✅ 1-to-1 | ⚠️ sometimes | ❌ grouped | ❌ grouped |
| Memphis + Saqqara included | ✅ day 3 | ⚠️ half day | ✅ | ⚠️ option |
| Nile dinner cruise | ✅ Comfort+ | ⚠️ option | ✅ | ❌ |
FAQ - 5 Day Getaway to Cairo
Is 5 days in Cairo enough to see everything?
For thecultural essential yes : pyramids + GEM + Memphis/Saqqara + historic Cairo (Coptic + Islamic + Khan). In 5 days you see more than the majority of travelers on a 10 day tour. What you won't see: Fayoum, Western Desert Oasis, Upper Egypt (Luxor/Aswan) - for this, add a Nile cruise to your Cairo stay.
Which hotel offers a direct view of the pyramids?
Three options hotel view pyramids : (1) Marriott Mena House 5* with optional pyramid view room +$90/night (our Luxury formula), (2) Pyramids View Inn 3* direct view boutique guaranteed (best value for money but without spa), (3) Four Seasons Pyramid (opening 2026, n/a for now). Ask us for the HD photo from the room before confirming.
Can we go inside the pyramids?
Yes in 2 out of 3: Khéops +$20/pers (king's bedroom, 39 m of sloping corridor, not recommended for claustrophobia), Khéphren +$10 (less visited, more comfortable), Mykérinos variable depending on health closures. Photos prohibited inside. 30 min visit, to be added to day 2 time.
Is this getaway suitable for families with children?
Yes, from 6 years old. Pyramids, GEM and Khan el-Khalili captivate children (Tutankhamun! is a magnet). Day 3 Memphis/Saqqara can tire the <6 ans - version allégée possible (Memphis seulement, après-midi piscine). Notre English-speaking guide adapte le niveau en temps réel. Chambre triple disponible en Confort et Luxe.
Can we extend the 5-day Cairo getaway with a Nile cruise?
Absolutely - it's our most popular combination plan. After the 5 days Cairo, add: Small Golden Program 3 nights Luxor-Aswan (+$480/pers), or Glory of the Gods 7 nights cruise (+$770/pers), or Nile in Dahabeya for luxury (+$1,450). Transfer Cairo → Luxor by internal flight (~1 hour, $80) or sleeper train 1re class (~$40).
What does the Alexandria +$130add-on include?
Full day Alexandria (replaces day 5 or adds day 6). Private van return trip Cairo-Alexandria (3 hours drive each), dedicated English-speaking guide, tickets to Qaitbay citadel + Bibliotheca Alexandrina + catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, fresh fish lunch at the Fish Market. Return 7 p.m. to Cairo. Additional hotel night optional.
What is the difference between the citadel and the Muhammad Ali mosque?
The Saladin citadel is the fortress (XIIe s.) which contains several buildings including 3 mosques. The mosque of Muhammad Ali (XIXe s., alabaster, Ottoman style) is the most visible with its two 82 m minarets and its immense dome. This is the postcard of Islamic Cairo. Built by Muhammad Ali Pasha, founder of modern Egypt.
Does the getaway include dinner at the Marriott Mena House?
In formula Luxury only : dinner "139" view of the pyramids evening 3 (4-course tasting menu, $40value). In Comfort: Nile dinner cruise evening 2 instead (90 min navigation + folk orchestra, $30value). Essential: free dinners to give you flexibility - restaurant advice included (Abou El Sid, Felfela, Andréa Mariouteya).
How does the airport transfer work on the day of departure?
Driver at the hotel 3 hours before your departure flight (2 hours if domestic flight). Private air-conditioned van. Terminal 3 check-in assistance (Air France, Egyptair, Lufthansa flights) if desired. Free hold baggage recovery included (up to 30 kg/person).
Why choose SEV rather than Memphis Tours or TUI?
Three reasons: (1) Private 1-to-1 English-speaking guide - never grouped, never in English. (2) WhatsApp direct with your coordinator during the stay, not a call center. (3) Net prices with no hidden extras - GEM tickets, pyramids, transfers, mineral water all included at the displayed price. SEV has been based in Cairo since 2020, with 156 client reviews on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp rated 4.8/5.
Combine with our other Cairo & Nile packages
- Cairo: 3-5 night modular stay
- Stopover circuit: pyramids in airport transit
- Cairo + Nile Cruise + Hurghada 12 days
- Cairo + Nile + Marsa Alam - beach combo
- Little Golden Program: Nile 3 nights
- The Glory of the Gods: Nile 7 nights
- Luxor Attractions: Karnak & Valley of the Kings
- Attractions Aswan: Philae & Abu Simbel
Cairo Getaway Quote 5 Days in 24 hours
Tell us your dates, number of people (with or without children), desired hotel category, Alexandria option yes/no. We create a tailor-made quote and confirm it within 24 hours.
WhatsApp +20 10 96569859 · From $670/person · Private English-speaking guide
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