Cairo in 2 Days: everything you need to know
Is 48 Hours Enough to See Cairo?
Although the city of Cairo has a lot to see, 48 hours are enough to get to know the essentials and enjoy this historic city — as long as you have a well-planned itinerary, which is what you will find in this post.
Is two days enough time to see all that Cairo has to offer? Well, yes and no. 48 hours is enough to see most of the city's wonders and cross off the most important things on our list. But obviously, we're going to have to leave some things behind.
If this is your case and you are planning a 48-hour trip to the capital of Egypt, you are in the right place.
- Day 1 Program -
Discover
Pyramids of Giza
Pyramids of Giza
The first 24 hours in Egypt's capital have a clear objective. To know the part related to ancient Egypt. Fundamentally the most touristic and well-known spots and those responsible for attracting millions of tourists.
These are the famous pyramids of Giza, its sphinx, the Egyptian museum, and the sites of Memphis and Saqqara. A paradise for all lovers of ancient Egypt.
Pyramids of Giza
Pyramids of Giza
Pyramids of Giza
The first stop on this itinerary could not be different from the famous pyramids of Giza, the most important monuments in Cairo. They are located in a complex on the outskirts of the city, about 15 kilometers from the center of the capital.
It is no problem at all, as there are a thousand means of transport to get to this point from Cairo, especially if you do it with an organized tour of the pyramids.
With general admission to the site you can see the three pyramids corresponding to the pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos.
You can visit the burial chambers inside the pyramids, but the entrance fee is separate. The pyramid of Cheops is the most famous and relevant.
However, the queues are longer and as time is limited, my recommendation is that if you want to enter one of the pyramids, you should opt for the Mykerinos pyramid. It is less visited, but equally interesting.
If we want to see and walk calmly around the outside of the pyramids and see the whole complex, it will take us at least 3 hours. The pyramids are not the only interesting point of the complex, the next one is below.
The Sphinx
Although located in the same complex as the pyramids, the Sphinx deserves a separate mention. It is one of the most famous sculptures of the ancient world, if not the most famous, and is believed to represent the pharaoh Chephren.
It is easily accessible from the pyramids area via the Valley Temple of Kefren.
The Sphinx can be admired from its base and, in addition to marveling at its imposing presence, you will notice the wear and tear it has suffered for hundreds of years.
In addition to the absence of his nose, which is on display in London, it is common to see scaffolding around him for restoration and maintenance work on a spectacular but seriously endangered monument.
The sphinx is the last point of the complex to be visited. However, there isn't much shade, so be well prepared with hats, sun cream, and water to combat the heat.
Saqqara and Memphis
Memphis and Saqqara are 40 minutes away from the pyramids of Giza. Two places that are also essential to get to know the ancient Egyptian civilization. In fact, Memphis was the former capital of the empire.
The best way to get from Giza to this point is to hire a joint tour to visit the pyramids, Saqqara, and Memphis.
Memphis was once a city full of palaces and monuments and today it is a city of low houses, but it houses a museum with some of the remains of the city in its golden age.
Its open-air museum features a 10-meter figure of Ramesses II, as well as sphinxes, mummification tables, and obelisks.
After seeing Memphis, it's time to cross the Nile and in about 20 minutes you'll reach Saqqara.
This is a kind of replica of the city of Memphis, but it was built to simulate what the city of Memphis would be like in the other world, according to Egyptian mythology. Its importance and historical and tourist value are in some of its buildings.
For example, Saqqara is home to the oldest building in the world. The funerary complex of Pharaoh Zoser dates back to 2650 BC. It is astonishing to see how it has been preserved despite the fact that it has been standing for over 4,000 years. The other must-see pyramid is the Step Pyramid which was the tomb of Pharaoh Zoser and one of the first pyramids ever built.
If we get up early to see the pyramids of Giza, we will be in Memphis and Saqqara before noon and, as there are several restaurants in the area, we can take the opportunity to have lunch.
If we dedicate a couple of hours to visit this point and another to stop for lunch, we will have enough time in the afternoon to return to Cairo and see the last point of the day.
- Day 2 Program -
Downtown Cairo
Old Egyptian Museum
Old Egyptian Museum
After an intense first day immersed in ancient Egypt, it's time to get to know the center of Cairo. On a much calmer second day with less travel, you'll tour the most important historical sites within the city's borders.
These are the fortress of Saladin and the churches and places of the Coptic-Christian quarter and the old Egyptian museum.
Old Egyptian Museum
Old Egyptian Museum
Old Egyptian Museum
today we will visit the old Egyptian museum. This museum houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world.
In total there are more than 130,000 objects of various types and from all periods of Egyptian history. The museum is located in Cairo, so it is necessary to return to the city.
To see it in detail, we would need almost two days of this itinerary, so we must prioritize certain pieces. The most relevant and well-known are those belonging to Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
The pharaoh's golden funerary mask is, in addition to being the symbol of the museum, the most valuable. His coffin and throne are also the most important of all the pieces found in his tomb. Given the size and historical value of the museum, I recommend that you ask the guides what pieces you should see on an express tour of the museum.
Saladin Citadel
Old Egyptian Museum
Coptic Neighborhood
It was the same ruler who gave it its name who commissioned the construction of the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo to protect against the attacks of European empires in the twelfth century.
Today, this walled complex is the most visited monument in the city of Cairo. There are many points of interest within the Saladin Citadel and it is best to visit at your leisure.
There areseveral buildings to visit, starting with the imposing Gawhara Palace and continuing with the beautiful mosques.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque, the Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the Al Rifa' i Mosque are the most important mosques within the Citadel.
In addition to these buildings, there are also museums that house items related to the history of the place. These museums are the carriage museum and the military museum. The latter is the most interesting of these museums, as it is the most linked to the history of the fortress.
But Saladin's Citadel is more than just a collection of buildings. Another of its main virtues lies in its location, as it is located at the top of Mokattam Hill, in the center of Cairo, and offers one of the best views of the Egyptian capital.
Coptic Neighborhood
Coptic Neighborhood
A visit to the Coptic Quarter is a must as it is one of the sights in Cairo. It is located south of the Saladin Citadel, about half an hour by bus or 15 minutes by taxi.
This neighborhood is the home of Coptic Christians and a place of special relevance for Christians in general, since tradition says that it was the place where the holy family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) took refuge during their stay in Egypt. That is why the neighborhood is full of churches and monasteries linked to this tradition.
There are several interesting spots within the ancient walls of Babylon that border this neighborhood. The first is the Hanged Church. So named because it was built on the gate of the wall, although it is also known as the church of St. Mary.
The other two churches to visit are the church of Santa Barbara, named after the martyr who gave it its name, and the church of San Sergius and San Bacchus. The latter is the oldest in the Coptic quarter and was built over the cave in which, according to legend, the holy family hid.
There are not only churches, but also mosques like Amr Ibn Al As, which was the first mosque built in Egypt, and synagogues like Ben Ezra. There are numerous religious sites to see and one point that unites them all is the Coptic Museum.
A place to learn about the history of this neighborhood and the mysticism that surrounds it and makes it a point of pilgrimage and tourism. I also recommend that you spend some time simply strolling through its narrow streets and enjoying the atmosphere of the neighborhood.
Khan El-Khalili Bazaar
Khan El-Khalili Bazaar
Also known as the Khan El-Khalili Market, this place was the cradle of trade in Egypt and the Middle East in ancient times. Today it is a huge bazaar filled with shops of all kinds and cafes that make it the ideal place to shop and relax with coffee and sweets to end a two-day trip to Cairo.
The market is located in the center of the Islamic part of Cairo, in a walled area that helps to give it a very attractive ancient and traditional atmosphere. Inside the El-Khalili Bazaar there are almost a thousand stalls where you can find everything from typical food and spices to handicrafts, fabrics, jewelry and perfumes. Anything you can imagine is here.
Visiting it in the afternoon or evening is ideal, as you can stroll through the stalls at your leisure and complete your visit with dinner in one of its legendary cafes where, in addition to traditional dishes, you can taste traditional teas and smoke the typical shishas.
For this reason, it is undoubtedly one of the best things to do at night in Cairo.
It's the perfect place to say goodbye to Cairo after 48 hours and take home a traditional souvenir of a trip that you certainly won't forget.