Here’s a 7 days in Egypt travel guide. Welcome to Mysterious Egypt. Rich history, killer desserts, jaw-dropping monuments. THE PYRAMIDS, Egypt has it all. Egypt is one of the most fascinating countries I’ve ever visited in my life. Here’s a glimpse of our epic trip and hope it helps you when you plan yours.
This was a thrilling and out of body experience. 7 days in Egypt will blow your mind away. What can I say…this country is simply magical filled with so much history, culture and mystery. I, like most people, have seen images of the pyramids since I was a child. They’re not just a part of Egypt’s heritage, they are a part of global heritage. You think you know them just because you always have. It’s not until you’re here and you start to hear the stories of these amazing monuments that you realize there is so much more to learn. The sheer size and massiveness is magnificent. I might have shed a tear when I touched the Pyramid for the first time.
Fresh off the plane, I’m ready to dive into my full Egypt itinerary. We were in Siwa for 4 days which was the relaxing part of our trip. The salt water lakes, the small town vibes was pure perfection. But, This post is mainly focused on Cairo and Luxor. The week we spent there allowed me to connect to my past. This post will break down our journey through the main two cities, the tours, places to see day by day and give you some hot tips on the best photo locations!
Top questions I got asked:
Is Egypt safe to travel – I think the term safe can mean different things to different people. I understand your concern but trust me, it is very safe and tourism actually picked up again this year and I suggest if Egypt is on your bucket list then don’t wait, just go before there is mass tourism. One person could find it safe and another could find it difficult. But, for the most part, YES! Egypt is safe to travel. But, expect a lot of haggling. We felt absolutely safe. Just like many large touristy places, you have to be careful of your possessions.
Best time to visit Egypt: It’s probably obvious, but Egypt is a desert country. We were here in the December, the most favorite time for travellers and it was PERFECT. Chilly at night, but perfect during the day. Beginning of October it is scorching in the day but nice and cool in the evenings. That means the climate will be dry, sandy and hot! By mid-November, it is warm in the day (around 20 degrees celsius, I’m talking warm for a Californian) and then freezing at night. So, come prepared! There are two seasons in Egypt:
- Hot Summer: May – October the temperatures will be unbearable, especially near Aswan in the south. Most tour groups will visit temples latest 5 am to beat the heat. But, you’ll still need to cover up, so bring lots of light cotton clothing.
- Mild Winter: November – April the temperatures drop significantly and it’s pleasantly warm. These are also the most popular months of travel, so expect lots of tourists. Bring a warm jacket as evening temperatures are really cold.
Visa: You will need a VISA for Egypt. This can be acquired beforehand or at the border for $25USD for single trip. Keep exact change.
Covid Test: You will have to be tested at the most 72 hrs before you take flight. Egyptian embassy require a QR code covid test which is different from the normal pcr testing. We are not really sure if they checked the QR code at Cairo airport, but we did not want to take chances. We did spend extra $$ to get the covid test that gave the QR code. While returning you will need to take a 24 hour PCR test.
Get Travel Insurance: We were there for 2 weeks and were totally fine. If you are not used to pollution, street food or large population, you might want to take insurance, just to be safe. We were good. If you feel like you need it, my friend uses World Nomad’s as they have good offers and policies.
How many days to stay: 3 days in Cairo and 3 days in Luxor is enough. But I would add a day each to enjoy the resorts and relax and to take it all in, that’s what we did.
Getting There: There is no direct from San Francisco to Cairo. So we flew to Frankfurt and then Cairo. We booked Egyptian Air to go to Luxor which is an hour flight. Make sure to give ample time to book your next flights because all our flights in Egypt Air was delayed by two hours. It also might be due to Covid, but make sure to book flights accordingly.
Getting around: There are many ways to get around Egypt. Internal flights with Egypt Air are pretty reasonable. You can get the overnight trains from Cairo to Luxor/Aswan but these are usually the same price as a flight. Most backpackers use buses as they’re safe and cheap, I recommend GoBus. They have an excellent app to book bus places online.
Getting around Locally: My advice would be to hire a car through the travel agent in your hotel, it’s safe and the prices are all fixed. Cairo has uber while Luxor doesn’t. We took an uber to the Mariott in Cairo. We got the shuttle service from Hilton to pick us up in Luxor.
Tour Companies: We travelled as a family and we planned our trip on our own and didn’t need any tour company. I booked all my local tours via Viator. You will be a minority in Egypt if you’re not travelling in a tour group. I recommend companies like Memphis Tours who customize tours for you, not needed though.
Currency: Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound. As an American this would constantly confuse and shock me, especially when they told me it cost £180 to get into the pyramids!
Phone: Your phone coverage will not be there in Egypt. Even if does, the connection wont be great. So get yourself a sim card at the airport itself at the Orange store. Make sure that your phone is unlocked for the sim to work. Get the lowest minutes, you can always add on later.
Electric plugs: The Power sockets are type C and F. Type C is two round pins and type F has Earth clips. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. This global adapter is perfect. Take your plugs.
Weather: We went of 3rd week of December to Jan 3rd, and early mornings and evening got really chilly, I had to layer my outfit as day time was a little warmer but not that much where you could hang in t-shirt so pack a light jacket with scarf and also close toe comfortable shoes especially for Valley of the Kings and visiting other places as it could become unstable.
Language: You will have no problem conversing when in Egypt. People understand English quite well and be patient when listening to them. Small words like:
Shukran =thank you
salaam ‘aleikum = Hi or peace be upon you
ma’a salaameh = Goodbye
aywa, tab3an/shukran= yes, ofcourse thank you
How to dress: Well you saw what I wore and the one thing I would say is dress code is conservative so just respect that. The less you’ll wear the more attention you’ll get and I’ll leave it to that. Over 90% of the Egyptian population practice Islam, making it a conservative country. Women should cover up their shoulders and knees where possible and men should avoid wearing shorts. Since it is a conservative country, it’s best to dress conservatively. Avoid short clothes, deep neck clothing, tight clothes, you can wear it but you may attract some unneeded attention. In Luxor it is was better, I even wore a swimsuit in the resort.
Tips: Take some cash with you because tipping is thing in Egypt, you tip almost everyone well at least they do expect it. When budgeting for Egypt, always include lot’s of tip money. People expect a tip for everything here! For using the loo, for cleaning your hotel room, for helping with your cases, serving your food and even offering to take your photo! Sometimes I had no idea what I was tipping for lol. Keep lots of small notes handy.
Essentials to pack:
Suncream/sunscreen – my favorites is from Goop and Elta MD
Hat and Sunglasses – Very important. The sun can be blinding most days, especially in the desert. I wore my Gucci Extra large and the dupe for that is HERE>
Imodium – You never know! Food poisoning is the most common sickness tourists get in Egypt.
Scarf – A pashmina is an ultimate weapon in case of sand storms or if you need to cover your shoulders, enter mosques etc.
Adapter – The Power sockets are type C and F. Type C is two round pins and type F has Earth clips. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. This global adapter is perfect.
US Dollars – I didn’t personally find it necessary but you can use these to buy a Visa at the border if you didn’t acquire one beforehand. You can pay in Egyptian Pounds all over but they also take USD in most places.
Hand Sanitizer – Egypt is not the cleanest of places, hand sanitizer is a must to ensure you stop yourself from getting sick. Also handy when toilets don’t have soap (which is most of the time in public loos).
Tissuesand wipes– Always handy for toilet situations, most public toilets don’t provide toilet roll or you have to pay a ‘baksheesh’ (tip) for it.
Food:
We ate traditional Egyptian food which was yummy but Egypt also offer lots of different cuisine. None of us got sick but the one thing we respected was to only drink water bottle as well as avoiding raw food as much as we can to avoid food poisoning. Also you should try the Sheesha (at the Marriott Mena House overlooking the Pyramids, pretty cool experience). One more thing to keep in mind, no alcohol is offered anywhere expect the international hotels. Some foods you want to try is:
- Ful wa Ta’meya. Ta’meya and ful mudammas, which are essentially fava beans and falafel are the original Egyptian fast-foods. …
- Kushari. Carb overload coming right at you! …
- Hamam Mahshi. …
- Fiteer Baladi. …
- Shawarma. .
- Kofta and Kebab.
- Felafel
- Fatteh, a celebratory meal often eaten on Eid al-Adha. It is made from lamb, rice, bread, and sauce.
- Hawawshi, a traditional dish of bread stuffed with minced meat and vegetables.
- Kamounia, a rich stew eaten in Egypt, Sudan, and Tunisia. It’s made with beef and spiced with cumin
- Sugarcane Juice is a must try.
If you are looking for TRAVEL CONSULTANCY AND TRAVEL FASHION ADVICE – email me at foodfashionparty@gmail.com for a 30 minute and 1 hr consultation.
Cairo
Situated in the heart of Egypt, the capital Cairo stunningly hugs the river, Nile. The city is famous for its rich ancient history, the pyramids, the Islamic city, the Coptic city, and many more. But if you visit Cairo do not get stuck in the mesmerizing past, you also have to enjoy the hip and happening present, including the rich dining scene in the ever buzzing capital.
1. The Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx
Seeing a wonder of the world with your own eyes is an incredible feeling and seeing an ancient one that still stands is even better! A visit to the Pyramids of Giza has to be on any travelers list in Egypt.
We booked a tour through Viator and I think it was an absolute waste of our $320. You can ask your hotel(if you are staying in Mariott Mena House) to drop you off at the pyramids, ask your driver to help with the tickets. There are two kinds of tickets: one is for the general entry and one special ticket to get into the burial chamber in the pyramid itself. It is worth it. Also, it is very steep and narrow, so if you are claustrophobic, you might rethink it. Go inside look at the main pyramid, after you get off from seeing the chamber, to your right, there’s the camel and horse ride to take you to the beautiful view from behind and the sphinx. There will be people asking you for the camel ride. For one person bring the price down to $40 US dollars. We paid 2000 EP for four of us. We didn’t want to bargain too much. It’s their living and they take you for about 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hours, it’s worth every penny. Make sure to take tons of pics there. You cannot go to the back of the pyramids with a beautiful view any other way than the camel or horses.
You don’t have to have a tour guide with you but it is nice to have someone, to stop being hassled all the time. Beware that the base of the pyramid stays crowded with tourists and people trying to haggle you. They will almost always tell you it’s a “gift” but trust me, no gift is free. It’s always best to avoid eye contact and politely decline. DO NOT take anything from anyone. Wear your sunglasses, act engrossed with your family, completely avoid eye contact.
Pyramids of Giza opening times: October – March 8 am with last entry at 4 pm. April – September 7 am with the last entry at 6 pm.
Ticket prices for the Pyramids of Giza: General Entry: £200EGP. Extra to go into the Pyramid room.
Photography prices: They charge a sum to take your DSLR in , tripods cost £20EGP.
Photography tips for the Pyramids of Giza: Get here for an opening time in the morning or even earlier to get in line.
Visit the Sphinx first to photograph it as it only gets crazier throughout the morning. You don’t need to go on a camel tour you can hire a camel inside.
TiP: You can get a really good sunset view from the Pizza hut opposite once the complex closes or go to the dunes on a desert tour at sunset/sunrise.
2. Khan El Khalili Bazaar
One of Egypt’s oldest markets and also one of the most picturesque! A lot of people will tell you to avoid this tourist trap but I wouldn’t. It’s best to go with your driver to be less haggled. Also they will take you quickly to the most photographed place by bloggers. I have a pic in one collage.
It’s stunning with lots of souvenirs and places to photograph inside! Head into the old part of the bazaar for picture-perfect stalls selling Arabian lanterns, ancient archways, and all sorts of Egyptian souvenirs. Remember to pay only about 20% of what they are asking for.
3. Citadel of Saladin
This medieval fortress can be seen all over Cairo and it’s like a siren pulling you in. It was built on Mottakam Hill and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Saladin, who was the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, constructed it in the 12th century. t’s definitely worth a visit and you can get a fabulous view of the whole city around you from up here! Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, built in 1830, that’s spectacular inside and out.
Citadel of Saladin opening times: 8 am – 5 pm.
Citadel of Saladin ticket prices: £100EGP to enter the Citadel which includes the mosque and other museums inside.
Photography prices: Free! Tripods are not allowed.
Photography tips for Citadel of Saladin: It will be busy in the afternoons to get here in the morning if you can! The city views and the mosque are the most picturesque parts.
4. The Egyptian Museum
This is the most famous museum in Cairo and is extremely popular. The highlights inside are the masks and sarcophagi of King Tutankhamun. But, there is no photography allowed in there. The outside building, huge arched ceiling, and all the artifacts inside are great muses for photos.
Opening times for the Egyptian Museum: 9 am -5 pm. Late-night openings until 9 pm on Thursdays and Sundays
Photography prices: £30EGP for a photo pass
Photography tips for Egyptian Museum: No photography is allowed in the King Tutankhamun display and the Royal Mummies room.
5. National museum of Egyption Civilization:
A museum that is modern, build newly and beautifully presented. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is a large museum in the ancient city of Fustat, now part of Cairo, Egypt. The museum partially opened in February 2017 and will display a collection of 50,000 artefacts, presenting Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day.
Best restaurants to eat in Cairo:
1.Abou Tarek is a must for their Koshari $
For the freshest koshary on your Egypt tour, head to Abou Tarek in downtown. Feeding hungry locals and tourists since 1950, Abou Tarek has been featured on CNN and is now famous the world over for their preparation of the iconic dish. One of Egypt’s traditional recipes since the 19th century, koshary (or kushari) is a combo of rice, macaroni and lentils, capped with chunky albeit spicy tomato sauce then garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions. Top with garlic vinegar or chili sauce for added heat. This restaurant is also light on the wallet, so it’s a must-try when in Cairo!
2. Al Khal Egyptian Restaurant $$$$
Al Khal offers the finest traditional Egyptian dishes and delights in a classic atmosphere with a modern twist. The outdoor restaurant is located by the pool inside InterContinental Cairo Citystars and offers live cooking for Egyptian dishes. The perfect place for a real Egyptian homemade meal.”
3.Citadel View Restarant $$$$
“Truly Egyptian”. The Citadel View restaurant serves authentic Egyptian and French cuisine. The interiors are done in Limestone and the floors are clad with Egyptian rugs.
4.The View Restaurant
5.Zooba $$
By turning popular Egyptian street food into delicious gourmet dishes all the while using the freshest local ingredients, at Zooba, whether you are a regular guest or first-time visitor, a variety of delectable flavours await you. Offerings include Zooba’s own whole-grain koshari, the chicken liver hawashi, or the sakalans sandwiches, with Zooba’s own fresh oven-made bread to accompany them. With its multi-coloured décor and casual outdoor setting, along with its dedication to providing healthy cuisine and a lively environment, Zooba is a gem to discover in Cairo.
Zooba Restaurant, 26th of July St., Zamalek, Cairo Governorate, Egypt, +1 201 0231 52510
6.Taboula $$
Featuring a casual and warm local atmosphere, Taboula offers traditional Arab hospitality and the best of diverse delicacies from the Middle East. One of the most popular is taboula (Lebanese salad), along with other side dishes and garnish. Another popular choice is the Egyptian mezzas, which are small, tapas-like bites, perfect accompanied by a bottle from the vast global selection of wine. You can then wrap up the evening by delighting in traditional Middle Eastern desserts and listening to classic Arab melodies, with songs by Umm Kulthum and Fairuz played in the venue.
LUXOR
Luxor is like an ancient playground, it’s the world’s largest open air museum. For miles you can chase ghosts in historic temples and tombs, see artefacts in museums and gaze upon the Nile that has been here since the dawn of time. It’s where I would recommend spending most of your time as there is so much to explore! This is also where I took the majority of my photos as each site had something new to offer and I could have spent hours in each one marveling at the ancient architecture.
Itinerary: We stayed at the Hilton Luxor Spa and Resort. With picture perfect views, you can relax by the Nile and swim watching the beautiful palm trees and Valley of Kings.
*Make sure to take student ID’s to get 50% off museum tickets.
Here is the phone number of our driver in LUXOR,*Ahmed- 01018839967. He was amazing, drove us around for 2 days, patient and so knowledgeable. Trustworthy.
1. Karnak Temple
Karnak is one of the most impressive temples that has been left behind from ancient Thebes (modern-day Luxor). Built in 2055BC, it took over two centuries and 30 pharaohs to complete it! It’s most famous for its almost sky-high decorated columns which weigh a few tones, you can explore a citadel of worship. You can wander down the impressive Ram Road at the entrance, explore the many temples that are inside its walls, see the epic obelisks that were erected by Queen Hatshepsut, gaze at the reflections on the lake and count all the colossi that stand proud.
Don’t forget to return at nightfall for the Karnak light and sound show. Unlike the Pyramids, you don’t just sit and watch. You walk in amongst the temple as the show goes on around you.
It’s spooky but spectacular and the eerie narration paints a picture of how Karnak used to be in ancient times.
2. The Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings has been an area of significant public interest ever since Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. Ever since people from all over the globe have heard tales of the ‘Curse of King Tut’ and were curious to see these beautifully decorated tombs of Pharaohs. It is an incredible place to explore, but it’s a little bit of a minefield with strict rules. Your general entry ticket only allows you into 3 tombs of a possible 8. Add to the fact, that photography is quite expensive, it’s important to choose wisely.
3. Luxor Temple
In ancient Thebes, the Ram Road at the entrances at both Karnak and Luxor temple used to be connected as a through road to each other. Luxor temple, was a sanctuary temple of worship. Luxor temple was built in 1400BC and it’s dedicated to Amon. King Amenhotep III (1390-52BC) start started the construction but it was completed by King Tutankhamun (1336-27 BC).
4. Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
The Mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is an Egyptian architectural wonder due to its astronomical alignment. Most of this temple is a restoration but some of the original tomb is here to see. More importantly is the women who built this temple. Queen Hatshepsut was a powerful female figure in ancient Egypt. She was the longest reigning female pharaoh but she dressed as a man gaining the title the “the woman who was king”.
It’s beautiful to photograph due to the symmetry but again, packed with tourists and you’ll roast under the sun here.
Temple of Hatshepsut Opening times: 6am – 5pm
Photography prices: Photography is FREE but tripods are £20EGP
Photography tips for Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: Sunrise or as early as possible again! This temple packs out with groups and so it can be hard to get decent photographs of the facade. Make sure you have your tripod ticket to hand or the guards will pounce!
5.Madinet Habu
This was one of the most peaceful temples I visited in Luxor. As it’s left out of many tour groups itinerary you can relax and wander around with hardly any crowds to bother you. As the mortuary temple of Ramses III, there are many paintings of his battles and defeats inside. It’s a shame lots of people miss it as its one of the most preserved temples in ancient Egypt in terms of the paint on the walls. Before time weathered these temples, almost all of them were painting from top to bottom! It must have been fabulous to visit.
Opening hours of Madinet Habu: 6am – 5pm.
Photography prices: FREE but again, tripods cost £20EGP.
Photography tips for Madinet Habu: You won’t struggle much with crowds here (yay!) so you can turn up at any point of day. The columns within the inner sanctum are the most impressive part due to the preserved paint.
6. Colossi of Memnon
A popular stop in the West Bank. These two statues depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III, or did before they were destroyed in an Earthquake. Most tour groups stop here for a quick photo!
Times of opening: Dawn til Dusk
Ticket prices: FREE
Photography prices: FREE
Photography tips for Colossi of Memnon: It’s not too bad in terms of crowds, but go further forward to get it without crowds. I got told off for my tripod here, even though there is no option to get tickets. The best times would be to get here for sunrise and watch the balloons rise above them!
7. Air Balloon ride in Luxor
Probably the most exhilarating thing I did in Luxor was a hot air balloon ride over the West Bank. This was not my first time, but this was the most exhilarating one ever. To see the Nile, the lush land and Sahara from a birds point of view was beautiful. They don’t have the best reputation for safety. But, nothing to be worried, I was in safe hands and the views were breathtaking!
Times of opening: Usually most air balloons take off at sunrise but then carry on through the morning until around 7/8am.
Ticket prices: $50 – it’s the cheapest place to fly in the world. I got my tickets through Viator.
Photography prices: FREE But you’re technically not meant to. I chose to follow rules and not use my dslr. But, the crew said they can’t stop you once you’re up in the air. This is Egypt!
Photography tips: It can be crowded in the basket so you may struggle for a photo of yourself so get creative with your shots. I used my iphone 13 pro and the pics were stunning.
Where to Eat in Luxor
1.Sofra $$$
Sofra is an Arabic word meaning “dining table.” It is also synonymous with hospitality and generosity in Egyptian Arabic. We were given a tour of this ancient building turned restaurant, and it felt like I was visiting an Egyptian home in the 1900’s. This is the proper name for this restaurant because it serves authentic Egyptian cuisine with an Arab inspiration and dishes influenced by its neighboring countries. The menu offers hot and cold mezze, main courses and side dishes that are cooked the old fashioned way with fresh local ingredients.
2.Al Sahyby $$
The restaurant is a 1920 home turned eatery. The best view of El Karnak Temple is a must-see in Luxor when you’re not ranting about how the gigantic sheep were moved. Stop and feed your AJW (Angry Justice Warrior) soul with some oven-baked pizza that will taste like none other from Al Sahaby Lane. Location: El Karnak Temple Street
3. Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor$$$
The restaurant was amazing, the food was tasty, specially the pizza was delicious, the staff professional.
4.El Tarboush$$
Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes here are tasty and the menu is well-organized. Try nicely cooked mixed grill, salads and lamb cutlets to form your opinion about this restaurant. Their juice is worth a try here.
In Summary, I personally enjoyed travelling now since there were less crowds and we felt safe. We were also fully vaccinated and boosted.. Please note though, that the Egyptian people don’t really believe in masks, or many travelers. Go at your own risk now. Egypt is amazing, but also one of the most visited places in the world – and that normally means chaos. During COVID, everything is very quiet and your experience (and photos!!!) will be much better 🙂 now – There are good COVID-19 controls in place for tourism. While the day-to-day life of the local Egyptian doesn’t seem to have changed much, the government has introduced guidelines and inspections that apply to airports, hotels, restaurants, transport and tourist sites. – You will get great value for money. We only stayed in 5 star properties, it was quite reasonable in comparison to other places. I hope my experiences help you be better informed and more confident to travel! Travel to EGYPT, IT IS SAFE!!
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Neelamba c sekaran
OMG well written article and I travelled along with this. Whole trip I enjoyed through u. Thanks asha.
Asha Shivakumar
Thanks so much mom!! Wish you could’ve come with us. XO
Manisha
Wow…. So much in detail, thank you Asha…
Asha Shivakumar
Thanks for reading. xx
Amrutha
This is great! Thank you for putting this together, Asha! I watched along as you travelled and it was magical! Can’t wait to plan our trip now!
Asha Shivakumar
Thanks for reading it and watching along. Truly was magical. MUAH
Viji
Virtual tour ..well articulated and so informative Asha …u made it easy for anyone who is planning Egypt for thier holidays
Asha Shivakumar
Thanks so much for reading!! XX
Vb
Such detailed post that too so close to ur travel just brilliant ….loved every bit if it..may. god bless you with more travel journeys to share us with.. you have included everything possible for a person who is planning their trip next.. ” I didnt know what I was tipping for got me really laughing” love love love….
Asha Shivakumar
Awww you are so so very kind. Thanks for reading through, and I hope you visit soon. LOL, I genuinely spent a ton tipping:)
Radhika
Following this to the T. The details and the breakdown of every possible scenario is amazing Asha. This is like travel to Egypt for dummies.
Asha Shivakumar
I love that name, maybe I’ll get a booklet out with that title:). I cannot wait for you to go there.xx
Sangeeta
Thanks for all the details – so helpful!
Asha Shivakumar
I’m so glAd. XO
Kanimagesh
Thanks for the virtual tour and all the details . After reading your article I feel like I want to visit the place.
Asha Shivakumar
Thanks so much for writing Kani. You must visit.xx