How Many Days Do You Need in Egypt?

The most common question we hear is how long a first trip to Egypt should be. The honest answer: as long as you can, but even a long weekend is enough to see the pyramids properly. Here is how we would use the days you have.

4 days: Cairo and the pyramids

Spend one full day on the Giza plateau and at the Grand Egyptian Museum, one day in historic Cairo with the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili, and keep the arrival and departure days for rest. Add Saqqara if you have an extra half day.

7 to 8 days: Cairo and the Nile

This is the classic first trip. Three days in Cairo followed by a four-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan lets you see the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae without long drives.

10 to 12 days: add the Red Sea

With ten days or more, finish with a few nights on the Red Sea. The drive from Luxor to Hurghada takes about four hours, and a relaxing beach stay is the perfect end to a busy sightseeing trip.

14 days or more: the full picture

Two weeks lets you add Alexandria, a night in the White Desert and Abu Simbel. It is a full journey through every side of Egypt – history, river, desert and sea.