The largest metropolitan area in Africa, greater Cairo packs in more than 22 million residents and millennia of history. Here’s how to make the most of a day in the Egyptian capital.

9 AM

One of the most iconic places on the planet, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world and the reason most travellers come to Cairo. Few places give a better perspective than 9 Pyramids Lounge, the closest dining option to its namesake structures, which spreads out on the sands of the plateau with wooden boardwalks and colourful Bedouinstyle cushions. Tuck into an Egyptian breakfast spread of ful medames (stewed and seasoned fava beans), freshly-baked bread and crispy falafel.

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10.30 AM

An entry ticket to the Giza Plateau is required to dine at 9 Pyramids Lounge, so put it to use and get up close to the plateau’s three pyramids and the Sphinx, which stands 22 metres high, making it the largest monolith statue in the world. Simply standing next to these towering ancient constructions is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but you can actually clamber around inside the pyramids. This activity isn’t for claustrophobes – the dank passages are narrow and steep, and the air is hot and humid – but it’s certainly an Indiana Jones-style adventure.

A few kilometres away, the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, was slated to open at the end of 2023 (though it’s been delayed for years, and an official opening date has yet to be announced). It will house all of Tutankhamun’s treasures in one place for the first time ever, and a two kilometre walkway will connect the pyramids with the museum.

12.30 PM

The mighty Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt, is the longest river in the world, flowing more than 6,600 kilometres through 11 African countries, and is an essential part of any Egypt experience. Dine on the open-air waterside terrace at Kebabgy Oriental Grill, on the southern tip of the Nile island of Zamalek. Part of the Sofitel El Gezirah, one of the top hotels in Cairo, Kebabgy serves up sizzling dishes of charcoal-barbecued meats, including chicken, lamb and pigeon.

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2 PM

Continue the overdose on history by visiting one of Cairo’s two other major museums: the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) or the Egyptian Museum. It’s a tough call, as both have collections worth seeing. Opened in 2021, the NMEC is home to a cache of royal mummies and has modern and easy-to-understand signage – a rarity in Egyptian archaeological sites – and just enough artefacts to make you feel satiated without being overwhelmed.

On the other hand, the salmon-pink Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, which opened in 1902, is a cultural stalwart, its dusty cases and occasionally hand-written labels harking back to the days of colonial excavations. It’s here that King Tut’s golden death mask is on display until it moves to the GEM.

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4 PM

Hungry? You’ll need to be for the next few hours with Bellies En Route, a female-founded company that runs food tours in downtown Cairo. Over eight stops, you’ll get a taste of beloved Egyptian dishes at local hole-in-the-wall spots you’re unlikely to find otherwise.

8 PM

Once you’ve stuffed yourself silly, walk it off at Khan El Khalili, a medieval market that’s Cairo’s classic shopping experience. The labyrinth of narrow alleyways is stuffed with vendors hawking everything from fragrant spices and perfumes to shisha pipes and gold jewellery. Merchants have been trading here since the 14th century, and strolling through the keyhole arches illuminated by dozens of metal lanterns is particularly atmospheric.

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When you need a break from shopping, grab a seat and watch the world go by at El Fishawy, Cairo’s oldest coffee shop, which has been open since the days of Napoleon.

10 PM

A day in Cairo complete, head back toward the pyramids to Mena House, an opulent hotel originally constructed in 1869 as a hunting lodge for Khedive Ismail Pasha. Famous visitors have included Egyptian and European royalty, presidents, prime ministers and cultural icons such as Agatha Christie, Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra. The rooms have been much modernised since then but retain a touch of elegance through dark woods and a cream-colour palette. Wake up to that stunning view of the pyramids one more time before you head off to explore elsewhere in Egypt.

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