5-Day Egypt Itinerary: Cairo + Luxor

Quick answer: This 5-day Egypt itinerary covers the must-see highlights without rushing, with detailed day-by-day plans, restaurant recommendations, and budget guidance.

Best for: first-time visitors who want a fast-paced hit of Cairo, Giza, and a Luxor side trip, and do not mind heat, crowds, or early starts.

Day 1 — Giza & the Grand Egyptian Museum

Land in Cairo and head straight to the Giza Plateau, ideally arriving by 8am before the desert heat and tour-bus crowds build. General plateau entry runs about 540 EGP (roughly $18), with a separate ticket of around 400 EGP (about $13) to climb inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu — a tight, sweaty scramble worth it only if you are not claustrophobic. Walk out to the panorama point past the Sphinx for the classic three-pyramid line-up. In the afternoon, cross to the new Grand Egyptian Museum beside the plateau, where the complete Tutankhamun collection is displayed together for the first time; foreign-adult entry is about 1,450 EGP (roughly $29). Planning note: nearly every Egyptian monument is now card-only, so carry a working Visa or Mastercard rather than relying on cash. Getting around is easiest by pre-booked private car or a metered Uber, which works reliably across greater Cairo.

Day 2 — Islamic Cairo & the Bazaar

Spend the morning in Islamic Cairo, the medieval heart of the city and a UNESCO-listed maze of minarets. Start at the hilltop Citadel of Saladin and the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali for sweeping views over the haze; combined-site entry is roughly 550 EGP (about $11), card only. Walk down through Al-Muizz Street, one of the densest concentrations of Islamic-era architecture anywhere, toward the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, a trading warren founded in the 14th century. Pause at El Fishawy, a family-run coffeehouse operating since 1797 and once frequented by novelist Naguib Mahfouz; a mint tea costs only a few dollars. For lunch, seek out koshari — the national comfort dish of rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas and fried onions under spicy tomato sauce — or a spiced-meat hawawshi. Planning note: haggling is expected in the Khan, so counter the first quote at roughly half.

Day 3 — Fly to Luxor: East Bank Temples

Take an early EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Luxor, a short hop of about one hour that spares you the long overnight road or sleeper train; fares fluctuate but often sit around $110–175 one-way depending on season and how early you book. Luxor sits on the ancient city of Thebes, and the East Bank holds two of Egypt’s greatest temple complexes. Spend late afternoon at Karnak Temple, whose Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 towering columns is the standout; foreign-adult entry is about 600 EGP (roughly $12). After sunset, walk the ram-lined Avenue of Sphinxes to the floodlit Luxor Temple in the town centre, which is far more atmospheric after dark. Planning note: temples on the east bank catch brutal midday sun, so save Karnak for the softer light of late afternoon and bring more water than you think you need.

Day 4 — Valley of the Kings & West Bank

Cross to the West Bank at dawn, the burial ground of the New Kingdom pharaohs, to beat the heat and the crowds. The Valley of the Kings is the centrepiece; the base ticket is about 750 EGP (roughly $15) and lets you enter three tombs of your choice, while headline tombs like Tutankhamun and Seti I carry separate surcharges. Continue to the dramatic terraced Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, then stop at the twin Colossi of Memnon, two 18-metre seated statues that once guarded a vanished temple. Many travellers add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Theban necropolis, typically around $80–120 per person. Getting between sites is simplest by hired car with driver for the half-day. Planning note: photography inside most tombs now requires a separate photo ticket, so buy it at the valley entrance if you plan to shoot.

Day 5 — Aswan: Philae & the Nubian Nile

Travel south to Aswan, Egypt’s gentle Nubian frontier town, reached by road in roughly three hours or by a scenic Nile sailing if you booked a cruise leg. The morning highlight is the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and relocated stone by stone onto Agilika Island after the High Dam raised the waters; reach it by a short motorboat from Shellal dock, with entry around 550 EGP (roughly $11) plus a small boat fee. Nearby, the Unfinished Obelisk in an ancient granite quarry shows exactly how these monoliths were carved. Save the late afternoon for a felucca sail around Elephantine Island as the light turns gold — Aswan’s most memorable hour — then dinner in a colourful Nubian village on the west bank. Planning note: if you have a spare pre-dawn start, the three-hour desert drive to Abu Simbel rewards you with Ramesses II’s colossal rock-cut facade.