Cairo and Giza

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the starting point for most trips. It spreads along both banks of the Nile just before the river fans out into the delta, and within a few kilometres you move from Old Kingdom pyramids to medieval mosques and nineteenth-century boulevards.

Giza, on the west bank, is now part of the greater city. Its plateau holds the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, the Great Sphinx and a cluster of temples and noble tombs. Aim to arrive early, while the light is soft and the heat is still mild.

Spend a few hours in the museums before heading south: they give context to everything you will see in Upper Egypt. The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square holds statues, coffins and everyday objects, while the Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids now displays much of the Tutankhamun collection [verify].

Islamic and Coptic Cairo round out the visit: the Citadel of Saladin, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the churches of Coptic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, where a mint tea in an old cafe is a good way to end the day.

Three days give you time for Giza, one museum and an unhurried walk through the historic centre. Many travellers then continue to Luxor and Aswan by train, by plane or on a Nile cruise.