Many people like myself pass through Cairo en route to the Pyramids or a cruise up the Nile. It’s one of the most chaotic cities on the planet, but it’s much more than just a stopover as part of your Egypt adventure. Cairo is rich in history, culture, amazing food, and ancient architecture. I’m sharing my Cairo, Egypt 2-day itinerary, which includes epic churches and mosques, museums, nightlife, cuisine, markets, and travel tips. I highly recommend spending at least 2 days in Cairo. I promise you won’t regret it.
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Getting to Cairo City Center From the Airport
When I arrived at the Cairo airport, there wasn’t a stream of cabs outside. There were two companies where you could book a taxi. I visited both, trying to get the best deal I could, but they were clearly in cahoots, and the price was the same, which was 200 EGP, if I remember correctly. It was a 20–30 minute drive to my hostel, which was located in the city center. Apparently, you can also take an Uber, and public transit is available from the airport to the city center as well.
Where to Stay in Cairo
I recommend staying in the city center, but away from the tourist hotspots. If you’re looking for an authentic experience, I recommend staying at Dahab Hostel. It’s the real deal with an ancient elevator that requires an operator for each trip to the hostel. This hostel fits perfectly with the ancient Cairo architecture. It’s within walking distance to bustling Cairo streets, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife; it has it all while still being off the beaten path. The other thing I loved about this hostel was the tour desk, where I booked a camping trip in the White Desert for $99 USD.
Check out my Dahab Hostel review, Cairo Hostels – My Honest Review of Dahab Hostel.
Why do I often stay in hostels when I travel? Check out my blog, Hostels for Solo Travel at 49
Dining in Cairo, Egypt
On the first night, I suggest wandering the area to get comfortable with your new surroundings. Find a local Shawarma street stand — you can’t miss them, look for the five-foot-high hunk of beef. However, you will need to figure it out yourself, as the menu boards are in Arabic. I was lucky, as there was a friendly young lady behind me who helped me order, and the guy at the counter was helpful too. I ended up with the best shawarma of my life, and I found a spot on the street to enjoy my first meal in Egypt. There are so many fantastic shawarma places in Cairo, and I truly felt like I was in heaven.
Cairo take-out tip: Download the Talabat app. This is Egypt’s version of Uber Eats. They have some excellent authentic take-out restaurants, and on average, I paid $2-$ 4 CAD per meal using this app.
Spend a Day Exploring Old Cairo
On my first full day in Cairo, Egypt, I signed up for a tour on Guru Walk called ‘Explore Old Cairo – Free Walking Tour.’ The highlight of this tour is visiting Coptic Cairo, but we also explored iconic mosques, markets, and the best of Old Cairo. First, we met at a local coffee shop just up the street from my hostel. This was an iconic coffee shop, and I loved the architecture. I met my guide, Mohamed, and we were ready to embark on an epic day in Cairo. Luckily, I was the only person on the tour, so it was just me and Youseff. My own free guide for the day in Cairo — it doesn’t get any better than that.
If you are interested in exploring Cairo free walking tours, you can check out the available Cairo GuruWalk tours here. If you sign up for a tour, I will receive a small commission.
Heading to the Pyramids? Check out my blog on my epic GuruWalk experience: Pyramids of Giza: How I Explored Them With a Free Guided Tour
Navigating the Cairo Metro
Nothing screams ‘doing Cairo’ like a local like riding the Cairo Metro with a local. It was a good thing I had a local guide, as they have carts reserved for women only. Since the signs are in Arabic, I wouldn’t have known until I stepped into a women-only subway cart. It would have gone from ‘this is my lucky day’ to ‘I am not welcome here’ very quickly, I’m sure. Nonetheless, we hopped on the train and headed to our first stop, Coptic Cairo.
We Explored the Coptic Cairo Area
We got off at the Coptic area to visit some of the most iconic churches in the world. This is the Christian part of the city, which matches the ancient Cairo architecture. It’s a must-see, whether you are a spiritual Christian or not. If you do one thing in Cairo, visit Coptic Cairo.
The Iconic Coptic Christian Churches of Cairo, Egypt
Some of the Coptic Christian churches we visited included the famous Hanging Church, the Church of St. George, and the Church of St. Sergius, also known as the Church of Abu Serga. Abu Serga was an extraordinary experience, as it’s believed to be built on the grounds where the Holy Family stayed during their time in Cairo, Egypt. Outside the church, a map of the journey the Holy Family took to escape Herod is displayed, showing Cairo as a stop on the route. The back streets of Coptic Cairo are so iconic that they feel as if they haven’t changed in the last 2000 years. Next, we were off to visit Cairo’s most iconic mosques.
We Were Off to Visit the Most Important Cairo Mosques
After a short walk, we hailed a cab and we’re off to Egypt’s most important place of worship, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The walk was interesting as we admired Cairo’s non-ancient architecture. The apartments are crammed together like a sandwich and appear crooked, but my guide, Mohamed, swore they are structurally sound. I will just have to take his word for it. I enjoyed the ride to our first mosque through the chaotic traffic, with the Mosque of Muhammad Ali visible in the distance. It stuck out like a sore thumb. I knew this was going to be an exceptional experience.
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali
We arrived at the Muhammad Ali Mosque, and its appearance was as impressive as its significance. It boasts stunning minarets and a series of remarkable domes. My Guide provided a history lesson and a recap of this mosque’s importance to the Egyptian people. We then toured the interior of the mosque, which was equally impressive as the exterior.
For more about my Coptic Churches and Mosque experiences in Cairo, check out my blog, 8 Iconic Churches You Must Visit Around the Globe.
The Egyptian King’s Row of Statues
On the way to the mosque, we passed two rows of statues that illustrated the history of Egypt’s kings and queens. Five thousand years of Egyptian royalty – now that’s impressive. This was a great history lesson that allowed me to learn a bit about each generation.
The Best Viewpoint in Old Cairo
While exploring the stunning mosque grounds, we stopped to take a photo with the Pyramids in the distance. Then, we headed to a lookout point behind the mosque that offers the best panoramic view of Cairo. This view is incredible, and photos don’t do it justice. If you’re heading to Cairo, don’t miss this lookout. As for mosques, we also visited the Salah Al-Din Citadel and the Al-Nasser Muhammad ibn Qaloun Mosque. They, too, were amazing, but the Muhammad Ali Mosque was the highlight for me.
Check Out the Sayeda Aisha Market
After touring the mosques, we headed to the Sayeda Aisha Market. It’s a local, authentic market, and I didn’t see a single tourist other than myself. The walk to the market was an adventure, as it was total chaos. If dodging honking cars to get where you want to go is your thing, you will love this!
Once we arrived at the market, the experience was epic. Local produce, clothing, souvenirs, street food, coffee carts—everything you’d expect from a local market. We stopped for a sugarcane beverage, and yes, just a glass of pure sugarcane juice; it was pure bliss. I also bought a set of mini pyramid glass statues for pennies that would cost $35 USD at the Pyramids. This was one of the best market experiences I have had. The Sayeda Aisha Market for the win.
If you’d like to check out Dahab Hostel, where I stayed, or other hostels in Cairo, try using the Hostelworld search below. If you book a hostel through my affiliate link below, I will receive a small commission.
Visit one of Cairo’s Many Hookah Bars
Throughout Cairo and Egypt, hookah bars are everywhere. Since there is no alcohol in Egypt, these bars serve as the social alternative. Unless you’re completely against smoking for whatever reason, I highly recommend visiting one of these bars. It’s truly a unique local experience. I didn’t notice any “tourist hookah bars.”
After my long day touring Old Cairo, my guide, Mohamed, and I agreed to meet at his favourite hookah bar with a friend of his. This was convenient as it was just up the street from my hostel. I wanted to try this, and what better way to experience my first hookah than with an Egyptian? The bar itself was on a dimly lit side street, with most of the seating outside. It was small, with just a few tables.
If you’re like me and haven’t tried smoking a hookah before, I had no clue what I was doing. They first give you your own mouthpiece. You choose a flavour; I went with spearmint. The server sets everything up and heats the coals right in front of you. He then connects the hookah, each of us having our own tube, and you start inhaling the smoke into your lungs. Sounds appealing, doesn’t it? It took me a few tries, but I was a pro in no time. There may not have been alcohol, but I definitely caught a buzz. As for drinks, they offered a wide variety of drink combinations, mostly fruity.
We discussed life, culture, sports, women, and our epic day exploring Old Cairo while playing dominoes. For me, a perfect travel day always ends with an authentic restaurant or bar experience. There couldn’t be a better way to wrap up an iconic day in Old Cairo.
Spend an Afternoon at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
Visiting the NMEC – National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is another must-do while in Cairo. Here, you will learn about 5,000 years of history and the evolution of ancient Egypt. From prehistoric times to the modern era. It truly is fascinating to see the statues, fashion, and history from each period.
Visit the Royal Mummies Hall
The highlight of the NMEC, however, is the Royal Mummies Hall. Here, they have 22 kings and queens who are mummified. Seeing 5,000 years of Egyptian royalty is truly remarkable and beyond words. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. However, you’ll have to take my word for it, as pictures and videos are not allowed, and each mummy is well-guarded. Do not visit Cairo without taking the opportunity to visit the National Egyptian Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
Museum Tip: The new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza is set to open officially in November 2025. From what I’ve heard, this museum is a spectacle and is enormous! As I understand, the museum will feature some very large statues and exhibits to enjoy.
See a Traditional Sufi Dance and Tanoura Show
On your last night in Cairo, go see a traditional Sufi dance and Tanoura show. This takes place at the Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center. The venue itself is a cultural and historic site in Islamic Cairo. When I told my guide, Mohamed, that I was attending this show, I could tell it was a big deal. The show features men-only performers who wear bright, multi-layered skirts. There is a lot of lightning-fast spinning with the skirts orbiting in a circular motion. The technical term for this is whirling. The show was incredible, and I highly recommend it. There are many cafés nearby, so arrive early, enjoy an Egyptian tea, people-watch, and have an epic night.
This wraps up my 2-day itinerary in Cairo, Egypt. I recommend adding at least an extra day to chill and soak up the vibe, but if you only have 2 days, you’ll still leave Cairo happy. Cairo is probably just a stopover on your way to a Nile Cruise, the Pyramids, or the White Desert. But don’t just use Cairo as a place to crash in transit. It has way too much history and culture to explore not to dig deeper. Cairo is one of my favourite cities in the world, and it could be the same for you.
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