How to Spend 7 Days Exploring Egypt

If you only have a week to explore Egypt, you can still enjoy many of the country’s iconic and historical highlights. Here’s how to best spend 7 days exploring Egypt.

Day 1: Cairo: Start in Cairo, where you can visit the Great Pyramids of Giza – the only Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still exist. Take photos and learn about their construction, then head to the Sphinx for more photo opportunities. From there, visit the Egyptian Museum to learn more about Egypt’s fascinating history.

Day 2: Cairo: Spend another day in Cairo, exploring the historic Islamic Cairo area. Visit the Al-Azhar Mosque, one of the most significant religious centers in the Islamic world. Stroll through the vibrant Khan El Khalili bazaar and purchase some unique souvenirs to take home.

Day 3: Luxor: Take a flight or train from Cairo to Luxor, an ancient city known as “Thebes” in the past. Visit the Karnak Temple, one of the most massive religious sites globally, covering an area of almost 200 acres. Then tour the beautifully preserved Luxor Temple.

Day 4: Luxor: Explore the West Bank of Luxor, where the ancient Egyptians buried their Pharaohs. Visit the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, tombs exhibiting beautifully preserved hieroglyphs. Visit the impressive mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the longest-reigning female pharaoh.

Day 5: Aswan: Take a morning train or drive to Aswan, a beautiful, laid-back town in the southern stretch of the Nile. Visit the island of Philae, boasting one of the most impressive temple complexes in Egypt, featuring stunning columns and carvings.

Day 6: Abu Simbel: Take a day trip to Abu Simbel, an awe-inspiring monument to human engineering. This temple was built in honor of King Ramses II and moved from its original location to where it currently stands to prevent flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam.

Day 7: Alexandria: Take a morning train or drive from Aswan to Alexandria, one of Egypt’s most impressive cities, with a historic Mediterranean port. Walk along the Corniche seafront, visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and explore the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a Greco-Roman burial site. Marvel at the impressive Roman Amphitheater overlooking the stunning Mediterranean sunsets.