3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Holiday
A whole day in Alexandria, then Giza's pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Your hotel for two nights, the airport transfers and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Holiday is a 3-day, 2-night trip to Cairo and Alexandria: 2 nights in Cairo. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £447 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
If you only have a long weekend, it helps to keep the plan tight. You stay both nights in one Cairo hotel, so there is no packing and unpacking. Your first day is for arriving. The second is given over entirely to Alexandria, the old Mediterranean port, with nothing squeezed in beside it.
On the third day you go to Giza for the pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, with lunch between them, and then on to the airport. We organise the transfers, the hotel and all the sightseeing. You pick the standard of hotel when you book, and the sightseeing is identical whichever you choose.
What lingers
- 01A whole day in Alexandria, including the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and the Citadel of Qaitbay
- 02The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library near the ancient library's site
- 03The Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx with your Egyptologist
- 04The Grand Egyptian Museum on the same day
- 05Two nights in a single Cairo hotel, so no repacking
- 06An airport meeting on arrival and a transfer to the airport on departure
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom £4473★ hotels | £447May–Sep: from £419 | ||
| Comfortfrom £4694★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City | £469May–Sep: from £458 | |
| Classicfrom £5065★ hotels | £506May–Sep: from £467 | ||
| Prestigefrom £5825★ deluxe hotels | £582May–Sep: from £602 | ||
| Luxuryfrom £9455★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo | £945May–Sep: from £906 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £1,219landmark hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza | £1,219May–Sep: from £1,130 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
3 Days / 2 Nights · Cairo · Alexandria · Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa · Citadel of Qaitbay · Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Giza Plateau
- 1
Our representative meets you as you come into the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, with meet and assist included, and takes you to a waiting car. It is roughly an hour to your hotel. Nothing else is planned, so you can rest and get ready for tomorrow's early start.
- 2
This day is all about Alexandria. Your guide and driver pick you up from your central Cairo hotel, and the tour lasts about 12 hours including the drives to the coast and back. With your Egyptologist you go down into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, which mix Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles, and visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library.
Lunch is a stop with a view across the Mediterranean. The afternoon takes in the Citadel of Qaitbay on the harbour and a stroll through the gardens of Montaza Palace, before the journey back to Cairo. Entrance fees to the scheduled sites, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle are covered. This is a long day, best for those who enjoy walking.
- 3
A driver collects you from your hotel and takes you to Giza, where you see the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Allow 4 to 6 hours for the Giza visit. Lunch follows at a restaurant with a view, and then your Egyptologist leads you round the Grand Egyptian Museum. The guide, entrance fees and air-conditioned vehicle are all included.
After the museum you are driven to Cairo Airport for your flight, and the timings are set around when you fly.
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast
- Airport arrival and departure transfers, with meet and assist
- A full-day excursion from Cairo to Alexandria, about 12 hours including the drives
- A day tour of the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- A licensed Egyptologist on both sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to the scheduled sites in the itinerary
- An air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water on the tours
- Lunch at a restaurant on day 3
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Meals and drinks other than those stated
- The inside of the Khufu pyramid
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Alexandria means a full day on the road, so eat before you set off and keep a cardigan handy for the coast.
- 02
For the best Qaitbay photograph, stand on the seaward side where the Mediterranean sits behind the fort walls.
- 03
Keep something in reserve for your last morning; Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum together involve plenty of walking.
- 04
Look for the textured granite wall in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and ask your guide what the carvings represent.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about adding nights in Cairo or extending the trip to Luxor and Aswan.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Visitors with a long weekend in Egypt who want the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum plus a second city on the coast. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy walking and spending a long day on the road.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer a slow pace. Day 2 is about 12 hours with the drives.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Alexandria, Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum in three days
- A single hotel for both nights, so no repacking
- Alexandria has a day to itself, with nothing else added
Things to Consider
- Day 2 lasts about 12 hours including the drives
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at Giza
- No time for Luxor, Aswan or a Nile cruise
Where it fits
A good short break for a long weekend, or a few spare days around another trip. For Luxor, Aswan or a Nile cruise, choose a longer holiday.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Alexandria is often tacked onto a Cairo stay as a rushed side trip. On this holiday it has a day of its own, with the catacombs, the modern library, the Qaitbay Citadel and the Montaza Palace gardens, and Giza follows on day 3.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided short break with two day excursions
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotel, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa · Citadel of Qaitbay · Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast · A full-day Alexandria excursion from Cairo · A Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum day tour · Entrance fees to the scheduled sites · A licensed Egyptologist on both sightseeing days · Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Best for
- First-time visitors on a short stay · Travellers interested in history · Those who want Alexandria as well as the pyramids
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any visa or travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the sea breeze in Alexandria and for the car
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for steps, catacombs and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and historic sites
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for winter evenings and the coast
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel prices depend on the child's age and the room used, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age at booking. Day 2 is about 12 hours with the drives, so consider how your child copes with a long day in the car.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Both sightseeing days involve plenty of walking. Giza has uneven ground, sand and little shade, and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and the Citadel of Qaitbay have steps and narrow passages. With the drives, the Alexandria day comes to about 12 hours, so it suits people who are happy on their feet. The vehicle is air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday relies on road transport alone, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Local Egyptologists lead both days and the arrangements are made through suppliers in Cairo and Alexandria, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off painted walls and carvings.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how soon you let us know and on the kind of holiday. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How long is the Alexandria day?
About 12 hours in all, including the drives from Cairo to Alexandria and back. The rest is sightseeing and a stop for lunch. It suits anyone who is happy walking and spending a good while in a car.02Is there anything else on the Alexandria day?
No. The second day is for Alexandria alone, so you are never hurried between cities. You are back at your Cairo hotel in the evening.03Are the guide and entrance fees included?
Yes. A licensed Egyptologist leads both sightseeing days, and entrance fees to the scheduled sites in Alexandria, at Giza and at the Grand Egyptian Museum are included, along with the air-conditioned vehicle.04Which hotel will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotel for your dates. You spend both nights in the same Cairo hotel.05Is lunch included?
On day 3 lunch is included at a restaurant near Giza. On day 2 the tour stops for lunch overlooking the Mediterranean, and we will tell you at booking whether it is included or paid on the day. Breakfast comes with the hotel on both mornings.06Will I make my international flight?
The last day finishes with the airport transfer, and we plan the sightseeing around your departure time. If you are reaching Cairo on an internal flight, bear in mind that domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delay on the first can cost you the connection. If you must change planes the same day, choose a late-evening or night departure. Do take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides and drivers, meals and drinks other than those stated, and the inside of the Khufu pyramid.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around. In the hot months the days start early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-454108
At a glance
- Length
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Cairo
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers