10-Day Cairo & Alexandria Tour with Museums
Citadel, Coptic Cairo, Alexandria, Saqqara and two great museums, mostly in half-day outings. No domestic flights, with a private Egyptologist on every sightseeing day.
The short answer
10-Day Cairo & Alexandria Tour with Museums is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo and Alexandria: 7 nights in Cairo and 2 in Alexandria. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,688 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most Egypt itineraries rush through Cairo. This one stays. Over ten days, nearly all by road, you see the city in half-day outings and have time left over: the Citadel and its mosques, Coptic Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara and Memphis, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization with the Royal Mummies.
In the middle you spend two nights in Alexandria for the Citadel of Qaitbay, Pompey's Pillar, the catacombs, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Graeco-Roman Museum. There are no domestic flights and no hotel changes except Alexandria, so it suits people who prefer a slower pace. You choose the standard of hotel when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01The Citadel of Salah El Din and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- 02Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, Abu Serga and the Ben Ezra Synagogue
- 03Two nights in Alexandria: Qaitbay Citadel, Pompey's Pillar, the catacombs and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- 04The Grand Egyptian Museum, with the Tutankhamun galleries and Khufu's solar boat
- 05Saqqara's Step Pyramid and Memphis
- 06The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Royal Mummies Gallery
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, 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 $1,6883★ hotels | Alexandria · 2 nightsSan Giovanni Stanley Hotel and Restaurant | $1,688May–Sep: from $1,545 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,4565★ deluxe hotels | Alexandria · 2 nightsHelnan Mamoura | $2,456May–Sep: from $2,527 | |
| Luxuryfrom $4,2205★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 7 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Alexandria · 2 nightsSteigenberger Cecil Hotel Alexandria | $4,220May–Sep: from $4,054 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Alexandria · Cairo
- 1
A private representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and drives you to your hotel. Nothing else is planned for today, so you can rest after your flight. Tomorrow starts at an easy pace with a half-day outing.
- 2
A half-day outing of about four hours with a licensed Egyptologist. You visit the Citadel of Salah El Din, with its Ayyubid walls and gateway, the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Mosque of Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad, and you look out over the city from the panoramic terrace. The rest of the day is free. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
- 3
Another half-day outing of about four hours. In Old Cairo you see the Babylon Fortress and the Hanging Church, the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, the Church of Abu Serga and its holy crypt, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, with a break for mint tea and pastry. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
- 4
After breakfast a private vehicle takes you from Cairo to Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast, where you stay for two nights. This is mainly a travel day, and you can settle in and explore the waterfront at your own pace. Tomorrow's sightseeing is guided.
- 5
With a guide you see the Citadel of Qaitbay, the 15th-century fort at the harbor, Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, where Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles meet, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library near the site of the ancient one.
- 6
In the morning you visit the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, which shows the city's history under the Greeks and Romans. Then your private vehicle takes you back to Cairo, where you spend four more nights.
- 7
A half-day visit of about four hours with a qualified Egyptologist. You see the Hanging Obelisk at the entrance, the Grand Hall, the Tutankhamun galleries, the Grand Staircase with its views and the Khufu solar boat museum. General admission, including the solar boat, and the transport are included.
- 8
- 9
A half-day visit of about four hours. Your Egyptologist takes you through the main exhibition hall and the Royal Mummies Gallery at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, followed by a set lunch at a nearby restaurant. The guide, the museum entrance fees and the transport are included.
- 10
After breakfast your private driver takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home, and a representative can help you at the terminal. This tour has no domestic flights, so nothing today depends on an earlier connection.
Bundled in
- Private transfer
- Airport transfer
- Private Egyptologist
- All entry tickets
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Nine hotel nights with breakfast: seven in Cairo and two in Alexandria
- Private road transfers between Cairo and Alexandria, and airport transfers
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary
- Licensed Egyptologist guide on all sightseeing days
- Set lunch at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- Grand Egyptian Museum general admission, including the Khufu solar boat
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Meals and drinks other than those stated
- The Giza Plateau visit and the inside of the Khufu pyramid
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum earlier in the day for lower crowd levels at the main galleries.
- 02
At Kom el Shoqafa, wear shoes with grip, the stairs and stone surfaces can be slick.
- 03
Sakkara has little shade, so carry a hat and water for the cemetery area.
- 04
For Alexandria photos, late afternoon light works well at Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Pompey’s Pillar.
- 05
On Fridays, mosque visits can be busier around prayer times, so arrive earlier if possible.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about adding the Giza Pyramids, extra nights in Cairo, or a Luxor and Aswan extension or Nile cruise.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to see Cairo and Alexandria properly and unhurried: museums, old quarters and the coast. Suited to couples, friends, families with older children and solo travelers who dislike flights.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who want the Nile temples, Abu Simbel or the Giza Pyramids on the same trip, or who need step-free access to every site.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Mostly half-day outings with free afternoons
- No domestic flights and only one hotel change
- Alexandria, two major museums, Coptic Cairo and Saqqara in ten days
Things to Consider
- No Luxor, Aswan or Nile cruise
- The Giza Pyramids are not on the plan
- Steps and uneven ground at the Citadel, churches and Saqqara
Where it fits
A good fit if you prefer a slower trip, love museums or want to add Cairo and Alexandria to a longer stay. The Giza Pyramids are not on the plan, so add them if they are on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt itineraries move fast between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. This tour does the opposite: nine nights in two cities, with half-day outings, two nights in Alexandria and no flights. Hotel standard is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Relaxed Guided Land Tour, No Domestic Flights
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo and Alexandria, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Cairo
- Includes
- 9 hotel nights with breakfast · Private road transfers, no domestic flights · Entrance fees to every listed site · Licensed Egyptologist on sightseeing days · Grand Egyptian Museum admission including Khufu's solar boat · Set lunch at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- Best for
- Travelers who prefer a slow pace · Museum and history lovers · Travelers who want to avoid flights
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 required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- A light scarf for mosques and churches
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for uneven ground and steps
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and churches
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for winter evenings and the Alexandria sea breeze
Children & families
Children are welcome. Half-day outings and no flights make this one of the easier itineraries for families. Every child takes a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals 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 when you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Most days are short outings by private vehicle. The Citadel, the Coptic churches and Saqqara have steps and uneven ground, and the Alexandria sites include stairs and narrow passages in the catacombs. The museums have long walks on smooth floors, and some areas have steps. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts are suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This tour has no domestic flights and uses private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local 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 follow the rules for photography and clothing at mosques and churches.
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 early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Are there any domestic flights?
No. Everything is by private road vehicle, including the journey from Cairo to Alexandria and back. You only need an international flight to reach Cairo and to leave.02Do we see the Giza Pyramids?
Not on the plan. This itinerary does not include a visit to the Giza Plateau. The Grand Egyptian Museum stands beside it, and Saqqara has the Step Pyramid. Ask us and we will add a Giza day.03Does this tour go to Luxor or Aswan?
No. It stays in Cairo and Alexandria. Our longer tours add Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and a Nile cruise.04How much sightseeing is there each day?
Most days are a half-day outing of four to five hours, with the rest of the day free. The Alexandria days are longer, and the National Museum day includes a set lunch.05Which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotels in Cairo and Alexandria for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are identical at every standard.06Will I make my international flight?
This tour has no domestic flights, so a delayed internal connection cannot affect you. The transfer to Cairo Airport is booked on the last morning and we recommend an early departure to allow for traffic. If you add flights of your own, take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, and personal expenses.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around the sites. Summers are hot, so outings start early, and Alexandria is cooler than Cairo.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-973510
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Cairo
- Nights
- 7 Cairo · 2 Alexandria
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers