From Istanbul to the pyramids

Who it is for

For anyone who wants the Byzantine and Ottoman layers of Istanbul and ancient Egypt on the same trip.

Not for anyone traveling in summer, since the heat in Luxor limits time outdoors.

The strategy

Istanbul comes first, and a two-hour flight leads to Cairo. Luxor closes the trip, with visits early in the morning.

What you will see

• Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Basilica completed in 537, a mosque from 1453, a museum from 1935 to 2020, and a mosque again since July 2020.
• Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, Cairo. Three 4th Dynasty pyramids (about 2560–2510 BCE).
• Karnak, Luxor. Ancient Egypt's largest religious complex, with about 2 km² built and rebuilt over 1,500 years.

Day by day

Istanbul

1. 1
   Day 1: Historic peninsula, from the walls to the bazaar

   1. 2Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)Up to half an hourEssential
   2. 1Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)One to two hoursEssential
   3. 5Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan)Up to half an hourWorth a visit
   4. 3Topkapı PalaceOne to two hoursEssential
   5. 9Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)Up to half an hourIf there is time
   6. 6Egyptian Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)Up to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 2
   Day 2: Galata, İstiklal and the Bosphorus shore

   1. Galata TowerOne to two hoursYou can skip it
   2. 7Dolmabahçe PalaceOne to two hoursWorth a visit
3. 3
   Day 3: Golden Horn and the Asian side

   1. 8Chora (Kariye)Half a day or moreWorth a visit
4. 4
   Day 4: Princes' Islands (Büyükada) (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Cairo

1. 5
   Day 5: Giza and the new museum

   1. 2Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)Half a day or moreEssential
2. 6
   Day 6: Islamic Cairo on foot

   1. 3Mosque of Ibn TulunEssential
   2. 6Sultan Hassan and Al-RifaiUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 5Saladin's Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad AliOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   4. 4Al-Muizz streetEssential
   5. 7Khan el-Khalili and Al-FishawiWorth a visit
   6. 9Al-Azhar Park and Bab ZuweilaWorth a visit
3. 7
   Day 7: River, Copts, and Tahrir

   1. Egyptian Museum, TahrirOne to two hoursIf there is time
4. 8
   Day 8: Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Luxor

1. 9
   Day 9: East bank: temples, museum and market

   1. 1Karnak (Ipet-isut)Essential
   2. 2Luxor Temple (Ipet-resyt)Essential
   3. 5Avenue of SphinxesOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   4. 8Abu al-Haggag MosqueUp to half an hourIf there is time
2. 10
   Day 10: West bank: Valley of the Kings and mortuary temples

   1. 6Valley of the KingsWorth a visit
   2. 3Deir el-BahariEssential
   3. Colossi of MemnonUp to half an hourIf there is time
   4. 4Medinet HabuEssential
3. 11
   Day 11: Workers, mud village and river · if you have more time

   1. 7Deir el-Medina and Valley of the QueensWorth a visit