I'm planning on a eight-day trip to Cairo to ring in the New Year. Right now I'm booked for four nights at Le Méridien Pyramids (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1807) and another four in the more central (I think) Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hotel/croha;jsessionid=NMIQNW0BC014OCTGWAKCJBQKM0YDKIY4? _requestid=489443).

For anyone who's been, I'm wondering if I should instead book more time downtown, or is there enough to see at The Pyramids to occupy half my time there?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm thinking I'll have to leave Luxor and all points beyond for my next visit...

I think 4 day/nights at Giza is too much. I'd allocate a morning or afternoon 2-3 (maybe 4 or 5) hours to see the pyramids (unless you really want to go inside). Walk around the 2 really big pyramids and the 4 smaller ones, the solar boat, sphinx and the recently-excavated workmen's camp. All while being harangued to take a camel/horse/cart ride. Bear in mind the guards start to chase off tourists after a certain hour in the late afternoon so make sure you give yourself enough time. From there, it may be worth going down to see the bent and red pyramids, and maybe Memphis though the archeological sites are really worn down. That's 1/2 day if you start early enough.

I'd almost say 2 full days in Cairo is quite a bit too. One day for the Egyptian museum, maybe 1/4-1/2 day for the Citadel, and then the rest of the time wandering the usual tourists districts (somewhat north of the citadel). There are other parts too but whether it's really worth seeing is debatable.

I was there last summer. I did a half day at the Pyramids (including climbing up to the top of one) and that was plenty. You can only take so much of the heat and the hassling. We got an early start to our day, so still had the afternoon to see other stuff. Our driver took us to Saqqara (spent a couple hours there), a carpet school (we wanted to see this as my wife is an artist - had him skip the papyrus store he wanted to stop at), and the small musuem at Memphis to fill out the day (this only took about an hour). You could go back for the light show, but really one day/night is enough for Giza.

The Egyptian museum was the highlight of Cairo. You could spend a full day there (or even a 2nd if you are really into it), though 5-6 hours tired us out. Spent the rest of that day just walking around the river and main downtown areas. Spent a third day with a local who took us around the market, Citadel, etc, which was great. We saw a lot of Cairo in three days, but still had plenty of time to shop/eat/drink/smook the hooka/relax.

We had a 4th day in Cairo and ended up doing a day trip to Alexandria. But with 8 days, I would suggest looking into the Luxor excursion. You do not have enough time for the cruise, but you have plenty of time to fly there and back.

I agree with the previous posters, having been in Cairo earlier this year.

Cheers,
Fredd

Some of this depends on how fast-paced you want your vacation to be. You certainly can do the pyramids/Saqqara in one day and the rest of Cairo in two, but you're going to be exhausted. I think spending 2 nights at the pyramids would be fine and I'd say at least 3 in Cairo, if not 4. That gives you lots of time to see things, but also just to relax. I do think that if you can afford it, a quick flydown to Luxor and back would be well worth it -- 2 nights in Luxor would let you see the highlights, or make it 3 and spend only 1 night at the pyramids. If you don't want to spend that much money, an overnight trip to Alexandria (by bus or train, both very modern) would let you see a very different side of Egyptian life.

As to what to see -- you'll find that most of the advice about Cairo/Egypt tourism is actually in the Middle East forum.

But isn't Egypt in Africa...? ;)

Seriously though, thanks to everyone for their advice... I wasn't aware of the replies until I checked in this morning!