Two honest days is what Cairo needs, and most itineraries give it one. The pyramids sit on the city's edge, not in remote desert, and that surprises people; the upside is you can be standing under the Great Pyramid forty minutes after breakfast. Go early, agree any camel or carriage price before you touch the animal, and walk the extra ten minutes to the panoramic viewpoint where the nine-pyramid photo happens.

The Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza deserves a half day on its own, and the old bazaar at Khan el-Khalili is best in the evening when the heat drops and the lanterns come on. Cairo traffic is a force of nature; plan one thing per half day and let a guide handle the driving.