Top 7 Rated Egypt Attractions & Destinations

Egypt, the country of the ancient Pharaohs, is a travel destination with breathtaking monuments and tombs that awe visitors. But it’s not just tourist traps and historical sites. There are lots of activities in Egypt for all kinds of visitors, including 4WD excursions across large stretches of desert, diving among the world’s best coral reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea, and river boating along the renowned Nile. Beachcombers seek out the sun on the Red Sea Coast or Sinai, while enthusiasts of ancient history will have a field day in Luxor. For city dwellers, Cairo is the ultimate metropolis, but the Siwa oasis and the town of Aswan in the south provide a taste of the leisurely pace of the countryside. Egypt gives travellers the opportunity to design itineraries that blend culture, adventure, and leisure into a single trip because there is so much to see and do there.

Plan your sightseeing with our list of the top attractions and places to visit in Egypt.

1. Pyramids of Giza

One of the most famous sites on earth is the Pyramids of Giza, the final remaining wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These tombs of the Pharaohs Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Mycerinus), guarded by the mysterious Sphinx, have fascinated travellers throughout the years. They are frequently the first places visitors go after landing in Egypt and are typically at the top of most visitors’ lists of things to see. Situated on the outskirts of Cairo’s desert, these colossal monuments honouring the deceased pharaohs remain a breathtaking sight and a must-see attraction for any traveller to Egypt.

Arrive here around 7:30 am and enter through the main Pyramid of Khufu site entrance (not the Sphinx entrance) to avoid the crowds. This implies that by the time the tour buses arrive at 8:15 a.m., you could have completed touring the Pyramid of Khufu’s internal tunnels and burial chambers. The Sphinx and the three pyramids are the highlights of most visitors’ site visits, but the Giza Plateau offers much more to see. Make time, if you can, to investigate the eastern cemetery’s burial complexes (on the east side of the Pyramid of Khufu). The public can visit the tombs of Meresankh III, a wife of Pharaoh Khafre, and prominent officials Qar and Idu from the 6th dynasty.

2. Luxor’s Temples & Tombs

Luxor, an Upper Egyptian town beside the Nile, is well-known for its Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and Hatshepsut Memorial Temple. This is ancient Thebes, the capital of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, with more sites to see than most people could see in a single trip. The two temples of Karnak and Luxor, the museum, and the modern city with its bustling souq are all located on the east bank of Luxor. The majority of Luxor’s tourist attractions are located on the west bank’s verdant farmland and desolate cliffs; this area is home to so many tomb and temple sites that it has been dubbed the world’s largest open-air museum.

After spending a few days here marvelling at the enormous columns in the temples and examining the vibrant wall paintings of the tombs, you’ll understand why Luxor has always captivated historians and archaeologists. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Egypt is the Valley of the Kings, but you may avoid the crowds if you’re prepared to rise unusually early. The archaeological sites of Luxor open at 6am, although very few people (and no big tour operators) seem to take advantage of this. Start your sightseeing early, at the Valley of the Kings, where you may explore the interiors of Luxor’s renowned New Kingdom tombs before anybody else—aside from a few cunning early risers—arrives.

3. Cruising the Nile

The Nile is what defines Egypt. One of the highlights of many travellers’ trips to Egypt is a multi-day voyage along this renowned canal, which witnessed the emergence of the Pharaonic era. One of Egypt’s most serene views is sunrise and sunset over the date-palm-studded riverbanks, backed by sand dunes, and cruising the Nile is the most calm way to see the temples that dot the riverbanks on the path between Luxor and Aswan. The Temple of Kom Ombo and Edfu’s Temple of Horus, where all the large cruise ships dock, are the two most well-known attractions on a Nile Cruise.

Alternatively, you can construct your own schedule and cruise the Nile by felucca (Egypt’s classic lateen-sailed wooden boats), if you’d prefer a less crowded and slower experience and don’t mind “roughing it” a little. While many cruise boat itineraries leave from Luxor or Aswan, felucca charters are exclusively available from Aswan for multi-day excursions.

4. Aswan

Nestled on the gentle bends of the Nile, Aswan is the most serene town in all of Egypt. This spot, which is surrounded by dunes with an orange colour, is ideal for taking a few days to relax and take in the laid-back vibe. Go to Elephantine Island by river ferry, then see the Nubian settlements’ vibrant streets. Next, take a camel ride to the St. Simeon desert monastery located on the east bank of Aswan. After that, unwind in one of the eateries on the riverboats while you observe the lateen-sailed feluccas pass by. Don’t forget to board a felucca at dusk to cruise the islands of Aswan. This is the most laid-back method to see the wonders around Aswan and is by far the most popular activity there.

While there are many historical buildings and temples in the area, such as the Philae Temple on its island, lounging back and taking in the river life is one of the most well-liked activities in Aswan.

5. Abu Simbel

In a nation adorned with several temples, Abu Simbel holds a unique significance. This is the magnificent temple of Ramses II, with enormous statues watching over the exterior and lavishly ornate wall murals within. In addition to being well-known for its enormous size, Abu Simbel is also renowned for the amazing engineering achievement that UNESCO accomplished in the 1960s, moving the entire temple from its original location to prevent it from being submerged beneath the Aswan Dam’s increasing waters. These days, visiting Abu Simbel is as much about marvelling at the incredible construction projects of Ramses II as it is about appreciating the success of the global effort to preserve the temple complex.

The majority of visitors to Abu Simbel come on scheduled day trips from Aswan, all of which depart early in the morning to reach the temple complex, which opens at 8 or 9 am. Almost everyone left and returned to Aswan after 11 a.m. Spend the night in the hamlet of Abu Simbel itself and visit the temples after midday if you want to explore Ramses II’s enormous masterpiece without the throng.

6. Diving the Red Sea

Temples and tombs on land are not quite as fascinating as the world beneath the surface of the Red Sea. Scuba divers are drawn to the Red Sea’s coral reefs because of the abundance of marine life, which includes sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays, and even dugongs, in addition to the soft corals that are visible. The most well-known town for divers to base themselves is Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula. It is the closest to both the reefs of the Straits of Tiran and the reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park. Advanced divers should visit the resort of Marsa Alam, the closest base for diving Egypt’s “deep south” dive sites, while beginners should travel to Hurghada or El Gouna on the Red Sea coast to dive the sites in the Straits of Gubal.

The Red Sea is a popular location for wreck diving in addition to having many fish and coral. The most well-known wreck is the Thistlegorm, a British cargo ship from World War II that was attacked by the Germans in 1941 while it was returning to replenish Allied forces. Due to the enormous amount of automobiles, motorcycles, and WWII memorabilia that can be found both inside the ship and strewn across the sea bed surrounding the wreck, divers now rank the location as one of the top five wreck dive sites in the world.

7. Explore Historic Cairo

Historic Cairo, a region of the city, is packed with mosques, madrassas (Islamic schools of learning), and antiquities from the Fatimid to the Mameluke periods that may be found along its evocative, winding streets. This is the location of Khan el-Khalili’s maze-like shopping souq, where craftsmen and coppersmiths still operate out of tiny workshops and kiosks brimming with spices, perfumes, ceramics, and textiles. A tangle of roads encircling the market is the site of some of the most exquisitely preserved historic Islamic empire structures. There is a lot of history to discover here. See the stunning Sultan Hassan Mosque and Al-Azhar Mosque. For the best views of the neighbourhood, ascend to the top of Bab Zuweila’s old mediaeval gate to see the minaret-dotted skyline.

This district is most peaceful in the mornings when the small pathways are less crowded. However, Fridays are the Muslim holy day, so if you’re going to visit any of the mosques in the vicinity, avoid doing so. When visiting mosques as a tourist, dress modestly (covering your arms and legs) and, if you’re a woman, carry a scarf to cover your head. Savvy shoppers should visit Khan el-Khalili in the evening, when the souq is at its busiest and all of the shops are open till late.

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