Egypt is a bucket-list fantasy for anyone who is fascinated by ancient history. This country, which straddles the northeastern part of the African continent and the southwest corner of Asia, has been inhabited since the sixth century BCE. The ancient Egyptian civilisation was very advanced, as evidenced not only by the almost 5,000-year-old architecturally marvellous pyramids that still stand today but also by inscriptions and paintings on the walls of its many spectacular temples. Once a significant hub of Christianity, its denizens adopted Islam in the seventh century. Becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in 1517, it was later occupied by the British Empire. From 1922 it was a monarchy until Egypt declared itself a republic in the 1950s. Today’s Egypt and Egyptians are quite different from the ancients. Even so, the main sights all date back to antiquity and are worth exploring. Modern-day Cairo certainly exists, but for today’s visitors, it’s the time-honoured monuments that are the best places to visit in Egypt.
Best time to visit Egypt
The months between October and April are generally considered the best time to visit Egypt, with a cooler climate and all the must-visit places being open and markets active. But, you could also consider other periods in the year to explore the best places in Egypt. The shoulder months of March to May and September are the best for avoiding the main tourist traffic. The temperatures will be warm but not the blazing heat of July and August. While some spring plans could get disrupted by the sandstorms brought by the Khamsin winds, the sights will be more accessible without the crush of visitors you’ll get in winter, and hotels may offer some enticing deals. Photographers will appreciate the beautiful light in this season, which isn’t as harsh as it is in high summer. If you’re interested in diving at Sharm El Sheikh, late September and through October is the best time.
Explore our guide to the best time to visit Egypt for more details.
The best places to visit in Egypt
Cairo, a capital experience
- The Pyramid Complex: While there are nine pyramids in Giza (among several others scattered across Egypt), the three prominent ones are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx, all built almost 5,000 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Giza, said to be the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (probably built in 2560 BC or maybe even much before that) is an impressive sight that is the top among the best places to visit in Egypt. It makes you wonder how its precise symmetry and awe-inspiring engineering were done in those times. Enter this magnificent monument through the ‘Robbers’ Tunnel’ and hunch down the sloping corridors to see the broken granite sarcophagus inside. Not far away sits the Sphinx, with a lion’s body and serene human face that have been seeing changes sweeping across Egypt for centuries. Don’t forget to witness the informative sound and light show at the pyramids later in the evening.
- The Grand Egyptian Museum: Next to the pyramids is this shiny new museum, touted as ‘the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilisation’. The 36-foot-tall, 3,200-year-old statue of Pharoah Ramses II ushers you into the atrium, and through the vast space that houses more than 50,000 artefacts linked to the location and its immense history. The entire Tutankhamun collection said to be made up of about 5,300 different pieces, including the gold funerary mask, can be seen together for the first time in a dedicated gallery here, making it one of the best places to visit in Egypt. This fabulous repository of all things ancient holds treasures from the tombs of many of the pharaohs in the Valley of Kings, innumerable mummies, and wonderful jewellery, it’s worth dedicating a full day to see all these antiquities.
- Papyrus Institute: Here, you can get a demo of how the rushes from the banks of the Nile were used to make papyrus in ancient Egypt. You can also get a whiff of the delicate fragrance made from the essential oil of Egyptian lotus and see how it is extracted.
- Khan el-Khalili bazaar: The colourful 10th-century souk, as old as the city of Cairo itself, is a shoppers’ delight and a photographer’s dream. This centuries-old trading hub is filled with temptation today – intricately embroidered carpets, beautiful stained-glass lamps, incense, gold and silver artefacts, and a variety of spices.
Explore more with this local guide to shopping in Cairo.
Style file: Cruising down the Nile
A Nile cruise is one of the absolute must-dos while here and a great way to get to some of the best places to visit in Egypt. An 80-minute flight from Cairo brings you to Aswan, from where you can board your luxury cruise boat that will sail down the world’s longest river. Settle into your spacious and well-appointed stateroom, enjoy a splash in the swimming pool, and dine in style at the onboard restaurant as you watch vignettes of everyday Egyptian life unfold on either bank. Although, as the world’s longest river, the Nile flows over 6,650 km from its source in Africa’s Lake Victoria and up north to the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt, the ideal duration for a cruise is three days to a week.
- Aswan: Check out the famous Aswan High Dam that has transformed Egypt. Visit the Temple of Philae, with its reliefs featuring intricate hieroglyphs (the vertical Egyptian formal script that often uses pictures along with an alphabet to convey an idea rather than a specific word), is stunning. And especially impressive because it is said to have been relocated and rebuilt stone by stone on an island in the reservoir of the dam to save it from being submerged by the rising water. The Unfinished Obelisk is another must-see here.
- Abu Simbel: Before you leave Aswan, enjoy an exhilarating drive through the Sahara Desert at the crack of dawn, which brings you to the site of Abu Simbel, one of the best places to visit in Egypt. Two rock temples towering over the golden sands were built by the Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC to commemorate his victory in a battle. The entrance is flanked by 20-metre-tall figures of him seated on a throne, wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. A smaller temple has statues of him and his queen Nefertari and is also worth seeing.
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- Kom Ombo & Edfu: On the second day of your cruise, you will visit the unique double temples in Kom Ombo and the Temple of Horus in Edfu, whose sandstone structures are some of the best-preserved ones in the country. Nearby are the ruins of the old settlement of Edfu dating back to the Old Kingdom.
- Luxor: The next day, your Nile cruise will bring you to the ancient Temple of Luxor on the East bank of the river, one of the best places to visit in Egypt. Called Thebes in ancient times, Luxor is chock full of beautifully carved temples and statues. Don’t miss the tall obelisk, over 3,000 years old, whose twin now stands at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. It was officially gifted to the French by Muhammad Ali Pasha, the ruler of Ottoman Egypt, in 1830. The Temple of Karnak, 10 minutes from the Temple of Luxor by boat, is an absolute must-see too, built as it was by 30 different pharaohs over an extended period.
- Valley of the Kings: Leave behind the celebratory and ceremonial monuments and cross the river to the West Bank, which was reserved for the sacred burial ground known as the Valley of Kings. Here, you’ll get to see a few of the 65 rock-cut tombs and chambers dedicated to royalty and privileged nobles from antiquity. The East Valley holds most of the royal tombs and the western one is called the Valley of the Monkeys. Expect complex labyrinths of subterranean chambers, reliefs and murals depicting the person’s life and the spiritual journey into the afterlife. Sloping passages wind deep underground where burial chambers hold stone sarcophagi, the receptacles for the mummified remains and shelves alongside where the occupant’s organs were stored in individual jars. Another interesting way to get an idea of the scale of this sprawling Theban necropolis is to view it from a hot-air balloon soaring above it.
Alexandria: A beautiful blend of the historic and the modern
Founded by Alexander the Great, this ancient city is vibrant even today, and one of our top choices among the best places to visit in Egypt. Walk along the seafront stretch called the Corniche. Immerse yourself in the colours and chaos of the souks. Take a late evening stroll across the 400-metre-long Stanley Bridge. See how the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures melded in the 2nd Century AD as you descend underground into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, filled with fascinating inscriptions and carvings.
The ancient Library of Alexandria was perhaps the world’s most well-stocked, holding vast amounts of knowledge in its innumerable scrolls. But when Roman emperor Julius Ceasar attached Alexandria, it was burned to the ground along with all its collections. Today, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina stands in its place, a modern marvel that is as committed to the gathering and spreading of knowledge as its ancient counterpart. Well worth a stop even if all you do is gaze awestruck at the hundreds of students deep in study.
From Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the Abu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque and the Eliahu Hanady Synagogue, there are several places of worship in Alexandria that are also architecturally awesome. Be it the underwater ruins of Cleopatra’s Palace, the Grecian Pompey’s Pillar, the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, or the Ras El-Tin Palace, there are many interesting monuments to see in what is one of the best places to visit in Egypt.
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Alexandria is also one of the best places in Egypt for shopping and nightlife, with a lot of the action on the Corniche and leading off from it. The Spit Fire Bar said to be the city’s oldest (in operation since 1883) is a laidback dive in the Manshiya neighbourhood. The upscale Jeeda’s with Art Deco panache and handcrafted cocktails is another great nightspot.
Hurghada: Sea, sand, and serenity
Just an hour’s flight from Cairo will bring you to the Hurghada International Airport. A dream destination for divers, it is teeming with colourful fish, giant morays, and rich in corals. Above water, the sunset at Hurghada Marina Boulevard and sand sculptures at See Sand City are big attractions. Another must-do while you’re here is a desert safari by 4×4, which brings you close to the Bedouin people, and a chance to feast on a traditional barbecue dinner.
Sharm-el-Sheikh: Diving, design, and delicious food
A coastal gem with magnificent views of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Sinai Peninsula, this one is one of the best places to visit in Egypt. With crystal-clear waters and gorgeous corals, it’s rich in marine treasures and shipwrecks off the coast of the Red Sea, the perfect destination whether you’re a first-time snorkeller or scuba diver, or a professional. And even if you just want to relax on the beach or chill out at a stylish café, Sharm-el-Sheikh has a lot to offer.
Activities unlimited: All the amazing things to do in Egypt
- Be thrilled by the light and sound show near the pyramids at Giza
- Try your hand at rowing a boat on the river Nile or take a felucca ride.
- Enjoy an evening riverboat cruise with whirling dervishes and belly dancers to entertain you as you enjoy a delicious dinner aboard.
- Do a camel safari in the desert.
- Sign up for spills and thrills with 4×4 desert adventures.
- Visit a date orchard and do a tasting.
- Soar over the sights in a hot-air balloon
- Go snorkelling, scuba-diving, diving shipwrecks, kitesurfing, and other aquatic adventures.
- Shop for famous Egyptian cotton, perfumes made from the essence of Egyptian white lotus, paintings on papyrus, silver cartouches with inscriptions in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, statues of all sizes carved from stone and alabaster, pottery from Fayoum, wooden artefacts with mother-of-pearl inlay, dates from the Siwa oasis, and colourful appliquéd Khayamiya wall hangings from the tentmakers’ street in Cairo.
Best hotels in Egypt
The St. Regis in Cairo, the Address Marassi Golf Resort in Alexandria, the Sonesta Star Goddess on the river Nile, the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan, the Steigenberger Alcazar in Sharm El-Sheikh, and the Oberoi Beach Resort in Sahl Hasheesh are some of the best hotels in Egypt.
Book your stay at St. Regis Cairo via Booking.com
Book your stay at St. Regis Cairo via Agoda.com
Where to eat: Best restaurants in Egypt
Try traditional Egyptian koshari, made of lentils with a mix of rice, and macaroni, in a thick tomato sauce, at Abou Tarek, the iconic eatery that has been serving just this one dish in Cairo for almost a century. Also in the capital, Zööba gives the local Egyptian street food a modern twist. While it now has branches across the city and even the world, the original at Zamalek is the one to visit. If fancy is what you’re craving, Le Tarbouche on a riverboat offers Egyptian fare in an elegant setting. Sample dolma (stuffed grape leaves), samboosak (deep-fried puff pastry with various fillings), and fuul mudammas (a flavourful stew of fava beans and spices).
shop the best travel experiences here
(Feature Image Credit: David McEachan/Pexels)
Related: Pharaohs, Pyramids, And Papyrus: A Comprehensive Egypt Itinerary
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
All of Egypt bears traces of its glorious past. While the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Temples of Abu Simbel are the most well-known, there are thousands of other historical sites big and small dating back to antiquity as well as Roman times that are worth exploring.
Cairo and Alexandria are the largest and most interesting modern-day cities to visit.
Hurghada and Sharm-el-Sheikh are two of the best places to visit in Egypt if you want to dive or snorkel.
Help your children find Nemo as they snorkel in Hurghada and Sharm-el-Sheikh. Aqua Parks in both these locations are popular for families, as are escape rooms (for those with slightly older kids). Hot-air balloon rides in Luxor and the over the Valley of Kings and boat rides on the river can add some excitement.
Most of the ancient sites are a cultural experience anyway. Besides visiting those and listening carefully to your guide’s stories, you can also attend an Egyptian belly dance or whirling dervish performance or participate in a papyrus-making workshop.
Souvenir vendors at all the tourist sites can be quite aggressive. Some may try to intimidate you into making a purchase if you stop to look at their wares. Always drive a hard bargain, even when shopping in showrooms. Dress conservatively when visiting markets or places of worship, avoiding sleeveless or transparent clothing and shorts. Women can bring a scarf to cover the head and arms where necessary. Don’t forget to apply and reapply sunscreen, as the sun can be harsh, even in winter.
Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, and Sharm-el-Sheikh all have fabulous five-star resorts that will give you the luxury you seek and then some.
Apart from the desert dunes, the Ras Mohammed National Park is the perfect spot for nature lovers. On the Sinai Peninsula near the Red Sea Reef, it boasts gorgeous coral gardens, mangrove forests, and a wealth of wildlife on land, in the air, and in the water.
Written By
Priya Pathiyan
A chronicler of all things culture and lifestyle. Priya\'s forte is fresh perspective on everything. ..Read More
