Places to Visit in Egypt

List of Places to Visit in Egypt

Cluttered with stunning monuments, Egypt is truly an explorer’s heaven. Not even months in Egypt can be enough to cover all its numerous humongous temples and landmarks. Some of the most popular places to visit in Egypt are listed below:

• Cairo
• Pyramids of Giza
• Abu Simbel
• Luxor
• Aswan
• Alexandria

Before you leave, don’t forget to buy the travel insurance plan for Egypt to avoid any unplanned expenses!

Cairo

Known to the Arabs as Umm al-Dunya, no visit to Egypt is complete without visiting Cairo. This city is one of the greatest cities in the world and is stacked with major monuments spanning centuries of history. While most visitors rush to the Pyramids situated on the city's outskirts, Cairo itself has a host of attractions and some of the world's greatest artefacts.

There is no place better than its Egyptian Museum with some of the largest collections of items on display. Founded in 1857, this is indeed one of the best places to visit in Egypt with mummies, tombs, artefacts, sarcophagi, jewellery collections and more.

Important highlights include the Tutankhamun Galleries and the Egyptian Jewelry Collection. If you're interested in architecture, head to the city's oldest mosque, Al-Azhar Mosque which was completed in 972 AD and is also one of the oldest universities in the world.

Head to Coptic Cairo if you are interested in the history of Old Cairo, earlier a fortress built along the Nile by the Roman Emperor Trajan. Within the walls of what used to be Old Babylon, you will find several churches, Roman Towers and a Coptic Museum full of Egypt's Christian period and history.

Some remarkable churches include the 9th-century Hanging Church, the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, and the Greek Orthodox Church. For shopping and souvenir hunting, go to the Khan el-Khalili souq which has been a popular market since 1400 AD and are famous for their endless alleyways, small stores and gorgeous textiles and antiques.

Other stunning must-visit places include Cairo's Citadel which was built in 1176 by Saladin. The view from the Gawhara Terrace is one of the best panoramas in town. Other significant monuments include the recently restored Museum of Islamic Art, Sultan Hassan Mosque famous for its Mamluk architecture, the 11th century Bab Zuweila gate, Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street, Al-Azhar Park, Manyal Palace, and Downtown Cairo. 

Pyramids of Giza

Situated just outside Cairo, a trip to the Pyramids of Giza is a must-do attraction in every Egyptian holiday. Located on the Giza Plateau, for centuries these funerary temples have been topping the list of places to visit in Egypt. Despite the crowd, heat and dust, tourists take at least half a day's time to explore this place.

Built in the fourth dynasty, the largest of these is the Pyramid of Cheops or the Great Pyramid. Right behind this pyramid is the Solar Boat Museum along with recently restored ceremonial solar barques.

On the southern part of the plateau is the Pyramid of Khefre which has internal tunnel area visitors can enter. The smaller Pyramid of Mycerinus is also located in this part. Just nearby us is the iconic Sphinx, the lion-pharaoh like monument guarding these temples. Another recent addition to the Giza Plateau is the newly finished Grand Egyptian Museum.

Abu Simbel

The temple of Ramses the second, Abu Simbel is among the most special temples of Egypt because of its painted interior and megalithic proportions. The temple was also moved from its original site in the 1960s to save it from disappearing under the Aswan dam. Situated 280 kilometres away from Aswan, the magnificent temple is a sight to behold, making it one of the most popular places to visit in Egypt.

The 33-meter high Guards of the Inner Temple are usually the first thing a person notices, followed by the Pharaoh's family and their larger than life figures. Moving inside, the visitors are led to the 17.7 meters long Inner Temple, known as the Hypostyle Hall. Key highlights include the 10 meters high Osiris figures, painted ceiling of the central aisle, and its fabulous murals depicting the Battle of Qadesh.

The temple is full of detailed murals, paintings and various inscriptions carved by various mercenaries passing this temple over the centuries. The Vestibule, the Transverse Chamber and the House of the Gods are equally mesmerizing and depict various activities by Ramses II.

Other than this great temple, there are several other monuments of interest. These include the Small Temple of Abu Simbel or the Temple of Hathor, 10-meter high Colossi, depicting Ramses II, Queen Nefertari and their royal children.

Luxor

Full of several major tourist attractions, Luxor is most famous for the Valley of the Kings, the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut, and Karnak Temple. Originally the ancient Thebes, this place was the main seat of the New Kingdom Pharaohs and is among the most stunning places to visit in Egypt.

Today, the town has become a popular open-air museum along with some fun activities such as felucca rides, hot-air ballooning etc. Luxor's vibrant modern city is located on its east bank, along with its famous market and temples of Karnak and Luxor. Nearby are many more temples, including some major temples like the Temple of Khons, the Great Temple of Amun, and the Festival Temple of Tuthmosis the third.

All of these monuments are gigantic and reduces any visitor to ant-like proportions. If you're short on time, opt for a tour so that you can cover all the highlights of Karnak without getting lost or overwhelmed.

On Luxor's west bank is the Valley of the Kings, most remarkable for its intricate wall paintings and tombs. The valley has 63 tombs and is open to visitors on a rotation basis to avoid damage caused by humidity. If you're feeling adventurous, go for a hot air balloon ride over Luxor for a birds-eye view of the West Bank.

In 45 minutes, you can view almost all the tomb sites and temples of the surrounding area from above and take in the stunning sights as the sun rises. The town also has some more important places to visit in Egypt, including Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, the beautiful Medinet Habu temple, Tombs of the Nobles, Colossi of Memnon, and the Valley of the Queens.

Aswan

Located near the Nile, Aswan is among the most tranquil places to visit in Egypt. With a backdrop of orange coloured dunes, the town is a great place to relax after you've finished a busy town such as Cairo or Luxor. You can easily unwind here while soaking in the nearby sights from the distinct Nubian Villages.

Hopping on a traditional sailboat, felucca, is one of the best things to do here while getting a glimpse of the Nile's perfect scenery. Key attractions include the colourful Elephantine Island, Ruins of Abu and Aswan Museum. You can also see Aswan's Nilometer, an ancient structure to measure the Nile's rise and fall.

You can also visit the Aswan Botanical Gardens famous for its exotic plants. From here you can take a short trip to the Temple of Isis where you will also find the Kiosk of Trajan and the Temple of Hathor. You will also find the 41-meter long Unfinished Obelisk in the Northern Quarry of Aswan, abandoned due to a crack in the rock.

On the sand dunes of the west bank is St. Simeon Monastery which was abandoned in the 13th century. Finally, don't forget to camel trek on Aswan's west bank, especially between the monastery and Tombs of the Nobles.

Alexandria

Home of Cleopatra, Alexandria has a stunning history and is today a popular summer retreat for locals and tourists alike. Founded by Alexander the Great, it has several underwater archaeological projects ongoing and is most famous for the Pharos Lighthouse and the modern-day reimaging of the Great Library of Alexandria: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Other interesting things to do here include strolling the Corniche, visiting the underground catacombs of Kom el-Shuqqafa, exploring Fort Qaitbey and diving to check Alexandria's underwater ruins.

FAQs