Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Egypt

Egypt is regarded as the world's oldest travel destination because of its fascinating history, which dates back to the very beginning of civilization. For thousands of years, visitors to the African nation have been captivated by the stupendous pyramids and temples there.

The majority of visitors to Egypt come to see its ancient monuments, but the country's natural attractions also draw tourists. Coral reefs and resorts on the Red Sea coast are well-known. Visitors can find an oasis with refreshing freshwater springs by trekking through the Sahara.

Tourists have largely left Egypt since the 2011 revolution and the ongoing counterrevolution. As a result, visitors to Egypt can now enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences without the crowds. Now, it's possible to be the only person inside a pyramid.

10 Best Places to Visit in Egypt

• Giza Necropoli
• Luxor
• Cairo
• Aswan
• Dahshur
• Sharm el-Sheikh
• Siwa Oasis
• Saqqara
• Alexandria
• Hurghada

10. Hurghada

Hurghada is a resort town on the Red Sea's edge that can be easily reached from Cairo in a bumpy six-hour bus ride. It is now one of Egypt's most popular tourist destinations and offers an alternative to Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab that is more well-liked. However, this is understandable considering Hurghada's numerous beaches and warm waters.

This famous resort town used to be a simple fishing village. Now, it has hundreds of high-end hotels along the seafront, but the main focus is still on relaxing. With stunning, vibrant coral reefs just offshore, this region of the Red Sea is well-known for its excellent scuba diving opportunities. Snorkeling, windsurfing, and jet-skiing are among the other popular watersports.

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Glass-bottom boat tours are available at a variety of locations, so you can usually shop around to find the best deal if you prefer to view the amazing marine life from above.

Eastern Europeans, particularly Russians, flock to Hurghada in their hundreds of thousands each year. A lot of tourists choose to spend their vacations here and in other important places along the Nile Valley, like Luxor, which is close by.

9. Alexandria

Alexandria is Egypt's most important seaport and Egypt's second-largest city. It is in an excellent spot on the Mediterranean coast. The city, which Alexander the Great founded in 331 BC, was once regarded as the world's center. Alexandria was ruled by a number of Egypt's pharaohs, including Cleopatra, until the country fell to Rome in 30 BC. During Roman rule, the city gained a reputation as a center for the arts and literature. A vestige of Alexandria's Roman occupation is the Roman Theater, which has marble seating and stunning mosaic flooring.

Today, Alexandria is a dusty seaside city with a population of 5 million that is way too high and badly needs to be painted. Although it has lost some of its glittering cosmopolitan glory, its numerous cultural attractions and glimpses of its past make it still worth a visit.

In the 14th century, devastating earthquakes destroyed many of Alexandria's most famous historical sites, including a library that held more than 500,000 books. A brand-new library was built in close proximity to the original Library of Alexandria in 2002.

At the Alexandria National Museum, you can see exhibits that tell the long story of Alexandria. The more than 1,800 items in the museum are arranged in a chronological order, from the Greco-Roman to the Coptic and Islamic periods.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, a magnificent structure that was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was Alexandria's most prominent feature in ancient times. During an earthquake, the lighthouse and most of the ancient metropolis fell into the sea. Scuba divers can still see huge statues and stones that are on the seabed.

8. Saqqara

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Saqqara is not only the name of an Egyptian village, but also of a centuries-old necropolis with numerous large and small satellite pyramids scattered across a dusty desert plateau. Until the 19th century, Saqqara was buried beneath the sand with a view of the Nile Valley. Since then, it has undergone a significant restoration process.

Saqqara, named after Sokar, the Memphite god of the dead, was the largest Egyptian archaeological site and served as a cemetery for the ancient city of Memphis for thousands of years. As a result, hundreds of fascinating burial grounds and tombs for pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty can be found there.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid on Earth, is the main attraction of Saqqara. From the top of this pyramid, which is reached via a wooden ramp when the gate is open, you can get some of the best views of the Nile. Try one of the many doors and look through any that aren't locked; you never know what mysteries they may conceal. Two more must-sees are the Mastaba of Ti with its incredible reliefs and the fascinating Pyramid Texts of Teti.

7. Siwa Oasis

Siwa Oasis was culturally isolated from the rest of Egypt until the late 19th century. It was near the western border of Egypt. The Siwan people developed their own customs and language, Siwi, a Berber dialect, surrounded by the Egyptian Sand Sea.

However, even hundreds of years ago, the small community was not unknown to the outside world. The oasis became a place of pilgrimage thanks to the well-known Temple of the Oracle of Amun, which is thought to have been constructed in the sixth or seventh century B.C. Alexander the Great was the most famous person to visit the oracle and ask for advice.

Siwa Oasis is becoming a more and more popular vacation spot. The city's numerous freshwater springs, acres of palm groves, and ancient mud-built fortresses and traces of Siwa's Greco-Roman past draw tourists from abroad. There are many bubbling springs in this area. Cleopatra's Bath, a stone pool, is one of the most well-known. On an island in Lake Siwa, there is a pool that is more private. Fatnas Spring is reached via a narrow causeway by visitors.

The 23,000-person small town's cafés are also designed for unwinding. Smoking and drinking tea from a communal hookah is a popular pastime for both locals and tourists. Visitors can learn about the unique culture of the city and taste dates and olives that are grown in the area by going to the local market.

6. Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh, at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is one of Egypt's most popular resort towns. Sharm, or Sharm as it is affectionately known, is a popular destination for package vacations with its own airport and warm, deep blue water and great golden beaches.

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However, this historic fishing village offers so much more than just sunbathing. Sharm el Sheikh is known as the City of Peace because it has hosted numerous international peace talks. It is also one of the best places in the world to scuba dive. Scuba dive or snorkel around Tiran Island and Ras Mohammed National Park's extraordinary reefs, which are home to some astonishingly colorful marine life.

Despite being the ideal location for a fly-and-flop vacation, adventure seekers will also find it here. Sharm el Sheik's at the southern tip of the landmass gives simple access into the desert, where you can visit Bedouin camps and climb Mount Sinai, an old scriptural spot known for its fabulous perspective on the dawn.

5. Dahshur

Dahshur is a small village south of Cairo that is home to some less well-known and less crowded pyramids. There aren't as many people waiting here as there are at the Giza complex or Saqqara, so you won't see as many people waiting. In point of fact, it was a restricted military zone up until 1996.

Dahshur, like Saqqara, belonged to Memphis's ancient necropolis. In Dahshur, the same pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid also built two more complete pyramids. There were 11 pyramids built by pharaohs in the years that followed, but none of them were able to compete with the originals.

Highlights include the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid, both of which were built during the time of Pharaoh Sneferu's rule (2613-2589 BC). Because it does not have any steps or bends, the Red Pyramid, also known as the North Pyramid, is widely regarded as the oldest genuine pyramid in Egypt.

From the Bent Pyramid's base, you can also take in the Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III. It cannot be viewed, and it is not even a pyramid in and of itself; rather, a dark rock mound with an odd appearance.

4. Aswan

Aswan, another important city on the Nile River, is southernmost city. However, its size and location make it a more laid-back alternative to Cairo or Luxor or other big cities.

Aswan is the starting point for excursions to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and the Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, which is to the south. However, Aswan's own monuments are not as impressive as Luxor's. Between Aswan and Luxor, it's also the best place to start excursions to Edfu and Kom Ombo temples.

One of Egypt's most captivating settings is Aswan itself. Granite cliffs look out over the Nile's First Cataract, which is the first of a series of shallow whitewater rapids that are separated by rocky islets and run north to Khartoum. It was once the entrance to Africa in ancient Egypt and was home to a large Nubian community. The Nubian Museum is a great place to learn more about these people because it has treasures and relics that were kept safe from the flood of Nubia.

The granite quarries in Aswan, which were used to construct the numerous obelisks in Luxor, are well-known. The largest known ancient obelisk in the world is located in the south of Aswan and was intended to be over 40 meters tall. Some of these unfinished obelisks can still be seen in the city today.

When the Aswan High Dam was completed in the 1960s, the area around Aswan gained worldwide attention. At Abu Simbel, Ramesses II constructed two ancient stone temples that were in the path of the rising waters of Lake Nasser. On a bank high above the reservoir, the structures and their temples were taken down and rebuilt. A must-do activity is a day trip to see the massive temples, which are about three hours away from Aswan by bus.

3. Cairo

Over 17 million people call Cairo, its dusty capital, one of the world's largest and most sprawling cities. Cairo is a medieval Islamic city that was built on the Nile River. It has beige-colored buildings that are topped with TV satellites and has an ever-changing horizon.

Cairo today is a popular starting point for cruises up the Nile and explorations of the Giza Pyramids outside the city limits. It was built close to Memphis, the ancient capital city. However, this huge city offers so much to do on its own.

Visitors can get a close-up look at the Tutankhamun treasure, as well as mummies and other ancient Egyptian artifacts, at the world-famous Egyptian Museum of Tahrir Square.

The oldest mosques in the city are also worth a visit. The Ibn Tulun Mosque is Cairo's oldest and dates back to the 9th century, when the Fatimids made the city their capital. The magnificent Citadel and Mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha, also known as the Alabaster Mosque due to its gleaming white structure, was given the name Mohammed Ali Pasha because he is considered to be the founder of modern Egypt.

Immerse yourself in daily life to get a true taste of Egypt when you've had enough of Cairo's historical attractions. The Khan al-Khalili bazaar, one of the city's chaotic markets, is a great place to shop, smoke shisha with the locals at a local Ahwaz, or take a cool felucca cruise along the Nile on a traditional Egyptian sailing boat to get away from the heat of the city.

2. Luxor

The New Kingdom of Egypt began a thousand years after the Great Pyramids were built. It moved power from Memphis, the ancient capital, to Thebes, which is now Luxor. Thebes became the cultural and political center of the nation thanks to the wealth of gold that was mined in the Nubian desert and brought to the city on the Nile.

Luxor, a mid-sized city, is one of Egypt's most popular travel destinations and is known as the world's largest open air museum. Luxor has numerous sights and activities, from temples to tombs and everything in between. You will need a few days to fully appreciate it.

The East or West banks of the Nile are home to the majority of Luxor's tourist attractions. Karnak Temple, also known as Ipet-isu, or Most Select of Places, is one of the East Bank's most famous attractions. This extraordinary temple city was built over 2,000 years ago. Even though there are four main structures in the Karnak complex, only the main one, the Temple of Amun, is accessible to the general public.

The temple's pillared hall, the largest religious structure ever constructed, is a stunning stone forest of 134 columns that rise to a height of 21 meters (69 feet). Stroll.

At night, the Luxor Temple, which is beautifully illuminated, is especially stunning to explore. The Valley of the Kings, with its whitewashed landscape and numerous elaborate and colorfully carved tombs, pits, and burial chambers, can be found on the West Bank, which is on the other side of the Nile. Some of the tombs are included in the price of your ticket, but the highlight, King Tut's tomb, where King Tutankhamun's mummy rests, will cost you more.

1. Giza Necropolis

Probably one of the most well-known places on Earth is the Giza Plateau. Although Giza is its own city and is situated on a desert plateau west of Cairo, the city has grown so much in recent years that it now feels like another district of Cairo, which is constantly expanding.

Giza, which was once just a carriage track, is now one of Egypt's most popular tourist destinations with posh hotels, big-name restaurants, huge shopping malls, and pulsating nightclubs. Giza, however, is most well-known for its proximity to the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. As a result, the majority of visitors to Cairo spend at least a few days in this area.

An ancient necropolis, the three main pyramids of Giza were built as burial grounds for Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, three Egyptian pharaohs. In the region, a number of satellite pyramids were constructed to serve as burial grounds for royal family members and their wives.

If you are willing to pay an additional fee, you can enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). You also have the option of going out into the desert on a camel and taking a picture with all of the pyramids in the background before going to the Sphinx for the standard tourist photo of kissing the Sphinx.

The Pyramids Sound and Light Show is a must-see if you spend the night near Giza. It does exactly what it says, but it's a great way to see the Great Pyramid in a new light. If you eat dinner on the balcony of the nearby Pizza Hut, you can watch both the sunset and the light show for free, but you will need to pay to get a seat at the official show.