20 Best places to see in Egypt
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
Egypt is a fascinating country, with a history and culture that goes back many centuries.
If you are thinking of traveling to Egypt and you are starting to organize your trip, you have come to the best place. In this post I tell you about the best places to see in Egypt and I add several links with practical information that will help you organize your trip.
20 BEST PLACES TO SEE IN EGYPT
1. The Pyramids of Giza, an essential thing to see in Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza are the only one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World that is still standing. Located a few km from Cairo, they are a must to visit in Egypt.
The Pyramids of Giza are 9, although those of the pharaohs Cheops, Kefren and Menkaure stand out. During its construction around 2500 BC, the exterior was covered with large limestone blocks, forming white stone pyramids in which the sunlight was reflected and through which the pharaohs believed they would achieve immortality. Next to the Pyramids of Egypt is the Sphinx, another of the essential places to see in the country.
To visit the pyramids it is advisable to book a guided tour. It is the only way that you will be able to know and learn about the history of the Pyramids.
Guided tours in the Pyramids of Giza:
Posts about the Pyramids of Giza that may interest you:
2. Cairo
Big, chaotic and with many interesting places to visit, Cairo is an essential thing to do on any trip to Egypt. The city has a thousand-year history, good gastronomy, great contrasts between the Islamic and modern traditions.
You cannot miss the Citadel of Saladin, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, the Hanging Church of Cairo, the Egyptian Museum, the Al-Azhar Mosque, the Sutan Hassan Mosque, the Coptic neighborhood... among many more places. I recommend you to book a guided tour of Cairo in full with tickets.
Cairo posts that may interest you:
3. Alexandria and its immense library
Located in the north of the country, visiting Alexandria is another of the best places to visit in Egypt. The city was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, and was one of the most important trading cities of antiquity.
It was known for having the imposing Lighthouse of Alexandria, 130 meters high and one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.
In addition, in Alexandria was the immense The Library of Alexandria with almost 1,000,000 historical documents that were lost in a fire. In 2002, a new library was opened, a place that you cannot miss.
In Alexandria you cannot miss the National Museum, the Kom el Dekka site and the Quaitbay Fortress, among others. To visit the city I recommend you book a complete guided tour of Alexandria.
If you want you can also take an excursion from Cairo to Alexandria. The tour lasts about 12 hours and includes hotel pickup, transportation, guide, lunch, and entrance fees.
4. Abu Simbel, one of the best places to see in Egypt
In Nubia, south of Egypt, is the archaeological site of Abu Simbel. It stands out for the two rock-cut temples that the great Pharaoh Ramses II ordered to be built in the 13th century BC. c.
The temples were built to commemorate a war victory and honor the pharaoh and his favorite wife, Nefertari.
Posts about Abu Simbel that may interest you:
5. Aswan, a beautiful city to visit in Egypt
Aswan is located on the banks of the Nile River. Some of the most essential places to visit are the Philea Temple, the unfinished obelisk, Elephantia Island, the Nubian Village, the Noble tombs…
6. The Valley of the Kings
On the west bank of the Nile, 10 kilometers from the city of Luxor.
The place is known as the ancient Egyptian necropolis due to the large number of buried pharaohs, belonging to the New Kingdom (dynasties of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries).
This great funerary complex is full of tunnels and rooms decorated with paintings and precious hieroglyphics. They were built under the slopes of the valley taking advantage of the softness of the limestone in a secret location to prevent the desecration of the sarcophagi and the looting of their valuable objects.
All the tombs were looted and are empty, however, it is worth visiting and going inside. It is advisable to take a guided tour of the Valley of the Kings to learn about the history of the place.
Posts about Luxor that may interest you:
7. The Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens is located on the west bank of the Nile River, very close to the Valley of the Kings, both essential places to see on your route through Egypt.
In the Valley of the Queens, wives and princes of different pharaohs were buried in simpler tombs consisting of a small antechamber, followed by a corridor with different chambers on both sides and ending in the burial chamber.
There are more than 65 tombs, of which the tomb of the son of Ramses III, the tomb of Amunherjepshef, the tomb of Queen Nefertari (Ramses II's favorite wife), among many more, stand out.
8. The Temple of Hatshepsut and The Colossi Memnon
The Temple of Hatshepsut is another of the recommended temples to visit in Egypt. You can visit the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Hatshepsut on the same day, taking an organized excursion.
The Temple of Hatshepsut is unique in Egypt, not only because of its design, but also because it is dedicated to the only female pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut. It was built by the architect Senemut. An excavated part of the temple is excavated in the rock and another part, external with three terraces that stand out from the rest of the country's monuments.
The Memnon colossi are imposing 18-meter-tall statues representing Pharaoh Amenhotep II. These two statues, along with 4 more that are under repair, were built with a single block of stone more than 3,000 years ago. His function was to preside over the funerary complex of Amenhotep III.
9. Karnak Temple
The Karnak temple was built by numerous pharaohs between 2200 and 260 B.C. The most impressive thing about the temple is the hypostyle room with 134 huge columns full of hieroglyphs.
Although it is possible to visit the temple on your own, I recommend booking a guided tour to understand and learn about the history of Ancient Egypt and the temple.
10. The Luxor Temple
The Luxor Temple is located in the center of Ancient Thebes, on the banks of the Nile River. It was built during the 18th and 19th century dynasties in honor of the god Amun.
It stands out for its two huge statues of more than 15 meters high of Ramses II seated next to an obelisk. In the past there were two obelisks, but one of them was donated to France in 1836 and you will find it in the center of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. In the obelisk you will find the story of a battle.
Inside you can visit different courtyards surrounded by huge columns, statues of Ramses II and different rooms of worship.
11. Edfu and Kom Ombo
40 kilometers from Aswan are the impressive temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, essential places to see in Egypt.
In the town of Kom Ombo is the site on which the temple of Sobek and the temple of Haroeris are located. In them you can see some carved hieroglyphs.
Just 5 minutes from the temple is the Crocodile Museum, where you can see the permanent collection where these reptiles so adored in Ancient Egypt are venerated.
In the town of Edfu is the temple of Horus, a falcon god, which today still generates many unknowns.
12. Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh is a paradise located on the Red Sea. Considered the warmest sea in the world, it is a heavenly place with crystal clear waters and large coral reefs. It is the perfect place to enjoy diving and snorkeling.
13. The Fayoum desert and its oases
The Fayoum desert and its oases are a natural wonder to visit in Egypt. They are a natural reserve protected by UNESCO. The best way to visit it is by taking a tour that includes stops in the Black Desert, the petrified forest and fossils, the Valley of the Falcons, the Hermit's Cave, Lake Qarum, the waterfalls of the Oasis Wadi El Ravan V and the enchanted lake. .
I explain everything you need to know to visit the Fayum Desert and its oases here.
14. The Temple of Philea
The Temple of Philae or Philae is located 10 kilometers from the city of Aswan, on the small island of Agilkia, surrounded by the waters of the Nile River.
This beautiful temple is an essential architectural marvel to see in Egypt. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis, the goddess of love, magic and motherhood.
This temple was moved, stone by stone, to a nearby island, before being submerged by the waters of the Aswan Dam.
The entrance stands out for its huge stone basins. Once you cross the entrance, the temple will not stop surprising you. It is in very good condition. You will be able to see in the Temple of Isis some of the last hieroglyphics that were written in the time of the pharaohs.
On the island there are other interesting monuments to visit such as the Temple of Hathor, the Kiosk of Trajan and Hadrian's Gate.
To visit the Temple of Philae it is advisable to book a tour to see the Aswan Dam, the Temple of Filea and the Unfinished Obelisk.
15. Elephantine Island
Elephantine Island is located in front of what was the first cataract that was used to control the ancient trade routes along the Nile River.
On this island is the Nubian community. It has several interesting places to visit such as the ruins of the Khnum temple and the Aswan Museum.
16. The Nubian People
Gharb Soheil, also known as the Nubian village, is a town with a lot of character and a very original thing to see in Aswan.
Nubia was a region located between southern Egypt and northern Sudan. At present, the Nubian peoples extend along the Nile valley and still retain a physiognomy that makes them different. His dark skin with marked features contrasts surprisingly with his light eyes, blue in some cases.
17. The tombs of the Nobles
The Tombs of the Nobles is another essential to see in Aswan. The tombs are also known as the Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis.
Up to 60 tombs of high officials from the late Pharaonic period can be seen in this rock-cut complex. In them there are mummies that have been preserved in very good condition for more than 2,500 years.
18. The Kalabsha Temple
The Kalabsha temple is one of the essential temples to visit in Aswan. It was built during Roman times around 30 BC, in homage to Mandulis, the sun god of lower Nubia.
The temple is quite large, about 76 meters long by 22 meters wide. Like Abu Simbel, it was displaced for the construction of the great Aswan dam.
19. The city of Luxor
In addition to the incredible temples that can be visited in the vicinity of the city of Luxor, the city itself has many interesting places to visit. Its area is colorful and lively at all hours. Nor can you forget to visit the Luxor Museum. In it, there is a large collection of pieces found in the surrounding temples and the Theban necropolis.
In the museum you can see various statues, fragments of reliefs, paintings, sarcophagi, weapons, jewels... The pieces from the tomb of Tutankhamun, the statue of Tutmosis III and the reconstruction of a mural from the Temple of Karnak stand out.
20. Cruise on the Nile, an essential thing to do in Egypt
The Nile is the second longest river in the world after the Amazon. The river runs through Egypt and the vast majority of places of interest are located nearby.
Being in one of the most desert areas on the planet, the river has always been an inexhaustible source of life and resources.
Most of the cruises make the route from Aswan to Luxor in 3 or 4 days, sailing at night and stopping to visit some of the most important temples. I explain how to take a cruise on the Nile here.
Cruises on the Nile River in Egypt that may interest you:
Tours to visit Egypt
If you want to avoid having to organize the trip on your own, there are several tours between 8 and 15 days, which include most of the places of interest to visit in Egypt. These tours include hotels of different categories to choose from, transportation, tickets, guided tours... I am adding all the available tours in case you may be interested:
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Egypt a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!
