There are so many places to travel in Egypt, it's hard to decide just where to go! I'll make recommendations in this Egypt travel guide for places to see in Egypt depending on how many days you have in-country, and also some suggestions based on specific cities. From ancient Egyptian sites to places tourists don't usually think about, like some of the most amazing coral reefs in the world, Egypt has so much to offer! Let's look at the best places to visit in Egypt.

Places to visit in Egypt: 1-2 days

If all you have is one or two days, deciding on the places to visit in Egypt is difficult, with so many tourist attractions to choose from. I recommend staying in Cairo if all you have in Egypt is just a couple of days, since the city has a lot to explore, and is usually the place tourists will fly in and out of, making it a necessary stop anyway during an Egypt trip. On top of that, the city has some of the most interesting attractions Egypt has to offer.

Things to do in Cairo

Giza Pyramids and Sphinx

This is the number one place to visit in all of Egypt, and it's the last remaining wonder of the world. You can spend a half-day exploring the Giza Plateau, taking in the three enormous pyramids there, having lunch at the 9 Pyramids Lounge or Khufu's, riding camels to a panoramic viewpoint, going inside of the Great Pyramid (although I don't recommend it for claustrophobic folks!), and seeing the enigmatic Sphinx up close. Make sure that if you visit the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx that you take a local Egypt guide with you - the Giza Plateau is rife with scams and cons, and having a local Egypt guide will help you avoid all of these potential wastes of time and money, and enjoy one of the most famous places in Egypt.

The Egyptian Museum (Old Museum) in Tahrir Square

The Grand Egyptian Museum is still not fully open, so the Old Egyptian Museum is still your best bet for seeing thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts, and it's one of my top things to do in Egypt. At the time of writing, the funerary mask of King Tutankhamun, the most important piece of ancient Egyptian art, is still on display at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, as are some other, lesser known pieces that are still extremely historically significant, like the Narmer Palette, showing the very first ancient Egyptian pharaoh. This museum is another place where a tour guide is a necessity, because almost nothing in the museum is labeled or explained, the layout is confusing, and having a local Egypt guide will help you focus on the highlights in the museum, while also providing explanations for all of the objects, and answers to your questions.

El Moez Street and Khan el Khalilii Bazaar

This is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with over 1,000 years of Islamic architecture and history, and is also one of the oldest bazaars (markets) in Cairo. Don't go for the shopping, though (there are plenty of better places to buy souvenirs); go for the amazing mosques and buildings you will see on this medieval street. The best part is the entire area is free to visit! If you want a meal, stopping at Zeeyara Rooftop inside of Le Riad de Charme Hotel gives you rooftop views over the entire area.

Saqqara Complex

The predecessor to the Giza Pyramids, the Saqqara Complex has Djoser's Step Pyramid, a magnificient work of monumental architecture, along with dozens of Old Kingdom tombs, and the only pyramids (Unas and Teti) tourists can go inside that have actual heiroglyphic inscriptions on the walls. Another highlight in Saqqara is the Searpeum, which includes over 20 massive granite sarcophagi (coffins), and caverns and passageways that make you feel like Indiana Jones.

Coptic Cairo

Between 10-20% of Egypt's population are Coptic Orthodox Christian, and this medieval walled area of Old Cairo may not be one of the most famous things of Egypt, but it contains several churches, the oldest dating to over 1,000 years ago. More importantly, this area is one of the places the Holy Family sought refuge, and the Cavern Church specifically was built on the site where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lived for weeks while stopping at this particular part of Egypt on their journey south. All the churches in Coptic Cairo are free to visit, and you can also see a Jewish Synagogue, and Egypt's oldest mosque.

Things to Do in Egypt with 3-4 Days

Adding on a couple more days in Egypt allows travelers to go down to Luxor, Egypt's open air museum, containing more ancient Egyptain temples and tombs than anywhere else in the country. Luxor is the best place to go in Egypt for those interested in ancient history. I highly recommend taking a one-hour flight to Luxor instead of the overnight train or bus, and when you get to this ancient city on the Nile, hit the ground running in order to see as many sites as possible. Sometimes it works well to split up sightseeing, spending one day on one bank of the River Nile, and the other day on the other side.

Luxor East Bank: Luxor City, Karnak and Luxor Temples

Karnak Temple

This is the most magnificient ancient Egyptian temple, and one of the most famous places in Egypt, containing the largest columns of any temple, the largest land area, and the best obelisks you'll see in the whole country. Karnak was built over many dynasties, with numerous pharaohs adding their mark on one of the most important religious sites in ancient Egypt.

Luxor Temple

Luxor City's eponymous temple is smaller than Karnak Temple, but still is a beautiful ancient Egyptian site. I love the avenue of the sphinxes that streches on for 3 kilometers at the front of the temple, and the beautifully-preserved statues of Ramses II outside the temple's first pylon gate, and inside the first courtyard.

Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Madient Habu Temple

Valley of the Kings

As far as Egypt tourist attractions go, the Valley of the Kings is my favorite of all the tourist spots in Egypt, even more than the Pyramids of Giza. This was the resting place for dozens of New Kingdom Pharaohs, everyone from Ramses the Great to King Tut. Speaking of, King Tut's Tomb is an amazing place to visit in real life, even if the small size of the tomb can be overwhelming, since the discovery of the tomb over 100 years ago reignited the world's passion for learning about ancient Egypt. In additiion to Tutankhamun's Tomb, the tombs of Seti I, Ramses V/VI, and Ramses III are beautifully well-preserved, and let travelers get up close to the places where the ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs, who were believed to be the embodiment of the ancient Egyptian gods.

Hatshepsut's Temple

Also called el Deir el Bahari, this temple has a unique architectural style and was built for Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh. The reliefs on this temple are particularly interesting, showing an ancient Egyptian trading expedition, along with scenes of Queen Hatshepsut suckling from the cow goddess Hathor.

Colossi of Memnon

A quick, 5-minute (free) photo stop, these two colossal statues were once part of one of the largest ancient Egyptian temples in Luxor. What's really cool about this site is that arcaheologists are now excavating and reconstructing this temple, piece by piece, so tourists can see the temple coming to life and understand the process and what it takes to put back together an ancient Egyptian temple.

Madinet Habu Temple

This is the best-preserved temple in Luxor, and what I love about it the most is that a lot of the artwork still has color remaining, despite the temple being more than 2,000 years old. Another great reason to visit Madinet Habu Temple is that hardly any tour packages include it, meaning tourists usually have the temple almost all to themselves when they go, compared to the throngs of people visiting Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

Luxor is the only place in Egypt where travelers can ride in a hot air balloon, and taking a hot air balloon ride in Luxor gives awe-inspiring views of the West Bank (including some of the temples written about above), and also the sunrise over the agricultural side of the Nile River. The whole experience is one of the best activities in Egypt, and is usually a highlight for any of my guests who are lucky enough to experience it. Want to book a sunrise hot air balloon ride in Luxor? Send an email to gus@egyptadventurestravel.com with the subject line: Hot Air Balloon, what date you woud like, and how many people, and I can book you with one of my vetted and trusted locall partners.

Places to visit in Egypt with 5-6 days

Adding on a couple more days in Egypt allows travelers to visit one more city besides Cairo and Luxor, adding on more places of interest in Egypt as possible items on an itienrary. Five or six days is still not enough time to squeeze in a Nile Cruise, but it is enough time to add on Alexandria or Aswan, which have more must see things in Egypt.

Best things to see in Alexandria

Egypt's Mediterannean Jewel is only a 2.5 hour drive from Cairo, so it can be easily visited in a day trip from Egypt's capital city. Alexandria is the location for fresh, delicious seafood, Graeco-Roman history, and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Kom El Shaqafa Roman Catacombs

My favorite site to visit in Alex, these catacombs are home to some interesting reliefs, showing a blend of ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Greek styles of art. I call it Egypt's "Chamber of Secrets", and it's a fun change from the same style of art that is seen all throughout the rest of the ancient sites in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.

Kom el Dikka Roman Ampitheatre

The only Roman theatre that you can visit in Egypt, and right next to the train station in the historic city center of Alexandria.

The Library of Alexandria

Not to be confused with the ancient Library of Alexandria (that burned down in antiquity), the modern Library of Alexandria was built in the early 2000s, and features a thought-provoking modern design and one of the largest reading rooms in the world.

Qaitbey Citadel

Alexandria's fairytale castle, this 14th-century citadel gives impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea, and is my favorite place to take photos in the city.

Farag Fish Restaurant

For fans of local, family-run places and authentic food, Farag is a must for fresh, Mediterranean seafood. Check out my YouTube video of this unique spot, and make sure you're hungry when you go! If you want a place that is more touristy, but still good, with amazing views, head to White and Blue Greek Nautical Club.

Best places to sightsee in Aswan

Aswan is similar to Luxor in that it has a lot of ancient Egyptian sites, but the city itself is more laid back, less hectic, and the views of the Nile River in Aswan are unparalleled; there is nowhere else in Egypt where the Nile River is as breathtaking as it is in Aswan.

Philae Temple (the Temple of Isis)

Philae Temple is one of the temples that was deconstructed and moved, piece-by-piece, and then reassembled in another location in order to save it from the flooding caused by the creation of Aswan's High Dam. This temple is one of my favorites because it's on an island; I love taking a boat from the dock in Aswan and seeing an entire island taken up by an ancient Egyptian temple.

High Dam

Aswan's High Dam can be underwhelming visually, but historically and culturally it's a very important place to visit in Egypt, and is one of the famous Egypt places that is known around the world. The consturction of the dam changed Egyptian life forever, controlling the floods of the Nile River, creating the massive freshwater resevoir of Lake Nasser, and displacing thousands of Nubian People, forcing them to leave homes and cities their families occupied for generations.

Unfinished Obelisk

An engineer's dream site, and anyone interested in ancient Egypt, this is a granite quarry that was used in ancient sites to cut and form Egyptian obelisks. The unfinished obelisk is one that was started, but then abandoned when a large crack formed in the granite stone. It gives travelers an excellent up-close view of what it took to create these gargantuan monuments, plus insight on how they were formed, transported, and erected at various sites throughout Egypt.

Felucca Boat Ride

The Nile River in Aswan is unparalleled, so I love having travelers take a felucca boat ride up and down the river, seeing the city of Aswan, Elephantine Island, and the giant granite boulders and islands scattered throughout the river. This can easily be combined with a takeaway lunch or dinner from a local restaurant, and riding the river at sunset is a particularily special experience.

Places to travel in Egypt with 7-8 days

With a week in Egypt, a Nile Cruise becomes a possibility, or time on Egypt's Red Sea to relax or enjoy some scuba diving, snorkeling, or other water sports. Usually a Nile Cruise is a bucket-list item for every tourist to Egypt, and it's a great way to see most of the ancient sites of Upper Egypt.

Dahabiya Nile Cruise

My preferred way of cruising the Nile is on a Dahabiya, a luxury small boat Nile Cruise that can usually take a maximum of 16 people, and sometimes even fewer, giving a much more special experience than using a larger Nile Cruise ship. Even though Dahabiya Nile Cruises are sailboats, they are usually pulled or pushed by a motorized tugboat in order to stick to the strict schedules and timetables of their itinerary, but every night you will moor up on an island, a farm field, or some other calm place; it's a peaceful and quiet way to move down the Nile. In my opinion, when a traveler has enough time, a Dahabiya is a must do in Egypt.

Best Nile Cruise Dahabiyas:

Kemet: Ultra-luxurious, no expense or detail was overlooked or spared; this is my favorite boat to cruise the Nile on, hands-down.

Merit Dahabiya: Merit is a family of four Dahabiya Nile Cruises, and each one is unique. All of them feature comfortable rooms, excellent service, and smart itineraries, including all the major sites in Luxor, along the Nile River, and Aswan, including Abu Simbel as an option.

Minya Dahabiya: This is a budget-friendly Dahabiya Nile Cruise, and is run by a German-Egyptian team who is focused on providing great service at a reasonable cost. The only drawback is that Minya does not run all the way to Luxor; it stops or starts in Esna, about one hour south of Luxor, so you'll have to get a hotel in Luxor and see the sites there separate from your Nile Cruise.

Nour el Nil is usually one of the first Dahabiya options to pop up online, but I find that their high costs, combined with what they offer, does not make it worthwhile for my guests.

Large Nile Cruise Ships

These ships can sometimes fit over a hundred guests, so they are not my preferred way to cruise the Nile. In addition to large numbers of guests, these boats are stuck to very strict schedules by the different port authorities of each city they dock at, so all of the large ships do the same things at the same time. You will arrive at Kom Ombo Temple, for example, with dozens of other giant ships, and will be smooshed inside crowds of tourists at the temple as you try to make out the beautiful reliefs and strain to hear your tour guide speak. That being said, the benefit of a large Nile Cruise is that the prices are more affordable, the itineraries are shorter (you can do a Nile Cruise all the way from Aswan to Luxor in just 3 nights), and they can usually be more family-friendly with swimming pools and more activities for young kids.

The best way to book a large Nile Cruise is through a trusted Egypt travel agency, like Egypt Adventures Travel. We can guarantee which Nile Cruise you will be on, whereas lots of other companies act as wholesalers, promising one Nile Cruise Ship, but then switching guests to another ship (often of lesser quality) at the last minute.

Hurghada on Egypt's Red Sea

Hurghada is where I recommend going, either before or after Luxor, if travelers want to add on some time at the beach to their trip. Hurghada doesn't have much in terms of sightseeing; all of the attractions here are watersports and adventure activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, and riding ATVs in the desert. Hurghada is one of the best places Egypt has to offer in terms of coral reefs and underwater exploration. There are tons of hotels to choose from all along the Red Sea Coast, but I prefer going further north to El Gouna, where I find hotels to be a bit nicer, and the atmosphere of the city more relaxing and catered toward tourists. It's easy to fly in or out from Hurghada International Airport, and Luxor to Hurghada is only a 4-5 hour drive, depending on what hotel you're staying at.

Things to Visit in Egypt with 9+ Days

When travelers have well over one week in Egypt, the possibilities are endless! Visit Siwa Oasis, Ras Muhammed National Park, Middle Egypt for more ancient sites, Saint Catherine Moastery, Abu Simbel Temple, and more!

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel Temple is around 4 hours south of Aswan by car, or 45 minutes by flight, and it's (in my opinion) the most magnificient temple in all of Egypt. Abu Simbel was built by Ramses the Great, and he placed four massive statues of himself on the front facade of the temple. Inside is the real masterpiece though, with fascinating reliefs showing everything from ancient warfare to the giving of offerings to the gods. And Nefertari's Temple right next to the larger temple at Abu Simbel is also beautiful. This temple gobbles up an entire day on any Egypt itinerary, so keep that in mind, but most travelers who visit Abu Simbel say it's totally worth the trek.

Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula

Sharm el Sheikh

Egypt's Sinai Peninsula has some of the best coral reefs and scuba diving in the world, and Sharm is the biggest city in the Sinai. In addition to snorkeling and scuba diving, visitors to Sharm can camp or hike in the desert, visit Saint Catherine Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the site of the Burning Bush and one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, climb Mt. Moses (Mt. Sinai) where Moses was said to have received the Ten Commandments, or enjoy nightlife in one of the many bars or clubs in Sharm el Sheikh. Check out the YouTube video to see how I spent 72 hours in this bustling city on the Red Sea.

Ras Muhammed National Park

Just a short drive away from Sharm el Sheikh, Ras Muhammed is a must-see for avid scuba divers or folks who want to spend a night or two camping in the desert wilderness.

Dahab

Just a couple hours north of Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab is my preferred place to spend time snorkeling or scuba diving, because of its much more relaxed, authentic, bohemian vibe. Dahab is still in close proximity to St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai, and plenty of hiking, camping, snorkeling, and scuba diving opportunities.

Siwa Oasis

This is a desert oasis, 11 hours away from Cairo. Even though it's one of the most difficult places to get to in Egypt (no flights go anywhere near Siwa Oasis unless they're privately-chartered), Siwa Oasis rewards its visitors with its unparalleled tranquil atmosphere, fun activities to do in the desert like riding in 4x4 vehicles, sandboarding, and soaking in desert hot or cold springs, and the oasis even has some ancient Egypt sites to boot!

El Fayoum Oasis

This is much more accessible than Siwa (just 2-3 hours away from Cairo), and has a lot of the desert charm that Siwa has. I love using Tunis Village as a central point, and then going out into the desert to explore the Wadi El Rayaan lakes and waterfalls area, Wadi El Hitaan Valley of the Whales (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and most importantly, shopping for local, handmade pottery from the dozens of workshops in the village.

Black and White Desert

This national park is about a 5 hour drive from Cairo, and features the most interesting desert landscape in the entire country. The Black Desert has giant mounds of sand covered with black, volcanic rock, and the White Desert feautures unique limestone formations that make the entire area look like it's covered in snow. You can visit the desert by either a day trip from Bahariya Oasis (sleep inside a hotel with a real bathroom), or by camping out on the desert sands, sleeping under the stars (or in a tent).

Abydos Temple and Denderra Temple

Usually done as a day trip from Luxor, these two temples are amazingly well preserved and are definitely highlights for anyone interested in ancient Egyptian architecture and art.

Tell el Amarna

This Middle Egypt site is hard to get to, but it's completely different from any other ancient Egyptian sites, since it's the place where the heretic pharaoh, Akhenaten, moved the capital from Luxor and began a new monothestic religion, and completely different style of art. While not much remains, the tombs with the gorgoue Amarna Art reliefs make it worth a visit.

If you have extra time in Cairo

With more time in Cairo, I recommend checking out these places.

Dahshur

Dahshur is an amazing pyramid complex that shows the progression of how the ancient Egyptians went from building the Step Pyramid of Saqqara to the true pyramids in Giza. It's usually very quiet in terms of tourists, so you often have the area almost to yourself! Check out this blog post before you go. Definitely watch the YouTube video below (sorry for the bad audio quality) to see how claustrophobic the interiors of the Pyramids are and how strenuous the climb down is before deciding to go inside.

Memphis

Memphis, one of the ancient Egyptian capitals, is a quick stop (30 minutes maximum) to see a colossal statue of Ramses II (the Great), and it has lots of other ruins of statues and stelae scattered throughout an enclosed area.

Cairo Citadel

The Cairo Citadel features the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the largest mosque in Cairo, sitting atop the plateau of the Citadel, with panoramic views of Greater Cairo, and on a clear day, views all the way out to the Giza Pyramids. Men may be asked to have pants covering up knees. Woman may be asked to cover hair, and also have shoulders, cleavage, midriff, and knees covered. You can always put some scarves in a backpack to use if you need to cover up at the mosque.

Gayer-Anderson Museum

The Gayer-Anderson Museum is a historic Islamic House with beautiful art and architecture, giving you a glimpse to what life was like living in Cairo during the early 20th century (the time period when Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson was living there), in a house that is around 400 years old.

Ibn Tulum Mosque

Ibn Tulun Mosque is a famous 9th-century Islamic monument, most noted for it's giant, open courtyard.

Cairo Tower

This used to be the tallest building in Cairo, and has a beautiful lattice-work design, emulating a Nile lotus flower. You can ascend to the top of the tower via elevator for a panoramic view of Cairo, but skip the revolving restaurant (the food isn't good, and it's way too expensive for what you get).

Islamic Art Museum

Cairo's Islamic Art Museum has one of the most important collections of Islamic Art in the world, and is located in a central part of downtown Cairo.

Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum shows no signs of fully opening anytime soon, but you can use the YouTube video below to see the very limited amount of artifacts that are on display. The GEM will be the largest archaeological museum in the world when it finally fully opens, whenever that may be, and it will house thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts, statues, and more.

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

The highlight at the NMEC is the Mummy Gallery, where 22 royal mummies of the Pharaohs reside. This museum also does a great job showcasing all the major time periods in Egypt, and includes objects like the earliest known human remains found along the Nile River, and other artifacts from the Pharaonic, Coptic, and Islamic periods.

If you have extra time in Luxor

With more than a day or two in Luxor, here are some other great places to visit.

Deir El Medina Workers Tombs

These Workers' Tombs were made by the workers of the Valley of the Kings, and are beautiful, albeit much smaller and much less grand than the tombs at the Valley of the Kings. The best part of the Workers' Tombs are that they are almost never visited by larger tour groups, sometimes giving you the tombs completely on your own with no other tourists.

Tombs of the Nobles

The Nobles' Tombs in Luxor offer a great perspective on the burial practices of someone other than just the Kings and Queens of ancient Egypt. Even better, the tombs are seldom visited, meaning you beat all of the lines and crowds!

Luxor Museum

The Luxor Museum has several masterwork pieces of Egyptian sculpture and hundreds of artifacts, most of which were found in the surrounding area. This museum is well laid-out and is easy to navigate, so you can visit is self-guided and have an enjoyable experience.

Ramesseum

The Ramesseum Temple is the mortuary temple of Pharoah Ramesses II (the Great), and even though it's not as well preserved as the other temples in Luxor, is still an impressive monument.

If you have extra time in Aswan

Aswan doesn't have as many sites as Cairo or Luxor, but there are some great places to visit if you have extra time.

Tombs of the Nobles

Aswan has noble's tombs just like in Luxor, carved into the side of the hill on the West Bank of the Nile.

Moastery of St. Simeon

A boat across the Nile, and then a 15 minute hike up the desert hills (paved and stairs) takes you to this 7th-century monastery that is seldom visited by tourists. Alternatively, you can ride a camel up to the monastery and back.

Nubian Museum

The Nubian Museum is a very well done, expertly curated selection of ancient Egyptian artifacts and objects reflecting Nubia's influence on Pharaonic history.

Nubian Village

Aswan has many Nubian people, and the Nubian Village on the west bank of the Nile, south of downtown Aswan, has many colorful Nubian houses where the owners are happy to have tourists visit. Get ready to be served sweet tea, see pet crocodiles, and see lots of gorgeous handcrafted goods.

Elephantine Island

This island features the Ruins of Abu, containing hundreds of ancient Egyptian statues, rocks, and temple remains strewn about the southern tip of the island.

Botanical Garden

Aswan's Botanical Garden features dozens of local and foreign plant species, and is beautifully situated on an island in the Nile River.

If you have extra time in Alexandria

Egypt's second largest city has a few interesting museums, and other places I recommend if travelers have time.

Alexandria National Museum

Located inside a historic Italian-style villa, the Alexandria National Museum contains around 1,800 artifacts that narrate the story of Alexandria and Egypt, from ancient Pharaonic artifacts, to objects of Coptic Christian and Islamic heritage.

Graeco-Roman Museum

Alexandria's Graeco-Roman Museum recently reopened after being closed for renovations for over a decade. It has an excellent collection of artifacts from Alexandria's storied history.

Pompey's Pillar

The highlight of this site is the large Roman Column, flanked by two sphinx statues, and the small serapeum temple ruins.

Royal Jewelry Museum

This museum is in an old palace in Alexandria, and contains hundreds of artifacts, from dozens of jewelry pieces to 19th century paintings and decorative arts.

There are so many places to visit in Egypt, it's impossible to share them all without writing an entire book! What did you think of this Egypt travel guide? What questions do you have about Egypt top attractions, and thingds to do in Egypt? What things to visit in Egypt did I miss? Leave a comment and let me know!