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Egypt✨ 10 best things to do in Egypt

Things to do in Egypt

1. Stand before the PyramidsWalk around the last surviving wonder of the ancient world on the Giza Plateau, guarded by the Sphinx.
2. Cruise the NileDrift between Luxor and Aswan by cruise boat or traditional felucca, stopping at riverside temples.
3. Explore the Valley of the KingsDescend into painted royal tombs carved deep into the hills of Luxor's west bank.
4. Wander Karnak TempleLose yourself among the giant columns of the Hypostyle Hall in one of the largest religious complexes ever built.
5. Visit Abu SimbelGaze up at the colossal statues of Ramesses II, relocated in a feat of modern engineering.
6. Get lost in Khan el-KhaliliHaggle for lanterns, spices and brass in Cairo's centuries-old bazaar, then rest at a traditional coffeehouse.
7. Dive the Red SeaExplore vivid coral reefs and wrecks from Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh or Marsa Alam.
8. Float over LuxorTake a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over temples, fields and the desert.
9. Camp in the White DesertSleep under the stars among surreal chalk formations near the Farafra and Bahariya oases.
10. Eat koshariTry Egypt's beloved street-food mix of rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, tomato sauce and crispy onions.

Egypt🗺️ Where to visit in Egypt

Where to go in Egypt

• 📍
  Cairo and GizaCapital · pyramids and Islamic CairoThe pyramids, world-class museums and the medieval mosques and markets of Islamic Cairo in one sprawling city.
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  LuxorUpper Egypt · temples and tombsAncient Thebes holds Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple.
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  AswanUpper Egypt · Nile and Nubian cultureA relaxed river town of feluccas, colourful Nubian villages and the island temple of Philae.
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  Abu SimbelFar south · rock templesTwo monumental temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari overlooking Lake Nasser.
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  AlexandriaMediterranean coast · Greco-Roman citySeaside corniche cafés, the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina and catacombs from the Roman era.
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  DahabSinai · diving and backpackingA laid-back Red Sea town famed for snorkelling, the Blue Hole and trips to Mount Sinai.
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  Siwa OasisWestern Desert · oasisPalm groves, salt lakes and mud-brick ruins in a remote corner of the Sahara.
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  Saqqara and DahshurNear Cairo · early pyramidsThe Step Pyramid and the Bent and Red Pyramids, often with far fewer crowds than Giza.

Egypt🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Egypt

Best time to visit Egypt

Egypt is hot and almost rainless, with mild winters and scorching summers. The Mediterranean coast is cooler and sees some winter rain, while the south is the hottest region.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Cairo (approximate averages).

Egypt🎉 Festivals & events in Egypt

• Around 22 February and 22 October
  Abu Simbel Sun FestivalSunlight reaches deep into the temple's inner sanctuary to illuminate the statues of Ramesses II and the gods.
• Varies (Islamic calendar)
  Ramadan and Eid al-FitrEvenings come alive with lanterns, iftar feasts and festive street life.
• Spring (Monday after Coptic Easter)
  Sham el-NessimAn ancient spring festival when families picnic outdoors and eat salted fish and coloured eggs.
• 7 January
  Coptic ChristmasEgypt's Christians celebrate with midnight church services and family gatherings.

Egypt🧭 Egypt itinerary ideas

How many days in Egypt?

Egypt🎒 Backpacking Egypt – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $25–40 a day

• Overnight sleeper and regular trains link Cairo, Luxor and Aswan and save both time and accommodation costs.
• Dahab is Egypt's backpacker hub, with cheap camps, dive schools and a slow pace of life.
• Eat like locals on koshari, ful, taameya and fresh juice from street stalls for very little money.
• Rideshare apps in Cairo and Alexandria avoid fare haggling with taxis.
• Buy combined tickets where available and visit major sites at opening time to beat both heat and tour groups.

Egypt🛡️ Safety & money in Egypt

Emergency: 122 police · 123 ambulance · 180 fire · 126 tourist police

Egypt🛬 Getting to Egypt

Cairo International Airport is the main gateway, with other international airports at Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Some travellers also arrive overland or by ferry from neighbouring countries in the region.

✈️ Cheap flights to Egypt: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Egypt💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Egypt

• The Great Pyramid was the tallest human-made structure in the world for more than three thousand years.
• The temples of Abu Simbel were cut into blocks and moved uphill in the 1960s to save them from Lake Nasser.
• Cleopatra lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid.
• The Nile is often considered the longest river in the world.
• The vast majority of Egyptians live on a small strip of land along the Nile and its delta.

Egypt❓ Egypt travel FAQ

Egypt travel questions