With a fascinating history that reaches back to the dawn of civilization, Egypt is considered the oldest travel destination on earth. The African nation’s awe-inspiring temples and pyramids have captured the imagination of travelers for thousands of years. Although most people come to Egypt to view its ancient monuments, natural attractions beckon travelers too. The Red Sea coast is known for its coral reefs and beach resorts. A trek through the Sahara can lead visitors to refreshing freshwater spring oasis.
Outside the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there are plenty of places where life unfolds at a slower pace. You’ll find pristine shorelines, top-notch spas, comfortable resorts, and opportunities to enjoy water sports. Here are the top places to visit in Egypt if you’re looking to unwind.
Cairo and Giza
Although Cairo, the capital, is a busy over crowded city, it has a lot to give. With Giza city 15 minutes away, you can tour between the two cities to discover more and more about the country. There are many places to visit, but may the most famous are:
Egyptian Museum
Cairo is located near the mouth of the Nile River delta, built near the ancient capital city of Memphis, modern Cairo is a popular starting point for cruises up the Nile and for explorations of the Pyramids at Giza just outside the city’s limits. At the world-renowned Egyptian Museum of Tahrir Square, visitors can get a close-up view of the treasure of Tutankhamun as well as mummies and other artifacts from Egypt’s ancient past.
Pyramids of Giza
The last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza are one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Built as tombs for the mighty Pharaohs and guarded by the enigmatic Sphinx, Giza’s pyramid complex has awed travelers down through the ages and had archaeologists (and a fair few conspiracy theorists) scratching their heads over how they were built for centuries.
Today, these megalithic memorials to dead kings are still as wondrous sight as they ever were. An undeniable highlight of any Egypt trip, Giza’s pyramids should not be missed.
Alexandria
Egypt’s second-largest city feels as Mediterranean and cosmopolitan as Marseille or Athens. Known for its époque buildings and grand squares it was once a very fashionable city. Although it charms have faded a little, it’s still a must-see destination in Egypt. For peace and quiet head for the regal Montazah Palace Gardens or for your history and architecture fix try Citadel of Qaitbay, an impressive looking 15th-century fortress. Alternatively, choose one of the many antique coffee houses and sip coffee and puff on a water pipe while looking out over the Mediterranean sea.
Luxor
Luxor is a living museum with vast numbers of ancient Egyptian monuments. It is also highly oriented to tourists, and might be thought of in the same regard as a theme park, where the attractions by coincidence are real monuments. Luxor is an enjoyable destination to hit while vacationing in Egypt, where you can explore:
- Karnak & Luxor East Bank
- Dendara & Abydous
- Luxor Museum Tour
- Luxor Sound & Lights Show
- Valley of Kings & Queens & Hatshepsut Tour
Aswan
Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan is a mid-sized city located north of Lake Nasser. Although its own monuments are minor compared to Luxor’s, Aswan is the base for excursions to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and to the Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, to the south. It is also the best starting point for excursions to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, between Aswan and Luxor.
Most famous things to do in Aswan
- Abu Simbel
- Felucca Sailing Cruise
- Nubian Village & Museum Tour
- Kom Ombo & Edfu Temples
- Temple of Philae Sound & Lights Show
Siwa oasis
Probably one of the most remote places to visit in Egypt is the Siwa Oasis. It’s considerably hard to reach and not exactly on the most common tourist’s routes, but so worth it. It’s one of my favorite places in Egypt, as it’s still more or less the real deal.
Hurghada
Founded in the early 20th century, the Red Sea resort of Hurghada took on a growth explosion thanks to tourism in the 1980s. The Hurghada of today comprises three main centres and numerous self-contained tourist villages. To the north, lies Ed-Dahar, which hosts more than half of the total local population, and some of Hurghada’s more expensive hotels, restaurants and the tourist bazaar. A couple of kilometres south lies Sigala, perhaps less popular than Ed-Dahar. Still further south is New Hurghada where there are a concentration of up market hotels and restaurants. All of this development has made Hurghada one of Egypt’s most popular resort towns on the Red Sea coast. Hotels and expanded infrastructure provide holidaymakers with excellent aquatic facilities for sail boarding, yachting, deep-sea fishing, SCUBA diving and snorkeling.
Hurghada’s central location provides a gateway to prime offshore reefs, which are some of the finest in the world. Hurghada is also known for its lively nightlife. For retail therapy, the town has plenty of shops selling knock-off bags and tees, snorkelling gear and suchlike. Just outside Hurghada is an ancient Roman quarry called Mons Porphyritis and Port Safarga – a famously windy place and an excellent place for windsurfing.
Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam is where to go when you truly want peace and quiet. This sleepy town has been growing in popularity among tourists lately, but it still makes an excellent beach escape. Go diving or snorkeling in the warm Red Sea waters, or simply relax with a book.
If you’re feeling more ambitious, you can use Marsa Alam as a base from which to visit Egypt’s Eastern Desert and the beautiful Wadi el Gemal National Park. Finally, Marsa Alam is relatively close and well connected to Luxor and the temples at Karnak and Edfu, so you can combine your beach getaway with some historic sightseeing too.
Sharm el-Sheikh
A highlight of many a traveler to Egypt, Sharm el Sheik is a holiday resort filled with luxury hotels, casinos, nightclubs and tourists getting their sun, sea and sand fix. Sharm el-Sheikh holidays are very popular although the real beauty of this area is the Red Sea. The Red Sea has clear azure waters and an incredible amount of exotic fish and coral – which is why is so highly regarded as a diving destination. In fact, it arguably offers some of the best diving and snorkeling experiences in the world. Get hold of some scuba gear (and an experienced instructor) and take a look for yourself – you won’t regret it.
Egypt Travel Guide 