Egypt, home to the ancient Pharaohs, is a stunning destination for temples and tombs that wow anyone who visits. However, they’re not all historic treasures. There’s something for everyone here, 15 Top Tourist Attractions in Egypt with vast tracts of desert, superb scuba diving, and the famed Nile River.

In order to soak up the sun, beach lovers go to the Sinai, while archaeology enthusiasts have a field day in Luxor. For city slickers, Cairo is the megalopolis that can’t be beaten, whereas Siwa oasis and the southern city of Aswan offer a slice of the countryside’s slow pace.

It’s the ideal country for a mix of activities that blend culture, adventure, and relaxation. Egypt has so much to see and do for travellers. Our list of the top tourist attractions in Egypt provides you with the best places to explore.

1. Pyramids of Giza

The last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to survive, the Giza Pyramids are one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world. Designed as tombs for the mighty Pharaohs and guarded by the mysterious Sphinx, the pyramid complex of Giza has fascinated travellers over the ages and left historians scratching their heads about how they were built for centuries (and a fair few conspiracy theorists). Giza’s pyramids should not be missed.

2. Luxor’s Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings

The Nile-side town of Luxor in Upper Egypt, renowned for the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and the Hatshepsut Memorial Temple, has a wealth of tourist attractions. This is ancient Thebes, the power base of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, and home to more sights on a single visit than most will see.

The quieter West Bank is home to a bundle of tombs and temples which have been named the world’s largest open-air museum, while the East Bank brims with vibrant souk action. Spend a few days investigating the vivid wall art of the tombs and looking in wonder at the monumental columns in the temples, and you’ll see why historians and archaeologists are still intrigued by Luxor.

3. Islamic Cairo

The atmospheric, narrow lanes of the Islamic Cairo district of the capital are full of mosques, madrassas (Islamic learning schools), and monuments from the Fatimid to the Mameluke eras. This is where you’ll find Khan el-labyrinth Khalili’s shopping souk, where copper smiths and craftsmen still have their tiny workshops, and stalls are full of ceramics, textiles, spices,and perfume.

A muddle of roads surrounds the market, home to some of the old Islamic empire’s most beautiful preserved architecture. There is an abundance of history to learn here. Visit the Al-Azhar Mosque and the dazzling Sultan Hassan Mosque and make sure you climb to the roof of Bab Zuweila’s ancient mediaeval gate for the best panoramas of the minaret-speckled city.

4. Aswan

Aswan, set on the winding curves of the Nile, is Egypt’s most peaceful city. This is the ideal place to rest and unwind for a few days and soak up the chilled-out atmosphere, backed up by orange-hued dunes. Take the river ferry across to Elephantine Island and walk through the lively streets of the villages of the Nubians. Race your camel to St. Simeon’s desert monastery on the East Bank. Or just drink endless cups of tea on one of the riverboat restaurants, while watching the lateen-sailed feluccas drift past.

There are plenty of historic sites here and numerous temples nearby, but one of Aswan’s most popular things to do is simply kicking back and watching the river life go by.

5. Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is something unique even in a country festooned with temples. This is the great temple of Ramses II, adorned outside with a colossal statuary standing guard, and with an interior decorated sumptuously with wall paintings. Abu Simbel is also renowned for its megalithic proportions and for the remarkable feat that saw the entire temple shift from its original setting,set to disappear under the water because of the Aswan dam — during the 1960s in a massive UNESCO operation that took four years.

6. Egyptian Museum

A treasure chest of the Pharaonic world, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is one of the great museum collections in the world. A dazzling number of exhibits are located in the faded pink mansion. With little labelling on offer and not much chronological order, it’s a higgledy-piggledy spot, but that’s half of its old-school charm.

Upstairs is King Tutankhamen’s golden glory and the fascinating displays of royal mummies, but every corner you turn here really is home to some wonderful piece of ancient art or statuary that would form a highlight of any other museum.

7. White Desert

The White Desert, where surreally shaped chalk mountains have created what looks like a snowy wonderland in the middle of the arid sand, is Egypt’s kookiest natural wonder. With blindingly white boulders and iceberg-like pinnacles, the landscapes here look like something from a science fiction movie. This is the ultimate weird playground for desert fans and adventurers,while anybody who’s had their fill of temples and tombs will enjoy this spectacular natural scenery.

8. Siwa Oasis

Way out west, Siwa is a calm tonic to the hustle and bustle of the cities of Egypt. Surrounded by date palm plantations and numerous fresh water springs, this beautiful little oasis is one of the most picturesque locations in the Western Desert. The city is built around the remains of a massive citadel of mud-brick that dominates the view. This is a prime place for a few days to wind down and go slow,as well as being an excellent base from which to plan adventures into the surrounding desert.

9. Alexandria

Alexandria is the most European of the cities in Egypt and has a past that not many others can equal. Established for most of its existence by Alexander the Great, home of Cleopatra, and a renegade Mediterranean city of razzmatazz, this seaside city has an enticing day-by-day atmosphere that can’t be beaten. Even though today,This is a place made for aimless strolling along the seashore Corniche, café-hopping, and souk shopping, One Of The Most 15 Top Tourist Attractions in Egypt, There are few historical traces of its illustrious history, featuring in songs and books.

10. St. Catherine’s Monastery

St. Catherine’s, one of the world’s oldest monasteries, stands at the foot of Mount Sinai, where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments. An impressive array of religious iconography, sculpture, and manuscripts (some of which can be seen in the on-site museum) as well as the burning bush are housed in this desert monastery.

A journey to St. Catherine’s also requires a hike up Mount Sinai to see the sunrise or sunset for most tourists here. For the simple route, take the camel path or, if you want better views, climb the popular Steps of Repentance.

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