Things to do in Egypt: 20 must-see attractions

Cairo is the largest city in Africa and a place where ancient history hits you from every angle. You can spend your days exploring the Giza Pyramids, wandering the historic architecture of the Islamic Quarter, or visiting the spiritual sites of the Coptic Quarter. Top off your trip with a stroll through the local souks or a cruise down the Nile for a perspective you just cannot get anywhere else.

Set along the right bank of the Nile, Aswan marks Egypt's southern limit, functioning as a green sanctuary against the surrounding desert backdrop. As the ancient gateway to Nubia, its history is deeply tied to old trade routes and caravans carrying goods from sub-Saharan Africa. Travelers often treat it merely as a jumping-off point for the temples of Abu Simbel, yet the city itself possesses a striking charm defined by lush gardens, quiet river islands, and significant historical sites.

An Essential Souk

Getting your bearings in Aswan is straightforward, as the corniche runs alongside the Nile for miles, serving as the main hub for waterfront cafes and restaurants. Nicely maintained, it makes for a pleasant stroll while the city expands into the grid of streets behind it. The souk stands out as one of its most lively spots. Day and night, this covered market bustles with vendors where stalls overflow with Egyptian and African goods, ranging from perfumes and spices to textiles, handicrafts, incense, fruit, and fresh flowers. It is a prime area for bargaining, and along the edges, Nubian culture is on display through traditional items like talismans, handmade jewelry, and basketry. The entire area is a sensory mix of bright colors and heavy aromas. Aswan's signature local dish is stuffed pigeon, often prepared with rice, served on skewers, or simply grilled across local menus. Alongside molokhia, eggplant dishes, mezzes, tahini, and fresh river fish, the local food scene is hearty and pairs well with traditional Egyptian flatbread, fresh juices, and Nubian cardamom coffee.

Island Hopping

Directly across from downtown, Elephantine Island is a standout spot reached by hopping on a felucca, the traditional wooden sailboats that remain the most common way to get around the river in Aswan. Siou and Koti, two Nubian villages, sit nestled between agricultural plots and date palm groves here, featuring brightly painted houses where the pace of daily life slows to a crawl. You can tour the ruins of the Temple of Khnum, dedicated to the ram-headed deity, which features a well-known nilometer, an ancient stone staircase once used to measure the annual Nile flood levels. Carved colonnades with hieroglyphs complete the site, while views look out toward the elegant pink granite Aga Khan Mausoleum, built in 1959 atop the riverbank. A small museum dedicated to Nubian culture offers deeper context on local traditions and the community displacement caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, which you can also tour alongside the nearby Nilometer Museum.

The neighboring island feels entirely different, as Kitchener's Island holds the sprawling Botanical Garden established in 1896, where the river's humidity creates a startling contrast with the dry desert surrounding it. Plants, flowers, and trees from equatorial Africa, India, and tropical Asia form a lush canopy. The contrast against the arid sand on the opposite bank is sharp, providing a quiet habitat filled with birdsong.

Across on the west bank of the Nile, the Tombs of the Nobles cut into the cliffs via long burial ramps, offering panoramic views from the heights above. A bit further inland, the Monastery of Saint Simeon sits atop a plateau; it once housed 300 monks until its abandonment in 1321, and its eight-meter-high stone walls give it the look of a remarkably preserved fortress. Located just 2 km from Aswan, an ancient granite quarry holds the Unfinished Obelisk, carved around 1500 BCE before a fracture in the stone forced Queen Hatshepsut's architects to abandon it in place. Roughly ten kilometers away on Philae Island, the 4th-century BCE Temple of Isis stands as another major landmark, proving Aswan is a destination that easily warrants an extended stay.

When to Go

The climate is arid and dry, making December through February the most comfortable window due to mild temperatures, whereas June through September brings intense desert heat.

How to Get There

No flights link Europe or North America directly to Aswan International Airport, 20 km from the center; you reach it on a domestic hop from Cairo, with local transit and taxis handling the final stretch. From Cairo, located 840 km to the north, visitors can take an overnight sleeper train, a bus, or a domestic flight lasting 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Luxor holds the highest concentration of ancient pharaonic ruins on the planet. You can walk through the massive temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor, explore the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, or visit the cliffside mortuary temple of Hatshepsut. Spanning both banks of the Nile, this former capital of ancient Egypt functions today as an open-air museum where three millennia of history appear around every corner.

In southern Egypt, Abu Simbel could have stayed a sleepy outpost known mainly to freight drivers for its proximity to the Sudanese border. Instead, ancient Nubia left two priceless treasures hidden beneath the sand: the grand Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari, discovered in 1813 and 1817 by Swiss and Italian explorers. Threatened by the rising waters of the Nile, they had to be moved in 1964, 65 metres higher and 200 metres back from the water. It took three and a half years and 3000 workers to clear and cut the blocks, a massive operation that captured global attention and forever changed the fate of a quiet regional town near Aswan. Sitting right on the edge of Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel now welcomes travellers from around the world.

A peaceful haven

Its desert surroundings give Abu Simbel a distinct personality, and while exploring the archaeological ruins is the main event, staying at least one night is well worth it. Some hotels pay true tribute to Nubian culture, featuring typical architecture and decor with real charm. At small local eateries, you will find bold flavors in specialties like sesame tahina, babaghanouj eggplant dip, and of course foul, a hearty fava bean stew. Food lovers and the curious flock to mehallabeyya, a rosewater and pistachio cream pudding. Nubian coffee is said to be among the best anywhere, though hibiscus tea gives it a run for its money.

Aside from desert excursions, another major draw in Abu Simbel is Lake Nasser, a stunning body of water that feels almost like an ocean in the middle of the desert. Papyrus reeds line the shores where countless birds, including many herons, have made their home. It is a wonderfully quiet spot far from city noise, bathed in exceptional light. Along the banks, the Pharaoh stands guard over his lands like an immutable master.

Ramses II, massive and eternal

In a country packed with remarkable ancient sites, Abu Simbel ranks among the most striking. On the ancient sacred hills of Meha and Ibshek, Ramses II launched a colossal construction project at the start of his reign, in 1279 BC, and standing in front of it today is genuinely dizzying. The temples are carved directly into sandstone cliffs, with the larger one dedicated to several deities including the falcon-headed Re-Horakhty and, naturally, Ramses himself. The 33m facade features four statues towering around twenty meters high that leave zero doubt about who rules here. Wearing a kilt, the nemes headcloth, and a fake beard, the Pharaoh sits in full splendor. Inside, a hypostyle hall with mesmerizingly fine carvings and ten side rooms leads to the statue hall, where the figures are massive as well. The walls recount military victories, including the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites, along with campaigns against the Libyans and the Nubians. The genius of the builders who pulled off this outsized temple is hidden in a single detail: twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, everything is engineered so a sunbeam slips inside to illuminate the statue of Ramses for his birthday.

Just a few steps away stands the temple dedicated to Nefertari, Ramses II's first and favorite wife, deified in the likeness of Hathor. It is a more intimate space featuring six 10m-tall statues on the facade, including four depicting the Pharaoh, alongside gorgeous bas-reliefs and sculptures of their children at their feet. The queen poses with her horned crown and tall plumes, exuding imperial beauty, while inside, texts and reliefs highlight the royal couple with surprising tenderness alongside various deities. In the evening, a sound and light show illuminates the site. Ramses II is gone, but he keeps on reigning and fascinating.

When to go

The hot season runs from May to October, bringing dry, arid, and sometimes blistering weather. January is the coolest month, and if you prefer to avoid intense heat, the period between February and April is ideal. To dodge the crowds, visiting the temples early in the morning is highly recommended.

How to get there

Most travelers fly via Cairo to Aswan to reach Abu Simbel, with Aswan located 280 km away. The road cuts straight through the desert, and buses handle the route, though some visitors prefer hiring a private driver. You can also book a cruise that stops at Abu Simbel. The town has its own airport, and the flight from Aswan takes 45 minutes.

Located just about 20 km southwest of Cairo, Giza functions almost like a suburb of the sprawling capital. Sitting on the west bank of the Nile and connected to Cairo by bridge, the city is split into distinct neighborhoods, each with its own gritty personality. Millions of travelers head here every year, drawn by the pull of the last surviving wonder of the ancient world: the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Out on the plateau and across the necropolis, two other pyramids complete this monumental Old Kingdom complex, all of them watched over by the famous Sphinx. It is hard to compete with the most fascinating testaments of the past, making Giza an absolute must.

Culture in All Its Forms

Caught somewhere between aging apartment blocks, luxury hotels, and Qorsaya Island where local fishermen and farmers live, Giza throws visitors a curveball. The urban landscape captures the sheer challenge of making an ancient heritage site coexist with the daily grind of a modern city. Divided into neighborhoods that each march to their own beat, Giza moves fast. Chic and trendy Mohandessin leans into high-end style, shopping, restaurants, and cafes. As the home turf of the Ultras Ahlawy soccer fans, match nights here get loud and colorful. Kit Kat is much more working class, known for its traditional pottery workshops. Among the standout buildings, the massive Cairo University founded in 1908 features architecture well worth a closer look, while right nearby, the Al-Orman Botanic Garden serves as one of the city's main green lungs. Spanning 12 hectares filled with magnificent collections of cacti and trees, it took some hits during the Arab Spring, but it remains a peaceful green retreat. Housed in a former mansion, the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum gathers 19th-century artwork with a heavy focus on French painters. Right in the middle of Egypt, works by Delacroix, Gauguin, Monet, and Van Gogh pop up alongside orientalist canvases for an unexpected gallery stop. Culture also shows up in the moving Taha Hussein museum-home, an intimate space dedicated to one of the 20th century's most influential intellectuals and writers.

Traditional craft often borders on fine art here, and anyone lucky enough to visit the Ramses Wissa Wassef Arts Centre will see why: weaving is the core of this unique learning ground, which has earned awards for both its artistic execution and its philosophy. Housed in an unusual building designed by an architect-professor, the visit is as instructive as it is memorable.

Just off Al Bahr Al Aazam Avenue, one of the most unusual local attractions acts as a literal time machine. The Pharaonic Village drops you right into a fully reconstructed ancient Egypt. Everyday scenes, traditional trades, historical clothing, and music bring major figures of the era to life among Nubian-style sets. Sports, games, shows, and playgrounds round out the entertainment before you face the real deal: the actual pyramids built 4,500 years ago.

Facing the Pyramids and the Sphinx

Out on the desert plateau a few kilometers away, the three pyramids of the Giza plateau tower over the landscape. The Pyramid of Khufu stands at the northern corner of the mortuary complex as the oldest and tallest of the bunch. Standing 146 meters high, it is also the most massive, built from limestone blocks weighing 2.5 tons each. It remains a monument of pure scale and enduring mysteries. The inside is open to visitors, though the passageways leading to the burial chamber are extremely narrow. Right beside it stand the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, both smaller, along with the queens' pyramids, alongside the remains of mortuary temples, mastaba tombs, and hidden underground shafts. The whole site is commanding.

Carved straight out of a single block of bedrock since 2590 BCE, the Sphinx, measuring 73 meters long and 20 meters high, keeps watch over everything. This silent, broken-nosed guardian is unique with its human head and lion body. While historians still debate which pharaoh it actually represents, this ruler sought to equal the gods, and through sheer scale, he certainly achieved immortality.

When to Go

With spring and autumn temperatures hovering around 32 degrees, shoulder seasons offer the most comfortable weather for exploring Giza, especially out on the open pyramid grounds where you will be doing a lot of walking. Summers bring scorching days with dry desert air, while winters stay mild with an average of 14 degrees.

How to Get There

The pyramid site sits 8 km from Giza proper, which itself is about 20 km from downtown Cairo. Local buses and taxis make the connection easy. Nonstop flights reach Cairo from New York and Toronto; from other North American cities you connect in Europe or a Gulf hub.