Egypt gives a first trip a remarkable range: the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on Cairo's edge, the medieval lanes of Historic Cairo, the temples and tombs of Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, and coral reefs off Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Most first visits start in Cairo, then head south by plane or sleeper train to Luxor and Aswan, with a Nile cruise of three to seven nights between them. Domestic flights take about an hour.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing, booking or etiquette. Below them you will find every sight we cover in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, then answers to common questions.
The 18 best things to do in Egypt
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- 1Cairo
Stand before the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
The three pyramids of Giza were built as tombs for kings of the 4th Dynasty: the Great Pyramid for Khufu, about 2589 to 2566 BC, and the other two for his son Khafre and his grandson Menkaure. Khufu's is the oldest and largest, and no building rose higher for another 3,800 years. Around them lie smaller queens' pyramids, nobles' tombs and temples linked by causeways. Beside Khafre's causeway crouches the Great Sphinx, carved straight from the bedrock, most likely in Khafre's reign, with the Dream Stela of Thutmose IV between its paws. The plateau is part of the Memphis and its Necropolis World Heritage Site, and the area ticket does not include going inside the pyramids.
Tip: Go early in the day with water, a hat and sunscreen, and buy the separate ticket at the site if you want to go inside one of the pyramids.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism AuthorityOther nationalities, adult: EGP 700 (about $13) · Egyptian adult: EGP 60 (about $1) · Plateau admission; pyramid interiors cost extraLast verified
- 2CairoBook ahead
See Tutankhamun's gold mask at the Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum, near the Giza pyramids, opened fully on November 1, 2025, as the world's largest museum devoted to a single civilization, covering ancient Egypt from prehistory to the end of the Greek and Roman periods. A colossal statue of Ramesses II, the first artifact moved in, in 2018, greets you in the Grand Hall, and the Grand Stairs lead on to the main galleries. The Tutankhamun Galleries hold the king's solid gold burial mask, found over the head and shoulders of his mummy. Your visit also covers Khufu's Boats Museum and the gardens. The standard guided tour lasts about 2 hours, and the audio guide has more than 100 stops.
Tip: Book a timed entry slot online before you go, since all tickets must be bought in advance, and remember that only phone photos are allowed in the Tutankhamun Galleries.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Grand Egyptian Museum (official); Grand Egyptian Museum (official); Grand Egyptian Museum; Grand Egyptian Museum (official)Other nationalities, adult over 24: EGP 1,830 (about $34) · Egyptian adult over 24: EGP 220 (about $4) · Book an entry windowLast verified
- 3Luxor
Walk the forest of columns at Karnak
Karnak, which the ancient Egyptians called Ipet-Sut, "the most select of places", was the great temple of the god Amun at Thebes, today's Luxor. Kings built and added to it from about 2100 BC into the Ptolemaic period, and nearly every New Kingdom pharaoh left his mark. The highlight is the Great Hypostyle Hall, a forest of 134 columns, most of them 15 m tall and the central 12 rising to 21 m. Nearby stands Hatshepsut's obelisk, almost 30 m high, and deeper in lies the sacred lake where priests purified themselves before rituals. An avenue of sphinxes about 2,700 m long runs south from Karnak to Luxor Temple.
Tip: Go when the gates open at 6:00 AM to walk the hypostyle hall before the day turns hot.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egypt Ministry of Tourism and AntiquitiesOther nationalities, adult: EGP 600 (about $11) · Egyptian adult: EGP 40 (about $1) · Standard temple admissionLast verified
- 4Luxor
Go underground in the Valley of the Kings
Across the Nile from Luxor, the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th Dynasties, about 1550 to 1069 BC, were buried in hidden tombs cut into a dry desert valley, under a peak shaped like a natural pyramid. Thutmose I is the first king confirmed to have been buried here, and Tutankhamun's tomb is here too. The valley holds more than 60 tombs, plus about 20 unfinished ones that are little more than pits, and the finished tombs lead down through decorated corridors into the rock. Look up in the tomb of Ramesses VI, where the sky goddess Nut stretches across the ceiling. The valley is part of the Ancient Thebes World Heritage Site, listed in 1979.
Tip: Arrive when the gates open at 6:00 AM, and bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes for the walks between tombs.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Egyptian Tourism Authority; Egyptian Tourism AuthorityOther nationalities, adult: EGP 750 (about $14) · Egyptian adult: EGP 60 (about $1) · Selected tombs require additional ticketsLast verified
- 5Luxor
See Luxor Temple glow after dark
Luxor Temple, Ipet-resyt or "Southern Sanctuary", stands in the middle of town, about 3 km south of Karnak, and faces it instead of following the usual east to west layout. It was the stage for the Opet Festival, when the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were carried here from Karnak. Amenhotep III built its core and the Great Colonnade of two rows of seven giant columns, and Ramesses II added a courtyard and the great pylon. Of his two 25 m obelisks, one still stands at the gate; the other has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836. From the temple, the reopened Sphinx Avenue leads north toward Karnak.
Tip: The temple stays open until 8:00 PM, so come in the late afternoon and stay as the statues are lit, or watch the sunset from a rooftop restaurant facing it.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism Authority; Experience Egypt, Egyptian Tourism Authority (official)Other nationalities, adult: EGP 500 (about $9) · Egyptian adult: EGP 40 (about $1) · Evening visits availableLast verified
- 6Luxor and Aswan
Sail between Luxor and Aswan on a Nile cruise
Dozens of cruise ships sail the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, in either direction, on trips of three to seven nights with stops at major sights along the way. It is the classic way to see Upper Egypt: you unpack once and travel between temples by river. One of the most complete temples on the Nile is the Temple of Horus at Edfu, on the west bank, begun in 237 BC and finished 180 years later, with two granite falcons guarding its pylons. For a slower, quieter trip, look at a dahabiya, a two-masted sailing boat; these also run between Aswan and Luxor, and some continue to Lake Nasser and Abu Simbel.
Tip: Check which sights and entry tickets your cruise includes before you book, and keep a free day in Luxor or Aswan for anything it skips.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Egyptian Tourism Authority; Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism Authority - 7Abu Simbel
Travel south to the temples of Abu Simbel
Near Egypt's southern border, Ramesses II had the Great Temple of Abu Simbel cut into the living rock around 1264 BC, fronted by four seated colossal statues of himself. One fell in an ancient earthquake, and its pieces still lie on the ground. Inside, standing statues of the king line the main hall to a sanctuary of four seated gods. Next door, the Small Temple honors Hathor and Queen Nefertari, whose statues are as large as her husband's, a rare tribute. In 1968 both temples were moved to save them from the waters of the Aswan High Dam. Most visitors come on a day trip from Aswan, and the town also has a domestic airport.
Tip: On February 22 and October 22 each year the sun's rays reach the statues in the inner sanctuary, so plan and book early if you want to be there on those days.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Egyptian Tourism Authority; Egyptian Tourism Authority - 8Aswan
Take a boat to Philae's Temple of Isis
Philae's main temple, begun by Ptolemy II (285 to 246 BC), is dedicated to Isis, mother of Horus. It was one of the last ancient Egyptian temples in use, until Emperor Justinian closed the pagan temples in the 6th century, and the last dated hieroglyphic inscription was carved here in 394 AD. Look for the birth room showing Isis nursing the infant Horus, the temple of Hathor, and the roofless Kiosk of Trajan by the water. In the 1960s, during the UNESCO campaign to save the monuments of Nubia from the Aswan High Dam, the whole complex was moved to nearby Agilkia Island, which you reach by boat.
Tip: Ask your boatman to also cross to the neighboring island, which gives a view of the temples from the water that is great for photos.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism AuthorityOther nationalities, adult: EGP 550 (about $10) · Egyptian adult: EGP 40 (about $1) · Temple ticket; boat transfer extraLast verified
- 9Luxor
Climb the terraces of Hatshepsut's temple
On Luxor's West Bank, the temple of Hatshepsut, the queen who became pharaoh around 1473 to 1458 BC, rises in three wide man-made terraces toward a sheer cliff at Deir al-Bahari. The spot was sacred to Hathor, and the Valley of the Kings lies just on the other side of the same hills. About 600 years earlier, King Mentuhotep had chosen this place for his own tomb and temple. Hatshepsut built hers as a mortuary temple for herself and her father, Thutmose I, directly across the river from Karnak, and each year the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu crossed the Nile in procession to visit it.
Tip: It opens at 6:00 AM, so pair it with an early visit to the Valley of the Kings behind the same hills.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official)Other nationalities, adult: EGP 440 (about $8) · Egyptian adult: EGP 40 (about $1) · Exposed terraces and stepsLast verified
- 10Cairo
Wander Al-Muizz Street into Khan el-Khalili
Al-Muizz Street, named after the Fatimid caliph who founded Cairo in 969, runs through the old walled city from the gate of Bab al-Futuh in the north to Bab Zuwayla in the south. Along it stand 29 monuments from the 10th to the 19th centuries, mosques, schools, grand houses, markets and defenses, making it the largest open-air museum of Islamic monuments in the world and part of the Historic Cairo World Heritage Site. Side lanes lead into Khan el-Khalili, Cairo's medieval bazaar, and to Bayt al-Suhaymi, a well-preserved Ottoman house. Craft shops and vendors line the way, so give it a few unhurried hours.
Tip: One area ticket covers several of the street's monuments, and in the evening you can catch a whirling dervish performance at Wikalat al-Ghuri.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Experience Egypt, Egyptian Tourism Authority (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official)Street walk; monument interiors have separate tickets - 11Sharm el-Sheikh
Snorkel the reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park
Ras Mohammed, where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba, was declared a national park in 1983. Coral reefs surround it on every side, home to colorful fish and endangered sea turtles, and a mangrove channel cuts across one corner. Sharm el-Sheikh's dive sites lie inside three national parks, Ras Mohammed, Tiran and Nabq, with hard and soft corals, turtles, dolphins, moray eels and reef sharks. Sharm is also the starting point for liveaboard trips to the Thistlegorm, the Red Sea's best-known wreck, from World War II. On a boat day, look out for White Island off Ras Mohammed, which only appears at low tide.
Tip: Choose a licensed dive or snorkel operator, ask about its safety briefing and equipment, and carry your passport, since police check ID.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency; Chamber of Diving and Water Sports, Egypt (official); Egyptian Tourism Authority; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK)Foreign visitor: $5 · Activity and vehicle charges may be separateLast verified
- 12Aswan
Sail a felucca around Elephantine Island
Aswan is the place to take to the Nile in a felucca, a traditional sailboat. Sail around Elephantine Island, the old gateway into Egypt for traders from Nubia, and stop to explore its ruins: the temple of Satet, guardian of the southern frontier, remains of houses linked to the temple of Khnum, god of the Nile flood, a Nilometer and a small museum of the finds. The island is part of the Nubian Monuments World Heritage Site. Early morning trips around Elephantine are good for bird watching, and at the end of the day you can take tea and watch the sunset from the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel, looking over the Nile and the island.
Tip: Agree on the route and length of the sail with the captain before you set off, and ask about a swim stop near the Nubian village of Gharb Soheil.
Sources: Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Egyptian Tourism Authority; Egyptian Tourism AuthorityAgree route, duration and total before boarding - 13Cairo
Look over Cairo from the Citadel and Sultan Hasan
Salah al-Din (Saladin) began the Citadel on the Muqattam Hills in 1176, and from the early 1200s it was the home of Egypt's rulers until Khedive Ismail moved to Abdeen Palace in the mid-1800s. The domes of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha now crown it, with older mosques and several museums around them, and its walls give a wide view over the city. Below, the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan, built between 1356 and 1362, is one of the largest and finest mosques in Egypt, with a fountain courtyard, four great iwans (vaulted halls open on one side) and four schools of Islamic law. It faces the al-Rifa'i Mosque, covered by the same ticket.
Tip: Dress modestly for the mosques, with shoulders and legs covered, and bring a scarf to cover your hair.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism AuthorityOther nationalities, adult: EGP 550 (about $10) · Egyptian adult: EGP 60 (about $1) · Respect mosque visitor rulesLast verified
- 14Cairo
Meet the pharaohs in the Royal Mummies Gallery
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, Old Cairo, grew out of a UNESCO campaign launched in 1982, the same one that created Aswan's Nubian Museum. Its Royal Mummies Gallery is designed to feel like a walk down the Valley of the Kings, where most of the kings and queens shown here were first laid to rest. You can see the outer coffin of Queen Ahmose Nefertari, the canopic chest of Amenhotep II, and a mummy of King Amenhotep still adorned with flowers, its mask in place. The main gallery then walks you through Egyptian history from prehistory through the Pharaonic, Greek, Coptic and Islamic eras to today. The nearest metro station is Mar Girgis.
Tip: On Fridays the museum reopens from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, a good evening plan after a day in Old Cairo.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (official); National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (official); National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (official); National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (official)Other nationalities, adult: EGP 550 (about $10) · Egyptian adult: EGP 90 (about $2) · Main museum admissionLast verified
- 15Hurghada
Spend a beach day on Giftun Island
The Giftun Islands off Hurghada are known for clear blue water and white sand beaches, and dolphins are known to swim around them. Mahmya, a private beach on Big Giftun Island, runs day programs: boats leave its marina on the mainland at 8:30 AM, take about an hour to cross, and come back at 4:00 PM, and a later schedule stays out until sunset. Each booking gets a shaded seating area, and the full program adds a boat trip to Sabina Reef for about 45 minutes of snorkeling. The island is family friendly, with activities for all ages.
Tip: Be at the marina at least 30 minutes before departure, and bring your passport or ID, or a clear photo of it on your phone.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Mahmya; Egyptian Tourism AuthorityAge 7+: boat and beach: €38 (about $43) · Age 7+: boat, beach and buffet lunch: €60 (about $67) · Age 7+: full package with reef snorkeling: €85 (about $95) · Quoted in EUR, charged in EGP equivalent; hotel transfer excludedLast verified
- 16Luxor
Explore Medinet Habu on Luxor's West Bank
Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, who ruled about 1184 to 1153 BC, is admired for its beauty and its good state of preservation. You enter through the High Gate in a massive mud brick wall, then pass pylons, courtyards and columned halls whose walls show the king's wars against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples, along with hunting scenes and festivals. The enclosure also holds the remains of a royal palace and storehouses, and a smaller temple built by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. On the way, you pass the Colossi of Memnon of Amenhotep III, and the whole area is part of the Ancient Thebes World Heritage Site.
Tip: Cross the Nile by ferry and combine Medinet Habu with the Colossi of Memnon and Hatshepsut's temple in one West Bank day.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Egyptian Tourism AuthorityOther nationalities, adult: EGP 220 (about $4) · Egyptian adult: EGP 20 (about $1) · Allow time for the temple courtsLast verified
- 17Aswan
Discover Nubian culture at Aswan's Nubian Museum
Aswan's Nubian Museum tells the story of Nubia, the stretch of the Nile valley across southern Egypt and northern Sudan whose monuments were rescued in the UNESCO campaign of the 1960s. Opened in 1997 and clad in local sandstone and pink granite, it won the Aga Khan Award for Islamic Architecture in 2001. Three floors of artifacts trace Nubian and Egyptian history, with dioramas of Nubian crafts and traditions. The garden is an open-air museum with a cave of prehistoric rock inscriptions, part of a Fatimid cemetery and a rebuilt Nubian house. Afterward, visit a Nubian village for its colorful houses and food, and try hibiscus tea, served here since ancient times.
Tip: The museum also opens on Thursday and Friday evenings, a cooler time to visit after a day of sightseeing.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism AuthorityOther nationalities, adult: EGP 400 (about $7) · Egyptian adult: EGP 30 (about $1) · Daytime admissionLast verified
- 18Cairo
Step into Coptic Cairo at the Hanging Church
In Old Cairo, the Hanging Church takes its name from its position, built over the ruins of the Roman fortress of Old Cairo. Inside, three rows of marble columns divide the church, the wooden ceiling is shaped like Noah's Ark, and an 11th century marble pulpit rests on ten columns. Icons cover the walls, the oldest from the 15th century. Close by, the Coptic Museum, opened in 1910, holds the world's largest collection of Coptic art: illuminated manuscripts, icons, carved woodwork and frescoes from old monasteries and churches. The area, al-Fustat, is part of the Historic Cairo World Heritage Site, along with the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As.
Tip: Pair it with the Coptic Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, both in Old Cairo, and dress modestly for the churches.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Egyptian Tourism AuthorityActive church; respect services
Every sight, city by city
Aswan Botanical Garden
An island garden has shaded paths among trees and plants from different regions.Entry: EGP [fee]; boat transfer extraSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsAswan Souk
Aswan market streets sell spices, textiles and souvenirs alongside shops serving the city.Entry: Pay as you goCentral Aswan Corniche dining
The city riverfront has dining options and access to the streets around the souk.Entry: Pay as you goElephantine archaeological site
The southern end of Elephantine preserves ancient settlement remains, temples and a Nilometer.Entry: Archaeological site ticket; boat transfer extra. Hours: Daily 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsElephantine village dining
Village restaurants and guesthouses on Elephantine offer places to stop for a Nubian meal.Entry: Pay as you go; confirm lunch before setting outKoti village, Elephantine
A Nubian village on Elephantine has residential lanes between the river and the archaeological area.Entry: Respect homes and private courtyardsNubian Museum
A museum in southern Aswan presents Nubian history, crafts and cultural traditions.Entry: Daytime admission. Hours: Daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, last ticket 4:00 PM. Ramadan 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, last ticket 2:00 PM.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsPhilae Temple
An island temple complex south of Aswan is reached by a separate boat crossing.Entry: Temple ticket; boat transfer extra. Hours: Opens 7:00 AM; last entry 3:00 PM throughout the listed seasons.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsUnfinished Obelisk
An unfinished stone monument remains attached to the bedrock in an ancient granite quarry.Entry: Uneven stone underfoot. Hours: Opens 7:00 AM; last entry 3:00 PM throughout the listed seasons.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsAl-Azhar Park
A landscaped park above Historic Cairo has walking paths, gardens and city views.Entry: Tariff varies by visitor category and weekday. Hours: Daily 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsAl-Hussein dining streets
Cafes and dining streets cluster around the Al-Hussein district beside Khan el-Khalili.Entry: Pay as you goAl-Muizz Street
A historic street links monumental facades, small shops and lanes in Islamic Cairo.Entry: Street walk; monument interiors have separate ticketsCairo Citadel
A hilltop fortified complex overlooks Cairo and contains mosques and museum buildings.Entry: Respect mosque visitor rules. Hours: Opens 9:00 AM in summer, 8:00 AM in winter. Last entry 4:00 PM, or 3:30 PM during Ramadan.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsCoptic Museum
A museum beside the Hanging Church displays Coptic textiles, manuscripts, stonework and carved wood.Entry: Separate museum ticket. Hours: Opens 9:00 AM; last entry 4:00 PM, or 2:00 PM during Ramadan.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsGiza Pyramids plateau
The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure stand on a desert plateau west of Cairo.Entry: Plateau admission; pyramid interiors cost extraSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsGrand Egyptian Museum
A museum near Giza displays Egyptian antiquities, including Tutankhamun objects and Khufu boats.Entry: Book an entry window. Hours: Galleries 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Wednesday and Saturday to 9:00 PM. Last entry one hour earlier.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsGrand Egyptian Museum dining area
The museum commercial area has cafes and food outlets for a break between visits.Entry: Meals extra; arrange museum admission firstGrand Egyptian Museum exterior gardens
Landscaped outdoor spaces surround the museum complex beside its commercial area.Entry: Included with museum admission; no re-entrySearch tickets and tours on TiqetsGreat Sphinx, Giza
A monumental lion-bodied statue sits beside the pyramid complex on the Giza plateau.Entry: Part of the plateau visitSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsHanging Church
A Coptic church above the remains of a Roman fort contains carved woodwork and icons.Entry: Active church; respect services. Hours: Daily 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; services can affect visitor access.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsKhan el-Khalili
Market lanes in Islamic Cairo sell metalwork, jewelry, textiles and souvenirs beside cafes.Entry: Pay as you goNational Museum of Egyptian Civilization
The Fustat museum traces Egyptian civilization and includes the Royal Mummies gallery.Entry: Main museum admission. Hours: Opens 9:00 AM; last entry 4:00 PM, or 3:00 PM during Ramadan. Friday also has an evening session.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsOld Cairo lunch streets
The streets outside the Coptic monuments provide a meal break before continuing through southern Cairo.Entry: Pay as you go; individual opening hours varyQasr al-Nil Bridge
A bridge with bronze lion statues connects Downtown Cairo with Gezira Island across the Nile.Entry: Public pavementSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa
A large mosque and religious school faces the square below the Cairo Citadel.Entry: Visitor access may pause for prayer. Hours: Opens 9:00 AM; last entry 4:00 PM, or 3:00 PM during Ramadan.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsTalaat Harb and Downtown dining
Central Cairo streets around Talaat Harb have cafes, shops and places to eat.Entry: Pay as you goZamalek dining streets
This Nile island neighborhood has restaurants, cafes, galleries and independent shops.Entry: Pay as you goAl Mina Mosque exterior
A mosque beside Hurghada's fishing harbor, with domes and minarets visible from the street.Entry: Exterior visit onlySearch tickets and tours on TiqetsEl Dahar
Hurghada's older northern district, with markets and shopping streets away from the resort strip.Entry: Pay as you goHurghada Fish Market
A fish market beside the fishing harbor and Al Mina Mosque, north of the marina.Entry: Pay as you goHurghada Marina
A yacht marina in Sakkala with waterfront dining outlets and a pedestrian boulevard.Entry: Pay as you goHurghada Museum
An antiquities museum tracing Egyptian art and objects across ancient, religious and modern periods.Entry: Daily morning and evening sessions; Ramadan hours differSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMahmya beach, Big Giftun Island
A privately operated sandy beach on Big Giftun Island, reached by Mahmya's scheduled boats.Entry: Quoted in EUR, charged in EGP equivalent; hotel transfer excludedSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMahmya Beach, Hurghada
A paid mainland beach facility on Old Sheraton Street, separate from Mahmya's Giftun island beach.Entry: Members have priority; others first come; confirm event closuresSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSheraton Road
A central Hurghada street lined with shops and places to stop for a meal.Entry: Pay as you goSheraton Road shopping
A shopping stretch of Sheraton Road with department stores and smaller souvenir shops.Entry: Pay as you goAl-Gezira west-bank dining
The riverside village has guesthouse dining rooms and restaurants near the west-bank landing.Entry: Pay as you go; confirm your chosen kitchen is openCentral Luxor Corniche dining
The central riverfront provides a base for a meal and a short walk beside the Nile.Entry: Pay as you goColossi of Memnon
Two seated statues of Amenhotep III stand beside the remains of his funerary temple.Entry: Roadside exterior viewSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsKarnak Temple
A large temple complex on the east bank contains courts, monumental columns and sacred precincts.Entry: Standard temple admission. Hours: Opens 6:00 AM; last entry 4:00 PM throughout the listed seasons.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsLuxor Museum
A riverside museum displays sculpture and other objects from ancient Thebes and its surroundings.Entry: Morning and evening sessions; midday closure. Hours: Opens 9:00 AM; morning last entry noon in summer, 1:00 PM in winter and Ramadan. Reopens 5:00 PM.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsLuxor Souk
Central shopping lanes sell souvenirs and everyday goods near Luxor Temple.Entry: Pay as you goLuxor Temple
A monumental temple stands in central Luxor beside the Nile and the Avenue of Sphinxes.Entry: Evening visits available. Hours: Opens 6:00 AM; last entry 7:00 PM throughout the listed seasons.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsLuxor Temple and souk dining streets
The streets north of Luxor Temple have cafes and rooftop dining overlooking the central area.Entry: Pay as you goMedinet Habu
The temple complex of Ramesses III has monumental gateways and carved wall scenes.Entry: Allow time for the temple courts. Hours: Opens 6:00 AM; last entry 5:00 PM in summer, 4:00 PM in winter and Ramadan.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsTemple of Hatshepsut
A terraced royal temple stands beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari.Entry: Exposed terraces and steps. Hours: Opens 6:00 AM; last entry 5:00 PM in summer, 4:00 PM in winter and Ramadan.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsValley of the Kings
Royal tombs cut into desert hills preserve painted rooms on the west bank of Luxor.Entry: Selected tombs require additional tickets. Hours: Opens 6:00 AM; last entry 5:00 PM in summer, 4:00 PM in winter and Ramadan.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Egypt for a first trip?
Start in Cairo with the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, then the Grand Egyptian Museum nearby for Tutankhamun's treasures, and spend an afternoon on Al-Muizz Street and in Khan el-Khalili. Head south to Luxor for Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, cruise the Nile to Aswan for Philae, and make the trip to Abu Simbel. If you have time, finish with reefs and beaches at Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Grand Egyptian Museum (official); Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Egyptian Tourism Authority; Egyptian Tourism AuthorityHow many days do you need in Egypt?
Plan around the Nile. Cruises between Luxor and Aswan take three to seven nights, so with about 10 days you can spend two or three days in Cairo, travel or cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and add Abu Simbel. A week works if you fly between cities, since most domestic flights take about an hour, and keep to the highlights. Allow a few more days if you want beach and reef time in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh.
Sources: Egyptian Tourism Authority; Egyptian Tourism AuthorityWhen is the best time for sightseeing in Egypt?
Winter, from November to March, is the most comfortable time for temples and tombs: it is cool and mild, while Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea stay warm and sunny. Summer, from May to September, is hot and dry, especially in the desert and the south. In any season, start early: Karnak, Hatshepsut's temple and the Valley of the Kings open at 6:00 AM, and Luxor Temple stays open until 8:00 PM. During Ramadan, opening hours at sites and shops can change, so check them locally.
Sources: Egyptian Tourism Authority; Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (official); UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK)Which Egypt attractions should you book ahead?
Book the Grand Egyptian Museum before you go: all its tickets are sold online in advance with a timed entry slot. Tickets for most other archaeological sites and museums can be bought at the gate or online on the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' website. Book Nile cruises, Red Sea boat days and dive trips ahead through approved operators. If you want to see the sun reach Abu Simbel's sanctuary on February 22 or October 22, plan that trip well in advance.
Sources: Grand Egyptian Museum (official); Egyptian Tourism Authority; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK); Egypt Ministry of Tourism and AntiquitiesHow do you get around Egypt?
Domestic flights of about an hour connect most places. Air-conditioned trains run from Cairo south to Luxor and Aswan, including sleeper cars with two-bed cabins, and seats can be reserved up to seven days ahead on the Egyptian Railways website. Between Luxor and Aswan, a Nile cruise or dahabiya doubles as transport. In Cairo, ride-hailing apps are widely used, taxis must have a working meter, and the metro reaches sights such as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Ferries and feluccas cross the Nile in Luxor and Aswan.
Sources: Egyptian Tourism Authority; National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (official)What should you know about dress, photos and money in Egypt?
Dress modestly, especially in mosques, churches, rural areas and markets: cover your shoulders and legs, and bring a headscarf for places of worship. Ask before photographing people, since Egyptians may only be photographed with their permission, and photos of children are not allowed. Drones need prior permission. Cards are accepted in major cities and tourist areas, but Egypt is still largely cash-based, so carry Egyptian pounds for taxis and small shops. Keep your passport or a copy with you, since police check ID.
Sources: Egyptian Tourism Authority; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK)