Egypt · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Egypt
These are the places worth your time in Egypt, from the Pyramids and Luxor's temples to Nubian villages, Alexandria's seafood and the reefs of the Red Sea. Classics sit beside quiet corners many travellers miss, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Cairo
Things to Do
- Pyramids of Giza (Giza Plateau)
The last standing wonder of the ancient world, best at opening time before the heat and crowds. - Saqqara Step Pyramid of Djoser (Saqqara)
The oldest pyramid in Egypt, with painted tombs and far fewer people than Giza. - Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid (Dahshur)
Two great pyramids you can often enjoy almost alone, including a climb inside the Red Pyramid. - Al Muizz Street (Islamic Cairo)
A walkable open air museum of mosques, madrasas and fountains, magical when lit at night. - Cairo Citadel and Mosque of Muhammad Ali (Salah El Din Citadel)
Saladin's fortress with an Ottoman mosque and views across the city to the Pyramids on clear days. - Manshiyat Naser Cave Church (Mokattam)
A vast church carved into the cliffs above the garbage collectors' district. - Tanoura show at Wikalat al Ghouri (Islamic Cairo)
A free spirited whirling dervish and Sufi music performance in a medieval caravanserai.
Arts and Culture
- Grand Egyptian Museum (Giza)
The world's largest museum of a single civilisation, with the full Tutankhamun collection on show. - Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square, Downtown)
The original pink museum, still crammed with statues, coffins and atmosphere. - National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (Fustat)
Home of the Royal Mummies, displayed in a hushed, dramatic hall. - Al Azhar Mosque (Islamic Cairo)
One of the oldest mosques and universities in the world, calm and welcoming to modest visitors. - Bab Zuweila (Islamic Cairo)
Climb the twin minarets of this medieval gate for a rooftop view of old Cairo. - Hanging Church (Coptic Cairo)
A beautiful church built over a Roman gate, at the heart of the old Christian quarter. - Ben Ezra Synagogue (Coptic Cairo)
A restored synagogue where the famous Cairo Geniza documents were found. - Gayer Anderson Museum (Sayeda Zeinab)
Two Ottoman houses full of curios, joined by mashrabiya screens and secret corners. - Manial Palace (Manial, Roda Island)
An eclectic princely palace of Moorish, Persian and Ottoman styles set in gardens. - Sultan Hassan Mosque (Salah El Din Square)
A colossal Mamluk mosque whose courtyard is one of the great spaces of Islamic architecture. - Mosque of Ibn Tulun (Sayeda Zeinab)
Cairo's oldest intact mosque, with a spiral minaret you can climb. - Cairo Opera House (Zamalek)
Opera, ballet, classical and Arabic music in a modern Islamic style complex.
Shopping and Markets
- Khan el Khalili (Islamic Cairo)
The great medieval bazaar of lanterns, spices, silver and perfume, best at dusk. - Diwan Bookstore (Zamalek)
Cairo's best loved bookshop, with English titles on Egypt and a calm café. - Souq Fustat (Coptic Cairo)
Handicraft shops with fixed prices, a stress free place to buy gifts.
Cafés
- El Fishawy Café (Khan el Khalili)
A centuries old café of mirrors and brass where mint tea comes with people watching.
Nature and Outdoors
- Al Azhar Park (Salah Salem)
A green hilltop park with sunset views over a thousand minarets.
Restaurants
- Koshary Abou Tarek (Downtown)
Cairo's most famous koshari house, serving one dish and doing it brilliantly. - Felfela (Downtown)
A long running favourite for ful, taameya and classic Egyptian plates. - Zooba (Zamalek)
Playful modern takes on Egyptian street food, great for a first taste. - Abou El Sid (Zamalek)
Traditional Egyptian dishes in a lamp lit, old Cairo setting. - Sequoia (Zamalek)
Nile side dining at the tip of Zamalek, beautiful at sunset.
Bars and Nightlife
- Cairo Jazz Club (Agouza)
The city's best known live music club, with bands and DJs most nights.
Events
- Cairo International Film Festival (Cairo Opera House, Zamalek)
The Arab world's oldest international film festival, held each autumn.
Stays
- Marriott Mena House (Giza)
A historic palace hotel with the Great Pyramid rising over its gardens. - Cairo Marriott Hotel and Omar Khayyam Casino (Zamalek)
A former khedival palace on the Nile with grand gardens.
Places to Visit in Luxor
Things to Do
- Karnak Temple (East Bank)
A vast temple city whose Great Hypostyle Hall leaves everyone speechless. - Luxor Temple (East Bank, town centre)
Graceful by day and unforgettable when lit up after dark. - Valley of the Kings (West Bank)
The painted tombs of the pharaohs, including Tutankhamun's. - Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el Bahari, West Bank)
The terraced temple of Egypt's great female pharaoh, set against golden cliffs. - Medinet Habu (West Bank)
The temple of Ramesses III, with some of the brightest carved colour in Egypt and few crowds. - Tombs of the Nobles (Sheikh Abd el Qurna, West Bank)
Intimate tombs painted with scenes of daily life, often almost empty. - Deir el Medina (West Bank)
The village and tombs of the craftsmen who built the royal tombs. - Colossi of Memnon (West Bank)
Two giant seated statues by the roadside, an easy and impressive stop. - Hot air balloon flight over the West Bank (West Bank)
Drift over temples and sugarcane fields at sunrise, a highlight of any Egypt trip. - Avenue of Sphinxes (East Bank)
Walk the restored processional way that once linked Karnak and Luxor Temple. - Dendera Temple of Hathor (Dendera, north of Luxor)
A superbly preserved temple with a painted ceiling and rooftop chapels. - Abydos Temple of Seti I (Abydos)
Some of the finest reliefs in Egypt, a long but rewarding day trip. - Cycling the West Bank (West Bank)
Pedal past fields, villages and temples in the cool of early morning.
Arts and Culture
- Luxor Museum (Corniche, East Bank)
A small, beautifully lit museum of masterpieces, calm in the evening. - Mummification Museum (Corniche, East Bank)
A quirky short visit explaining how the ancients prepared their dead.
Nature and Outdoors
- Felucca sail at sunset (Corniche, East Bank)
An hour on the Nile as the sun drops behind the Theban hills.
Restaurants
- Sofra Restaurant (East Bank)
Traditional Egyptian cooking in an old house with a rooftop terrace.
Bars and Nightlife
- Winter Palace terrace (Corniche, East Bank)
A drink on the historic terrace overlooking the Nile.
Shopping and Markets
- Luxor Souk (East Bank, town centre)
A lively market of spices, galabiyas and scarves, fun with patient haggling.
Stays
- Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor (Corniche, East Bank)
The Victorian era grand hotel where history and Nile views meet.
Places to Visit in Aswan
Things to Do
- Philae Temple (Agilkia Island)
The island Temple of Isis, reached by boat and loveliest in late light. - Abu Simbel Temples (Abu Simbel)
The colossal rock cut temples of Ramesses II, worth every minute of the early start. - Gharb Soheil Nubian village (West bank)
Brightly painted houses, Nubian tea and a warm welcome, reached by boat. - Tombs of the Nobles (West bank hill)
Ancient governors' tombs with a sweeping view of the Nile. - Monastery of St Simeon (West bank desert)
A ruined fortress monastery reached across the sand. - Unfinished Obelisk (Northern quarries)
See how the ancients cut granite from a giant obelisk abandoned in the rock. - Elephantine Island villages (Elephantine Island)
Wander quiet Nubian lanes and the ruins of ancient Yebu. - Kalabsha Temple (Near the High Dam)
A rescued temple on Lake Nasser that few visitors reach.
Nature and Outdoors
- Felucca sail around Elephantine Island (Corniche)
Glide between granite islands and golden dunes at sunset. - Aswan Botanical Garden (Kitchener's Island)
A shady island garden of exotic trees, peaceful in the afternoon.
Arts and Culture
- Nubian Museum (Corniche)
A calm, superb museum on Nubian history and the rescue of its temples.
Shopping and Markets
- Aswan Souk (Sharia el Souk)
A relaxed market for hibiscus, spices, baskets and Nubian crafts.
Restaurants
- Old Cataract terrace (Sofitel Legend Old Cataract)
Sunset tea or a drink on the terrace where Agatha Christie wrote.
Stays
- Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan (Corniche)
One of Africa's most famous hotels, full of history and Nile views.
Events
- Abu Simbel Sun Festival (Abu Simbel)
Around 22 February and 22 October the sunrise lights the temple's inner sanctuary.
Places to Visit in Alexandria
Arts and Culture
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Shatby)
A striking modern library with museums and exhibitions inside. - Alexandria National Museum (Fouad Street)
A compact museum covering the city's long history.
Things to Do
- Citadel of Qaitbay (Eastern Harbour)
A fifteenth century fort on the site of the ancient lighthouse. - Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (Karmouz)
A strange underground tomb blending Egyptian, Greek and Roman art. - Pompey's Pillar (Karmouz)
A giant granite column on the site of the Serapeum. - Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el Dikka)
A small marble theatre and Roman baths in the city centre. - El Alamein War Cemetery (El Alamein)
A moving World War Two cemetery and museum on the coast west of the city.
Nature and Outdoors
- Montaza Palace Gardens (Montaza)
Royal gardens and beaches at the eastern end of the city. - The Corniche at sunset (Corniche)
Miles of seafront promenade, at its best as the sun goes down.
Restaurants
- Mohamed Ahmed (Raml Station)
A famous no frills spot for ful and taameya. - Kadoura (Bahary)
A busy seafood house where you pick the catch and it arrives grilled.
Cafés
Shopping and Markets
- Attarine Market (Attarine)
Lanes of antique dealers and old furniture shops to browse.
Stays
- Steigenberger Cecil Hotel (Saad Zaghloul Square)
A historic seafront hotel that has hosted famous guests for a century. - Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano (San Stefano)
Seafront rooms and a private beach in the modern east of the city.
Places to Visit in Hurghada
Nature and Outdoors
- Giftun Island (Offshore from Hurghada)
White sand and clear water on a day boat with snorkelling stops. - Snorkelling trip to the reefs (Hurghada Marina)
Coral, colourful fish and sometimes dolphins on a day boat. - Kitesurfing at El Gouna (El Gouna)
Steady winds and shallow lagoons for lessons and experienced riders.
Things to Do
- Hurghada Marina (Sakkala)
A seafront promenade of cafés and restaurants, lovely in the evening. - El Dahar old town (El Dahar)
Hurghada's original town, with a local souk and simple cafés. - Bedouin desert trip (Eastern Desert)
A jeep ride to a desert camp for tea, stars and a simple dinner. - El Gouna Abu Tig Marina (El Gouna)
Waterfront dining and strolling in the lagoon town north of Hurghada.
Shopping and Markets
- Hurghada Old Market (El Dahar)
Spices, fruit and everyday goods away from the resort strip.
Stays
- Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel (Hurghada)
A large beach resort with pools and space for families.
Places to Visit in Sharm El Sheikh
Nature and Outdoors
- Ras Mohammed National Park (Southern Sinai tip)
Spectacular reefs and walls at the meeting of two gulfs. - Straits of Tiran (Off Sharm El Sheikh)
Four famous reefs with drop offs, turtles and big fish. - Naama Bay beach (Naama Bay)
A sheltered bay with easy snorkelling and a lively promenade. - Blue Hole (Dahab)
A famous reef sinkhole where snorkellers float above the drop.
Things to Do
- SS Thistlegorm wreck dive (Gulf of Suez)
A Second World War cargo ship and one of the world's great wreck dives. - Mount Sinai sunrise climb (St Catherine)
Climb through the night to watch the sun rise over the Sinai mountains. - Soho Square (Sharm El Sheikh)
An evening entertainment hub with an ice rink, fountains and restaurants. - Dahab Lighthouse reef (Dahab)
An easy shore dive and snorkel straight from the promenade.
Arts and Culture
- St Catherine's Monastery (St Catherine)
One of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world.
Shopping and Markets
- Old Market Sharm (Old Sharm)
Spices, sweets and souvenirs, livelier and more local than the resorts.
Stays
- Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh (Sharm El Sheikh)
A hillside resort with a fine house reef.
Places to Visit in Siwa Oasis
Nature and Outdoors
- Siwa Oasis salt lakes (Siwa)
Float in salty turquoise pools in a remote desert oasis.
Things to Do
- Shali Fortress (Siwa town)
The mudbrick ruins of the old town, golden at sunset.
Places to Visit in Fayoum
Nature and Outdoors
- Wadi El Hitan (Fayoum)
A UNESCO valley of fossil whale skeletons in the desert.
Arts and Culture
- Tunis Village pottery (Fayoum)
A village of potters and artists by Lake Qarun.
Places to Visit in Bahariya Oasis
Nature and Outdoors
- White Desert National Park (Farafra)
Chalk formations that glow at sunset, ideal for a night camping under the stars.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Nile Pharaoh dinner cruise (Giza Corniche, Cairo)
An evening dinner cruise on the Nile with a show, easy fun for families. - Café Riche (Talaat Harb, Downtown, Cairo)
A historic café where writers and revolutionaries once met. - Townhouse Gallery (Downtown, Cairo)
An influential independent gallery in the backstreets of Downtown. - 1886 Restaurant (Winter Palace, Corniche, Luxor)
Formal dining in the grand old Winter Palace. - Restaurant Mohammed (Kom Lolah, West Bank, Luxor)
Home cooking at a family table near Medinet Habu. - Al Moudira Hotel (West Bank, Luxor)
A dreamy domed hideaway among the fields of the West Bank. - Beit Sabee (Medinet Habu, West Bank, Luxor)
A mudbrick guesthouse with rooftop views of Medinet Habu. - El Dokka (Island off the Corniche, Aswan)
Nubian food on an island terrace, reached by a free boat. - Salah El Din Restaurant (Corniche, Aswan)
Terraces over the Nile with Egyptian and Nubian dishes. - Anakato Nubian Village (Gharb Soheil, Aswan)
A colourful Nubian guesthouse by the river. - Philae Hotel (Corniche, Aswan)
A good value Nile front hotel within walking distance of the souk. - Fish Market (Anfoushi, Alexandria)
Choose your fish on ice and eat it grilled with a view of the harbour. - Brazilian Coffee Stores (Raml Station, Alexandria)
A classic standing coffee bar from the old city. - Cap d'Or (Mansheya, Alexandria)
An old style bar with art nouveau touches and plates of seafood. - Cavafy Museum (Sharm El Sheikh Street, Downtown, Alexandria)
The preserved flat of the great Greek poet of Alexandria. - Grand Aquarium Hurghada (South Hurghada, Hurghada)
A large aquarium that is a hit with children on a hot afternoon. - El Gouna Film Festival (El Gouna, Hurghada)
An autumn film festival drawing stars from across the Arab world. - Star Fish (Sakkala, Hurghada)
A busy, casual seafood restaurant popular with locals and visitors. - Dahab seafront restaurants (Masbat, Dahab, Sharm El Sheikh)
Cushioned seating right on the water for dinner under the stars. - El Masrien (Old Market, Sharm El Sheikh, Sharm El Sheikh)
A local favourite for grills and Egyptian food. - Basata Ecolodge (Between Nuweiba and Taba, Sharm El Sheikh)
Simple huts on a quiet beach, a peaceful escape.