Best Places to Visit in Egypt, Besides the Pyramids
At the outset, please allow us to get one thing clear: not for a moment are we telling you to give the pyramids of Egypt a miss. If you travel to Egypt and come back without seeing the pyramids, we’re going to send you right back. What we’re trying to tell you is that there is so much more to see there than just the pyramids. The many must see hidden treasures of Egypt often get forgotten or simply overlooked in the aura that the pyramids have cast. Being one of the Seven Wonders of the World too, doesn’t encourage turning the spotlight on anything else.
You have 7000 years of captivating history, heritage and culture to enjoy, and through this article we are going to take you on an unforgettable journey. Here are the below 15 unmissable places to visit in Egypt.
1 Pyramids of Giza
Number one on our list is, of course, the pyramids. When we said earlier that you cannot go to Egypt and miss the pyramids, we meant it literally. You will start to see the tops peeking over the Cairo skyline long before you get there. The pyramids include the Great Pyramid of Giza, the smaller Pyramid of Khafre, the medium-sized Pyramid of Menkaure and the Great Sphinx on the eastern side.
2 Abu Simbel
Getting to Abu Simbel can be tough, but nothing great can be achieved without effort, right? If you have seen photographs of the temple complex, you will already know what an impressive sight it is. But you can do true justice to it only in person. The temple complex has been carved directly into the rock surface and the result is a colossal façade of 20m tall statues of Ramesses II. Step inside and allow the interiors to wow you just as much. The rooms are cut from the rock and the walls are covered with lifelike statues, intricate bas-reliefs and impressive sculptures. You can visit Abu Simbel any time of the year but 22 February and 22 October draw the most crowds, as that is when sunlight penetrates the temple’s inner sanctuary and irradiates the four statues within.
3 Great Sphinx, One of the Famous Places to Visit in Egypt
Yes, the Sphinx is a part of the pyramid complex but it deserves an entry of its own. One of the most recognized monuments in the world, this denotes a reclining lion with a human head. Unlike the pyramids, not much is really known of its origins and it is this mystery that makes it more appealing.
4 Valley of the Kings and King Tutankhamen
Ancient Egyptians have been known to construct impressive tombs to help prepare their kings for their journey into the next land. Archaeological excavations have led to the discovery of 63 tombs and 23 chambers in the valley opposite Thebes (modern day Luxor). The most famous of them all is that of King Tutankhamen, whose intact remains and relics were uncovered in 1922.
5 Luxor
Luxor has earned the moniker as the ‘world’s greatest open air museum’. And you need to make a trip there to know why this is one of the places to visit in Egypt. Spread over 247 acres are two massive temple complexes – the Karnak and Luxor temple. The Karnak temple is the world’s largest temple. It was built over several generations and it actually consists of two large temples along with several smaller ones. Unfortunately, the ruins have not been maintained well, but you can still get a glimpse of the impressive structures. You will not be able to see it all in one go.
From Luxor, you can also cross the river to see the Valley of the Kings.
6 Nile Cruise, Amongst Popular Places to Visit in Egypt
A holiday to Egypt cannot be complete without a luxurious Nile cruise. Glide along the river as Egypt reveals itself to you at every turn of the water. The cruise ships come equipped with all amenities, and a typical journey is about three nights. The idea is to travel at leisure, stopping at many of the more popular tourist sites. The most popular cruise is from Aswan to Luxor.
While we must ask you to definitely experience a luxurious cruise, you can also sail down the Nile on a traditional wooden sailboat or felucca. There is something innately romantic about traveling the old fashioned way. The rides include meals and you can disembark at any place that catches your fancy.
7 Red Sea Coast
Head out to the Red Sea coast to spend a few lazy, indulgent days in the shallow depths of the sea. The waters are replete with exotic marine life and beautiful corals. Get yourself some snorkeling and scuba diving gear and explore the invertebrate species and soft and hard corals that abound in these tropical waters. If this sounds too much effort, you can just toss a beach towel and allow the warm sun to lull you to sleep by the seashore.
8 Mount Sinai
The bleak, jagged mountains of Mount Sinai make for a dramatic backdrop for your next social media profile picture. There is something immensely humbling about the stark beauty of these mountains. If you’re up for a tough trek, you can ascend the peaks and suddenly find yourself in green valleys, making the effort totally worth it. If ancient mythology pulls you in, then you’d be interested to know that it was on the 2285m mountain of Sinai that God is supposed to have given Moses the 10 commandments. This is one of the must see hidden treasures of Egypt.
9 Saqqara
Not many people make the journey to Saqqara (also known as Sakkara) since it isn’t as popular as Giza. However, it has several excellent pyramids which you can go inside and explore. You will also realize that souvenirs here are plentiful and cheaper here than what you will find at Giza.
10 Egyptian Museum, One of the Must Visit Places to Visit in Egypt
Put aside a day for the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It has the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. You can easily spend a day exploring the over 100,000 items on display, some of them going back to 3500 BC. After spending an entire day, we assure you that you will not have seen all the exhibits.
11 Abydos
Abydos is one of the oldest cities of ancient Egypt, and it holds immense religious significance. It contains a few of the earliest temples and tombs of the early Pharaohs. As far as archaeology goes, this is perhaps the most important site in all of Egypt.
12 The White Desert, Amongst Recommended Places to Visit in Egypt
Travel into Bedouin land and be mesmerised by the unique, white-coloured rock formations of the White Desert. This is further north of Farafra, and while you might need to travel a bit, the journey is worth it.
13 Sultan Hassan Mosque
This is believed to be one of the largest mosques in the world, covering an area of 7,906 square metres. What makes this unique is that the complex contains a mosque as well as an educational institution. People come from far just to take a look at its innovative-architectural components. Another important religious monument that you must not miss is the Al-Hussein mosque, believed to be the burial place of the head Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohamed.
14 Tahrir Square
This regular city square jumped into the world’s awareness with the Egyptian Revolution that took place here in 2011. Take your selfies against this momentous backdrop.
Suggested Read : The Ultimate Egypt Nightlife Guide: When to Party and Where?
15 Khan-el-Khalili, Cairo
Before you get ready to travel back home, you will want to pick up souvenirs, right? Head straight to Khan-el-Khalili, possibly North Africa’s best market. Don’t let the labyrinthine lanes worry you. It is quite safe and you will find the best deals hidden inside. Just be wary of pickpockets. Keep your eyes open for beautifully designed jewellery boxes, painted papyrus, or special tobacco.
Another shopping destination for the shopaholic in you is the Aswan Market. Do you remember the market in the Disney movie, Aladdin? That’s exactly what you can expect here. Delightful, isn’t it? You can get great bargains here too, but only if you know how to haggle. Expect to pay 30-50% of the asking price. Since this is also where the locals shop, you will find some of the typical souvenirs along with unexpected bargains on spices, coffee, jewellery and clothing too. As always, keep an eye on your wallet.
Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations of the worlds, and it has much to offer to the discerning and eager tourist. While we have tried to capture as many of the unmissable things to see, it is not possible to make a complete list. The best way to get the true Egyptian experience is to head over to the country and allow its vast deserts, gushing waterways, ancient monuments, culture and delicious cuisine to sweep you off your feet.
