In this guide, you will find the Top Things to do in Egypt. You will find opening hours, ticket prices, and all the information you need before exploring.

Egypt is a land full of breathtaking monuments with unreal proportions, mythology, and the feeling of standing among significant pieces of human history. Numerous peoples fought over the land on the Nile for thousands of years, leaving their fascinating traces in the hot desert sands.

If you’re planning a trip to Egypt and looking to explore its fascinating history and culture, don’t miss the opportunity to climb Mount Sinai. This iconic peak has been a site of spiritual significance for centuries and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding desert landscape. And be sure to check out this comprehensive guide to Mount Sinai, which includes everything you need to know to plan your trek, as well as some stunning photos and personal insights from a fellow traveler.

Valley of Kings

Basic ticket: 240 EGP
Ticket Ramses V & Ramses VI: 100 EGP
Photo permit: 300 EGP

Opening hours: 6 am to 4 or 5 pm.

Time required: 2 – 3 hours

In the Valley of the Kings, you can find the tombs of the pharaohs from the 18th to 20th dynasties, which are 3,500 to 3,000 years old. The valley is half an hour away from Luxor, the ancient Egyptian capital called Thebes.

The most famous tomb in the Valley of the Kings is definitely the tomb of the child king Tutankhamun. Howard Carter found it as the only untouched tomb in 1922. After the opening of Tutankhamun’s burial chamber, its legend about the Curse of the Pharaoh quickly spread. According to which a cruel death was to befall the archaeologists. As a result, some people involved in the excavations actually died, but many by suicide for fear of the curse.

Tutankhamun’s mummy, the tomb, and the treasures it contains have since been counted among the most important monuments of ancient Egypt. Visiting the total of 64 tombs of the pharaohs, in my opinion, really pays off. The Valley of the Kings, surrounded by rocks, is joined by additional tombs such as the Valley of the Queens and the Tombs of the Nobles.

Since the Valley of the Kings is not far from Luxor you can easily reach it by cab. For those who prefer to book a tour, I can recommend this tour.

Sphinx

Ticket Price: 80 EGP

Opening Hours: Summer (April to September): 8 am – 5 pm Winter (October to March): 8 am – 4 pm

Time required: 1 hour

The Great Sphinx is a mythical creature with a human head and a lion body. In addition to its impressive size – it is 73.5 meters long and 20 meters high – the lioness with a human head is fascinating, with an age of approximately 4,500 years. You can find it just behind the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo.

The Sphinx symbolizes the myths surrounding ancient Egypt like hardly any other structure, and numerous conspiracy theories revolve around its origin, age and significance. By the way, the Sphinx is missing its nose, not because of the ravages of time but because an iconophobic sheik cut it off out of fear of blasphemy in 1378.

Nevertheless, it is still almost completely preserved, having been covered by sand most of the time. Over the years, the Sphinx has been reworked again and again and was last uncovered in 1818. Today, it is not allowed to be excavated any further, as the Egyptian authorities are afraid of possible damage to the monument.

If you want to visit the Sphinx, combining the trip with the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo is an excellent idea.

Pyramids of Giza in Cairo

General admission tickets for the Pyramids of Giza: Adults: 200 EGP (These entrance tickets do not entitle you to visit the Great Pyramid, Khafre´s Pyramid, Mykerinos Pyramid, the Workers’ Cemetery, or the Sunbark Museum)
Tickets for the Pyramids of Giza including area: Adults: 600 EGP (These tickets include entrance to the Great Pyramid and the Sunbark Museum)

Opening Hours: Summer (April to September): 08:00 am to 05:00 pm, Winter (October to March): 08:00 am to 04:00 pm

Time required: Minimum 3 hours

The pyramids of Pharaoh Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos in Giza are the most famous landmark of Egypt. They were built 4,500 years ago.

A trip to the Pyramids of Giza is the one thing you should definitely do in Egypt. Day trips to the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo are possible from all the different resorts in Egypt. They are located 15 kilometers from Cairo and eight kilometers southwest of Giza. The largest and oldest pyramid of Giza is the pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops, which was initially almost 150 meters high and 240 meters long. The middle pyramid was built by the pharaoh Chephren and is slightly smaller. The Mykerinos pyramid was built last and is 65 m high and about 100 m wide.

You should plan at least 3 hours to half a day for a visit. It is also worth booking a tour and combining it with a visit to the Sphinx.

Karnak Temple in Luxor

Ticket Price: 80 EGP

Opening hours: 06:00 am – 04:30 pm

Time required: Minimum 3 hours

Karnak is the largest temple complex in ancient Egypt and is located 2.5 km north of Luxor on the banks of the Nile. The temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with the Valley of the Kings and the Hatshepsut Temple, it is the most important sight of the former Egyptian capital.

Do not miss the Karnak Temple during your trip to Egypt. The great hall of columns in the Temple of Amun Re is particularly impressive.

Giftun Island in Hurghada.

Giftun is a national park with uninhabited islands off the coast of Hurghada in the Red Sea. Giftun Island is one of the top destination islands in Hurghada. 

The sandy beach on the shores of the islands is white and snorkeling trips to the colorful coral reefs are one of the classic activities in Hurghada and the surrounding resorts. Amuse yourself with the colorful corals and many red sea fishes swimming around the surface. The water is so blue that it is almost unreal. Here are some great tours offered at a reasonable price.

Abu Simbel

Ticket Price: 240 EGP

Opening hours: 06:00 am – 05:00 pm

Time required: 1-2 hours

Abu Simbel is the famous temple of Pharaoh Ramses II, which was threatened with destruction by the Aswan Dam. The entire temple was dismantled and rebuilt 64 meters higher. Today the UNESCO World Heritage Temple is a must-see attraction in Egypt.

The temple, together with Philae and the Aswan Dam, is today the main reason for a trip to the Egyptian part of Nubia. It served to worship Pharaoh Ramses II. and his wife, Nefertari. The seated statues of the pharaohs are a total of 20 meters high and face east, as that is where the sun rises. Less known is the small Hathor Temple, built for the goddess of love, at Abu Simbel, which is also part of most guided tours.

The solar miracle occurs on February 21 and October 21 of each year. Then the sun is at such a favorable angle that it reaches directly into the temple and illuminates the statues of the gods inside.

The Library of Alexandria

Ticket Price: 70 EGP

Opening Hours: Sundays to Thursdays 11:00 am – 07:00 pm/Fridays: 02:00 pm – 07:00 pm/Saturdays 12:00 pm – 04:00 pm

The historic Library of Alexandra was created as early as the 3rd century BC and was probably the most significant and important ancient library. The essential collection is believed to contain over 500,000 written documents. The destruction of the library remains unexplained to this day, and no remains have been found.

In 2002 the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina was opened. The Libary stands near the original place and counts approx. eight million books. About half of the building is filled with a vast reading room. The port city of Alexandria is perfect for a day trip from Cairo.

Ras-Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park near Sharm el Sheikh got its name because of the highest rock, which resembles a human head and was therefore called Ras Mohammed, the head of Mohammed.

Here you can find a lot of different outdoor activities. From mountain bike tours to swimming or snorkeling. Especially the underwater world is truly spectacular. Here you can find exotic fish and sea creatures in the midst of colorful coral reefs. Divers will definitely get their money’s worth in Ras Mohammed National Park. The diving spots on site are among the best in the world and are particularly suitable for advanced divers.

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The Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai

Founded in 548, St. Catherine’s Monastery is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. It stands at the foot of Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula. God is said to have revealed himself to Moses at the site.

The remote location at 1,585 meters above sea level and the 76 by 85-meter walls have protected the monastery from destruction throughout the centuries.

More than 50,000 travelers visit the monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, every year. Together with the Suez Canal and the seaside resort of Sharm el Sheikh, it is one of the most important sights on the Sinai Peninsula.

Mount Sinai is famous because of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and his encounter with God in the burning bush. An offshoot of this legendary bush is said to still be found near the monastery. If you would like to visit the Monastery of St. Catherine I can also really recommend joining the Sunrise Hike to the top of Mount Sinai. You can find my complete guide to it here.

The Aswan Dam

The Aswan Dam was the most extensive incision into the Nile Valley in human history. The first dam was established as early as 1902. It was intended to provide sufficient water for the fields along the Nile throughout the year.

In the ’60s, a new dam was added to produce electricity. However, some residential areas of the Nubians fell victim to this construction project. Many monuments, such as Abu Simbel, had to be moved to save the ancient sites. Because of this, the dam wall is now a landmark that causes mixed feelings. I think it is pretty impressive to see, but if you have a tight schedule, this is one of the sights you could skip.

Colored Canyon: Fascinating rainbow canyon.

Time required: Day Trip

The colors of the Colored Canyon are as dazzling as a rainbow, located just under 20 km northwest of Nuweiba. You will definitely fall in love with this extremely narrow canyon.

The steep rock walls look like they are painted in color. No wonder it is such an Instagram hotspot nowadays. Jeep tours are offered from various beach resorts in Sinai to reach the Colored Canyon. However, the most atmospheric are the camel safaris. In my opinion, this is one of the places that is not yet so crowded with tourists.

I recommend visiting the Colored Canyon with a guided tour since it is quite the drive and not that easily found.

Siwa Oasis

Time recommended: Over-Night Safari

The oracle of the God Amun was famous far beyond the borders of ancient Egypt. Even Alexander the Great came to Siwa to the oracle after the conquest of Egypt. Alexander’s last will was even his burial in the oasis. However, he was disregarded by Pharaoh Ptolemy I.

The ruins of the oracle are the most important sight in the oasis. Also fascinating are the burial chambers from ancient Egypt, the old Islamic town, Siwa Lake, plantations of date palms, and the castle mountain of Qārat Umm eṣ-Ṣugheir.

There you can admire olive trees and date palms standing in the middle of the desert. It is not without reason that Alexander the Great loved this unusual place because the ruins of the Temple of Amun still stand where his trusted oracle is said to have stayed. You can also discover the remains of the ancient mud city of Siwa. Even today, various Bedouin peoples still live in Siwa, and their marketplace, mosque, and local museum are also well worth seeing.

A great way to explore Siwa Oasis is through a Safari Tour and spending a night in Siwa.

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