Cairo, the Giza Pyramids, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea coast are Egypt's essential six. Egypt packs 5,000 years of history and a world-class coastline into one country. Most first-timers combine Cairo and the Giza Pyramids with a Luxor-to-Aswan Nile cruise, then add either Abu Simbel or a few days on the Red Sea. With more time, Alexandria, Siwa and the White Desert are all worth it.
We've guided travellers around Egypt for years, and the same truth holds every time: no single country packs in more. In one trip you can stand inside a 4,500-year-old pyramid, sail the Nile past temples older than Rome, float in a desert salt lake and dive some of the planet's best coral reefs. The hard part isn't finding things to do — it's choosing. Below are the fourteen places we send travellers to again and again, from the essential first-timer icons to the wilder corners worth a return visit, with honest advice on how long each one deserves.
Egypt's sprawling capital is where nearly every trip begins. Come for the Grand Egyptian Museum and its full Tutankhamun collection, the medieval lanes and spice stalls of Khan el-Khalili, and the mosques and churches of Islamic and Coptic Cairo. Give it two full days at least. Our things to do in Cairo guide covers the highlights, and Cairo day tours make the traffic someone else's problem.
Technically in Giza on Cairo's western edge, the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World is Egypt's single unmissable sight. Stand beneath the Great Pyramid of Khufu, meet the Sphinx, and if you can, go inside a chamber or ride a camel out to the panorama point at sunset. Read our Pyramids of Giza guide and see all the things to do in Giza before you go.
Often called the world's greatest open-air museum, Luxor holds Karnak and Luxor temples on the East Bank and the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon on the West. A dawn hot-air balloon over the Theban hills is worth setting an alarm for. Plan two days minimum; our things to do in Luxor guide maps the perfect split between the two banks.
Egypt's gentlest, most relaxing city sits on a beautiful stretch of the Nile dotted with granite islands and white-sailed feluccas. Visit the island temple of Philae, sail to a Nubian village for lunch, and watch the sun set from a felucca — this is the Nile at its prettiest. See our things to do in Aswan guide, and use Aswan as your springboard to Abu Simbel.
Ramses II's colossal rock-cut temples, saved from the rising Nile in a famous 1960s engineering feat, are the most dramatic monuments in Egypt. The four seated giants guarding the façade are worth the early start from Aswan, whether you fly, drive the desert convoy, or arrive by Lake Nasser cruise. Our Abu Simbel Temples guide explains how to get there and the twice-yearly sun-alignment dates.
The single best way to link Luxor and Aswan is a Nile cruise, stopping at the riverside temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo that are hard to reach any other way. Three or four nights of sailing, dining and temple-hopping is the backbone of most classic Egypt trips, and the scenery between the sites is half the pleasure. Browse our Luxor & Aswan Nile cruises to see the routes and ships.
Egypt's Mediterranean second city trades pharaohs for a breezy seafront, Greco-Roman ruins and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Wander the catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, climb Qaitbay Citadel where the ancient lighthouse once stood, and eat fresh seafood on the Corniche. It makes an easy day trip from Cairo or a relaxed overnight escape; our things to do in Alexandria guide has the full route.
The Red Sea's most established resort town is Egypt's easiest beach-and-reef base, with warm water and coral almost year-round. Snorkel or dive the Giftun Islands, take a boat to Orange Bay, or simply use it as a relaxing bookend after the temples. Families love it for the calm shallows and the choice of resorts. See our things to do in Hurghada guide for the best reefs and day trips.
On the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El Sheikh offers Egypt's finest diving at Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran, plus polished resorts and reliable sunshine. It's the pick for serious divers and anyone wanting a hassle-free stay by the sea. Our things to do in Sharm El Sheikh guide covers the reefs, the desert excursions and the family-friendly options.
Laid-back Dahab is Sinai's bohemian alternative to the big resorts — a former Bedouin fishing village where you can dive the famous Blue Hole, snorkel straight off the beach, and eat barefoot by the water. It's cheaper, slower and beloved by backpackers and free-divers. Our things to do in Dahab guide has the dive sites, the Blue Lagoon and the desert safaris.
Remote near the Libyan border, Siwa is Egypt's most enchanting oasis: palm groves, salt lakes you float in, the ruins of the Oracle Temple that Alexander the Great once consulted, and a distinct Berber culture found nowhere else in the country. It's a long haul from Cairo but genuinely unlike anywhere else. See our Siwa Oasis tour for the desert route and what's included.
For otherworldly scenery, the White Desert's wind-carved chalk formations glow gold at sunset and turn ghostly white under the stars — one of Egypt's best overnight camping experiences, usually paired with the Bahariya Oasis. Bring a warm layer for the desert night. Our White Desert & Bahariya tour runs the classic two-day loop from Cairo with a Bedouin camp.
Further south, Marsa Alam and the southern Red Sea coast deliver quieter beaches and pristine reefs — think dugongs, dolphins and the coral gardens of Elphinstone. It's the choice for divers who want fewer crowds than Hurghada, with direct international flights making it easier to reach than ever. Browse our Red Sea travel packages to combine reef time with the temples.
In the rugged heart of Sinai, St Catherine's Monastery is one of the world's oldest working Christian monasteries, sitting at the foot of Mount Sinai. Climb through the night to catch sunrise from the summit, where Moses is said to have received the Commandments — a humbling, unforgettable experience. Our St Catherine & Mount Sinai tour handles the guide, the timing and the pre-dawn start.
Tell us when you can travel and we'll suggest the ideal route and season — usually within the hour.
Chat with a local expertYou can't see all of this in one trip, and you shouldn't try. The classic first-timer route is Cairo and Giza, then Luxor and Aswan linked by a Nile cruise — comfortably done in a well-paced week. Our 7-day Egypt itinerary covers exactly that, while the 10-day Egypt itinerary adds Abu Simbel or a few days on the Red Sea. If you only add one thing, make it a Nile cruise: it's the most efficient and most beautiful way to see Upper Egypt's temples. Compare routes and ships in our Nile river cruises collection.
★ Not sure how to string it all together? Our ready-made Egypt tour packages combine Cairo, a Nile cruise and the Red Sea into one smooth, guided trip — flights, transfers and Egyptologist guides all sorted. See our best Egypt tour packages Best Egypt tour packages
For most of Egypt, October to April is the sweet spot: warm, dry days ideal for the temples and pyramids, with December and January the coolest and busiest. Summer (June–August) is brutally hot in Luxor and Aswan but prime time for the Red Sea, where the water stays warm and the reefs are at their best. If you're combining history and beach, aim for the shoulder months of October, November or March. Our best time to visit Egypt guide breaks it down month by month.
★ Want a trip built around your must-sees? Tell us the places you can't miss and your dates, and we'll craft a private, tailor-made Egypt itinerary — cruise, guides and hotels included. Plan a tailor-made Egypt tour Tailor-made Egypt tour
Discover on a 4-day Egypt short break to Siwa Oasis and the Western Desert, visiting ancient ruins to hot springs along historic El Alamein. The natur...
Experience an incredible two-day Bahariya Oasis & White Desert tour and enjoy the amazing beauty of Egypt by visiting the Black Desert and camping ami...
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Egypt Things to do The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili bazaar and Islamic Cairo — Cai...
Egypt Things to do Explore Karnak and Luxor temples on the East Bank, then cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, Ha...
Egypt Things to do Sail a felucca at sunset, tour Philae Temple, and take the day trip to Abu Simbel — Aswan's unmissable trio. E...
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