Egypt is a timeless country that lies at the juncture of Asia, Africa, and Europe. This country has been the cradle of civilization since antiquity. It has seen the rise and disappearance of the Egyptian Civilization, a classical-era empire that coincides with the Mesopotamian, Indus Valley, and the Chinese civilization. It has seen the rise and fall of mighty Egyptian kings and queens, mighty construction projects that continue to stand the test of time, and the life-giving benefits of the Nile and how it allowed humans to cultivate the land and grow crops in an otherwise desert and barren land.
Egypt is a truly magical wonderland where the various empires, cultures, and religions met at a juncture to create a country that is much more than the highly advertised Pyramids and Mummies. It has rich museums that document its rich history and the lost empires. The city has amazing markets that still have the old-world charm of middle eastern souks and brims with fragrant spices, carpets, and jewellery. Cairo also has amazing destinations like Hurghada, Sharm El Shaikh and Alexandria which lie on the Mediterranean Sea. It also the classical destinations like Luxor, Aswan, and Giza that are not the hotbed of travellers arriving in the country to enjoy the amazing historical monuments which are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage. In this article, TravelUp prepares a list of the top 7 best places to visit in Egypt holidays
Top 7 Best Places to Visit in Egypt Holidays
- Cairo
- Giza
- Luxor
- Aswan
- Alexandria
- Sharm el-Sheikh
- Hurghada
1. Cairo
The capital city of Egypt is a megacity with a population of over 16 million, making it one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East. Cairo lies on the Nile River and is known for its rich history, Islamic and Christian heritages, and world-famous Egyptian Museum with the largest collection of Egyptian treasures and mummies and the Khan al-Khalili bazaar that still has an old-world charm of Arab souks. Cairo is also the gateway to the Pyramids of Giza and the Saqqara Pyramid Complex, among the most visited monuments in the world. Midan El Tahrir is the very centre of the modern city and houses big international hotel chains, transport hubs and the famous Egyptian Museum.
It also houses Tahrir Square the site of the famous 2011 Arab Spring protests. Islamic Cairo houses the Citadel, Khan el Khalili market, several historic monuments, mosques, and medieval architecture. The Old Cairo also known as Coptic Cairo houses several historic churches and other heritage buildings. Zamalek and Gezira are the two upcoming and trendy upmarket suburbs with plenty of shopping, restaurants, cafes, and hotels.
2. Giza
Giza is one of the most recognized travel destinations in the world. It lies in a desert plateau west of the capital city of Cairo. Giza is a destination with upmarket hotel chains, amazing restaurants, shopping malls and nightclubs. Giza is also the closest city to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Here, travellers can visit the three main pyramids of Giza dedicated to the three Egyptian Pharaohs – Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. There are also satellite pyramids which have the royal tombs of family members of the Egyptian royal families.
Take a tour of the Pyramids and learn in detail about their history and various interesting facts. It is also recommended to take a camel ride into the desert and get plenty of photos with the backdrop of Pyramids and the Sphinx, a statue of half human and half lion. It is also recommended to stay close to Giza overnight to catch the amazing Pyramids Sound and Light Show. Most of all don’t forget to take pictures of the Pyramids during the sunset that gives it a timeless appeal.
3. Luxor
The city of Luxor is the world’s largest open-air museum and is one of the most popular travel destinations. The city of Luxor has plenty of things to see and do from temples to tombs. Over thousand years of the construction of the Great Pyramids in Giza, a new Kingdom rose in Egypt and the capital shifted to Thebes in the south, which is now known as Luxor. Most of the Luxor attractions ate present on the East or West Bank of the Nile.
Among Luxor’s key highlights is the Karnak Temple, an extraordinary temple city that took over 2000 years to build. This giant temple complex also houses the Temple of Amun which is open to the public. It is also famous for the Luxor Temple which is illuminated at night. On the West Bank of the Nile is the Valley of the Kings which is home to several elaborate and colourful-muraled tombs, pits, and burial chambers. Do visit the famous tomb of King Tutankhamun and learn about the various historic facts and the final resting place.
4. Aswan
Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan lies on the banks of the Nile River. Aswan is the base for excursions to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and the Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel to the south. It is also the starting point for the excursion to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu that lies between Aswan and Luxor. Aswan is known for its scenic Granite cliffs overlooking the Nile River and it has a series of shallow white-water rapids broken by rocky islets. Aswan is also home to a large community of Nubian people and used to be a gateway to the African hinterlands from Egypt.
Visit the Nubian Museum and learn about the history, culture, traditions, and key artefacts of the Nubians preserved inside the museum. Aswan gained worldwide attention in the 1960s due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the successful relocation of the two ancient stone temples constructed by Ramesses II at Abu Simbel from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The temple was first cut and disassembled before being reassembled on a bank high above the reservoir.
5. Alexandria
Alexandria is the second largest city and the main seaport in Egypt. This amazing city lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The city was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. The city has seen several of Egypt’s pharaohs including Queen Cleopatra ruling the country from Alexandria. In the modern day, Alexandria is a city of over 5 million population and is straddled with the historic remnant of the bygone glorious days. Check out the city’s Roman Theatre which has stunning floor mosaics and marble seating and dates to the Roman occupation of the city.
The Library of Alexandria is a new library that stands near the original historic Library of Alexandria, which contained more than 50000 books and got destroyed in a devastating earthquake. Visit the Alexandria National Museum which displays over 1800 artefacts from the Greco-Roman period to the Coptic and Islamic rule. Alexandria was also famous for its Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World, which tumbled after an earthquake. Scuba divers can still see the remnants of this ancient wonder on the seabed.
6. Sharm el-Sheikh
One of the most popular resort towns in Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh lies at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Sharm el-Sheikh has warm, deep blue waters and golden sand beaches. It is also a highly popular destination with its own airport. Once a quaint old fishing village, Sharm el-Sheikh now has world-class resorts and hotels. It is also known as the “City of Peace” after several international peace talks between Egypt and Israel.
Sharm el Sheikh is also famed in the world for offering some of the best scuba diving spots in the world. Visit Tiran Island and Ras Mohammed National Park and take a snorkel or scuba dive to explore the stunning and colourful marine life with wonderful visibility. Sharm el-Sheikh is also the starting point of tours to the Sharm el-Sheikh desert and Mount Sinai, a biblical region that is also popular for its amazing sunrise.
7. Hurghada
Hurghada is a resort town that lies on the Red Sea. It is one of the most-visited travel destinations in Egypt. Hurghada is known for its warm waters, scenic beaches and quality resorts and hotels. Hurghada is a six-hour bus ride from the capital city of Cairo. The city used to be a small fishing village and has now become a famous resort town with hundreds of high-end hotels located along the seafront. The Red Sea of Hurghada offers excellent scuba diving opportunities.
It has delightful colourful coral reefs and plenty of marine life. It also offers plenty of water sports like snorkelling, windsurfing, jet skiing, etc. Visitors can also enjoy glass-bottom boat trips and enjoy the crystal-clear visibility of marine life. Hurghada is also a highly popular travel destination for Easter Europeans and Russians, who visit in large numbers each year. Hurghada also has an international airport that receives flights from Cairo and several cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.