Top 10 Things to do In Egypt

Les Listes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Egyptian culture is one of the oldest in the world. It started around 3100 BC with its recorded history dating back to around 2600 BC. During their time they create many great works of architecture, art, and literature that still survive to this very day. In fact, ancient Egyptian society has heavily influenced many societies that came after them, such as the Greeks, Romans, and Europeans. As such, in modern day Egypt, tourism affects a large sector of their economy. In fact, in 2012, tourism employs around 12% of the Egyptian workforce and brings in around $9.4 billion in revenue to the country. As such, there are many things to do in Egypt when visiting.

With the only surviving monument for the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to its great beach locations, there is a lot of things to see and do in Egypt. Check out below for some of the top 10 things to do in Egypt for the next time you visit.

#10: Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are the last remaining structure from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Even today, they still remains an amazing site to see and one of the best things to do in Egypt. They stand as a testament to the strength, technological advancement, and determination of the ancient Egyptian people. It is the main pillar of Egypt tourism. There are actually three pyramids to see. They are the Great Pyramid of Khufu (139 meters tall), the Pyramid of Khafre (136 meters tall), and the Pyramid of Menkaure (61 meters tall). The ancient Egyptians finished the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the tallest of the three, in 2560 BC. It was the tallest man made structure for over 3,800 years. Not until 1300, did the Lincoln Cathedral in England surpass it in height.

The ancient Egyptians built them as tombs for the pharaohs of Egypt. They used work forces of tens of thousands of people to complete them.^[1]lonely planet – Pyramids of Giza It was believed that in order for a pharaoh to have everything that they needed for the afterlife, they needed to bury it with them when they died so that they could take it with them. On top of their physical body, this included, food, amulets to protect them in the afterlife, and money. To get a really great view of the pyramids, makes sure to take a camel or horse ride in the desert that surrounds them.

#9: Egyptian Museum

If you are looking to get a bang for your buck and truly be overwhelmed by ancient Egyptian culture, make sure to visit the Egyptian Museum (also known as the Museum of Cairo) in the center of downtown Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1902, this museum house over 120,000 items. It is the largest collection of ancient Egyptian items in the world.^[2]lonely planet – Egyptian Museum

Lovers of ancient Egyptian history can find many Egyptian artifacts in other museums around the world. Either, the Egyptian government has lent them or people stole them over the period of time. However, this museum remains the preeminent museum of Egyptian history. It remains one of the best things to do in Egypt. Visitors can see everything from collections of papyrus and coins to statues, coffins, the Gold mask of Tutankhamun, and even mummies. It is truly one of the best things to do in Cairo.

#8: Temple of Karnak (Luxor)

Located in the central part of Egypt along the banks of the Nile river in the modern day city of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak the second most visited site in Egypt after the Pyramids. When visitors go the Karnak they can understand why when they see this vast and magnificent temple complex. This vast temple complex filled with temples, buildings, and pillars takes up nearly 500 acres.^[3]lonely planet – Karnak Ancient Egyptians rebuilt, modified, and restored Karnak many times during its history mainly between the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (2055 BC) and the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (30 BC).

#7: Luxor Temple (Luxor)

Luxor Temple, also located in Luxor, Egypt, is another one of the great ancient Egyptian temples. It is located near Karnak and in ancient times there used to be an avenue over one mile long with sphinxes lining both sides of the road that linked to two temples. However, unlike other temples in the area, ancient Egyptian priests did not dedicate Luxor Temple to any specific Egyptian god. Rather, kings came here for their crowning ceremony.^[4]Discovering Egypt – Luxor Temple In the temple there are several things to see such as courts lined with papyrus columns over 52 feet tall and a tall obelisk over 80 feet tall.

#6: Sharm El Luli

There are many things to do in Egypt that can cater to all types of people. For example, if going to ancient sites and museums does not sound interesting or if you just need a break, consider heading to Sharm El Luli. This beach and wilderness preserve is located in the Wadi el Gemal National Park on the west coast of the Red Sea. For more specific directions go to the following coordinates (24°33’00.0″N 35°09’00.0″E). It is possible to arrange taxis from local hotels to take you there and back. Also, there are several tours that take buses out to the location as well.

One of the great things about this place is that there is no development such as hotels and restaurants, helping to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Its beaches are white and soft, and the water is warm, calm, and crystal blue. On top of that, make sure to head into the water and see an abundance of sea life such as coral, butterfly fish, groups, puffer fish, Napoleons, clownfish, and sea turtles.^[5]MarsaAlam – SHARM EL LULI However, make sure to bring some sunscreen and something to cover up, as there is not a lot of natural shade in the area, and even in the winter the sun can easily burn you.

#5: Temples of Abu Simbel

There are many things to do in Egypt. However, the Temples of Abu Simbel are near the top of any list. The Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor, together form the Temples of Abu Simbel. They are some of the most iconic monuments in Egypt due to their rock reliefs of sitting and standing pharaohs.^[6]lonely planet – Temples of Abu Simbel

The temples are located in modern day southern Egypt near the border with Sudan. The builders originally cut them out of the rocks in the mountainside (similar to Mount Rushmore). It should be noted though, at the time this was well within the borders of the New Kingdom of Egypt as it had been greatly expanded by Ramses II. In 1968, they were completely cut up in puzzle pieces and moved to its current location. This was because the newly created Aswan High Dam on the Nile River was creating a massive artificial lake (Lake Nasser) that would flood the area were the original Temples stood.

#4: Khan Al Khalili

One of the best things to do in Egypt is experience modern local culture. One of the best places to do this is in Khan Al Khalili. It is a major souk (middle eastern style outdoor marketplace) at the center of historic Islamic culture in Cairo. Here visitors and locals alike can travel down the narrow alleyways and explore a variety of different shops and restaurants.

Originally, builders defined the area into various district based on the type of products bought there; however, in modern times, this is not really the case. You can buy almost anything here such as soup powders, semiprecious stones, gold, spices, and of course cheap souvenirs.^[7]lonely planet – Khan Al Khalili If you are tired and need a little pick me up, make sure to visit one of the several traditional Arabic style coffee (defined by its preparation method where it is boiled and not filtered and sometimes cardamom is added for additional flavor) houses. A famous one is Fishawi’s, which was establish in 1773.

#3: Tomb of Ramses VI

The Tomb of Ramses VI is located in the Valley of the Kings. For around 500 years (16^th to 11^th century BC), pharaohs and nobility were buried in tombs cut out of the rock. The Tomb of Ramses VI is one of the best and largest examples of these tombs. Its wide corridors go down for over 380 feet. Some of the most intact and colorful ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and paintings known today decorate them.^[8]lonely planet – Tomb of Ramses VI (KV 9) It really makes you like you are going back in time as you travel down the burial chamber. However, if you are claustrophobic, make sure to come at a down time. The peak tourist seasons tend to run from October to May. There can be quite a few tourists and it can get quite hot and stuffy in there.

#2: Al Azhar Mosque

If you are looking for additional things to do in Cairo, consider checking out the Al Azhar Mosque. Locals established this mosque in 970 AD. It blends various architectural styles from over its 1000 year history. Its distinguishing features are its 5 Minarets (towers) that stand as lighthouses around the mosque. Interestingly, this madrassa (educational institute) which was establish in 988 AD, it is the second oldest university in the world.^[9]lonely planet – Al Azhar Mosque In fact, this university was very well known in the world during its time. It had students from all of the Islamic world as well as even Europe to come and study there.

#1: Step Pyramid of Djoser

If you are looking for things to do in Egypt, consider visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser. It holds the great distinction as being the first pyramid that the ancient Egyptians built. It was the start of a long and distinguished history in pyramid building culminated with the Pyramids of Giza. Located just south of Cairo, it is a quick and easy drive to visit by taxi. The ancient Egyptians built it over 4,700 years ago during the Third Dynasty period of Egypt.^[10]Live Science – Step Pyramid of Djoser: Egypt’s First Pyramid

The construction of such a large stone structure was the first of its time. This suggests that the Ancient Egyptian culture had started to develop an economy that could support the building of such great monuments. They built it in six steps to a total height of 197 feet. Furthermore, underneath the step pyramid are an additional 3.5 miles of tunnels.