Top 10 Attractions to Visit in Egypt

Egypt, huose of the pharaohs' pyramids, a veritable open-air museum of gigantic sculptures and enchanting frescoes, home of the Red Sea and the resplendent Nile, is a destination full of landscapes straight out of an Aladdin count. From camel and 4WD adventures in the vast deserts of fine golden sand to charming Alexandria beach, from unforgettable dives to discover the red wrecks and coral reefs, to the famous Nile cruises, Egypt has everything to offer you beautiful memories. With so many attractions to visit, plan your itinerary with this list of the top 10 attractions to visit in Egypt.

Tourist Attractions Map of Egypt

The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx

Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza were built between 2575 and 2464 BC on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile. They were considered one of the world's seven wonders in ancient times and were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. These funerary temples of the Fourth Dynasty have become one of the most favorite attractions for tourists since they were opened to the general public, including the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, named after the kings for whom they were erected.

The pyramid built for Khufu, located further north, is the oldest as well as the largest. It measures an average of 230 km on each side and has a height of 147 km, also known as the Great Pyramid. Next is the Khafre, slightly smaller than the Khufu, but with a steeper angle than its neighbor. And Menkaure, the cutest one in a miniature, which could be a tomb for a queen.

The Great Sphinx was built in 2500 BC, and the stones cut to create the sculpture were also used to build the Temple of Sphinx. This gigantic sculpture represents a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a majestic lion, very close to the ancient Greek monster of the Sphinx with a man's head but a griffin's body, also called Abu Al-Hol by the Arabs, which means the father of terror. In Egypt, however, the sphinx was worshiped as a deity, Horus of the Horizon, which is the god of the sun.

The Egyptian Museum

Egyptian Museum

With its extraordinary collection of antiquities, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo has earned its place in the exclusive list of the most important museums in the world. Founded in 1857 by the Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, the Cairo Museum exhibits an extensive catalog so large that more than several days would be needed to visit it thoroughly. There are more than 120,000 Egyptian objects in the museum, including the delicate golden masks of the pharaohs, their numerous statues, jewelry the collection and the most important royal mummies, which could be one of the ideal destinations to satisfy your curiosity. And lately, more and more repair exhibitions can be seen there, such as the cedar wood statues of King Tutankhamun, some pretty polychrome glass vases covered with gold, and even a rate mummy of a child.

The Grand Egyptian Museum(GEM Complex)

The same as the Library of Alexandria, the Grand Egyptian Museum also has an attractive exterior whose design takes the pyramid as its theme, with a huge triangular cone front gate and multiple glasses in the shape of a triangle, just like a modern pyramid located in Giza, which could be one of the best choices to go to when finished visiting of the Giza Pyramid Complex. If the Library of Alexandria is the capital of knowledge in Egypt, then the Grand Egyptian Museum would be one of Egypt's history centers in the future, with 45,000 exhibits gathered from almost all of the museums in Egypt, which would allow you to travel the long history through prehistory, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the New Kingdom and the Late and Roman period. The most important is the first exhibition of the Tutankhamun galleries, with a complete collection from the golden mask, throne, and triple coffin to the lotus chalice, painted chest and clothing, where you can immerse yourself in ancient Egypt to feel the life of pharaoh with 5000 exhibitions. If you are interested in Egypt's history, stay tuned for the opening ceremony, which could take place in late 2024!

Al-Azhar Mosque

Al-Azhar Mosque

El-Azhar Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Cairo and one of the oldest universities in the world. Completed in 972 A.D., and fortunately has been renovated and expanded several times, which finally makes the magnificent building stands today in the center of the Islamic quarter of Cairo, where it embellishes the street with the same name El-Azhar, with a beautiful building called Medrese El-Taibarsiva in the courtyard, which has a mihrab dating back to 1309, as well as the multiple minarets design of the Qaytbay inside the whole building creates a unique atmosphere that makes Al-Azhar quite different from most mosques. Caliph El-Azhar granted it the status of a university in 988 A.D. Today it is the most important theological center in the Islamic world.

The Temple of Karnak

Temple of Karnak

In ancient Egypt, the temple of Karnak was the most important religious complex. Its construction took more than 1000 years, between the 12th and 20th dynasties. This national treasure of Egypt is the result of the confrontation between many rulers who, during the different successions, each in turn wanted to mark their era and adorn the magnificent sanctuary. The temple of Amun-Ra, the temple of Khonsu, and the temple of the Feast of Thutmosis III are also located within the Karnak temple complex. Karnak Temple is the most beautiful of all the sites you'll discover in Luxor, with an avenue of human-headed sphinxes, Luxor dromos, a colossal statue of Ramses II, open papyrus umbel capitals of the Hypostyle Hall and the obelisk of Thutmosis I at Karnak which will not let you down.

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is a floodplain in western Egypt, where for many centuries, Egyptians dug deep rock tombs for pharaohs and nobles. The tombs were decorated with vivid paintings describing the crossing to the world of the dead, life after death, or even the sun's path. This valley is a burial place for pharaohs of the new empire, such as Seti I, Ramses II, and Tutankhamun, the child King. Queens and high priests from the 18th to the 20th dynasties were also buried there. Visiting the interior of the extravagantly decorated tombs made of vivid paintings, gold-covered wood, and hieroglyphics of funerary rites is an experience not to be missed.

Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple

The Temple of Luxor, or "Sanctuary of the South" in Egyptian, was built on the east bank of the Nile in 1400 BC on the orders of Amenhotep III. Located in the modern part of the city center, this gigantic complex bears witness to Egypt's development over the centuries. Various pharaohs, such as Amenhotep IV, Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses II, modified the Luxor Temple, which was once dedicated to the rejuvenation of royalty. During your visit to Luxor Temple, you will feel like little ants in front of the immensity of the skulls and pillars of the buildings, especially the statues of Ramses II at the entrance through the first pylon of Luxor Temple. If you have enough time to visit the temple, do not miss the Avenue of the Sphinxes at night, which could be the best time to feel their mystery with the help of the light.

Red Sea

As well as the northern Mediterranean, the eastern Red Sea offers Egypt a different kind of vibrant landscape. Blue waves decorate the sandy beaches with white spray and some gifts brought from the sea, playing tricks on the seagulls to make them hover over the medieval citadel on Pharaoh's Island, where you can climb the wall to the top and have the same visual angle as the seagulls. Far away is the glittering, unmarked ocean, and below, the deep blue water with your rippling reflection makes you wonder what the underwater world would be like. You can head to Ras Muhammad National Park to witness the world beneath the Red Sea. First are the coral reefs at the shallow end, a little deeper you can see the brightly colored marine fish wiggling around the offshore reefs; while diving into the area with less sunlight can reach, is the vessel wreck covered with algae, which has become a comfortable home for fish and sea urchins, as lively as the land.

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The Great Library of Alexandria

Also known as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a huge library built to recommend one of the largest libraries in the world, which used to be the palace to the art of Muses, the capital of knowledge and learning, the great Library of Alexandria. Although most of the ancient books and records have been lost, today's Library of Alexandria is by no means inferior. With a capacity of 8 million books and a reading room of 20,000 square meters for all kinds of people to read and learn, it lives up to its name as one of the great intellectual and cultural centers of the twenty-first century. You can feel its charm even before you enter the main hall, which is artistically designed as an unfolded scroll with words and images from ancient Egypt, inviting you to enter and learn more about the glorious history of art and knowledge. Inside, the bookcases are aligned with the computers you can use and the museums wait to visit. Choose a book from the shell and sit in front of the table with the rustling sound of the book page, as if time has returned to college time.

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Sharm El Sheikh

Red Sea

Located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El Sheikh("Bay of the Wise"), still known as the "City of Peace" (referring to the large number of international peace conferences that are s are held there), is one of the best diving destinations for travelers. With underwater attractions like the Red Sea dive sites and the waters of the Ras Mohammed Marine Park south of the city, Sharm El-Sheikh is the tourist center of the Sinai. In addition to scuba diving activities, the city of peace also abounds in land activities, such as its luxurious white sand beaches and numerous tourist excursions to historical and natural sites of the Sinai Peninsula. The charming town of Sham El-Sheikh is an excellent destination for a family holiday or simply taking a break from exploring the temples and tombs of the rest of the country. Of course, Egypt is also home to many equally fascinating dive sites, such as Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Dahab, and Safaga, which you can explore depending on your time.

Top 10 Attractions to Visit in Egypt

This is Egypt, whether it is the temples and pyramids full of historical mystery, or the golden sands of the great desert reaching down to the beaches and enchanting underwater world, there are always many attractions to see during your trip to Egypt. Start planning your trip with odynovo and take full advantage of this enchanting country.