Egypt is one of the best countries in the world for history.
With a history dating back over 5000 years, the last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World, some of the world’s most iconic monuments and a rich Islamic heritage, Egypt has a lot to offer.
Here’s 50 photos of Egypt’s best historical sites to inspire you to visit.
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Aswan
Located in the country’s far south, near the Sudanese border, Aswan is one of the more remote destinations in Egypt, but it’s worth the journey.
The city was once a frontier settlement in ancient Egypt’s Nubia region, and is home to the famous Temple of Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk.
If you travel another 230kms south, right by the border, you’ll find the incredible Abu Simbel temples, built under King Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE.
Cairo
Egypt’s capital city is often overlooked in favour of the country’s many ancient sites, but Cairo has a lot to offer.
Since it’s founding in the 7th century CE, Cairo has been one of the most important cities of the Islamic world, and before that it was the site of the Roman Fortress of Babylon.
Dahshur
Just outside Cairo are the pyramids of Dahshur, once part of the sprawling necropolis used by the Egyptian elite in nearby Memphis.
There are a number of pyramids to see here, but many of them are ruined, and barely distinguishable as manmade. Two of them, however, the Red Pyramid and the odd-looking Bent Pyramid, are in great condition and enterable.
Edfu
Along the Nile, about halfway between Aswan and Luxor, is the city of Edfu. This unsuspecting destination has become a popular stop for Nile Cruises thanks to the Hellenic-era Temple of Edfu.
Built in the 3rd century BCE, Edfu Temple is one of the best preserved ancient Egyptian temples, and certainly one of the most scenic.
Giza
The Giza Necropolis is Egypt’s star attraction, home to the last Ancient Wonder of the World: the Great Pyramid.
Rivalling the Great Pyramid is the equally as impressive Khafre’s Pyramid, and right next to it is the smaller Menkaure’s Pyramid. Beyond these are many other smaller pyramids and tombs, and of course the famous Sphinx.
Luxor
The city of Luxor is one of Egypt’s top destinations, and has countless ancient sites to visit.
On the east bank of the Nile, you have the massive Karnak Temple, which connects via the Avenue of Sphinxes to nearby Luxor Temple.
Cross the Nile to the west bank to find the picturesque Temple of Hatshepsut, and next to it, in the desert mountains, the famous Valley of the Kings, home to some of Egypt’s most significant tombs.
Kom Ombo
Just down the Nile from Aswan, the small city of Kom Ombo is another popular stop for Nile Cruises, drawing tourists to the Temple of Kom Ombo.
Built in the 2nd century BCE, during Egypt’s Hellenic-era, Kom Ombo Temple is at its best when it’s lit up at night.
Saqqara
In a country full of old stuff, the Saqqara Necropolis has the oldest.
This massive cemetery was the burial ground for Egypt’s first capital at Memphis. It was at Saqqara that the world’s first pyramid was built, the 4600-year-old Step Pyramid of Djoser, followed by many other smaller pyramids and countless mastabas & tombs.
Planning your trip to Egypt
Now that you’re inspired, it’s time to start planning your trip to Egypt. Here are some resources to help you get started:
✈ Flights: Trip.com and Skyscanner are the best resources for finding cheap flights to Egypt.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is the best resource for finding amazing hotels in Egypt, while Hostelworld is the best for finding hostels.
🏥 Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers all the essentials in Egypt, including theft, medical and cancellations.
🚘 Car Rental: DiscoverCars is the best online resources to find rental cars.
🛜 Internet: To stay connected in Egypt, I use Airalo. They offer an eSIM, meaning all you need is a smartphone and and the app.
🌐 VPN: To stay connected and access service that may not be available in Egypt, use NordVPN.
🏄 Tours & Day Trips: GetYourGuide and Viator are the top platforms for tours and activities in Egypt.
🚢 Nile Cruises: Tour Radar is the best resource for finding Nile cruises in Egypt.
🎟 Tickets: Tickets to most historical sites in Egypt can be purchased from Egypt Monuments, the official government ticketing platform.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Further reading on Egypt
Here are more guides on Egypt to help you plan your trip:
⬤ If you’re going to Egypt, you’re probably interested in visiting some pyramids, so check out my Travel Guide to Pyramids in Egypt.
⬤ For a guide to the last ancient wonder of the world, check out my Giza Pyramids Travel Guide.
⬤ To see the world’s first ‘true’ pyramids, check out my guide to the Red and Bent Pyramids of Dahshur.
⬤ If you’re interested in visiting the world’s oldest pyramid, check out my Travel Guide to the Saqqara Necropolis.
⬤ If you’re in Aswan, be sure to visit the world famous temple built by Ramesses the Great with this Complete Guide to Abu Simbel.
⬤ Plan to visit one of Egypt’s many great museums? Check out my guide comparing the Grand Egyptian Museum vs the Egyptian Museum: Which is Better?
⬤ Buried in sand for over a thousand years, the best preserved ancient Egyptian temple can be found at Edfu. Plan your visit with this guide: Complete Travel Guide to Edfu Temple.
⬤ For more travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
