City: Egypt
Top Things to do in Egypt
Top Hotels in Egypt
- 1. Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
- 2. Savoy Sharm El Sheikh
- 3. Royal Savoy - Sharm El Sheikh
- 4. Sunrise Arabian Beach Resort - Grand Select
- 5. Titanic Resort & Aqua Park
- 6. Al Masa Hotel
- 7. Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh
- 8. Stella Di Mare Beach Hotel & Spa
- 9. Steigenberger Alcazar
- 10. Steigenberger ALDAU Beach Hotel
Countries
The 10 Best Things to Do in Egypt
Egypt from Africa region, is best know for Ancient Ruins. Discover best things to do in Egypt with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Egypt
1. Abu Simbel Temple Complex
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Malcolm H - Grimsby, United Kingdom
As this is another iconic historical site, with huge amounts of literature available, there is little point giving a detailed description of the temple. Instead here are some issues about the actual visit.
Getting to the temple is not easy. There is a hotel in the small town of Abu Simbel, but most visitors base themselves in Aswan. This necessitates a three and a half drive through the desert on a single carriageway road. Because of security issues the road is closed overnight and travel is only allowed during daylight hours. In addition permission to travel along the road has to be sought before travel, although apparently this is a formality. Apart from a couple of petrol/service stations, there is nothing along the road and precious little to see.
The road journey also necessitates an early start – we left Aswan at 4.30 am. This is partly to do with how hot it gets during the day at Abu Simbel and also because again for security reasons, the return journey has to commence by mid-afternoon. It is possible to fly from Aswan direct to Abu Simbel. I guess it is a bit quicker than road, but remember that you have to factor in transfer to Aswan Airport, the inevitable checking in well before the flight departure and also transport to the temple. I doubt whether it would save more than perhaps an hour and a bit each way.
When you arrive at Abu Simbel, the car park is just a short walk from the temple. We arrived just after 8 am on a Monday at the very end of February. The queue for tickets was quite short. There are two temples at Abu Simbel; the main one and another built by Ramses for his wife Nefertari. Although in the summer despite the heat (45 degrees +), it can get quite busy, at this time of the year both were remarkably quiet. I doubt whether there were more than about forty people outside either temple at any one time. Moreover, as we started to leave it was even quieter.
Our tour company Memphis Tours had arranged a guide and pre-bought the entry tickets. I would recommend a guide. Not only can they give you the historical background, they know the best places to see the important features and the best positions for taking photographs. In addition they help steer you through the inevitable street vendors (see below).
At the end of our Nile cruise, our guide asked our group if any of us would be willing to take part in a video interview to be used by the Egyptian Tourist Board on social media. They wanted to hear our views on tourist security and safety within Egypt. We all declined, but promised that we would mention it in any reviews we wrote about other aspects of our holiday. To fulfil this obligation hoping to get the message across in a sort of scattergun approach, I am adding what follows as a footnote to all my Egyptian reviews. Security in Egypt is very strict. They still have conscription and a large part of their army seems to be devoted to anti-terrorist measures. All the main hotels have sniffer dogs for cars entering their grounds. On the doors, there are guards, body screens and bag searches. The same applied to all the main historical sites, museums and other tourist attractions. In the towns there seem to be army checkpoints outside all major buildings and in the streets. On the roads between the main towns there are fortified roadblocks at regular intervals. None of this is particularly edifying to look at, but was certainly very thorough. From a British perspective, after the events on Westminster Bridge and at the Manchester Arena, nowhere can be viewed as totally secure, but Egypt appears as safe as most places. I certainly wouldn’t use fears over security as a reason for not visiting this extremely hospitable country.
Having just given a big puff to the Egyptian tourist industry, in the interest of balance, I would also like to raise a gripe. All the tourists we talked to complained about the activities of street vendors. Whether hawking tourist goods, taxi, horse or camel rides, felucca trips or offering guiding services, they were often extremely aggressive and annoying. Their approach is counter-productive. As even a polite ‘no thank you’ is perceived as an opening of negotiations, window shopping with a view to purchase is impossible. On several occasions my wife and I decided we would stay in our hotel because we didn’t want ‘the in your face’ bombardment on the street. There is a strategy to deal with it. When approached, look the other way, avoid any eye contact, make no attempt to engage in conversation and keep walking straight ahead. For most of the world, such behaviour would be deemed the height of bad manners, but it is the only thing that works. Yes, I know that the Egyptian economy is not strong and some of these people are desperate, but if the authorities could find a humane approach to the problem, they might find even more tourists would be attracted to country.
I suppose the inevitable question is whether going to Abu Simbel is worth the early start and the very long drive. Even though a little voice in the back of my head was saying ‘remember, these temples have been chopped into little blocks, moved and reconstructed some way from their original position’, the effect was still stunning. The original concept and workmanship are sublime. Even with modern technology, the statues would be considered a major piece of art. That they were created by the ancient Egyptians, using fairly limited technology is just jaw-dropping. This is another 'must see' place and would be worth a journey of twice the distance.
2. Temple of Hathor at Dendera
Overall Ratings
5 based on 198 reviews
Built in the 1st century BC by Ptolemy 8th and Queen Cleopatra 2nd, this ancient temple is one of the most intact in Egypt.
Reviewed By Eric B - Montréal
A bit far from Luxor but this temple dedicated to Hathor is worth the visit. The temple as been restored to some extent (the ceiling). The colour are wonderful. They keep a part uncleaned for comparison. The difference is incredible. It's the only temple where you can go down to the crypt. Whitout noticing at the back of the temple is the only still visible carving of Cleopatra (7th) and Cesarion her son she had with Julius Ceasar.
3. Temple of Philae
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
This large temple complex, relocated to the island of Agilika with the building of the High Dam in Aswan, features the magnificent Temple of Isis that was built in the late Ptolemaic and early Roman periods.
Reviewed By Stephen G - Lancashire UK
Another temple complex successfully and remarkably moved from the encroaching waters. Mostly Ptolemaic, the story of Osiris is everywhere. Very photogenic. Hathor is much in evidence too.
4. Temple of Horus at Edfu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 489 reviews
Construction on what is the largest and best preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt began in 237 BC by Ptolemy III Euergetes.
Reviewed By ransclan - Saskatoon, Canada
We left our Cruiseship, The Sonesta St. George, and went in horse-drawn carriages to the Temple. Our driver, Mustang was a real character knowing how to score a few extra pounds by taking pictures and pointing out sights along our drive. The Temple itself is amazing with beautifully preserved hieroglyphics and drawings. Be prepared on your way into the temple to be besieged by over-zealous salesmen who will remember you on the way out. The prices in these shops were very high and the pressure from these salespeople is very annoying, however, don’t let it keep you from enjoyed the site.
5. Mount Sinai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Steven P - Pueblo, Colorado
We left Sharm El Sheik shortly after sunset to make the drive to St Catherine's to begin the climb well after midnight. It was very cool at the base and got a lot colder as the elevation increased. I quickly decided that the available camels were the best choice for me. The hikers dealt with a rough rocky path in the dark while I rode free to look at the sky where I saw many shooting stars in an amazing night sky with no light pollution. The camels do not go up the last 750 feet of the trail and I did not make that climb on foot, choosing to stay at the last tea house. I still had very good views of the sun brightening the eastern skies before rising above the Mountains, delivering a wonderous orange hue as it rose. I started my return on the camel but quickly realized that was a horrible idea. As the camel stepped down and planted its feet momentum slid me into the saddle horn. It was very painful to a sensitive part of my anatomy! I dismounted and walked down on my own.
6. Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The largest and oldest of the Giza pyramids, this colossal structure stands nearly 500 feet tall.
Reviewed By David E - Los Angeles
These pyramids stand like titans across the landscape.
The hawkers are very persistent. Hold onto your cameras, as they will boldly take them from you hand, take pics then surprise you by asking for money (while holding your camera). You have to be pretty aggressive in telling them no.
We paid extra to enter the pyramid - WARNING: it's physically challenging. There is a large stretch of climbing a steep incline with only about 4' of ceiling room. So you are hunched over/semi-squat and climbing. It's tough. No air and hot. At one point I got on all fours because my back was aching. The actual interior chamber is just a room - nothing special. But the journey to get there was pretty spectacular.
It's such an experience. The pyramids take great distance pics, and super close .. but there is no way you can get the concept of their size across in a pic.
The Sphinx is not close. Not within walking (or a long walk).
There is a metal detector/security to get through.
7. Coral Reefs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 476 reviews
Reviewed By bostonian11 - Kahului, Hawaii
We visited Dahab mainly to windsurf, but went snorkeling on a few days when the wind was light. The corals and fish are simply amazing, on par with or better than famous spots like Bonaire and Belize. I loved that you can just leave your stuff at one of the restaurants on the beach, go snorkeling to the reef that's just a few hundred feet from shore, and come back for a light and relaxed lunch. We visited Eel Garden in town, and the Three Pools that are a 20 minute cab ride away (we paid 120 LE). Both spots are definitely worth a visit. Windsurfers, "no-wind" days in Dahab are a gift - go snorkeling!
8. Sharm El Luli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Mamma_Henn - Dorset, United Kingdom
So the trip there - we used Steve's taxis, last minute. Got us there and gave us drinks, not the most comfortable of drives but worth it for the destination.
Beach is picture perfect. Windy and no shade. Take plenty of sunscreen. We went for half day trip which was long enough.
The snorkelling there was amazing. Rays, fish and not dangerously deep. Enjoy!
9. Temple of Karnak
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5 reviews
The karnak temple is one the distinguished identifying marks of Luxor in Egypt, where each of consecutive kings tried to make his temple most magnificent so as to be so distinguished than his predecessor, so the Karnak temples changed to a complete guide and collection showing the development stages of ancient Egyptian art and distinguished pharaonic architecture.
Reviewed By Ayhan T
karnak temple is located about 2 miles from Luxor. Both places worth seeing. day time might be hot so Id rather choose early morning or eveing time for the visit. evening can be better so you can see the illumination which is fascinating.
try to go till the end observing around then start taking photos.
10. Coptic Church
Overall Ratings
5 based on 574 reviews
Reviewed By vivien1611 - Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom
most beautiful church, paintings inside are wonderful, well worth a visit, We visited on an evening which was included in a tour
