What to do and see in Egypt, Egypt: The Best Sights & Landmarks

December 18, 2021 Esmeralda Fenner

Coordinates: 26°N 30°E / 26°N 30°E / 26; 30
Restaurants in Egypt

1. Abu Simbel Temple Complex

Abu Simbel, Abu Simbel Egypt http://www.egypt.travel/en/regions/nile-valley/abu-simbel-temples
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,454 reviews

Abu Simbel Temple Complex

Reviewed By Traveller314 - Edmonton, Canada

The two temples at Abu Simbel are just so spectacular enough on their own, both inside and out, that it's easy to overlook the incredible engineering achievement that it took to save them from being destroyed by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. This place was one of the highlights of our two-week tour across Egypt and worth the 3 hour drive from Aswan. Highly recommended.

2. Cairo Citadel

Salah Salem St, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
52%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,197 reviews

Cairo Citadel

This massive stone fortress, built by Salah ad-Din in the 12th century, was crowned with the Mosque of Mohammed Ali 700 years later.

Reviewed By dr_j_now - Germantown, United States

This wasn't necessarily on our personal radar, but it was part of the group tour so obviously we came. It's worth seeing; it's an amazing old site overall and very impressive, especially considering when it was all built. If visiting the area, be sure to dress and act appropriately here especially, as the Mohammad Ali Mosque is one of the main buildings here and must be visited if you're here. Even though it's an impressive building, it is really a bummer that they used limestone from the Great Pyramids to construct it. From the courtyard we got lucky and it was apparently a "clear" day (still quite hazy) and we had a nice view of the city, including the Pyramids in the distance. Overall it was definitely worth a short stop.

3. Great Sphinx

Al-Haram, Giza Egypt
Excellent
74%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,035 reviews

Great Sphinx

At over 240 feet long and 66 feet high, it’s a wonder that this mysterious sculpture was carved from a solid limestone block.

Reviewed By TrevHoltham - Mount Gambier, Australia

Again this is a bucket list item so much history ... We used an excellent tour company called Egypt tailor made ... Competent knowledge and shows the must sees whilst a few extras ... Comes with a driver whom is always close by ... Happy to answer questions ...

4. Khafre's Pyramid

Al Haram, Giza Egypt
Excellent
79%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,521 reviews

Khafre's Pyramid

Next to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, this is the second-largest of the Giza pyramids; Khafre was the son of Khufu.

Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom

Khafre's Pyramid is the second-tallest and second-largest of the Pyramids of Giza complex, shorter than the adjacent pyramid built for Khufu. This one was built for the eponymous Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh. It’s also the only one of the big 3 pyramids that retains some of the original lime plaster that once covered the stones. Like the adjacent pyramids of Menkaure and Khufu, it’s not until you’re right on the pyramid that you see the immensity of the structure. Amazing must see site along with the whole of the pyramid complex.

5. Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

Giza Egypt
Excellent
78%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7,157 reviews

Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

The largest and oldest of the Giza pyramids, this colossal structure stands nearly 500 feet tall.

Reviewed By raghu67 - Bengaluru, India

The Great Pyramid of Giza also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops once among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. This pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and was constructed over a period of 20-year period from 2575 -2566 BC. Khufu followed the design of Red Pyramid which was built by his father Sneferu. This Pyramid erected on a rocky plateau had all the elements like the burial chambers, mortuary temple and covered causeways connected to the banks of river Nile. Estimated to be built using around 2,300,000 lime stones weighing around 5.5 million tons , 8,000 tons of Aswan granite and 500,000 tons of mortar, its original height was around 480 feet. But due to erosion of the outer fine lime stone layer and damages caused due to earth quake, the height of this pyramid now stands at around 455 feet.

6. Al-Azhar Mosque

Mohammed Abdou El-Darb El-Ahmar, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
64%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 359 reviews

Al-Azhar Mosque

The oldest university in the world is built around this ancient mosque, which has been the center of Islamic scholarship since 975 AD.

Reviewed By Visit100Countries - San Francisco, United States

It is worth a visit especially if you are familiar about how powerful this mosque and university in the islamic world. To date, students all over the world go there to learn a special branch of Islam. The school was very powerful up to recently and still has some weight in Egypt and beyond.

7. Bibliotheca Alexandrina

El Shatby, Alexandria 30100 Egypt +20 3 4203020 [email protected] http://www.bibalex.org/en/
Excellent
72%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,780 reviews

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Located near the site of the ancient library of Alexandria, this modern version is an eleven-story, cylindrical-shaped building that houses more than eight million books. A re-imagining of Alexandria's ancient Great Library, this gorgeously designed cultural center contains a host of museums as well as one of the modern world's most ambitious libraries. Its architecture - a giant sun disk - presides over the waterfront Corniche, while inside, a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. Below themain library, visitors can explore a range of beautifully curated exhibitions. TheManuscript Museum with its magnificent collection of ancient texts and scrolls and the Antiquities Museum with its Graeco-Roman antiquities and statuary found during underwater exploration in the harbor are the two prime attractions. But there are also rotating art exhibitions, a permanent Egyptian folk art collection, and a Science Museum and Planetarium that are aimed squarely at children.

Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States

Bibliotheca Alexandrina is more than a library! Opened in 2002, here is a cultural complex that also includes a planetarium, four museums, art galleries for temporary and permanent exhibitions, specialized museums, and a manuscript restoration laboratory. The library has shelf space for eight million books! The main structure is a contemporary granite building, circular in design and covered in carvings done by local artists. The library offers guided tours, but since we had our own guide with us, we opted to just peek inside. It was very crowded the day we visited because the schools were on holiday. By the way, you’ll have a great view of the Citadel from here (and remember to look for Bibliotheca Alexandrina when you’re at the Citadel).

8. Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Al Abageyah Qism El-Khalifa, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
59%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,595 reviews

Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Located in the Citadel, this mosque was built between 1824 and 1857 in the Ottoman style by Mohammad Ali Pasha, a ruler of Egypt.

Reviewed By Underawanderingstar7 - Exeter, United Kingdom

Beautiful Mosque ???? and well worth a vist Glad I visited this unusual Mosque as I think it’s a beautiful Building reminds me a little bit of the East End Mosque in London well worth a vist

9. Gizeh Plateau

Al Haram Str., Giza 11511 Egypt
Excellent
75%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,991 reviews

Gizeh Plateau

Reviewed By GreenThumb331 - San Fernando, Philippines

Seeing the Great Pyramids of Egypt would be a great highlight in any travelers’ bucket list. We travelled from Cairo to Giza to see these majestic structures. Of the original 7 wonders the ancient world, these are the only one standing. The Giza pyramid complex, is the site on the Giza Plateau consist of the Great Pyramid of Giza also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or Khufu , the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx of Giza. They are made of limestone and granite. They were constructed in 2560-2580 BC. The Pyramid of Khufu is huge when you look at it from ground level even at today’s standards. It is possible to enter it. We opted not to enter it because it is known to be empty inside. We were taken to a photo spot where tourists can pose with the 3 pyramids on the background. After the pyramid visit, we went to the sphinx. The Sphinx is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. The face of the Sphinx is generally believed to represent the pharaoh Khafre. It is a monolith carved into the bedrock of the plateau, which also served as the quarry for the pyramids and other monuments in the area. The body of the lion up to its neck is fashioned from softer layers that have suffered considerable disintegration caused by wind and wind-blown sand. The one-meter-wide nose on the face is missing. Archeologist who performed a study concluded that it was broken with instruments at an unknown time between the 3rd and 10th centuries. This place is packed with tourists from all over the world happily ticking off the pyramids in their bucket list

10. Mount Sinai

Saint Catherine 46512 Egypt
Excellent
73%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,137 reviews

Mount Sinai

Reviewed By fulla_alrad1 - Kuwait City, Kuwait

An incredible experience where you feel the special energy in this place and Sinai Desert in general. It is absolutely magical! You immediately start to feel a sense of calmness and peace. The wonderful thing about it, all religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) have in common that Mount Sinai was the place where prophet Moses received the 10 commands, which is why Mount Sinai is also referred as Mount Moses

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