Top 25 Attractions in Egypt

Egypt has been one of the most popular beach destinations for decades. Tourists from all over the world come here to relax on the picturesque shores of the Red and Mediterranean Seas. The season at the well-known resorts of Hurghada, Taba, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab lasts all year round. Egyptian hotels offer all-inclusive holidays, which is the most convenient for travelers.

The best time to travel to Egypt is the period April-first half of November. During the winter months, winds blow and the sea remains cold, although during the day it is sunny and quite warm. Many tour operators offer New Year tours with a varied holiday program.

What to see in Egypt?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a brief description.

Egyptian pyramids

Majestic buildings of antiquity, which are about 5000 years old. The tombs of powerful pharaohs, keeping a large number of secrets that have not yet been revealed. Many conjectures exist around the pyramids. Some researchers are of the opinion that they were built by a non-human race or aliens.

The Pyramid of Cheops

The largest of the pyramids, the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) and his dynasty. The construction was built over 20 years and completed by 2260 BC. The structure is 146.5 meters high and consists of 2.3 million rectangular stone blocks. The Great Pyramid is the central structure of the Giza complex.

Great Sphinx

Statue of a giant lion with a human face 73 m long and 21 m high. Inside the statue is hollow. Such structures served for executions and sacrifices, which is why the Egyptians call the Great Sphinx the "king / father of horror." He also symbolized retribution and catastrophe, which, according to ancient beliefs, should come from heaven.

Egyptian Museum in Cairo

A large museum that contains a huge number of rare exhibits. To see everything, the visitor will need several days. Here is the famous treasury of Tutankhamun, which occupies 8 halls. It was discovered in 1922 almost unlooted. The oldest manuscripts of the museum are over 5000 years old.

karnak temple

The main sanctuary of ancient Egypt in the era of the New Kingdom (XVI-XI centuries BC) Once the temple was the residence, treasury and administrative center of the capital city of Thebes. It is located 500 km. from Cairo near Luxor. The well-preserved buildings of the temple complex attract many tourists.

Luxor Temple

One of the greatest creations of the ancient Egyptian civilization, where the central place is given to the supreme god Amun-Ra. It features monumental architecture, graceful bas-reliefs, tall columns and majestic statues of the gods. The temple began to be erected during the heyday and power of the New Kingdom under Amenhotep III.

Suez Canal

Man-made sea route connecting Africa and Eurasia. It was opened for navigation in 1869. The length of the canal is 161 km. It originates in the city of Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea and ends in Suez on the Red Sea. In honor of the opening of this waterway, the brilliant Italian composer Verdi wrote the opera Aida.

Aswan waterworks (dam)

A huge 110-meter dam on the river. Neil, an engineering marvel. It is more than 3 km wide, 800 m thick. It was built according to the project of the Soviet engineer N. Malyshev. The hydroelectric complex was conceived in order to eliminate the consequences of floods in the 60-70s. XX century., As well as to provide the country with electricity.

Valley of the Kings

The burial place of many Egyptian pharaohs and nobility near Luxor. The tombs were equipped with cunning traps for the purpose of protection, and the entrances to them were masked to hide the treasuries from the eyes of the robbers. The most famous tomb belongs to Thutmose III, who laid the foundation for burials in this place.

Temples in Abu Simbel

They are located on the shores of Lake Nasser in the bowels of the Nubian desert. They are giant rock-cut statues of the gods, Pharaoh Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. The structures were erected in honor of the ruler's victory over the Hittites. In the middle of the XX century. the temples were moved to a higher place due to the construction of the Aswan hydroelectric power station.

Temples of Philae Island

According to ancient Egyptian beliefs on about. Philae in the middle of the Nile, the god Osiris is buried. There is a temple of the goddess Isis (wife of Osiris) and the goddess Hathor. These are the only structures of this type from the era of the Ptolemaic dynasty that have survived to this day. The island has been under the protection of UNESCO since the 80s of the XX century.

Colossi of Memnon

They are stone 20-meter statues - the remains of the temple of Amenhotep III. The building itself has not survived. In ancient times, these columns guarded the entrance to the sanctuary. For 3.5 thousand years, the colossi have undergone significant destruction, only the outlines of the figures have come down to us. In the XX century. after the construction of the dam, the floods of the Nile stopped and there was a chance to save the statues.

Monastery of Saint Catherine

Located on the Sinai Peninsula, it is considered the stronghold and center of Orthodoxy in the Arab East. The monastery was built under the Roman Emperor Justinian. In the 1st century AD It was used as a fortress to protect against nomadic raids. In the X century. a mosque appeared on the territory, which made it possible to avoid the destruction of the temple with the arrival of Islam in these parts.

Fortress Kite Bay

Medieval monument of architecture in the city of Alexandria, built on the site where the Pharos lighthouse towered in ancient times. The fortress served as a defense against the fleet of the rapidly growing Ottoman Empire, but the Turks still managed to take it. For more than 500 years, the fort served its intended purpose and was used as a strategic object.

Montaza Palace and Park

Located in the second largest Egyptian city of Alexandria. The park complex is located on the shore of a small cozy bay. here at the beginning of the 20th century. The royal palace was built as the residence of King Farouk. This is a great place to relax with picturesque beaches, Mediterranean pines and date palms.

Library of Alexandrina

A modern building erected on the supposed site of the ancient destroyed Library of Alexandria. The complex includes several museums dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of Egypt, and a cinema hall. The huge reading room of the library can accommodate more than 2,000 people.

River Nile

One of the largest water arteries in Africa, stretching for almost 7000 km. It was the Nile that gave impetus to the development of the ancient Egyptian civilization, its fertile valleys in the midst of lifeless stones allowed people to grow crops, come up with cunning irrigation systems and advance engineering.

Colored Canyon

Gorge in the Sinai mountains, formed millions of years ago due to a strong earthquake. Then there was a monstrous break in the earth's crust and a canyon of red sand with numerous intricately intertwined inserts of purple, burgundy, white, green and yellow was born.

Blue hole in Dahab

This is the name of the round-shaped underwater failure near the resort of Dahab. The depth of the hole is more than 130 meters, at a distance of 50 meters from the surface there is a tunnel that connects to the Red Sea. Due to the unique beauty of the coral reef, this place attracts many divers.

Tiran Island

An island in the Red Sea, located between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which formally owns this territory. But the Egyptian authorities have rented the island and are bringing tourists there, as spearfishing enthusiasts have a real paradise for exploration there. The island is practically uninhabited, so its unique nature is still intact.

white desert

A national park located in the north of the Farafra oasis. Once, millions of years ago, there was the bottom of the ocean, and since then, bizarre white karst formations have remained, which are now of interest to researchers and tourists. A permit is required to enter the national park, but obtaining one is fairly easy.

Ras Mohammed National Park

The oldest Egyptian reserve, uniting a piece of the coast and the waters of the Red Sea. Known for the fact that here is the most beautiful and rich in marine life coral reef. Foxes, hyenas, white storks and gazelles also live in the park. The remains of an English ship of 1941 lie at the bottom.

Mount Sinai

Holy mountain for all Christians, where, according to beliefs, God appeared to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments. At the top there is an Orthodox church and a small mosque. This place is popular among pilgrims; special pilgrimage ascents are organized here.

Sharm El Sheikh resort city

One of the most famous Egyptian resorts, where the focus is on youth recreation. There are many bars, restaurants and club hotels here. The infrastructure of the resort is ideally developed - entertainment is offered for every taste and age. The beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh are stone, with the exception of Nabq Bay.

Khan el Khalili Market

Traditional colorful Cairo bazaar, located in the historical center of the capital. Here you can buy a huge amount of goods: from antique furniture and manuscripts to Bedouin jewelry. The market is small in size, but it is very popular with tourists and collectors of various antiquities.