Things to Do in Egypt

Founded in 1908, this museum houses Coptic art from Greco-Roman times to the Islamic era drawn from Cairo, the desert monasteries and Nubia. If you are interested in Egyptian history and art post-pharaohs, this is the place for you.

Qarafa, or The City of the Dead, is two 4 mile (6 km) long cemeteries - a north and south cemetery - dating from Mamluk times (1200s - 1500s) and is still in use today. Traditionally all families kept a mausoleum and these days some families use them for living in as well as for burials. Some families have been inhabiting the tombs for generations, some arrived more recently after the 1967 war displaced them from the canal zone. The north cemetery has more people residing in it and estimates are up to half a million people live there. These days there are shops, cafes and even a post-office within the cemeteries.

Many of the tombs themselves are quite grand and beautiful dating back centuries and in the Mamluk style. The northern cemetery is home to some of Cairo's most beautiful Mamluk monuments, such as the Mausoleums of Sultan Qaitbay and Sultan Barquq.

From the Royal Mummy Room to a number of glittering galleries showcasing finery extracted from various ancient tombs, there's a ton to see at the Egyptian Museum, also known as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Getting around to all 107 halls in one trip is tough, so you'll want to choose a few subjects or exhibits that are most important to you.

One of the most iconic and mysterious Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (and the only one still standing), the Pyramids of Giza—the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre, and Pyramid of Menkaure—still live up to more than 4,000 years of hype. Seeing these three fourth-dynasty pyramids and their guardian Great Sphinx rising from the Giza Plateau is a must on any trip to Cairo (and the reason many travelers find themselves in Egypt).

The Basics
Few structures on the planet are as immediately recognizable as the Giza Pyramids, and travelers have several options for visiting these wonders of ancient Egypt. Most see them on a full-day tour from Giza or Cairo; these tours often also include a Nile River cruise or stops at other sights such as Memphis, the Egyptian Museum, and the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Once at the pyramid site, explore the pyramid complex on foot, or choose to take in the view from afar with a camel ride (a great photo opportunity). Those who visit on their own should keep in mind that there are separate entrance fees for the complex and each individual pyramid.

• Remember to wear closed-toe shoes and modest clothing at the pyramids.
• Be prepared for plenty of sun; bring along a hat, sunscreen, and water to stay comfortable.
• Choosing a private tour will allow you to customize your experience.
• Leave yourself plenty of free time to explore.

How to Get There
While a guided tour from Cairo or Giza is the easiest and most convenient way to see the pyramids, it’s also possible to visit independently by taking a taxi or public bus from downtown Cairo or the Giza metro station along Pyramids Road.

When to Get There
The winter months (late November to early February) tend to bring optimal weather; in summer, expect temperatures in the 90s F. Keep in mind how traveling during Ramadan could impact your plans, and note that Fridays, a traditional day of rest in Egypt, tend to be a bit quieter at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

How to Avoid Scams and Touts at the Giza Pyramids
The main entrance to the pyramids is often crowded with pushy souvenir vendors, touts, and taxi drivers looking for a fare. To gain the assistance of a professional guide and avoid looking for vendors on the spot, it’s best to book your tour in advance, but if arriving by taxi, ask your driver to take you to the vehicle entrance, where there are fewer touts but still opportunities to book horse riding, camel riding, or carriage tours. You may also come across unofficial guides who claim you must tour the complex with them; this is not true.

The Giftun Islands are a popular excursion from Hurghada, offering snorkeling, diving, sunbathing and a welcome retreat from the mainland bustle.

Offshore reefs provide spectacular drop-offs for experienced divers, hiding moray eels and fish in amongst the corals. Closer to shore, the coral reef snorkeling is superb.

The islands are famous for their pristine protected beaches, and a resort on the larger island provides all the facilities you need for a day by the sea, along with tours and windsurfing.

The swirls of candy-colored rock at Colored Canyon are a popular day trip destination from Sharm el Sheikh, forming some of the most impressive natural features in the world.

Sprawling over a limestone spur on the eastern edge of the city, the Citadel of Saladin (or Al-Qalaa) was home to Egypt's rulers for some 700 years. Their legacy is a collection of three very different mosques, including the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, several palaces (housing some underwhelming museums such as the police and military museums) and a couple of terraces with city views. 

The area was fortified around 1180 to protect it from the Crusaders. In the 1860s, ruler Khedive Ismail moved to newly built Abdin Palace, ending the citadel's role as the seat of government.

The main lure at Dendera is the Temple of Hathor, one of the least ancient of ancient Egypt’s glories, main construction being more or less contemporary with the life of Christ, although it was built on much older foundations.

There are fascinating glimpses of the meeting of great civilizations, with a famous wall relief of Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra of legend) and her son, fathered by Julius Caesar. Other depictions of Roman emperors make this a Who's Who of the ancient world.

Well-preserved remnants in the Dendera complex also include modestly-sized Roman constructions and an early Coptic Christian basilica.

Elephantine Island is the site of ancient Abu (meaning both elephant and ivory in ancient Egyptian), both names a reminder of the island's once important ivory trade. At the beginning of the 1st dynasty (about 3,000 BC) a fortress was built on the island to establish Egypt's southern frontier. Abu soon became an important customs point and trading center. It remained strategically significant throughout the Pharaonic period as a departure point for the military and commercial expeditions into Nubia and the south. During the 6th dynasty (2345-2181 BC) Abu grew strong as a political and economic center and, despite periodic ups and downs, the island retained its importance until the Greco-Roman period.

As well as being a thriving settlement, Elephantine was the main cult center of the ram-headed god Khnum (at first the god of the inundation, and from the 18th dynasty worshipped as the creator of humankind on his potter's wheel), Satet (Khnum's wife, and guardian of the southern frontier) and their daughter Anket. Each year the rushing of the waters of the flood were first heard here on Elephantine. Over time religious complexes took over more and more of the island, so residential areas moved either further north on the island or to the east bank. The temple town of Abu received its coup de grâce in the 4th century AD, when Christianity was established as the imperial Roman religion. From then on, worship of the ancient gods was gradually abandoned and defensive fortifications were moved to the east bank, today's city of Aswan.

The red-and-white-striped Mosque of al-Mu'ayyad (the Red Mosque), built on the site where its patron Mamluk Sultan al-Mu'ayyad had earlier been imprisoned, displays a particularly grand entrance portal, dripping with stalactite vaulting; the interior is equally lavish. The mosque was completed in 1421 and was considered the finest built in Cairo.

It is one of the finest examples of Mamluk architecture in Egypt with a dome and two minarets standing at the southern gate. Originally all four sides were equally decorated and all considered front facades and entrances. It has intricate stone carvings, bronze doors, inlaid mosaic patterning and a painted floral pattern ceiling. The central pavilion with the ablutions fountain is unusually large. Inside an entrance hall leads to the tombs of Sultan al-Mu'ayyad and his son.

The massive limestone statue of Pharaoh Ramses II is 33 feet (10 m) long and that's without having any legs! Ramses II was the longest serving pharaoh in Ancient Egypt, reigning from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. The statue was found in 1820 by an Italian traveller, Giovanni Caviglia. It is another example of the supreme craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians which baffles artists and historians today.

It is housed in the Memphis Museum in a small village on the site of what was once Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt. There is not much to see aside from the Colossus and a few other sculptures. There are ongoing excavations in the area but to the untrained eye it just looks like digging in river mud.