Egypt Holidays

Historical sites

• Pyramids of Giza – The iconic Pyramids of Giza are the last standing Ancient Wonder of the World and a must-see for anyone visiting Egypt. The question of how they were built is still debated but the biggest one, Khufu, is impressive even today.

• The Great Sphinx – This famous structure lies to the south of the Great Pyramid and has facial features of a human but the body of a lion. It’s also among the world’s largest sculptures and is thought to have been the work of at least 100 workers over three years.

• Valley of the Kings – Discover the ancient tombs and treasures of the Valley of the Kings, where almost all Egyptian pharaohs were laid to rest, including Tutankhamun. Over 60 tombs have been discovered and you can pick three from a list to visit with an entrance ticket, as well as a tram ticket to get between them all.

• Luxor Temple – This temple was constructed over hundreds of years and was the largest and most significant religious place in Egypt. It’s known to be ‘the place of the First Occasion’, where the God, Amon, experienced rebirth. Try to visit early in the morning to beat the crowds or at sunset when the stones glow golden.

• The Avenue of the Sphinxes – Connecting the Karnak Temple with Luxor Temple, this three-kilometre road is lined either side with over 1,000 statues of sphinxes and rams. It’s thought that this ‘Path of God’ was used during the Opet Festival, where Egyptians would carry statues of Gods down the road in a parade. Today, you can walk the whole thing and see part of it from Luxor Temple.

• St. Catherine's Monastery – At the foot of Mount Sinai, this ancient monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. If the monastery museum is locked, you can ask at the Church of the Transfiguration for the key.

Markets

Souks are part of the culture here and haggling for your Egyptian holiday souvenirs is part of the experience.

• Khan El Khalili, Cairo – One of the most famous markets in Egypt, Khan El Khalili is a bustling, historic bazaar located in the heart of Islamic Cairo. It dates back to the 14th century and is a must-visit for any tourist in Cairo. It’s especially known for jewellery (particularly gold and silver), traditional Egyptian handicrafts, spices, perfumes, leather goods and lanterns.

• Luxor Souk, Luxor – Found near the Luxor Temple, this market offers a more laidback shopping experience compared to Khan El Khalili. It’s less crowded and a good place to find local products, like Alabaster crafts, papyrus, traditional clothing, spices and perfumes. Top tip – The market is a bit quieter in the afternoons if you want to avoid the peak shopping period.

• Old Market, Sharm El Sheikh – Also known as Sharm’s Souk, this market offers a mix of traditional Egyptian goods and souvenirs. Browse papyrus, jewellery, glassware, textiles and traditional Egyptian clothing. Visit in the evening when the market is livelier and cooler, and don’t forget to haggle, as prices are often marked up for tourists.

• Sharia Al-Souq, Hurghada – This popular market caters to both locals and tourists, offering a wide range of souvenirs and local products, including traditional Egyptian souvenirs, spices, shisha pipes and local crafts. Combine your market visit with a stroll along the nearby marina to see the best of Hurghada in one.

Museums

The most important artefacts are kept in museum collections and going to see them, with plaques explaining their backstory, is the perfect way to appreciate ancient Egypt.

• The Egyptian Museum, Cairo – Home to the world’s most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts – 170,000. It’s the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and open every day to go and visit.

• Luxor Museum, Luxor – Admire collections from the Old Kingdom up to the Mamluk period here, gathered from Theban temples and necropolis.

Daytrips

You can easily explore beyond just where you’re staying on a holiday to Egypt.

• Mount Sinai – Climb Mount Sinai for a breathtaking sunrise or sunset from the summit – it’s believed Moses received the Ten Commandments up here. It’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sharm El Sheikh and the hike itself should take three hours.

• White Desert National Park – A surreal landscape of white limestone formations shaped by the wind. The whole place is 300 square kilometres and looks its best at either sunrise or sunset, when the sun hits the rock to create an orangey-pink hue – or, under a full moon for a ghostly look. You can visit here from Cairo.

• Valley of the Camels – Also known as Wadi El Gemal National Park. This is a site of prehistoric rock art, ancient ruins and the mountain, Mons Smaragdus, near Marsa Alam. It’s rich in wildlife, running along the Red Sea coast with coral reefs and different dive sites, mangroves, bird sanctuaries and lakes.

Local food in Egypt

The cuisine here features rice-stuffed vegetables, kofta, kebabs, houmous, lots of beans and bread.

• Mezze – Small plates including different salads, like tabbouleh, and dips, like baba ganoush and houmous.

• Kofta – These tasty mince balls are generally served with bread, salad and tahini.

• Falafel – An all-time favourite of Egyptian street food. Instead of ground chickpeas, Egyptians use dried fava beans.

• Koshari – A dish of lentils, rice and pasta served with fried onions and a spicy tomato sauce.

• Ful Medames – This is a classic breakfast dish in North Africa and the Middle East, made of stewed fava beans, tahini, garlic, cumin and lemon – perfect for scooping up with pita bread.

Something to drink

Egypt is a Muslim country and so a lot of locals don’t drink alcohol – it’s still available in many resorts but that also means there are lots of local soft drinks, too.

• Karkade – A popular Egyptian drink made from dried hibiscus flowers. It can be served hot or cold and has a tart, cranberry-like flavour, often sweetened with sugar. It’s also served during special occasions and is believed to have health benefits, like lowering blood pressure.

• Asab – Fresh sugarcane juice, known as ‘asab’ in Arabic and a popular drink sold on the streets in Egypt. The juice is extracted from sugarcane stalks using a mechanical press and served cold – it’s especially refreshing in the hot summer months.

• Shai – This is tea and one of the most consumed beverages in Egypt. Egyptian tea is typically black tea, served with sugar and sometimes with fresh mint leaves.

• Ahwa – Traditional Egyptian coffee is a strong, dark and often flavoured with cardamom. It’s like Turkish coffee, with a thick consistency and a layer of grounds at the bottom, and can be enjoyed sweetened or unsweetened.

Scuba diving

Egypt isn’t just desert and stone, the underwater world here is made up of stunning reefs, interesting wrecks and diverse marine life – perfect for diving.

• Ras Mohammed, Sharm El Sheikh – Egypt’s first national park and one of the most famous dive sites in the world. Its underwater landscape features steep coral walls, vibrant reefs and loads of marine life, including schools of fish, sharks and turtles. Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef and the Eel Garden are the top dive sites.

• Thistlegorm Wreck, Sharm El Sheikh – A World War II shipwreck that lies at the bottom of the Red Sea. It’s one of the most famous wreck dives in the world, with well-preserved cargo, including military vehicles, motorcycles and ammunition. Top tip – This site is ideal for experienced divers, due to the depth and need to navigate through the wreck. The marine life around the wreck is also impressive if you’d rather swim around it.

• Tiran Island, Sharm El Sheikh – This place is surrounded by some of the most spectacular reefs in the Red Sea, including Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon Reefs. They’re teeming with marine life, including sharks, rays and large schools of fish. The coral formations are also well-preserved, perfect for both diving and snorkelling.

River cruises

When on the Nile, a river cruise is a must. It’s the longest river in Africa and the entire world.

• Scenic views – Cruising along the Nile is ideal for taking in the lush landscapes that stand out from the surrounding desert. They go at a slow pace so you can soak in the scenery, featuring plenty of palm trees, traditional villages and farmers working the fields.

• Sunrise and sunset – The Nile is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, so book a cruise with a sunset coffee to catch golden hour.

Hot air balloon rides

Holidays to Egypt are a classic opportunity to try a hot air balloon ride.

• Bird’s-eye view – You simply can’t get views like this from anywhere else.

• Photo opportunities – The 360-degree views mean endless photo angles. The soft morning light, sweeping landscapes and ancient monuments below make for stunning backdrops.

• Escape the crowds – Unlike visiting tourist sites on the ground, a hot air balloon ride offers a private and unobstructed view of them, away from the hustle and bustle.

Beaches

Egypt’s beaches span Red Sea shores and its Mediterranean coastline, so there are plenty to pick from.

• Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh – Naama Bay is the most famous beach in Sharm El Sheikh – it’s a hub for watersports, like snorkelling and diving but also parasailing. The sand’s lined with luxury resorts, restaurants and beach bars, so you can make a whole day of it.

• Makadi Bay, Hurghada – Makadi Bay is another watersports hotspot and a popular choice for families and couples.

• Abu Dabbab Beach, Marsa Alam – Abu Dabbab is also known as the Turtles Beach because of the giant turtles that chill in the sea. Dive in, and you can swim right alongside them. The endangered, dugong or ‘sea cow’ are also spotted here.

• Al Nayzak Beach, Marsa Alam – Close to the coastal town of Marsa Alam, Al Nayzak has a natural rock pool that the locals call the ‘shooting star’. It’s believed to have been formed by a meteor.

Plane

Long-distance travel between major cities like Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada can be done quickest by taking internal flights. EgyptAir, Nile Air, Air Cairo and other local carriers offer regular domestic flights, which are fast and make sure you can maximise exploring time for key places, like the Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings or the Red Sea resorts. If you’re travelling in peak tourist season, try to book your flights in advance.

Train

You can get the train between Cairo, Alexandria and the Nile Valley cities of Luxor and Aswan. Egypt’s train system offers several classes, including First Class, Second Class and there are sleeper trains for overnight journeys, which waste no time at all. You also get the added bonus of scenic views of the Nile River and countryside as you pass through other places.

Top tip – Book tickets in advance for First Class tickets and sleeper trains – the lines between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan are really popular with tourists. The national railway operator, ENR (Egyptian National Railways) also allow online bookings.

Bus

For budget travel and reaching destinations not accessible by train or plane, like smaller towns and the Sinai Peninsula, buses are the best way. They’re also a cheaper option for getting between major cities like Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab. Go Bus, SuperJet, and Blue Bus are some of the major operators providing long-distance bus services, and you can pick various comfort levels, from basic to VIP services. Within cities, you can also use public minibuses, favoured by the locals. They have fixed routes and can be flagged down along the way.

Taxi

If the public minibuses sound a bit complicated to you, taxis are perfect for short trips within cities, airport transfers or even some daytrip distances. They’re widely available in cities like Cairo and Alexandria, but make sure to negotiate the fare or check a meter is being used. Uber and Careem are also available in major cities for a familiar alternative to traditional taxis.

Top tip – Checking ride-sharing apps can help give you an idea of the price of a journey, so you know if you’re being ripped off by a local driver and you can negotiate on a fare upfront if there’s no meter.

Car hire

To be extra flexible, hiring a car means you can go at your own pace, do daytrips on your own and explore areas where public transport is less accessible. You can even hire a car with a driver, which is quite common in Egypt, or rent your own – just be aware of traffic and local driving habits. It’s especially easy for families and large groups.

Ferry

You can get ferries between the mainland and Red Sea resorts, such as Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh. The scenic sea views definitely add something to your journey but it’s best to check schedules in advance, as services can be less frequent. River cruises are also great for getting between Luxor and Aswan along the Nile River and you can take in the sites along the way. Traditional dahabiya are small sail boats for a more intimate experience over the larger cruise ships, too.