Pharaohs, the Nile and Red Sea reefs
Egypt is one of the great history trips on earth, with pyramids, temples and tombs strung along the Nile. Most first visits pair Cairo and Giza with Luxor and Aswan, often linked by a Nile cruise. The Red Sea coast adds warm water, coral reefs and easy resort time. It suits curious travellers who can handle heat, crowds and a fair amount of haggling.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The three great pyramids and the Sphinx stand on a desert plateau on the edge of greater Cairo. They are the last survivor of the ancient Seven Wonders and the image most people have of Egypt.
A huge new museum near the pyramids built to hold the country's finest pharaonic collections. The Tutankhamun treasures are the headline.
A vast temple complex on the east bank of Luxor built and expanded over some 2,000 years. The forest of giant columns in the Hypostyle Hall is the high point.
The royal burial valley on Luxor's west bank, with painted tombs cut deep into the hills. Your ticket covers a set number of tombs, with some special tombs extra.
The terraced mortuary temple of a female pharaoh set against tall cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. It is usually combined with the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon.
Two rock temples of Ramses II carved into a cliff above Lake Nasser, moved block by block in the 1960s to escape the rising water. The four seated colossi at the entrance are unforgettable.
A three to five night boat trip on the Nile linking Luxor and Aswan. Most cruises stop at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way.
A graceful temple to the goddess Isis on an island near Aswan, reached by small boat. Like Abu Simbel it was moved to save it from flooding.
The medieval heart of Cairo, packed with mosques, madrasas, gates and the old Khan el-Khalili bazaar. It is busy, noisy and full of life.
The necropolis of ancient Memphis, home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, often called the oldest large stone building in the world. The tombs here have some of the finest carved reliefs in Egypt.
A protected headland at the tip of Sinai with some of the best reefs in the Red Sea. Most visitors go by boat for snorkelling or diving.
A sacred mountain climbed by night so walkers reach the top for sunrise, with an ancient Orthodox monastery at its foot. The monastery is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries.
A national park of chalk rock formations shaped by wind into mushrooms and towers. Most people visit on an overnight camping trip by four wheel drive.
Egypt's second city on the Mediterranean, founded by Alexander the Great. Highlights include the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Qaitbay Citadel and the seafront corniche.
A long resort strip on the Red Sea used as a base for boat trips to reefs and islands such as Giftun. It is the easiest place for beach time after the Nile Valley.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
The capital, gateway to the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo.
history, food, gateway · Open the city guideAncient Thebes, with more temples and tombs than anywhere else in Egypt.
history, archaeology · Open the city guideA relaxed Nile town with Nubian villages and the base for Philae and Abu Simbel.
history, relaxing · Guide comingA Mediterranean city with a different, Greco Roman story.
history, food · Guide comingThe main Red Sea resort for beach days and boat trips.
beach, diving · Open the city guideA Sinai resort close to Ras Mohammed and Mount Sinai.
diving, beach · Open the city guideA laid back Sinai town loved by divers and backpackers.
diving, relaxing · Guide comingQuieter Red Sea coast for reefs and turtles.
snorkel, quiet · Guide comingRemote oasis town with a unique culture.
desert, remote · Guide comingA huge, chaotic capital set beside the oldest pyramid fields.
Pyramids of Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara
The temple heartland between Luxor and Aswan, linked by the river.
Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Philae
Resorts, reefs and desert mountains on the mainland coast.
Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam
A desert peninsula with sacred mountains and some of the best diving.
Ras Mohammed, Dahab, Mount Sinai
A cooler coast and remote oases with striking desert scenery.
Alexandria, White Desert, Siwa Oasis
Greco-Roman port and summer beaches.
Alexandria, El Alamein
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: October to April. Temperatures in the Nile Valley are bearable for long days at outdoor sites.
Luxor and Aswan get very hot from May to September; the Red Sea coast is swimmable most of the year but windy and cooler in winter.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
65°F daily high, 54°F average, 0.3 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Egypt Level 2 (exercise increased caution) with some areas such as North Sinai and border zones at Level 4, and visitors mainly face scams, touts and heat.
Domestic flights, overnight trains and Nile cruises link the main sites, but traffic in Cairo is heavy and many visitors use drivers or tours.
Food, transport and guiding are cheap for most visitors, though entry tickets to the top sites add up.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules on Egypt's official e-Visa portal (https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/) and on your own government's travel advice before you go, as rules can change. |
| Plugs | Type C, F; 220 V |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tips, called baksheesh, are expected for most services, from guides and drivers to toilet attendants. |
| Payments | Cards work in hotels and bigger shops, but carry Egyptian pounds in small notes for taxis, tips and markets. |
| Emergency | 122 police, 123 ambulance, 180 fire, 126 tourist police |
| Etiquette | Egypt is a mostly Muslim country, so public displays of affection are frowned on. Haggling is normal in markets but stay friendly. Ask before photographing people, and expect touts at major sites. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders and knees in cities and religious sites; women need a headscarf to enter most mosques. Swimwear is fine at resorts. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Most visitors fly between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan or take the overnight sleeper train, and a Nile cruise links Luxor and Aswan. Private drivers and organised tours are common for day trips. Buses and flights reach the Red Sea and Sinai resorts. |
| Main airports | CAI, HBE, LXR, ASW, HRG, SSH, SPX |
| Ride apps | Uber, Careem, inDrive |
Ancient Egypt grew up along the Nile more than 5,000 years ago and its pharaohs left the pyramids and temples visitors come for today. Later the country was ruled by Greeks, Romans, Arab caliphates, Mamluks and Ottomans, and Islamic Cairo still shows that long layering. Britain held strong influence from the late 1800s until the mid 1900s. Modern Egypt became a republic in 1953 and is the most populous country in the Arab world.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.