15 Best Things to Do in Egypt: The Ultimate Bucket List

Egypt is one of the most rewarding countries on earth for travelers — a place where a single trip spans Wonders of the Ancient World, tombs painted 3,000 years ago, coral reefs, and star-filled deserts. If you're wondering what to do in Egypt, this list covers the experiences worth building a trip around, from the unmissable icons to a few gems most visitors never reach. At the end you'll find a quick mini travel guide to help you plan.

Want to turn these into a route? See our day-by-day Egypt itinerary and the complete Egypt travel guide.

This is Egypt can build any of these into a private, guided Egypt tour — explore our trips Browse Egypt tours →

1. Stand Before the Pyramids of Giza

No visit to Egypt is complete without the Pyramids of Giza — the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World and every bit as jaw-dropping in person as you'd hope. Go early, pay the extra fee to climb inside the Great Pyramid if you're up for it, and head to the desert panorama point for the classic all-three-pyramids photo.

2. Meet the Great Sphinx

Right beside the pyramids crouches the Great Sphinx, the lion-bodied, human-faced guardian carved from a single ridge of limestone. It's smaller than most people expect but no less enigmatic — and the view with the pyramids rising behind it is pure Egypt.

3. Explore the Grand Egyptian Museum

The long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids is the largest archaeological museum in the world, and its centerpiece is the complete treasure of Tutankhamun — thousands of objects displayed together for the first time. Give it a half day.

4. Be Astounded by Abu Simbel

Ramesses II's colossal Abu Simbel temples, guarded by four 20-meter seated statues, are one of Egypt's defining sights. Just as remarkable is their modern story: the entire complex was cut apart and moved uphill to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

5. Cruise the Nile

A Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor is the most enjoyable way to see Egypt. Riverside temples appear at every stop, daily life drifts past your deck, and your ship is also your hotel. Choose a large cruiser for comfort or a traditional dahabiya sailboat for something intimate.

This is Egypt offers Nile cruises for every budget — from classic ships to private dahabiyas. Compare options Compare Nile cruises →

6. Descend into the Valley of the Kings

On Luxor's west bank, the Valley of the Kings hides the rock-cut tombs of the New Kingdom pharaohs, their walls covered in astonishingly vivid paintings. Your ticket includes several tombs; pay extra for the standouts like Tutankhamun's or Seti I's.

7. Wander Karnak and Luxor Temples

Karnak is the largest religious complex ever built, and walking through its Great Hypostyle Hall — 134 giant columns towering overhead — is genuinely humbling. Nearby Luxor Temple is best at dusk, when the floodlights turn it golden.

8. Float Over Luxor in a Hot Air Balloon

Launching at dawn, a hot air balloon ride over Luxor's west bank floats you above the temples, tombs, and green Nile fields as the sun comes up. It's one of the most magical mornings you can have in Egypt.

9. Sail a Felucca at Sunset in Aswan

Aswan is the Nile at its most beautiful, and there's no better way to soak it up than aboard a traditional felucca sailboat, gliding around Elephantine Island and the Nubian villages as the sun drops behind the dunes.

10. Day Trip to Saqqara and Dahshur

Skip the crowds at the older pyramid fields south of Cairo. Saqqara is home to the Step Pyramid, the world's oldest stone monument, while Dahshur's Bent and Red Pyramids let you climb inside with hardly another soul around.

11. Get Lost in Khan el-Khalili

Cairo's medieval Khan el-Khalili bazaar is a maze of lantern-lit stalls, perfume and spice shops, silver vendors, and centuries-old coffeehouses. Haggle for souvenirs, then pause for mint tea and sheesha the way locals have for generations.

12. Explore Alexandria

On the Mediterranean coast, Alexandria trades pharaohs for a breezy, cosmopolitan feel: the striking modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Roman catacombs, a seafront Corniche, and some of Egypt's best seafood.

13. Dive or Snorkel in Dahab and the Red Sea

The Red Sea has some of the finest coral reefs on the planet. Laid-back Dahab — home to the famous Blue Hole — is a diver's favorite, while Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh offer resorts, dive centers, and easy snorkeling straight off the beach.

14. Camp in the White Desert

Egypt's surreal White Desert is a dreamscape of wind-sculpted chalk formations glowing under the stars. An overnight desert camp — dinner around a fire, then a night beneath the Milky Way — is unlike anything else on your trip.

15. Escape to Siwa Oasis

Remote Siwa, near the Libyan border, is Egypt at its most magical and least visited: palm groves, salt lakes you can float in, the ruins of the Oracle Temple that Alexander the Great once consulted, and a distinct Berber culture all its own.

Egypt: A Mini Travel Guide

When to Visit Egypt

The best time to visit is October to April, when the weather is comfortable for sightseeing. Summer (May–September) is very hot in Luxor and Aswan but quieter and cheaper. Full details are in our Egypt travel guide.

How to Get to Egypt

Most travelers fly into Cairo International Airport, with Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts also served by air. Domestic flights and overnight trains connect the main cities.

Recommended Egypt Tours

Because Egypt's sites have little signage and the logistics can be complex, a guided tour makes a big difference — especially for a first visit.

This is Egypt runs private and small-group tours covering every experience on this list. Browse our Egypt tours Browse Egypt tours →

Where to Stay

From pyramid-view hotels in Giza to Nile-view rooms in Luxor and Aswan and beach resorts on the Red Sea, Egypt has options for every budget. Book early in peak season.

Getting Connected

Pick up a local eSIM or SIM card on arrival for cheap, reliable data throughout your trip.

Travel Insurance

Given the mix of desert trips, diving, and long travel days, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for any Egypt trip.

What to Pack

Lightweight, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees; a scarf for mosques; a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen; comfortable closed shoes for ruins and tombs; and small bills of local currency for tips and markets.

Plan Your Egypt Adventure

Ready to build these into a trip? Follow our 10-day Egypt itinerary and read the complete Egypt travel guide for everything else you need to know.

Let This is Egypt handle the planning — private guides, seamless transfers, and a Nile cruise to remember. Start your custom trip Get a custom quote →