Egypt & the Nile Travel Guide: the best things to do, see, and eat

As Egypt approaches its busiest season, the temperatures cool down and prices remain lower than they will be during the upcoming peak months. Plus, if you’re there on October 22, you can celebrate the Abu Simbel Sun Festival with locals and other visitors from around the world. The holiday (which also occurs on February 22) honors the moments when the Abu Simbel temple complex is illuminated by the sun, engulfing the statues of Ramses II and the gods Amun Ra and Ptah in the central chamber, which is normally shrouded in darkness. Locals and visitors alike gather outside the temple for this wonder of ancient design. Use your free time on our A Week in Egypt: Giza, Nile River Cruise & Cairo tour to bear witness to this iconic event.

Want more details on the best time to visit Egypt? Check out our season-by-season guide.

Guarded by the Sphinx—the largest monolithic statue in the world—the Pyramid of Giza is hands down the most famous place in Egypt. It’s one of the last surviving Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is an absolute must-see when traveling to Egypt. Built for the pharaoh Khufu 1,200 years before King Tutankhamun was even born, this pyramid was the tallest structure in the world for millennia. Learn more fascinating facts about the Pyramids of Giza before you plan your Egypt tour.

Situated across from the hubbub of central Aswan, Elephantine Island is home to two serene Nubian villages and once played an integral role in the ivory trade. On our Egypt & Nile River Cruise, you’ll board a traditional Egyptian sailboat called a felucca, and sail past the beautiful island. Look out for the ruins of the Temple of Khnum’s granite step pyramid and a nilometer (used to indicate the Nile’s water levels to predict the harvest and calculate taxes for the coming year) carved directly into the river’s rocky shores and marked with Arabic, Roman, and Egyptian numerals.

Situated where the ancient city of Thebes once stood, Luxor is known as the world’s largest open-air museum due to its striking architectural elements, including massive columns, colossal statues, and hieroglyphs, all still standing outdoors. We’ll take you to Luxor on our Grand Tour of Egypt: Cairo, Pyramids of Giza & Nile River Cruise, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the temple before having the remainder of your day to explore at your leisure.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is an expansive burial ground of almost all of the pharaohs who reigned from 1539 to 1075 B.C. Located on the West Bank of the Nile River, some famous names like King Tutankhamun, Queen Hatshepsut, and King Amenhotep were buried in these hidden tombs. Visit the Valley of the Kings on our new Egypt for Women: Cairo & Nile River Cruise.

Of course, our Egypt Travel Guide is going to include visiting the capital city, which is filled with mosques, monuments, and madrassas. Cairo is the place to go to for a well-rounded look at the country’s cultural heritage and architecture. Ready to explore the modern city steeped in ancient history? Choose any of our Egypt tours, they all take you there!

This tranquil town, found along the winding banks of the Nile, is the perfect spot to relax in a calm atmosphere and enjoy the views of the orange-toned dunes. You can even take a river ferry from Aswan to Elephantine Island and stroll through the colorful streets of the Nubian villages. On our A Week in Egypt: Giza, Nile River Cruise & Cairo tour, you’ll get a free day in Aswan to put your bargaining skills to the test at the Aswan Souk or even add our optional Aswan Sunset Felucca Ride & Dinner excursion.

Cairo is home to the world’s largest archaeological museum—and one of the most spectacular spots to visit in all of Egypt. The Grand Egyptian Museum is still under an extensive (and expensive) renovation, but 12 main galleries are currently open to the public. The exhibits of temples, palaces, tombs, and ancient pieces of art will truly blow you away. Peruse the galleries alongside fellow history-lovers on our Grand Tour of Egypt: Cairo, Pyramids of Giza & Nile River Cruise tour.

Start your days in Egypt with this vegan breakfast dish. The morning-time staple is so well loved that it won’t be hard to find in most cafes and restaurants. It’s made with stewed, dried fava beans, olive oil, cumin, and lemon juice and finished with a variety of fresh toppings. Fun fact: Even ancient Egyptians ate this dish! If it’s been a favorite for that long, it certainly deserves a try.

Dig into this hearty mix of rice, chickpeas, pasta, and black lentils, topped with thick tomato sauce and fried onions. “I suggest stepping out of the tourist shell and trying kushari at a local stall or restaurant,” said staffer Silvia. “It’s a dish commonly eaten by the working class so it’s unlikely to find it in any of the fancier restaurants on our Egypt tours. Be sure to ask for extra tomato sauce!”

Pronounced muh-loh-hee-yuh, this regional dish is prepared differently depending on the area of Egypt you’re visiting. It’s made with a leafy green vegetable that’s chopped and cooked with garlic in beef, rabbit, or chicken stew, then served with rice or bread.

If you’re a meat eater, these are two must-try meals in Egypt. Pieces of either grilled lamb or veal make up a kebab, whereas kofta is made with minced meat that is prepared on the grill. Both are often served with bread, salad, and tahini.

Called asab in Egyptian Arabic, this juice made from pressed sugarcane stalks is one of the most common in the country. Locals love it because it’s a light thirst-quencher in the hot climate, which is why it’s a beverage that visitors quickly embrace, too. Good news for anyone on one of our Egypt tours: Street vendors sell this sweet treat in most cities, especially the larger ones like Cairo.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a stunning, modern recreation of the Great Library of Alexandria. Located on Alexandria’s Mediterranean coast, it’s both a major library and cultural center. Visiting was one of traveler Audrey’s favorite memories from Egypt. “For a book lover like me, visiting this reincarnation was a highlight,” she said. “The architecture impressed me from the outside, but the real treasures inside provided a window into Egypt and its history.”

Hey, history lovers, we’re talking to you! Abu Simbel is a temple that was built for Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. It’s guarded by huge statues and painted with intricate designs inside. The temple is widely famous not only for its grandeur but for its connection to the sun, which illuminates the central chamber of statues twice a year—once on the day Ramses II was coronated (February 22) and again on his birthday (October 22). Abu Simbel is even more remarkable as it survived an extensive UNESCO-led relocation in the sixties during the construction of Lake Nasser. While the government built the lake to create a stable water source for the locals, it would’ve meant putting the original Abu Simbel under water. The temple was dismantled, extensively labeled, and reassembled, complete with the original, intricate timing with the sun on both February and October 22.

Staffer Kevin said this is one of the top things to do in Egypt. “We rose into the air at sunrise and floated above the Colossi of Memnon towards the Valley of the Kings,” he said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime view and experience, and was truly worthwhile.” Add a hot-air balloon excursion to any of our Egypt tours to get the aerial view for yourself.

Stroll through this traditional bazaar in Cairo, bargaining for goods. You can buy all types of souvenirs (our favorites are below!) and get a glimpse into the lives and traditions of the Egyptian vendors. Pro tip: Vendors in Egypt expect to be haggled with, so don’t be shy about asking for a better price.

Papyrus is an aquatic plant that grows plentifully along the nutrient-rich banks of the Nile. Its pith has been used by Egyptians as a basis for various products—from sails to cords and most notably, paper—for over 3,000 years. Buy yourself or your loved ones some papyrus paper, cloth, and more at one of the country’s various souks.

Papyrus is a well-known canvas for Egyptian art and writing, but banana leaves also have deep roots in Egypt’s history. Look for banana-leaf art when shopping for souvenirs, as many artists will replicate designs from ancient Egyptian tombs and temple paintings on the dried leaves.

Gold and silver-making are part of Egyptian tradition, so jewelry is a great treasure to bring home with you. You can find many designs inspired by Ancient Egypt like pendants emulating cartouches (the tablets marking tombs), scarabs (amulets in the shape of sacred dung beetles), hieroglyphs (pictorial representations of ancient languages), ankh (the key of life), and the left wadjet eye (aka the eye of Horus).

One of the many goods that Egypt is known for is its plethora of rich spices. From coriander to turmeric, ginger, cumin, sesame, and more—there are too many delicious flavors to name. When visiting one of Egypt’s famous bazaars, stop to admire (and photograph) the dazzling array of colorful spices laid out for purchase. And, if you or someone you know loves to cook, don’t miss out on purchasing some of these authentic Egyptian spices.

This is a must, even on the hottest days, for visiting mosques. Respecting the local customs is important on any trip to Egypt. As a general rule, especially for women, the chest, shoulders, and knees should be covered at all times when not at beach resorts. Don’t fret—you can still stay relatively cool by taking a page from the ancient Egyptians and wearing light, breathable fabrics like linen.

Don’t underestimate the sun’s strength when in Egypt. Be sure to pack sun protection, including sunglasses, a brimmed hat, and a strong SPF. Your eyes and skin will thank you for it!

Whether you’re looking to stroll the markets or the ancient archaeological sites, comfortable shoes will more than prove their worth on your Egypt trip. Keep in mind that the terrain varies from modern streets to ancient limestone and clay pavement to sand—so make sure your shoes can keep up with your sense of adventure.

The weather in Egypt is often much warmer during the day than it is at night, so layers are always a good idea. Plus, it’s good to have a light long-sleeve shirt on hand for protection on the sunniest days and of course, in case you want to enter a mosque.

People in Egypt tend to dress smartly and you will stand out if you’re wandering around in loungewear, workout clothing, or revealing, tight-fitting clothing.