Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile

Destination 01

Cairo & Giza

9 places

Pyramids, a new grand museum and medieval Islamic Cairo. Stay 3 nights.

• Photo: Douwe C. van der Zee · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Pyramids of Giza

  The Great Pyramid of Khufu, its two neighbors and the Sphinx on the plateau's edge.

  Tip Enter at 8 am opening; the panorama point is best by car or camel.

  SeeGiza$$$4 hrEarly morning
• Photo: 吳勝安（Famous） · Google

  Grand Egyptian Museum

  Huge museum by the pyramids showing Tutankhamun's full tomb collection and a colossal Ramesses II.

  Tip Book timed tickets online and allow at least half a day.

  SeeGiza$$$4 hrMorning
• Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Saqqara

  Necropolis with Djoser's Step Pyramid, Egypt's oldest, and painted tombs.

  Tip Combine with Dahshur's Bent and Red Pyramids.

  See$$3 hrMorning
• Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

  Khan el-Khalili

  Medieval bazaar of lanterns, spices, brass and textiles in Islamic Cairo.

  Tip Agree prices before buying; evenings are liveliest.

  ShopIslamic Cairo$$2 hrEvening
• Photo: Ali Mohammed · Google

  Al-Muizz Street

  Pedestrian street lined with Fatimid and Mamluk mosques, madrasas and minarets.

  SeeIslamic CairoFree1.5 hrLate afternoon
• Photo: Ahmed Al.Badawy from Cairo, Egypt · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Cairo Citadel

  Saladin's fortress, home to the Muhammad Ali Mosque and city-wide views.

  SeeCitadel$$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Abdo Qandeel · Google

  Abou Tarek

  Downtown koshary specialist serving Egypt's lentil, rice and pasta dish since 1950.

  EatDowntown$30 minLunch
• Photo: AERA SONG (Aerabot) · Google

  Zooba

  Modern Egyptian street food: taameya, hawawshi and fiteer with fresh juices.

  EatZamalek$45 minLunch
• Photo: Abu Turki · Google

  El Fishawy Café

  Mirror-lined café in Khan el-Khalili serving mint tea and Turkish coffee since 1797.

  DrinkIslamic Cairo$45 minEvening

Destination 02

Luxor

10 places

Ancient Thebes, with temples on the east bank and royal tombs on the west. Stay 3 nights.

• Photo: René Zelaya · Google

  Karnak Temple

  Vast temple complex of Amun with the 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall.

  Tip Go at 6 am opening for soft light and few groups.

  SeeEast Bank$$3 hrEarly morning
• Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Luxor Temple

  Riverside temple linked to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes, lit up after dark.

  Tip Visit at night.

  SeeEast Bank$$1.5 hrEvening
• Photo: Fotograf/Photographer: Peter J. Bubenik (1995) · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Valley of the Kings

  Royal tombs cut into the desert hills, with painted corridors; extra tickets for Tutankhamun and Seti I.

  Tip Standard ticket covers three tombs; no photos without a permit.

  SeeWest Bank$$$3 hrEarly morning
• Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Temple of Hatshepsut

  Terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's female pharaoh beneath the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.

  SeeWest Bank$$75 minMorning
• Photo: HODHOD SOLIMAN HOT Air Balloon Rides Luxor Egypt · Google

  Hot-air balloon over the West Bank

  Sunrise flights over temples, fields and the Nile.

  Tip Choose an operator with a solid safety record; pickups are around 4:30 am.

  DoWest Bank$$$3 hrSunrise
• Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Medinet Habu

  Ramesses III's temple with deep, colorful reliefs and few crowds.

  SeeWest Bank$$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Luxor Museum

  Compact, well-lit museum of Theban statues and finds from Tutankhamun's tomb.

  SeeEast Bank$$75 minEvening
• Photo: Souradeep Dasgupta · Google

  Sofra Restaurant & Café

  Egyptian home cooking in an old house, with a rooftop terrace.

  Tip Try the stuffed pigeon or duck.

  EatEast Bank$$75 minDinner
• Photo: Winter Palace Luxor · Google

  1886 Restaurant at Winter Palace

  Formal French dining in the 19th-century Winter Palace hotel.

  Tip Jacket expected for men.

  EatEast Bank$$$$2 hrDinner
• Photo: Winter Palace Luxor · Google

  Winter Palace terrace

  Colonial-era terrace bar overlooking the Nile and West Bank hills.

  Tip Come for sunset.

  DrinkEast Bank$$$60 minSunset

Destination 03

Aswan

10 places

Nile cataract town of granite islands, Nubian villages and island temples. Stay 2–3 nights.

• Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Philae Temple

  Temple of Isis rebuilt on Agilkia Island, reached by motorboat.

  Tip Stay for the evening sound and light show.

  See$$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Nagh Hesen · Google

  Felucca sail around Elephantine Island

  Traditional sailboat trip past granite boulders, Kitchener's Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum.

  Tip Agree the price and duration before boarding.

  DoCorniche$1.5 hrSunset
• Photo: Ewa · Google

  Aswan Botanical Garden

  Kitchener's Island garden of tropical trees and palms in the middle of the Nile.

  Outdoors$60 minAfternoon
• Photo: Nubian Eco Village · Google

  Nubian Village of Gharb Soheil

  Painted Nubian houses on the West Bank reached by boat, with home cafés and crafts.

  DoWest Bank$2.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Unfinished Obelisk

  Abandoned 42 m obelisk still lying in its granite quarry.

  See$45 minMorning
• Photo: Marc Ryckaert · CC BY 3.0

  Nubian Museum

  Museum of Nubian history and the temples saved from Lake Nasser.

  See$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Olaf Tausch · CC BY 3.0

  Kom Ombo Temple

  Riverside double temple to Sobek and Horus, with a small museum of mummified crocodiles.

  Tip Most Nile cruises stop here at dusk.

  See$$1.5 hrLate afternoon
• Photo: Andrej Sepcic · Google

  El Dokka

  Island restaurant serving Nubian dishes, reached by its own free boat.

  Eat$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: Diana Parrao · Google

  El Masry Restaurant

  Local grill house for kofta, kebab and pigeon.

  Eat$60 minDinner
• Photo: Old Cataract, Aswan · Google

  Old Cataract Terrace

  Afternoon tea on the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract terrace, where Agatha Christie stayed.

  Tip Reserve and dress smart; there is a minimum spend.

  Drink$$$$1.5 hrSunset