What sights are worth visiting in Egypt

Written by: Chase Davidson 

Egypt is an extraordinary place filled with magical temples, ancient artifacts and a very rich history but visiting isn't as straight forward. Sure, you're welcome to hire a guide for your whole trip which would no doubt make it more comfortable but also more expensive. Let's look at some tips to take into consideration for your upcoming trip, as well as what places are a "must-see"!

Please note that these tips and recommendations come solely from my own recent week long experience within the country in June, 2025.

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What sights are worth visiting in Egypt:

This one is straight forward as it's one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World dating back over 4,500 years ago, along with being given honourary status within the publicly voted New 7 Wonders of the World.

Any visit to Egypt surely wouldn't be complete without seeing this marvel with one's own eyes. The Giza pyramid complex makes up a percentage of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Memphis and its Necropolis. Home to the Great Pyramid, the pyramid of Khafre, and the pyramid of Menkaure, along with the Great Sphinx and some small arbitrary structures, it's simply a sight to behold.

Karnak Temple is far and wide the biggest temple in Egypt. This is exceptionally great because you don't necessarily feel crammed all the time and can escape the crowds a bit.

Luxor also has a bunch of other attractions that you'd be able to tie in together with Karnak Temple such as the Valley of the Kings, but standing between the massive columns during the soft evening light makes this one extra special.

Philae Temple is a must visit on this list not only due to it's island based location on the Nile but because it's the site where the latest ancient hieroglyphs were discovered. 

Fun fact: The entirety of this temple complex was carefully moved brick by brick and reconstructed due to the creation of the Aswan Dam and subsequent flooding.

If you're planning to visit Philae Temple on your own, be mindful that the locals who offer the boat services to the island work together to make the most profit possible. Don't let them know you're a solo traveller, otherwise they'll charge you a minimum of 800 Egyptian Pounds ($16usd) and refuse to let you group together with others to split the cost. With that said, reach out to others before visiting to see if they would like to be a "group". 

You shouldn't have to pay more than 100 Egyptian Pounds ($2usd) per person if done right.

Entering the Sinai Peninsula felt like entering a different country. I guess geographically, it was in fact entering a different continent. The Red Sea was perhaps the highlight of my visit due to its crystal clear waters, vibrant marine life and more relaxed day to day life than that on the African continent. Ras Mohammed National Park is a must if you’re looking for water activities such as snorkelling and/or scuba diving!

While this one may not technically be considered an attraction per say, walking the streets of Old Cairo was one of my personal highlights of my trip! Seeing the daily life in all it's glory without the annoying scams and manipulation that tends to come at all the tourist attractions made it so much more genuine.

Be sure to check out the Cairo Tower for a view of the area, or venture through the world famous bazaar, Khan El-Khalili in the late afternoon when temperatures are more ideal. The evening is when the city really comes alive!

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First and foremost - As with many tourist sites, especially in Egypt, be prepared for a constant hustle, scams and at times, aggressive behaviour from locals trying to make money. 

This makes it extremely hard to trust anyone...

This is normal across Egypt for all ages to take part in and thus, be weary of where you go, your belongings and do your research on what prices you should expect. 

Learn some basic Arabic words such as:

Hello (As-salamu alaikum)

Thanks (Shukran)

No (La)

Locals love when you can speak a bit of their language and it can set you apart from other tourists.

Use the application named "InDrive" to navigate around the cities via taxi. It's much like Uber except it's cash based so you don't have to worry as much about scams* from the driver. 

Hopefully these recommendations and tips help you decide where to go when you decide to make that jump to the ancient world! Safe travels!