The monumental sun temple of Ramses II is the most spectacular of the Nubian antiquities that were relocated to higher ground on the shores of Lake Nasser Dropdown content.
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The descent into the Underworld, the Judgement of Osiris and the rebirth of the pharaoh are vividly depicted on the walls and ceilings of the royal tombs.
Hieroglyphs on the wall in King Tut's Tomb © bleung/Shutterstock
Sold from pushcarts or in sit-down diners, taamiya, kushari, fuul and shawarma are tasty, cheap and nourishing.
Shawarma with chicken on wood table © MOUTASEM PHOTOGRAPHY/Shutterstock
The centuries-old tradition of raqs sharqi (oriental dance) is best seen at clubs frequented by locals, where the dancers and musicians will set your pulse racing.
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Dedicated to the ancient
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Make tracks into the dunes of the Western Desert or the canyons of
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City of a thousand minarets, teeming with life and chock-full of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments. Head for Khan el-Khalili bazaar, or the Citadel.
Detail of a wall, Khan el-Khalili souk © Eric Valenne geostory/Shutterstock
These lateen-sailed boats can be hired for an afternoon lazing on the
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Most towns have a sprinkling of juice bars or carts, where you can quench your thirst with whatever’s in season, from freshly pressed oranges and mangoes to strawberries and sugar cane.
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Beneath the Karmous quarter of
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A tract of weird wind-eroded rock formations in
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Enjoy a magnificent view of the
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One of the most ancient cult-centres in Egypt, Abydos’ mortuary temple of Seti I contains magnificent bas-reliefs, the finest to have survived from the New Kingdom.
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Aswan has been Egypt’s gateway to
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This awesome peak is revered as the site where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
Mount Sinai, Egypt © Anton Kozlovsky/Shutterstock
Home to Tutankhamun’s treasures, monumental statues from the Old Kingdom and the Amarna era, a dozen royal mummies and countless other artefacts, some engagingly humble.
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Less famous than the Giza trio but no less fascinating – and far less crowded. The Bent Pyramid, resting place of Snofru, has a distinctive angled top.
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Egypt’s oldest marine nature park boasts spectacular shark reefs and the wreck of the Dunraven.
Scuba divers entering a shipwreck Dunraven © Anna segeren/Shutterstock
With its fabulous seafood and vintage coffee houses, its dazzling new library and the chance to dive the ruins of Cleopatra’s Palace, there’s plenty to discover in this Mediterranean port city.
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Secluded beneath Mount Sinai, St Catherine’s harbours the burning bush that appeared to Moses in the Bible, among other holy relics.
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The world’s most famous monuments have inspired scholarly and crackpot speculations for centuries.
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Sinai chill-out zone, renowned for its diving, beach cafés, and camel and jeep safaris into the rugged interior.
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With its unique culture, hilltop citadel and spring-fed pools, Siwa is rated by many as the best of Egypt’s oases.
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