Things to do in Egypt: best places to visit
Egypt's big sights: the Giza pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and the Citadel in Cairo, Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, and Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca in Alexandria. Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are for the Red Sea; from Sharm you can reach Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery.
Sights in Egypt
50 places in 5 cities
Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque
Cairo, Egypt
1 h 30 min550 EGP, students 275 EGPmosqueshistoryviews
Itineraries across Egypt
City itineraries in Egypt
Egypt travel guide
Before you go: Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea, visa and currency, getting around, weather and sea by month, local rules.
Egypt on your own: the essentials
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — e-visa or visa on arrival
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP); dollars at resorts
- First trip
- Cairo 2–3 days, Luxor 2, then the Red Sea
- When to go
- October–April for sights; spring and autumn for the sea
- Seas
- Red Sea all year, the Mediterranean in summer
- Summer
- Red Sea ≈ 35°, Luxor ≈ 40°
- Nile cruise
- Luxor–Aswan in 3–4 days
- Water
- Drink bottled water only
- Tipping
- Small tips (baksheesh) almost everywhere
- Time zone
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage ListSourcei
Wikipedia, “Great Pyramid of Giza”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Nile”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Egypt”Best places to visit in Egypt
The best places to visit in Egypt on a first trip are Cairo for the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, and the Red Sea — Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh — for reefs and beaches. Alexandria adds the Mediterranean and Greco-Roman history. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Cairo | Pyramids, Grand Museum | 2–3 days |
|---|---|---|
| Luxor | Karnak, Valley of the Kings | 2 days |
| Hurghada | Beaches, islands, near Luxor | 5–10 days |
| Sharm El Sheikh | Reefs, Ras Mohammed, Sinai | 5–10 days |
| Alexandria | Qaitbay, Bibliotheca, catacombs | 1–2 days |
Ready trips across the country are above on this page.
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh is the big Red Sea choice. Hurghada has sandy beaches, a real town and Luxor four hours away; Sharm has reefs right off the hotels, Ras Mohammed and Mount Sinai, and is a little warmer and calmer in winter.
| Beaches | Sand, gentle entry | Reefs, pontoons |
|---|---|---|
| Snorkelling | Islands by boat | From the shore |
| Winter | Windier, ≈ 21–22° | Warmer, ≈ 22–23° |
| History nearby | Luxor ≈ 4 h | Mount Sinai ≈ 3 h |
Egypt visa and currency
Egypt visa rules depend on your passport: many nationalities can buy an e-visa online or a visa on arrival, and visitors staying only in South Sinai may get a free 15-day Sinai stamp. The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP); cards work in hotels and at major sites, cash is king elsewhere.
- ATMs — in cities and resorts; exchange at banks rather than the airport.
- Dollars and euros — accepted by hotels, tours and resort markets.
- Baksheesh — small tips for porters, housekeeping and guides.
- Bargaining — expected at markets; first prices run high.
Getting around Egypt
Domestic flights link Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts in about an hour. Buses and tours run from Hurghada to Luxor and Cairo, trains connect Cairo with Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan, and Nile cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan.
- Flights — Cairo to Hurghada, Sharm, Luxor or Aswan ≈ 1 h.
- Trains — Cairo–Alexandria ≈ 2.5 h; Cairo–Luxor sleeper ≈ 10 h.
- Buses — Hurghada–Luxor ≈ 4 h, Hurghada–Cairo ≈ 5–6 h.
- Nile cruise — Luxor to Aswan in 3–4 days.
Egypt weather by month
The best time to visit Egypt is October to April for the pyramids and temples, when Cairo and Luxor are 19–29 °C. For the Red Sea, autumn and spring are ideal: ≈ 24–32 °C by day and 22–27 °C water. Summer is hot — ≈ 35 °C on the coast and about 40 °C in Luxor. Below is Hurghada.
HurghadaiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 21° | 22° | 24° | 28° | 32° | 34° | 35° | 35° | 33° | 30° | 26° | 22° |
| Night | 11° | 12° | 15° | 18° | 22° | 25° | 26° | 27° | 25° | 22° | 17° | 13° |
| Sea | 23° | 22° | 22° | 24° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 28° | 27° | 25° | 24° |
| Rain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: March–May and October–November
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 11°
- sea ≈ 23°
- rain 0 days
About 21°, sea ≈ 23°, windy. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 23°.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 12°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 0 days
The coolest month. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 0 days
About 24°, warming up. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 18°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 0 days
About 28° — a great time. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 0 days
About 32°, warm sea. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
Hot, ≈ 34°. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
Heat ≈ 35°, dry. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 0 days
Warmest sea ≈ 29°. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
About 33°. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
About 30° — the best month. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 17°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 0 days
About 26°, sea ≈ 25°. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 13°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 0 days
About 22°, fresh evenings. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
Each city has its own weather: Sharm El Sheikh is warmer in winter, Luxor passes 40° in summer, and Alexandria gets winter rain.
Egypt travel tips and rules
Egypt travel tips: normal clothes at resorts and beaches, shoulders and knees covered in cities and mosques. Drink only bottled water and never touch coral or turtles. Don’t photograph military sites or people without asking.
- Mosques — headscarf for women, shoes off at the door.
- Coral — collecting or exporting it is banned and checked at customs.
- Drones — not allowed without a permit.
- Safety — the main tourist areas are generally considered safe; check your government’s travel advice before you go.
Tips
- Reach the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings at opening time — less heat, fewer groups.
- Pack reef shoes for the Red Sea from day one.
- Keep small notes for baksheesh — change is often scarce.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities can get an e-visa online or a visa on arrival; a free Sinai stamp may cover South Sinai only. Check the official rules for your passport.
What are the best places to visit in Egypt?
Cairo and Giza for the pyramids, Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, Aswan and Abu Simbel in the south, and the Red Sea for diving.
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
October to April for sightseeing; for a Red Sea beach holiday, October–November and March–May.
What is the weather like in Egypt in December?
Cairo and Luxor are about 21–24 °C by day; the Red Sea is ≈ 22–23 °C with the sea near 24 °C — cool evenings everywhere.
What currency is used in Egypt?
The Egyptian pound (EGP). Resorts also take US dollars and euros; cards work in hotels and at major sites.
Is Egypt safe for tourists?
The main tourist areas are generally considered safe, with visible tourist police. Check your government’s current travel advice, especially for border regions.
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh — which is better?
Hurghada for sandy beaches and easy trips to Luxor; Sharm for reefs off the hotels, Ras Mohammed and a warmer winter.
Is a Nile cruise worth it?
Yes, for seeing Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Nile banks between Luxor and Aswan without packing and unpacking; most cruises take 3–4 days.
How many days do you need in Egypt?
About 10 days: 2–3 in Cairo, 2 in Luxor, optionally Aswan, and a few days on the Red Sea.
Can you swim in the Red Sea in winter?
Yes — the water stays around 22–24 °C; Sharm El Sheikh is the warmest in winter.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List — sites in Egypt
- Wikipedia, “Egypt”; “Nile”; “Great Pyramid of Giza”; Hurghada climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Egypt e-Visa — official portal