🇪🇬 Egypt — Quick Facts
| 📍 Region | North Africa, on the Mediterranean and Red Sea |
| 💱 Currency | Egyptian Pound (EGP) — about 53 EGP = $1 USD (May 2026) |
| 🗣 Languages | Arabic (Egyptian dialect). English is widely understood in tourist areas. |
| 🌡 Best Time to Visit | October to April (avoid June–August in Luxor and Aswan: 40°C+) |
| ✈ Nearest Airport | Cairo International (CAI). Also Hurghada (HRG), Luxor (LXR), Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) |
| 🚗 Getting Around | Domestic flights, sleeper train, Nile cruise, Uber/Careem in Cairo |
| 💰 Daily Budget | Budget: $30 · Mid-range: $80 · Luxury: $250+ |
I first walked up to the Pyramids of Giza on a hot morning in March, half expecting to feel let down. You see them on screens your whole life. Then the taxi crests the ridge from the Mena House side and the Great Pyramid is just there, casually, like the world has been keeping a secret. After three trips and more than 40 days in the country, my honest take is this: there are more worthwhile things to do in Egypt than you can fit into two weeks, so you have to choose well.
This guide is built around what actually moved me, what I would skip the second time, and what the country looks like in 2026 after the Grand Egyptian Museum finally opened in November 2025. Prices in this article are what I paid or saw posted at the gate, not what a tour brochure quotes you.
A quick note before we get into it. Egypt is going through a tourism boom — official figures put 2026 arrivals on track for over 17 million. The headline sites are busier than they were five years ago. That is the trade-off for things finally being well-organised. Book ahead where I tell you to, and you will have a great trip.
Top 6 Things to Do in Egypt
Six experiences carry the whole trip. If you have only a week, build the itinerary around these and add filler from the rest.
Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx
The Great Pyramid of Khufu was 146.6 m tall when finished around 2560 BC and held the title of world’s tallest structure for 3,800 years. Since 2025 cars are banned inside the plateau and a free shuttle bus loops the site.
3–4 hours · Sunrise
Grand Egyptian Museum
Opened to the public on 4 November 2025 after two decades of construction. The 500,000 m² complex holds over 100,000 artefacts and the complete Tutankhamun collection in one place for the first time since 1922. Plan 3–4 hours minimum.
Half day · Book online
Valley of the Kings, Luxor
65 royal tombs have been catalogued in this dry limestone valley, from Thutmose I to Ramses XI. The standard ticket lets you pick any 3 open tombs. Tutankhamun (KV62) and Seti I (KV17) need separate, pricier tickets but are worth it.
Half day · West Bank
Karnak Temple Complex
Spread over 200 acres (around 100 hectares), this is the largest religious site ever built. The Great Hypostyle Hall has 134 stone columns, some 21 m tall — construction stretched across 1,500 years and 30 pharaohs. The night sound-and-light show is genuinely good.
2–3 hours · East Bank
Abu Simbel Temples
Built by Ramses II around 1264 BC, the four seated colossi out front are 20 m tall. The whole temple was cut into 1,036 blocks and moved 65 m up the cliff in 1968 to escape rising water from the Aswan High Dam. The 280 km drive from Aswan starts around 4 am.
Full day · From Aswan
Nile Cruise: Luxor to Aswan
The Nile runs 6,650 km from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean. The classic tourist stretch is the 250 km between Luxor and Aswan, sailed in 3 or 4 nights with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo temples. A felucca for an hour at sunset in Aswan also counts.
3–4 nights · All-inclusive
Related Guide
→ Things to Do in Cairo: 3-Day City Guide
A deeper look at the capital, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, with the museums, mosques and street food spots that locals send me to.
Best Time for Things to Do in Egypt
Egypt has two real seasons for travellers: bearable and brutal. From late May to September, Luxor and Aswan regularly hit 42–45 °C and outdoor sites become a slow-cook. Cairo is a little cooler but the smog gets worse. Almost everything I recommend in this guide is best between October and April.
Getting Around Egypt for the Things You Want to Do
Egypt is a long country — Cairo to Aswan is 850 km. Distances make domestic flights the sensible choice for most trips. Trains are fine and atmospheric but slow. I have used all four options below on different trips.
Domestic Flights
EgyptAir and Nile Air fly Cairo–Luxor in 75 minutes for $60–100 one-way. Aswan is the same. Book direct on egyptair.com to avoid agent markups of 20–30%.
Sleeper Train
Watania Sleeping Trains run Cairo–Luxor (10 hours) and Cairo–Aswan (13 hours). A double cabin with dinner and breakfast is $120 per person. Book on wataniasleepingtrains.com.
Nile Cruise
3 or 4 nights between Luxor and Aswan combines transport, hotel and meals. Mid-range boats from $100/night. The dahabiya (small sailboat) option is quieter and runs $200–350/night.
Uber, Careem & Taxis
Uber and Careem work in Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada and Sharm. A 30-minute ride costs around 150 EGP ($3). Always use the app. Street taxis still try to skip the meter.
Video: Egypt Travel Guide 2026 — Pyramids, Nile cruise, Red Sea highlights
Budget for Things to Do in Egypt: Real 2026 Costs
The Egyptian Pound has lost roughly half its value against the dollar since 2022, which means your money goes further than it did a few years ago — even though Cairo locals will tell you life there has got much harder. A backpacker can do a fortnight on under $1,000, while a mid-range traveller with a Nile cruise and domestic flights should plan for $80–110 a day all-in.
💰 Daily Budget Breakdown — Egypt 2026
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏨 Accommodation | $12–25/night | $50–90/night | $180+ |
| 🍽️ Food & Drink | $8/day | $20/day | $50+/day |
| 🚗 Transport | $5/day | $15/day | $60/day |
| 🏟️ Activities & Entry | $8/day | $30/day | $80+/day |
| 🛍️ Tips & Misc | $3/day | $10/day | $25/day |
| 📊 DAILY TOTAL | ~$36 | ~$95 | $250+ |
Buy direct on egymonuments.com
The official ticket portal sells the same Pyramids and museum tickets at face value. Agency markups for online booking are typically 200–400 EGP per ticket per person. Cash is no longer accepted at most gates, so cards or e-tickets only.
Eat where the drivers eat
A bowl of koshari at Abou Tarek in Cairo is 60 EGP (about $1.10). The same dish at a tourist restaurant near Khan el-Khalili runs 200–300 EGP. The locals’ version is also better.
Hurghada beats Sharm for value
Same Red Sea, same reefs, roughly 30% cheaper rooms. Hurghada also has cheaper flights from Europe. The trade-off is a slightly less polished resort scene.
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→ The Honest Nile Cruise Guide: Boats, Routes & What to Skip
A no-nonsense breakdown of the 3-night vs 4-night routes, which boats are worth it, and the temples that turn up on every itinerary.
Food: What to Eat While Doing Things in Egypt
Egyptian food is heavier on legumes and bread than the Lebanese or Moroccan cooking it gets lumped in with. The hero dish is koshari, which sounds like a kitchen accident on paper but works. A 60 EGP bowl will keep you going all afternoon.
7-Day Itinerary: Best Things to Do in Egypt
This is the route I use for friends asking for a one-week plan. It covers Cairo, the classic Nile temples and Abu Simbel without rushing. You will be tired by day 7 — that is normal.
Day 1 — Arrival & Old Cairo
Morning: Land at Cairo International (CAI). Pick up an Egyptian eSIM and head to your hotel in Zamalek or Garden City.
Afternoon: Coptic Cairo — the Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary’s, built around the 7th century) and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Entry to the area is free.
Evening: Dinner at Felfela, Hoda Shaarawi 15 — an old-school Cairo place serving full Egyptian set menus for around 350 EGP.
Day 2 — Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum
Morning: Be at the Giza ticket gate at 7 am opening (700 EGP). Take the free shuttle, then walk back via the panoramic viewpoint behind Khufu.
Afternoon: Grand Egyptian Museum (1,700 EGP, book online at gem.gov.eg). The Tutankhamun galleries alone take 90 minutes. The atrium with the 11 m Ramses II colossus is worth the entrance fee on its own.
Evening: Drinks at the rooftop bar of the Marriott Mena House with the pyramids lit up — cocktails around 350 EGP.
Day 3 — Cairo to Luxor
Morning: Khan el-Khalili bazaar (open since 1382). El Fishawy cafe has been brewing mint tea since 1797 — sit, watch.
Afternoon: Fly EgyptAir to Luxor (75 minutes, around $80). Check into your boat or hotel.
Evening: Karnak by night for the sound-and-light show (450 EGP). It is touristy. It is also great.
Day 4 — Luxor West Bank
Morning: Optional hot air balloon at sunrise over the Theban necropolis ($85, book through Sindbad Balloons). Then Valley of the Kings (750 EGP general + 360 EGP for Tutankhamun’s tomb).
Afternoon: Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple (Deir el-Bahari) and the Colossi of Memnon, both within 10 minutes of each other.
Evening: Sailing departure if you are on a Nile cruise. Otherwise, dinner at Sofra in Luxor — their stuffed pigeon is a 2-trip memory.
Day 5 — Edfu & Kom Ombo
Morning: Edfu (Temple of Horus, 450 EGP) — built 237–57 BC, the best-preserved temple in Egypt. A horse-drawn caleche from the dock runs about 200 EGP return.
Afternoon: Sail to Kom Ombo (400 EGP) — the only double temple, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus. The Crocodile Museum next door has 22 mummified crocodiles.
Evening: Arrive Aswan after dark. Watch the boats come in.
Day 6 — Abu Simbel Day Trip
Morning: 4 am departure for the 280 km drive south (now in a normal convoy, not the old armed one). At Abu Simbel (600 EGP), the sun hits Ramses II’s inner sanctum twice a year — 22 February and 22 October — if your dates line up.
Afternoon: Back in Aswan around 4 pm. Philae Temple (500 EGP, includes the short boat ride to the island) at golden hour is the better light.
Evening: Felucca sail around Elephantine Island — about 250 EGP per hour for the whole boat.
Day 7 — Aswan & Fly Home
Morning: Nubian Museum (300 EGP), much smaller than Cairo’s museums and easier on tired feet.
Afternoon: Lunch in a Nubian village on the west bank — expect to pay 200 EGP for a full table.
Evening: Direct flight Aswan–Cairo (90 minutes). Onward connection home.
➕ How to Extend Your Trip
Two extra days? Fly Aswan–Hurghada or Cairo–Marsa Alam for the Red Sea (snorkelling and diving at $35–55 per dive). Five extra days? Skip the Red Sea and head to the Western Desert — the White Desert National Park outside Bahariya covers around 300 km² of chalk formations, best with a one-night 4WD camp from Cairo.
Popular Post
→ Red Sea Snorkelling Guide: Hurghada vs Marsa Alam vs Dahab
A side-by-side of the three main hubs with reef quality, costs and the kind of trip each suits.
Safety & Practical Tips for Things to Do in Egypt
The political headlines and the day-to-day reality are not the same country. Tourist areas are heavily policed and tour buses are escorted on some routes. The biggest annoyance is persistent hassle from touts at major sites, not safety. A firm “la, shukran” (no, thank you) and keep walking is the move.
Safety Level
UK FCDO and US State Department advise against travel to the North Sinai and Western Desert border zones, but the entire tourist trail (Cairo, Nile valley, Red Sea resorts, Sinai resorts including Sharm) is rated normal precautions. Petty scams over pickpocketing.
Health
No vaccines required for most Western travellers. Hep A and typhoid are sensible. Do not drink tap water — 1.5 L bottles are 12 EGP at supermarkets, 25 EGP at hotels. Bring loperamide and rehydration salts; about a third of travellers get a couple of rough days.
Entry Requirements
Most nationalities need a $25 visa, single-entry, 30 days. Easiest option is the official e-Visa portal — apply 7–14 days ahead, around 5–7 day processing. Passport must have 6 months validity and one blank page.
Currency & ATMs
About 53 EGP = $1 USD in May 2026. Cards are now accepted at virtually all monuments (cash phased out in 2025) and most restaurants. ATMs in major cities cap at 5,000 EGP per withdrawal with 50 EGP fees. Carry small notes for tips.
Emergency Numbers
Tourist Police 126, Ambulance 123, Police 122, Fire 180. Save your embassy line before you fly — US embassy in Cairo +20-2-2797-3300, UK +20-2-2791-6000.
Mobile & Internet
4G covers all tourist areas. A Vodafone Egypt tourist SIM with 30 GB is 350 EGP from the airport counter. Or an eSIM from Airalo (10 GB, $14) loaded before you fly. Free hotel Wi-Fi is everywhere but patchy on cruise boats mid-river.
Things to Do in Egypt: Frequently Asked Questions
Have You Been to Egypt?
Found a small temple I missed or a restaurant in Luxor worth a detour? Drop your tip in the comments — this guide gets refreshed twice a year and reader recommendations always make it in. 👇
About This Guide
Written after three trips to Egypt between 2022 and 2026, the most recent in March 2026 covering Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel over 12 days. All prices were verified at site gates or on official portals (egymonuments.com, gem.gov.eg) in May 2026. EGP/USD conversions use 53 EGP = $1, accurate at time of publication.
Official sources used in this guide: Egypt Tourism Authority · Egyptian e-Visa Portal · Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities