The 35 Best Destinations in All Egypt – Part 2

Due to the huge success of our Part 1 on the Best Destinations in All of Egypt, and our fans’ request to continue what we are doing, we have decided to create a part 2, inspired by your recommendations along with ours, and maybe in the future we will create a part 3,4,5…you name it!

Egypt has so many hidden & un-hidden gems that need to be revealed to everyone, yet to be explored by locals as well as foreigners.

Art Lovers

Cairo Opera House

Get your prettiest formal outfit ready to attend one of the Cairo Opera House‘s concerts. Whether you’re into ballet, opera singing, or just piano, oud and latin music, be sure that you’ll find the right show.

View from outside by Hossam

Al-Azhar Park in Old Cairo

There is no better way to enjoy a nice view of Cairo other than in Al-Azhar Park. It’s an open park, with a large parking facility, offering great views of Old Cairo, in addition to concerts and performances at their Geneina Theatre.

Al-Azhar Park by apricotdaze

Nature & Stunning Views

Sannur Valley Cave in Beni Suef

These caves have the rarest formations in the world, some of the quarries were discovered and utilized in ancient times, some others were recently discovered. It is a place for those seeking adventures, and nature lovers.

Photo from wikigogo.org

Gabal Elba Protected Area in Marsa Alam

Located in the southeast of the Eastern desert, is a place for those who want to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life as it is located in a very remote area. Elba Protected Area is home to several bird species, and wildlife, needless to say that it has 22 islands of mangroves, coral reefs and a breathtaking marine life.

Video by Gabriel Mikhail 

Ain Khudra Oasis in Nuweibaa

Yes an oasis in the midst of the desert, and a place to relax under the shades of palm trees and get fresh water from natural resources.

Photo from bedouinstar.org

 

El-Max Fishermen Village in Alexandria

A photography heaven, and a place to enjoy a feluca ride, sightseeing or buying from the fishmarket, as well as the best seafood meal ever.

Photo by commons.wikimedia.org

A Felucca Nile River Ride

If you don’t take a felucca in the Nile River then you haven’t experienced Egypt at all. It’s best enjoyed in Aswan, but can also be enjoyed in Cairo specially during sunset.

The Nile River in Aswan by Dennis Jarvis

Stanley Bridge in Alexandria

After El-Montaza Palace, this is the second best place to enjoy a stunning sunset in Alexandria.

Stanley Bridge at night by Mohamed Hakem

El-Medawara Mountain & the Magic Lake in Fayoum

A scenic hiking option in Fayoum oasis overlooking the Magic Lake, and a great place to camp, to enjoy sunrise or sunset and above all for stars marveling.

Gabal El-Medawara by Mashahed’s Photos

The Petrified Forest in Fayoum

It is the largest petrified forest in the world located in the north of Lake Qarun, and home to 40 meters high trees that have survived in ossified form for thousands of years.

Petrified Forest area by vagabondblogger

Rock Climbing in Dahab

How else can you enjoy Sinai’s desert but by climbing its rocky mountains? It’s a famous activity practiced in southern Sinai, it’s not for those who fear heights though :).

Photo from Nomad Safari’s official website

Monuments & Temples

Gayer Anderson Museum (Beit El-Keretleya) in Cairo

Adjacent to Ibn Touloun Mosque in Sayeda Zeinab, built in the 17th century and is an example of a well preserved piece of architecture. It was named after Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson Pasha who resided in this house for several years, and left a vast collection of furniture, carpets, curio, and other objects.

Beit El-Keretleya from inside by yayad

Abdeen Palace in Cairo

Is a historical palace located in Down Town, built by Khedive Ismail and is now open to the public -opening hours from 9am till 2:45pm Saturday through Thursday.

Abdeen Palace’s gate by Zeinab Mohamed

Karnak Temple in Luxor

Situated on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor (known as Thebes in ancient times). It covers a huge area of land, an area that is larger than some ancient cities.

Photo by dorena-wm

Stepped Pyramid of Saqqara

This is the first Egyptian Pyramid that is consisted of six mastabas, was built in the 27th century BC for the burial of the Pharaoh Djoser.

Photo by Ron Kikushi

The City of Dead in Cairo

As sad as it sounds to be, The City of Dead is a 6 Km long dense grid of tomb and mausoleum structures established by Amr Ibn El-3as, which makes it a very ancient cemetery that’s totally worth visiting. Sadly it homes lots of poor and unprivileged people, so maybe it would be a very good time to do some charity.

View from the Northern Cemetery towards mosques of Ibn Tulun and Citadel of Salah El-Din by Charlie Phillips

Makaber El-Alamein (El-Alamein War Cemetry & Memorial)

El-Alamein village is known as one of Egypt’s top summer escapes, 130 km from Alexandria, only very few who know that El-Alamein has witnessed two important battles of World War II, it has a War Museum, Military Cemeteries for Germans, Italians, Greeks, and a Commonwealth War Cemetery with graves and monuments commemorations Australian, Greek, New Zealand, South African, Indian and Canadian forces.

Photo from this website

Hatshepsut Tomb in Luxor

Located at El-Deir El-Bahari near the Valley of the Kings, and one of Luxor’s main landmarks & considered as an incomparable monument of ancient Egypt.

Memorial of Queen Hatshepsut by Cameron Grant

The Coptic Museum

Built at the early 90’s, and home to the largest collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts in the world, nothing more to be said.

View from outside by sharmasm

Beni Hassan Ancient Ruins in Minya

Located 20km south of Minya, the tombs of Beni Hassan are carved into some ‎limestone hills on the East Bank of the Nile. ‎

Beni Hassan tombs by Stefan Geens

Water Activities

Tiran Island in Sharm El-Sheikh

An 80 km² island separating the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aqaba and is part of Ras Muhammad Protected Area. This place is heavenly for snorkeling and diving hub.

 The shipwreck at Tiran Island by Ian Robertson

Catamaran Sailing Cruises in Gouna

If you are not into extreme watersports, yet you enjoy the waters, then you must join a catamaran sailing cruise in Gouna.

Photo from Ocean Diva El-Gouna

Underwater Cleopatra’s Palace in Alexandria

Who would have ever thought that Alexandria has underwater treasures?

Video by Did you know?

Heracleion and Canopus known as the Sunken Cities in Abu Qir Bay – Alexandria

Recently discovered, in 1992 to be exact, two Pharaonic cities were discovered with lots of statues and remainders of a civilzation that once existed. Joint efforts are made between the City of Alexandria, the UNESCO and several NGOs to create an underwater temple for both cities.

 Photo from franckgoddio.org

Ras Banas in the Red Sea

This peninsula is in the Red Sea near the Egyptian-Sudanese borders, home to coral reefs, colorful fish and crystal clear waters, and above all not as touristic.

Ras Banas by Matt Kieffer

Marsa Nayzak in Marsa Alam

Only 14 km south of Marsa Alam lies Marsa Nayzak, which is basically a natural pool that was formed thanks to a meteor hitting planet earth.

Marsa Nayzak by Gigi Ibrahim

Sunken City in Sahl Hasheesh

Pharaohs never fail to surprise us, and the Red Sea as well. Explore the beauty of a replicated Pharaoh city while snorkeling or diving, that originally sank thousands of years ago, rumours has it that the replica was made in the same place where the original Pharaoh city sank, but nothing has been confirmed.

Sunken City in Sahl Hasheesh from www.sahlhasheesh.com

Kitesurfing in Ras Sudr

A couple of hours drive from Cairo and currently the Kite-surfing hub, but this does not mean that you won’t find excellent schools elsewhere, specially in Ein El-Sokhna, Marsa Alam, and Dahab.

Photo by Hiroyuki Takeda

Wake-boarding in Dahab

Now that Water-Skiing is old fashioned, the new trend is Wake-Boarding, the main difference between both is that water skiing requires a ski for each foot, but wake-boarding attaches both feet to the same board. Dahab is the hottest place for watersports, and the sky is the limit.

 Photo by Arturo Donate

Basata Camp in Nuweibaa

The first eco-lodge in Egypt, offering a down to earth experience while enjoying sun bathing and swimming in the Red Sea.

Basata Camp by Llona Saber

Cable Park for Watersports in Gouna

Located in Gouna and among the largest in the world. The idea is that you don’t need to use the wind or to be attached to a boat in order to practice water sports anymore, the newest trend is to be attached to cables & enjoy lots of water activities.

Photo from Sliders El-Gouna’s official Facebook page

Mosques, Churches & Synagogues

Ibn Touloun Mosque in Cairo

Is the largest mosque in Cairo in terms of land area and arguably the oldest that is surviving in its original form. It is a mosque that takes you to another era where the abbasids were ruling Egypt.

Ibn Touloun Mosque by Luc Legay

Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo

It might be the only synagogue in Egypt that is open to the public, with free admission as well. It is believed by locals that the synagogue is located where baby Prophet Moses was found.

Ben Ezra Synagogue by Mohamed El-Dahshan

El-Rifai Mosque

This is one of Egypt’s best mosques, and my personal favorite. Built in the 19th century, named in English as The Royal Mosque -a well deserved name- adjacent to the Cairo Citadel and opposite of the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, all are equally important to be visited.

  Sultan El-Rifai Mosque from inside by yayad

St. Samaan -Simon- the Tanner Church known as Cave Church in Moqattam Hill

Located at 7ay El-Zabaleen (the garbage city), is one of several churches that were built into the caves of Moqattam hill, however St. Samaan’s is the largest with a seating capacity of 20,000, and the largest church in the Middle East.

Photo from Saint Samaan Church’s official website