List of 24 famous landmarks in Egypt
Famous landmarks in Egypt, the land of the pharaohs and one of the greatest civilizations in the world, with the oldest temples, hieroglyphics, mummies, and pyramids.
If you are planning a trip to Egypt do-it-yourself, get ready: Egypt really has everything you could possibly want: it is full of iconic monuments and extraordinary landscapes, It has a rich history, a strong culture, and civilization, with beautiful beaches, and an exciting nightlife.
- Landmarks in Cairo
- Landmarks in Alexandria
- Landmarks in Luxor
- Landmarks in Aswan
- Sharm El-Sheikh
- Hurghada Red Sea
Here are the best landmarks in Cairo:
1- The Great Pyramids of Giza
Although it is almost always understood that the Pyramids of Giza are part of Cairo, this is not true.
Even if the distinction is subtle (Giza and Cairo are practically a single city, separated only by the Nile River) you should decide to include them among the things to see in Cairo.
The pyramids of Giza are an unmissable attraction. Right on the edge of the city, these 4th dynasty funerary temples have thrilled travelers for centuries and continue to be one of the country’s main highlights. Despite the heat, dust and tourist bustle, they cannot be missed.
The Pyramid of Cheops (also called the Great Pyramid or Pyramid of Khufu) is the largest pyramid and can also be visited inside even if in the end there is nothing but narrow passages and the mortuary with an empty sarcophagus: not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia.
Directly behind the Great Pyramid, you can visit the Solar Boat (Khufu ship), It was constructed around 1985 and is dedicated to displaying the reconstructed.
Further south on the Giza plateau is The Pyramid of Khafre, and the smaller the pyramid of Menkaure. Protecting these mortuary temples is one of the iconic monuments of the ancient world: the Great Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of the pharaoh.
If you wish you can also see the sound and light show at the pyramids! [ Read more about the Pyramids of Giza ]
2 – Enjoy the view of Cairo from The Citadel
The Citadel of Cairo is a complex built within high walls on a hill overlooking the Cairo city.
Built by Saladin during the 12th century, to protect it from the attacks of the Crusaders, it is worth visiting mainly for two reasons:
the first is that there are no cars and therefore it is a place of absolute peace from the traffic of Cairo,
the second is that you have a magnificent view of the city make you explore the soul of Islamic Cairo and the heart of the Islamic Egyptian history
There are several points of interest located within the Citadel walls, including three mosques, the Egyptian Military Museum with an exhibition of combat aircraft outside, the Police Museum and the Al-Gawhara Palace.
The Citadel’s greatest point of interest is certainly the Muhammad Ali Mosque with its twin minarets, the elegant alabaster-covered courtyard and the interior illuminated by light bulbs suspended from the ceiling. [ Discover the Citadel Saladin ]
3 – The Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum is located right next to Tahrir Square, contains the impressive treasures of Egypt be impressed by the sheer majesty of the exhibits
The Egyptian museum was founded in 1857 by the French Egyptologist Auguste Ferdinand Mariette
From 2021 part of the collection is being transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The new museum will be completed in 2021.
Surely the central hall on the ground floor leaves one speechless at the impressive statues and sarcophagi, but if you don’t have a lot of time, I suggest you flee immediately to the second floor to see the Galleries of Tutankhamen, Pharaoh who died at the age of 18.
The treasures on display here were all found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, the only tomb found entirely intact and the massive royal Egyptian mummies hall. [ Rade more about the Egyptian Museum ]
4 – Khan el Khalili bazaar
No visit to Cairo is Complete without a stop at the Khan El-Khalili
During the Ottoman period, it was known as the Turkish bazaar and since then has always attracted merchants from various parts of the world: Persians, Jews, Armenians, and Arabs. It is not surprising that today it is the biggest tourist bazaar in Cairo: scented oils, Egyptian finds, souvenirs, jewels, in short, here you can find everything and you can enjoy with the Egyptian life when you visit it
All in all, however, I would say that khan el Khalili bazaar alone represents a real adventure. [ Read a full article about Khan El Khalili Bazar ]
5 – Old Coptic Cairo
One of the oldest inhabited parts of the city is Masr el Qadima (Old Cairo)This small group of winding streets is located within the walls of ancient fortress Babylon
Much of Cairo’s charm comes from its mixture of religions and cultures, and the Coptic Museum bears witness to this.
Founded in 1908, the museum houses Coptic art.
For many Christian travelers, however, the real attraction of this area is the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church Abu Serga, where local legend says that the Virgin Mary, little Jesus, and his family took refuge during the massacre of Herod who Kills the Children
Further in the neighborhood, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which is said to have been built near the spot where little Moses was found in the reeds of the river, is also worth a visit.
Just outside the neighborhood, you can also visit the Amr Ibn al-As Mosque, the first mosque built in Egypt. [ Discover Old Coptic Cairo ]
6 – The Monastery of St. Simon
If you want to find a place in Cairo where tourists don’t go at all, visit St. Simon’s Monastery, also known as “Cave Church”, which is dug into the Mokattam Mountain in southeastern Cairo.
it is very difficult for someone to agree to take you there because the Monastery is located in an area that is known as the City of Dead’s or Zabbaleen because of the large population of garbage holders who live there.
To get to the Monastery, which is very beautiful, you have to pass through this area where the normal inhabitants of Cairo do not like to go.
The Church was founded in 1975. Several other churches were built in the Mokattam caves, of which the Monastery of “St. Simon the Tanner” is the largest, with a capacity of 20,000 seats making it the largest church in the Middle East.
7 – Al-Azhar Park
Al Azhar Park, located in Cairo’s Old City and a short distance from the Citadel, is a 28- feddan oasis of greenery, flowerbeds and water features. The design is inspired by ancient Islamic gardens: the park is a much-needed breath of fresh air in one of the most densely populated cities in the world Cairo.
Azhar Park attracts over 2 million visitors a year and has a wonderful view of the Citadel.
8 – Cairo Tower
The Cairo Tower is high and is the most famous landmark in Cairo city after the Pyramids of Giza about 187 meters, was opened for visitors in 1961 he was designed to be looks like as a flower of the lotus plant, the 360-degree views of the tower are best enjoyed late in the morning it will the view to die for. [ Read more about Cairo tower ]
9 – Memphis and Saqqara Step Pyramid
In just one day from Cairo, you can combine a visit to Memphis and Saqqara Step Pyramid.
Memphis was the capital of ancient Egypt, built in a strategic position to control the communication routes between Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. But it is worth a visit.
The area has been fenced off and turned into a garden. The two highlights of the collection are the colossus of Ramesses II and the alabaster sphinx.
also, you should visit the small but very precious Imhotep Museum where you can see the only small statue depicting the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep! [ Read more about Memphis & Step Pyramid ]
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The best Landmarks in Alexandria
10- Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The Library of Alexandria was founded in the 3rd century B.C. in the city of Alexandria, the Library of Alexandria, for six centuries, was the cultural center of the world, It was in operation for six hundred years and was destroyed definitively between the years 250 and 270.
Explore Alexandria Library for Alexandria and be amazed by its collection of 8-million books. [ want to know more about the Library of Alexandria?! ]
11-Citadel of Qaitbay
At first sight, the fortress, which became Alexandria’s most important landmark, may be mistaken for a castle, did you know that the site was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? Yes, the citadel was built where the Lighthouse of Alexandria was. The historic monument was destroyed in 1375 when the city was struck by an earthquake.
Today the citadel houses a naval museum worth visiting. In addition, it is always busy with tourists and residents enjoying the view of the sea, restaurants, and shops. [ Read more information about the Citadel of Qaitbay ]
12-Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
Discovered in 1900 by an archaeological team, the catacombs of Alexandria are the most imposing Roman funerary complex in Egypt. It is also one of the largest archaeological sites in the city. Built at the end of the 1st century AD, they were used by wealthy families until the 4th century. [ Read more about catacombs of Alexandria ]
Landmarks in Luxor
13- Valley of Kings
The names and formal titles of the kings are inscribed in their tombs along with their images and statues. Beginning with the 18th Dynasty and ending with the 20th, the kings left the Menfi area and built their tombs at Thebes. [ Full article about the Valley of the kings ]
14- Hatshepsut Temple “Dier El Bahari”
A tree-lined avenue of ram-headed Sphinxes leads to the temple and flights of stairs lead from one terrace to another. The porticoes on the lower terraces are of different proportions and colors with the rest of the building. They were restored in 1906 to protect the reliefs depicting the famous transportation of obelisks to Karnak and the birth of Queen Hatshepsut. The reliefs on the south side of the middle terrace show the Queen’s expedition across the Red Sea to Punt, the land of incense. [ Don’t miss this topic about Hatshepsut Temple ]
15- Karnak Temple
However damaged in this temple, there is no place in Egypt more majestic than Karnak. This temple complex is the largest ever built by man and is the work of countless generations of builders. The temple of Karnak actually consists of three main temples, several smaller fenced temples, and other external temples, almost 3 kilometers north of Luxor spread over almost 100 hectares of land. [ Read more about Karnak Temple ]
16- Colossi of Memnon
Are two huge stone statues of Pharaoh AmenhotepIII? Erected over 3400 years ago in the necropolis of Thebes, along the banks of the Nile. [ Raed more about the Colossi of Memnon ]
To visit the Luxor attractions and the archaeological sites around ancient Thebes, don’t miss the best deals for holidays in Egypt.
Famous landmarks in Aswan
17- Temples of Philae
Built during the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Temples of Philae are located on an island in the middle of the Nile.
Dedicated to the deity Isis, the main temple has a troubled history: The temple was located on the island of Philae in Lake Nasser, but in 1971 it was moved by UNESCO to the nearby Agilkia Island after the site was partly flooded by the construction of the Aswan Dam. [ Don’t miss sailing the Nile River with our Egypt Nile cruise ]
18 – Tombs of the Nobles
The tombs of the nobles, located on the opposite bank of the Nile from Aswan, are basically tombs of Egyptian princes dating back to the Old Kingdom, but there are some that also belong to the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom.
19 – Abu Simbel in Egypt
The best thing to do in Aswan is to take a tour to the wonderful temple of Abu Simbel from Aswan.
Built by Ramesses II, Abu Simbel is located about 280 km from Aswan, during this, you will see 2 of the most famous temples in Egypt.
The most famous are the 4 statues that welcome you outside the main temple and inside, other treasures await you!
The wonder only increases when you learn that the temples have been carefully moved from their original location on higher ground after the flooding of Lake Nasser.
Sharm El-Sheikh
20- Boat trip and snorkeling on Tiran Island
One of the most popular activities for visitors is undoubtedly the boat trip to the island of Tiran, where you can snorkel in a real marine paradise.
21 – Excursion to Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery
Built-in the 6th century and dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, the Monastery of St. Catherine, located in the desert valley of Sinai, is the oldest existing Christian monastery.
It stands at the foot of Jabal Mousa, the place where, according to tradition, Moses spoke with God and received the commandments. [ Enjoy our Day Tour to Moses’ Mountain and St. Catherine Monastery ]
22 – Quad Trip to the Sinai Desert ATV
A trip to Sharm El Sheik cannot fail to include a visit to the Sinai Desert, a spectacle of nature set in the Sinai Peninsula between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.
While Mount Sinai and the Monastery of St. Catherine allow you to immerse yourself in a mystical atmosphere, the Sinai Desert allows you to come into direct contact with nature, with its surprising landscapes and its pitfalls.
Every year the Sinai Desert, with its timeless charm, attracts millions of tourists who wish to venture into its expanses of sand. [ Ride Quad Bike in the Sinai Desert ]
Whether you’re here to relax or to observe the colorful marine life, Sharm el-Sheikh is a great choice for a break on your trip to Egypt after exploring the temples and tombs in the rest of Egypt.
23-Hurghada the famous landmarks seaside resorts in Egypt.
The city stretches for tens of kilometers along the Red Sea coast. This is the perfect destination for those who want to enjoy a relaxing holiday, perhaps in one of the many all-inclusive resorts, or for those who want to alternate moments of relaxation on the beach with sports activities and excursions in the surrounding area. it is an excellent base from which to explore some of the most beautiful places in the country.
If you are going to spend a holiday in Hurghada, my advice is to at least take part in a boat trip: you will have the chance to admire the city as it moves away before finding yourself in the midst of the pristine beauty of the Red Sea.
24- Giftun Islands
How insanely beautiful the island of Giftun is! From Hurghada is very close, about 45 minutes by boat.
The best part of Giftun Island is definitely the white Mahmya beach, where there are no resorts as it is a protected area. Along the way, you can spot dolphins everywhere and snorkel with them!
This day trip is perfect thanks to the coral reef, the white and clear sand and the pristine and crystal clear water. 
Among the snorkeling and diving excursions I absolutely recommend this one to Giftun Island, but also a tour to swim with the dolphins (I have swum with them in freedom and I assure you it is an exceptional experience!) [ Book with Cleopatra Egypt Tours the best Hurghada Snorkeling Trip to Giftun Island ]
Now that after you read recommended some of the famous landmarks in Egypt, you just have to choose the ones you prefer and plan your trip in detail.
