Attractions in Egypt

1. Abu Simbel Temples

• What makes the Abu Simbel Temples special?
  • One of the most popular and impressive sites in Egypt, the Abu Simbel Temples are gigantic rock carvings of some of Egypt’s pharaohs.
• Why were the Abu Simbel Temples built?
  • Originally built to mark the Egyptian border with Nubia, and meant to display the power and strength of Egypt’s rulers to any who might think to threaten it, Abu Simbel was buried by sand and forgotten until 1813, when it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer.
• What can visitors see at the Abu Simbel Temples today?
  • Today, the imposing carvings stand as a facade for visitors to walk past on their way into the temples, and on certain days of the year, they will see the sun beam all the way through these cavern-like spaces, illuminating statues of the gods it was built for.
• Where are the Abu Simbel Temples located?
  • Abu Simbel Temples, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

2. Al-Azhar Park

• What is Al-Azhar Park?
  • Al-Azhar Park is a beautiful oasis located in the center of the city of Cairo.
• What makes Al-Azhar Park special?
  • This green space is full of walking paths and gardens, but it is especially notable for its proximity on all sides to some of the most amazing sites in Egypt, such as the mosques of Darb Al Ahmar, the old Fatimid city, the City of the Dead, and the Ayyubid Citadel.
• What views can visitors experience in Al-Azhar Park?
  • From some of the green hills in Al-Azhar Park, visitors can get a 360-degree view of the city of Cairo.
• What historical remains can be found in Al-Azhar Park?
  • Visitors can find the remains of a 12th-century wall at Al-Azhar Park, which was discovered while the park was being developed and contains some stones covered in hieroglyphics.

3. Badr Museum

• What is the Badr Museum?
  • The Badr Museum, located in the Farafra region of the desert, is dedicated to the arts and works of Egyptian artist Badr Abdel Moghny.
• What kind of art does Badr create?
  • Using natural materials like sand, mud, and stone, Badr creates pieces of art that depict traditional life in a desert oasis.
• What makes the Badr Museum unique?
  • Even the museum itself is a work of art, built of mud bricks by Badr himself. This museum is a great place for visitors to learn about life in an oasis.
• When is the Badr Museum open?
  • The Badr Museum is open daily from 8:30 AM until sunset, and admission is free, although there is a suggested donation for entry.

Badr Museum , Al Farafra, New Valley Governorate, Egypt, Phone: +2-09-27-51-00-91

4. Cairo Citadel

• What is the history of the Cairo Citadel?
  • In the eastern district of Old Cairo lies an ancient citadel that was built in the 12th century as a defense against the Crusaders. For over seven long centuries, this beautiful region of the city was home to the ruling parties of Egypt, including the Ayyubid Dynasty, the Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, and even the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte.
• What can visitors see at the Cairo Citadel?
  • The Cairo Citadel is characterized by three iconic but very different mosques, several beautiful palaces, a handful of museums, and some terraces that afford beautiful views all the way to the Pyramids of Giza on the western border of Cairo.
• Where can I find more visuals of the Cairo Citadel?
  • Check out this Cairo Citadel photo for a closer look at its beauty.

5. Cairo Tower

• Where is Cairo Tower located?
  • Cairo Tower is located in the Zamalek district, where it stretches up into the sky for an impressive 187 meters.
• What is unique about Cairo Tower’s design?
  • This beautiful granite tower was built to resemble a lotus plant, the same plant that the ancient Egyptians used to make papyrus. Due to the pattern on its rounded face, it has obtained the nickname “Nasser’s Pineapple”.
• What can visitors see from Cairo Tower?
  • From the observation deck at the top, or from the windows of one of the two restaurants, visitors to Cairo Tower can obtain some truly breathtaking views of Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Nile River.
• When is the best time to visit Cairo Tower?
  • The tower can get very crowded, as there is only one small elevator, but the best views from Cairo Tower are during late morning or late afternoon, when the sky is clearest.
• Where can I find more information about Cairo Tower?
  • Cairo Tower, Zamalek, Cairo Governorate, Egypt, Phone: +2-02-27-36-51-12

6. Colossi of Memnon

• What are the Colossi of Memnon?
  • Across the Nile River from the city of Luxor are the Colossi of Memnon, two huge statues of stone that represent Pharaoh Amenhotep III, an ancient Egyptian ruler from around 1400 BC.
• What remains of the temple the statues once guarded?
  • They are almost all that remains of the temple they once guarded, which was the largest and most extravagant in all of Egypt at the time.
• Why is one of the Colossi of Memnon damaged?
  • About 2,000 years ago, an earthquake cracked and damaged one of the statues.
• Why is one of the statues called "Memnon"?
  • When dew forms in the cracks and dries in the hot morning sun, the statue emits a strange, melodic sound that caused early visitors from Greece and Rome to name the statue “Memnon” after a legendary hero of the Trojan War.

Colossi of Memnon, Al Bairat, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt Phone: +20-11-48-13-06-16

7. Coptic Museum

• Who are the Copts?
  • The Copts are Egyptian Christians, and Coptic Cairo is an old and historic district of Cairo where they lived and worshipped.
• What is the Coptic Museum?
  • Their culture and history is celebrated in the Coptic Museum, which was built in 1908 and holds the largest collection of Coptic artifacts in the world.
• Where is the Coptic Museum located?
  • The museum, which is located within the walls of the Babylon Fortress, displays sculptures, art, texts, frescoes, and textiles from the many centuries of Coptic history.
• What can visitors learn at the Coptic Museum?
  • Visitors to the Coptic Museum can view these artifacts and learn about the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is a different sect of Christianity that not many people know about.

Coptic Museum, 3 Mari Gerges, Kom Ghorab, Misr Al Qadimah, Cairo Governorate, Egypt, Phone: +2-02-23-62-87-66

8. Egyptian Museum

• What makes the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities special?
  • Any museum worth its salt has an Egyptian wing or exhibit, where visitors can see hieroglyphic texts and ancient mummies, but in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, located in Cairo, visitors can lay their eyes on the world’s largest collection of pharaonic artifacts.
• How extensive is the collection at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities?
  • With over 100 halls filled with exhibits and items dating back to prehistoric eras, this museum covers over 5,000 years of history within its 160,000-item collection.
• What can visitors see at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities?
  • Guests can see royal mummies, statues, some of the legendary Tutankhamun’s treasures, and so much more here, with information offered in both Arabic and English.

Egyptian Museum, 15 Meret Basha, Ismailia, Qasr an Nile, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

9. Gayer-Anderson Museum

• Where is the Gayer-Anderson Museum located?
  • The Gayer-Anderson Museum is located in Cairo next to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
• What makes the Gayer-Anderson Museum unique?
  • The museum, which was once a house, feels different to visitors because everything, from the exhibits to the very walls and ceilings of the place, is a part of history.
• When was the Gayer-Anderson Museum built?
  • The house was originally built in 1632, restored in 1935, and opened as a museum in 1945.
• What can visitors see at the Gayer-Anderson Museum?
  • The house is furnished with historic pieces, and exhibits of art and artifacts adorn its many rooms and halls.
• Has the Gayer-Anderson Museum been featured in films?
  • Keen-eyed fans of James Bond might even recognize the Gayer-Anderson Museum from The Spy Who Loved Me, which filmed several scenes in the museum and in the adjacent mosque.

Gayer-Anderson Museum, Ahmed Ibn Tolon, Tolon, As Sayedah Zeinab, Cairo Governorate, Egypt, Phone: +2-02-23-64-78-22

10. Pyramids of Giza

• What are the Pyramids of Giza?
  • Of all the amazing attractions in Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza are undoubtedly the most famous and iconic.
• Where are the Pyramids of Giza located?
  • Although they can be quite busy with tourists, no trip to Egypt would be complete without seeing this complex of six pyramids, located just west of the city of Cairo.
• What is special about the Great Pyramid of Giza?
  • The largest of them, the Great Pyramid of Giza, is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is remarkably well preserved.
• How can visitors get to the Pyramids of Giza?
  • Getting to the pyramids is as easy as hopping on a bus from the city, and from there it is easy to walk, or ride on a horse or camel, to the iconic structures.
• What can visitors learn at the Pyramids of Giza?
  • With the help of a guide, visitors can learn about the history of the pyramids, and of the many other wonders that lie buried beneath the sands.

Giza Pyramid Complex, Al Haram, Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt