Top 12 Best Attractions in Egypt

The main tourist attractions in Egypt are Pyramids, Sphinx, Al-Azhar Mosque, Ancient Citadel, Greco-Roman Museum, Catba Castle, Montazah Palace, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Royal Tombs Valley and Aswan Dam, among others.

Egypt's tourist destinations can be basically divided into the north, the south and the Red Sea coast according to the region. If time is sufficient, tourists can play from north to south, or from south to north; if time is tight, then you can choose the destination city to visit according to your own needs. The following 12 attractions are recommended tourist attractions in Egypt.

1. Pyramid of Khufu - the symbol of Egypt

The Pyramid of Khufu standing on the Giza Heights is the tomb of Khufu, the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt. It was built around 2690 BC and is the symbol of Egypt. The original height of the pyramid was 146.5 meters. Due to the weathering over the years, the top fell off by 10 meters. It is now 136.5 meters high. The tower is made of 2.3 million stones, each weighing an average of 2,500 kilograms. It is said that it took 100,000 people 20 years to build the pyramid, and its interior passages are exquisitely designed and calculated, which is amazing.

2. The Sphinx - one of the most representative ancient buildings in Egypt

The Sphinx is one of the most representative ancient buildings in Egypt. It is located near the Pyramid of Khufu. It is 22 meters high and 57 meters long. Only one ear of the statue is 2 meters long. Except for the 15-meter-long lion's paw, which is inlaid with large stones, the entire statue is carved on a single boulder. The face of the Sphinx is a reference to the Pharaoh Khafre of the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, implying the spirit of all things-human wisdom. The "lion's body" is a metaphor for the pharaoh's body as strong as the lion, the king of beasts. Therefore, the Sphinx is actually a portrayal of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs.

3. The Step Pyramid - Representative of the Saqqara Pyramid Group

The Step Pyramid is located 30 kilometers south of Cairo and is the most famous of the Saqqara pyramids. The Step Pyramid is the tomb of Djoser, king of the third dynasty of ancient Egypt, built around 2700 BC. It is in the shape of a 6-story stepped tower and is 60 meters high. It is also decorated with a large number of exquisite relief frescoes on its surface, vividly depicting the work and life of the ancient Egyptians. There are also many tombs of nobles and ministers near the Step Pyramid, forming a group of majestic buildings.

4. Mohammad Ali Mosque - "Snow Mosque"

The Mohammad Ali Mosque stands on a hilltop north of Cairo and was built in 1830. The main hall of the mosque, the prayer hall, is square with a towering dome, surrounded by four semicircular halls, and four high columns are located in them. There is a toilet in the middle of the west side of the mosque, which is used by Muslims for worship. The outer wall of the bathroom is inlaid with alabaster tiles, so it has the nickname of "Snowflake Mosque".

5. Pompeii Column - "Column of the Knights"

The Pompeii Column, also known as the "Column of the Knights", is located in Alexandria and was built in AD 297. It was originally built to commemorate Emperor Diocletian, and later became a signpost for navigators. The Pompeii column is a pink granite column with a height of 26.85 meters and a diameter of 2.7 meters in the lower half. It looks unpretentious and simple in style.

6. The Lighthouse of Pharos - "One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World"

The Pharos Lighthouse once stood tall next to the port of Alexandria. It was built in the period of Ptolemy I and is known as "one of the seven wonders of the ancient world". Unfortunately, in 1435, the lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake. According to literature, the lighthouse has 4 floors with 300 rooms and holes. The third floor is where the lamp body is located, a dome is supported by 8 columns, and a brazier is placed for navigation. Now, although the Faros Lighthouse has long since disappeared, people can still vaguely feel the majesty and splendor it once was on its ruins.

7. Colossus of Memnon - "Talking Memnon"

The Colossus of Memnon stands in the field between the west bank of the Nile and the Valley of the Kings. It was built by the order of Amen and Ti III of the New Kingdom era. The colossus was 20 meters high and was so weathered that its face was no longer recognizable. However, the locals always believed that the stone statue was carved by Agamemnon in Greek mythology, so they named it "Memnon Statue". Whenever the wind blows, the stone statues make noises, as if speaking or singing. Therefore, people also call it "Talking Memnon".

8. Karnak Temple – the oldest temple in Thebes

The Karnak Temple is the oldest temple in Thebes. It was built in 1870 BC and was dedicated to the gods of the sun, nature and the moon by the Egyptian pharaohs. After the continuous construction of the pharaohs of the past dynasties, a building complex with a length of 1.5 kilometers and a width of 0.8 kilometers was finally formed. The Karnak Temple is vast, with huge stone pillars erected in the hall. These stone pillars are arranged in 16 rows, each as high as 21 meters and 3.57 meters in diameter, making the temple even more magnificent.

9. Luxor Temple - a temple with wonderful pictures and texts

Not far from the Karnak Temple is the Luxor Temple. Although its scale is not very large, it is equally majestic. The temple includes the tower gate, the Ramses courtyard, the hall and the side hall. There is also a huge colonnade at its north entrance, which contains 14 stone columns nearly 16 meters high. Going further inside is the Great Column Hall of the Luxor Temple, where many wonderful reliefs and inscriptions are engraved on the walls, and the Great Column Hall is also known as the "Wonder of the Art World".

10. Temple of Amun - a magnificent temple in the ruins of Thebes

The Temple of Amun on the ruins of Thebes was built more than 3,000 years ago and has undergone many additions. The temple has ten towering gate towers and three majestic halls. The most spectacular building in the temple is a dense forest-like pillar hall, where 134 towering giant pillars are erected vertically and horizontally. The stone pillars and the walls of the temple are full of vivid and delicate reliefs and brightly colored paintings, recording the stories of gods and people. There are also famous obelisks and statues of many pharaohs and concubines in the temple.

11. Pharaoh Tutankhamun's Tomb - the best preserved pharaoh's tomb

Located in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes, the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun is the best-preserved of the tombs of the Egyptian emperors. Pharaoh Tutankhamun's coffin has 7 layers, the outer 4 layers are wooden, and the inner 3 layers are sarcophagus, hardwood human coffin and golden human coffin. The innermost golden face portrait human-shaped coffin is made of 3 cm thick gold plate, 187.5 cm long and 51.3 cm wide. Inside the coffin is the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and the mummy's face also wears a gold mask.

12. Mausoleum of Hatshepsut - the tomb of the Queen of Egypt

Hatshepsut was Egypt's first queen, and her mausoleum is located on the northernmost cliff of the ancient city of Thebes. The mausoleum is designed with three floors according to the needs of the cliff and valley environment. The center of the step column is connected by a gentle stairway, and the back of the uppermost colonnade is the palace itself, and its inner hall is excavated in the cliff. Like the Luxor Temple, the Queen's Tomb is also built with three rows of huge colonnades, which are majestic.