Top 20 Egypt Bucket List Experiences You Can’t Miss

A trip to Egypt will be the one you will remember for the rest of your life. Not only is it the best country when it comes to Ancient History, but it is also so diverse. From pyramids and mosques, to desert, oasis and the Red Sea, Egypt surely doesn’t lack the things you can do there. In my blog post I am bringing you the top 20 Egypt bucket list experiences you can’t miss.

The things and experiences listed here vary from historical and cultural experiences to nature and adventure, so that no matter your travel style and preferences, you’d be able to find something that you like. To me personally Egypt is the best experienced when you mix historical places with its beautiful nature.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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📖 Read my Ultimate 7 Days in Egypt Itinerary: See the Best of Egypt blog post.

See the Pyramids of Giza

I can bet that when you’re imagining yourself in Egypt, that you see yourself in front of the pyramids. And for a very good reason!

The Pyramids of Giza alongside the Great Sphinx are a UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the most beautiful structures of the Ancient World. What’s even more impressive is that the Great Pyramid of Khufu is the last standing Wonder of the Old World!

To experience the pyramids properly + for the sake of logistics, I recommend taking a day tour to see the pyramids.

✅ My personal favourite is this one that covers the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and the ancient capital Memphis.

Cruise on the Nile River

One of the best ways to experience Egypt is to go on a Nile River Cruise.

A lot of these Nile cruise tours start even from Cairo which is convenient because most likely you will fly to Cairo International Airport.

This sailing experience is so mythical and unique to Egypt and definitely one of the best bucket list experiences to check!

Shop at Khan El-Khalili Bazaar

When you’re in Cairo, you can’t skip Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, the 14th century market and the heartbeat of Cairo!

And then once you’re there, don’t miss the shopping experience and especially the bargaining, which is a cultural thing to do in Egypt.

I got myself a pashmina because I needed it to enter the mosques.

📖 Read My Cairo Itinerary for 2 Days: The Best of Cairo blog post for more.

Explore the Tombs in the Valley of the Kings

The pyramids are impressive, but my favourite ancient sites were in Luxor, old days Thebes, the capital of Upper Egypt.

If you want to admire the hieroglyphs, then Valley of the Kings is the place to do that. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that these tombs are 3000+ years old because in some the colours are so vivid!

I visited Merneptah KV8, Ramses III KV11, Ramses IX KV6 and Tutankhamun KV62 tombs.

✅ Same as with the pyramids, you would need a guide for Luxor. This day tour is my personal recommendation to see the highlights of Luxor, including the Valley of the Kings.

Admire Karnak Temple, World’s 2nd Largest Temple

Karnak Temple is the 2nd largest temple complex in the world, after Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It was built for 1000 years, although most structures were done in the New Kingdom.

My favourite (and probably everyone else’s) part is the The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Precinct of Amun-Re. It consists of 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows! It is the ultimate Instagram place.

Karnak Temple is like an open-air museum, you have to add it to your Egypt bucket list!

Visit the Remote Abu Simbel Temples

If you think if it’s worth going all the way to the south of Egypt, spend most of your day in the car and trains, only to see the two temples, let me quickly answer – yes!

Abu Simbel Temples are so impressive and the remoteness adds up to the experience. The whole complex was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

💡FUN FACT: Both temples were carved out of a sandstone cliff next to the Lake Nasser. But the whole complex was completely moved 65 metres higher and 200 metres back from the river because it was endangered to be flooded upon building the High Aswan Dam in 1970. UNESCO and the Egyptian government sponsored a project to save the site.

✅ Because Abu Simbel is so remote, you will need to book a guided tour to visit, so here are the best options to consider.

Snorkel in the Red Sea

The Red Sea is one of the most beautiful seas in the world. The water is turquoise clear, the beaches are sandy and the underwater world is like you ended up in the Finding Nemo movie.

You have two resort towns to choose from: Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh.

I personally recommend Hurghada (especially if this is your first time in Egypt) because it is closer to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.

✅ Check the best water activities in Hurghada & the best water activities in Sharm El-Sheikh.

📖 Read my 11 Best Resorts in Hurghada: Top Places to Stay blog post.

Do the Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor

There are only so many places in the world with epic hot air balloon rides, and Luxor is one of them.

Imagine watching the sunrise, you are up in the sky and below you are the historical sites of Luxor – this is truly one of the best things you can do in Egypt.

✅ You will find the best options here.

Stay in a Hotel with the Pyramids View

I think this one really speaks for itself, but I cannot even explain the feeling of waking up in the morning and the first thing you see from your room window or the rooftop terrace are the pyramids. And then the last thing you see for the sunset, which is even better.

Which is why you need to book a hotel with the pyramids view.

I have personally stayed at the Great Pyramid Inn which was a perfect value for price. Plus, the views were out of this world because you are literally a 5 minute walk distance from the Giza pyramid complex!

📖 Check my 10 Best Hotels with Pyramids View in Cairo for All Budgets blog post for more.

Hike the Mount Sinai

For those seeking adventure travel, hiking Mount Sinai is one of the best things to do.

Also, if you are Christian or you’re interested in religions, then this is a bucket list place for you because it was here where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.

The hike usually starts at dawn, so you can experience the sunrise at Moses Mountain.

✅ It is not recommended nor advised to do this on your own, especially as the Mount Sinai has had a turbulent past, so definitely book a guided tour for your own safety and security.

Visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, Most Famous Female Pharaoh

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut was built during the reign of pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of the most influential female pharaohs.

Hatshepsut’s reign was a period of great prosperity and general peace and she also did trade expeditions to Punt. However, she had to depict herself as a male pharaoh, so she could rule.

The temple is really impressive, definitely do not miss to see it!

Camp at the White Desert

White Desert in Egypt is quite a unique natural place to visit, not only in Egypt, but in the world.

The reason the White Desert is so famous is because the whole place is a site of large white chalk rock formations, created through erosion by wind and sand. Some parts even have the white sand.

The best way to experience this is to go on a guided tour and even spend a night in the desert. Let’s just say that there’s nothing quite like sleeping under a sky full of stars.

Sightsee Islamic & Coptic Cairo

Most people come to Cairo only to see the pyramids and it is such a big mistake!

Cairo is such an important Islamic city, as well as the Coptic Christian, therefore I recommend checking the most important Islamic and Christian sites (you’d need a full day for that).

✅ If you’re feeling uncomfortable exploring Cairo on your own, I recommend this tour.

📖 Read My Cairo Itinerary for 2 Days: The Best of Cairo blog post for more.

Enjoy the Hot Springs in Siwa Oasis

Siwa Oasis is probably the most unique and remote place in Egypt you can visit. It is only 50 km (31 m) from the border with Libya.

Siwa Oasis is situated between the Qattara Depression (the second lowest point in Africa) and the Great Sand Sea (one of the largest Sahara sand dunes) in the Western Desert.

While there are many great things to do there, the most famous part is the salt lakes. And the best part? You can swim there and have the place for yourself due to remoteness!

✅ This is the best & highest rated 3-day tour from Cairo to Siwa Oasis. You definitely need a guide there because of the remoteness and logistics of the place.

Explore the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

If you want to see the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb alongside the collection of Royal Mummies, then you need to go to the Grand Egyptian Museum that has finally opened on November 1 2025!

✅ The collection of the new museum is amazing and the architecture style is wow! If you’re exploring on your own, get your tickets here.

Visit the Tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens

The most beautiful tomb, not only in the Valley of the Queens but in the whole of Egypt, is QV66 Tomb of Nefertari.

Nefertari was the most beloved wife of Ramses II. He loved her so much that he even built her a temple alongside his in Abu Simbel.

💡Sadly, the tomb is closed for renovation now and it is not known when it will open again, so make sure to double check this info before your visit.

Visit the Pyramid of Djoser, 1st one ever built

A lot of people make one big mistake when they come to Cairo – they only visit the Giza pyramids complex.

But, did you know that the first ever pyramid was not built in Giza, but in Saqqara? Well, the Step Pyramid of Djoser or Zoser is the FIRST PYRAMID EVER TO BE BUILT.

It was built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser. The pyramid is pretty impressive and interesting in design.

✅ I recommend taking this tour which takes you to Saqqara, Memphis & Giza.

Go Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza

This is one of the best Egypt bucket list items and things to do!

Apart from visiting it from the outside, you have to go inside the pyramid too. Just beware that you don’t go down the stairs, but up, so it gets hotter and hotter. It is actually very stuffy inside, so you can’t really enjoy it that much.

Plus, there’s nothing inside really beside the open tomb of Khufu. However, it is great to think that you were inside the Ancient World Wonder, it’s a must experience if you ask me!

💡Please, please, please, respect the site and don’t behave like a stupid tourist! People were getting inside the tomb to lay down in order to take that “funny” photo. I mean, I can’t even describe how awful that is generally, but also, the tomb is 4500 years old which makes it an important archaeological artefact which should be preserved, not destroyed!

Visit Alexandria

A city that was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC is a must visit!

Contrary to other places, Alexandria is full of Ancient Roman sites. There is even a new library built to commemorate the Library of Alexandria which was one of the Seven Old World Wonders.

Also, the current Citadel of Qaitbay is erected on the site of the former Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was also another Old World Wonder.

So, as you can see, Alexandria is full of rich history and culture and a perfect day trip from Cairo!

✅ I recommend this best & highest rated day trip tour to Alexandria.

Visit the Temples in Aswan

And last one but not the least on this Egypt bucket list is the Temples in Aswan.

Aswan is a great base for visiting several temples: Philae, Edfu and Kom Ombo alongside Aswan Dam and Nubian Village.

Philae Temple is gorgeous because it’s on an island. It is dedicated to the goddess of Isis.
Edfu Temple is the 2nd largest in Egypt after Karnak and is dedicated to Horus.
Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple and is dedicated to two gods, Haroeris and Sobek.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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