Things to do in Egypt: Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria and the Red Sea

Cairo and Giza

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx	The last surviving wonder of the ancient world, guarded by the Sphinx for thousands of years.	Giza, west of Cairo
The Grand Egyptian Museum	Opened in November 2025, showing the complete Tutankhamun collection for the first time.	Near the Pyramids; online booking only
Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street	Historic souqs and Islamic buildings in the heart of old Cairo.	Al-Hussein

All the places to visit in Cairo →

Luxor and Aswan

Place	Why go	Before you go
The temples of Karnak and Luxor	Towering columns and colossal statues from the age of the pharaohs, at their finest under the evening lights.	East Bank, Luxor
The Valley of the Kings	The pharaohs' tombs cut into the mountain, their carvings and colours still preserved.	West Bank, Luxor
A hot-air balloon at dawn	Float at sunrise over the West Bank's monuments and the green fields of the Nile.	West Bank, Luxor
A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan	A floating hotel that stops at the sights along the way, one of the loveliest ways to see Egypt.	Usually 3 to 4 nights
Abu Simbel	Two temples carved into the rock; at dawn on 22 February and 22 October each year, sunlight reaches deep inside the Great Temple.	South of Aswan, about 3 hours by car
The Nubian village	Colourful houses on the banks of the Nile and warm Nubian hospitality.	Gharb Soheil, Aswan

Alexandria and the north coast

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Citadel of Qaitbay	A historic fortress on the sea, built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria.	At the tip of the Eastern Harbour
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina	A modern cultural landmark on the Corniche that revives the memory of the ancient library, with museums and exhibitions.	Chatby, on the Corniche
Montaza Gardens	Wide gardens on the sea around the historic Montaza Palace, ideal for families.	East Alexandria
New Alamein	White beaches, turquoise water and modern towers on the Mediterranean, a much-loved summer destination.	West of Alexandria, on the coast

The Red Sea

A bay of turquoise water in Sharm El Sheikh

Place	Why go	Before you go
Ras Mohammed National Park	One of the world's finest diving sites, with coral reefs and colourful fish.	South of Sharm El Sheikh
Naama Bay	The heart of Sharm El Sheikh, with its beach, promenade and restaurants.	Sharm El Sheikh
Giftun Island	White sand and clear water on a boat trip from Hurghada.	Off Hurghada
El Gouna	A town of lagoons and canals, with marinas and waterside restaurants.	North of Hurghada

Oases and desert

Place	Why go	Before you go
Wadi El Rayan	Waterfalls between two lakes in the middle of the desert, a lovely outing in winter.	Fayoum, about 2.5 hours from Cairo
Wadi Al-Hitan	Whale fossils millions of years old in the desert, on the World Heritage list.	Fayoum
The White Desert	White rock formations that look like snow, and nights under a sky full of stars.	Near the Farafra oasis
Siwa Oasis	Salt lakes, springs and palm groves, and the old mud-brick Shali fortress.	Western Egypt, near the Libyan border

Tips before you go

The best time for Luxor, Aswan and the oases is October to April; summer is for the north coast and the Red Sea.
Book your Grand Egyptian Museum ticket online before your visit.
If you want to see the sun at Abu Simbel, book early: the site fills up on 22 February and 22 October.

Hotels in Egypt

Flights to Cairo

More places nearby

Things to do in Cairo

Visa

Egypt visa for Saudis: do you need one? Entry rules and stay

Frequently asked questions

What are the top things to do in Egypt?

The Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the temples of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel and Aswan, Alexandria and El Alamein, and the beaches of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada.

When does the sun reach inside the temple at Abu Simbel?

Twice a year: at dawn on 22 February and 22 October.

Do Saudis need a visa for Egypt?

No, Saudi passport holders enter Egypt without a visa.

Planning your trip to Egypt? Read Travel to Egypt from Saudi Arabia.

Last updated: October 2026. The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.