Although Egypt is mainly famous for its ancient civilization of pharaohs and their pyramids and tombs, other factors make the country unique and memorable. In this post, we’ll cover the country’s famous monuments, as well as other exciting elements that Egypt is known for.
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When most people think about Egypt, their mind goes straight to the pyramids, King Tut, or Sphynxes. While these are excellent sights to see, they’re not the only ones worth visiting.
If you want to have the best time possible on your trip to Egypt, you’ll want to make sure you see and try everything the country has to offer. This includes much more than seeing the Pyramids of Giza and riding around camels.
Whether you are visiting Egypt to see all of the incredible archeological sites left behind by the ancient Egyptians or you want to discover what else there is, I’ve got you covered. Here is a list of everything Egypt is known for so you can have an even better experience if you someday visit!
Archaeological Sites: Pyramids, Tombs, Temples, Etc
Near & Around Cairo
1 The Great Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx
The number one thing Egypt is known for is undoubtedly The Pyramids of Giza and The Great Sphinx. This is the main tourist attraction in the country and why so many people flock to Egypt. This site also holds the title of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World.
Although you can’t visit Egypt without visiting Giza, there are over 100 pyramids in the country. Some are more impressive and in better condition than the three in Giza – like the next ones on this list.
2 Saqqara Necropolis
Saqqara is located just south of Giza and the main attraction is the Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid. This pyramid is the oldest known one in all of Egypt and it’s in pretty great condition as well.
This site is much less frequented by tourists which means you get a better overall experience with fewer crowds and a more impressive pyramid.
3 Memphis Necropolis
Located just next door to Saqqara is Memphis. Here lies the largest statue of Ramesses II as well as a sphinx in great condition – all while surrounded by palm trees. Memphis was the original capital of Ancient Egypt.
When I visited this site in early 2022 around 11 am, my family and I were the only ones there. This is definitely a must-see if you have the time!
4 Cairo Tower
Cairo Tower is a stand-alone mosaic tower offering amazing panoramic views of the city. The tower was once the tallest building in all of Egypt measuring 613 ft (187 m). This is a great place to get a view of the entire city and you can even get a view of the Pyramids of Giza far off in the distance if it’s a clear day.
Near & Around Alexandria
5 Library of Alexandria
The Library of Alexandria was one of the most significant libraries of the ancient world and one of the most devasting losses. It was said that the library was essential for storing and translating documents. It was burned down by accident by Julius Caesar over 2,000 years ago and with it, all the knowledge and scrolls were destroyed.
6 Bibliotheca Alexandrina
As a commemoration to the lost Library of Alexandria, is the new modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina built in 2002. It’s just as large and located in a similar place off on the Mediterranean Sea.
7 Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria no longer exists due to several earthquakes that left it in ruins. It is however important to note because it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. During its time it was also the second tallest building after the Pyramids of Giza standing at 330 ft (100 m) tall.
8 Citadel of Qaitbay
One of the main attractions in Alexandria is the Qaitbay Castle. It’s a 15th-century fortress located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was originally built to defend the city from the Crusaders. It was a great defensive fort with an even better location which is why it was kept safe and unharmed throughout all of these years.
Near & Around Luxor
9 Luxor Temple
Located about 8 hours south of Cairo is the beautiful, quiet town of Luxor. The town is divided into two sections – The West Bank and The East Bank. The East Bank is where the town exists and the locals reside.
Also on this side, in the middle of the town is Luxor Temple. It’s best to visit this site during sunset for incredible views of the sky but early morning if you want to avoid the crowds. Two large statues of Ramesses II stand right outside the entrance. The further you walk in, you’ll begin to see these gorgeous towering columns.
10 Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple is also located on the East Bank of Luxor just further up passed the Luxor Temple. The two temples are quite similar however, the Karnak Temple is a much larger site. This one may be a bit more impressive due to its size.
11 The Sphynx Avenue
The avenue that connects the two – The Sphynx Avenue! You can actually walk down this pathway lined with sphinxes from one temple to the other. They’re rather small and not all complete, but it’s still amazing to see so many of them lined up.
12 Valley of the Kings
This is probably one of the most important and must-see sites in all of Egypt – especially if you’re fascinated by ancient Egyptian history. The Valley of the Kings is where all of the royal pharaohs were buried thousands of years ago. This archeological site and many others are located on the West Bank of Luxor.
Here you can visit King Tut’s tomb, although it’s empty of any of his treasures, and the tomb of Ramesses V & VI. These specific tombs cost extra and are not included in the original entry ticket but they are so worth it to see. Especially Ramesses V & VI – it’s a huge tomb and remarkable to walk inside of it.
13 Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Another popular site on the West Bank of Luxor is Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple. As you can tell from the photo, this is one that gets crowded fast. This is a large and beautiful temple nestled into the side of the mountain. You can walk up and around all the different terraces.
14 Aswan
Aswan is a small town nestled along The Nile River about three hours south of Luxor. It’s a quaint and charming town known for its Philae Temple located on a small island. There is also a colorful Nubian Village as well as a heavy Nubian culture still present today.
15 Abu Simbel Temple
Abu Simbel is a small village with one of the most impressive temples in all of Egypt. It’s a quick day trip from Aswan to see this magnificent site. It also has quite an interesting history.
In the 1960s, they had to cut the entire site into large blocks, dismantle it, and then carefully reassemble it at a new location because of rising water levels. Had it stayed in its original location, it would have been covered by water and damaged.
Museums
16 & 17 The Egyptian Museum & Grand Egyptian
Museum (GEM)
When I visited Egypt in early 2022, the GEM had not been open to the public yet. I believe they’ve had a soft opening since then; however, what they have on display here versus the original Egyptian Museum is unclear. So in order to get the best experience, it’s recommended you visit both.
The GEM is located right next to the Pyramids of Giza and is quite a large museum. I believe their goal is to move all of the ancient artifacts into this building one day but this is not the case yet.
When I visited the country, King Tut’s exhibit was housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Although there are a lot of extraordinary artifacts here including some of the largest statues in the country, the main reason people visit is to see all of King Tut’s thrilling treasures.
These treasures are immaculate and are some of the most valuable treasures found from ancient Egyptian times. They are also in some of the best conditions than others. They do not allow any photos inside the exhibit so you’ll just have to see them for yourself!
18 The Mummification Museum
Mummification is also a main thing that Egypt is known for and the process of how they mummified a corpse is super interesting! You probably remember learning all about how they would remove the brain through the nostril when you were in school. Well, now you can see it all come together in this museum.
The Mummification Museum is located on the East Bank of Luxor. Ancient Egyptians not only mummified humans but cats, fish, and crocodiles – some of these are even on display in this museum as well as some of the tools they used for mummification.
19 The Luxor Museum
The Luxor Museum is known to be more organized and less cluttered than the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Plus it holds some artifacts that were originally found in the Temple of Luxor as well as some treasures from King Tut’s tomb. This is a great museum to visit if you have the extra time in Luxor.
20 Sharm El-Sheikh
This is a resort town in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It’s located right along the coast of the Red Sea making it a great vacation destination for locals and tourists. Besides snorkeling in the Red Sea, the main attraction to see is Mustafa Mosque.
Shopping Markets
21 Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Khan El-Khalili is a famous street market in Cairo also known as a souk. Here you can get lost for hours walking around and admiring all of the beautiful pieces for sale. You can find anything from clothing and jewelry to spices and souvenirs.
If you plan on buying anything from this market be sure to haggle on the price. It’s not only expected but customary to bargain with shop owners. However, if you’re just window shopping be sure not to touch anything or linger too long because Egyptians are known to be aggressive salespeople.
22 El-Souk
Similar to Khan El-Khalili market, El-Souk is the bazaar in Luxor. It’s much smaller but you can still find similar items such as papyrus paintings, handmade carpets, and ornate decorations such as lamps and mirrors.
Well Known People
23 King Tutankhamun
King Tutankhamun, known as King Tut, is one of the most famous pharaohs from ancient Egypt, despite only being a child while he ruled. King Tut’s tomb was found just over 100 years ago in 1922 by Howard Carter. This was one of the most important findings to date because the tomb was intact and held hundreds of treasures that are now on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
You can even visit his tomb yourself in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Although it’s not as impressive without its treasures, it’s still a beautifully painted tomb on the inside.
24 Ramesses II
Another important pharaoh associated with Egypt is Ramesses II. He was the third ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty. It’s hard to miss him since there are literally hundreds of statues of him displayed all throughout Egypt. It is said he was quite a narcissist and wanted people to remember him by his statues.
25 Cleopatra
Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt for 21 years before she died of an apparent suicide from the poisonous bite of an Egyptian serpent. Cleopatra was known to be young and beautiful but also intelligent and talented. She also was known for her role and influence in Roman politics. It was even said she has a relationship with Julius Caesar.
Cleopatra’s Palace was once located in Alexandria but was destroyed in the same earthquake that took down the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Her palace was underwater but some ancient artifacts belonging to her and from the palace were found in 1998.
Egyptian Foods
26 Koshary: Egyptian Delicacy
An unusual but tasty meal – Koshary or Koshari – is the national dish of Egypt. It’s an odd combination of rice, noodles, and lentils topped with a spicy Middle Eastern tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fried onions. It’s definitely one of the funkiest concoctions I’ve tried but the flavors pair quite well with each other and make for a delicious meal.
27 Egyptian Deserts
One thing you may not know about Egpyt is they have plenty of different types of desserts. You can easily stumble into a bakery and grab a few different ones to try. Konafa is a dessert made with fine threads of dough, mixed with sugar and butter and often served with nuts.
Basbousa is a semolina cake made with sugar syrup and topped with nuts. Baklava is another popular Mediterranean dessert you’ve likely heard of. It’s made in a similar way as Konafa but with a flaky phyllo pastry instead.
Miscellaneous
28 White Desert National Park
The White Desert National Park in Egypt is one that often gets overlooked as it’s in the western part of the country. This tranquil desert is also known as Désert Blanc to Egyptians. This white desert is filled with unique rock formations created by sandstorms. There are many options for tours and excursions here including desert camping.
29 The Nile River
The Nile River flourishes throughout all of Egypt and sustained life during the ancient times. It’s the longest river in Africa and it flows from south to north. This is why the southern part of the country is known as Upper Egypt and the northern part is known as Lower Egypt – kind of backwards!
Local slow boat tours are a great way to traditionally experience the Nile. However, there are also options for Nile cruises. This is a more luxurious way to travel through Egypt as you eat good food and have local entertainment all while stopping at main cities along the river.
30 The Red Sea
The Red Sea borders Egypt on its eastern side and surrounds the Sinai Peninsula. It’s a popular vacation destination for locals and tourists alike. It’s a great place to go snorkeling and see some corals as well as colorful fish. The resort town of Sharm Al-Sheik is located along the Red Sea.
31 Papyrus
Many people may also think about papyrus when they think about what Egypt is known for. Papyrus is a material made by the ancient Egyptians that was used most famously as paper but also as cloth, sails, and mats. Today in Egypt, you will find plenty of papyrus in most souks for sale with elegant Egyptian paintings or hieroglyphics on them – a perfect souvenir to take home!
32 Mummies/Mummification
Egypt is also known for its very successful process of embalming dead bodies – mummification. They would first remove all of the organs (except the heart) using special tools then they would wrap the body in linen. Once the mummy was ready for burial, they would be sure to bury any valuables and belongings with them to take into the afterlife as well.
33 & 34 Hieroglyphs & Cartouches
Hieroglyphics were symbols used as a form of writing by the ancient Egyptians. They can still be found and seen on temple walls such as the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. Hieroglyphs were also commonly written in tombs, papyrus paper, and cartouches.
In ancient Egyptian times, a cartouche was an oval pendant-like necklace with a name written in hieroglyphs in the middle. The oval around the name was meant to protect the wearer from evil spirits in their current life as well as the afterlife. Cartouches were mainly worn by pharaohs.
Cartouches can still be seen today all over temples in Egypt as well as in markets sold as souvenirs.
35 Handmade Weaving
In ancient Egyptian times, as well as today, handmade weaving was a popular way to make carpets and rugs. If you take a tour in Egypt, it’s likely they will take you by a weaving factory where Egyptians use a loom to handmake these carpets. It’s a long and tedious process that requires patience and skill.
That concludes this list of famous things Egypt is known for! While some of these may have been popular sites and attractions, and others may have been things you remember being taught in school, hopefully, some of them were new and surprising to you. Egypt is filled with a ton of historical importance and culture which is what still makes it a popular tourist destination even today.
For more Egypt information, you may also like:
- Fantastic 17-Day Itinerary For Remarkable Egypt And Jordan Trip
- Main Cities in Egypt Map: 6 Astonishing Places to Visit
- How To Easily Visit Luxor: West Bank vs East Bank
