Egypt is one of those places that lives in your imagination long before you ever arrive. The Pyramids, sailing down the Nile and the bustling streets.  It’s a country that offers a vivid mix of ancient history and present-day life.

I finally made it to Egypt this past December and checked another wonder of the world off my bucket list, the Pyramids. Egypt is a country full of history while keeping a modern feel in the city of Cairo.

Cairo

My trip began in Cairo, a bustling city that never seems to sleep. I stayed in a hotel near the Nile and every morning I’d wake up to the sounds of honking horns and street vendors shouting.  Cairo is busy all the time. Full of people, new things to see and shops open late for convenient shopping.

One of my biggest takeaways from Cairo is the chaos of pedestrians crossing the streets. I have never seen anything like it before. People crossing leisurely in the middle of the streets. No crosswalks and few stop lights. I waited the first few times I needed to be on the other side of the street. The fear was paralyzing me, but soon realizing that I would continue to stand and wait if I didn’t just go for it. It was like a panic attack crossing on my own at first but the more I did it, the more comfortable I became. 

One of the most chaotic places in Cairo is the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. It has something for everyone. You can find absolutely everything there. Just make sure to barter for reasonable prices. Egypt is an affordable country so I don’t mind supporting local businesses but I also don’t want to pay more than what things normally are, so do whatever you’re comfortable with. I felt overwhelmed sometimes with all the people selling things, they can be a little pushy for my taste. This happens everywhere in Egypt, not just Cairo so be prepared. 

The Citadel is one of the most iconic monuments in Islamic Cairo. There are four mosques inside the Citadel. The Mosque of Muhammad Ali being the largest and most notable. Inside the mosque women should respectfully dress conservatively, a head scarf is appreciated but not necessary and no shoes are allowed in the mosques. The Citadel also has four museums inside that you can check out if you wish: The Egyptian Military Museum, the Al-Gawhara Palace Museum, the Carriage Museum and the Police Museum.

The other most notable museum in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum.  It’s located in Tahrir Square and has the world’s oldest collection of Pharaonic art and monuments. Updated information: the new Grand Egyptian Museum is supposed to be opening in 2025 and they are in process of transferring numerous pieces of art. The Grand Egyptian Museum was not open when I was in Cairo. The new museum is located near Giza.

You can also visit Old Cairo, also known as Coptic Cairo. This area is known for ancient churches such as the Hanging Church and the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, which are extremely important to Christians in Egypt and is a pilgrimage destination. In the Old Town there is also the Coptic Museum which houses a collection of Coptic art and artifacts.

Giza

Seeing the Pyramids and the Sphinx is like looking at a photo out of a magazine, it’s massive and surreal.  It’s unbelievable thinking the Pyramids were constructed in 2670-2650 BC and are still standing. I recommend going early in the morning and buying your tickets online to shorten the wait. I went with a guide so I could learn some more in depth history of the periods and it was well worth it. 

If you’re going inside the pyramid, I mean why wouldn’t you, once in a lifetime right? Be aware that it is very, very small.  You have to crouch down to get through so it can be uncomfortable. It gets hot in there too even if it’s cool outside. The traffic is one line each way, so when you are going up, the people on your left are going down at the same time. If you’re claustrophobic or don’t like tight spaces it’s something to think about.

There are many people outside the pyramids offering to take photos, but they are expecting a tip afterwards so I would bring small bills to tip if you want local people to take your pictures next to the pyramids.

Wadi El Rayan

On a day trip from Cairo, I went to Wadi El Rayan in the desert to see the Magic Lake. This was definitely a highlight for me. The sky is pure blue with no clouds (hot in the summer I’m sure, but great in December). You can see Sahara sand for days. I went sandboarding and dune bashing for the first time. I had no idea what dune bashing was at the time. I just signed up and said let’s go! I was put in a SUV and the driver sped up, down and through the sand dunes. It was exhilarating and a little dangerous, but it was an adventure. Throughout the day I was able to see the Magic Lake, did a little hiking up a cliff for some unbelievable views and rode a camel. To end the day we had a picnic dinner near the lake before heading back to Cairo. Best day ever.

Alexandria

Before heading south, I took a two-day trip to up Alexandria, and I’m so glad I did. Just a 2.5 to 3-hour drive from Cairo, this coastal city had a totally different vibe. More relaxed, with beautiful sea views and traces of Greek and Roman influence everywhere. This was another one of my favorite stops along my trip. 

While there you have to stop at the Citadel of Qaitbay, it’s a fortress located on the Mediterranean Sea, built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was built in 1477 AD and is located on the eastern side of the bay. You’ll get great views of the sea on top of the fortress and then you can stop off for a little lunch or dinner at a seafood restaurant next to the harbor. 

The library of Alexandria is a modern library and cultural center. It replaced the previous library in Alexandria. The outside of the building is a tilted circular shape and inside it houses an eleven story library, several museums, planetarium and a school for information science. Hopefully that gives you a picture as to how massive it is.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. The underground burial site dates back to the 2nd century AD. The catacombs are three levels and serve as a burial site and gathering place for the local people. It’s creepy and eerie, as all catacombs are, but it’s full of history and interesting to see.

Luxor

From Cairo, I went to Luxor. In Luxor, I visited Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, called the “city of the dead.” One of the most notable tombs I entered was the tomb of Ramses IV. The carvings and colors are still vibrant thousands of years later. You can choose whichever tombs you want to enter two are included in your ticket, then you can pay to see more tombs.

The valley was used for primary burials from 1539 BC to 1075 BC and contains at least 63 tombs.  There are still unexcavated areas in the valley and some tombs contain multiple bodies so it is unknown how many people are buried in the valley. You can also take an early hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings, weather permitting. It was too windy the morning I attempted to go so I’m saving my hot air balloon ride for Turkey.

In Luxor there are six temples you could visit that are of significant importance to the city. Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Memnon Colossi, Medinet Habu and The Ramesseum. I visited four out of the six and I would recommend the Hatshepsut, Luxor and Karnak Temples. I would skip the Memnon Colossi if I were to go again.

I did a little stop along my way to Aswan and rode in a felucca. A felucca is like a sail boat with no engine or power. It goes zig zag along the Nile catching the wind and the currents for movement. The boat floor is wood lined with mattresses and pillows. On the top of the boat I caught an amazing sunset. They served us dinner on the boat and it was authentic Egyptian food and it was amazing. It was a great half day excursion.