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Egypt Travel Guide
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated August 2026
The gift of the Nile, and the oldest travel destination on earth — the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the tomb-painted valleys and temples of Luxor, a felucca drifting past Aswan, and the coral walls of the Red Sea. From the roar of Cairo to the silence of the desert, this is the Guild's chapter on Egypt.
The Pyramids of Giza, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Where to stay & when to go
Guild guides to the best places to stay in Egypt's headline destinations — and the best time to plan your trip.
Where to Stay in Cairo ›
Best areas and hotels — Giza and the Pyramids, Zamalek island, Garden City and Downtown.
Where to Stay in Luxor ›
The East and West Banks, Nile-view hotels and where to base yourself for the temples and tombs.
Red Sea Resorts ›
Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam — reefs, all-inclusives and winter sun.
Best Time to Visit Egypt ›
Month-by-month weather, crowds and prices — and the cooler-season sweet spots.
Why visit Egypt
No country compresses so much human history into a single trip — 5,000 years of it, still standing beside a living river.
The Pyramids & the ancients
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Saqqara's step pyramid, and the temples of Karnak and Abu Simbel — the wonders that began the whole idea of travel.
The Nile
The river that made Egypt. Glide between Luxor and Aswan by cruise ship or felucca, past palm groves, temples and villages that have farmed the banks for millennia.
The Red Sea
Some of the finest warm-water diving and snorkelling on earth — coral gardens, walls and wrecks off Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Dahab and Marsa Alam.
Bazaars & the desert
The spice-and-lantern lanes of Cairo's Khan el-Khalili, tea in a mudbrick café, and the vast quiet of the Western Desert and the Sinai beyond.
The regions of Egypt
Each region is its own trip. Full Guild city guides are on the way; for now, every city links straight to hotels through our Trip.com partner.
The roaring capital, the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, and the ancient necropolises of Saqqara and Memphis on the desert's edge.
Upper Egypt and the great temples — Karnak and the Valley of the Kings at Luxor, the dam and island temples at Aswan, and Abu Simbel beyond.
Egypt's second city and ancient seat of learning — the corniche, the great new library, and the summer beaches of the north coast.
- Alexandria soon
- El Alamein soon
Sun, reefs and resorts — Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab on the Sinai, Hurghada and Marsa Alam on the mainland coast.
- Sharm el-Sheikh soon
- Hurghada soon
- Dahab soon
How the country divides up
Cairo, Giza & the Pyramids
Almost every trip begins in Cairo, and it should. The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx stand on the city's western edge, the new Grand Egyptian Museum holds Tutankhamun's treasures, and the medieval lanes of Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar hum until late. Just south lie the step pyramid of Saqqara and the ruins of ancient Memphis.
Luxor, Aswan & the Nile
Luxor is the world's greatest open-air museum — Karnak and Luxor temples on the East Bank, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple on the West. Upriver, Aswan is gentler and Nubian, with the island temple of Philae and, further south, the colossi of Abu Simbel. The classic way to link them is a Nile cruise.
Alexandria & the Mediterranean
Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great, curves along the sea with a breezy corniche, the striking modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina echoing the ancient Library, and seafood by the harbour. West along the coast lie the war cemeteries of El Alamein and the turquoise beaches that draw Egyptians north each summer.
The Red Sea & Sinai
The coast runs on sun and coral. Sharm el-Sheikh and laid-back Dahab sit on the Sinai peninsula near the reefs of Ras Mohammed; Hurghada and quieter Marsa Alam face them from the mainland. It's world-class diving and snorkelling, wrapped in all-inclusive resorts, and reliably warm in winter.
Top things to do in Egypt
The experiences worth building a trip around.
The Pyramids & Sphinx
Giza at opening time, before the heat and crowds. Add the step pyramid of Saqqara and the ruins of Memphis on the same desert-edge drive.
Grand Egyptian Museum
The vast new museum by the Pyramids, home to the complete treasures of Tutankhamun — the finest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts on earth.
Cruise the Nile
Three or four nights between Luxor and Aswan, waking each morning to a new temple — Edfu, Kom Ombo — and palm-lined banks drifting past the deck.
Luxor's temples & tombs
Karnak's forest of columns, the Valley of the Kings and Tutankhamun's tomb, and Hatshepsut's terraced temple against the cliffs of the West Bank.
Dive the Red Sea
Coral gardens, walls and wrecks off Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab's Blue Hole and Marsa Alam — warm, clear water and some of the best reefs anywhere.
Abu Simbel
Ramses II's colossal rock temples above Lake Nasser, moved stone by stone to escape the rising dam — most magical at dawn.
Best time to visit & getting there
When to go
October–April is the sweet spot: warm, dry days and cool evenings, ideal for Cairo, the Pyramids and the temples of the south. This is peak season, so book ahead.
June–August is very hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan where it can top 40°C — though the Red Sea resorts stay busy and hotel prices ease.
See our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Egypt for weather, crowds and prices through the year.
Getting there
Cairo International (CAI) is the main long-haul gateway, with direct flights from across Europe, the Gulf, and some from North America.
Resort airports at Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH), plus Luxor (LXR) and Aswan (ASW) for the Nile, make it easy to fly between regions rather than drive the long desert roads.
The currency is the Egyptian pound. Carry cash for markets, taxis and tips; cards work in hotels and larger venues. Most visitors need a visa — confirm the current e-Visa and passport rules with the official Egyptian authority before booking.
Egypt travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
October to April is the sweet spot — warm, dry days and cool evenings, ideal for Cairo, the Pyramids and the temples of Luxor and Aswan. This is peak season, so book ahead. Summer (June to August) is very hot, especially in Upper Egypt where Luxor and Aswan can top 40°C, though the Red Sea resorts stay busy year-round and hotel prices dip. Spring can bring the khamaseen, a hot dusty wind, on occasional days.
What currency is used in Egypt?
The Egyptian pound (EGP, symbol E£). Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops in the cities and resorts, but carry cash for markets, taxis, tips (baksheesh) and smaller towns. ATMs are widespread in cities. US dollars and euros in cash are useful for tipping and are sometimes requested for the visa on arrival.
Do I need a visa to visit Egypt?
Most visitors, including US, UK, Canadian and EU citizens, need a tourist visa. Many nationalities can buy a 30-day visa on arrival at the airport or, more conveniently, apply online in advance through Egypt's official e-Visa portal. Requirements change, so always confirm the current rules with the official Egyptian authority before you travel.
How many days do you need in Egypt?
For a first trip, eight to ten days is ideal: two or three days in Cairo for the Pyramids and the museums, then a three- or four-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, with the option of a few days on the Red Sea to relax at the end. With only a week, pair Cairo with a short Nile cruise and save the beaches for next time.
Is Egypt safe for travellers?
The main tourist areas — Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, the Nile cruise route and the Red Sea resorts — welcome millions of visitors a year and are generally safe, with a visible tourist-police presence. Take normal city precautions against petty theft, and expect firm-but-friendly haggling with touts at the sights. Check your government's current travel advisory, as some border and remote desert regions are best avoided, before you go.
Ready to plan your Egypt trip?
Compare hotels, flights and tours across Egypt — booked through Trip.com.
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