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If you're like us, when you visit a new country, you sometimes check out online recommendations of the best places to eat. We’re usually great fans of TripAdvisor and use them pretty regularly, but what gave us pause recently though was when we checked Cairo’s “best” restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Cairo page. No. Just... no. Don’t get us twisted, TripAdvisor is a great resource. But sometimes you just need a local to steer you in the right direction, someone who’s eaten at practically every restaurant this city has to offer. So that's why this list includes places that we locals love going to, whether it's fine dining or street food, overlooking the Nile or the Pyramids or just a random Cairo street - we're sure visitors to Cairo will enjoy these spots just as much as us. (Also: check out the 10 best nightlife spots in Cairo right here .) So without further ado, let’s get started with the best restaurants in Cairo because we’re getting hungry. 1. Khufu's Location: Inside the Pyramids of Giza Plateau Alcohol served:  yes Nile view:  no Vegan & vegetarian options available:  yes If you're looking for incredible food with incredible Pyramid views (and who isn't?), then you're in luck -- both are to be had at Khufu's, serving contemporary elevated Egyptian cuisine. Khufu's is actually inside the Pyramids of Giza plateau , and that comes with an upside and a downside. The upside is that no other restaurant outside the plateau has a view quite like it, but the downside is that you have to buy an entrance ticket to the Pyramids to access the restaurant, and they close at 5 pm daily when the Pyramids of Giza close (unless you pre-book one of the evening spots at the adjacent Khufu's Bistro on their upper level, and they have a different menu). It's also about 10-15 minutes away from the Grand Egyptian Museum . At Khufu's, you can either go for breakfast or lunch, and you have your choice from set menus (including a vegetarian menu), all featuring beloved Egyptian classics but with a contemporary twist. Reservations are needed. For reservations and the menu, you can check out Khufu's website . 2. Le Pacha 1901 Location : Zamalek Dress code: smart casual Alcohol served : yes Nile view: yes Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes We're actually killing several birds in this one listing with Le Pacha 1901, because it’s technically not one, not two, but a handful of great restaurants, all in one Nile-docked boat. Le Pacha offers 6 different restaurants and two bar/lounge/nightspot-ish venues. Our absolute favorites are: Carlo’s, where the menu is a mix of all different cuisines (including local Egyptian favorites) and you can order shisha; L’Asiatique, their pan-Asian restaurant; and Piccolo Mondo, which is Italian overlooking the Nile. Let us be the first to tell you -- their food is good, always . And while that might seem like a given, in Egypt it really is not. Most restaurants fail to deliver consistency (it’s pretty sad when you can tell when there’s a different chef), but Le Pacha’s restaurants deliver Every. Single. Time. The other restaurants they have: Le Steak (French), Maharani (Indian), Le Tarbouche (Egyptian), Le J.Z. (lounge) and Cloud 24 (panoramic lounge). For more info and the menus: Le Pacha's website 3. Abou El Sid Location: Zamalek Dress code: casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Abou El Sid is the must-go-to restaurant if you want classic Egyptian dishes (check out our article 12 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try ) in a super ambient atmosphere (the decor, music, and wall art is enough to make it worth it). They also offer shisha and Egyptian twists on alcoholic cocktails, like vodka with fresh sugarcane juice. Dishes of theirs that are definitely worth trying: the sharqisseya (a chicken dish with walnut sauce), the molokheya, the Egyptian moussaka (an eggplant stew served with rice) and a mix and match of all their various Egyptian mezzes. Drool . Local tip: they also have other branches in the City Stars Mall and Mall of Egypt, but they are not to be compared with the Zamalek branch at all. For more info and the menu: Abou El Sid website . 4. Koshary Abou Tarek Location: Downtown Dress code: casual Alcohol served: no Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: koshary itself is vegan, so a resounding yes This restaurant is by no means fancy, no means ambient, and by no means a romantic dining destination (unless your idea of romance is very very quirky, and in that case, rock on). Koshary Abou Tarek is a brightly-lit, fast-foodish or street food type of restaurant in Downtown, and it’s known for having some of the *best* koshary in town. What is koshary, you may ask? We’d be delighted to tell you. Koshary in one of Egypt’s proud national dishes, comprised of rice, macaroni, lentils, chickpeas and fried onions all topped with a garlicky, vinegary tomato sauce. While it might sound like a clusterf*ck of ingredients, trust us when we say it’s the clusterf*ck you never knew you both needed and wanted in your life. It’s super cheap, it’s fast (try to watch the men who work the koshary line, it’s amazing), it’s 100% vegan, aaaand it’s filling, with the word ‘filling’ underlined seventeen times. Light, it is not. But it’s a great power dish that will carry you right through the day. For more info: Koshary Abou Tarek's IG Read more: 7 Best Places to Try Street Food in Cairo 5. Pier 88 Location: Zamalek Dress code: Smart casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: yes Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Pier 88 started as a restaurant/bar in the seaside town of El Gouna on the Red Sea, and its food and overall vibe became so popular that the owners decided to take the plunge and open up shop in Cairo. Pier 88 sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and during the day it’s one of those quietly sophisticated restaurants, complete with an open kitchen and drinks overlooking the water. At night it gets more of a nightlife feel to it, and reservations are recommended. On weekend nights the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables (we don’t recommend eating when the dancing gets started, because you won’t find much room to wield your knife and fork). For more info, reservations and menu: Pier 88's website Read more: 7 Best Bars, Pubs & Restobars in Zamalek 6. Esca Cueva Location: New Giza Dress code: smart casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes If you're looking for an absolutely stunning restaurant with city views overlooking the wide expanse of Cairo, then Esca Cueva is for you. Perched atop the New Giza plateau, this design award-winning restaurant and bar serves upscale international food and drinks from 4 pm until late. If you're just going to enjoy the view and food, then try to book a dining slot before 10 pm, when a resident DJ takes over and the restaurant turns into more of a nightspot. Reservations needed. For more info: Esca Cueva IG 7. Zooba Location: Zamalek, Maadi, Sheikh Zayed, Madinaty, Grand Egyptian Museum, Heliopolis, New Cairo Dress code: casual Alcohol served: no Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Zooba's an excellent option for all newcomers to Egypt who want a 'light' introduction to Egyptian street food , ie. get a feel for different local fare but without running the risk of actually eating literal street food (aka: bougie street food). Locals love Zooba for being the fancier, more gourmet version of our every day favorites like fuul, taameya and koshary (here's our breakdown of all the local Egyptian foods you need to try ). Zooba has become so popular over the years that not only has it opened a bunch of branches throughout Cairo (including the Grand Egyptian Museum ), it's actually opened in NYC as well as across the Middle East. For more info and menu: Zooba's IG 8. Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant & Cafe Location: Khan el Khalili (Old Cairo) Dress code: casual Alcohol served: no Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes Deep in the famous Khan el Khalili market (head here for our full guide), is a little restaurant & restaurant named after one of Egypt’s most beloved writers. Its official name is Khan el Khalili Restaurant and Naguib Mahfouz Cafe , but locals shorten it to Naguib Mahfouz just to make our lives easier. The restaurant & cafe is a nod to Egypt’s modern history (one has to be specific when referring to Egypt’s history, lest they think we’re talking about pharaohs and pyramids all the time). While you might be hesitant about eating in a restaurant in Khan el Khalili, rest assured that Naguib Mahfouz Cafe is run by Oberoi Hotels, and thus not only has AC but a kitchen you can trust. Their restaurant section serves Egyptian and international classics, and their cafe offers shishas, myriad of fresh juices and desserts. For more info and menu: Naguib Mahfouz Cafe's IG 9. Crimson Location : Zamalek Dress code: smart casual Alcohol served: yes Nile view: yes Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes If you're looking for an unbeatable Nile view from above, a river breeze, a drink and a great meal, look no further than Crimson. Crimson is on the roof of a Zamalek building overlooking the Nile, with both indoor and outdoor terrace seating. The view is spectacular and the food is nothing to sneeze at either. Their menu has a lot of great appetizers, pasta and grill dishes, and their cocktail list is one of Cairo’s more extensive. They also serve breakfast and brunch (they're one of the few restaurants in Cairo that open at 8 am), but their morning fare isn't as good as their evening fare. For more info, reservations and menu: Crimson's website For more of the best rooftop bars in Cairo, head here . 10. 139 Pavilion Location: Next to the Pyramids Alcohol served: yes Nile view: no Vegan & vegetarian options available: yes This open-air restaurant in the iconic Marriott Mena House hotel is a breath of fresh air from the crowds and bustle of Giza. Have breakfast, lunch or dinner fountain-side, surrounded by flowers and greenery and, you know, THE PYRAMIDS. What a view! There’s an a la carte menu, but also the option of an all-you-can-eat buffet. At night you lose some of the Pyramids view because they’re not always lit up, but there’s something peaceful and serene in the darkness. For more info and menu: 139 Pavilion's website Read more: 7 Best Restaurants with Pyramid Views You might also like: Top 10 Things to Do in Cairo, Egypt

Make sure you know what to expect when it comes to visas, customs, landing cards and more before you land in Egypt all in our one handy arrival guide. We'll mainly be discussing arriving in Cairo International Airport, considering that's where most people land (plus it's the most confusing), but we'll put add-on information when needed for the other international Egyptian airports such as Hurghada , Sharm El Sheikh  and Marsa Alam . Visas for Egypt So your flight’s booked, your room is reserved , and all that’s left on your to-do list is to count down the days. Right? Well, maybe. Depends on where you’re from. Egypt, like most other countries in the world, has a stratified visa system. Some visiting nationalities don’t need a visa at all; some buy it upon arrival; some get an e-visa issued; and some have to make a weary trip to the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate and apply for one. So, how do you know which of the above is you? We could go into a lengthy and boring breakdown, or you can just check this map (but please also double-check with your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate in case there’s been any sudden changes): Ok, so now you know which visa group you are. Here are our insider tips for you depending on your visa group: Those who don’t need a visa : feel free to skip this whole visa section of the article, you lucky thing you! Those who plan to apply for an e-visa: whatever you do, please make sure to buy it from the official Egyptian Ministry of Interior’s website and NOT the dozens of other Egyptian e-visa websites that are not affiliated with the government (although they might look pretty snazzy). The price on the Ministry’s website is $25 for a single entry visa (although there'll soon be a price hike to $45), and this is the same price as a visa on arrival. The other non-government pages (usually tour agencies) will charge you more for the visas – this is how they make a buck. They’re basically ripping you off, so make sure you stick to the official site. Don’t pay more than $25 for a single entry visa. Regarding multiple entry visas, you can buy them at the Ministry of Interior’s website as well. They’re not available on arrival. Visa on arrival: Buying a visa upon arriving at Cairo International Airport (or any of Egypt’s other international airports) is both straightforward and kinda not at the same time. Once you disembark the plane, you’ll find yourself approaching passport control without any direct or easily-noticed signage regarding visas, and when you see everyone lining up without a second thought, it might seem to make sense to join the line yourself. You didn’t see any place to get visas, right? Well don’t bother getting in line unless you want to be sent right back to get your visa, after you just spent 20 minutes waiting in line. We’ve witnessed this happen to many a frustrated tourist, so we’re here to help you avoid just that. Where to get your visa: you’ll find little bank kiosks on the side of the passport control area. They’re open 24/7. It’s from here you can buy the visas. They accept cash in dollars, euros and sterling. IMPORTANT: they do NOT accept credit and debit cards. Visa price: $25 Validity: 30 days Passport expiry : your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Once you buy your visa, they’ll either hand it to you or stick it to an empty page on your passport and you’re free to join the line now to pass through passport control. The whole process of buying the visa doesn’t take more than five to ten minutes, and having the exact amount of cash you’ll need (in the right currency) will make things move even faster. Getting the visa issued from the embassy: if you’re one of the unfortunate souls that has to get their visa issued from their nearest embassy or consulate, sorry ‘bout that, but c’est la vie we guess. Think of it this way -- once you get it, you can cruise right off the flight and into passport control without having to worry about buying the visa. Important note for those arriving in Sharm El Sheikh Airport (Sinai Stamp): If you’re flying directly into Sharm El Sheikh (ie., Sharm is your entry point into Egypt) and are a EU, UK or US citizen , and if you're not staying in the Sinai peninsula for more than 15 days, then you don’t need to buy an entry visa at the airport. You can ask for something called a 'Sinai Stamp' for free on your passport -- emphasis on the 'free' part, don't believe anyone at the airport who says they'll get you a stamp for the "low price" of a couple of euro - this is a scam, just ignore them and go straight to an airport official. This Sinai Stamp If you plan to go to Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, or any other Egyptian destination outside of the Sinai peninsula, or plan to stay longer than 15 days, you’ll need to get the visa. It’s $25 upon arrival. Entering Egypt through other Egyptian international airports such as Hurghada or Marsa Alam require visas on arrival. Other Useful Information Landing Cards Usually before landing in Cairo Airport or any other international Egyptian airport, flight attendants will start distributing landing cards. There’s one for Egyptians (in Arabic) and one for non-Egyptians (in English). You fill out pretty standard info -- name, birthday, passport number, address of where you’re staying in Egypt, etc. If you’re a married couple or a family, you only need to fill out one card. Hang on to the card because you’re going to need it to get through passport control, but if for whatever reason you lose or misplace it, don’t freak out -- just ask the flight attendant for a new one or airport personnel in the airport once you reach passport control. Lots of times they have a bunch at counters before the passport lines, and if they don’t, someone will get one for you. Absolutely no need to panic -- Egyptians are both laid-back and helpful. Just hand the passport official the card along with your passport and that’s it. He/she keeps it and you don’t need it to exit Egypt after your trip. Insider recommendations: While you’re at the bank getting your visa, it would be wise to exchange some money into Egyptian pounds. Certain places/services in Cairo use cash solely, so it’s best to always have some on hand (plus Egypt has a huge tip culture, which is given in cash). Bring a pen! Or actually preferably bring more than one pen, and make sure you’re not particularly attached to them because you’ll find numerous fellow travellers asking to borrow one to fill out their landing cards and God knows pens are easy to misplace or forget with someone. Baggage Claim Visa -- check. Landing card -- check. Passport control -- check and check. Last step before you’re a free bird in Egypt is getting your bags and going through customs. The baggage claim area is pretty straightforward, and the baggage trolleys are for free. They’re not set up in a specific spot so just be eagle-eyed and you’ll spot an available one sooner or later. Customs Right before you pass through the doors into sweet, sweet freedom, there’s one more roadblock. Customs. This usually consists of a few haphazard lines leading to baggage x-ray machines. Travelers are asked to place their bags in the x-ray machine. They’re basically looking for the following: goods that are subject to taxes, illegal substances or items (like drones, FYI -- for a full list of unexpected illegal things in Egypt, head here ), large amounts of cash (above the allowed amount, which is $10,000 -- anything more has to be declared) and basically anything fishy. To be on the safe side, make sure when packing you think of the following: Open any new electronics and remove them from their original packaging prior to packing them so it doesn’t look like you’re bringing them in to sell Foreigners are not allowed more than 2 liters of alcohol (basically 2 bottles) when entering the country. You're allowed 1 liter from the Duty-Free at Cairo Airport and 1 liter purchased prior to arriving in Egypt (eg. from your country of origin or from a transit airport) Your clothes shouldn’t have price tags on them -- a lot of people smuggle in clothes purchased abroad and then sell them on the black market in Egypt Any item in bulk amounts will probably have them asking you questions If your bag is as boring as ours usually are, you’ll go through the whole x-ray thing in a minute flat (once you reach the front of the queue, that is). If your bag is flagged on the machine, then expect the officials to go through it briefly, but it shouldn’t take time unless they find something that requires further inspection. Duty-Free Depending on which airport and terminal you arrive in, the Duty-Free is either next to the baggage claim, or past custom control. Alcohol is totally legal in Egypt, and if you want to indulge in hard liquor over your trip, the Duty-Free is the best place to buy it, considering imported liquor is only available at hotels and certain bars/restaurants; the alcohol available for purchase outside the airport is all local and not to everyone’s taste (stick to the local beer & wine). The Duty-Free also has a wide range of candy, perfume, cigarettes and the other mainstream items you'd expect to see, as well as a selection of Egyptian souvenirs and local products. Leaving The Airport You got your passport stamped, your bags collected and your Duty-Free purchases made. FINALLY!!! Off into the city you go! Walking out of the arrivals hall, you’ll suddenly be bombarded with a lot of hopeful touts continually asking “ Taxi? Taxi? ”, on repeat, forever. So it’s good to have your transport method already figured out before your brain cells are overwhelmed in less than a minute of being on Egyptian Arrival Hall soil. If you’re staying at one of the big 5 star hotels , you can pre-arrange with them to send you an airport pick-up for a fee. If not, here are your options for arriving at Cairo International Airport: 1. Airport shuttle services You can book online or go to their desk at the arrivals hall, but it’s preferred to book in advance so you’re guaranteed a waiting car. They have flat fees for different types of cars and different destinations, so you don’t have to worry about bargaining or negotiating. The price is per car, not per person, so it’s ideal if you’re a couple or small group. Airport shuttle prices are here . 2. London Cab Similar to the airport shuttle, you can book this roomy cab online (as the name obviously suggests, they are indeed like the taxis in London). You fill in your pick-up/drop-off info and date and they’ll show you the fare. Another good option if you’re more than one person, but pricey if you’re flying solo. London Cab prices are here . 3. Uber/Careem If you’re arriving solo, it’ll probably be cheaper to hop in an Uber or Careem (the Middle Eastern version of Uber) as opposed to a shuttle bus. Ubers/Careems are available 24/7, so you’ll rarely have to wait more than 10-15 minutes for one to arrive. The one downside of Uber/Careem is that they have to wait in the parking lot and are not allowed to drive up to the arrivals door, so it can be a little tricky to find the car sometimes. A lot of drivers won’t speak much English, so it’s best to always put your exact destination in the app so that they just follow the GPS. 4. Limousines/”taxis” As soon as you step out into the arrivals hall, several men will come up to you and ask “Taxi? Taxi?”. These taxis are not really cabs , but shabby limousines that will take you to your destination for a negotiable price. Whatever price the touts give you, feel free to bargain. You’ll also find a few kiosks for limousines, also feel free to bargain with them. 5. Car rentals Cairo Airport is home to big brand car rentals like Sixt, Avis and Europcar . Their kiosks are 24/7 and located in Terminal 3. It’s recommended that you book online and read through all the fine print so you know exactly what you’ll pay and the insurance and safety deposits that are required. Please note: if you’ve never driven in Cairo before, you might want to think twice before renting a car. The driving is extreeeeemely harrowing and Cairo drivers have vaguely impressive sangfroid when it comes to road rules. Transportation that is not available: train & metro. There are some buses but to very specific destinations. Local recommendation: the airport shuttle and London Cab are probably the most hassle-free, but if you’re on a budget, Uber/Careem is your best bet. If you arrived at Hurghada International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, or Marsa Alam International Airport: You can prearrange with your hotel to pick you up. There are usually taxis waiting outside of the arrival gate but they're usually overpriced, so make sure you negotiate. There will be kiosks for limousines, transfers and tour operators in the arrival halls. You can pre-book a taxi service online from the different operators in each city, for example you can try London Cab, ABC Taxi or 123 Taxis in Hurghada. You can book an airport transfer from the different online travel platforms. Whether you're landing in Cairo or a beach city, in any case prepare to have an unforgettable trip - Welcome to Egypt! You may also like: Where To Go In Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Cities & Destinations

The Sage Experience It’s an exciting time in Cairo not just for the booming restaurant scene , but for catering experiences as well. Long gone are the days of your standard cookie-cutter catered dinners or events, where each caterer was identical to the next and the food and overall experience was fine but forgettable. Not anymore! Some of Cairo’s best caterers are really pulling out the stops when it comes to not just the diversity and taste of their culinary creations, but also the full experience and ambience as well. They realize that the ideal catering experience is not just about what you eat, but what you see and feel as well. We’re a long way from the stale mini-sandwiches, mediocre buffets and bored-looking servers that we associated with catering when we were growing up in Cairo, that’s for sure! Whether you need a caterer for an unforgettable life event like a wedding, or a more high-octane corporate event, or something small and intimate like a dinner at home or even just a date night, these are the seven best caterers that Cairo has to offer.  1. The Sage Experience If you’re looking for the top award-winning catering service in Cairo, look no further than The Sage Experience. They were the 2023 recipient of the ‘Experiential Dining Business’ award by Egypt’s Entrepreneur Awards (EEA), so it’ll come as no surprise that The Sage Experience is not just about top-notch food, but a world-class 360 dining experience as well. Only the very best for your guests! The Sage Experience was first launched by Amr Barghash and Ahmed El Meligy in 2020 as a way to bring that restaurant dining experience we love and missed during quarantine to your home. The food and ambience provided were such a hit that The Sage Experience soon started expanding from seated dinners at home to catered culinary events of all types and sizes – we’re talking everything from important corporate events, private celebrity dinners (hello, Backstreet Boys!), romantic date nights for two, unforgettable dinner parties, 5,000+ attendee events, you name it! And as their name suggests, when you choose The Sage Experience as your caterer, you’re not just getting food – you’re getting a whole experience that will leave you and your guests buzzing for the foreseeable future.  You can check out The Sage Experience’s stunning culinary events here: The Sage Experience Or you can call them directly at: +201156956555 2. The Cookery Co. We love a strong women-led company, and three like-minded Egyptian women banded together in 2016 to establish The Cookery Co., which started off as a simple home catering service for limited numbers but then grew into one of Cairo’s most popular and expansive caterers today.  They not only cater, but offer gorgeous tablescapes and grazing stations that are Instagram moments in and of themselves. We’re talking everything from Garden of Eden themed grazing tables to live Mexican taco stations to exquisite seated dinners. You can work with The Cookery Co.’s team to customize every detail of your event, from the menu to the decor to the lighting and seating. They cater everything from corporate events to weddings to even fondue nights! A quick idea of some of the different international menus they offer (and that you can tweak): buffet, finger food, seated dinners, weddings, coffee break, ‘fork & bowl’, Asian nights and kids’ menu. To see their beautiful setups and menus: The Cookery Co. Or you can call them directly at: 01102106568 - 01144200044 3. Avec Karim If you’re looking for a more avant garde, haute gastronomic experience than your standard catering service, look no further than Avec Karim. From weddings to events at places like The Grand Egyptian Museum  or Paris Fashion Week to lunches at the Pyramids , Avec Karim can pull it off with high flair. If you’re looking for more private dinners, there is also Privé by Avec Karim. Avec Karim catering is headed by Chef Karim Abdel Rahman, an École Ducasse official partner and ambassador who was culinary-trained abroad in Switzerland and France, and even had the opportunity to work as a chef for Guy Savoy, a 3 Michelin star restaurant in Paris. So if you’re looking for that Michelin star feel for your event in Cairo, look no further than Avec Karim.  For more info: Avec Karim  and Avec Karim Priv é 4. Tamr Jannah If for your event you want something more classic and leaning towards Egyptian and Middle Eastern cuisine, Tamr Jannah has been in the catering business for almost 20 years. Their menus: events, mini events, ‘3azoumas’, family meals, finger foods and frozen foods. For more info and to see their menus: Tamr Jannah 5. Crave Catering Who isn’t familiar with everyone’s comfort food restaurant, Crave? Yup the long-loved restaurant Crave has its own catering arm. They do everything from weddings to corporate catering to beach BBQs and more.  For more info: Crave Catering 6. Trés Bon Another old-school beloved restaurant in Cairo, originally opening its doors in Korba in 1994, then expanding into several more branches as well as catering. For more info: Tres Bon  or their hotline 19947 7. Sett El Biet If you’re looking for old-school Egyptian and oriental food, and a lot of it, then Sett el Biet is for you. They specialize in buffets filled with the classics like grilled kofta, kobeiba, vine leaves, chicken pane, different types of mahshi, macaroni bechamel, roasted turkey, kabsa and more. For more info: Sett El Bie t Happy eating!

The year is coming to a close, and while some like to whoop it up in parties and holiday festivities, others want to usher in the new year with relative quiet and peace of mind -- something that's not easy to come by in Cairo! But luckily Egypt is full of gorgeous, quiet spots away from Cairo's cheerful chaos, and we've listed some of our favorite places to disconnect and start the new year on a tranquil note. Happy New Year! 1. Ras Abu Galum & The Blue Lagoon Ras Abu Galum is an Egyptian national protectorate on the Gulf of Aqaba in the Sinai Peninsula, about 15 km from Dahab . There’s a small Bedouin settlement on the beach at the edge of the national park, and you can either camp on the beach under the stars or stay in one of the primitive beach huts. There’s no electricity and limited running water, but the Bedouins provide fresh and local fare and water for extremely reasonable prices. The Blue Lagoon is an even more remote and beautiful beach camp spot , about another 8 km north of Ras Abu Galum. In both Ras Abu Galum and Blue Lagoon, daily activities range from diving, snorkeling, swimming, kitesurfing , hiking, sunbathing, reading or just relaxing by the beach. At night you can watch for shooting stars by the fire and revel in the fact that there’s no one else for miles around. How to get there: From the Blue Hole in Dahab, you can reach Ras Abu Galum by hiking by foot (it’s relatively flat terrain, but rocky), and really soak in your remote surroundings, with the sea on your right and the mountains on your left. If the hike is too much or you have too much diving gear, you can take a boat or ride a camel. Blue Lagoon is another hike/boat ride from Ras Abu Galum. Go to Ras Abu Galum and The Blue Lagoon if: The thought of sleeping and waking up on the beach already makes you feel less stressed You enjoy camping or primitive accommodations You like to dive or snorkel You love being away from it all Local tip: Blue Lagoon is one of our 9 world-class beaches in Egypt , check out the rest. 2. Fayoum Fayoum is actually an ancient city (read more about it at 7 Modern Egyptian Cities More Than 5,000 Years Old ) and is an interesting mix of desert, water, greenery, urban and rural life and modern and ancient life. Besides Tunis Village and the hotels/ecolodges there, Fayoum also has a lot of great camping spots, like on sand dunes right on the shore of Magic Lake (named for its changing water color according to time of day), or near Lake Qarun (Fayoum’s oasis, the biggest in Egypt) or close to the Wadi el Rayan waterfalls. Photo credit: Mohamed Hakem (@moh_hakem) When it comes to types of camping, you can either arrange with a tour company who will pick you up, drive you to Fayoum, set up camp for you and spearhead activities and tours in the area, or you can drive to Fayoum yourself and stay at one of the permanent campgrounds and they can provide a tour guide for any activities in the area you’re interested in. How to get there: it’s about a 2 hour drive from Cairo. You can drive yourself or have a tour agency arrange a ride for you. Go to Fayoum if: You want to travel somewhere relatively close to Cairo You want to camp You want to visit sites like Wadi el Hitan ( Whale Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ), or Wadi el Rayan, home to Egypt's largest waterfalls (which to be fair aren't very big but still really cool to see) 3. The Western Desert Oases ‘The Oases’ is actually an umbrella 5-in-1 suggestion; each oasis is quite a ways from the next, so we’ll go through them quickly and you can figure out which oasis fits you the best. What they all do have in common though is the feeling of being at the edge of the Earth; the surrounding desert is just so all-encompassing that you’ll feel like you’re literally in the middle of nowhere (and you kind of will be). The natural springs at the oases vary between hot springs and cold springs, and are known for their natural therapy . At each of these oases, you can camp, stay at local lodgings or in some cases, stay in more upscale ecolodges. Al Tarfa Lodge in Dakhla Oasis. Siwa Oasis: the most famous of the big 5, Siwa is about 300 km Southwest of Marsa Matrouh, and 50 km from the Libyan border. In Siwa you can find the temple of the Oracle, from Alexander The Great’s time; the Mountain of the Dead and Cleopatra’s Bath, a famous natural spring. Read more: 10 Most Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis Farafra Oasis: found approximately midway between Dakhla Oasis and Baharia Oasis, Farafra is known best for its proximity to the White Desert and its massive chalk rock formations . Baharia Oasis: close to the Black Desert, the Baharia Oasis is also home to the Valley of the Golden Mummies, a Greco-Roman necropolis. Also found in Baharia were dinosaur fossils; the Carcharodontosaurus and Bahariasaurus (hilarious name) date to around 95 million years ago. Dakhla Oasis: Around 350 km from the Nile, Dakhla is between Farafra and Kharga Oases. Dakhla is considered by some to be the most beautiful of the oases, due to an abundance of greenery and the cliffs surrounding it. Dakhla is also home to Al Qasr, a fortified Islamic town erected in the 12th century , believed to be built by the Ayyubid kings. Kharga Oasis: the most southern, and most modernized, of the big 5 Western Desert oases. It’s home to the Temple of Hibis (constructed around 2500 years ago) and El Bagawat, an ancient Christian cemetery that functioned from the 3rd to the 7th century AD. It’s one of the oldest and best preserved Christian cemeteries from the ancient world. Go to one of the Western Oases if: You love being in or around the desert You want to stargaze or see the Milky Way You don’t mind the desert cold at night You want to swim in natural springs 4. Ras Shetan This stretch of rugged coast between Taba and Nuweiba in the Sinai Peninsula is known for its simple, no-frills beach camps right on the water. The camps, mainly run by Bedouins, vary from simple rooms to beach huts to camping tents right on the shore. Most of the camps offer a variety of different dishes for meals, and you pay your tab before you leave -- Ras Shetan is not a place where you have to worry about things like carrying around money or phones. In these quiet, sunny camps time seems to slow down -- there’s not much to do besides sunbathe, relax, swim (the water is pretty cold in the winter but some people can handle it) and recharge from reality. Electricity is only available for a few hours, and there are communal bathrooms. At night, most of the camp residents gather around a bonfire and sing and exchange stories with each other and their Bedouin hosts. How to get there: driving or bus. Or you can fly into Sharm El Sheikh airport and finesse a ride from there. Go to Ras Shetan if: You like a bohemian, communal vibe without actually having to deal with people if you don’t want to You want to be near the beach You want to have long stretches of time to relax and have nothing to do You don’t mind long car rides 5. Abu Dabbab Bay, Marsa Alam One of the most stunning stretches of beach in Marsa Alam. You get the choice of staying at the diving lodge (wooden bungalows with private bathrooms), camping in a tent, staying in a 5 star hotel like the Hilton Nubian, or staying in nearby camps and desert hotels and buying a day pass to access the beach, pool, diving center, snorkel rental gear, umbrellas, sun loungers, showers and beach bars and restaurants. So it's safe to say there's something for everyone. Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Marsa Alam Around New Year’s, the temperatures during the day are in the mid-20s celsius, so it’s pleasant beach weather without being too hot. Some might find it too cold for swimming, but you'll be fine diving or snorkeling in a wetsuit. Abu Dabbab Bay is a diver and snorkeler’s paradise -- it’s where you’re most likely to see giant sea turtles, and is home to two dugongs! Dugongs are also known as sea cows, close cousins of manatees, and Abu Dabbab’s two semi-permanent resident dugongs are called Dennis and Dougal. How to get there: you can either fly into Marsa Alam airport or drive/take a bus (it’s an 8-10 hour drive from Cairo though!) Go to Abu Dabbab Bay if: You want sunny beach destination without having to worry about it being full with people You want to learn to dive or already know how You want to hopefully spot a sea turtle or dugong (you don’t have to dive for this!) You want comfortable accommodations 6. Luxor & Aswan If you haven't been to Luxor and/or Aswan yet, what are you waiting for? Winter is the best time to visit Egypt's southern cities because that's when you can explore in the comfort of a nice warm breeze instead of a scorching sun. As for where to stay, there’s a lot of different accommodation options in Luxor and Aswan, ranging from Airbnbs to historic hotels to Nubian ecolodges. Although Luxor and Aswan are two completely different cities with very different sights to see, what they both have in common is a sense of stillness and peace -- the pace there is much more laid-back and you just feel like there’s more room to breathe (outside of the touristic spots, that is). You can find a list of the best things to see and do in Aswan here . However, keep in mind that NYE is the high season for Luxor and Aswan, so while things are exceedingly quieter than Cairo, you WILL still see a fair share of people. How to get there: you can either fly into Luxor or Aswan and take a cruise from either city (if you feel comfortable with the idea of a cruise), or you can take the overnight train from Cairo. Read more: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide Go to Luxor & Aswan if: You enjoy learning about Ancient Egypt and actively exploring the temples and monuments You want to go on a Nile cruise You have an interest in Nubian and Upper Egyptian traditions and culture You want to be somewhere warm You might also like: Where to Go in Egypt: 10 Best Egyptian Destinations & Cities

Nile cruises are hands down one of the most popular things to do in Egypt, and for good reason – the serenity of sailing down the world’s longest river AND getting to see some of the most mind-blowing Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs while you’re at it? Yes, please!  And keep in mind this isn’t a ‘tourist trap’ kind of thing – lots of local Egyptians book Nile cruises as a way to treat themselves and explore Luxor and Aswan too, especially during the winter months and over New Year’s.  But because Nile cruises are so popular with locals and visitors alike, there are tons to choose from and it’s easy to get confused or overwhelmed. Plus let’s be honest – Nile cruises aren’t cheap, so doing your due diligence before booking is always a good idea. Here’s our ultimate guide on everything you need to know to choose which cruise is best for you. Quick facts to know before choosing a Nile cruise: There are 200+ active Nile cruise ships operating regularly in Egypt When articles, booking engines or travel agencies refer to Nile cruises in Egypt, 90% of the time they mean a cruise between Luxor and Aswan (or vice versa) Besides the Luxor-Aswan cruises, there are Lake Nasser cruises and Cairo-Aswan cruises, but those are far fewer in number All cruises will include sightseeing of some sort with a guide, with the main emphasis being on the Ancient Egyptian sites in Luxor and Aswan. Each cruise will have a detailed itinerary online that you can go over before you book Your days will mainly be spent off the ship. You’ll have breakfast onboard, then spend a day sightseeing on land, then return to the cruise ship before sunset to relax and spend the night onboard Nile cruises in Egypt are most popular during the winter months when the weather in Luxor and Aswan is at its best (November-March), which means that’s when cruises are at peak price and become fully-booked quickly Cruise ships are essentially hotels on the river; they vary from ultra luxury to more basic There are several different types of cruise ship, which we’ll go over in more detail below A little history of the Nile cruise Now obviously Egyptians using the Nile as a lifeline and trade ‘highway’ goes back thousands upon thousands of years; even before the Ancient Egyptian civilization started to document it. But it was back in the 1800s that the concept of sailing for leisure and adventure really took hold, first on the traditional dahabiya sailboats chartered by the Egyptian elite in Cairo, then later with steamships. Thomas Cook ad for steamship and dahabiya cruises Steamship cruises were introduced in the latter half of the 1800s by the British Thomas Cook & Son (who later went on to build the world-famous Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan in 1899, now known as the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract ). Cook hired a steamship from Khedive Ismail and embarked on his first guided steamship cruise down the Nile to Aswan. Within ten years, he owned his own steamship cruise fleet and it was then that Nile cruises really started to boom as a touristic activity. They were much faster than the dahabiyas, cutting cruises from 2 months down to 3 weeks. They could hold way more people, plus offer amenities the smaller, more modest dahabiyas couldn’t.  The SS Sudan at the foot of the Abu Simple temple, before the monument was relocated to protect it from being submerged in water once the Aswan Dam was built In the mid-1900s, motor-powered cruise ships began to sail the Nile, and slowly replaced the steamships. Fast forward over 70 years later to the present day, and only two token steamships still cruise the Nile today (more about these historic ships below).   Types of Nile cruise ships and their pros & cons Motorized Cruise Ships The majority of Nile cruises will be on big motorized ships, which as we said above, are essentially floating hotels. These can take over a hundred guests per cruise, so expect lots of rooms, multiple restaurants, and different amenities like a gym, spa or an on-deck swimming pool, depending on which cruise ship you pick.  Pros:  Different room options (standard, deluxe, suite, etc.) The amenities (who doesn’t want to be in a pool while floating down a river, or have a designated play area for kids?) Onboard restaurant and bar options Nightly entertainment onboard There are cruise ships available in an array of different price ranges and budgets, from the more affordable to high luxury Cons:  Because of the number of people onboard, it’s less private and the service is less personalized than a dahabiya Some people find the sounds & vibrations of the boats to be a nuisance In the high season there are so many cruises, it can seem almost like you’re moving in a convoy with all the other boats, which obviously can take away from the peacefulness of the Nile The big cruise boats tend to dock and go on sightseeing excursions at the same time, so unfortunately there’s usually a crowd wherever you go Dahabiya The truly authentic way to cruise the Nile. Dahabiyas are traditional Egyptian sailboats, used for millennia as a means for Egyptians to travel on the river. These days, the Nile cruise dahabiyas provide slow luxury for those who want a more private, personalized trip.  Speaking of personalized – some dahabiyas (such as the Zein Nile Chateau ) can even be booked completely for your own private charter, and an itinerary can be created specifically for you and your group’s interests.  Pros:  Dahabiyas can only take a fraction of the number of people that the standard cruise ships can take, so it’s the equivalent of staying in a tiny boutique hotel as opposed to a sprawling resort They travel by sail and are pulled by tugboats when there’s not enough wind, so there’s no motor noise Because of their smaller size, dahabiyas can dock at sites on the Nile where larger cruise ships can’t. This allows for more sightseeing at different spots off the beaten track, away from the crowds Cons: The price. Because dahabiyas take fewer people but essentially offer the same itinerary as the larger cruises, they tend to be pretty expensive, even more so than the big luxury cruises They don’t offer all the bells and whistles that the cruise ships offer, eg. pool and spa and multiple restaurants/bars Steamships SS Sudan Currently, the only two restored and functioning steamships cruising the Nile are the SS Sudan and the SS Misr, both imbued with over a century of history. The SS Sudan  dates back to 1921, and the SS Misr (now run by Movenpick) dates back even farther to 1918.  Both of these ships carry far fewer people than the modern cruise ships (the SS Sudan has 18 cabins and 6 suites and the SS Misr has 16 cabins and 8 suites). The SS Misr has a swimming pool as well. Pros: These iconic steamships provide far more history, nostalgia and romance than your standard cruise ship. Agatha Christie was inspired to write Death on the Nile  while on a cruise on the SS Sudan in 1933 – there’s now a suite named after her, and filming for the movie actually took place on the SS Sudan It’s quieter and less crowded than the standard cruise ships Cons: They tend to be pretty expensive What are the best Nile cruises to choose? MS Oberoi Zahra Like we said above, there are over 200 Nile cruises operating at any given time. So which ones are the best? It’s important to note that when you book a cruise through a travel agency or online package, lots of times you don’t actually get to choose which ship you’re on. You’re essentially assigned to whatever ship fits the dates and price you picked. So if you chose a cheaper package, you’ll probably be on one of the more basic ships. If you chose something higher-end, you’ll get one of the luxury cruise ships. Alternatively, if you decide to skip buying an online travel package and want to book a specific cruise and specific type of room directly, here are some of the highest-rated ones per price bracket: Standard cruises: MS Princess Sarah MS Steigenberger Legacy MS Royal Esadora Luxury Cruises: MS Oberoi Zahra MS Oberoi Philae MS Historia Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise Dahabiyas: Nour El Nil fleet Merit Dahabiya Princess Farida Dahabiya Important note: we've only listed a handful of high-rated cruises just to give you an example, but there are many! Duration of Nile cruises MS Sun Sanctuary IV One of the first things you’ll have to decide on before choosing your Nile cruise in Egypt is how long you want the duration to be. Like we said above, 90% of Nile cruises are between Luxor and Aswan (and vice versa).  Local tip:  we get asked a lot which cruises are better, the ones that originate in Luxor or the ones that originate in Aswan. Our answer is, they’re both pretty much the same but the ones starting in Aswan usually run a day shorter, if you’re pressed for time. Luxor/Aswan Cruises MS Historia Boutique Hotel Cruise On average, the shortest cruises take 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan and 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor (this route is faster because you’re moving with the river current). So why are so many cruises longer than 3-4 nights? Basically it all comes down to sightseeing. The longer your cruise is, the more sights you’ll be able to fit in your itinerary – and trust us, Luxor and Aswan and all the places in between have a LOT of fascinating Ancient Egyptian spots to explore!  Read more: 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites Since time/budget/interests are a personal choice of each traveler, we recommend going through the itineraries of the 3/4/5/7 night cruises and comparing, to see which ones speak to you the most. Some of the longer cruises tack on trips to Abu Simbel south of Aswan (very worth it), while others add more fluff experiences to their itineraries. So go through the fine print of the itineraries, read the reviews and make the choice that suits you personally the best.  Long Nile Cruises (Cairo to Aswan or Aswan to Cairo) Movenpick MS Darakum Besides the standard Luxor-Aswan cruises, which tend not to be over 7 nights at most, there’s something called the Long Nile Cruise. This much rarer cruise travels from Aswan to Cairo (and vice versa) over a duration of two weeks . The Movenpick’s MS Da rakum  is currently one of the few ships offering that route. Lake Nasser Cruises MS Movenpick Prince Abbas A third type of cruise is the Lake Nasser cruise. Lake Nasser is to the south of Aswan and the High Dam, where you’ll find the great temples of Abu Simbel, as well as other Ancient Egyptian sites dotting the shores of the lake. These cruises tend to have a duration of 3-4 nights.  Nile cruise itineraries & sightseeing Most people who decide to go on a Nile river cruise are interested in seeing the famous Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs of Luxor and Aswan, and interesting spots on the Nile in between. Spoiler alert: if you’re not into that kind of sightseeing, a Nile cruise in Egypt probably isn’t for you.  Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today Read more: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Day Egypt But assuming that’s indeed what you’re interested in, then these are the main stops on your average Nile cruise itinerary, plus the possible sightseeing you’ll be doing at each destination.  Keep in mind that the shorter cruises will only cover SOME of these sightseeing spots, while the longer cruises will include more (but not necessarily all listed below). Important note: not all cruise itineraries are exactly the same, so we ask once again that you read the itinerary of each cruise online closely before you pick.  Main Nile cruise itinerary destinations (in no specific order): -Luxor Valley of the Kings Deir el Bahri (Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut) Colossi of Memon Karnak Temple Luxor Temple Madinet Habu Temple Luxor Museum Valley of the Nobles Deir el Medina (Valley of the Artisans) -Edfu Temple of Horus at Edfu -Kom Ombo Double Temple of Kom Ombo -Aswan Philae Temple High Dam Unfinished Obelisk Botanical Gardens Nubian Museum Abu Simbel (usually as an add-on or part of the Lake Nasser cruise, considering it’s beyond the High Dam) -Qena (sometimes part of the cruise near Luxor, but during the low water level season is only reachable by land, about 1-1.5 hrs drive from Luxor) Temple of Dendera -Sohag (also sometimes part of the cruise near Luxor, reachable by land) Abydos -Esna Temple of Khnum Esna lock -Lake Nasser Abu Simbel Temple of Kalabsha Temple of Wadi El Seboua Qasr Ibrim -Sites reachable only by dahabiya or land (there are also other spots depending on which dahabiya you choose): Gebel El Silsila How much does a Nile cruise cost and what’s included in the price? There’s obviously so many variables that it’s impossible to give an average number. It depends on the season, duration, group size, type of boat, type of room, if the cruise belongs to an international hotel chain, what activities are included, so on and so forth.  Long story short, a cruise can range from $500 per person to $10,000 per person in some cases, and that’s not an exaggeration. But just to give you an idea, if you’re looking at the standard 4 night, 3 day Nile cruise on one of the basic Nile cruise ships (not a luxury one), for the month of February for example, it’ll probably cost around $600-$700 per person. The nicer cruise ships and dahabiyas are for much more (averaging $1500 - $2500 per person). Local tip:  the two weeks that cover Christmas and New Year’s are always THE highest priced throughout the year, even more than regular winter high season prices. What’s usually included in the cruise price? Local tip: we must state again  that this differs from cruise to cruise, so please read all the fine print and don’t blame us if some of these features weren’t included!  Usually when you book a Nile cruise (especially the higher end ones), it will include the following: Comfortable accommodation & private ensuite bathroom onboard for the length of time you chose, with daily housekeeping Full-board meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) – usually open buffet style, but sometimes a la carte on the nicer boats or dahabiyas An experienced tour guide speaking the language of your choice (make sure to find out the languages your cruise offers) Entrance fees to all sites Transportation from the cruise ship to all sites and back Taxes and fees They will also *sometimes* include: Onboard entertainment like belly-dancing or cooking classes Different themed nights on board with special menus and activities Wifi Laundry Meet & greet at the airport or your hotel Extra activities or excursions, eg. hot air balloon in Luxor Transportation to/from the airport or your hotel Usually NOT included in the price: Soft drinks (not included for the more standard cruises, but usually included for the luxury cruises) Alcoholic drinks (but available onboard for an extra fee) Tips (for the boat staff, usually given at the end of the trip, and separate tips for your tour guide and driver) Domestic flights Is a Nile cruise worth it? Or should I just visit Luxor and Aswan normally? We get asked this question a lot. Lots of people are interested in visiting Luxor and/or Aswan, but not sure if they should go down the cruise route, or just book a regular hotel on land and explore the cities themselves. Obviously, there’s no cookie-cutter answer for this because everyone’s preferences differ. What we can  do however is list the pros and cons of both scenarios, so you can make a more educated choice for yourself. Pros of booking a Nile cruise: The experience of sailing down the Nile and sleeping/waking up on the water (although keep in mind that sometimes you'll be moored overnight next to other boats) Everything, especially sightseeing, is totally sorted out for you – you don’t have to worry about any logistics at all You don’t have to worry about being overcharged for things like transportation or tour guides There’s not much by way of nightlife in Luxor or Aswan – being on a cruise is a nice way to socialize and meet people over dinner and drinks on the boat You don’t have to research and try to locate decent restaurants to have your meals at Cons of booking a Nile cruise: There’s hardly any flexibility in the itinerary; you have to wake up, eat and disembark at set times to make it to each site on time The cruise ships tend to run by the same timetable, so the sightseeing will usually be crowded The inability to spend as much time as you want at each site or ask the tour guide in-depth questions because you’ll be in a large tour group Pros for staying at a regular hotel in Luxor/Aswan and arranging your own tours: You can set your own schedule so that you’re at some of the sites before/after the big crowds You can explore at your own pace You can visit places or do activities that aren’t included in the cruise itinerary You can either go to the different sites by yourself, or you can arrange for a private tour guide or small tour group Cons of staying at a regular hotel in Luxor/Aswan and arranging your own tours: You’ll have to research all the different accommodation options there You’ll have to figure out the logistics of all transportation  You’ll probably have hit and miss restaurant experiences A lot of the nicer hotels in Luxor and Aswan are pretty expensive, so between that + meals + sightseeing tickets + transportation + guide, you might end up spending even more than you would on the cruise For more information in general about Luxor and Aswan: Read more: 10 Best Things To Do in Luxor - As Told By Locals Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in Luxor, Egypt Read more: Aswan, Egypt - A Local’s City Guide Read more: 7 Best Places to Stay in Aswan, Egypt Best way to book a Nile cruise Ok, so you’ve done your research, decided that you do indeed want to book a Nile cruise (good for you!) and read through all our tips about how to choose the type of cruise best suited for you. Now how do you go about actually booking it? You have several options: Book directly through the cruise ship’s website.  Many of the cruise ships, especially if they’re part of a hotel chain or are high luxury, will have their own website that you can book through (and you can also directly email them any questions you may have). This also goes for booking dahabiyas.  Book through a foreign or Egyptian tour agency. Foreign tour companies like AMA Waterways, Abercrombie & Kent or TUI offer all sorts of Nile cruise package deals, where you select the cruise package that sounds the best for you. There are also dozens of Egyptian tour agencies that offer similar packages. These agencies can arrange either just your cruise for you, or your whole Egypt trip from A-Z.  Book through an online travel experience aggregator.  Websites like Viator or GetYourGuide are another easy way to book a Nile cruise. Just make sure to read reviews, itineraries and what’s included/excluded before booking anything! So that wraps up our ultimate guide to choosing and booking the perfect Nile cruise just for you! Sail and enjoy 🙂 You might also like: Where to Go in Egypt: 10 Best Cities & Destinations

One of the best things about Egypt is that beach weather doesn’t end in August like the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. If anything, fall is one of the best seasons to vacation in Egypt because it’s warm enough to go to the beach or spend time in the desert, but cool enough that you won’t have to worry about sunstroke or soaring temperatures. Read more: 8 Best Beach Holiday Destinations in Egypt So whether you’re a non-Egyptian who isn’t quite ready to say goodbye to summer yet, or a local who wants to make the most of the best weather of the year, these 12 travel destinations in Egypt have something for everyone. Local tip: beach weather on the Red Sea is great up until mid-December give or take, when it gets a bit chilly. Fayoum Fayoum, about an hour and a half from Cairo, has always been known as a great nature retreat and break from the city. Fayoum has a lot of great camping spots, like on sand dunes right on the shore of Magic Lake (named for its changing water color according to time of day), or near Lake Qarun (Fayoum’s oasis, the biggest in Egypt) or close to the Wadi el Rayan waterfalls. Fayoum itself is an ancient city (read more about it at 7 Modern Egyptian Cities More Than 5,000 Years Old ) and is an interesting mix of desert, water, greenery, urban and rural life and modern and ancient life. Things to do in Fayoum in the fall: sandboard, explore Tunis Village, visit the Wadi el Rayan Waterfalls, see the ancient whale bones at Wadi El Hitan (Whale Valley), which is one of Egypt’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , see the petrified forest, discover Fayoum’s ancient ruins. Hurghada Hurghada, having spent the first hundred years of its life as a sleepy little fishing village, is now one of the most popular beach destinations in the world, ranking annually on Trip Advisor. Fall has the best weather in Hurghada -- bright sunny days and warm water without the intensity of the summer heat. Hurghada is an eclectic mix of 5 star resorts and super budget hotels,   Red Sea islands  and desert excursions, touristy promenades and dingier local areas… there’s something to see and do no matter your age or interests. Here’s our full,   detailed local’s guide for Hurghada . Things to do in Hurghada in the fall:   25 Fun Things to Do in Hurghada and El Gouna Soma Bay A peninsula jutting into the Red Sea, Soma Bay is a luxury beach resort town south of Hurghada and technically part of the Safaga area, although it's an easy 45 minute drive from Hurghada International Airport -- so expect the same amazing weather as Hurghada. Because it’s surrounded by the sea on three sides, Soma Bay is famous for its spectacular beaches and water sports. On one side of Soma Bay you have the open Red Sea for scuba diving and boat trips, and on the other side you have a crystal-clear bay of warm, shallow water, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Read more: Soma Bay, Egypt - Travel Guide For First-Timers   Soma Bay is home to a handful of 5 star beach resorts, but not nearly as many as Hurghada and Sharm, so it’s a good place to go if you want to avoid the crowds found in other popular Red Sea Riviera destinations . Things to do in Soma Bay in the fall:  sunbathe and swim, scuba dive, snorkel, kitesurf, glass bottom boat, go-karting, golf, paintball, horseback riding Sharm el Sheikh Sharm el Sheikh has been a top trending travel destination forever now, and according to Dive Magazine , “Sharm El Sheikh has been, for many years, the favourite Egyptian destination for scuba divers, and has probably contributed more to the European dive business than any other resort in the world.” So it’s safe to say that Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most famous Egyptian Red Sea Riviera destinations internationally, and even if you don't dive, their beach resorts are reason enough to visit. It’s also a good base for trips to the Sinai Mountains, St. Catherine’s Monastery and Ras Mohammed National Park. Things to do in Sharm in the fall: swim, sunbathe, dive, snorkel, go on a boat trip, go on day trips to interesting neighboring spots in Sinai Read more: 12 Best Things To Do in Sharm El Sheikh Dahab This little bohemian town is smaller, quieter and less commercial than its Red Sea Riviera neighbor Sharm el Sheikh, but the diving is just as good. Home to world-renowned dive sites like the Blue Hole, Dahab pulls in its own fair share of tourists, but those who want to experience a more laid-back vacation. The main area of town is its seaside promenade, full of local and quirkily-named restaurants and shops. There are also hostels and budget hotels galore. You can also hike to and camp in nearby Ras Abu Galoum and Blue Lagoon. Similar to Sharm, Dahab is also a popular base for treks into the Sinai Mountains and St. Catherine’s Monastery. Things to do in Dahab in the fall: dive, snorkel, swim, try the seaside restaurants, bars and cafes on the promenade, visit Ras Abu Galoum, go mountain trekking or bouldering, visit neighboring spots in Sinai Siwa Oasis Located in the Western Desert but much closer to the Libyan border is Egypt's most famous (and most remote) oasis, Siwa. Thousands of Egyptians and foreigners alike visit each year to experience Siwa's unique history, heritage and culture (they even have their own language which is closer to Berber than Arabic). And culture aside, Siwa's natural charms alone are worth visiting, from the vibrant greenery at the edge of the Great Sand Sea to their crystal-clear salt lakes and wide expanses of olive and palm trees. Read: 10 Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis Read: 7 Best Places to Stay in Siwa Oasis For All Budgets Siwa to a large extent is untouched by modernity and all its tech-y trappings (Siwa was isolated from the rest of Egypt up until the 1980s when a road connecting it to Marsa Matrouh was built), so it's an ideal place to camp and get away from it all. Camping under the Milky Way in the Great Sand Sea is something that you won't be forgetting any time soon! Things to do in Siwa in the fall: visit Shali Fortress, Mountain of the Dead, Cleopatra's Bath, the Temple of the Oracle of Alexander the Great, swim in the hot springs and ride the sand dunes on a desert safari. Siwa is also known for its natural climatic therapy . Ras Shetan/Nuweiba Nestled between mountains and the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba is a strip of coastline called Ras Shetan, between the towns of Nuweiba and Taba on the Sinai peninsula. Both Nuweiba (a little beach town) and Ras Shetan are known for their get-away-from-it-all beach camps, usually run by local Bedouins. The camps are a mix of beach huts or bare-bone chalets, and you’re more than welcome to set up your own tents right on the beach. At night, there’s usually a large campfire where the Bedouins and guests from all over the world talk, play instruments and sing. Nuweiba and Ras Shetan are also a good place to stay if you want to explore the Colored Canyon and Wadi Wishwashi in the nearby Nuweiba mountains. Things to do in Ras Shetan and Nuweiba in the fall: camp on a beach, disconnect, swim, stargaze, enjoy a fire at night, read, play cards, visit Castle Zaman, explore the Nuweiba mountains Luxor If you're interested in Ancient Egypt, then Luxor is the first place to go once summer ends and the heat starts letting up. Modern Luxor stands where the Ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes once was, and is still home to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings and Queens, among dozens of other Ancient Egyptian sites. Read: 10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals Read: 7 Best Restaurants in Luxor, Egypt Things to do in Luxor in the fall: visit the incredible temples and tombs of Ancient Egyptian, take a Nile cruise down to Aswan Read: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide Aswan Aswan in southern Egypt is a unique mix of Ancient Egypt, rural village, urban city, Nubian heritage, river, desert and modern history. The ancient land of Nubia was directly to the south of Aswan, extending from modern-day southern Egypt into northern Sudan. Nubia became part of Egypt during the New Kingdom, and Nubian heritage and culture is extremely important in Aswan until today. The Nile looks just as clear, blue and wild as it probably did 3,000 years ago; Aswan is hands down where the Nile is at its most stunning in Egypt. Because Aswan isn’t super developed, don’t expect a vast array of accommodation, restaurants and nightlife - go there to sightsee at a relaxed pace and enjoy the Nile and warm fall weather. You can read more in our city guide to Aswan .   Things to do in Aswan in the fall : visit Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, explore the Nubian Village, take a Nile felucca Marsa Alam If you're looking for some fantastic diving or just a resort holiday that's more secluded than Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh, then you should definitely visit Marsa Alam (about 4 hours south of Hurghada on a pristine stretch of Red Sea coast). The best time of the year to visit Marsa Alam is the fall (or spring), because it gets blistering hot in the summer and the water is just a tad cold in the winter (Europeans though love Marsa Alam during the winter due to its 365 days of sun, and it's warmer than Hurghada or Sharm). Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Marsa Alam Accommodation is across the board, from 5 star hotels to sparse beach camps. There’s very little in terms of restaurants and nightlife, so if you’re someone who likes to be on the beach early and call it a night early too, this might be for you. Things to do in Marsa Alam in the fall: dive, snorkel, swim, kitesurf El Gouna El Gouna’s a modern resort town spanning over 10 km of pristine Red Sea coast, with lagoons throughout, and their architecture is inspired by traditional Egyptian homes in the countryside and Upper Egypt. It’s a town equally as popular with Egyptians as it is with tourists. It was the first destination in the Middle East and Africa to receive the Global Green Award, which is given by the UN to cities making substantial efforts, progress and improvements in the field of environmental sustainability. While smaller than Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, El Gouna has a plethora of hotels, restaurants, bars and activities for both adults and families. Here’s our full, detailed local’s guide for El Gouna . Things to do in El Gouna in the fall: we break it down here - 25 Fun Things to Do in Hurghada and El Gouna Ras Sudr Ras Sudr (pronounced Ras Sedr) is a small stretch of coast on the Gulf of Suez inlet of the Red Sea, and only recently began to rise in popularity due to its ideal kitesurfing conditions and being only a few hours’ drive from Cairo.   It’s still pretty underdeveloped, but you’ll find a handful of beach hotels to stay at, the most notable being Matarma Bay , Fade Hotel  at the La Hacienda compound and Bayside . Most people spend their days at the various kite centers (like Soul in La Hacienda and Fly in Green Sudr Resort) which also double up as restaurants/beach bars.   Things to do in Ras Sudr in the fall:  kitesurf, swim, enjoy a Sinai beach without having to drive too far from Cairo Read: 7 Best Kitesurfing Spots in Egypt   You might also like: Where To Go In Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Cities, Towns & Destinations

Cairo as a city has a pretty long and complex history -- it’s over 1,000 years old, after all. And while most of the metropolitan restaurants, bars and cafes in the city don’t have much of a shelf life (a ‘success story’ in Cairo is a place that’s been open for more than 10 years), there are a few places that have stood the test of time -- from 60 years to over 200 years old! Yep, that’s older than quite a few countries. So whether you’re a visitor looking to get a drink, meal and feel for an older Cairo, or a local who wants to take a nostalgic walk down Cairo’s memory lane, these vintage spots will provide just that. You might also like: 14 Egyptian Dessert Shops and Patisseries More Than 50 Years Old 1. Beit Zeinab Khatoon Founded: 1486 Beit Zeinab Khatoon (which translates to ‘Zeinab Khatoon’s house’) is an old Mamluk house in the Darb Ahmar area of Old Cairo, close to Moez Street (for a full local’s guide to Moez Street, head here ). It was originally built in 1486 with later additions in the Ottoman era. It’s named after its last owner, Zeinab Khatoon, the wife of prince Al-Sharif Hamza Al-Kharboutly. She’s an important figure in her own right though -- she took the risk of opening her home to wounded fighters in the Egyptian resistance against Napoleon’s French occupation in 1798. Today Beit Zeinab Khatoon is a protected heritage site, and it has a cafe called Tekiyt Khan Khatoon in its open courtyard where you can have shisha and coffee or order from their menu while enjoying the historical architecture. 2. El Fishawy Founded: 1773 Found in the world-famous Khan el Khalili bazaar (read our full guide to the market here) you’ll find Egypt’s most iconic ahwa (a small outdoor Egyptian cafe serving shisha), El Fishawy. Over 240 years ago a man named El Fishawy started offering coffee to his friends after evening prayers in a small alley in Khan el Khalili. The tradition was continued by his descendants, adding shisha and other hot and cold drinks to their repertoire. It grew in popularity over the years, and is known for being a personal favorite of Nobel Laureate novelist Naguib Mahfouz, who is said to have written his Nobel-winning Cairo Trilogy in El Fishawy’s back room. Today El Fishawy lives on much as it did in the past, pulling in large numbers of locals and tourists alike looking for a tea, shisha and the opportunity to people-watch. It’s open 24/7 and is particularly popular in Ramadan . 3. Groppi Founded: 1891 Founded over 100 years ago, Maison Groppi was a chocolatier, patisserie and tearoom established in Downtown Cairo by Swiss native Giacomo Groppi. It quickly became the most celebrated tearoom in the Middle East, to the extent that they would give Groppi chocolate as gifts to foreign royalty and other VIPs. Groppi was also the first chocolatier in Egypt to employ women. There were originally two branches in Downtown Cairo, one in Heliopolis and one in Alexandria, all extremely popular with the Egyptian elite, celebrities, British officers and wealthy expats. The Groppi on Talaat Harb Square (previously Soliman Pacha Square) has been undergoing renovation for the past few years now. 4. Greek Club Founded: 1906 Located above Groppi on Talaat Harb Square in Downtown Cairo, the Greek Club when it first opened was just that: a Greeks-only club where members could gather for dinner, drinks and live music. It opened to the public in the 1950s, when Egyptians and visitors of all nationalities could enjoy its terrace, vaulted ceilings and Greek specialties. Today it’s still popular as a Downtown bar, but sadly has lost its authentic Greek feel and menu. 5. Cafe Riche Founded: 1908 Probably the most famous restaurant and bar in Downtown Cairo, Cafe Riche has quite a history. It’s known for being a beloved meeting place of historical revolutionaries, intellectuals and prominent figures in modern Egyptian history. A few examples: it was here where members of the Egyptian resistance planned the 1919 revolution against the British; where an assassin lay in wait to attempt (and fail) to kill the last Coptic Prime Minister, Youssef Wahba Pacha; where King Farouk first saw his second wife, Nariman Sadek; where beloved singer Umm Kalthoum performed in 1923; and where Gamal Abdel Nasser planned the 1952 revolution. Like El Fishawy, Naguib Mahfouz was a regular patron as well -- his novel Karnak Cafe is based on Cafe Riche, its customers and their stories. Relics of these people and times in history still adorn Cafe Riche’s walls until now. 6. L’Amphitryon Founded: 1922 One of the few vintage gems still left in the neighborhood of Korba in Heliopolis (Korba was envisioned and built by the Belgian Baron Empain), L’Amphitryon used to be a restaurant and bar popular with Heliopolis’ elite and wealthy expats. While the story behind its name and origins isn’t clear, it’s assumed it was founded by Greeks (although Germans in the area frequented it regularly and referred to it as a beer garden). Today it’s a much shabbier version of its former self, but still has a nice street-facing outdoor section and an open terrace in the back where people go for a shisha and a beer and to partake in Egyptian mezzes and shawerma. 7. Maison Thomas Founded: 1922 Maison Thomas is such a popular modern pizza place that most locals have no idea that it’s actually so old. Known for their thin-crust pizzas, Maison Thomas has four different branches throughout Cairo, with their Zamalek branch on 26th of July Street being their most iconic (and open 24/7!). 8. Cheristo Founded: 1930 One wouldn't expect Cairo's oldest seafood restaurant to necessarily be at the foot of the Pyramids, but there you are. Cheristo, located across from the Marriott Mena House , has spectacular pyramid views to enjoy from their second story outdoor terrace (in colder months, try to nab a table by the window instead). A firm family favorite for Friday lunch, Cheristo has officially made it for almost 100 years, and have recently opened another branch in Sheikh Zayed, in Cairo's western suburb of 6th October City . 9. El Horreya Photo credit: Scott D. Haddow Founded: 1936 Built over the remains of Ahmed Orabi, an Egyptian officer who led a mutiny in 1879 against the Anglo-French loyalist Khedive Tewfik, El Horreya is one of the most famous cafes and bars in Downtown Cairo. It has a distinct ‘cafeteria’-ish look, with bright lights, high ceilings and scattered tables. It’s open from the afternoon until 2 am, and was popular throughout the years with artists, poets, intellectuals, foreigners and expats and students from the nearby American University (their new campus is now in New Cairo). People go there for an affordable beer, to play chess or backgammon or just to chat. 10. Le Grillon Founded: 1941 Originally a restaurant and beer garden, Le Grillon was famous for being the spot where Cairo’s well-heeled would gather for drinks and a meal before and after Umm Kalthoum’s performances in the nearby Qasr el Nil Theatre (and even during the intermission). In the 50s, Le Grillon was popular with all the biggest names in Egyptian cinema: Roshdy Abaza, Sabah, Amina Rizk, Samia Gamal, Nadia Lotfy and more. This vintage restaurant has even witnessed some unforgettable scenes that had nothing to do with the movies, like when Fareed el Atrash had a heart attack there and the waitstaff had to rush him to the hospital, or how Abdelwahab was so specific about how his fruit was washed that he had the waiters bring him a pitcher of water to the table so he could wash the fruit himself. Today it’s more shabby than chic, and we wouldn’t recommend eating there. But it’s still a good spot to go for a drink and a shisha in their closed terrace, and is a popular spot for those baladi bar hopping in Downtown Cairo . 11. Abou Shakra Founded: 1947 Abou Shakra, the Egyptian cuisine restaurant known especially for their grills, first opened on the banks of the Nile in Downtown Cairo over 70 years ago. Equally popular with both Egyptians and foreigners, Abou Shakra started to implement the idea of tent celebrations and ‘Oriental Nights’ for foreigners both on the Nile and at the Pyramids way before the concept was as widespread and popular as it is now.. They also claim to be the first restaurant in Cairo to offer home delivery via motorbike. They opened their second branch in 1989, and since then have snowballing in size -- Abou Shakra is now a huge national and regional chain of restaurants. 12. Andrea Mariouteya Founded: 1958 Founded over 60 years ago, Andrea Mariouteya has been in the same family since its very beginning. This Egyptian restaurant was historically on the Mariouyeta canal, a Nile offshoot near the Pyramids. Besides the grills and Egyptian cuisine, Andrea Mariouteya was also a place you could enjoy a beer and shisha with your meal. While it maintains the Mariouteya in its name, Andrea has a new home on the hill of New Giza, with great city views. 13. Felfela Founded: 1959 One of the most iconic Egyptian cuisine restaurants in Downtown Cairo, Felfela was known for years as a place to get fuul, taameya and other Egyptian classics while having a beer. It became a regular lunch spot with families on weekends and opened several other branches throughout the city. It’s now a popular spot for tourists and nostalgic locals, and this dimly-lit and eclectically-decorated restaurant provides a window into the past through stories enthusiastically told by the waiters. 14. Estoril Founded: 1959 Built by a Greek couple in a passageway between two buildings in Downtown Cairo, this restaurant and bar was named after the town of Estoril in Portugal, where the couple had their honeymoon. Similar to other vintage resto-bars in Downtown, Estoril was a popular meeting place for political activists, writers, artists and intellectuals. One wall is dedicated to local art while the other is full of memorabilia and clippings of articles and other old press about Estoril in its heyday. Estoril’s menu now is not much to write home about, but it remains a popular spot to have a beer and chat with the bartender about years past. 15. Abou Haidar Founded: 1968 Over 50 years ago a Syrian man named Mohamed Rabah Sherif (nicknamed Abou Haidar) opened a small street stall in Roxy serving Syrian shawerma. Its popularity in the neighborhood is legendary, and when he passed away, his four children took over and did their best to keep the food stall true to their father's vision. Unlike most 'restaurants' (and almost unheard of in Egypt), Abou Haidar refused and continues to refuse to offer home delivery. For the past 50+ years, the only way to get Abou Haidar shawerma sandwiches is to go pick them up yourself (although some unaffiliated food delivery apps offer the option of their delivery fleet picking it up for you). Abou Haidar also refuses to open another branch besides their original one - gotta admire them sticking to their guns! You might also like: 21 Classic 90s Restaurants in Cairo Still Open Today

There are literally hundreds of incredible Ancient Egyptian sites dating back thousands and thousands of years peppered all over modern day Egypt, and it’s almost impossible to see them all in one trip. But which are the most important and the most impressive? Well, we created a bucket list of just that: the twenty most jaw-dropping Ancient Egyptian sites that exist today. So whether you’re a traveller trying to see as much as you can in one trip, or a local who’s slowly but surely seeing ticking off site by site, this list will help lead you in the right direction. 1. The Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx Well, this is a no-brainer. Also known as the Giza necropolis, this desert plateau on the outskirts of Cairo is home to the three Pyramids of Giza (Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure), their associated pyramid complexes, the Great Sphinx, a workers’ village and several cemeteries. The Pyramids of Giza were built in the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, and the pyramids of Khufu (the Great Pyramid) and Khafre are the two largest pyramids in Egypt (Khufu’s pyramid is also the last remaining ancient wonder of the world!). Read more: Visiting the Pyramids of Giza - A Local's Guide to Everything You Need to Know 2. Karnak Temple The temple complex of Karnak is the largest religious building ever built, and was constructed over a span of 2,000 years. Construction started in the Old Kingdom and was continuously added to up until the Ptolemaic era, with approximately 30 different pharaohs contributing. It’s the second most visited site in Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza. It’s also home to the Open Air Karnak Museum -- for more important museums in Egypt, head here. 3. Step Pyramid of Saqqara & Saqqara Necropolis The necropolis at Saqqara is home to the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in Egypt. It’s also where you’ll find the mastaba tombs of government officials and palace workers, as well as the pyramids of Unas and Teti, the only two pyramids in Egypt with Pyramid Texts inscribedin their inner walls. The Step Pyramid is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids; the architect was Djoser’s vizier Imhotep, thought of now as the founding father of Egyptian pyramids, and the design is six mastabas of decreasing size atop one another. Mastabas were how pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty and VIPs were buried before the invention of the pyramids -- mastabas were rectangular, flat-roofed tombs. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 4. Valley of the Kings In the former ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes (now modern-day Luxor in Upper Egypt), is the infamous Valley of the Kings. For a period of 500 years in the New Kingdom (1550 BC - 1069 BC), pharaohs were buried in rock-cut tombs in the Theban Hills, hidden from plain view. 62 tombs have been excavated to present day, with King Tut’s tomb being the most famous (but ironically, not the most impressive). Note: not all the tombs are open to the public, and some are on rotation. Read more: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Egypt 5. Valley of the Queens Nearby to the Valley of the Kings is the Valley of the Queens, where the wives of the pharaohs were buried during the same period. The main valley has 91 tombs discovered to date, and they’re generally smaller than the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. 6. Abu Simbel Abu Simbel is comprised of two massive rock temples, about 3 hours from Aswan. The twin temples were constructed in the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom as an everlasting monument to Ramses II and his Great Royal Wife Nefertari. The massive temples were relocated from their original spot in an international effort to save the ancient monuments from Nile flooding, and are one of Egypt’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 7. Deir el Bahri (Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut) Known primarily for the mortuary temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut of the New Kingdom, Deir el Bahri was originally chosen as the location for the temple of the pharaoh who founded the Middle Kingdom, Mentuhotep II. Hatshepsut’s temple though is the star of the show, and the massive terraced monument is surrounded by a steep cliff. It was in this cliff that archaeologists found a cache of royal mummies, moved in antiquity from the Valley of the Kings. Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today 8. Luxor Temple Constructed around 1400 BC (more than 3,400 years ago), Luxor Temple differs from most other ancient Egyptian temples due to the fact that it wasn’t built for worship of a particular god or pharaoh. It was mainly used as a place where pharaohs were coronated and crowned, sometimes even conceptually (for example, Alexander the Great claimed he was crowned there but no evidence suggests he was ever there). During medieval times, the Muslim community built on the Luxor Temple site, and until now a functional mosque remains part of the temple complex (you can read more about Egypt’s most beautiful mosques here ). 9. Philae Temple The temple complex at Philae in Aswan was primarily built during Ptolemaic times, and finished during the Roman conquest. It’s known for being the last place where hieroglyphs were written, and the last place where the Ancient Egyptian religion was practiced. Christianity became present in Philae starting the 4th century, where it first was practiced alongside the Ancient Egyptian religion and then solely. Today you can see both the original Ancient Egyptian temples and the temples that were converted into churches. Read more: 12 Most Interesting Things To See And Do In Aswan 10. Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid Bent Pyramid Not very far from the Giza and Saqqara pyramids you’ll find the necropolis of Dahshur, home to the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid, both built by the pharaoh Sneferu. The Red Pyramid, received its moniker due to its reddish hue, although it wasn’t always red. The entire pyramid used to be encased in white limestone, which you can still see at the base. The Bent Pyramid was built right before the Red Pyramid. Archaeologists believe that the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between the step pyramid and smooth-sided pyramid. The ‘bent’ appearance is due to its base having a 54 degree inclination, but the top section having a narrower 43 degree angle. There are different theories as to why it was built this way: one was that as the builders reached the top, the top section started to show instability, so they narrowed the angle. Read more: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid & Black Pyramid of Egypt 11. Deir el Medina This necropolis is often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, but you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by not visiting Deir el Medina while in Luxor. Also known as the Valley of the Artisans, it’s home to the tombs of the artists, builders and craftsmen who worked on the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. 12. Temple of Hathor at Dendera Known for its still-startling blue more than 2,000 years later, the Temple of Hathor is the most impressive site at the temple complex at Dendera. Built in the Ptolemaic era, it shows Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman influences and has several shrines to different gods. It’s also known for the clear depictions of Cleopatra and her son Caeserion, fathered by Julius Caesar. 13. Medinet Habu Ramses III is widely considered the last truly powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, and his mortuary temple dominates the archaeological site of Medinet Habu in Luxor. The temple is especially known for the depictions of Ramses III defeating the ‘Sea Peoples’, invaders of Ancient Egypt whose origins are unknown. 14. Edfu Temple Built during the Ptolemaic times, the Temple of Horus at Edfu (or Edfu Temple) is one of the best preserved temples in all of Egypt. It’s also the largest temple dedicated to Horus. The wall inscriptions provided archeologists with important information about Ancient Egyptian religion and language during the Hellenistic/Ptolemaic era. 15. Memphis Memphis was the first capital of Egypt and was established by Mena (Menes), the first pharaoh and uniter of Upper and Lower Egypt. Memphis, besides being the capital, was known for being a holy center of worship for the god Ptah. The city started to decline during the New Kingdom and the rise of Thebes in the south. Today what remains of Memphis is mainly ruins, but the great colossus of Ramses II is definitely worth seeing, as is the rest of the open-air museum. 16. Unfinished Obelisk The Unfinished Obelisk is the largest obelisk built in Ancient Egypt, and if it had been completed it would’ve reached 42 meters (around 137 feet), which is one third larger than any other existing obelisk. Commissioned by the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, it was carved out of bedrock in a stone quarry, but cracks appeared in the granite during its construction, leading to its abandonment. You can still see it in its original quarry, giving interesting insight into the stone-working techniques of the Ancient Egyptians. 17. Colossi of Memnon These are the remains of two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that date back to the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom. They were originally guarding the gate of Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple, which at the time was the largest and most awe-inspiring temple in Egypt — the Ramesseum (below) and Medinet Habu paled in comparison, and even Karnak Temple was smaller. Sadly years of flooding and earthquakes completely destroyed the temple, and later earthquakes also damaged the Colossi of Memnon, leaving them faceless. 18. Ramesseum The Ramessum is the mortuary temple of Ramses II (the same pharaoh who built Abu Simbel, and Seti I’s son). It was built with the intention of being a place of worship after Ramses II died, so his memory would be kept alive; this was of the utmost importance in the Ancient Egyptian religion. 19. Kom Ombo Kom Ombo, about an hour’s drive from central Aswan, is an unusual double temple dating back to the Ptolemaic era. A ‘double’ temple means it has two sets of halls, sanctuaries and rooms dedicated to two different gods; in the case of Kom Ombo, the two gods were Sobek (the crocodile god) and Horus (the falcon god). Over 300 crocodile mummies were found at the site, and they’re now in the adjacent Crocodile Museum. Kom Ombo also has engravings of what it is believed to be the first representation of medical tools and surgical instruments in the world. 20. Temple of Khnum at Esna Khnum was the Ancient Egyptian ram-headed god who created the world on his potter’s wheel, and this temple to him was built during Ptolemaic times but added to by the Romans. Because it was such a deeply religious site, inscriptions on the temple walls instruct visitors that to enter they must have trimmed fingernails and toenails, wear linen, remove body hair, wash their hands with natron (a type of salt) and not have had sex for several days (makes modern-day places of worship seem like a walk in the park). You might also like: Visiting the Pyramids of Giza - A Local's Guide to Everything You Need to Know

First off, let’s just discuss briefly what exactly is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , because I personally always had a vague idea (it was something old and cool?) without knowing the exact definition. So, to quote the United Nations themselves: “UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.” To be a World Heritage site, it has fit one of these ten criteria , and Egypt’s the proud home of 7 of these sites. So let’s go through the list together and we’ll give you our local recommendation about which of the sites you *must* see if you only have a certain amount of time in Egypt. 1. Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur Djoser Pyramid in Saqqara, part of Memphis' necropolises and pyramid fields Founded in 3000 BC, Memphis was the first capital of Ancient Egypt, and its necropolis is close to modern-day Cairo . Besides being the home of the pharaohs, and the center of the country’s administration, Memphis was considered a site sacred to the Ancient Egyptian gods. Colossal statue of Ramses the Great in Memphis Today many temples and monuments are left standing in Memphis, as well as evidence of the development of the royal tombs from their original shapes as "mastabas" until the final pyramid shape. There are more than 38 pyramids in Memphis’ Pyramids Field: including of course the Great Pyramids of Giza as well as the pyramids of Abusir, Saqqara and Dahshur. How to get there: you can easily pre-arrange a short day trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis from either your Cairo hotel or any of the tour groups you can book online. Is it a must-see : YES Read more: Visiting the Pyramids of Giza: A Local's Guide to Everything You Need to Know Saqqara, Egypt: A Local's Guide to the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs Dahshur Pyramids: A Local's Guide to the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid & Black Pyramid 2. Historic Cairo Cairo was originally founded in the 10th century, quickly becoming the new centre of the Islamic world and reaching its golden age in the 14th century. Modern Cairo has built up and around Historic Cairo, or as we locals call it, “Old Cairo”. The most famous street in Old Cairo is Moez street, called by the UN "the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world”. Here's our detailed local's guide to Moez Street . In Moez street and other places in Islamic Old Cairo, you'll find breathtaking mosques , and in Coptic Cairo , Christianity’s early stronghold in the country, you'll find centuries-old cathedrals and churches . There’s also the world-famous bazaar Khan el Khalili adjacent to Moez Street, which grew out of an original caravanserai. How to get there: it’s an easy cab ride from anywhere in Cairo. Is it a must-see: yes 3. Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis A mix of the ancient and the modern in Luxor Thebes, now modern-day Luxor , was the second capital of Ancient Egypt, after Memphis, during the Middle and New Kingdoms. Queen Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple in Ancient Thebes, now modern-day Luxor Still-standing remnants of this Nile-side capital in Upper Egypt are world-renowned temples such as Luxor Temple (the world’s largest open air museum), Karnak, Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple and the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens . How to get there: you can fly into Luxor Airport, or take a (very long) train from Cairo, or a cruise from Aswan. Is it a must-see: yes 4. Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae Abu Simbel This mind-blowing archaeological site was actually saved by UNESCO in an international effort to relocate the immense Ancient Egyptian monuments away from the flooding of the Nile river from 1960 to 1980. Philae Temple in Aswan Now safe, the temples of Ramses the Great at Abu Simbel are still as spectacular as they were when they were built around 3200 years ago, and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae Temple serenely overlooks the Nile from Aswan. How to get there: you can fly into Aswan Airport, take a (very very long) train from Cairo, or a cruise from Luxor. Is it a must-see : yes Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Today 5. Wadi el-Hitan (Whale Valley) Wadi el Hitan (Whale Valley) in Fayoum , Egypt, is home to something very strange and very cool -- whale fossils, but not your average whale; these whales had hind legs. According to UNESCO: “These fossils represent one of the major stories of evolution: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. This is the most important site in the world for the demonstration of this stage of evolution.” How to get there: drive from Cairo to Fayoum Is it a must-see: not really, unless you’re an archaeology buff or have enough time to explore Egypt at leisure. It’s obviously very cool, but if you’re tight on time, you can pass. 6. Saint Catherine Area Mount Sinai -- also known as "Gebel Moussa" In Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is Mount Sinai , or as called in Egyptian Arabic, “Gebel Moussa” (Moses’ Mountain). It’s here that the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), believe that Moses encountered the Burning Bush and received the Tablets of Law. At the foot of Mount Sinai is the Orthodox Saint Catherine Monastery , which was founded in the 6th century and is the oldest Christian monastery in the world still used for its original function. According to UNESCO: “Its walls and buildings are of great significance to studies of Byzantine architecture and the Monastery houses outstanding collections of early Christian manuscripts and icons. The rugged mountainous landscape, containing numerous archaeological and religious sites and monuments, forms a perfect backdrop to the Monastery.” How to get there: fly into Sharm El Sheikh airport and arrange a tour from there or Dahab. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Sharm. Is it a must-see: not unless you’re already nearby (meaning already in the Sinai area), or unless you’re very interested in its religious significance (or interested in hiking, because thousands of people annually make the trek up to the mountain summit, either on foot or by camel). 7. Abu Mena Abu Mena is the remnants of an early Christian holy city, built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria, around 50 km south of modern-day Alexandria . It’s believed that Menas died in either the late 3rd or early 4th century. Not much remains standing in the ancient Christian city today besides the foundation of some of its great buildings, such as the basilica. Abu Mena was put on UNESCO’s “World Heritage in Danger” list due to a rise in the water table, which made the foundations of the remaining structures unstable or collapse. How to get there: drive from Alexandria Is it a must-see: not really. Unfortunately not much remains of Abu Mena, but if you’re in Alexandria and have some spare time, it’s always good to see a World Heritage Site -- especially since it’s in danger of disappearing forever. You might also like: 10 Natural and Historical Sites in Egypt That Most People Have Never Heard Of

If you’re at all interested in Ancient Egypt (and why wouldn’t you be!), there’s absolutely no better place in the world to really immerse yourself in the remnants of that unfathomable ancient civilization than in Luxor, Egypt. Read more: 12 Most Impressive Ancient Egyptian Temples Still Standing Read more: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Day Egypt Luxor is still home to the remains of some truly mind-boggling temples, and no visit to Luxor is complete without visiting the below five. 1. Karnak Temple The temple complex of Karnak is the largest religious building ever built, and was constructed over a span of 2,000 years (it’s around 4,000 years old in total!). Construction started in the Old Kingdom and was continuously added to until the Ptolemaic era, with approximately 30 different pharaohs contributing. It’s the second most visited site in Egypt after the Pyramids of Giza . Keep in mind that Karnak is massive. Some people enjoy having a guide there to explain backstories, but others prefer to explore at their own pace - there’s no way a guide could explain everything in Karnak in a few hours. The temple complex is also home to the Open Air Karnak Museum (for more important museums in Egypt, head here .) If you’re heading to the Luxor Temple (below) after Karnak, make sure to walk down the Avenue of the Sphinxes which has connected the two temples for thousands of years. This 3 km pedestrian path is newly opened to the public, and some of the 1350 original human-headed sphinxes still line the avenue until today. Local tip: Karnak closes at sunset, but they’re open super early - 6 am! Worth considering if you’re visiting during one of the hotter months. At night they have a Sound & Light Show there, and it looks beautiful lit up, but if you want our honest opinion, we’re not huge fans of our local Sound & Light Shows. They’re kind of stuck in the ‘80s and just a tad bit cringe :D 2. Luxor Temple ​​Constructed around 1400 BC (more than 3,400 years ago), Luxor Temple differs from most other ancient Egyptian temples due to the fact that it wasn’t built for worship of a particular god or pharaoh. It was mainly used as a place where pharaohs were coronated and crowned, sometimes even conceptually (for example, Alexander the Great claimed he was crowned there but no evidence suggests he was ever there). During medieval times, the Muslim community built on the Luxor Temple site, and until now a functional mosque remains part of the temple complex (you can read more about Egypt’s most beautiful mosques here ). Local tip: Luxor Temple is open until 10 pm, so a great time to go is before sunset so you can see everything clearly, and then experience the temple all lit up at night when it gets dark. Keep in mind however that this shrewd tip is not a secret one, and sunset and nighttime is sometimes when the temple is at its most crowded. Hey, you win some, you lose some. 3. Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahri Known primarily for the mortuary temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut of the New Kingdom, Deir el Bahri was originally chosen as the location for the mortuary temple of the pharaoh who founded the Middle Kingdom, Mentuhotep II. Hatshepsut’s temple though is the star of the show, even after a lot of it was defaced by her salty stepson in an attempt to erase her from history. He obviously, you know, failed. The massive terraced monument is surrounded by a steep cliff, and it was in this cliff that archaeologists found a cache of royal mummies, moved in antiquity from the Valley of the Kings. Many of these recovered mummies are now at rest in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo , where you can go see them in the Royal Mummy Gallery. Local tip: there’s a little electric tram at the entrance that will take you up to the temple if you don’t feel like walking in the sun - once at the temple itself, there’s not much shade. 4. Medinet Habu While the Temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu doesn’t get as much airtime as Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, it’s most definitely worth seeing. While smaller, this temple has some of the most vividly colored art and deeply-engraved hieroglyphics of all the temples - and another upside, it’s usually much less crowded than the more famous temples! Ramses III is widely considered the last truly powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, and his mortuary temple dominates the archaeological site of Medinet Habu. The temple is especially known for the depictions of Ramses III defeating the ‘Sea Peoples’, invaders of Ancient Egypt whose origins are unknown. Local tip: because of the doable size of the temple and all the interesting painting and hieroglyphics, this is a good temple to have a guide with you to explain the backstories. Like most sites in Luxor, you’ll find several guides there offering their services for an agreed-upon fee. 5. Ramesseum The Ramessum is the mortuary temple of Ramses II, believed to be the most powerful pharaoh of all time. He ruled for 67 years and was known for not only being a conqueror, but an ambitious builder as well. He’s the visionary of Abu Simbel in Aswan , and before its ruin, the Ramesseum in Luxor (then-Thebes) was thought to be the most awe-inspiring temple complex on the west side of the Nile. The Ramesseum was built with the intention of being a place of worship after Ramses II died so his memory would be kept alive; it was referred to as his ‘house of one million years’. Today the remaining ruins of the Ramessum are not as impressive as the other better-preserved temples in Luxor (centuries of Nile flooding, plundering and using the site as a church for early Christians has all taken its toll), but it’s a great place to learn more about the greatest pharaoh of all time. You may also like: 10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt - As Told By Locals 7 Best Restaurants in Luxor, Egypt

So obviously none of us ever *intend* to break the law ( well…) , but when it comes to foreign countries especially, it’s always a smart idea to be on the right side of the legal system. Below are a few things that tourists might not think twice about, but are actually illegal in Egypt. It’s good to always be aware of these things just so you don’t find yourself doing something that gets you into a very unnecessary bind. We’re here to have fun, people!!! 1. Drones Unless you have explicit permission from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, you unfortunately won’t be able to get those sweet aerial views of the Pyramids that you had your eye on. It’s a bummer, but oh well. It’s also probably a good idea to leave your drone at home completely (even if you’re heading to another destination before/after Egypt) because there have been numerous reported incidents of drones being seized at Cairo Airport. You might be able to wrangle out of them seizing it, but only after an hour or two of intense questioning, and ain’t nobody got time for that. But I NEEDED that aerial shot And while fancy video equipment isn’t illegal, you’ll probably be stopped at Customs for extensive questioning regarding the equipment, so it’s best to just keep your electronic equipment limited and sweet. If you desperately need a drone for whatever reason, you can contact the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority here: info@civilaviation.gov.eg 2. Sharing an apartment or hotel room with an Egyptian of the opposite sex if you’re not married Egyptian regulations require that any Egyptian man or woman sharing a room or apartment with a member of the opposite sex have a marriage certificate. This also applies to citizens of some other Arab countries. If you’re a non-Egyptian/non-Arab (ie. you hold another passport that isn't Egyptian) and your partner is non-Egyptian/non-Arab too , then you don’t need a marriage certificate and you’re totally fine. Nationality is obviously proven by passport. For example, a hotel in Egypt won’t allow an Egyptian passport-holder and a foreign passport-holder couple to share the same room, but they would allow two foreign passport-holders. You can also share hotel rooms & apartments with Egyptian friends of the same sex without any issue. 3. Photography near military facilities If you’re wandering around with your camera, make sure you keep an eye out for military buildings or sites because photography there is prohibited for national security. If you find yourself accidentally taking pictures near a military facility (in your defense, you probably had no idea that’s what it was), you might find officers come up to you suddenly and demand that you stop shooting/filming. They also might require you to show them the pictures you took and delete them. Usually the problem won’t be escalated beyond that, but make sure you comply with their demands to stop shooting and to delete the pictures taken so that you’re left to continue on your merry way as soon as possible. 4. The rainbow flag In 2017 there was an uproar in Egypt over the raising of the rainbow flag at a music concert. Homosexuality isn’t *technically* illegal in Egypt, but many of the LGBTQ community have been questioned and arrested under “debauchery laws” . Many Egyptians view homosexuality as immoral and a crime, and after the 2017 concert the rainbow flag was banned alongside any media statements that supported homosexuality. This does not mean at all that gay or LGBTQ tourists shouldn’t come to Egypt. It just means that vocally supporting homosexuality or waving the rainbow flag in a public setting isn’t the smartest thing to do. PDA between gay couples in public spaces is also something you should definitely try to avoid. 5. Bringing certain medications into the country There have been legal incidents before regarding bringing in certain medication, especially in large amounts, like when a British tourist was arrested in Hurghada Airport for bringing in 290 tablets of the painkiller Tramadol. While Tramadol is legal in the UK, it’s banned in Egypt due to the large amount of people who abuse it as a substitute for heroin. If there’s certain prescription medications you *must* bring with you into the country, make sure that a) you don’t bring in a large quantity, just the amount you need, and b) that you have a medical certificate from your doctor. Egypt offers a huge array of medication over the counter so it’s very easy to procure basic meds, painkillers, antibiotics, heart medicine, etc. 6. Drinking on Islamic holidays (except in hotels) During the month of Ramadan and a couple other days of the year (Islamic New Year, for example), the restaurants and bars of the city become dry, meaning it’s illegal for them to serve alcohol to anyone, including foreigners. Even retail shops like Drinkies will be closed for the full month of Ramadan; for the singular days, the ban on alcohol usually lasts for 24 hours, from sunset to sunset. The exception to this is hotels. If you’re a foreign-passport holder, you’re allowed to drink alcohol in hotel restaurants, bars, the lobby, your room, etc. 7. Severely criticizing Egypt publicly or on social media (while you’re in the country) This is a relatively fluid case so we’re not sure to what extent the government cracks down on public bad-mouthers, but we’ll give you the heads up anyway. In June 2018 a Lebanese tourist was sentenced to 8 years in prison because she posted a Facebook video calling Egypt a “son of a bitch country”. She was arrested at Cairo Airport prior to her flight home. So our advice to you would be, that no matter your *personal* thoughts on the country, keep it cute while you’re on Egyptian soil and then let it rip once you’re back home (but hopefully that won’t be the case!!!) Local recommendation: while the above “illegal things” might make you feel worried or anxious about walking the straight and narrow while in Egypt, there’s really no reason to be worried. 99% of tourists have zero brushes with the law, and officers tend to be understanding towards accidental offenders.

Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or just any regular day of the week (the best option, in our opinion!), sometimes it’s nice to have dinner and a drink with your partner far away from the usual Cairo chaos of most restaurants. Cairo has thousands of places to eat, and most are crowded, loud and brightly-lit – not exactly the ambiance you’re going for if you’re on a date. And while we still love some of those chaotic restaurants (Hagoga, anyone?), today we’re focusing on where to go if you’re looking for good food, wine AND a great date vibe. So without further ado: 1. Sachi Sachi Park St. Location: Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed While we love the terrace of Sachi Park St. in Sheikh Zayed, honestly either of Sachi’s two branches (the original being in Heliopolis) would make a great date spot. They deliver upscale Mediterranean fusion and sushi in gorgeous dimly-lit interiors. For more info and to reserve: Sachi Read: Nightlife in Heliopolis - 10 Best Restaurants, Bars & Pubs 2. Crimson Location: Zamalek If you want your date spot to incorporate a view, then look no further than Crimson, which has one of the best sweeping Nile views in the city. It’s equally as nice for a day date as it is for a night one - and they even serve breakfast! Make sure you snag one of the tables right at the end of the terrace. For more info and to reserve: Crimson Read: 7 Best Bars, Restobars & Pubs in Zamalek 3. Estro Location: Maadi This Italian rooftop restaurant & bar in Maadi is the perfect place to go during the day right before sunset - if you’re lucky and the skies are clear, you can actually see in the distance not only the Pyramids of Giza , but the Saqqara AND Dahshur Pyramids too! For more info and reservations: Estro Read: 12 Chill Places in Maadi for Dinner & Drinks 4. Kazoku Location: New Cairo This Japanese-inspired restaurant and bar in the Swan Lake Compound of New Cairo is brought to you by the same restaurateurs that brought us Sachi. This indoor/outdoor restaurant is known for its sushi and creative cocktails. For more info and reservations: Kazoku Read: 9 Best Restaurant & Bars for Dinner and Drinks in New Cairo 5. Villa Belle Epoque Location: Maadi This converted villa-turned-boutique hotel is hidden down one of Maadi’s little leafy streets, making it the perfect spot for a date away from crowds. Villa Belle Epoque’s restaurant serves its meals next to their small pool, surrounded by trees and flowers. For more info and reservations: Villa Belle Epoque 6. Izakaya Location: 6 October City Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) is a great date spot for nights when the weather is warm enough to sit outdoors in their wooden terrace lit up by fairy lights. Avoid weekend nights though if you’re looking for a quieter vibe. For more info and reservations: Izakaya 7. Pier 88 Location: Zamalek This Nile view restaurant & bar is not only one of our Cairo favorites, but Gouna favorites too. They also have a branch in 6 October, but our favorite is the Zamalek one - it's a great spot for day date or weeknights (not Tuesday though!). Tuesday and weekends get loud and more dancey, so keep that in mind unless that's the vibe you're looking for. Try to score a table on their outdoor deck if you can! For more info and reservations: Pier 88 You may also like: 7 Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

Sachi Park St. Cairo has literally thousands of restaurants, and while sometimes you’re in the mood for something casual (read: 7 Best Places to Try Egyptian Street Food in Cairo ), sometimes there’s a special occasion or you’re just looking for something ambient and elevated. Cairo didn’t used to be known for its fine dining scene, but that’s really changed over the past few years. There’s a good handful of ‘fancy’ restaurants, but not all of them give you bang for your buck, so we filtered through the overpriced and underwhelming to bring you the very best of Cairo’s fine dining scene, in terms of both food and overall experience. Local tip: while some of the 5 star luxury hotels in Cairo have some great fine dining options, we decided to stick to the restaurants that manage to thrive outside of the usual hotel scene. So get your appetite and wallet ready, and here we go: Sachi Park St. Located on a rooftop in Sheikh Zayed is Sachi Park St., sister restaurant of Sachi in Heliopolis (both frequently ranked in the annual MENA Top 50 Restaurants list ). This expansive restaurant is divided into indoor and outdoor seating, each beautifully decorated with its own bar. The menu is international fusion, so you’ll find everything from sushi to duck linguine to Chilean sea bass. The service is impeccable and they have a signature cocktail menu. For more info and reservations: Sachi's IG Pier 88 Pier 88 is a high-end Italian restaurant and bar that sits on the upper level of a docked boat in Zamalek overlooking the Nile, and is equally pleasant for both daytime and nighttime dining. During the day it’s one of those quietly sophisticated restaurants, complete with an open kitchen and drinks overlooking the water. At night it gets more of a nightlife feel to it, with Tuesday nights being the ‘in nights’, when the music gets turned up and there’s occasionally dancing by the tables. Local tip: there’s also another branch of Pier 88 in Pyramids Hills in 6th October, and its original branch in El Gouna on the Red Sea. For more info and reservations: Pier 88's IG Khufu's If you're looking for incredible food with incredible Pyramid views (and who isn't?), then you're in luck -- both are to be had at Khufu's, serving contemporary elevated Egyptian cuisine. Khufu's is actually right in the Giza Pyramid Plateau, making its views truly unbeatable. At Khufu's, you can either go for breakfast or lunch, and you have your choice from set menus (including a vegetarian menu), all featuring beloved Egyptian classics but with a contemporary twist. For more info and reservations: Khufu's website Izakaya Cairo’s first Nikkei restaurant. What’s Nikkei, you ask? It’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion, born from the migrant Japanese community living in Peru and over decades adding their touch to traditional Peruvian dishes. It’s become so beloved and recognized that not only does this fusion have its own name -Nikkei- but it’s actually spread half a world away, all the way to Egypt, thanks to Izakaya, which is in Palm Hills in 6th October. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and it’s a beautiful place to chill, eat and have a cocktail. For more info and reservations: Izakaya's IG Moghul Room We know we said we'd stay away from hotel restaurants, but this one is special! Found in the Marriott Mena House is one of Cairo’s best Indian restaurants, the Moghul Room. This restaurant has been a firm Cairo favorite for decades now, and it never falters when it comes to quality, taste and ambience. Oh and by the way – did we mention that it has Pyramid views through its windows? Granted, eating Indian cuisine at the foot of Ancient Egyptian pyramids might seem incongruous, but if you’re in the mood for your favorite Indian classics, there’s no better place to enjoy it. They also have an extensive (albeit expensive) international wine list. You may also like: 7 Best Pyramid View Restaurants The Lemon Tree & Co If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now). Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion, and is by far one of the most beautiful restaurants and bars in Cairo, with indoor/outdoor vibes and overlooking the park at the One Ninety compound. For more info and reservations: Lemon Tree's IG Kazoku Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their menu features everything from sea scallop nori tacos to salmon steak in a wasabi beurre blanc to slow-cooked glazed short ribs in teriyaki sauce. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 2 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Reservations recommended. For more info and reservations: Kazoku's IG You may also like: Best Nile View Restaurants in Cairo

While Cairo itself isn’t a coastal city, it’s close enough to both the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea for us to be able to readily access a wide variety of fresh and tasty seafood. Egyptians in general really enjoy our local seafood, but because it tends to be expensive, we save it usually for special occasions or big family lunches at a restaurant every now and then. Cairo has a handful of seafood restaurants, and like anything else, some are hits and some are misses. Here are what we consider the best seafood restaurants in Cairo, in no particular order: Bahary Locations: New Cairo & Nasr City Serving up seafood to the east side of Cairo since 1995. Some of Bahary’s specialities: fried butterfly shrimp, dynamite shrimp, signature seafood soup, crunchy fried calamari, shrimp pesto pasta, grilled sea bream with zesty lemon oil, and lots of great seafood casseroles. For the menu and more info: Bahary Catchy Location: Zamalek Catchy is a hidden gem on the Nile Maxim Boat in Zamalek (across from the Marriott). You wouldn’t know it’s there unless you go looking for it, and you’ll be glad you did. Besides their great seafood and service, they also have beautiful Nile views because they’re right on the water. Alcohol and shisha is also served there. For the menu and more info: Catchy Seagull Locations : Dokki, New Cairo, Madinaty, Sheikh Zayed Seagull has been a family favorite seafood restaurant since 1985! Their Dokki branch is our personal favorite, considering it’s also on a docked boat right on the Nile, across from the Cairo Tower. Their Madinaty and Sheikh Zayed branches are more ‘upscale’ however when it comes to decor. Same solid seafood throughout though. For the menu and more info: Seagull   El Rayes Ibn Hamido Locations: Heliopolis, Nasr City, Mokattam, Sayeda Zeinab Another seafood player that’s been in the game for over 30 years. El Rayes Ibn Hamido is known more commonly by its original name, Ibn Hamido, but they officially changed it once unaffiliated restaurants started popping up in Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh with the same name. El Rayes Ibn Hamido originally started as just a small takeaway spot, then grew enough to be able to provide home delivery, and now they have multiple dine-in branches.  For the menu and more info: El Rayes Ibn Hamido Fish & Chips Location: Downtown This is another hidden gem seafood restaurant as opposed to the other big chain names. Fish & Chips is a small taverna-style restaurant in Downtown Cairo. The restaurant might be small, but it’s really cute and kitschy on the inside and very Instagrammable. Try their shrimp molokheya! For the menu and more info: Fish & Chips Asmak Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Mohandiseen, Giza One of the most popular seafood restaurant chains in Cairo, with a wide variety of seafood that you can choose yourself from the fresh catch on ice and have cooked in whichever way you prefer. They’re so beloved that they opened two different branches on Egypt’s Mediterranean North Coast as well (read more:  10 Best Restaurants in Marassi, Egypt ). For the menu and more info: Asmak Flying Fish Location: Agouza Ah, the oldest Cairo seafood restaurant on this list. Flying Fish originally opened its doors in 1979 – so we’re talking almost 50 years at this point. Any restaurant that’s been open and thriving for almost 50 years deserves a spot on any ‘best’ list, and Flying Fish is no different. They’re still known for their high quality seafood, service and iconic stained glass windows. For the menu and more info: Flying Fish You may also like: 7 Best Sushi and Japanese Restaurants in Cairo

It’s not news to anyone that sushi and other Japanese cuisine have taken the world by storm in the past few decades, and Cairo, Egypt is no different. Sure, it took us Egyptians a minute to warm up to it when we were first introduced, but fast forward to present day and sushi restaurants are a dime a dozen here in Cairo.  Two of the biggest sushi restaurant chains here in Egypt are Mori Sushi and Garnell, which is where most locals get their sushi, but in our humble opinion it’s not the best. The highest quality, most enjoyable Japanese cuisine in the city isn’t at a chain restaurant, but usually way smaller establishments with actual Japanese chefs and authentic ingredients.  Local tip: because you get what you pay for, most of the restaurants on this list aren’t cheap – but you’ll be getting your money’s worth at least. Makino Location: Zamalek Tucked away into the side of the Hilton Zamalek, hidden from sight unless you’re looking for it, is Makino. Makino is very well-known with Japanese expats living in Cairo, but remains a hidden gem  to Egyptian locals and tourists. Their kitchen is staffed by Japanese chefs who not only serve up authentic sushi, sashimi, makimono and daily bento, but also udon, ramen and curry katsu. Alcohol is served. Local tip:  They’re open daily from noon to 11 pm, but close for an hour every day from 4-5 pm. For the menu and more info:   Makino Reif Kushiyaki Location: New Cairo Reif Kushiyaki is a restaurant famous for its "unconventional Japanese street food" in Dubai, and it opened its first Egyptian branch in 5A by Waterway in New Cairo ( read more:   7 Best Restaurants in 5A ). It’s named after Reif Othman (owner and celebrity chef of the Dubai branch) and kushiyaki , which is grilled meat on skewers. They have indoor and outdoor seating and their menu is a fun mix of appetizers, gyoza, sandos, different kushi skewers, makimono, yakisoba, claypot rice bowls and other Japanese street food faves. Alcohol served and reservations recommended for the weekend. For the menu and more info:   Reif Kushiyaki Sapporo Location: Dokki Sapporo has been the Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino’s most famous restaurant for decades. And they were so well known for their teppanyaki, that when we were much younger, we actually thought the restaurant’s name was ‘Teppanyaki’! We were young and dumb, what can we say. Fast forward 20 years later, and you can still order excellent teppanyaki at Sapporo (either a set menu or a la carte) for dinner AND a show. They also have a large variety of sushi, which you can order either in ‘combinations’ or by piece. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Sapporo L’Asiatique Location: Zamalek Similar to Sapporo above, any restaurant that can stand the test of time for decades and still be loved is truly a testament that they’re one of the best in the game. The award-winning L’Asiatique on the Le Pacha 1901 Nile boat in Zamalek has been serving sushi and other Far Eastern dishes for over 20 years. The restaurant is calm with lanterns and low Japanese tables, and kids aren’t allowed after 7 pm. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Le Pacha 1901 Kazoku Location: New Cairo Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their menu features everything from sea scallop nori tacos to salmon steak in a wasabi beurre blanc to slow-cooked glazed short ribs in teriyaki sauce. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 2 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar). Reservations recommended. For the menu and more info:   Kazoku Shogun Location: Nasr City You can find Shogun at the Intercontinental City Stars Hotel, but it’s also accessible through the City Stars Mall. This long-time favorite has a quiet and soothing atmosphere, complete with a fish tank in the middle of the restaurant for even more zen vibes. They have separate teppanyaki and yakitori menus, and their a la carte menu has izakaya style tapas, don, soba, udon and of course their signature sushi rolls and sashimi. Alcohol served. For the menu and more info: Shogun Sushimi By K Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed If you don’t want to spend hotel or fine dining prices, but are tired of all the mediocre casual sushi restaurants Cairo has to offer (and there are many), then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Sushimi by K. What started as a small sushi catering business quickly grew in popularity to an actual brick and mortar restaurant in New Cairo, with its second branch in Park St.  Read more: 7 Best Restaurants in Park St. West, Sheikh Zayed Sushimi by K prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, including non-frozen salmon and bluefin tuna. Their sushi menu is massive, alongside a few Japanese main courses for anyone in your group who isn’t on the sushi train. For the menu and more info:   Sushimi by K You may also like: 7 Best Seafood Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt

Listen, Egypt is a country with a 7,000 year old civilization, 5,000+ year old modern cities , 1,000+ year old mosques , and some of the oldest functional monasteries in the world . And while our hotels might not be quite that old, they bear witness to many decades of modern Egyptian history -- and are still around to tell the tale. Here are some of Egypt's most historic and fascinating hotels: 1. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino Location: Zamalek, Cairo Established: 1869 Original name: Palace Al Gezirah This modern-day Zamalek favorite was built by Khedive Ismail over 150 years ago to be a guest palace for foreign royalty and other VIPs visiting during the Suez Canal’s inauguration celebrations. Khedive Ismail decided to design the palace in the neoclassical style which was popular in Europe at the time. He signed on Austrian architect Julius Franz (later known as Franz Bey) and French architect De Curel Del Rosso, who had also designed the Abdeen Palace (for more awesome Cairo museums you need to check out, read our article here ). The interiors were done by German architect Carl von Diebitsch. Interesting story: the building’s own architect, Franz Bey, a man apparently not known for his modesty, said the Palace Al Gezirah was “the most beautiful building of modern Arabic style in its category”. Its first royal guests, the Prince and Princess of Wales, called the palace “uselessly extravagant” (lol). The palace operated as the exclusive Gezirah Palace Hotel until it was seized by the government in 1879 for unpaid debt and acquired by the Egyptian Hotels Company. It was later nationalized in 1969 during the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser, and became the Omar Khayyam hotel, later to be taken over by Marriott International in the 1970s. They were the ones who undertook the project of adding two large Nile-facing towers to the palace. The Cairo Marriott today The Cairo Marriott that stands today is still the same palace that housed Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, and hosted the wedding of Khedive Ismail’s son which lasted for 40 days; many of the original artwork and furniture can be found in the hotel’s reception rooms and lounges. Cairo Marriott's website . 2. Marriott Mena House From a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com Location: Giza Plateau, Greater Cairo Established: 1869 Original name: Mena House Family Hotel 1869 must have been a busy year for Khedive Ismail, because not only did he build the Gezirah Palace we spoke about above, but he also created the hunting lodge at the foot of the Pyramids which would later become the famous Mena House hotel . A drawing room, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com When Empress Eugenie came to Cairo for the Suez Canal inauguration, it wasn’t enough that Khedive Ismail built a whole guest palace for her and other royalty to stay at; he also built a road that led from Cairo to the Great Pyramids of Giza, and built a royal hunting lodge for her to rest and have lunch at during her Pyramids trip. The dining hall, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com The hunting lodge was then bought by a wealthy English couple on their honeymoon, Frederick and Jessie Head, because Frederick thought the air there to be beneficial (one living in modern-day Cairo can only laugh and/or cry at the irony). The couple enlarged the lodge into an estate and named it Mena House, after the first pharaoh of Egypt. Egypt's first swimming pool, from a Mena House advertising booklet, circa 1900. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com After Frederick died, the house was bought by another English couple and turned into a hotel in 1887 --- the “Mena House Family Hotel”. A swimming pool was added a few years later, becoming the first swimming pool in Egypt. The hotel changed hands several times throughout the years before its management was acquired by the Marriott. Mariott Mena House today Interesting story: tons of famous politicians, celebrities and royalty stayed at the Mena House over the years, including Frank Sinatra, who performed at a charity event at the Pyramids in 1979 and sang “ Strangers on the Nile ”. Marriott Mena House's website . 3. Sofitel Winter Palace Winter Palace, circa 1910. Photo credit: hotelphotoarchive.com Location: Luxor Established: 1886/1907 Original name: Winter Palace Hotel Interesting story: so, the official hotel website for the Sofitel Winter Palace states that the hotel opened in 1886, and they went so far as to literally name one of their restaurants ‘1886’ -- talk about doubling down. But apparently, according to historians, that’s false -- the hotel actually opened its doors in 1907, according to, among other things, the announcement of its opening in the Egyptian Gazette newspaper in 1907. Today’s modern management might have gotten its founding date confused with the Luxor Hotel, another historic hotel that used to be right next to the Winter Palace. Oops. An S-23 Empire class flying boat delivering mail to the Winter Palace. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com / Gaddis Collection The Winter Palace Hotel was created by Cairo hoteliers in collaboration with Thomas Cook and Sons, and its construction was done by an Italian company. In January 1907, they celebrated its inauguration by a picnic at the Valley of the Kings. Lord Carnarvon with local dignitaries on the terrace of the Winter Palace. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com What really put the Winter Palace on the map was Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Reporters, foreign press and interested visitors from all over the world poured into Luxor and the Winter Palace was used as Carter’s newsroom to keep everyone up to speed on the discovery. Sofitel Winter Palace today Sofitel Winter Palace's website . 4. Windsor Hotel Location: Downtown Cairo Established: 1893 Original name: Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse **Editor's note: Sad news -- the Windsor has recently permanently closed. We'll keep this listing though for those who are interested in its history. RIP Windsor. The Windsor in Downtown Cairo was built back in 1893 as part of a baths complex for the royal family, and its architecture is very reminiscent of the interior courtyards of the caravanserai Wekalet el Ghouri in Old Cairo, next to Khan el Khalili . People call it ‘colonial-era neo-Mamluk architecture’ which is a mouthful, but there you go. Windsor Hotel, today. Photo credit: Jacobs Cindi Windsor was mainly known for being a British Officers Club during the First World War, and little had changed decor-wise since those days, albeit much older and more faded. Until recently, their vintage ‘Barrel Lounge’ was popular with Downtown bar-hoppers -- it got its name due to the seats being made of old wooden barrels. The Barrel Lounge, today After its stint as the British Officers Club, Windsor was bought by a Swiss hotelier with plans to make it an annex of the world-famous Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo (RIP). It was named the Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse until it was taken over in 1962 by the Doss family. Interesting story: the Windsor’s manually-operated wooden elevator (which was still in use until it's closing) was the oldest elevator in Egypt and one of the oldest operating elevators of its type in the world. Windsor Hotel's website . 5. Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com Location: Aswan Established : 1899 Original name: Cataract Hotel This world-famous hotel was built in 1899 by Thomas Cook and Sons, after the Cairo-Aswan railway was built in 1898 and there was a sudden influx of visitors and and not enough hotels. They bought nine feddans from the government and hired architect Henri Favarger, the same architect who designed the Mena House. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com It was an instant hit and quickly garnered a lot of famous guests over the years, including Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill and Princess Diana. It became literally the stuff of ‘legends’ as its current name suggests, when Agatha Christie used it as the backdrop for her famous novel, Death on the Nile . The 1978 movie they made out of the book was shot there too (so was the famous Egyptian series ‘Grand Hotel’). Interesting story: when the construction workers were leveling the ground to build the hotel, they came across 200 mummies buried there. The sad part is that they destroyed them with their shovels. The Sofitel Legend Old Cataract today Sofitel Legend Old Cataract's website . A full city guide to Aswan is here. 6. Paradise Inn Le Metropole Le Metropole facing the square, 1937 Location: Alexandria Established: 1902 Original name: Le Metropole Even though the hotel Le Metropole was built in the early 20th century by Greek and Italian architects, the history regarding the piece of land where the hotel was built is *much* older. Like, around 2,000 years older! Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who probably needs no introduction, built the Caesareum of Alexandria, a temple to honor her lover Julius Caesar. After her suicide, Roman emperor Augustus turned the Caesareum into his own cult temple, and brought over two obelisks from Heliopolis to adorn the exterior. Even though it was Augustus who had brought them over, they became known as ‘Cleopatra’s Needles’. The temple later became a church in the 4th century AD, and was destroyed in 912 AD. Cleopatra’s Needles were given away in an economic and political move by Khedive Mohammed Ali in 1879 -- one obelisk now stands in Central Park, NYC, and the other on the Thames embankment in London. The hotel that was built where the obelisks once stood is none other than Le Metropole, and instead of the Caesareum, there’s now a statue of Saad Zaghloul, a nationalist leader. The hotel today is dated but still carries a lot of its original turn of the 20th century charm, as well as original paintings and antiques. Paradise Inn Le Metropole today Interesting story: the Greek-Alexandrian poet Constantine Cavafy, who was one of the most prominent poets of the 1920s and 1930s, spent the last 25 years of his life in Le Metropole, writing poems. A suite in his name remains there until today. Paradise Inn Le Metropole's website . 7. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace Location: Alexandria Established: 1906 Original name: Windsor Palace This classic Alexandrian hotel is not at all related to the Windsor Hotel of Downtown Cairo -- apparently we just really like the name around here. When it was built in 1906, it was named after John Windsor, one of the ten partners in the new hotel. They thought 'Windsor Palace’ sounded aristocratic, which is the vibe they were aiming for. The Windsor Palace, 1934 The Windsor Palace was in quite the enviable location back 100 years ago -- it was close to the Ramleh train station and Alexandria’s old port harbor, as well as the shopping district and seaside promenades. Since it was right on the Mediterranean Sea, it was definitely more of a ‘resort hotel’ back in the day than it is now. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace today Like Le Metropole and The Windsor in Cairo, the current hotel that stands today has seen much better days, but holds on to its original paintings, antiques and choice furnishings, to give modern guests a feel of what the hotel was like back in its golden days. Paradise Inn Windsor Palace's website . 8. Semiramis Intercontinental Semiramis in 1940 Location: Garden City, Cairo Established: 1907 Original name: Semiramis If you want to get technical, the Semiramis Intercontinental that stands today isn’t the same Semiramis that was built in 1907 -- that one got demolished in 1976 to make way for the current, modern hotel. But it’s the same location and bears the same name, so we’re going to consider it historical just the same. Photo credit: grandhotelsegypt.com The Semiramis was built by Swiss hoteliers and named for an ancient queen of Babylon, and was actually the very first hotel built on the Nile in Cairo -- most others were built in the Ezbakiya area or Downtown Cairo. It was four floors and had views of the pyramids, the Citadel, the Moqattam Hills, and obviously the Nile (this was before there was even a Nile Corniche!). The Semiramis was nicknamed ‘the queen of the Nile’. Semiramis and the Shepheard Hotel, half a mile from the original world-famous Shepheard's Hotel that burned down in 1952 Interesting story: T.E. Lawrence (you know, Lawrence of Arabia) stayed there in 1921 and wrote to his mother that the Semiramis was “very expensive and luxurious: horrible place: makes me Bolshevik.” Rupyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book , also stayed at the Semiramis several times, and wrote “The Swiss are the only people who have taken the trouble to master the art of hotel-keeping. Consequently, in the things that really matter – beds, baths, and victuals –they control Egypt”. Semiramis Intercontinental today Semiramis Intercontinental's website . 9. Steigenberger Cecil Hotel Location: Alexandria Established: 1929 Original name: Cecil Hotel The Cecil Hotel was originally a ‘romantic’ colonial-style hotel opened by a Jewish French-Egyptian family, the Metzgers, on the same square near the sea where Cleopatra’s Needles were (yes, the Cecil and Le Metropole are neighbors). Ramleh Station and Cecil Hotel, 1930s It was extremely popular in its heyday and hosted everyone from Umm Kalthoum to Josephine Baker and Al Capone. During World War II, it was used as headquarters for British Intelligence (not so romantic anymore, we guess). The Metzger family were expelled from the country in 1957, and 50 years later in 2007 won a court case over ownership of the Cecil Hotel, which they then sold to the Egyptian government. Interesting story: the Cecil Hotel is written about in Naguib Mahfouz’s famous novel Miramar , as well as Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet . Steigenberger Cecil Hotel today Steigenberger Cecil Hotel's website . 10. Helnan Auberge Auberge in 1945 Location: Fayoum Established: 1937 Original name: Auberge du Lac Fayoum, about an hour and a half from Cairo, has always been known as a great nature retreat and break from the city. And that was probably what King Farouk had in mind when he built a hunting and fishing lodge in Fayoum in 1937. The lodge, which was built on the shores of Lake Qarun, was used as a base for his hunting expeditions and parties, and King Farouk built an old port there as well. The lodge later became the Auberge du Lac Hotel, and the old port still stands. And while the hotel was always popular with hunting and fishing aficionados, it also was the setting for important political meetings, such as King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud and Winston Churchill in 1945. Winston Churchill and King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud in Auberge Du Lac, 1945 Interesting story: the Auberge was also the darling of the Egyptian film industry back in the day, and many Egyptian black-and-white (and regular) movies were shot there, like هذا هو الحب ( That’s Love ) in 1958, شمس لا تغيب ( A Sun That Never Sets ) in 1959, سر امرأة (A Woman’s Secret) in 1960, ست البنات ( The Girl of All Girls ) in 1961, and الكل عاوز يحب ( Everyone Wants Love ) in 1975, among many others. Movie filmed at Auberge Helnan, a Scandinavian hotel group, took over Auberge du Lac in the 1980s and renamed it Helnan Auberge. Helnan Auberge today Helnan Auberge's website . 11. Helnan Palestine Hotel Location: Alexandria Established: 1964 Original name: Palestine Hotel This hotel located in the former royal palace of El Montaza in Alexandria was built in 6 months in 1964 under orders from President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He wanted to build a hotel specifically to house all the Arab royalty, heads of state and dignitaries who were flying to Alexandria to attend the second ever Arab League Summit, and needless to say, he wanted to provide the very best in luxury, comfort and views; he handpicked the location of the hotel himself. Anwar Sadat at the Palestine Hotel It was at this summit that they formally approved the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (hence the name of the hotel). El Montaza is 350 acres of gardens on the Mediterranean Sea, and was the summer palace of King Farouk; its ownership was transferred to the government in 1952. Helnan took over the Palestine Hotel’s management in 1987. Interesting story: for the 2002 opening of the new Library of Alexandria, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina, presidents, royalty and celebrities flew in to attend and stayed at the Helnan Palestine, including Jacques Chirac, Sofia the Queen of Spain, and Rania the Queen of Jordan. Helnan Palestine's website . Interested in more modern historical spots in Egypt? Check out these 14 Egyptian dessert shops and patisseries more than 50 years old .

First, let’s be clear about something -- there’s adventure, and then there’s extreme adventure, and Egypt offers both. Regular adventure is things like sand-boarding or a hot air balloon or camping in Fayoum -- all fun, but nothing that will *really* get your heart pounding. But if you’re one of those people who needs that adrenaline rush, who’s comfortable being uncomfortable and actually seeks it out -- well then we have just the activities for you. 1. Gilf El Kebir Expedition Photo credit: Wilderness Ventures Egypt Duration: 14 days Not a trip for the faint-hearted. Gilf El Kebir is a massive limestone plateau deep in the remote wilderness of the southwestern corner of Egypt, around 150 km from the borders of both the Libyan and Sudanese deserts. The area is considered uncharted territory, and historic and prehistoric discoveries are being made there until present day. People visit Gilf El Kebir to see its caves with rock art dating back 10,000 years , like the Cave of the Beasts and Cave of the Swimmers. It’s also considered the last ‘undiscovered’ stretch of Egypt. Cave of the Beasts To reach the plateau, you have to drive off-road deep into the Great Sand Sea, past the far-flung oases of Farafra and Dakhla and away from all human civilization. Keep in mind that once you approach Gilf El Kebir, it’s total wilderness -- no phone signal, no place to buy water, no place to buy gasoline, hours upon hours away from a hospital, so you’ll need to prepare your trip far in advance. Details: 4x4 vehicles need to be stocked with food and water that outlast your trip in the case of emergency, gasoline needs to be bottled and packed, and you’ll need medical supplies, satellite phones and special GPS systems. You also *must* have a guide with you and in some cases, security as well. How to do it: Destination 31 arranges expeditions along with other adventure tour groups like Wilderness Ventures Egypt. 2. Kayaking from Aswan to Luxor Duration: 7 days Yep, that’s right. You can actually paddle the 200 km down the Nile between these two ancient Egyptian cities -- but it takes time, physical fitness and an extreme sense of adventure. The Nile Kayak Club arranges regular Aswan- Luxor kayaking expeditions, for seven days (five of those will be kayaking). You’ll make different stops throughout the trip to check out and explore the world-famous monuments and other lesser-known points of interest, and camp/sleep and eat on a boat for 5 of those days. Details: You’ll be paddling for around 5 hours a day, divided into a longer morning session and a shorter late afternoon/sunset session. If this extreme adventure seems up your alley, then make sure first that you’re physically able to paddle for hours at a time, because it’s quite a workout. How to do it: get in touch with The Nile Kayak Club and register for their next kayaking trip. 3. Skydiving at the Pyramids Photo credit: Bruno Brokken Duration: the event lasts 3 days If you’re one of those people who gets a rush from the idea of throwing yourself out of a plane, then this is a level up for you: you can throw yourself out of the plane while looking down over a great wonder of the world . Details: Skydive Egypt organizes a drop zone over the Pyramids once or twice annually, but you need to be a certified skydiver with a valid and current B license (over 100 jumps). If you’re not certified but want to be, Skydive Egypt also arranges skydiving trips in places like Kenya or Morocco throughout the year for Egyptians, so you’re ready for when it’s Pyramids skydiving time. SkyDive High however is an international extreme adventure tour company that can arrange for tandem jumps for beginners at the Pyramids, but are also charging $10,000 for it, so… How to do it: register on Skydive Egypt’s Facebook page or contact them for more details/questions. 4. Diving with sharks in the Red Sea Duration: variable When you think of shark diving, you might picture being lowered into the ocean in a cage with Great Whites attacking you from all angles in South Africa. And while this is appealing for some, the reality of diving with sharks in the Red Sea in Egypt is a lot more peaceful and safe, while still giving you that extreme adrenaline rush you crave -- and really shows why we need to do our best to protect Egypt’s sharks. Non-Egyptians aren’t usually aware of the *amazing* diving and aquatic life we have in Egypt, even though we top international dive site rankings year after year. Read our article about the best Egyptian dive sites for all levels . If you want to see these beautiful fish in their natural habitat and get your heart beating a little faster, there are several different dive sites dotting the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast known for their shark sightings. Whale shark at El Ikhwa Islands Details: There are over 30 types of shark found in the Red Sea, and most are not dangerous to humans, although you want to obviously give these large fish the respect and space they deserve -- don’t get too close and don’t try to touch them. You can see sharks ranging from reef sharks to hammerheads to even whale sharks if you’re lucky -- you can research the best seasons to see which type of shark and where. Famous shark dive sites include El Ikhwa Islands and Daedalus Reef among many others. How to do it: research which area suits the season you’re in, and contact a diving center there. Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam are all good starting points. 5. Rock climbing and bouldering in Dahab Photo credit: Desert Divers Duration: half day or full day If you love being outdoors and working up a sweat but in an extreme kind of way, then rock climbing and bouldering in Dahab’s desert mountains might be for you. Rock climbing is pretty self-explanatory, but don’t expect the easy indoor gym kind you might be used to -- we’re talking real crags and mountain faces. The good news is that in Dahab there’s the option of taking rock climbing courses for beginners, intermediate levels and experts; something for everyone. Details: Most rock climbing in Sinai happens in the winter months because of the moderate temperatures, but if you’re in Dahab in the summer, it’s still possible to climb, but just in the very early morning before the sun starts sizzling. Bouldering in Sinai As for bouldering, what is it exactly, you may ask? Essentially bouldering is almost like a real-life obstacle course; you have to get from Point A to Point B by climbing over immense boulders obstructing your way. There’s no equipment for bouldering, so it’s basically you scaling these huge stone obstructions using your body alone. How to do it : contact a tour company like Desert Divers , who can arrange everything from instructors to rock climbing rental equipment to transportation. 6. Dirt biking in the desert Duration: 1 day If you’ve always wanted to let loose on a dirt bike away from paved roads, cars and people, then head over to Hurghada (full guide here ) where you can go wild off-roading in the desert on a dirt bike (or quad bike if a dirt bike is a little too intense for you). You’ll go over dunes, valleys and varied desert terrain with a guide who decides the route based on your experience. It’s sandy, dusty and you’ll be sore for days after, but the adrenaline rush is real and hours will go by in a flash. You can also read our post about 25 fun things to do in Hurghada and El Gouna for more activity ideas. Details: You can rent the motorbikes (KTM 530) along with helmets and other protective gear from the adventure tour company. Local tip: scarves are essential unless you want to inhale a ton of dust. The tour company can arrange pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Hurghada and will take care of the bike, equipment and guide. How to do it: contact Bike Egypt for reservations and any questions. 7. Long-distance hiking and trekking in Sinai Duration: from 12 days to 38 days If enjoy hiking but are looking for the extreme version of it, then look no further than the Sinai Trail. This wilderness trek is no joke -- it’s for serious hikers only who are willing to live the Bedouin, desert nomad lifestyle for extended periods of time. Details: The Sinai Trail has different route options: there’s the Serabit el Khadem circuit, which is for 12 days, and covers hundreds of years of history. You’ll be hiking for hours led by Bedouin guides, and sleep under the stars and eat by campfire. There’s also the incredible 38 day Sinai Thru hike, which is divided into 3 parts (Part 1 and 2 are for 12 days, and Part 3 is for 14 days. You can sign up for any part of the hike... or even do the whole thing). According to the Sinai Trail website: “The first part is from Ras Shetan on the Gulf of Aqaba coast to Ein Kidd where there is a beautiful oasis with palms and bamboo. This first section of the route will be guided by the Tarabin and Muzeina tribes. On the second part the route continues from Ein Kidd to the highlands of St. Katherine. You will walk through narrow wadis, cross high passes and climb some of the highest peaks in Egypt with the Awlad Said and Jebeleya tribe. The third part runs from St. Katherine to Serabit el Khadem via some of the Sinai’s most remote wadis and mountains, with the Jebeleya, Awlad Said, Gararsha, Hamada, Sowalha and Alegat tribe.” Keep in mind that throughout these hikes, you’ll be far from settlements, bathrooms, electricity, running water and other creature comforts. They provide 3 meals a day and you can bring your own snacks, but it’s not for picky eaters. There are no beds -- it’s camping all the way -- and you *must* be physically fit so you can keep up for more than a week of intense trekking. Update: you can now also do a similar hiking trip in the Red Sea Mountains in the eastern desert near Hurghada, called the Red Sea Mountain Trail . It was ranked one of Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Places . If this sounds like heaven on earth to you, then you’re in for one of the best experiences of your life. How to do it : contact Sinai Trail or Red Sea Mountain Trail for full itineraries, prices, details and reservations. 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Khan El Khalili, the sprawling market/bazaar/souq in the heart of Old Cairo, is a massive hodgepodge of old and new, from beautiful centuries-old Islamic architecture to cheap made-in-China Ramadan lanterns with Mo Salah’s face on them. And while it’s indeed a tourist attraction , most of Khan El Khalili’s patrons are Egyptian locals, so the market is bustling at almost all hours of the day and night, in all seasons. Now, first things first: before we get into the nitty-gritty, let us just tell you one thing first: Khan el Khalili is *a lot*. Whether it’s a lot in a positive way or a lot in a negative way really depends on the eye of the beholder. It’s crowded, chaotic and loud, which can either be fun or overwhelming, but in most cases, usually a mix of both. Brief History of Khan El Khalili The khan in Cairo, by Charles Roberston (1887) In the 14th century, the then-Sultan Barquq’s (his mosque is one of the 10 most beautiful mosques in Egypt ) Master of Stables, Jaharkas El Khalili, built a large caravanserai (khan) where Khan El Khalili now stands -- it was essentially a building that housed merchants and their different goods. In later years, other sultans added their own khans/ wekala s (another word for caravanserai) until the whole area became a center for trade, both local and foreign, in the late 15th century. Khan El Khalili today is an integral part of Old Cairo, and the remaining medieval architecture and surrounding areas like Moez Street are reason enough to go (a UN study found that Moez Street has the highest concentration of medieval Islamic architectural treasures in the world). This area, called Historic Cairo, is one of Egypt's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Read our detailed local's guide to Moez Street here. You may also like: Cairo's City of the Dead - A Local's Guide Today’s Khan El Khalili: What to expect Imagine a labyrinth of tiny alleys stuffed to the brim with shops and vendors peddling all kinds of treasures and all kinds of crap. You’ll find everything from great quality gold and silver jewelry and painstakingly intricate Egyptian handcrafts to plastic bob-headed dogs (who buys those things, anyway?) and everything in between. It’s the best place in Egypt to buy a gift for someone (or, you know, a gift for yourself) and to stock up on kitschy cheap souvenirs for everyone back home in the office. There are also weekly whirling dervish shows and other cultural/folkloric events . Getting There Al Hussein Mosque & Square Khan El Khalili is in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo , and you can get there easily by either cab or Uber (expect a lot of traffic in this area though). Another way of getting there is taking the metro and getting off at the Ataba stop, but then it’s another 20 minutes or so walk from there and not the most pleasant, especially for women, so you’ve been warned. The easiest, most direct entrance is at the Al-Hussein Square where the Al-Hussein Mosque is, so if you just tell your cab driver to drop you off there or plug it into your Uber destination, you should be able to orient yourself quickly once there. Buying/Bargaining If we were to list all the different and sometimes very random things you can buy in Khan el Khalili, we’d be here all night. Suffice to say they have something for everyone, so budget in a couple hours at least to roam around and shop. Shop owners and other touts will call out to you all sorts of things, including the always popular “How can I take your money today?”. Some are a bit pushy, but if you’re politely firm in your refusal of whatever it is they’re trying to push on you, they’ll keep it moving pretty quickly. There are also people who roam around trying to sell you trinkets, mugs with names on them (but not yours), henna tattoos, leopard-print lingerie (don’t ask), used books and essentially anything a person can carry around. In the case of buying anything from either a shop or a roaming trinket hawker, feel free to bargain. If bargaining isn’t your sharpest skill, then just think of what amount of money you feel you would be ok spending on whatever you’re negotiating over and stick to that. Also don’t be afraid to turn around and leave if the price they’re asking for is too much -- they sometimes try to guilt you into paying their price by quickly wrapping up the item as if you already bought it even before you settle on a price. If you ever feel like the shopkeeper is being too pushy, then just leave. Don’t let anyone intimidate you into buying something you don’t want. Types of people you’ll find there Besides the vendors and shopkeepers, you’ll also find random ‘performers’, and we’re using the term loosely. From loud (very loud) singers to tabla drummers, these energetic people wander the alleys and will unabashedly ask for a ‘tip’ from anyone who seems to be enjoying their performance. Sadly, a fact of life in Egypt is that you’ll see beggars, including children, and Khan El Khalili is no different. Roaming food vendors -- we like these guys. Indulge in some Egyptian street snacks like roasted peanuts, baked sweet potatoes or termes (lupin beans) while you shop. Sweet potato vendor Egyptian locals. While this might seem a bit ‘duh’, for the many visitors to Cairo who spend most of their time at tourists spots and their hotels, this is one of the few times that you can really immerse yourself with Egyptian locals. Most locals in Khan El Khalili are busy going about buying this-and-that from so-and-so, herding their kids through the crowds, negotiating prices in booming voices, or laughing, talking and smoking (probably a combination of the three) in one of the various cafes. Just random fun weirdos. People-watching in Khan El Khalili is a cross between the circus, New York City, and 1001 Arabian Nights. Cafes and Restaurants Naguib Mahfouz Cafe Khan El Khalili has quite a few restaurants and cafes, but don’t bother looking for anything that looks familiar -- the fare here is decidedly Egyptian. Khan El Khalili Restaurant & Naguib Mahfouz Cafe (or just Naguib Mahfouz Cafe for short ) is the most famous restaurant and cafe in the market due to its being run by the Oberoi hotel group -- they have consistently good food and swankier surroundings then most other restaurants in the area. On weekends and other high traffic times there might be a wait though, and it’s pricier than other cafes in Khan El Khalili. For more restaurants in Cairo recommended for both tourists and locals alike, head here . El Fishawy is another extremely famous cafe, due to its being open for more than 200 years. Expect to be squeezed into any open chair they have in the alley, even if you end up sharing a table with a stranger, because this place gets crowded, fast. Stop here for a shisha or a quick drink, and we do mean quick, because the waiters will try to hustle you out as soon as you’re finished drinking. A good spot for people watching. Read: Vintage Cairo - 17 of the Oldest Restaurants, Cafes & Bars in the City In the outer square, overlooking Al-Hussein mosque, you’ll find a bunch more restaurants and cafes. Local tip: if you’re a meat lover, try the kebab and kofta from El Dahhan, followed by rice pudding for dessert at El Malky. Do not and we repeat ~do not~ expect anything fancy -- if chaos and questionable hygiene standards put a damper on your appetite, then maybe stick to Naguib Mahfouz cafe (or skip eating in Khan El Khalili in general). Safety The good news is, Khan El Khalili is a lot of bark and no bite -- meaning, it looks crowded and chaotic (and is), but there is very little actual danger posed to tourists. Just use normal common sense and keep your bags close and money/valuables zipped somewhere safe. There are also touristic police (both in uniform and in plain clothes) roaming the alleys at all hours, so if for any reason you run into any trouble, just head in their direction. Leaving Leaving is as straightforward as arriving -- head to the main square next to Al-Hussein mosque, where you’ll find one big entrance/exit. There are a bunch of cabs there (be sure to either agree on a price before you hop in, or make sure the meter is running) and it’s also an easy location for an Uber to pick you up from. You might also like: Moez Street in Old Cairo: A Detailed Local's Guide Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide Happy shopping!

Whenever you travel to a new country, one of the most important things is trying their local cuisine. And for beer lovers, trying new local beers can be just as interesting – or even more so, depending on who you’re asking! Read more: 15 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try While Egypt is a Muslim and relatively conservative country, alcohol is indeed legal and beer has been flowing here for literally thousands of years – the Ancient Egyptians absolutely loved their beer, and it was consumed daily from pharaohs to farmers (and even by children!). Modern-day Egypt’s drinking laws are not as lax as back 5,000 years ago (the legal drinking age here is now 21), but beer is easily bought in Egypt, whether from local alcohol shops such as Drinkies or Cheers , or bars, restaurants and hotels. Disclaimer: not all restaurants in Egypt serve beer, but many in Cairo and the beach cities do, and they have bars galore. Keep in mind though that alcohol is not served during the month of Ramadan or other Islamic holidays except at hotels if you’re a non-Egyptian. So let’s dive right into our local Egyptian beers: Stella Stella is by far the long-time darling of local beer drinkers. It first hit shelves in Egypt back in 1897, making it almost 120 years old (and has no relation to the Belgian beer Stella Artois). The Egyptian Stella’s presence in the past century’s old movies, shows and pop culture has made the bottle and its star logo (Stella means ‘star’ in Latin and Italian) a national drinking icon. Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 4.5% Sizes available: 330 ml & 500 ml Taste: Stella is (in our humble opinion) our favorite local beer. It’s not heavy at all, but not too light that you feel like you’re drinking something watered down. It’s especially excellent when you drink it outdoors in the heat and it’s ice cold. Sakara Sakara is a close second when it comes to the preferred beer of Egyptians. Named after the Saqqara necropolis (although using different spelling), the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt’s oldest pyramid, stands proudly on the bottle so it’s always a nice photo opportunity if you’re the type who likes to take pictures of your international beer-ing. Sakara comes in 3 different variations: 1) Sakara Gold Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 4% Sizes available: 500 ml Taste: Sakara Gold claims it has a more ‘European’ taste (whatever that means), but to us it tastes pretty similar to Stella. Its alcohol content is a bit less so it’s a tad on the lighter side, but overall a really good and refreshing beer with not much fuss. 2) Sakara El-King 10 Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 10% Sizes available: 500 ml Taste: In general we’re not a fan of high alcohol content beers, and while Sakara El-King 10 is drinkable, to us it’s by no means enjoyable. Give it a try though if you’re looking for something with quite a kick. 3) Sakara El-King 15 Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 15% Sizes available: 500 ml Taste: no… just no. Meister Max For those looking for a beer with more of a bite than Stella and Sakara Gold, Meister Max might be up your alley. It’s higher in alcohol content and although it’s a lager, it has more of an IPA feel to it. Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 8% Sizes available: 330 ml & 500 ml Taste: Meister Max is definitely more bitter than Stella and Sakara, so if you like the taste of IPAs, then you might like this one. The taste tends to start out pretty strong, but mellows out a few sips in. Egyptian beers that were discontinued: Luxor Classic Luxor XXX Sakara Weizen Meister Max Mango Meister Max Pineapple Sphinx In the case that you tried local Egyptian beer and it didn’t do it for you (how could you??), you’ll also find two international brands widely distributed (but produced in Egypt): 1) Heineken Type of beer: lager Alcohol content: 5% Sizes available: 300 ml & 500 ml (and on draft in certain bars) 2) Desperados Type of beer: tequila-flavored lager Alcohol content: 5.9% Sizes available: 330 ml So now that you know a thing or two about Egyptian beer, here are the best bars and nightspots in Cairo to try them, divided by neighborhood: Best Bars in Zamalek Best Bars in Maadi Best Bars in Downtown Cairo Best Bars in Sheikh Zayed & 6 October Best Bars in New Cairo Best Bars in Heliopolis

Tomb of Wahty. Photo credit: Mohamed Abdel Ghany/Reuters No question about it -- Egypt is just one of those bucket list countries , with sights that are impossible to fathom unless you see them for yourself. But as we all know, sometimes crossing something off your bucket list is easier said than done! So whether you’re stuck at home with no travel plans in sight, or are just curious to see some of Egypt’s most famous historical, religious and cultural sites, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has done us all a solid and created 3D virtual tours where you can explore these mysterious, intriguing places for free from the comfort of your own home. Local tip: if the virtual tour page says it's unable to load the first time, just refresh the page. King Tut Hall Imagine this but without the crowds. See the iconic King Tut burial mask in the Cairo Museum’s King Tut Hall, alongside his golden coffins and other treasures from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. King Tut Hall virtual tour link . Museum of Islamic Art This art museum in Cairo holds over 100,000 pieces of Islamic heritage from not only Egypt but also Arab and non-Arab countries alike. Many of the pieces were gathered from the first Islamic capitals of Egypt (Fustat and Askar), prior to the rise of Cairo. Pieces were also selected from the Delta, Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan . Museum of Islamic Art virtual tour link . Abu Serga Church The Abu Serga church in Coptic Cairo is believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus Christ) stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. The spot is now the crypt of the church, 10 meters deep. Abu Serga virtul tour link . Tomb of Ti The mastaba tomb of the ancient Egyptian official Ti in the Saqqara necropolis outside of Cairo. Ti's tomb is known for its wall depictions of daily life in the Old Kingdom, including scenes of farming, boat-building and poultry-fattening. Tomb of Ti virtual tour link . Manasterly Palace & Nile Meter The palace of Hassan Fouad Al Manasterly Pasha, the governor of Cairo in 1854 AD, located on the Nile River island of Al Rawda in Cairo. On the grounds is also a Nilometer built in 1861 AD, to measure the Nile during the annual floods. Manasterly Palace and Nilometer virtual tour link . Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotep Tomb An unusual ‘double tomb’ mastaba in the Saqqara necropolis. It’s not common to find a tomb for two people, so it’s theorized that these two men were brothers, and perhaps twins (one theory is that they were actually conjoined twins). Niankh-Khnum and Khnumhotelp's tomb virtual tour link . Mohammed Ali Pasha Mosque Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Cairo Citadel is one of Cairo’s landmarks and dominates the Eastern skyline, both during the day and then at night when it’s lit up. It was commissioned by Mohammed Ali Pasha, an Ottoman Albanian military commander who became Khedive of Egypt. Mohamed Ali Mosque virtual tour link . The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser - Colonnade Photo credit: Aidan McRae Thomson The entrance colonnade to the pyramid complex of Djoser. The oldest Egyptian pyramid to date , ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The colonnade is 20 pairs of columns with 24 small chambers between each, which are thought maybe to represent the nomes of Upper and Lower Egypt, and may have once held statues of the pharaoh or the gods. Step Pyramid Colonnade virtual tour link here . Gayer-Andersen Museum The Gayer-Andersen Museum is found in a beautiful historical house in Old Cairo, built in 1631. It’s a great remnant of Islamic architecture at the time. The house belonged to several different wealthy families over the years, but gained its name during its stint as home of British officer Gayer Andersen in 1935. He amassed a stunning collection of art, furniture, carpets and Egyptian handicrafts that remain in the house until present day. Gayer-Andersen virtual tour link . Unas Pyramid The smallest remaining pyramid of the Old Kingdom, but notable due to the discovery of the ‘Pyramids Texts’ inscribed inside on its walls. The Pyramids Texts were funerary texts and spells for the pharaoh’s afterlife, which would later become the basis of the Book of the Dead. Unas Pyramid virtual tour link . Al-Fath Mosque The Royal Al-Fath Mosque is annexed to Abdeen Palace in Cairo, built in the 19th century in an Ottoman style similar to the mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha. The Al-Fath Mosque virtual tour link . Tomb of Menna Menna was an ancient Egyptian official, and his tomb is one of the most colorful and best-preserved in Thebes (modern-day Luxor). Tomb of Menna virtual tour link . Red Monastery This 1,400 year old Coptic Orthodox church in Sohag was once one of Byzantine Egypt’s most beautiful monasteries. It was in ruins for decades, but was recently restored to its former glory. Red Monastery virtual tour link . Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq The mosque-madrassa of Al Zaher Barquq (also known as the Sultan Barquq mosque) is a medieval religious complex in the Moez street area in Old Cairo, adjacent to Khan el Khalili (for our full Khan el Khalili guide, head here ). It’s comprised of a mosque, madrassa, mausoleum and khanqah (a building for Sufi spiritual retreat). Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq virtual tour link . Tomb of Queen Meresankh III Photo credit: The Giza Project at Harvard University Meresankh III was the granddaughter of Khufu (the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid), and is believed to be the wife of either Khafre or Menkaure (the pharaohs of the other two Pyramids of Giza). One of the most beloved features of her mastaba tomb is the ten large statues of women that are carved out of the northern wall, thought to represent Meresankh III, her mother and her daughters. Tomb of Meresankh III virtual tour link . Ben Ezra Synagogue Originally a Coptic Church established in 882 AD, Abraham Ben Ezra from Jerusalem bought the church and converted it to a synagogue. It’s believed to be the spot where the baby Moses was found. The synagogue went through a series of renovations over the centuries, with the current structure dating back to 1892. It’s built in the style of a basilica, with two floors: the first floor dedicated to men, and the 2nd dedicated to women. It now functions as a museum. Ben Ezra Synagogue virtual tour link . Beni Hasan A necropolis dedicated to ancient military leaders and provincial rulers, today found in the modern city of Minya in Upper Egypt. There are about 39 tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2050 BC to 1710 BC). Beni Hasan virtual tour link . Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa These catacombs in Alexandria are a rare mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman architecture and monuments and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa virtual tour link . Tomb of Ramses VI Also known as KV9, this tomb (originally built by Ramses V but used by Ramses VI) is one of the best-preserved in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Tomb of Ramses VI virtual tour link . Coptic Museum Known as the best place to learn about Coptic history in Egypt, this museum hosts over 1,600 pieces, dating back to the early days of Coptic Christianity in the 3rd and 4th century AD. This museum is known for its Bibles written in the 11th and 13th centuries in both Arabic and the Coptic language on deerskin, as well as Christian writings on papyrus dating back to the 6th century. Coptic Museum virtual tour link . Tomb of Wahty Photo credit: Mohamed Abdel Ghany/Reuters Recently discovered in 2018, Wahty (also spelled Wahtye) was an Old Kingdom priest and royal official, and his 4,400 year old tomb was found mainly intact in the Saqqara necropolis. Tomb of Wahty virtual tour link . Tomb of Mehu Not far from the Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara is the Old Kingdom mastaba tomb of Mehu, a royal vizier. Tomb of Mehu virtual tour link . You may also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List: 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

Red Pyramid & Bent Pyramid at Dahshur We have two relatively safe assumptions to make: a) most of the world knows about the Great Pyramids of Giza and b) most of the world has very little idea about the 100+ other pyramids that Egypt is home to. Yup, when they started calling Egypt the Land of the Pyramids, they really weren’t kidding (not very sure who ‘they’ are but that’s besides the point). All of these pyramids are thousands of years old, and are tombs to different pharaohs and their consorts. ( Read: 8 Best Ancient Egyptian Tomb Sites in Modern Egypt ) And while no one is trying to compete with the Giza Pyramids’ majesty, there are a few lesser-known pyramids that are most definitely worth a visit. 1. The Step Pyramid Pharaoh: Djoser Built: ~2670 BC (almost 4,700 years old) Necropolis: Saqqara Starting off with the next most-recognizable pyramid after the ones at the Giza plateau. This beauty is the oldest Egyptian pyramid to date -- ‘The Step Pyramid’ is thought of as the initial prototype for the later smooth-sided pyramids. The architect was Djoser’s vizier Imhotep, thought of now as the founding father of Egyptian pyramids, and the design is six mastabas of decreasing size atop one another. Mastabas were how pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty and VIPs were buried before the invention of the pyramids -- mastabas were rectangular, flat-roofed tombs. While there are other pyramids at the Saqqara necropolis, Djoser is by far the jewel in Saqqara’s crown. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Local's Guide to Visiting the Step Pyramid of Djoser & the Saqqara Tombs 2. The Red Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2585 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur Not very far from the Giza and Saqqara pyramids you’ll find the necropolis of Dahshur, home to three different pyramids on this list. Read more: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide The Red Pyramid received its moniker due to its reddish hue, although it wasn’t always red. The entire pyramid used to be encased in white limestone, which you can still see at the base. The white limestone was actually stripped from the pyramid in the Middle Ages (can you believe it?) to construct buildings in Cairo. The layer underneath was red limestone, which you can see until today. The Red Pyramid is believed to be the first successful attempt at creating a smooth-sided pyramid, and was Pharaoh Sneferu’s third pyramid. 3. The Bent Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2600 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur Another of Sneferu’s Dahshur pyramids, the Bent Pyramid was built right before the Red Pyramid. Archaeologists believe that the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between the step pyramid and smooth-sided pyramid. The ‘bent’ appearance is due to its base having a 54 degree inclination, but the top section having a narrower 43 degree angle. There are different theories as to why it was built this way: one was that as the builders reached the top, the top section started to show instability, so they narrowed the angle. Another theory is that they anticipated Sneferu’s death approaching, so they wanted to finish his pyramid as soon as possible. A third theory is that they were trying to avoid the same colossal disaster that occured with Sneferu’s first pyramid, the Meidum pyramid (below), which collapsed mid-construction. 4. The Black Pyramid Pharaoh: Amenemhat III Built: ~1860 AD (around 3,800 years ago) Necropolis: Dahshur This pyramid, while technically ruined, is still definitely worth seeing when you head to Dahshur to see the Red and Bent pyramids, just because it looks so different and vaguely creepy. The Black Pyramid is believed to be the first pyramid in Egypt that was intended to house both the pharaoh and his queens. It’s called the Black Pyramid due to is “dark, decaying appearance”. It collapsed partially due to it being made out of mudbrick instead of traditional stone (although it was encased in limestone), and partially due to its low elevation allowing Nile water to seep into the walls, ending with the structure cracking and sinking into the clay ground. 5. Meidum Pyramid Pharaoh: Sneferu Built: ~2600 BC (around 4,600 years ago) Necropolis: Meidum Meidum is believed to be the second oldest pyramid, after the step pyramid of Djoser. It was Sneferu’s first attempt at building a pyramid and unfortunately not a successful one -- the top collapsed pre-completion. Archaeologists have a theory that the pyramid’s architect was trying to implement Imhotep’s step pyramid design (as seen in the step pyramid of Djoser), but tried to modify the original design halfway through. 6. Fayoum Pyramids Pyramids: Hawara and El Lahun Pharaohs: Amenemhat III (Hawara pyramid) and Senusret II (Lahun pyramid) Built: ~1860 AB (Hawara) and ~1897 BC (El Lahun) This entry is a two-for-one. Not many people, including Egyptian locals, know that not only is Fayoum Egypt’s oldest city (and one of the world’s oldest) , but is also home to several pyramids (the nearby Meidum pyramid, while in Beni Suef, is usually part of the Fayoum pyramid tour as well). While Hawara and El Lahun were built at two different times for two different pharaohs, they were both made of mudbrick with limestone casing, and the casing was stripped off of both pyramids, leading to their final deterioration. 7. Abusir Pyramids Abusir pyramids with their shinier Giza predecessors in the background Pharaohs: Niuserre, Neferirkare Kakai & Sahure Built: 5th Dynasty (around 4,500 years ago) If the above listing was a two-for-one, then this is your lucky day, because Abusir is a three-for-one. Technically, Abusir is home to fourteen pyramids, but only three of them are considered the “major” pyramids of Abusir. They were styled after the Great Pyramids of Giza, but due to their lower-quality local limestone casing, they haven’t stood the test of time as well as their predecessors. Theories around why the construction of these pyramids was inferior to those of the Giza plateau vary from a declining economy to the decrease of the absolute power of Pharaoh. Interesting local tip: there are two pyramids in North Sudan, built when a Kushite (Nubian) pharaoh ruled Egypt. While these pyramids are geographically in Sudan, they are historically considered Egyptian. You might also like: Ancient Egypt Bucket List - 20 Must-See Ancient Egyptian Sites

There’s an increasingly popular worldwide trend in gift-giving: buying someone an experience, instead of a thing. Meaning basically you buy someone an actual activity that you can either do together or they can do themselves, instead of, oh I don’t know, a mug for example. The great thing about experience gifts is that they’re perfect for those people who already seem to have everything, or someone who prefers to ‘do’ instead of ‘have’. So that special person that you want to gift an experience to -- what do they enjoy? Are they athletic? A foodie? Someone who loves art or history? Wherever their interests may lie, Cairo offers an array of fun experiences all across the board. We pulled together some of our most recommended experiences, based on factors like ease of logistics (no lengthy travel/overnight stay needed), price (nothing ridiculously expensive) and the overall fun factor. So instead of dropping a money bomb on some inanimate object that they may or may not secretly hate, try creating a memory with some of Cairo’s best experiences. 1. Rent a private yacht to cruise the Nile A good experience gift for: Someone who likes romantic or chill settings Someone who likes privacy and getting away from it all Everybody knows about feluccas, but you can really ramp up the experience by renting out your own private Nile yacht for as many hours as you want. The M/Y Christina yacht has been in business since 1992, and their staff knows exactly how to provide great service. Christina gives you the option of bringing your own food and drinks (they provide plates, cutlery, glasses and even ice), or can do catering for you. They have a great sound system where you can hook up your own music as well. As for seating, you have the whole yacht at your disposal -- front deck, back deck and inner saloon if it gets too chilly. They also have two different bathrooms (is anything worse than having a boat trip ruined because of your bladder?!). The yacht takes anything from one person to 25, so it’s up to you if you want to gift someone a more private, one-on-one cruise or something where you can invite friends. To reserve: M/Y Christina Yacht 2. A snow day at Ski Egypt A good experience gift for: Someone who likes to be active Someone who likes doing new things Ski Egypt is Africa’s first ski resort with the world’s largest indoor snow park, and buying someone a one-day ticket or even a set of skiing lessons is a great option for someone who’s either never experienced snow, or alternately, has experienced it and misses it. Activities you can do at Ski Egypt: skiing for both beginners and more advanced skiers, snowboarding, tube runs, bobsledding, zorb balls and ice caves. For more information: Ski Egypt 3. “Walk Like An Egyptian” Walking Tour A good experience gift for: A non-Egyptian friend interested in getting to know Cairo An Egyptian local who’d love to learn more about the hidden gems of Cairo There’s so much interesting history in Cairo that we locals just waltz by daily without even noticing slash knowing -- and some non-Egyptians don’t even know that there’s waaaay more to see in Cairo than just the pyramids, museum and Nile . If you have a person in your life who loves Egyptian history, art and architecture, then booking a private tour or a group walking tour with Walk Like An Egyptian might be right up their alley. These highly-recommended tour guides offer all sorts of cool walking tours in Cairo, and you can request private tours to the sights of your choice as well. They also offer outside-of-Cairo tours (even to lesser-visited destinations like Rasheed and Minya) and take care of everything from transportation to accommodation. For pricing, booking and more details: Walk Like An Egyptian 4. Kayak on the Nile with the Nile Kayak Club A good experience gift for: Someone who enjoys sports and being outdoors Someone who has good physical fitness You don’t need to be part of a rowing team to try kayaking down the Nile -- the Nile Kayak Club offers weekend kayaking sessions in Cairo, ranging from a 1 hour introductory course around Dahab Island near Maadi, or a 3 hour “Cairo Crossing” ride for the more advanced. If you have someone in your life who likes being active and trying new things, then book them a session and see them paddle off into the sunset. Nile Kayak Club also arranges kayaking trips between Luxor and Aswan for the hardcore kayakers. For more information and pricing: Nile Kayak Club 5. A Farm Picnic at Sara’s Organic Food Farm A good experience gift for: Someone who enjoys being out in nature Someone who believes in the farm-to-plate movement and eating clean Sara’s Organic Food is an organic, pesticide-free range of seasonal fruit and vegetables found in Cairo’s high-end retail markets, and they make the farm-to-plate concept quite literal with their monthly open-air picnics and harvest festivals on the farm. All you need to do is book a place in the upcoming picnic or event, and you’re guaranteed a full, stress-free day on a scenic farm. They provide vegetarian snacks, daily picks from the field, freshly baked bread and dips, and you can bring any food you need to complete your picnic. Kids can also feed the animals and go on tractor rides. They also have sporadic dinners and brunches with guest chefs. To book a spot or for more info : Sara's Organic Food 6. A Day Trip of Sandboarding, BBQ and Safari in Fayoum A good experience gift for: Someone who likes adventure activities Someone who likes mini-trips The Sandboarding Cairo Club regularly arranges day trips from Cairo to Fayoum for a day of sandboarding, safari and BBQ. They take care of transportation (the group meets in Dokki and moves from there) and all other logistics. The program includes: -Transportation via 4x4 vehicles -Visiting Wadi El-Rayan waterfalls -Safari -Sandboarding at the Magic Lake -BBQ lunch -Campfire & roasted marshmallows -Unlimited water & soft drinks -All tickets and permits For booking and more info: Sandboarding Cairo Club 7. Downtown Food Tour with Bellies En-Route A good experience gift for: Foodies Visitors to Egypt who want to experience authentic Egyptian food Read more: 15 Local Egyptian Foods You Need To Try Whether the person you want to gift is an Egyptian food aficionado or an adventurous Egyptian food virgin, this local food tour is guaranteed to hit the spot. Bellies En-Route offers a Downtown food tour, a Heliopolis food tour, and a 'Women of Egypt Food & Shopping Tour'. They avoid tourist traps and intertwine different aspects of Egyptian history and culture as well. You can book a spot in an upcoming group tour (max 6 people), or book a private tour. For booking and more info: Bellies En-Route You might also like: 7 Extreme Adventure Experiences in Egypt For Adrenaline Junkies

So many places, so little time -- it’s the traveler’s routine woe once setting foot in a new city or country. And have you noticed that it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re there for two days or two weeks, there always seems to be something you didn’t get a chance to do? Cairo is definitely going to be one of those places; it’s legit teeming with sights worth seeing and places worth exploring, and even locals such as ourselves have needed years to really uncover all that this city has to offer. We have them all listed here in the Top 10 Things To Do in Cairo . But since chances are you’re going to be tight on time, we tried to break down as best we could the sights that you *must* see in Cairo, the sights that you should try very hard to see, and the sights that you can skip if you just don’t have the time (that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth seeing though, don’t get it twisted!!!) What You MUST SEE in Cairo: 1. The Great Pyramids of Giza This one is obviously a no-brainer. I mean, if you’re in Cairo and opt out of seeing the last standing Ancient Wonder of the World, then that’s a personal choice and I respect it. But why would you?! Out of the 80+ pyramids (some sources cite that they’re 100+) found in Egypt, the Giza Pyramids are the most famous. The Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the largest Egyptian pyramid, and the only remaining wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The sphinx is the largest monolith statue in the world, and is also located on the Giza Plateau. Here's 9 other pyramids (besides the Pyramids of Giza) you should see if you have extra time . What you absolutely need to read before going: Visiting The Pyramids of Giza: A Local’s Guide To Everything You Need To Know 2. The Grand Egyptian Museum Overlooking the Great Pyramids, The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is something we 100% recommend incorporating into your Cairo visit, even if you're not the museum type. GEM is the largest archaeological museum in the world, and a lthough the long-awaited King Tut treasure collection is not open to the public yet, GEM is home to over 100,00 Ancient Egyptian artifacts equally worth visiting. For more cool museums in Cairo, read 9 Museums in Cairo You Need to Visit At Least Once.   3. Khan el Khalili & Moez Street This sprawling souq is not just a bazaar where you can buy jewelry, antiques, handicrafts and souvenirs -- it’s also a piece of history, dating back to the 14th century when it was a large caravanserai, housing merchants and their wares. For a our full local's guide to Khan el Khalili, head here . Khan el Khalili today is an integral part of Old Cairo, and the architecture and surrounding areas like Moez Street are reason enough to go (a UN study found that Moez Street has the highest concentration of medieval Islamic architectural treasures in the world). Here's our detailed local's guide to Moez St reet . Local tip: go at night and taking a shopping break to enjoy tea and shisha at Naguib Mahfouz Cafe or Fishawi Cafe. 4. Nile Felucca While obviously a felucca isn’t a sight in and of itself, the Nile definitely is, and the best way to experience it and to get better perspective of the city in general, is while floating leisurely in a felucca. A felucca is a small sailboat that you rent out by half hour or an hour, and you can just kick back and relax while the felucca ‘captain’ steers you through the calm waters. And that’s part of the eternal appeal of the Nile -- no matter the chaos happening around you, it’s easy to immerse yourself in the fact that you’re sailing down the lifeline of a 7000 year old civilization. What you should try really, really hard to see: Saqqara & Dahshur Pyramids Located about 30 km outside Cairo, Saqqara (or Sakkara) is a vast burial ground, serving as a necropolis for Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis. Memphis is now an open-air museum of sorts, but it’s Saqqara where you’ll find the famous step pyramid of Djoser, dating even further back than the Pyramids of Giza. Saqqara also hosts an impressive number of ‘mastaba’ tombs. Read more: Saqqara, Egypt - A Full Guide to the Step Pyramid of Djoser and Saqqara Tombs I f you have extra time, go the full mile and travel a little further to Dahshur, where you can see other really cool pyramids older than the ones at Giza, like the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. Dahshur is close to Saqqara and easily seen together in one half-day trip. Read more: Dahshur Pyramids - A Local's Guide to the Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid and Black Pyramid Cairo Citadel One of the world's greatest monuments to medieval warfare, as well as a highly visible landmark on Cairo's Eastern skyline, the Citadel houses a number of historical mosques (like the Muhammed Ali mosque pictured above) and museums. Built in 1176 by Salah El Din to protect the city from crusaders, the Citadel has been one of the most dominating architectural presences in Cairo for centuries. Islamic Cairo Ibn Tulun mosque Islamic Cairo is home to some of the most beautiful mosques in the world, like Sultan Hassan and Al Rifai. Also in Islamic Cairo is Ibn Tulun mosque, one of the largest and oldest mosques in Egypt. Local tip: while you’re in Islamic Cairo, make sure you check out the Gayer-Anderson Museum , one of the oldest and best-preserved homes from the medieval period. Check out our article on the ten most beautiful mosques in Egypt . Coptic Cairo Coptic Cairo is an area of Old Cairo established around 400 AD which served as a stronghold for Christianity in Egypt, and is home to beautiful sites like the Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in Cairo. It’s dedicated to the Patron Saint of Egypt, St. George, and rests on the bastion of the Roman gate of the Babylon fortress. There’s also the Coptic Museum, which holds approximately 15,000 pieces and contains the world's largest collection of Coptic artifacts and artwork. Displaying a rich mixture of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman traditions, the objects are grouped into different mediums, such as stonework, woodwork, metalwork, textiles and manuscripts. For more beautiful churches, cathedrals and monasteries in Egypt, head here . Read more: Coptic Cairo - A Detailed Local's Guide What you can skip till next time: Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids Using the sphinx as the narrator of Egypt’s ancient history and the pyramids as a backdrop, the show is carried out in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Russian and plays three times a night, in three different languages. Call beforehand to check the time of the performance you would like to attend; private viewing times can also be arranged. It's kind of cheesy to be honest but you might like it if you're into its 1980s/1990s vibe. The Pharaonic Village This place is great if you have kids, kind of touristy and inauthentic if you don't. Just outside of Cairo’s city center along the banks of the Nile, visitors can sail aboard barges down a network of canals to view recreations of Ancient Egyptian times. With a group of actors, accurate reproductions of buildings, clothing and lifestyle, the age of the Pharaohs is (kinda) brought to life. If you’re into the kitsch, then be sure to take a picture there before you leave, dressed as a pharaoh! You can also tour the Dr. Ragab Papyrus Museum, the largest floating museum in the world where you can see firsthand the ancient Egyptian art of papyrus paper-making. Cairo Tower Standing at 187 meters, the Cairo tower allows visitors to witness some awesome views of the city. Located on the Gezira island of Zamalek , this granite lotus-inspired structure has views extending as far as the Muqattam hills and outskirts of the city where the Giza pyramids stand. You might also like: Where to Go in Egypt - 10 Best Egyptian Cities and Destinations

Whether you’ve never been to Egypt and are looking for the honeymoon of a lifetime, or an Egyptian looking to celebrate your marriage in the most romantic, luxurious spots that Egypt has to offer, then this Egyptian honeymoon destination list is for you. Read more: 8 Best Egyptian Beach Holiday Destinations We broke down each destination based on what kind of honeymoon you’re looking for, and we recommend some of the best honeymoon hotels in each destination to make your research just a little bit easier. We opted for more adult, 5 star accommodations but there are lots of other budget options for each destination if you’re on a tighter budget. Happy honeymoon! Sahl Hasheesh Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh Sahl Hasheesh is ideal for honeymooners who: want an excellent beach and 5 star luxury in a quiet, private area Best honeymoon hotels in Sahl Hasheesh: The Oberoi Beach Resort , Baron Palace Sahl Haheesh This resort town was built on a bay in the Red Sea south of Hurghada back in the 1990s, and is known for its beautiful stretch of coastline and long boardwalk. Because this area is dedicated primarily to resorts, each hotel has its own private beachfront and is protected from the usual hustle and bustle of Hurghada beachgoers, lending an air of seclusion and privacy. Private pool at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh One of the best hotels in Sahl Hasheesh for honeymooners is the Oberoi Beach Resort. Not only does it have 5 star luxury restaurants and facilities across the board, it’s an all-suite hotel perfect for couples. Their grand suites even have their own private pool per suite, plus bathtubs that overlook private gardens. Sahl Hasheesh honeymoon activities: swimming & sunbathing at private beaches & pools, spas, couple massages, yoga, Red Sea boat trips , snorkeling and diving (for all levels) Sharm el Sheikh Sharm el Sheikh is ideal for honeymooners who: want an all-inclusive beach holiday with tons of restaurants and activities without having to leave the hotel Best honeymoon hotel in Sharm el Sheikh: Rixos Sharm El Sheikh (Ultra All Inclusive Adult Friendly) Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most internationally famous Red Sea beach cities in Egypt, and definitely the most famous one on the Sinai Peninsula. It’s home to literally hundreds of hotels, and if you’re looking for an all-inclusive beach resort with restaurants, activities and water sports galore, then Sharm is the perfect place for that. The Rixos Sharm el Sheikh is ideal for honeymooners for myriad reasons: 1) it’s adult only (16+), so you can relax by the beach or the pool without having to put up with screaming kids, 2) besides its private beach, it has seven (yes, seven) pools, 3) it has seven restaurants and nine bars, where you can eat and drink all you want with your all-inclusive package, 4) you have access to the neighboring Rixos Premium Seagate resort’s restaurants and bars as well (so a total of 16 restaurants for both resorts!), and 5) there’s an adventure water park. Plus if you’re willing to splurge, you can book the suite with its own private plunge pool. Sharm el Sheikh honeymoon activities: sunbathing and swimming at the beach and pool, water sports, resort activities (eg. Rixos has a waterpark, tennis courts, a fitness center, an open-air club, beach volleyball and go-karts), diving and snorkeling, boat trips, day trips to Ras Mohammed National Park, desert safaris Read more: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - A Travel Guide For First-Timers Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Oberoi Philae A Nile cruise is ideal for honeymooners who: want to explore the Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs of Luxor and Aswan (and those in between!) while enjoying a luxury stay down the Nile Best honeymoon Nile cruise ship: The Oberoi Zahra & Philae or Nour El Nil Dahabiyas A Nile cruise is one of the best things you can do while in Egypt, and because they’re expensive, a honeymoon is enough of a special occasion to warrant the cost. The Nile cruises in Egypt usually start and end in Luxor and Aswan, where you can see the best of what Ancient Egypt has to offer. There are dozens of cruise ships, but the Oberoi Zahra and its sister ship Oberoi Philae are known as two of the very best cruises you can book (and the priciest, though!). We’re talking on-deck pool, full spa, restaurant, bar, cigar lounge and 5 star accommodation and service across the board. The cruise’s itinerary includes the main sights of Luxor, Aswan and the main Ancient Egyptian temples peppering the Nile shore between the two ancient cities. Room on a Nour El Nil dahabiya If you want to go even more traditional (but still keep it luxury), you can opt for a dahabiya instead of a cruise ship. A dahabiya is a large sailboat similar to what they used in Pharaonic times, and then you won’t have to worry about the sound of the cruise ship’s motor breaking into your peace and quiet. A dahabiya won’t have as many facilities and amenities as a regular cruise ship, but they still provide luxury accommodation and the added benefit of being able to access smaller towns and sites in between Luxor & Aswan that the bigger ships can’t dock at. Nour El Nil has a fleet of different-sized dahabiyas (keep in mind however that their itineraries only include the sights on the Nile in between Luxor & Aswan, not the cities themselves). Nile cruise honeymoon activities: daytime sightseeing in Luxor and Aswan, relaxing on the deck and enjoying the Nile river cruise, swimming in the pool, unwinding at the spa Read more: Choosing a Nile Cruise in Egypt - Your Ultimate Guide El Gouna La Maison Bleue El Gouna is ideal for honeymooners who: want to be at a Red Sea beach destination where they can leave the resort, walk around, and try different restaurants and activities Best honeymoon Gouna hotel: La Maison Bleue or Casa Cook (Adults Only) If you want to be by the beach but actually go out and explore as opposed to staying at your resort for the whole trip, then Gouna is the place for you. (You can read our full local’s guide to Gouna here ). Gouna is a cute little Red Sea beach town that’s super easy to navigate whether on foot or by tuktuk. It has plenty of restaurants, bars and activities both on land and in the water. Casa Cook There are also plenty of hotels to choose from, but for a honeymoon the ones we recommend are La Maison Bleue or Casa Cook; both boutique hotels with an emphasis on luxury (but with a steep price tag!). There are other 5 star resorts like the Sheraton or Movenpick, but those tend to be more family-oriented so you won’t get the peace and privacy that the boutique hotels offer. El Gouna honeymoon activities: swimming and sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, kitesurfing, biking, tennis, golf, go-karts, horse riding, desert safaris, Red Sea boat trips Siwa Oasis Siwa is ideal for honeymooners who: want a desert adventure, to disconnect from the world and get away from it all somewhere remote Best honeymoon Siwa hotel: Adrere Amellal If you want your honeymoon to be more about adventure and exploration, or just going off the grid even – then Siwa Oasis is for you. This extremely remote town is about a 10 hour drive from Cairo, unless you manage to snag two seats on the rare private flights into Siwa. Most accommodations there don’t even have electricity for most of the day - there’s usually a generator that gives power at certain times of the day if you need to charge your phone or any other gadget. Other than that, it’s just you two and nature! Adrere Amellal is a luxury ecolodge in Siwa that’s been visited by both celebrities and royalty - so it’s not cheap. But the service, food and experience are all five stars. If you want to stay at a place that’s a bit more budget friendly, other ecolodges like Taziry or Talist are good options too. Siwa honeymoon activities: explore the town of Siwa, see the Shali Fortress and Mountain of the dead, swim in the hot springs and salt lakes, go sand-duning in 4x4s, adventure into the Great Sand Sea Read more: 10 Most Unforgettable Things to Do in Siwa Oasis Read more: 7 Best Places to Stay in Siwa Oasis For All Budgets Hurghada Hurghada is ideal for honeymooners who: want to stay in affordable luxury beach resorts but not be isolated from the rest of the city Best honeymoon Hurghada hotel: Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle (Adults Only) Hurghada, along with Sharm el Sheikh, is the most popular Red Sea destination in Egypt. Hurghada’s international airport is very close to a plethora of excellent beach hotels, and there are dozens of international and domestic flights daily, so you can literally be on the beach in no time flat. Read more: Hurghada, Egypt - A Local’s Guide for First-Timers Hurghada City itself is close to other destinations in the greater Hurghada area like Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay, but the city of Hurghada offers more in the sense of you can leave your resort and walk around the different areas of Hurghada like the marina or El Mamsha where most of the restaurants and bars are. However their 5 star resorts do offer all-inclusive packages if you want to stick to your hotel. There are dozens of 5 star, amazing resorts but if you're looking for adult only, there are still a good number. Steinberger Pure Lifestyle and Sunrise Holidays Resort are both adult-only and their rooms have stunning Red Sea views. They’re also pretty affordable considering they’re luxury hotels with gorgeous beaches! Hurghada honeymoon activities: swimming, snorkeling, diving, boat trips, ATV desert safaris, day trips to Luxor Red Sea Yacht A Red Sea yacht is ideal for honeymooners who: love to scuba dive or just love being on the water If you’re looking for total privacy (and we’re talking middle of the sea kind of privacy), then why not charter your own Red Sea yacht? If it’s too pricey for just two people, you can find other yachts where you can book a room on board and share the boat with a few other guests. Alternatively, you can also book your own motorboats or sailboats, through agencies like Egypt Yachting . If you and your partner are into scuba diving, then you can book a diving trip on a liveaboard – there are multiple dives a day in different locations in the Red Sea, and you can relax and sunbathe on the yacht’s many sundecks in between dives. Read more: 7 Best Diving Destinations in Egypt for Divers of all Levels Even if diving isn’t your thing, just being on the yacht, visiting the numerous Red Sea islands, swimming in crystal clear water and having a drink under the stars is reason enough to charter a private yacht for your honeymoon. Red Sea yacht honeymoon activities: swimming, snorkeling, diving, island hopping, fishing, relaxing, eating & drinking on the boat You may also like: 7 Best Date Restaurants in Cairo