Egypt’s top places to visit are the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the Red Sea coast around Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. Egypt recorded nearly 19 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, up 21% over 2024, per the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
- Pyramids of Giza — The Great Pyramid and its neighbors, part of the “Memphis and its Necropolis” UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979, still standing at roughly 138.5m.
- Luxor’s Valley of the Kings — Part of UNESCO-listed “Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis,” holding 62 known rock-cut royal tombs, including Tutankhamun’s.
- Abu Simbel — The rock temples of Ramesses II, relocated block by block during a UNESCO-led rescue campaign (1960-1980) to escape the Aswan High Dam’s reservoir.
- Grand Egyptian Museum — Cairo’s new museum near Giza, opened November 1, 2025, billed as the largest museum built around a single civilization’s collection.
- Red Sea coast (Hurghada & Sharm El Sheikh) — Egypt’s two main dive hubs; Hurghada anchors the Giftun Islands marine reserve, while Sharm El Sheikh is the gateway to Ras Mohammed National Park.
Planning note: Giza and Cairo pair as a first stop; Luxor and Abu Simbel need a domestic flight or Nile cruise south — build in a travel day between the two halves.
Sources
- Egyptian State Information Service — Egypt tourism records historic growth in 2025, receiving 19 million tourists
- Wikipedia — Great Pyramid of Giza
- UNESCO World Heritage List — Memphis and its Necropolis – Giza to Dahshur
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Valley of the Kings
- UNESCO World Heritage List — Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae
- CBS News — Grand Egyptian Museum has grand opening after 3 decades
- Scubadore Hurghada — A Diver’s Guide to Giftun Island National Park
- Dive The World — Ras Mohammed Diving, Red Sea, Egypt
Read the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how Egypt compares globally.
