7 Must-See Sights in Egypt

For those looking for remarkable and unforgettable experiences while on vacation, a trip to Egypt is the answer. The country located in northeastern Africa has a rich history and grandiose monuments – no wonder it is present in almost all history books.

The Egypt is more than 10,000 km away from Brazil, flights from Sao Paulo usually have at least one scale and faster journey takes approximately 17h 30m. As the connection is made in cities like Istanbul and Dubai, many tourists take the opportunity to get to know them too.

In the African country the main cities to be visited are the capital Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Sharm el Sheikh. Each of them has particular characteristics and must-see sights that go beyond temples and sarcophagi. Meet some of them.

Pyramids of Giza (Cairo)

This is the most popular tourist spot in Cairo and in all of Egypt. One of the oldest monuments, the Pyramids of Giza complex is 18 km from the capital and access is easy. Tourism agencies offer day and night tours, the latter includes a light and sound show.

The main pyramids in which pharaohs were mummified and buried are those of Cheops, Chephren and Miquerinos. The first is the largest of them, with 140 meters high and 230 meters of base. In addition to them, the Great Sphinx draws attention.

Khan el-Khalili Bazaar (Cairo)

The old shopping area is in the heart of Cairo and is a large open-air bazaar that brings together cafes, restaurants, and spice shops, jewelery, fabrics, handicrafts, perfumes, food, among others. In addition to being a way to immerse yourself in local culture, visiting the alleys of Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is also living history, as the place, founded in the 14th century, has transformed Cairo into an important center of commerce by allowing foreign traders to expose their goods.

Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is included in several tour packages offered by agencies – including, this is the best way to get to know the place without getting lost. The Luxor and Aswan Travel package, for example, offers guides who speak the Portuguese language, which makes the tour even more profitable.

Luxor Temple (Luxor)

As its name suggests, the Luxor Temple is located in the city of Luxor, 676 km away from the capital Cairo. The ways to get there are by plane, train, bus or car – the first being the fastest (2h40m) and the second the cheapest (approximately R $ 15). Leaving the city of Aswan it is also possible to arrive by cruise on the Nile River.

UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple is one of the most important historical monuments when it comes to the history of Egypt. Dedicated to the Egyptian god Amon, considered the king of the gods and the creative force of life, it is believed that many pharaohs held their coronation ceremony at this location.

Karnak Temple (Luxor)

The largest temple in Egypt and also located in the city of Luxor, the Karnak temple complex was built by several pharaohs over 400 years and gathers obelisks, ceremonial halls, statues, columns, chapels and even a sacred lake where the priests bathed ceremonial. The building was dedicated to the Theban Triad, formed by the gods Amon, Mut and Khosu.

Abu Simbel (Aswan)

Another UNESCO world heritage site, Abu Simbel is an archaeological complex that includes two temples carved into the rock. The largest of them is the Temple of Ramessés, which has a façade 33 meters high and 38 meters wide. The other is the Temple of Nefertari, built for Ramessés’ favorite wife, so much so that it bears her name.

The monument was built in Nubia, but when it was decided that a dam would be built in the region and that the valley where it stood would be flooded, UNESCO campaigned to move it. The displacement cost 40 million dollars and took the buildings to the city of Aswan.

Aswan is 683 km in a straight line from Cairo and 238 km from Luxor. Leaving Cairo it is possible to arrive by car, bus, train or plane. Leaving Luxor, the best option is the Nile River cruise.

Red sea (Sharm el Sheikh)

384 km from Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh is on the coastal strip along the Red Sea and is a side of Egypt that few know but should know. With a great offer of resorts, the place is considered one of the best in the world for diving – it has a lot of diversity of fish and coral reefs, in addition to the excellent water quality.

From Sharm el Sheikh, tours and safaris leave for the Sinai desert, another unique experience in Egypt.

Nile River Cruise

Of course, the Nile River, the longest river in the world, which directly influenced the development and history of Egypt could not be missing. A cruise by him, which can leave the city of Aswan towards Luxor and vice versa, can help you to know the main sights of southern Egypt such as the Luxor Temple and Abu Simbel.

The tourist attractions in Egypt mentioned above are included in most tourist packages offered by agencies. The options have durations of 8, 10 and up to 12 days and prices are around US $ 1.5 thousand (about R $ 5.7 thousand) – without plane tickets. Some tours can be purchased individually, such as the Nile cruise which starts at US $ 445 (about R $ 1,659).