20 Unique and Diverse Things to do in Egypt 2023

Last Updated on January 8, 2023

---

This site contains affiliate links for products and services we recommend. Read my disclaimer for more information. If you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a small commission (for which I am very grateful).

---

Egypt is an incredible and diverse country – there are so many fun unique things to do in Egypt, almost too many! You could be there for an entire lifetime and not be able to see everything.

Visitors can experience countless historic landmarks, buildings and artefacts, not to mention adventure activities both popular and unique.

Yes, Egypt truly is a great holiday destination for travellers who want to learn and experience many fun activities in Egypt and dive into the culture. So, are you wondering what to see in Egypt yet?

Top Tip: Before you head out you need to make sure you get a Egypt visa on arrival so that you can enter the country in the first place.

🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. I recommend either SafetyWing or World Nomads.

Here are 20 Unique and Diverse Things to Do in Egypt!

1. Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor

It may seem like one of the more unusual things to do in Egypt, but when visiting Luxor, make sure you experience this beautiful city by air!

You will get to see the lush nature that this country has on offer along with historical sites and beautiful mountains too.

Take care when picking a company, though, and ensure that it’s one with a reputable and great track record. You can’t bargain on safety, and it goes without saying that one of the things not to do in Egypt is have a hot air balloon accident!

If you take the 9-day tour with Travel Talk Tours you will get the chance to experience a hot air balloon over Luxor.  It’s an incredible experience and not to be missed.

This was one of my favourite activities to do in Egypt while I was there, because you get to see the beautiful sides of Egypt you just don’t get to see from the ground.

2. Sail Down the Nile on a Felucca

I spent 2 nights on a felucca with my newfound friends I made on my tour and it was one of the best things to do in Egypt EVER.

I usually feel a little sick on boats but this was calm and very pleasant so there was no need for me to take any sea sickness pills!

Sailing down the Nile is extremely relaxing and the best way to take in the beauty of the Nile. It was great to get back to nature and just enjoy the surroundings.

Sailing in a felucca is one of the more adventurous things to do in Egypt for those not used to being on the water.

If a felucca is not your style, then there are plenty of cruise ships that travel along the Nile for a more luxury experience and a proper toilet!

Don’t forget to take a jersey with you because in the evening it can get quite cold. Here’s a great packing list so you don’t forget anything.

3. Visit Luxor Temple

Luxor temple was built by Amenhotep III around 1392 BC but Tutankhamun and Rameses ll also added to the Temple during their ruling.

It’s a large site with a rich history and many stories to be told. This temple cannot be missed on your trip to Luxor.

Due to its popularity, this is one of the best things to do in Egypt in March when there are fewer crowds and the temperature is more agreeable to non-locals.

4. See Luxor Temple at Night

You may be thinking why should I visit the temple for a second time at night? The answer is because it is so beautiful and is a completely different experience than during the day.

It’s a lot quieter but also with the spotlights lighting up the temple it really looks incredible. The Avenue of the Sphinx looks seriously impressive!

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Egypt at night.

🛌🏼 Click to check out the best accommodation in Luxor here

5. Visit Sakkara

Sakkara is an ancient burial ground located about 30 minutes out of modern Cairo. Djoser’s step pyramid is the oldest stone complex known in history.

16 different kings built pyramids here but these days most of them are in disrepair. However, you can go inside a pyramid at no extra cost, and it is in an excellent state.

You can see the ancient carvings inside the tomb clearly so this is a great place if you have always dreamed of adventures in Cairo where you get to go inside a pyramid!

6. Gaze at the Great Pyramids of Giza

Think of tourist attractions in Egypt, and you’ll think of pyramids. You just can’t help it! So you know deep down that you can’t visit Egypt and not see the great pyramids in Giza.

Named as one of the wonders of the world, the pyramids are vast and remarkable.

You may go inside the Great Pyramid for an extra cost but it is not as in a good condition as the pyramid in Sakkara, so bear that in mind.

You could spend a good hour just gazing at the pyramids as they look so unreal, and your eyes will easily soak up the sights.

There is a great viewpoint on the other side of the pyramids, a little bit up a small hill. Here you can get the picture-perfect shot you wished for.

🛌🏼 Click to check out the best accommodation Cairo here

7. Get the All-Time Kissing Photo of the Sphinx

You may have seen many Instagram photos of travellers kissing this mythical creature.

That’s because it’s a top tourist attraction in Egypt for lovers of history and internationally recognisable monuments alike!

It is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt so it deserves to be seen by you on your adventures in Egypt.

It was very busy with everyone trying to get their kissing shot but it’s well worth seeing and you can get a good photo of the Great Sphinx with the Giza Pyramids in the background.

📸 PRO TIP: My go-to camera for all my travels is the Sony A7iii – I highly recommend it!

8. Have Dinner with the Nubians

The Nubians are an ethnic tribe which is indigenous to Sudan and Egypt. There is a village located on the East Bank of Aswan where you can have a traditional dinner in a traditional Nubian home.

There are also market stalls where you can buy handicrafts and spices too. It’s so colourful and worthwhile seeing, and the Nubian dinner is absolutely delicious!

Most cool things to do in Egypt are not nearly as tasty as this!

9. Dance with the Egyptians around a Campfire

Let me tell you one thing, Egyptians know how to dance! If you’re looking for crazy things to do in Egypt, make sure to spend at least one evening getting your groove on by the fire.

Enjoy a bit of the culture and entertainment in Egypt by dancing around the campfire while listening to drums and loving those hips.

Be warned: Egyptians know how to move their hips so be prepared to be shown up by some of the locals!

10. Visit Abu Simbel (Early!)

Abu Simbel is one of the most unique places in Egypt. It’s about a 3 to 4-hour drive from Aswan but it’s totally worth it.

If you do make it here, make sure you get here early to avoid the busloads of tourists.  If you go with Travel Talk Tours this is one of the optional activities which they offer.

There are two colossal rock temples that have been carved from the rocks.

They used to be positioned where the dam lies now but they had to move them up the cliff so they could preserve them.

11. See Philae Temple

Philae Temple is located on an island and has a bizarre, incestuous story to go along with it.

I won’t write about it here as it would probably be a whole other blog post so if you want to read more about it then read this.

It was one of the quietest temples that we visited in Egypt but it’s a must-see regardless.

It was nice to visit a temple that was not so crowded because you could observe the carvings and drawing and really appreciate the work that goes into these ancient temples.

👡 PACKING TIP: Looking for the best shoes for travelling? I highly recommend getting a pair of Chaco’s – They are my favourite!

12. Eat Endless Amounts of Falafel Sandwiches

Falafel is everywhere and for good reason: it’s delicious! So while you’re thinking of stuff to do in Egypt, why not stuff your face with falafel?

If you have tried falafel in the past and didn’t like it, you must try it here because it tasted totally different from what I know.

Since this is where they originate, Egyptians sure know how to make falafel, 100% better than anyone else and from anywhere else! Don’t forget the hummus, baba ganoush and salad too!

There are plenty of delicious Egyptian foods you must try but falafel and baba ganoush are the main two in my opinion!

13. Edfu Temple

Edfu temple is one of the best preserved as it was built later than most other temples. It is located in a place called Edfu which is halfway between Luxor and Aswan.

If you are travelling between the two cities, then make sure you take a stop here. It’s one of the most interesting things to do in Egypt.

Word of warning, though, the touts are a lot more full-on here than they are in other places.

The best thing to do if you do not want to purchase anything is to just ignore them or keep saying no thank you.

14. Take In the Beauty of the Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings was by far the top 3 things to do in Egypt. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed here but it does give you a great reason to get away from the screen and take in the history.

They open 3 tombs at a time to give the other ones a break, so what temples you see is whichever is open at the time. I simply cannot describe the temples inside because they left me speechless.

Just imagine bright coloured hieroglyphics from floor to ceiling and then at the end of the colourful tunnel is a massive tomb. It’s seriously incredible – one of the most cool things in Egypt.

15. See Tutankhamen’s Mummy

The Valley of the Kings you can purchase another ticket to have a special look into Tutankhamen’s tomb.

Tutankhamen was not a long ruler of Egypt but the reason he is such a popular figure in Egyptian history is because his tomb was the only one found with all his treasure still inside.

He started ruling when he was only 9 years old and only ruled for 10 years until he passed away at the young age of 19.

You can see his mummy in the tomb but all his treasure you can see in the Egyptian Museum (another of the things to see in Egypt on this list).

His tomb is tiny compared to the others but I thought it was worth it just to meet him in real life! This was one of my favourite places to go in Egypt – highly recommend it!

16. Hatshepsut Temple

Hatshepsut was the second confirmed female pharaoh in Egyptian history. Her temple is definitely not like the others being a 3-tiered building.

Beware this place gets super busy so I would get here early just like all the other temples in Egypt. It is located only a 10-minute drive from the Valley of the Kings.

At the end of the reign of Thutmose lll, it’s believed that there was an effort to remove records of her ever-ruling Egypt.

Various parts of the temple were destroyed and some parts were buried along with cartouches and images of her face were chiselled off in some parts.

18. Visit the Hanging Church

One of the more unusual things to do in Cairo is to visit the Hanging Church. This church is unique in that the ceiling of the church was made in the shape of Noah’s Ark.

It’s called the Hanging Church because it was built on top of the Roman Fortress. The architecture is beautiful and if you are really interested in the religious sites then this has got to be your first stop.

📦PACKING TIP: Don’t leave home without a solar powered battery pack so you can keep your devices connected at all times.

18. Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As

To visit the Mosque, women must be covering their heads and be appropriately dressed.

This Mosque was the first ever to be built in Egypt and in Africa so it has a certain historical value unlike the other mosques in Cairo.

This is one of the most fun activities in Cairo for those who wish to learn more about Egyptian Islamic culture.

19. Spend the Day at the Egyptian Museum

You could spend your entire life at the Egyptian Museum, it’s unbelievable.

You can purchase an extra ticket to see the king’s mummies, which I highly recommend as it’s one of the most unique things to do in Cairo!

As said previously, you can see all of Tutankhamen’s treasure that was found in his tomb along with a vast number of statues and carvings. This is the most impressive museum I have ever visited.

You can also see animal mummies too!

Understandably, this is not exactly one of the most non touristy things to do in Cairo, so be prepared for it to be busy!

20. Visit the Crazy Khan el Khalili Bazaar

If you thought Cairo traffic was crazy, then wait until you experience the market! It’s full of people, stalls, food and much more. Just keep your game face on and prepare to haggle hard.

This is one of the most adventurous and crazy things to do in Cairo by far!

---

So there you have it! 20 unique and diverse things to do in Egypt. There is so much to see in Egypt so realistically this list could be 50 times longer.

I opted to do a tour with Travel Talk Tours in Egypt so I could learn more about the history and culture with a guide, and I had the best time.

You can read about my epic 9-day Egyptian tour with Travel Talk Tours.

I would highly recommend doing this tour as the guide was extremely knowledgeable and I got to meet some fantastic friends during the 9 days I was in Egypt.

Frequently Asked Questions

---

Other articles you might love:

• Why now is the best time to visit Egypt
• My epic 9-day tour with Travel Talk tours

Love this article? Pin it for later!

• 

• 

• 

*My tour with Travel Talk was sponsored but as always, all opinions are my own. I would never recommend something unless I truly believe in the service and quality of the tour or product and absolutely love it!