THE ABSOLUTE GUIDE FOR EGYPT

My first time in Egypt was 2 years ago where I had 3 days off from work and I decided last minute to fly to Cairo to see the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact: the Giza Pyramids!

Second time was next year when I flew to Cairo and then I took directly another flight to Aswan for a cruise on the Nile river. Yes, I came back after 1 year and I can assure you that Egypt is MAGNIFICENT!

Did you know that…?

• Cairo is less than a two-hour flight from the Greek capital, Athens. It is part of “Lower Egypt.”

• The Nile River flows through the entire country from south to north. Because of this, Cairo and Alexandria are considered part of “Lower Egypt” despite being in the northern region. Meanwhile, Luxor and Aswan are in “Upper Egypt,” even though they are located in the south.

GENERAL INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT EGYPT 

LOCATION: The pyramids are located in Giza, an area just outside Cairo. There are buildings around them, so don’t expect a scene of pyramids standing alone in the middle of the desert.

ACCOMMODATION: During a Nile cruise, you will sleep on the ship. In Cairo, you can choose to stay either in Cairo itself or in Giza. The best option depends on your plans. I chose to stay in Giza because my trip was short, I had activities in both areas, and I wanted a room with a pyramid view. However, some people prefer Cairo since there’s not much else to do in Giza.

Angel’s Tip: My hotel was Egypt Pyramids Inn—the view was stunning, but the hotel and area were not luxurious. If you’re looking for something more upscale, there are many luxury hotels in both Giza and Cairo.

Angel’s tip: If you want to have breakfast with a view of the pyramids, you can visit Khufu’s Restaurant or 9 Pyramids Lounge.

TIPPING: Be prepared to tip for almost every service. It’s best to carry Egyptian pounds (EGP), though Euros and USD are also accepted.

RESTROOMS: In public places and temples, you’ll need to pay 5 EGP to use the restroom.

VISA: You need a visa to enter Egypt. It costs $25. To avoid long queues, you can apply online in advance by clicking here. Otherwise, you can get it upon arrival—just bring a pen, fill out the form, and wait in line at customs. Angel’s tip: Make sure your passport is valid for at least the next six months.

WATER: Drink only bottled water and avoid salads and ice cubes. Angel’s tip: I even brushed my teeth with bottled water, and I had no issues throughout the trip.

WEATHER: Egypt is much hotter than Europe. I visited Luxor and Aswan in early April, and the temperature was around 35–40°C. Summer (June–August) is extremely hot and not ideal for visiting.

TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION: Be very careful when crossing the streets—traffic rules are almost nonexistent, and driving can be chaotic. It’s not recommended to drive yourself. During peak hours, traffic in Cairo can be a nightmare. A 20-minute drive can take up to 2 hours.

PLUG: Egypt uses European-style plugs (Type C & F).

• • 
    The view from the hotel I chose to stay in Giza: “Egypt Pyramids Inn”

Angel’s tip: If you are planning to visit Egypt with an agency that you trust, you will be fine since they will arrange almost everything for you! But if you plan going alone, change your plans please! Otherwise, there is big chance the experience will not be as pleasant or perfect you may imagine! 

While I loveeeee Egypt, it’s not the easiest country to explore alone without a local or experienced traveler. People are friendly and kind, but scams are quite common! Vendors will try to sell you things, offer to guide you, give you something for “free,” or keep asking for more tips. It can be sooo exhausting at times!

What to do?

• Say a firm “No” and avoid eye contact.
• Pretend you don’t speak English (sorry, but… 😆).
• Always agree on the price in advance! My guide told me that many tourists end up paying $100 for a camel ride when the real price is just $15.
• Join an organized tour or hire a local guide. Even if you haven’t planned it in advance, you can instantly book tours through platforms like @getyourguide.

SOS / Angel’s tip:  I was lucky because the first time I went in 2022 I had the help of 2 wonderful people who are Egyptian guides-Egyptologists & they arranged a wonderful itinerary for me with a local driver! My guide was Michel (Ayoub Michel on facebook) who is local & speaks Greek & I chose him again the second time in April 2023! 

Once again, he arranged the PERFECT ITINERARY for me and I am grateful for this.

Let me show you below what I did each day during both trips:

DAY 1 : ANCIENT WORLD

• Giza Pyramids is a must! One of the 7 Wonders of the ancient world & the only one remaining. Ride a camel and enjoy the magnificent scenery. Angel’s tip:  Normal price for a camel ride is 15-20 USD, be careful and close the deal in advance since many will tell you it will be for free or you will discuss the price later. At the end they will charge you 50-100 USD. My guide arranged that too.
• Great Sphinx of Giza is stunning. Did you know that Sphinx is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt & one of the most recognisable statues in the world? Sphinx is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human & the body of a lion .The face of the Sphinx appears to represent the pharaoh Khafre. According to the classical Greek depiction of the Sphinx, it consists of the body of a lion, the head of a woman, and the wings of a bird. But this one had the head of a man!
• Saqqara Necropolis is an Egyptian village with tombs and the oldest (most probably) pyramid in Egypt & in the world, Pyramid of Djoser. Discover it!

 

• Visit the site of Memphis, the capital of Old Kingdom Egypt.

Angel’s tip: Tasting Egyptian Falafel is a must! I tried it a few times with tahini sauce, and some other with just potatoes and the pita bread. Normally you can put vegetables in it but I didn’t since I was a bit worried for food poisoning! (I have been told to be careful with the water/vegetables/peeled fruits in Africa, and generally anything that is not cooked). In most parts of the Middle East, falafel is made with ground chickpeas. However, in Egypt, they make it with dried fava beans.

DAY 2 : CAIRO CITY

• You can’t leave Cairo without visiting Khan el-Khalili, an open-air market (bazaar) where you’ll truly feel the essence of the city! Also, take a walk through downtown Cairo and let yourself explore—there’s so much to see and experience!

  

• Egyptian museum: Absolutely impressive—you’ll feel overwhelmed by the sheer depth of history. This civilization is incredible! Recently, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opened, and it’s simply breathtaking! Spanning 480,000 square meters (5.2 million square feet), it’s one of the largest museums in the world. It houses over 100,000 artifacts, including the entire Tutankhamun collection, displayed together for the first time.
• If you have time, also visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization—it’s fascinating!
• Coptic Cairo – Explore its amazing churches and deep history.
• The Citadel & Mosque of Muhammad Ali – A stunning historical site with incredible views.
• Al-Azhar Mosque – Cairo’s first mosque, rich in history and culture.
• Papyrus Museum – Learn about the ancient art of writing on this durable material.
• Nile River Dinner Cruise (2-3 hours, departing from Cairo Port) – There are many options! I chose Nile Maxim, and it was a great experience.
  

  My name on a papyrus in Egyptian Hieroglyphs script

DAY 3: ALEXANDRIA

Angel’s tip: I’ll be honest—Alexandria was nice, but I’m not sure it was worth the 3-hour drive (one way) from Cairo. If you’re short on time, you might want to skip it and explore the desert instead.

1. The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos), 1 of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The lighthouse is no longer standing, though it did stand for almost 1,500 years. Now, in its position you can see the Citadel of Qaitbay.
2.  Its Great Library – the largest in the ancient world. Alexandria library is the first thing that comes to mind when you refer to Alexandria! It was once the largest library of the ancient world, a treasure of knowledge and wisdom. Then it was destroyed & now since 2002 you can visit the new one. So impressive !!! Angel’s tip: Be careful: it is closed on Friday & Saturday!
3. The Necropolis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Yes, the ancient Roman Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are pretty impressive! Get a guide to explain to you all the history & go underground !

Apart from the above,  things you can do in Alexandria  are :

• walk on the waterfront Corniche Road
• visit one of Alexandria’s major landmarks, the Abu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque
• dive in Alexandria’s Underwater Ruins
• shop in Alexandria’s main souq area (market)
• visit Cavafis house (for Greeks)

DAY 4 – 5 – 6 – 7: FLIGHT FROM CAIRO TO ASWAN & NILE CRUISE

It’s time for a cruise on the river Nile. Usually it takes place between the 2 cities: Aswan and Luxor.

This side of Egypt has so many stunning temples that will shock you. An amazing area in “Upper Egypt”, as it is called, that you should certainly explore when you visit the country!

The first and the second day were all spent in Aswan town. Below you can see the stops the cruise ship did and places you can explore.

My recommendations? 

✅ Stroll around Aswan city. 

• Visit Aswan Nubian village on the west bank of the Nile River. Nubian villages are the most colorful and vibrant villages of the entire country painted in all kind of colors. To start farming around the Nile, the Nubians moved from Sudan over 8000 years ago and that’s why they have a darker skin tone. Did you know that they have their own unique language that they never teach to a stranger?

 

• Have a ride with a camel.  You can see many on the way to and inside the Nubian village.

 

• Have a henna tattoo drawn on your hand. Angel’s tip: I paid 10 EGP to a lady our guide suggested.

• Have a coffee/lunch in Kendaka Nubian guest house.
• Go to the botanical garden. Angel’s tip: Look at the baby crocodile I hold in my hands there.

• Take the boat & enjoy the ride to the Philae temple . Ticket is 200 Egyptian pounds (EGP) per person.
• If u love museums, visit the Nile, Aswan and Nubia museums.

✅ Have a day trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel temples close to the borders with Sudan.

It is 3.5 hours drive one way, quite tiring trip but the 2 temples in Abu Simbel will reward you for your effort. One of the most impressive I have seen in my life. Angel’s tip: Wear a hat, and have sunscreen and water with you.

• Entrance 260 EGP pp

✅ Visit the Kom Ombo & Crocodile museum.

Another stop of the cruise ship. The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple in the town of Kom Ombo close to Aswan on the way to Luxor . It was constructed during the Ptolemaic dynasty, 180–47 BC and it is open till night hours.

The Crodocile museum is a very small museum that features 22 mummified crocodiles of various sizes. The crocodiles are arrayed on a sand hill inside a large glass showcase, allowing visitors to see how crocodiles passed their days in ancient Egypt.

• same ticket for both temple and museum: 160 EGP pp(per person)

✅ Visit the temple of Horus at Edfu .

Edfu Temple is one of the most remarkable and complete ancient Egyptian temples,  dedicated to the worship of the god Horus. The inscriptions on its walls provide information on language, myths and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

• ticket 200 EGP pp
• There is a distance from the spot the Cruise Ships berth and the temple. Take ideally a tuk tuk 🛺 as a taxi and not a horse carriage since they are very dirty (but be prepared they drive quickly). I paid 50 EGP round trip with a tip.

✅ Stop in Luxor, the world’s greatest open-air Museum & don’t miss :

• To start your day with an amazing hot air balloon ride at sunrise above the temples of Luxor. All hot air balloons depart from the west bank, near the Valley of the Kings and you can book online through Get Your guide site or through your guide/agency.
• The Valley of the Kings / 260 EGP pp for 3 tombs except Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Rameses V and VI’s tombs. The tomb of Tutankhamun has an additional fee of 300 EGP.
• The Temple of Karnak comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings. It was probably my favorite.

 

• The Hatshepsut temple / 160 EGP pp

• The Luxor temple / 180 EGP pp

• The Avenue of Sphinxes that connect Luxor & Karnak temples
• Colossi of Memnon

NOTES:

Angel’s tip: If you have time after the cruise head to Hurghada (4 hrs drive from Luxor) for relaxing in a beautiful resort, snorkeling  & safari.

Angel’s tip: Many asked me if I arranged this trip alone. No I didn’t as I mentioned above. My amazing guide & friend Michel Ayoub booked everything for me once more. Check my captions on my INSTAGRAM account to find him or just send me a message.

Angel’s tip: I received messages asking for my review for the cruise ship I was. Her name is “Royal Ruby”. A decent, clean, small cruise ship with convenient rooms & kind staff. Rooftop was nice with a small pool (It’s more suitable for kids than adults). I didn’t like the food to be honest but I am not sure if I would love it in another cruise ship since I was told to be cautious and avoid in any case some staff like salads/fruits etc. 📝 PS: If you tip some of the staff in the beginning of the cruise, they will pay more attention to you. For example, all the beers during the meals were warm, we mentioned it to our waiter and ice cold beers were brought to us the next days.

2 WEEKS ITINERARY IN EGYPT

✅ 2 days in Cairo & Giza Pyramids. 

✅ 1 day in Alexandria City Angel’s tip: A bit tiring: 3 hrs drive one way Cairo-Alexandria so skip Alexandria if you don’t have many days

✅ 1 day in Fayum desert/oasis – 2 hours drive one way from Cairo   OR  

in White & Black desert which is far but you can sleep under the stars 

✅ Siwa Oasis the next  2 days 

✅ then fly from Cairo to Aswan

(Or Luxor and you can do the below mentioned rute the other way around)

✅ Take the 3 days Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor & discover all the amazing villages and temples around. Nubian village, Kom Umbu-Edfu & Aswan!

✅ Have a day trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel temple close to the borders with Sudan (3.5 hours drive one way)

✅ Stop in Luxor, the world’s greatest open-air Museum & don’t miss a hot air balloon ride above the temples, the Valley of the kings, the Temple of Karnak & the rest of the local treasures. 

✅ Go to Hurghada (4 hrs drive from  Luxor) for a relaxing break in a beautiful resort, snorkeling & safari.

✅ Take the 3 hrs ferry from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh that many told me is ideal, like Hurghada, for wonderful resorts, scuba diving, magical seabed and clean waters. 

Angel’s tip: If you don’t have so many days I would suggest to do the “must do” things like the list below , in the north & south side of Egypt. 

✔️Cairo city-Giza pyramids-Siwa Oasis

✔️4 days Nile Cruise with Luxor & Aswan, Abu Simbel & Hurghada to relax.

*Check my highlights and posts on Instagram for more*

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