3 Top Archaeological Attractions in Egypt

Most people visit Egypt to explore its ancient sites, such as the Pyramids at Giza, the Valley of the Kings, and Luxor Temple. These millennia-old structures hold great historical significance and are shrouded in mystery. However, due to their popularity, they are often crowded with visitors and vendors, which can take away from the awe-inspiring experience of visiting them. Fortunately, there are still a few sites that remain relatively unexplored and are not covered in tour buses or camel ride offers.

1. Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx

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 Khufu’s Pyramid is the last remaining ancient wonder of the world.

2. Valley of the Queens

In the former ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes (now Luxor in Upper Egypt) lies the infamous Valley of the Kings. For 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. To date, 62 tombs have been excavated, with King Tut’s tomb being the most famous, though not the most impressive. Note that not all tombs are open to the public, and some are on rotation.

3. Luxor Temple

Built around 1400 BC, Luxor Temple is different from most other ancient Egyptian temples as it was not built for worship of a particular god or pharaoh. It was mainly used as a place where pharaohs were crowned and coronated, sometimes even conceptually. During medieval times, a Muslim community built on the Luxor Temple site, and a functional mosque remains part of the temple complex. If you're interested in Egypt's most beautiful mosques, you can read more about them.