First Time Visiting Egypt? Here's 5 Best Places to Visit

Egypt is notable for its friendly citizens, natural beauty, and good-quality of hotels, attracting visitors from around the globe. For first-time visitors, choosing which places to go among near-endless destinations in Egypt can be a challenge. The following list will help you decide on worthy attractions to visit in this North African country. 

Wadi El Rayan

Wadi El Rayan is one of the largest valleys on the continent, covering over 1759 square miles and is located in Egypt. It's perfect for adventure activities such as hunting, hiking, and wildlife safaris, making it a nature lover’s paradise. The valley is home to a variety of wild animals including foxes, slender-horned gazelle, ducks, and migratory birds, such as flamingos, grey herons, and spoonbills. Visiting travelers can book trips for as long as desired, with facilities available inside the natural reserve for overnight stays. The valley, located at the north-west of Faiyum city and 80 km west of the Nile River, offers activities like riding dune buggies and camel treks. But perhaps the most incredible experience is watching the sunset over Western Sahara while perched atop the sand mountains. 

Additionally, visitors can explore the Wadi El Rayan cascading lakes, famous for the extraordinary shades of blues and greens – from aquamarine to emerald and turquoise – created by the natural water as it flows over limestone and sandy rocks. All of this is set against a beautiful, fertile green landscape that makes for stunning scenery. This picturesque spot attracts over a million visitors annually.

Luxor 

Luxor boasts an unparalleled collection of ancient Egyptian monuments. Its main attractions include the Luxor Temple, which is 3400 years old, and the Karnak Temple Complex. The necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, as well as the Colossi of Menmon, are also worth visiting.

Despite being a small city, Luxor is easily navigable by taxi or horse-drawn carriage - a popular choice among tourists. Alternatively, renting a bike can be a fun way to explore the city, but it is only recommended during daylight hours and not during the hottest times of the year.

Ras Muhammad 

Ras Muhammad is not only the most famous national park in Egypt, but it is also one of the most popular diving sites in the world. Located amidst the colorful coral reefs and mangroves of the Red Sea and the inland desert of Sinai, the park has crystal-clear waters that allow divers and snorkeling enthusiasts to spot vibrant corals as well as vertebrate and invertebrate marine species.

If you take a boat and venture a little further into the sea, you might even spot dolphins, including Risso's Dolphin. The park is also a habitat to thousands of White Storks.

Once home to the world's largest library and a significant outpost of the Greco-Roman empires, Alexandria has lost much of its former glory. Nevertheless, the city has become one of the best Egypt destinations, away from the hustle and bustle of other Egyptian cities.

The Pompey pillar square is a great place to hang out, and the streets are lined with chic cafes, which provide a refreshing break from the cuisine elsewhere in Egypt.

South Sinai

In the South Sinai Governorate, you can find the Saint Catherine Monastery, Toor Sinai Mountain, the Grand Church, and the 5 peaks of Serball Mountain. These peaks enclose a church and an old monastery, as well as several hermit caves. The governorate is also home to the famous turquoise mountains and the temple of Sarabeet al-Khadem. It features long beaches with crystal clear water that stretch along the Aqaba Gulf and Suez. The area boasts beautiful sceneries, multi-colored coral reefs, and diverse fish species, making it a popular spot for scuba diving. Additionally, the governorate is home to natural preserves such as Wadi Ferran, Saint Catherine, Nabaq, and Ras Muhammad. There are also various investment opportunities in the governorate, including quarries in Sharm al-Sheikh, the Abu Znymah area, Abu Redees, and Saint Catherine. Furthermore, turquoise stones are extracted and processed in the area.