Egypt · Cities
Which Egypt city fits your trip?
From Giza dawn to Karnak hypostyle halls and Ras Mohammed reefs — pick Nile or coast and build around it.
Compare them
Filter by how many days you have and what you like — then open the guides that exist today.
| Best for | Best months | Fly in? | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Simbel Ramses colossi on Lake Nasser — UNESCO rescue icon. | 2–3 days | €50 | history, culture | Oct–Apr | Via Cairo |
| Fayoum Pottery villages, desert waterfalls, and whale fossils — oasis day trip from Cairo. | 2–3 days | €42 | nature, culture | Oct–Apr | Via Cairo |
| Saint Catherine Mount Sinai sunrise and ancient monastery — Sinai's spiritual peak. | 2–3 days | €45 | adventure, culture | Oct–Apr | Via Cairo |
| Luxor Karnak, Valley of Kings, and balloon dawn — Upper Egypt's crown. | 3–3 days | €50 | history, culture | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| Aswan Philae, Nubian culture, and Abu Simbel gateway — Nile's southern charm. | 3–3 days | €48 | history, culture | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| Alexandria Bibliotheca, citadel, and Mediterranean corniche — Egypt's coastal second city. | 3–3 days | €52 | history, culture | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| Hurghada Red Sea diving, Giftun boats, and resort strip — Egypt's busiest beach hub. | 3–3 days | €58 | beach, adventure | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| Sharm El-Sheikh Ras Mohammed diving and Naama Bay resorts — Sinai's main fly-in beach hub. | 3–3 days | €62 | beach, adventure | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| Dahab Blue Hole dives and Bedouin calm — Sinai's backpacker coast. | 3–3 days | €45 | beach, adventure | Oct–Apr | Via Cairo |
| Marsa Alam Dolphin reefs and quiet Red Sea — diver's southern coast. | 3–3 days | €55 | beach, adventure | Oct–Apr | Yes |
| El Gouna Lagoon resorts and marina dining — Red Sea's polished escape. | 3–3 days | €65 | beach, relax | Oct–Apr | Via Cairo |
| Siwa Oasis Salt lakes, Shali fortress, and Berber oasis — western desert escape. | 3–3 days | €48 | nature, adventure | Oct–Apr | Via Cairo |
| Cairo Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, and Khan el-Khalili — Egypt's essential gateway. | 4 nights | €55 | history, food | Oct–Apr | Yes |
Showing 13 of 13. Daily figures are per person at mid tier, excluding flights.
Pairings that work — and ones that don't
Choosing cities is really choosing combinations, because the flight map between them is not what the road map suggests.
- 4 days
Cairo
Pyramids and museum on a long weekend or stopover.
- 7 days
- 10 days
Cairo + Luxor + Aswan
Full Upper Egypt arc with Philae and Abu Simbel option.
- varies
Cairo + Siwa Oasisawkward
8–10 hour desert road each way — Siwa needs its own three-night block
- varies
Luxor + Hurghadaawkward
fine by flight — but driving across Eastern Desert is not a tourist self-drive route
- varies
Aswan + Sharm El-Sheikhawkward
Upper Nile versus Sinai tip — fly via Cairo minimum
- varies
Alexandria + Dahabawkward
Mediterranean north versus Sinai east — no sensible overland link in one week
- varies
Siwa Oasis + Marsa Alamawkward
Western desert oasis versus far south Red Sea — fly via Cairo only
- varies
Fayoum + Abu Simbelawkward
Cairo day-trip oasis versus Lake Nasser temples — route through Aswan only
- varies
El Gouna + Saint Catherineawkward
Red Sea resort versus mountain monastery — long night drive; pick Dahab as Sinai base
- varies
Cairo + Dahabawkward
possible via Sharm flight — but one week with both means skimming pyramids and reefs
Guides still being written
Honest about coverage: each city below still gets the two or three facts that help you decide whether to wait for the full guide.
Common questions
How many days do you need in Egypt?+
Ten to fourteen days covers Cairo, Luxor, and either Aswan or a Red Sea base without rushing. Seven days works for Cairo and Luxor only, or Cairo and Hurghada if you skip Upper Egypt temples.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?+
Many nationalities use the Egypt e-Visa or visa on arrival — rules depend on your passport. Check the official visa portal; we do not give visa advice.
Is Egypt expensive?+
Mid-range on the ground runs roughly €45 to €65 per person per day excluding flights — Red Sea resorts, balloons, and dive boats cost more than Nile guesthouses.
What is the best month to visit?+
October to April for Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan temple walking. Red Sea diving works year-round with a wetsuit in winter.
Luxor or Aswan first after Cairo?+
Luxor for Karnak and Valley of Kings density — then Aswan south for Philae and Abu Simbel. Reverse works on cruises sailing upstream.
Costs are research-based estimates, not live prices — verify before booking.