What to do and see in Egypt, Egypt: The Best Ancient Ruins

April 6, 2022 Frederic Celentano

Coordinates: 26°N 30°E / 26°N 30°E / 26; 30
Restaurants in Egypt

1. Abu Simbel Temple Complex

Abu Simbel, Abu Simbel Egypt http://www.egypt.travel/en/regions/nile-valley/abu-simbel-temples
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
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0%
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1%
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5.0 based on 3,454 reviews

Abu Simbel Temple Complex

Reviewed By Traveller314 - Edmonton, Canada

The two temples at Abu Simbel are just so spectacular enough on their own, both inside and out, that it's easy to overlook the incredible engineering achievement that it took to save them from being destroyed by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. This place was one of the highlights of our two-week tour across Egypt and worth the 3 hour drive from Aswan. Highly recommended.

2. Thebes

Egypt
Excellent
95%
Good
5%
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0%
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0%
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5.0 based on 19 reviews

Thebes

The capital of Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms. Inludes monuments of Karnak and Luxor.

3. Tomb of Ramses VI

Valley of the Kings West Bank, Luxor Egypt
Excellent
80%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
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1%
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5.0 based on 504 reviews

Tomb of Ramses VI

The key feature of this tomb, which was originally built for Ramses V and expanded by Ramses VI during the 20th Dynasty, is its vaulted astronomical ceiling with a double image of the Goddess Nut swallowing the sun.

Reviewed By KarenAzinger

In my opinion, this is one of the top tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The color on the walls is amazing and the star chart aching across the burial chamber is a true wonder! Don't miss this tomb! Your ticket to the Valley of the Kings will allow you entrance into 3 tombs. I recommend Ramses III, Ramses V & VI (one tomb where they buried two pharaohs), and Ramses IV. All of these tombs have incredible color and stunning art work. Recommend that you also pay extra for Sety I, the largest and most beautiful tomb in the Valley. The rules have changed so you can use your cellphone to take photos, so you don't need to buy a photographic pass. If you tour Egypt, you must see the Valley of the Kings, truly a wonder of the ancient world!

4. Temple of Medinat Habu

Al Bairat, Luxor Egypt
Excellent
83%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
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0%
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5.0 based on 1,169 reviews

Temple of Medinat Habu

This ancient complex is dominated by the massive memorial temple of Ramses III, similar to the mortuary temple of Ramses II at Ramesseum.

Reviewed By 780kicks

One of the Best Preserved Temples on the Westbank, Luxor Dedicated to Rameses III, Funeral Temple and Palace. 20th Dynasty ca.1260 BC.

5. Serabit el-Khadim Mountain

Egypt
Excellent
75%
Good
25%
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

Serabit el-Khadim Mountain

6. Tomb of Queen Nefertari

Luxor Egypt http://egyptsites.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/tomb-of-queen-nefertari-qv66/
Excellent
90%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
2%
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1%
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5.0 based on 333 reviews

Tomb of Queen Nefertari

Reviewed By Busy_chap - Sydney, Australia

Simply the most beautiful place I have ever been. This tomb has been wonderfully conserved, so the wall paintings are bright and vivid. Its absolutely worth the price of the special ticket to see this wonderful tomb, and the extra trip around to the Valley of the Queens. Photography is strictly forbidden, although one guardian did try to solicit a tip for a sly photo, but it was really worth just focussing on the experience of this wonderful space. A must for any visit to Egypt.

7. Abydos

Al Balyana, Sohag Egypt
Excellent
84%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
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1%
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5.0 based on 179 reviews

Abydos

Reviewed By 117jakek - Vancouver, Canada

A trip to Egypt and its ancient sites, should not be complete without a visit to Abydos. While no one with even the most remote interest in Egyptian antiquities would ever consider missing GIZA or Luxor, most tourists completely overlook Abydos and Dendera temples. Due largely to its remote location, this absolute gem continues to quietly exist in the shadows of its famous cousin temple sites to the universal joy of those who love the path less traveled. We engaged the services of Reflections travel, locally. A new SUV, with a driver and Roshdie our guide picked us up from our hotel in Luxor. The 3 hour drive through desert and many police check points seem to be the only obstacles keeping the masses of tourists away from this magical site. One of the oldest settlements in the history of ancient Egypt, predating possibly the Great Pyramid, it is one of the best preserved and least visited sites. While It is called the Temple of Seti I, many rulers could lay claim to its origins and it may have been a project predating the earliest of Egypts rulers. It became the cult center of Osiris and is the home of the famous Abydos King List or Abydos Table, the oldest and most complete list of Egypt's rulers. The site continues to be a source of controversy amongst scholars due to many different unexplained so far elements. There are clear signs that the site was built to be easily accessible by water - The Nile is 10km away presently - The inner sanctum or the burial site of Osiris continues to retain water and is a marvel as well as an explained technological puzzle. The engravings are some of the most amazing in all of Egypt, especially the ceiling in the main hall, still in full colour and spectacular detail, seem to have been retouched recently, they are so vivid. The temple features the so called Helicopter of Abydos hieroglyph, which adds a whole new conspiracy level to the enigma of who the ancient builders might have actually been. The site is thought to be around 5-8 square kms and largely unexplored, leaving to your imagination what could still be asleep under the sands. There remain many more questions then answers. Run don't walk before the crowds discover it!

8. Bent Pyramid

Al-Haram Dahshur Egypt
Excellent
57%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
2%
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4.5 based on 47 reviews

Bent Pyramid

Reviewed By iTravel_experiences

Bent Pyramid, built around 2600 B.C. by Pharaoh Sneferu (Khufu's father) is the “Whoops! We messed up” pyramid as the bottom (still has some smooth limestone casing) is at a steep 54° angle before they realized it was structurally unstable, so the top part was adjusted to a shallower 43°. There was no other tourists out here in the isolated desert as we climbed up to the raised entrance, politely tried to feign ignorance as the “guard” greets us (and I am sure wanted to be tipped/bribed) and then clamber down a narrow 260 feet tunnel to reach deep inside this hopefully stable structure. It was pretty cool to see and to learn about.

9. Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

Giza Egypt
Excellent
78%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
4%
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4.5 based on 7,157 reviews

Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

The largest and oldest of the Giza pyramids, this colossal structure stands nearly 500 feet tall.

Reviewed By raghu67 - Bengaluru, India

The Great Pyramid of Giza also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops once among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. This pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and was constructed over a period of 20-year period from 2575 -2566 BC. Khufu followed the design of Red Pyramid which was built by his father Sneferu. This Pyramid erected on a rocky plateau had all the elements like the burial chambers, mortuary temple and covered causeways connected to the banks of river Nile. Estimated to be built using around 2,300,000 lime stones weighing around 5.5 million tons , 8,000 tons of Aswan granite and 500,000 tons of mortar, its original height was around 480 feet. But due to erosion of the outer fine lime stone layer and damages caused due to earth quake, the height of this pyramid now stands at around 455 feet.

10. Step Pyramid of Djoser

Saqqara Egypt
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
7%
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1%
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4.5 based on 585 reviews

Step Pyramid of Djoser

Reviewed By ukienomad - Fleming Island, United States

Step Pyramid of King Zoser was built in the 27th century BC. and the beginning of Dynasty 3, possibly the first pyramid Constructed in Egypt. It’s more than 200 feet tall, and the oldest stone structure of its size in the world. The inside of the tombs have murals that provide insights into every day life in ancient Egypt. Be sure to peer into the serdab, a stone structure in front of the pyramid with two eye-holes that invites you to look deeper inside. When you do, you will discover a remarkably life-like painted limestone statue of Zoser looking back at you. An amazing experience to walk through ancient history.

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