Top 4 Places to See While in Egypt

Some Cairo attractions that should not to be missed are The Egyptian Museum, The Citadel mosque, a half day's shopping at the open-air Khan el-Khalili souk and contemporary shopping at the newly built City Stars Mall in Heliopolis. Just outside the perimeter of Cairo lies the ancient region of the Giza Plateau. This inspiring triplex is home to the great pyramids, Sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum. Plan at least a half day to fully explore the monuments. Further south, lies the city of Memphis for a look at the oldest pyramid in the world, the Step Pyramid, belonging to Pharaoh Zoser in 2800 B.C. About another 30 minutes south takes you to Dashur for a walk through of the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid, which collapsed in antiquity.

The Nile

The Nile River is best explored by cruising, where your meals and excursions are prepaid. However, there are plenty of river front five-star hotels in Luxor to accommodate a three- to four-night stay in the antiquity-rich region of Egypt. The first stop is Valley Of The Kings for a walk through some of the best preserved monuments in the world. Across the hill, and through the ruins of Deir el Medina, lies the Valley Of the Queens, home to the tomb of Nefertari and the mortuary temple of Hatcheptsut. In addition, the city of Luxor offers the Open Air Museum for antiquities carted out from the tombs, and the Luxor Museum houses statuary dating back to the Valley's inception with the first Pharaoh laid to rest about 2200 B.C.

The Red Sea

These sparkling clean waters are crystal clear and offer some of the best diving in the world. The two most popular resort towns are Sharm el-Skeikh to the north and Hurghada to the south. In addition to diving, there are water sports for all ages to include water skiing, windsurfing, glass bottom boats, snorkeling and fishing. South of Hurghada, there is the city of Marsa Alam offering similar activities, but with much less tourism.

Alexandria

This northern port city lies on the Mediterranean about 100 miles north of Cairo. Here you will find remains of the Ptolemy era with a strong Greco-Roman influence to the architecture. Perhaps best known for Cleopatra Vll, Alexandria was the Egypt's capital of trade and prosperity during its final years as an empire.