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Popular Tourist Spots in Egypt Map

Some of the most popular tourist spots in Egypt include cities along the Nile, such as Cairo , Luxor , and Aswan , the inland site of Abu Simbel , and Alexandria along the Mediterranean.

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16 Best Places to Visit in Egypt

By Fiona Fiorentino · Last updated on May 4, 2024

With a fascinating history that reaches back to the dawn of civilization, Egypt is considered the oldest travel destination on earth. The African nation’s awe-inspiring temples and pyramids have captured the imagination of travelers for thousands of years.

Although most people come to Egypt to view its ancient monuments, natural attractions beckon travelers too. The Red Sea coast is known for its coral reefs and beach resorts. A trek through the Sahara can lead visitors to refreshing freshwater spring oasis.

Map of Egypt

Such is the nature of this country, its history and landscape that traveling here is an adventure. That’s whether you do it on a budget or surrounded by luxury comforts. The best places to visit in Egypt provide an exceptional mix of history, culture, and geography.

Set between Aswan and Luxor on the West Bank of the Nile, Edfu is but a small river city. Yet among it stands one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Pharaonic history bursts to life at the Temple of Horus and seeps through every crevice of its sightly sandstone structure.

One of Egypt’s holiest sanctuaries, the Temple of Horus maintains much of its original structure. Those who designed it wasted no space with reliefs encrypted across the halls, showcasing stories from beyond the ancient world.

Statues representing the falcon god of Egypt, Horus guides you on a journey back to 3,000 BC and deep into the Ptolemaic era. Surrounding the temple are remnants of age-old villages, some of which once encased the temple, hiding it from plain sight.

Much has been both saved and lost in Edfu. Yet within the town’s communities is a diverse culture that has stood the test of time.

The scale of the story of Abydos is hard to grasp. A place of burial and religious significance as far back as 4000 BC, discoveries here have completely transformed the timeline of ancient Egypt. Tombs have been discovered here that existed before the 1st dynasty, including that of the earliest known pharaoh.

So why Abydos? It was here the original gods made themselves known along the desert’s edge and banks of the Nile. Those that stood here 6,000 years ago reveled in the evening light that shone from the heavens and imagined it as a staircase to the afterlife.

Between 3000 and 4000 BC, pilgrims arrived by the thousands alongside ancient leaders to leave tokens hoping to gain favor from those in command. Today, you can discover incredible burial grounds and memorials. The best being the stunning Great Temple of Seti I.

14. Saint Catherine’s Monastery

At the base of the jagged and fast-rising Sinai Mountains lays Saint Catherine’s Monastery. It’s one of the world’s oldest operating Christian monasteries. Marking the spot where Moses heard the words of God through a burning bush, telling him that he stood on holy ground.

Now over 1,400 years old, the colors of the beautiful monastery blend in with the spectacular backdrop. Its surrounding fortress walls and the main church are from the original construction, with the basilica design being a staple of the Byzantine era.

As you enter the monastery, you’ll follow centuries of the footsteps of worshipers who’ve wandered down the central nave and admired the brilliant apse mosaic. It’s one of the many samples of iconography here that dates back over a thousand years. These represent the real celebration here of art that seems immortal and with a touch of divinity.

Egypt’s premier seaside town, Dahab, attracts scuba divers the world over. Home to the famed Blue Hole along with Bells, Gabr El Bint, and Umm Sid, among others, it’s a diving destination to be revered.

Set along the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba, the town of Dahab itself is a representation of those who visit most. A tourist town by definition, it’s utterly relaxing, with ample hippy charm and just enough Bedouin culture laid in to create a welcome balance.

Backed by the Sinai Desert, the colors of the Red Sea pop. The deep blues and turquoise mix with aplomb, providing just enough insight into the treasures below that you’ll wake up ready to dive.

Just north of Dahab is the Blue Hole. One of the most celebrated dive sites on earth. Just off the shore, the captivating and equally frightening sea shelf makes itself known. The reef-laden wall drops an incredible 120 meters into the abyss.

12. White Desert

Once a seabed, Egypt’s White Desert is today a postcard to the past. It’s a mesmerizing example that life never stays still. Like the seashells on the mountaintops in Yellowstone National Park, the White Desert is rich in sedimentary limestone, showcasing a time when its landscape was polar opposite.

When you first gaze upon the White Desert, you’d be forgiven for not trusting your eyes. In the morning light, the desert’s white chalk spires spin-out from the desert floor. The orange hues of the early day combine with the shades to create a spectacular dance that feels beyond surreal.

Iron pyrites and quartz dazzle within the limestone, often creating more than just stunning spires. Instead, craggy bluffs surge out of the desert floor to create mountains and thus canyons and valleys. Those made almost entirely of quartz crystals, like Crystal Mountain, take the experience in a more supernatural direction.

11. Dahshur

Dahshur is a little village south of Cairo that’s home to some lesser-known, less-crowded pyramids – you won’t find the massive queues that you’d expect at the Giza complex or Saqqara here. In fact, until 1996, it was a restricted military zone.

Like Saqqara, Dahshur was part of the ancient necropolis of Memphis. The same pharaoh behind the building of the Great Pyramid built two more complete pyramids in Dahshur. In the years after, many more pharaohs had their own pyramids built here to form a total of 11, but none of them could compete with the original ones.

Highlights include the unusually-shaped Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, both constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu (2613-2589 BC). The Red Pyramid (also known as the North Pyramid), is famously the oldest true pyramid in Egypt because it doesn’t have any steps or bends.

The Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III is another sight that can be enjoyed from the base of the Bent Pyramid. It cannot be visited, and it isn’t actually a pyramid at all; rather, a strange-looking mound of dark rock.

10. Alexandria

The second-largest city and leading seaport in Egypt, Alexandria has a prime location on the edge of the Mediterranean. Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, the city was once considered the crossroads of the world. Several of Egypt’s pharaohs, including Cleopatra, ruled the country from Alexandria until the nation fell to Rome in 30 BC.

Under Roman rule, the city earned a reputation as a center for arts and literature. The city’s Roman Theater, which features stunning mosaic flooring and marble seating, is a remnant of Alexandria’s Roman occupation.

Today’s Alexandria is a dusty seaside city with an over-inflated population of 5 million, that is badly in need of a lick of paint. It’s a faded shade of its former glorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth a visit for its many cultural attractions and glimpses of its past.

Many of Alexandria’s most famous historic sites, including a library that housed more than 500,000 books, were destroyed by devastating earthquakes in the 14th century. Completed in 2002, a new library stands near the site of the original Library of Alexandria.

Exhibits of Alexandria’s long history are on display at the Alexandria National Museum. The museum’s more than 1,800 artifacts are arranged chronologically, from the Greco-Roman period to the Coptic and Islamic eras.

In ancient Alexandria, the most prominent feature was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a towering structure that was considered one the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The lighthouse crumbled into sea during an earthquake along with much of the ancient metropolis. Scuba divers can still view massive stones and statues lying on the seabed floor.

9. Hurghada

Hurghada is a resort town on the edge of the Red Sea, easily reached via a bumpy six-hour bus ride from Cairo. It offers a more popular alternative to Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab and is now one of Egypt’s most-visited tourist destinations. But that’s understandable, as there’s plenty to love about Hurghada with its many beaches and warm waters.

Once a simple fishing village, this famous resort town has hundreds of high-end hotels along the seafront, yet the focus is still mainly on relaxation. This section of the Red Sea is renowned for its excellent scuba diving opportunities, with gorgeous colorful coral reefs to discover just offshore. Other watersports, like snorkeling, windsurfing, and jet-skiing, are just as popular.

For those who prefer to admire the magical marine life from above the water, there are many places offering glass-bottom boat trips, so you can usually shop around to find the best offer.

Hurghada is extremely popular with Eastern Europeans and especially Russians, hundreds of thousands of whom visit each year. Many tourists choose to combine their holiday here with visits to other prominent locations along the Nile Valley, including the relatively nearby city of Luxor.

Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan is another major city nestled along the banks of the Nile River. However, due to its location and size, it offers a much more relaxed alternative to big cities Luxor or Cairo.

Although its own monuments are minor compared to Luxor’s, Aswan is the base for excursions to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and to the Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, to the south. It is also the best starting point for excursions to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, between Aswan and Luxor.

Aswan itself has one of the most beguiling settings in Egypt. Granite cliffs overlook the Nile’s First Cataract, the first of a series of shallow white water rapids broken by rocky islets that stretch north to Khartoum. Home to a large community of Nubian people, it was once the gateway to Africa in ancient Egypt. You can learn more about these people at the Nubian Museum, which is filled with treasures and relics that were kept safe from the flood of Nubia.

Aswan is famous for its granite quarries that were used to build Luxor’s many obelisks. Some of these unfinished obelisks can still be seen in the city today, such as the largest known ancient obelisk in the world located in the south of Aswan that was intended to be over 40 meters tall.

7. Siwa Oasis

Located near Egypt’s western border, Siwa Oasis remained culturally isolated from the rest of the country until late in the 19th century. Surrounded by the Egyptian Sand Sea, the Siwan people developed their own unique customs as well as their own language, Siwi, a Berber dialect.

The small community was not unknown to the outside world, however, even centuries ago. The famous Temple of the Oracle of Amun, believed to have been built in the 6th or 7th century B.C., made the oasis a place of pilgrimage. The most famous visitor to seek the oracle’s wisdom was Alexander the Great.

Today, Siwa Oasis is an increasingly popular travel destination. Vacationers come to the city to enjoy the town’s many freshwater springs, to stroll through acres of palm groves and to explore ancient mud-built fortresses and remnants of Siwa’s Greco-Roman past. Bubbling springs are in abundance here. One of the most popular is a stone pool known as Cleopatra’s Bath. A more secluded pool is located on an island in Lake Siwa. Visitors reach Fatnas Spring by navigating a narrow causeway.

Cafés in the small town of around 23,000 people are designed for relaxation as well. Local and visitors alike enjoy sipping tea and smoking from a communal hookah. A trip to the local marketplace gives visitors the opportunity to explore the city’s unique culture and to sample dates and olives grown in the region.

6. Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most popular resort towns in Egypt, located at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. With its warm, deep blue water and great golden beaches , Sharm (as it’s affectionately called) is a popular package holiday destination with its own airport.

But this old fishing village has so much more to offer than simply sunbathing. Nicknamed the City of Peace after the countless international peace talks that have been hosted here, Sharm el Sheikh is one of the best scuba diving spots in the world. Don’t miss the chance to snorkel or dive the extraordinary reefs around Tiran Island and Ras Mohammed National Park, home to some astonishingly colorful marine life.

Despite being the perfect spot for a fly and flop holiday, those looking for adventure will find it here too. Sharm el Sheikh’s at the southern tip of the peninsula gives easy access into the desert, where you can visit Bedouin camps and climb Mount Sinai, an ancient biblical spot known for its spectacular view of the sunrise.

The name Saqqara refers to an Egyptian village, but more importantly, an age-old necropolis with a scattering of both large and smaller satellite pyramids spread across a dusty desert plateau. Buried beneath the sand overlooking the Nile Valley until the 19th-century, Saqqara has since been undergoing a significant restoration process.

Named after Sokar, the Memphite god of the dead, Saqqara served as a cemetery for the ancient city of Memphis for thousands of years and is the largest archeological site in Egypt. As such, it’s home to hundreds of fascinating tombs and burial sites for pharaohs and other Egyptian royals.

The highlight of Saqqara is the Step Pyramid of Djoser – the oldest pyramid on Earth. You’ll find some of the best views of the Nile from the top of this pyramid, accessible via a wooden ramp when the gate is open. Try one of the many doors and explore any that are unlocked – you never know what kind of mysteries lie behind them. The Pyramid of Teti with its fascinating Pyramid Texts and the Mastaba of Ti with its incredible reliefs are two more must-sees.

4. Abu Simbel

Set over a glistening Lake Nasser, the Temples of Abu Simbel are a collection of some of the most stunning monuments in Egypt. It’s an ancient engineering marvel that includes the Temple of Hathor and the Great Temples of Ramses II.

It took a stroke of genius to create such an incredible site, yet an even better one to save it. When the construction of the Aswan High Dam was completed in the 1960s the 3,200-year-old site lay in the path of the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The edifices and their temples were dismantled and reassembled brick by brick on a bank high above the reservoir.

Ramses, the larger of the two temples, boasts a quartet of colossal statues that tower over visitors at 21 meters tall. On the 22nd of October and February, the sun shines through the entrance and into the inner sanctuary where a statue of Ramses the II shimmers in the morning light.

The smaller Temple of Hathor honors the queen Nefertari and has six exterior statues each about 10 meters tall. About a 3 hours bus drive from Aswan, a day trip to view the massive temples is a can’t-miss activity.

This dusty capital city is one of the most sprawling cities on Earth, home to more than 17 million people. Built on the banks of the Nile River, Cairo is a medieval Islamic city with an eternally hazy horizon and beige-colored buildings topped with TV satellites.

Built near the ancient capital city of Memphis, modern Cairo is a popular starting point for cruises up the Nile and for explorations of the Pyramids at Giza just outside the city’s limits. But there is so much to do within this enormous city itself.

At the world-renowned Egyptian Museum of Tahrir Square, visitors can get a close-up view of the treasure of Tutankhamun as well as mummies and other artifacts from Egypt’s ancient past.

The city’s most historic mosques are worth a visit as well. Dating back to the 9th century when the Fatimids made the city their capital, the Ibn Tulun Mosque is the oldest in Cairo. The stunning Citadel and Mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha, also known as the Alabaster Mosque for its gleaming white edifice, was named after the man who is regarded as the founder of modern Egypt.

When you’ve tired of Cairo’s historical sights, get a true taste of Egypt by immersing yourself in everyday life. Embrace the crowds while shopping at one of the city’s chaotic markets like the Khan al-Khalili bazaar, smoke some shisha amongst locals at a local Ahwaz or escape the heat of the inner city entirely with a breezy felucca trip along the Nile on a traditional Egyptian sailing boat.

One thousand years after the construction of the Great Pyramids , the New Kingdom arose in Egypt, and power shifted from the ancient capital of Memphis to Thebes in the south, the site of modern-day Luxor. Enriched by gold mined in the deserts of Nubia and transported to the city on the river Nile, Thebes became the country’s cultural and political hub.

Today, the mid-sized city Luxor is known as the “world’s largest open air museum” and is one of Egypt’s most popular travel destinations. There’s so much to see and do in Luxor – from temples to tombs and everything in between. You’ll need to allow a couple of days to do it all justice.

Most of the Luxor attractions are located either on the East Bank or the West Bank of the Nile. Famous highlights on the East Bank include Karnak Temple – also known as Ipet-isu (‘Most Select of Places’) – an extraordinary temple city that took over 2,000 years to build. Although the entire Karnak complex consists of four main parts, the main structure known as the Temple of Amun is the only one that is open to the general public.

The largest religious building ever built, the temple’s pillared hall is a breathtaking stone forest of 134 columns that stand as high as 21 meters (69 feet). Stroll.

The beautifully illuminated Luxor Temple is a particularly stunning temple to explore at night. On the other side of the Nile, the West Bank boasts the white-washed scenery of the Valley of the Kings, home to many elaborate and colorfully-muraled tombs, pits, and burial chambers. Some of the tombs are included in your ticket entrance, but prepare to pay more to visit King Tut’s tomb – the highlight – the final resting place of King Tutankhamun’s mummy.

1. Giza Necropolis

The Giza Plateau is probably one of the most recognizable destinations on Earth. Located on a desert plateau to the west of the capital of Cairo, Giza is its own city but in recent years it’s grown so much that it feels like another district of ever-expanding Cairo.

While once a humble carriage track, Giza is now one of the most touristy parts of Egypt, home to upmarket hotels, big-name restaurants, giant shopping malls, and pulsing nightclubs. But most famously, Giza is the closest part of the city to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, which is why most people center themselves around this neighborhood for at least a few days during their trip to Cairo.

The three main pyramids of Giza are an ancient necropolis that were built as tombs for three Egyptian pharaohs – Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. A scattering of satellite pyramids in the area were built as a place to bury their wives and royal family members.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the one you can enter if you’re happy to pay extra. Alternatively, you can take a camel ride out into the desert and get a photo with all of the pyramids in the background before heading to the Sphinx for the stock standard Sphinx-kissing tourist photo.

If you happen to be staying close to Giza overnight, don’t miss the Pyramids Sound and Light Show. It’s exactly what it sounds like, but it’s a great way to appreciate the Great Pyramid a little differently. While you’ll have to pay for a seat at the official light show, if you have dinner on the balcony of the nearby Pizza Hut, you can watch both the sunset and the show for free.

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Reader interactions.

May 4, 2019 at 12:29 pm

We just came back from Egypt. It has been the best vacation we have had, very interesting history, beautiful sites, amazing culture. Two weeks were not enough to see everything. We are planning our next trip to see the north side of Egypt. It is an amazing place to visit! This is a country with more history than any another country.

July 12, 2016 at 9:45 am

Where is Marsa Allam, Marsa Matrouh, Newabaa, Saint Katherine and Taba

July 31, 2015 at 8:34 am

just visited Egypt this summer. What a tremendous culture they had so many centuries ago and well worth seeing. I highly recommend finding a good tour company for this one! Travel can be confusing, there are also some language barriers and safety concerns.

April 16, 2015 at 10:05 pm

There are so many places to travel to Egypt. This summer we might be able to go to Egypt.

July 30, 2014 at 7:29 am

Oh man, you can miss El gouna….It is like heaven!

March 22, 2014 at 1:53 am

they are very beautiful and nice pictures

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The top 10 tourist attractions in Egypt (+map)

Written by Maartje

The famous tourist attractions in Egypt are probably on many travel bucket lists. The remnants of Ancient Egypt with its mummies, pharaohs and temples appeal to anyone’s imagination. I had been dreaming of visiting Egypt ever since I was a child and the ancient monuments did not disappoint. I’ll give you an overview in this blog of the top 10 tourist sights you shouldn’t miss when traveling around Egypt.

Tip: Check your eligibility to apply for an Egypt visa on arrival to save time on your trip.

Egypt’s tourist attractions on the map

10 best tourist attractions in Egypt

#1 the sphinx and pyramids at giza.

When you think of Egypt, you think of the pyramids and the Sphinx. You can easily visit the pyramids from Cairo, where they are located in the suburb of Giza. The three great pyramids are right on the edge of the city, where the city stops and the desert begins. But there is more than just the three famous large pyramids: there are smaller pyramids and many tombs of nobles. During our visit we were also able to enter such a smaller pyramid and see the hieroglyphs in a tomb of a nobleman. And did you know that you can also buy a ticket with access to the great pyramid? That is a unique experience that should definitely be on your Egypt wish list.

Read more: practical information for your visit to the pyramids of Egypt

#2 The Temple of Karnak

The largest and most beautiful temple in Egypt is the Temple of Karnak. Or rather: temples. This temple complex is located near Luxor, in the heart of Egypt. It is a huge open-air museum of hieroglyphs, pillars and gates. The temple area is the result of 1,500 years of extensions and improvements by the Pharaohs. Each one wanted to pay homage to the gods of ancient Egypt by constructing something dazzling. The enormous obelisks of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut and the columned forest of Pharaoh Seti I and his famous son Ramses II are particularly impressive. Hatshepsut’s obelisks are made from a single piece of granite, which must have been an immense achievement. The colonnaded forest consists 134 pillars in an immense hall of 5500 m².

Read more: our blog about the most beautiful temples in Luxor , including how to visit the Temple of Karnak at night after dark.

#3 The Valley of the Kings

For centuries, the Valley of the Kings was the place where dead Pharaohs were buried. The result is a maze of underground tombs and you can visit them on your Egypt trip. The most famous is that of Tutankhamun. It is a relatively small tomb of a fairly insignificant Pharaoh in history, but it is the only tomb in the Valley where all the splendor was preserved. These riches – from death mask to sarcophagus – can now be found in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Only the mummy is still in the tomb in the Valley of the Kings. But there are many more tombs to discover in the Valley of the Kings and they are even more beautiful than those of the famous King Tut. Think of passages deep underground, beautiful murals and endless hieroglyphs.

Read more: Read our practical tips for the Valley of the Kings , including a map and all the different tickets prices.

#4 The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

The most important museum in Egypt is the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Even though a new museum is being built on the outskirts of the city that will be even more impressive, for the time being this is the museum to see the riches of the ancient pharaohs. Here you can admire the famous death mask of pharaoh Tutankhamun and see pharaoh mummies. The other departments are also recommended and show the most beautiful archaeological finds from Egypt. Please note that you have to buy a separate ticket for the mummy rooms and that not one, but two rooms can be visited in the museum with a ticket.

Read more : we wrote an extensive city guide for Cairo and a blog about the best things to do in Cairo .

#5 Abu Simbel’s rock temples

One of Egypt’s most famous sights is located in the far south of the country. You can only visit them during a full-daytrip from the city of Aswan. We’re talking about the famous rock temples of Abu Simbel, located near the border with the southern neighboring country of Sudan. Pharaoh Ramses II had these impressive temples carved out of the rocks in honor of himself and his beloved wife Nefertari. The façades with meter-high pharaohs are a marvelous sight and you can enter the temples to see them from the inside.

Read more: our blog about visiting the Abu Simpel temples from Aswan .

#6 Mohammed Ali’s Mosque

As a variation between all Antiquities, the capital Cairo also has beautiful mosques with stunning architecture. The one of Mohammed Ali in the old citadel is definitely the most beautiful. With beautiful views of the city from the high citadel – you can even see the pyramids from here – the unique views and location is already enough reason to visit the mosque. But the building itself is worth the trip as well with its enclosed square, turrets and decorated ceiling.

Read more: these are the 8 must-visit highlights of Cairo .

#7 The Egyptian Nile

The Nile is the source of life in Egypt and a common element for every destination on your Egypt trip. Almost all sights in Egypt are located in a city on the Nile or at least nearby the river. A boat trip on the Nile is definitely a must-do on your Egypt trip. You can book sailing trips of several days or even a long Nile cruise, but you can also take a sunset boat trip with a fallouka around sunset at Aswan .

And would you like to spend the night on an island in the Nile? Then the picturesque Elephantine Island in the Nile at Aswan is a must. This oasis of tranquility is completely car-free and a place to relax after visiting the chaotic Egyptian cities.

Read more : our blog about Elephantine Island , telling you everything about its colored Nubian villages, how to get to the island, where to stay and which sights to see.

#8 The Temple of Hatshepsut

This temple at Luxor is very different from all other temples in Egypt. The desert temple has a sleek and almost modern design with three symmetrical terraces. If you think the temple looks extremely well preserved compared to others you’ve visited, then you’re right. The temple has been almost completely rebuilt and reconstructed. The temple was once built by Pharaoh Hatshepsut as her mortuary temple. Hatshepsut was quite controversial, as she was not a queen and “wife of” but ruled in her own name. To create a grand image of herself as pharao, you will also see many male-looking pharao statues with fake beards of Hatshepsut in the temple.

Read more: our blog about the most beautiful temples in Luxor , including how to visit the Hatshepsut temple and practical tips.

#9 The Medinet Habu Temple

Our favorite temple at Luxor is the Medinet Habu, also known as the Ramses III Temple. This temple is much less visited than Luxor’s other sights, but is just as impressive. It is visited by tourist groups, but compared to the rest of Luxor it feels like an oasis. The Medinet Habu temple has been beautifully preserved: the murals still have many old colors and the statues and pillars are impressively high. The temple was largely built by Pharaoh Ramses III, so you see the temple indicated on many maps as the Ramses III Temple. The walls have many hieroglyphs of the pharao with chariots, severed hands and slain enemies to praise his war achievements.

#10 Luxor Temple

In the center of Luxor, near the Nile is the famous Luxor Temple. The temple once started as a small sanctuary of Hatshepsut and was expanded over the decades by pharaohs like Amenhotep III, warrior king Ramses II and even the famous Tutankhamun. These extensions make the temple easy to date: the deeper you get into the temple, the older the buildings.

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World Map » Egypt

Detailed Map of Egypt

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About Egypt

Egypt is situated in the northeastern part of Africa, bordered by Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, the Red Sea to the east, and Israel and Gaza Strip ( Palestine ) to the northeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the north. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northeast separates Egypt from Jordan and Saudi Arabia . Its strategic location has always played a significant role in its history, making it a crossroads between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Covering an expansive area of approximately 390,121 square miles, Egypt boasts diverse topography that ranges from the vast Sahara Desert in the west to the fertile Nile River Valley, where the majority of the population resides. The Nile, the world's longest river , meanders through the country, providing sustenance and supporting ancient civilizations for thousands of years.

Cairo , the sprawling capital city , is Egypt's heart and home to over 20 million people. It stands on the east bank of the Nile and is famous for its chaotic streets, bustling markets. Near Cairo there are iconic landmarks such as the Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx of Giza . Other major cities include Alexandria , known for its stunning Mediterranean coastline; Luxor , home to the ancient city of Thebes and numerous well-preserved temples; and Aswan, a picturesque city with palm trees and a beautiful riverfront.

Tourism in Egypt

Tourism is a vital aspect of Egypt's economy, enticing visitors with its treasure trove of historical and cultural sites. The Pyramids of Giza, including the Great Pyramid, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, remain significant attractions, as does the awe-inspiring Sphinx. Luxor's Valley of the Kings, where the famed tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered, is another must-visit site.

The Red Sea , renowned for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, lures diving and snorkeling enthusiasts to its coastal resorts such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada . These resorts offer world-class facilities, white-sand beaches, and a myriad of water sports. Aswan, with its tranquil ambiance and the impressive Philae Temple, is often included in Nile River cruises along with Luxor.

History of Egypt

Egypt's history stretches back over 5,000 years. The ancient Egyptian civilization, known for its pyramids, hieroglyphics, and mummification practices, thrived along the Nile River. Egypt was later conquered by Alexander the Great, followed by periods of Roman, Byzantine, and Arab rule.

In modern history, Egypt gained independence from British occupation in 1952 and has since undergone social and political changes, while still remaining deeply connected to its historical roots.

Egypt's allure lies in its blend of ancient wonders, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture. From the mystique of the pyramids to the serene banks of the Nile, Egypt offers a kaleidoscope of experiences that leave a lasting impression on all who visit. It's a country that preserves its ancient past while looking towards the future, making it a remarkable destination for travelers seeking both history and adventure.

List of Largest Cities in Egypt

• Cairo (11,000,000)
• Alexandria (6,300,000)
• Giza (4,500,000)
• Luxor (1,500,000)
• Shubra El Kheima (1,250,000)
• El Mahalla El Kubra (850,000)
• Port Said (800,515)
• Suez (750,000)
• Mansoura (650,000)
• Tanta (600,000)
• Asyut (550,000)
• Faiyum (540,000)
• Hurghada (500,000)
• Zagazig (450,000)
• Ismailia (440,000)
• Aswan (400,000)
• Damanhur (350,000)
• Damietta (325,000)
• Minya (300,000)
• Beni Suef (290,000)
• Shibin El Kom (280,000)
• Sohag (275,000)
• Qena (260,000)
• Arish (210,000)
• Banha (190,000)

The Best Coastal Towns in Egypt

• Sharm el-Sheikh
• Marsa Matrouh
• Ras Mohammed

Main sights in Egypt

• Giza Pyramid Complex
• Great Sphinx of Giza
• Luxor Temple
• Valley of the Kings
• Cairo Old Town
• White Desert National Park
• Alexandria Old Town
• Egyptian Museum
• Temple of Seti I
• Saint Catherine's Monastery
• Wadi al Hitan
• Dendera Temple complex

Governorates of Egypt

Geography of egypt.

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Egypt welcomes you with its mighty Nile and magnificent monuments, the beguiling desert and lush delta, and with its long past and welcoming, story-loving people.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, attractions, must-see attractions.

Amun Temple Enclosure

Amun-Ra was the local god of Karnak (Luxor) and during the New Kingdom, when the princes of Thebes ruled Egypt, he became the preeminent state god, with a…

St Catherine's Monastery

This ancient monastery traces its founding to about AD 330, when Byzantine empress Helena had a small chapel and a fortified refuge for local hermits…

Temple of Horus

Southern Nile Valley

This Ptolemaic temple, built between 237 and 57 BC, is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. Preserved by desert sand, which filled the…

Temple of Seti I

Northern Nile Valley

The first structure you’ll see at Abydos is the Great Temple of Seti I, which, after a certain amount of restoration work, is one of the most complete,…

Great Temple of Ramses II

Carved out of the mountain on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244 BC, this imposing main temple of the Abu Simbel complex was as much…

Temple of Isis

Built to honour the goddess Isis, this was the last temple built in the classical Egyptian style. Construction began around 690 BC, and it was one of the…

White Desert National Park

Western Desert

Upon first glimpse of the 300-sq-km national park of the White Desert, you’ll feel like Alice through the looking-glass. About 20km northeast of Farafra,…

Valley of the Kings

The west bank of Luxor had been the site of royal burials since around 2100 BC, but it was the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period (1550–1069 BC) who chose…

Top picks from our travel experts

15 best experiences in egypt for history, adventure and culture.

Luxor Temple

Largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), this temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the…

Tomb of Seti I (KV 17)

One of the great achievements of Egyptian art, this cathedral-like tomb is the finest in the Valley of the Kings. Long closed to visitors, it is now…

Carved into a reef, 8km north of Dahab, is Egypt’s most infamous dive site. The Blue Hole is a gaping sinkhole that drops straight down – some say…

Sataya Reef

Horseshoe-shaped Sataya, 50km north of Berenice, is the main reef of the Fury Shoals, and has steep walls leading down to a sandy slope scattered with a…

Wadi Al Hittan

This Unesco World Heritage Site is home to the earliest prehistoric whale fossils ever discovered. The more than 400 basilosaurus and dorodontus (both…

Karnak is an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks dedicated to the Theban triad but also to the greater glory of pharaohs…

Khan Al Khalili

The skinny lanes of Khan Al Khalili are basically a medieval-style mall. This agglomeration of shops – many arranged around small courtyards – stocks…

Bab Zuweila

Built in the 11th century, beautiful Bab Zuweila was an execution site during Mamluk times, and today is the only remaining southern gate of the medieval…

Pyramids of Giza

The last remaining wonder of the ancient world; for nearly 4000 years, the extraordinary shape, impeccable geometry and sheer bulk of the Giza Pyramids…

Although only the burial chamber is decorated, this tomb, tucked away in the West Valley, is noted for its scenes of Ay hunting hippopotamus and fishing…

Tomb of Ramses III (KV 11)

One of the most popular tombs in the valley, KV 11 is also one of the most interesting and best preserved. Originally started by Sethnakht (1186–1184 BC),…

Valley of the Queens

At the southern end of the Theban hillside, the Valley of the Queens contains at least 75 tombs that belonged to queens of the 19th and 20th dynasties as…

Tomb of Nefertari

Nefertari's tomb is hailed as one of the finest in the Theban necropolis – and all of Egypt for that matter. Nefertari was one of five wives of Ramses II,…

Luxor Museum

This wonderful museum has a well-chosen and brilliantly displayed and explained collection of antiquities dating from the end of the Old Kingdom right…

Wadi Rayyan Protected Area

The 'waterfalls' in the Wadi Rayyan Protected Area are a major attraction for weekend picnickers from Cairo. The waterfalls, where one lake drains into…

Cleopatra’s Spring

Following the track that leads to the Temple of the Oracle and continuing past the Temple of Umm Ubayd will lead you to Siwa’s most famous spring. The…

Medinat Habu

Ramses III’s magnificent memorial temple of Medinat Habu, fronted by sleepy Kom Lolah village and backed by the Theban mountains, is one of the west bank…

Planning Tools

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Best Things to Do

You might visit Egypt for the history, the adventure, the beaches or even just the pyramids - when it comes to things to do, you are spoiled for choice.

Things to Know

Plan the perfect trip to Egypt with these essential tips on etiquette, health and safety.

Transportation

Transport in Egypt is fairly efficient and reasonably priced. Here are the best ways to get around Egypt, from overnight trains to cruise boats on the Nile.

Visa Requirements

Before you set off on your Egypt adventure, check this handy guide to find out all the Egyptian visa information you need for your trip.

Money and Costs

Don't think a small budget will restrict your Egyptian adventure. With our top tips, you can explore the whole country without breaking the bank.

Traveling with Kids

Egypt can be a challenging destination to visit, but the country is a treasure trove of activities for families. Here's how to visit Egypt with kids.

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Mar 12, 2024 • 4 min read

With tombs, pyramids and towering temples, Egypt brings out the explorer in all of us. This handy month-by-month guide shows the best time to visit Egypt.

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Egypt is the oldest tourist destination on earth. Ancient Greeks and Romans started the trend, coming to goggle at the cyclopean scale of the Pyramids and the Colossi of Thebes. During colonial times, Napoleon and the British looted Egypt’s treasures to fill their national museums, sparking off a trickle of Grand Tourists that eventually became a flood of travellers, taken on Nile cruises and Egyptological lectures by the enterprising Thomas Cook.

Where to go in Egypt

Travel ideas for egypt, created by local experts.

8 days  / from 1999 USD

The Best of Egypt

Explore the history and culture of Egypt and its ancient rulers on this trip throughout the country. Start and end in Cairo and make your way down to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. Instead of domestic flights, you will hop on luxurious sleeper trains for your journey.

13 days  / from 5499 USD

Cairo & a luxurious Dahabieh sailing cruise

Explore Egypt at a leisurely pace on board a dahabieh, a traditional sailing ship. In Cairo, visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, and in Giza, the pyramids; cruise to world-renowned sites alongside lesser-known treasures, such as Luxor’s tombs, el Kab and Gebel Silsileh’s Temple of Horemheb.

8 days  / from 2200 USD

A Nile Cruise in Egypt

Experience Cairo with the pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian museum before flying to Luxor to board your Nile cruise. Highlights include Karnak temple, Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut temple and an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Spend your last night in fascinating Cairo.

Today, the most popular places to visit are not only the monuments of the Nile Valley and the souks, mosques and madrassas of Islamic Cairo, but also fantastic coral reefs and tropical fish, dunes, ancient fortresses, monasteries and prehistoric rock art.

The land itself is a freak of nature, its lifeblood the River Nile. From the Sudanese border to the shores of the Mediterranean, the Nile Valley and its Delta are flanked by arid wastes, the latter as empty as the former are teeming with people. This stark duality between fertility and desolation is fundamental to Egypt’s character and has shaped its development since prehistoric times, imparting continuity to diverse cultures and peoples over seven millennia. It is a sense of permanence and timelessness that is buttressed by religion , which pervades every aspect of life. Although the pagan cults of ancient Egypt are as moribund as its legacy of mummies and temples, their ancient fertility rites and processions of boats still hold their place in the celebrations of Islam and Christianity.

The result is a multi-layered culture , which seems to accord equal respect to ancient and modern. The peasants of the Nile and the Bedouin tribes of the desert live much as their ancestors did a thousand years ago. Other communities include the Nubians of the far south, and the Coptic Christians, who trace their ancestry back to pharaonic times. What unites them is a love of their homeland, extended family ties, dignity, warmth and hospitality towards strangers. Though most visitors are drawn to Egypt by its monuments, the enduring memory is likely to be of its people and their way of life.

Egypt’s capital, Cairo, is a seething megalopolis whose chief sightseeing appeal lies in its bazaars and medieval mosques, though there is scarcely less fascination in its juxtapositions of medieval and modern life, the city’s fortified gates, villas and skyscrapers interwoven by flyovers whose traffic may be halted by donkey carts. The immensity and diversity of this “Mother of Cities” is as staggering as anything you’ll encounter in Egypt. Just outside Cairo are the first of the pyramids that range across the desert to the edge of the Fayoum, among them the unsurpassable trio at Giza, the vast necropolis of Saqqara and the pyramids at Dahshur. Besides all this, there are superb museums devoted to Ancient, Coptic and Islamic Egypt, and enough entertainment to occupy weeks of your time.

However, the principal tourist lure remains, as ever, the Nile Valley, with its ancient monuments and timeless river vistas – Nile cruises on a luxury vessel or a felucca sailboat being a great way to combine the two. The town of Luxor is synonymous with the magnificent temples of Karnak and the Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings where Tutankhamun and other pharaohs were buried. Aswan, Egypt’s southernmost city, has the loveliest setting on the Nile and a languorous ambience. From here, you can visit the island Philae temple of Isis and the rock-hewn colossi at Abu Simbel, or embark on a cruise to other temples around Lake Nasser. Other sites not to be missed are Edfu and Kom Ombo, between Luxor and Aswan, and Abydos and Dendara, north of Luxor.

Besides monuments, Egypt abounds in natural wonders. Edged by coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, the Sinai Peninsula offers superb diving and snorkelling, and palm-fringed beaches where women can swim unmolested. Resorts along the Gulf of Aqaba are varied enough to suit everyone, whether you’re into the upmarket hotels of Sharm el-Sheikh, nearby Na’ama Bay or Taba further north, or cheap, simple living at Dahab and Nuweiba. From there it’s easy to visit St Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai (where Moses received the Ten Commandments) in the mountainous interior. With more time, cash and stamina, you can also embark on jeep safaris or camel treks to remote oases and spectacular wadis.

Egypt’s Red Sea Coast has more reefs further offshore, with snorkelling and diving traditionally centred around Hurghada, while barely touched island reefs from Port Safaga down to Marsa Alam beckon serious diving enthusiasts. Inland, the mountainous Eastern Desert harbours the Coptic monasteries of St Paul and St Anthony, Roman quarries, and a host of pharaonic and prehistoric rock art, seen by few apart from the nomadic Bedouin.

While the Eastern Desert is still barely touched by tourism, the Western Desert Oases have been on the tourist trail for forty years and nowadays host safaris into the wilderness. Siwa, out towards the Libyan border, has a unique culture and history, limpid pools and bags of charm. Travellers can also follow the “Great Desert Circuit” (starting from Cairo, Luxor or Assyut) through the four “inner” oases – though Bahariya and Farafra hold the most appeal, with the lovely White Desert between them, the larger oases of Dakhla and Kharga also have their rewards once you escape their modernized “capitals”. And for those into serious desert expeditions, there’s the challenge of exploring the Great Sand Sea or the remote wadis of the Gilf Kebir, whose prehistoric rock art featured in the film The English Patient. In contrast to these deep-desert locations are the quasi-oases of the Fayoum and Wadi Natrun, featuring the fossil-strewn Valley of the Whales, diverse ancient ruins and Coptic monasteries.

On the Mediterranean, Egypt’s second city, Alexandria, boasts a string of beaches to which Cairenes flock in summer, and excellent seafood restaurants. Despite being founded by Alexander the Great and lost to the Romans by Cleopatra, the city today betrays little of its ancient glory; however, its magnificent new library, featuring statues raised from the sunken remains of Cleopatra’s Palace, and the Lighthouse of Pharos (which divers can explore) are restoring an air of majesty. Famous, too, for its decadence during colonial times, Alexandria still allows romantics to indulge in a nostalgic exploration of the city immortalized in Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet, while further along the Mediterranean coast is the World War II battlefield of El-Alamein. For divers, the waters off Alexandria offer an array of sunken cities and wartime wrecks to explore.

The Nile Delta, east of Alexandria, musters few archeological monuments given its major role in ancient Egyptian history, and is largely overlooked by tourists. However, for those interested in Egyptian culture, the Delta hosts colourful religious festivals at Tanta, Zagazig and other towns. Further east lies the Canal Zone, dominated by the Suez Canal and its three cities: Suez is grim, but a vital transport nexus between Cairo, Sinai and the Red Sea Coast; Port Said and Ismailiya are pleasant, albeit sleepy places, where you can get a feel of “real Egypt” without tripping over other tourists.

Top image © Marcelo Alex/Shutterstock

Discover more places in Egypt

• The Western Desert Oases
• The Nile Valley, Egypt
• Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt
• Saqqara, Egypt
• Mount Sinai, Egypt
• Abydos, Egypt
• Siwa Oasis, Egypt
• Dahab, Egypt

Egypt is one of the best diving destinations in the world. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba are rich in sea life and home to a wonderful array of dive sites, with plenty of options for both novices and experts alike: remarkably preserved World War II wrecks, coral reefs filled with dolphins, rainbow-coloured anemone gardens, and shallow bays visited by turtles are just a few of the sites you can explore. The Sinai and Red Sea Coast chapters have detailed information on dive sites and recommended dive companies, as well as tips on safety and environmental issues.

The Red Sea’s stable climate, shallow tides and exceptionally high salinity provide perfect conditions for unusually brilliant corals and sponges – a revelation if you have previously dived in such places as Hawaii or the Caribbean, whose reefs will forever after seem dull by comparison. Created by generations of miniscule polyps depositing their limestone exoskeletons on the remains of their ancestors, coral reefs can grow by 4–5cm a year. Beside hard corals such as brain and fire coral, which have a rigid outer skeleton, the Red Sea hosts an abundance of soft corals , including whip coral and sea fans. Because most types of coral need a moderate amount of warm sunlight to flourish, the most spectacular formations are found within 30m of the surface.

Most Red Sea reefs are of the fringing type, with a shallow lagoon just offshore, whose warm water and rubble-strewn bottom attracts starfish and sea slugs. Clams and sea urchins hide in crevices, and schools of damselfish and butterflyfish flit about. Its seaward boundary is the reef flat, whose crest is usually a barren, rough-surfaced shelf, while deeper areas are rich in flora and fauna. Beyond is a coral-encrusted slope, leading to a drop-off like the edge of a cliff. Flatter areas may be dotted with coral pillars or knolls. Lower down, the coral is sparser, and you may find sandy terraces overgrown with seagrass, sustaining sea horses and pipefish. Beyond the drop-off lies open water.

Some of the Red Sea’s most colourful and endearing species are easy to spot in the shallows , where the sunlight is brightest. Among the commonest are beak-mouthed parrotfish and exotic-looking pennantfish, whose long dorsal fins end in filaments.

Wherever stinging anemones cling to the reef, you’ll see clownfish (or anemone fish). Angelfish are usually found close to the coral, while clouds of gold and vermillion anthias gather around coral heads and fans. Slopes and fore reefs are the habitat of snappers, goatfish and wrasses (the largest of these, the Napoleon Wrasse, can dwarf a person).

In deeper waters you may see sharks, including whitetip reef sharks, grey reef sharks and (occasionally) scalloped hammerheads. Spotted reef stingrays are often seen on the sandy bottom of the sea. Turtles are among the most thrilling species to encounter underwater; the Red Sea has several species, including green turtles and hawksbill turtles. Dolphin encounters are possible too, and those lucky enough to come across a pod of bottlenose or spinner dolphins on a dive are likely to count it among the highlights of their trip.

• The Arab Republic of Egypt covers 1,001,450 square kilometres, but 96.4 percent of that is desert . Only the Nile Valley, its Delta and some oases are fertile.

• Egypt’s population of 83.7 million is over twice that of the next most populous Arab country (Algeria) and a quarter of the population of the Arab world. 71 percent of Egyptians are literate. Average life expectancy is 73 years.

• Islam is the biggest religion, and some ninety percent of Egyptians are Muslim; most of the rest are Coptic Christians , with a small number of other Christians, and a tiny but ancient Jewish community.

• All Egyptians speak Arabic , but there are other Egyptian languages too: Nubian , related to the Nilotic languages of East Africa, is spoken around Aswan and Lake Nasser; Siwi , a Berber language like those of Morocco and Algeria, is spoken in Siwa Oasis; and Coptic , which is derived from ancient Egyptian, is used in church services, but not otherwise.

• Since the monarchy was ousted in 1952, Egypt has been a republic , ruled by a succession of military strongmen up until the 2011 revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. Elections in 2012 resulted in an Islamist government under President Mohammed Morsi . The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party is the largest in parliament, followed by the Salafist Al-Nour party, the liberal Wafd party and Egyptian Bloc.

• Tourism has long been Egypt’s biggest money-earner, followed by tolls on the Suez Canal, and exports of oil, petroleum products, natural gas, cotton and textiles. Over forty percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and the economy would collapse without $2 billion a year in financial and food-aid from the US.

Travel advice for Egypt

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Egypt

• Eating and drinking in Egypt
• Getting around Egypt: Transportation Tips
• Travel Tips Egypt for planning and on the go
• Culture and Etiquette in Egypt
• How to get to Egypt
• Shopping tips for Egypt
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Egypt
• Travelling with children in Egypt
• Best time to visit Egypt

The Rough Guides to Egypt and related travel guides

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.05.2021

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Egypt - Interactive map

Information about the map.

Check out the main monuments, museums, squares, churches and attractions in our map of Egypt. Click on each icon to see what it is.

To help you find your way once you get to your destination, the map you print out will have numbers on the various icons that correspond to a list with the most interesting tourist attractions. This way, you’ll be able to see where each attraction is.

Icons on the Egypt interactive map

The map is very easy to use:

• Check out information about the destination: click on the color indicators.
• Move across the map: shift your mouse across the map.
• Zoom in: double click on the left-hand side of the mouse on the map or move the scroll wheel upwards.
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What to eat.

The typical gastronomy of Egypt is tasty, colorful and varied. The delicious and spicy typical dishes are home to fresh Mediterranean fish and lamb, which are usually served accompanied by fresh fruit and local vegetables.

General information

This handy guide answers all the most frequently asked questions about travelling to Egypt. Learn which travel documents are required, whether you need vaccinations, what currency to buy, and even what plugs to bring!

Maps of Egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is located in northeastern Africa with its Sinai Peninsula stretching into Western Asia . It covers an area of about 1,002,450 km 2 (approximately 387,050 mi 2 ). To the north, Egypt meets the Mediterranean Sea , while to the east, it shares a border with Israel and the Gaza Strip . Sudan lies to its south, and Libya to its west. To the northeast, Egypt has coastlines along the Red Sea .

Nile Delta Region : One of Egypt's most significant geographical features is the Nile Delta . The delta stretches from the northern part of Cairo to the Mediterranean Sea. This region is historically fertile and was the cradle of many ancient Egyptian civilizations . The Nile, often regarded as the world's longest river, fans out into a myriad of tributaries in this delta, creating a lush, green landscape in contrast to the surrounding deserts. The majority of Egypt's population resides in this region, benefiting from the rich alluvial soils that the Nile brings.

Nile Valley and Nile River : Flowing from south to north, the Nile River extends for over 1,500 kilometers within Egypt's borders. This river has long been the lifeblood of the country, providing fresh water, transportation, and fertile soils to the regions it passes through. The Nile Valley, which comprises lands immediately adjacent to the river, houses many of Egypt's cities and towns. Beyond just the practical, the Nile has historical and cultural significance, with many ancient monuments and temples found along its banks.

Western Desert : To the west of the Nile lies the Western Desert, which makes up about two-thirds of Egypt's land area and is part of the greater Sahara Desert . This region is predominantly arid, with sand dunes, oases, and rugged plateaus. The oases, such as Siwa and Bahariya, are communities that have historically developed around natural springs. While less populated than the Nile regions, the Western Desert holds mineral resources and has been significant for trade and transportation.

Eastern Desert : The Eastern Desert separates the Nile Valley from the Red Sea. This mountainous and rugged region is rich in minerals like gold and precious stones. Historically, the Eastern Desert has been a source of valuable resources for ancient Egyptian civilizations. The Red Sea Mountains run parallel to the coast, providing a stunning backdrop to the Red Sea's coastal areas.

Sinai Peninsula : Jutting out to the northeast, the Sinai Peninsula acts as a land bridge between Africa and Asia. It is characterized by its mountainous terrain, particularly in the southern regions. Mount Sinai, located here, holds religious significance for many Abrahamic faiths.The peninsula borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east. It also houses the Suez Canal , a human-made waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and providing the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Last, the 2,629 m (8,625 ft) high Mount Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula is the highest point in Egypt.

Major Bodies of Water : Aside from the Nile, Egypt's major bodies of water include the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east. Both seas are vital for trade, transportation, and tourism. The Red Sea, in particular, is known for its coral reefs and abundant marine life.

Political Map of Egypt

Egypt has 27 governorates. These are Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur (Luxor), Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj.

With an area of 440,098 sq. km, New Valley is the largest governorate of the country by area. Cairo, the country's capital, is the most populous one.

Where is Egypt?

Egypt is a transcontinental country that stretches from the northeast corner of Africa to the southwest corner of Asia. The Sinai Peninsula of Egypt acts as the land bridge between these two continents. Egypt is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres of the Earth. It has land borders with Sudan to the south, Libya to the west, Israel and the Gaza Strip to the northeast. To the north, Egypt has a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea while the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba border it to the east.

Egypt Bordering Countries : Palestine , The Sudan , Israel , Libya .

Regional Maps : Map of Africa

Outline Map of Egypt

The blank outline map of the country of Egypt. The map can be downloaded for free and used for education purpose like map-pointing or for coloring as well.

The outline map shows the North African country of Egypt, a country well known for its pyramids and Pharaohs. Egypt is a transcontinental country with the Sinani Peninsula in the extreme right of the country acting as a land bridge between Africa and Asia.

This page was last updated on December 19, 2023

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Egypt, popularly known as the Cradle of Civilizations is strategically located and hence has accessibility from all parts of the world. It is located in North Africa along with the Sinai Peninsula that forms a sort of land bridge in Southwest Asia. It’s proximity to the Middle East countries make it a land of mixed cultures. The two seas that it has access to, namely the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea makes it open for a variety of travel packages. The beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean which can be accessed by such popular cities like Alexandria, the fascinating marine life of the Red Sea in places like Sinai and Marsa Alam makes it a great place for sightseeing.

The Deserts of the Sahara in Egypt, which occupies ninety percent of the area of the country’s area, holds a popular place in the Egypt Travel Packages. The beautiful Nile River along with its fascinating cruises takes you to the popular cities like Luxor , Cairo and Aswan . The fascinating monuments of the ancient world like the Pyramids and Sphinx and the various Egyptian temples of its Pantheon Gods are bound to attract and entice you. Egypt has always grown due to its lifeline the Nile river and now it’s a highly developed country which is a leading power among African countries and there are several urban cities that you can visit during your  Egypt Travel Packages .

In the Libyan desert there is a vast sandy area called the Great Sand Sea. There are several hollows in it, including the Qattara hollow with an area of ​​about 18,000 sq. Km. the depth of which reaches 113 m below sea level – the lowest place in Africa. Most of the Arabian desert is occupied by a plateau about 600 m high, and on the eastern edge of it are rare mountains reaching a height of 2100 m.

In the extreme south of the country, along the border with Sudan is the Nubian desert . The Sinai Peninsula is also occupied by a desert in the north and cliffs more than 2100 m high in the south off the coast of the Red Sea . The highest point in Egypt, Mount Jabal Katrina (2637 m) is located on the Sinai Peninsula. It was on it, according to the Old Testament, that Moses received the Ten Commandments. The Nile flows through the whole of Egypt from the Sudanese border to the Mediterranean Sea and almost throughout its entire length (about 1545 km) it is located in a narrow valley surrounded by cliffs.

In the south of the country is the artificial lake Nasser , formed by the Aswan Dam. In the north, near Cairo, the Nile Delta is formed with a width of about 250 km. Geographically and historically, Egypt is divided into Upper Egypt – the territory of the delta, and Lower Egypt – a narrow valley (23 km) south of Cairo.

Below are a few maps of Egypt . We will add more maps to this page as they become available. All our maps are custom created and copy protected. We ask that you respect our site content and do not use our maps without our written consent.

The Egyptian capital of Cairo (Arabic El-Qahira or Misr el-Qahira), the largest city on the African continent and in the Islamic world, long known as the “Gateway to the East” and a mediator between Christianity and Islam, lies in latitude 30°4′ north and longitude 34°17′ east with the main part of the city on the right bank of the Nile.

To the south the city reaches out by way of Old Cairo to the suburb of Maadi; to the west the newer districts spread beyond the Nile into the Western (Libyan) Desert. Cairo is the seat of government, of the Egyptian Parliament and the various Government departments and the residence of the heads of the Islamic, Coptic and Catholic Coptic religious communities.

Hurghada Map:

If someone goes on a tour, then he/she will have something to talk about …

The mentality of the Egyptians, the deeply rooted traditions and the different habits are not comparable to those in your home country.

You can avoid problems with custom officials and disputes with taxi drivers easily if you have taken the time to understand the regulations and negotiationtactics before coming.

If you could spare a few minutes of your time to structure your intercultural experience, then you will avoid any nasty surprise later on your vacation.

The modern town of Luxor which, by train, lies some 671 Kms. South of Cairo is part of the ancient City of Thebes, the capital, after Memphis of Pharaonic Egypt. In ancient days, “Hundered gated Thebes”, as homor called it, attracted visitors from all parts of the known world and since that time travelers to the land of Egypt have come to Luxor to wander among its antiquity-steeped remains and absorb something of the delightful atmosphere of a long by-gone age. Luxor gives the visitor a never-to-be-forgotten chance of wandering through its breath-taking time-defying temples and marveling at the deep buried majesty of its tombs all lavish with inscriptions.

The present name is derived from the Arabic El-Qusur (the “Palaces”: plural form of El-Qasr) referring to the mighty temple which was occupied until the end of the 19th.

The town Aswan (ancient Greek Syene) in Upper Egypt, celebrated for its cleanliness, lies in latitude 24° 5 north below the First Cataract. Situated on the east bank of the Nile, partly on low ground and partly on a hill, it is a much favored winter resort thanks to its equable dry and warm climate and its sand baths, which are efficacious in the treatment of diseases of the joints. Aswan , the capital of Egypt’s most southerly governorate and the terminus of the railroad line along the Nile Valley, has a university which is still in course of development. As a result of the construction of the High Dam farther up the valley Aswan is now becoming one of the country’s principal industrial centers (steel, nitrogen, electric power).

Alexandria Map:

Caesar entered Alexandria in triumph, but was then attacked by the citizens and Ptolemy XIV’s army and had considerable difficulty in maintaining his position in the Regia or “Royal City”. Cleopatra was able to win over by her charms first Caesar and later Antony, who lived with her in Alexandria from 42 to 30 B.C. Augustus enlarged the city by the addition of th suburb of Nicopolis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

✈️ when is the best time to go to egypt.

• The best weather for relaxing in the resorts of the Red Sea is spring and autumn.
• The most delicious mango ripens from late summer to December.
• The best time for diving in Egypt is July, August and September.

⛱️ Where is the best vacation in Egypt?

• Hurghada and the resorts near it (Makadi Bay, Soma Bay) are better suited for families with children. There are most sandy beaches with a smooth entry into the sea.
• Youth vacations are most developed in Sharm El Sheikh.
• For diving and snorkeling, you should choose Marsa Alam, Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh.
• For kite lovers, we recommend Dahab and El Gouna.
• The best universal resort is Sharm El Sheikh. It has everything – reefs, many hotels and developed infrastructure.

☀️ What is the weather like in Egypt?

The climate in Egypt is hot and dry. In the resorts of the Red Sea, air temperature in the daytime ranges from 20 ° C in January to 38 ° C in August. Water in the Red Sea warms up from 21 ° C in February to 29 ° C in August. In winter and early spring there can be strong winds.

⭐ What to bring with you to Egypt?

Sun protection products: (high SPF cream, glasses, hats, long-sleeved beachwear). Mask, snorkel and fins for snorkeling. For colorful underwater photos, a waterproof phone case is useful. If you are taking medications, be sure to take them.

💰 When is it cheaper to relax in Egypt?

The lowest price for tours to Egypt, departing at the end of autumn (except for autumn holidays) and in winter (except for New Year and Christmas packages).

At this time, you can buy last-minute tours.

📷 What to see in Egypt?

• The majestic temples in Luxor – Karnak and Luxor;
• Pyramids of Cheops, Hephernus and Mycerinus near Cairo;
• Valley of the Kings in Luxor;
• National Museum in Cairo;
• Mount Moses on the Sinai Peninsula;
• Colored Canyon in Nuweiba;
• Ros Mohammed National Park near Sharm El Sheikh.

😄 Where are the Pyramids in Egypt?

The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure are located on the Giza plateau, about 25 km. from cairo. Here is the famous statue of the mysterious Sphinx. A visit to the Pyramids is included in a one- or two-day excursion to Cairo. Tours from Hurghada are made by bus, and from Sharm el-Sheikh – by plane.

✅ Which is better, Turkey or Egypt?

This question cannot be answered unequivocally. In general, Egypt wins in terms of quality of hotel base and level of service. The chip of Egypt is the underwater world of the Red Sea, outstanding in its beauty and diversity, as well as the most ancient archaeological sites. In recent years, Egypt is more attractive and the cost of tours.

🏖️ Where is the best diving experience in Egypt?

Buying a tour to Egypt to your favorite hotel is easy online. Prices for trips to Egypt start from $ 200 per person for double occupancy, when the tours begin to burn. The price of holidays in Egypt also remains low during the off-season: relatively cold January, February and early March, as well as during the heat in August.

• The best place for diving in Egypt is Lighthouse Reef in Dahab.
• The most famous dive site for professionals is the Blue Hole Reef.
• The most popular wreck is the SS Thistlegorm ship near Sharm El Sheikh.
• The best resorts for diving and snorkeling are Marsa Alam, Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh.

The Ultimate Guide to Egypt: Dos and Don’ts Every Traveler Must Know!

W aving hello from the land of the Pharaohs , it's Kevin Erickson , your trusty travel companion. Ever dreamed of marveling at the Sphinx , floating on the Nile , or relishing in the historic hustle and bustle of Cairo's streets? Ah, Egypt, a majestic place! But, wait – do you know the etiquettes and local customs? Dive in as I unravel the treasures of Egypt and help you navigate potential pitfalls. 🌍

• Dress modestly and respect religious practices
• Greet, haggle, and tip like an Egyptian pro
• Stay hydrated, savor local delicacies, but know where to draw the line
• Relish history but respect boundaries
• Dive deep into the culture but keep American sensibilities in mind

Why Egypt Should Be on Every Traveler's Bucket List

According to the World Tourism Organization, Egypt welcomed a staggering more than 11.3 million tourists in 2018. A beacon of history, culture, and cuisine, Egypt promises a travel experience like no other.

Cultural Nuances: Navigating Egypt's Rich Tapestry

1. dress to respect.

Egypt's culture is an intriguing mix of modern and traditional elements. In religious and rural areas, dressing modestly is the key.

Women, consider long skirts or pants and tops with sleeves, while men might ditch the shorts.

Remember, dressing appropriately is not just about blending in, it's about showing respect!

2. Communicate Like a Local

Starting with a warm " As-salamu alaykum" can break many barriers. It’s an essential phrase that means "Peace be upon you".

Plus, trust me; locals appreciate it when you put in the effort.

3. Fun with Finances: Haggle and Tip!

Haggling isn't just a transaction; it's an art form in Egypt .

Dive into the vibrant bazaars, start with half the price, and let the dance begin! And when it comes to tipping, small gestures can bring big smiles.

4. Food, Drinks, and the Egyptian Way

Egypt offers a culinary journey that your tastebuds will cherish.

From falafels to koshary, there's a world to explore. And here’s a zinger for my American friends: while Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, alcohol is indeed legal and available in many restaurants, hotels, and bars.

However, remember: public drunkenness isn't just frowned upon—it can land you in hot water!

5. Dive Deep into the History, but Respect the Boundaries

Egypt is, as Anthony Bourdain rightly said,

" a unique fusion of civilizations, cultures, and religions. Traveling here is like walking through layers of history."

But remember, while the Pyramids might tempt you, climbing them is a big no-no. Let's keep history preserved!

From a Traveler's Eye: Kevin's Secret Tips

• The Nile - More Than Just a River - The Nile isn't just about those mesmerizing boat rides. Avoid swimming, especially near urban areas, due to pollution.
• Not Everyone's After Your Bucks - Sure, there are hustlers, but many Egyptians are genuinely warm. Embrace the culture, make friends, and you'll discover the true heart of the country.
• Step Outside the Tourist Spots - Discover Egypt's hidden gems. Beyond the Pyramids and Sphinx, there’s a whole world awaiting.

Embracing the Egyptian Adventure: A Final Word

The magic of Egypt is something that has enticed travelers for generations. Whether it's the mysterious allure of the Pyramids, the sprawling beauty of the Nile , or the vibrant tapestries of the bazaars, every corner of Egypt is a testament to its rich heritage and captivating culture. But beyond the visual spectacle, the soul of Egypt lies in its people – warm, welcoming, and eager to share their stories.

Traveling here is not just about checking off sites from a bucket list; it's about immersing oneself in a timeless narrative that has shaped much of the world's history. It's about understanding the delicate balance of tradition and modernity that Egyptians navigate daily. By respecting local customs and approaching each experience with an open heart, travelers can forge connections that transcend mere tourism.

Kevin Erickson' s insights and tips are crafted from a place of deep respect and admiration for this land. While the dos and don'ts serve as a practical guide, they also underscore a more profound message: Travel with empathy. Every "do" is an invitation to embrace and every "don't" a nudge to respect boundaries.

In conclusion, as you set out to experience Egypt, remember that it's a journey both external and internal. The monuments will leave you awestruck, the cuisine satisfied, but it's the memories made and the friendships forged that will truly stand the test of time.

So here's to Egypt – an eternal story waiting for your chapter. Safe travels!

What currency should I carry in Egypt?

Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP). While major cities and tourist areas accept credit cards, it's wise to carry some local currency for smaller vendors, tipping, and haggling in bazaars.

Do I need any vaccinations before traveling to Egypt?

It's recommended to consult with your healthcare provider before your trip. Common vaccines suggested for Egypt include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever, especially if you're planning to visit rural areas.

Is English spoken widely in Egypt?

While Arabic is the official language, English is widely understood and spoken, especially in tourist areas, major cities, and by younger generations. However, it's always appreciated if you learn a few basic Arabic phrases.

Are there specific cultural or religious festivals I should be aware of?

Yes, Egypt has several religious and cultural festivals, the most notable being Ramadan, a month of fasting. During this time, many shops and restaurants may have altered hours. Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are also significant festivals with grand celebrations.

Is vegetarian or vegan food easily available?

Yes, Egyptian cuisine offers a variety of vegetarian and even vegan-friendly dishes. Staples like falafel, koshary, and molokhia are both delicious and vegetarian-friendly.

How do I get around within the country?

Egypt boasts a range of transportation options from trains, buses, and domestic flights to more local means like tuk-tuks and horse-drawn carriages. For major attractions like the Pyramids, it's often convenient to hire a taxi for the day or join a guided tour.

Is the tap water safe to drink?

It's advisable to stick to bottled water in Egypt, both for drinking and brushing your teeth, to avoid any potential stomach upsets. Always ensure the bottle seal is intact when purchasing.

• World Tourism Organization
• Egyptian Tourism Board
• "Parts Unknown" by Anthony Bourdain

Egypt tourist map

Thousands of years still fail to hide the beauty and grandeur of Egypt. This country, which was born on the banks of the Nile River, will find fascinating and luminous places to visit. This mysterious charm attracts more than 8 million people annually, eager to walk its ancient paths, which places this country among the favorite destinations in Africa. Egypt occupies 1,001,450 km² in the northeast of the continent with the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east. Its neighbors are Israel to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. The Sinai Peninsula is also part of this country, where Egypt’s elevations are located, as most of its territory is occupied by the Sahara desert.

Although there are several Egyptian destinations that can be visited at any time of the year, the best time to travel to this nation is from October to January, since June to September are the hottest months of the year, although Alexandria’s beaches are best enjoyed during that warm time. However, keep in mind that the temperature can reach 42º C, so you should consider wearing cool clothes and carrying containers for continuous hydration. It can be said that Egypt has three different climatic regions: Mediterranean, semi-desert and desert. In the first area, the weather is more benign, and hot summers are slightly cooled by the sea breeze. This is where the ancient city of Alexandria, one of the most visited in the country, is located. Although it is the area with the highest rainfall, the rains are not as intense. Around Cairo, Egypt’s capital, the summit is semi-desert, there is less rain, but temperatures are higher than in the Mediterranean region. During the spring, an environmental phenomenon called sirocco is common, which consists of hurricane winds that come from the Great South (the Sahara desert) and that burst strongly in the populated places dragging great amounts of sand and increasing the temperature. The desert climate is typical of the South, rainfall is almost non-existent and temperatures can be quite high.

One of the most attractive beauties of Egypt is its untamed and ancient nature. When sailing along the banks of the Nile the visitor will have the strange sensation of being in a time bubble, since its inhabitants, many of them fishermen, continue living the rural way of life that they have known for centuries. Even their clothes are typical of the region, far from Western dress codes. Silence is an omnipresent companion of this landscape, which dresses in intense colors at every sunrise and sunset. But the beauties of Egypt do not only focus on its natural landscapes.  To visit Egypt is to go on a fascinating journey through the history of civilizations. Most of the funerary and religious monuments of this country survived through millennia of history. The best known and most representative are those dedicated to the Pharaohs Cheops, Kephren and Menkaura or Mycerae, impressive pyramids near the city of Cairo.the monument dedicated to contain the essence of the Pharaoh Cheops, or Giza Pyramid, is the only wonder of the ancient world that survives until our era. Built with more than two million stones, it stands on a totally flat and desert landscape, which makes it stand out even more in the surroundings.

Also not to be missed are other ancient monuments such as the Abu Simbel temple complex in southern Egypt, dedicated to Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. Four giants welcome visitors who enter a place full of history and mystery thanks to the low reliefs that adorn the entire interior. Or the great Temple of Karnak, a majestic, grandiose and very well preserved building with frescoes that have been preserved for 3,500 years. Also the temple of Dendera dedicated to Hathor, Egyptian goddess of fertility and love, and which stands out for the luminosity of its spaces and the exuberance of its reliefs and frescoes. In addition to the House of the Million Years of Ramses III with also impressive bas-reliefs excellently preserved. Although it is not as well known as other temples, it preserves the magnificence of the Egyptian empire.

Cairo Tourist Map

Tourist Map Luxor

If there is a city where history and modernity intertwine in a whimsical and picturesque way, it is Cairo, with its 17 million inhabitants. Located in the north of Egypt, in the delta of the Nile River, it is a recent city compared to the pyramids, since its foundation dates from 116 years A.D. By the way, the pyramids are precisely near Cairo so visits can be arranged from the city. Also close by are the metropolises of Memphis and Saqqara. The Egyptian Museum, the souk of Khan el-Khalili, and the Old Cairo (Coptic) quarter, which is the oldest in the city, are also nearby.

About 700 kilometers from Cairo, in Upper Egypt, is the ancient city of Luxor. It can be said that Luxor is a museum city unparalleled in the world. Its three sections, the city itself, the village of Karnak and the funerary monuments of Thebes in the Valley of the Kings, constitute an archaeological jewel of Egypt. Like everything else in Egypt, it lies on the banks of the Nile River and is home to the country’s most majestic and impressive temples. Thebes itself was known as The City of the Pharaohs, on whose ruins Luxor was built. Also there is located the Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amon and built under the mandate of Amenhotep III, Tutankhamen and Ramses II; the temples of Karnak; the temple of Hatshepsut, and, of more recent construction, the temple of Hathor. It is a must to explore the Valley of the Queens where the beautiful and attractive tomb of Nefertari is located. And, of course, finish the tour in the Valley of Nobles where there are some tombs to visit.

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Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

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Israel-Gaza latest: Hamas responds to ceasefire proposal - as Netanyahu casts doubt on deal

Joe Biden announced a surprise plan with three phases: the first would be a six-week ceasefire, the second the return of remaining hostages, and the third a reconstruction plan for Gaza. We'll be bringing you all the reaction to this throughout the day.

Sunday 2 June 2024 07:16, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• US President Joe Biden announces new ceasefire and hostage deal proposal
• Hamas views latest proposed deal 'positively'
• Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed, Netanyahu's office says
• Chances of ceasefire 'not that realistic', expert says  
• Egypt making 'intensive efforts' to resume negotiations - report
• Israeli opposition leader urges Netanyahu to take deal - and says he will prop up government
• Explained: What is in Biden's three-phase plan?
• Analysis: Israel seemed blindsided by Biden announcement
• Live reporting by Emily Mee

We will be focusing on our general election coverage tomorrow, but we'll be back with more live updates on the Israel-Hamas war next week. 

Models Bella and Gigi Hadid are collectively donating one million dollars (£785,000) to support relief efforts, according to their agent. 

The money will go to Heal Palestine, Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), World Central Kitchen (WCK), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The sisters have frequently been vocal in their support for Gaza, and their father Mohamed Anwar Hadid is himself Palestinian. 

After Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, Gigi, 29, offered her condolences to those affected.

"My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children," she wrote on Instagram.

"I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily."

She added: "While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person."

Bella, 27, said in May that she was "devastated at the loss of the Palestinian people and the lack of empathy coming from the government systems worldwide".

The United Nations food agency has said it is unable to feed most civilians in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. 

Only 27,000 people in Rafah are currently being reached by the World Food Programme (WFP), according to its local director Matthew Hollingworth. 

Roughly one million Palestinians are living in the area, many of them displaced from other parts of Gaza. 

"The sounds, the smells, the everyday life are horrific and apocalyptic," Mr Hollingworth told journalists. 

"People sleep to the sounds of bombing, they sleep to the sounds of drones, they sleep to the sounds of war, as now tanks roll into parts of central Rafah, which is only kilometers away. And they wake to the same sounds." 

A ceasefire proposal consisting of three phases has been outlined by Joe Biden. 

What do those phases entail, what have Israel and Hamas said about the plan and how does it compare to the last proposal?

Read more below...

The French president has backed the ceasefire proposal set out by Joe Biden last night. 

Emmanuel Macron said he supported the proposal for "a durable peace" and that the war "must end". 

France is also working with partners in the region on "peace and security for all", he said. 

A high-level official has said Egypt is undertaking "intensive efforts" to "resume negotiations" for a ceasefire and hostage deal, according to a report. 

The official, quoted by Al-Qahera TV, said this was "in light of the recent American proposition". 

Last night, Joe Biden detailed a ceasefire and hostage deal proposal that he said Israel had put to Hamas. 

However, Israeli officials have told our correspondents they were "blindsided" by the announcement. 

If it works, then this will be a smart and cunning diplomatic move.

If it doesn't then President Joe Biden will look foolish.

He knows the huge risk of once again being taken for a ride by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Few knew that he was due to make this announcement.

Read more from our US correspondent Mark Stone below...

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has said 33 of its employees have been killed in Gaza since the war began. 

Of those, it said 19 were killed "while performing their humanitarian duties". 

The organisation today buried Mohammed Jihad Abed, an employee in the disaster risk management department. 

He was killed in an Israeli attack on his home in Rafah last night. 

American, Egyptian and Israeli officials will be meeting tomorrow in Cairo to discuss the reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing, according to a report. 

Egypt is insisting that Israel withdraw its forces from the crossing, a high-level source told Egypt's state-linked Al Qahera TV. 

Israel seized the Gaza side of the crossing last month during its offensive in the city of Rafah. 

Earlier this week, a member of Egypt's security forces was killed in a shooting incident near the Rafah crossing.

An Egyptian soldier stationed on a watchtower had reacted to seeing an armoured vehicle carrying Israeli troops cross a boundary line near the border while the soldiers pursued and killed several Palestinians, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters news agency. 

The soldier opened fire and Israeli forces fired back, killing him, the sources said, sparking an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. 

The British prime minister has praised the proposed ceasefire deal set out by Joe Biden, saying it is "welcome news". 

Rishi Sunak said he hopes Hamas "takes this opportunity to take this deal that is on the table, [and] that would ensure hostages can be released and be back with their families". 

He also expressed hopes to "flood Gaza with far more aid than has been getting in" and to "use that pause in the fighting to build a sustainable and lasting peace". 

Mr Sunak joins a growing group of world leaders expressing support for the deal, which will only put more pressure on Israel and Hamas. 

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