Egypt Travel and Luxury Vacations Cairo, the Pyramids and the Nile

Cairo and Giza come first: the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo's mosques and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Our Cairo luxury hotels and Pyramids guide covers where to stay and what to see.

Luxor is the world's greatest open-air museum, with Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank and the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple on the west; see Luxor hotels and the Valley of the Kings. Aswan is gentler, with granite islands, Nubian villages and the Philae temple, and it is the launch point for Abu Simbel; read our Aswan and Nile cruise guide.

On the Mediterranean, Alexandria blends Greek and Roman heritage with the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexandria guide), while the North Coast around El Alamein and Ras El Hekma is Egypt's summer riviera. In the Western Desert, Siwa Oasis offers palm groves, salt lakes and candlelit eco-lodges.

The Red Sea is one of the world's great diving destinations: El Gouna has lagoons and marinas, Soma Bay and Marsa Alam offer quiet resorts and kitesurfing, and Sharm El Sheikh is the gateway to Ras Mohammed's reefs.

A luxury Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is the classic way to see Upper Egypt. Over three to seven nights you sail past palm-lined banks and stop at Edfu, Kom Ombo and the great temples, with a private Egyptologist. The finest ships are small, with large cabins, good food and sun decks. Leading names include the Oberoi Zahra and Oberoi Philae, the Sanctuary Sun Boats, and traditional sailing dahabiyas for a more private journey. For more on yachts and river journeys, see Sail.

Visa. US citizens need a visa. Apply online through Egypt's official e-visa portal before you fly, or buy a single-entry visa on arrival at Cairo airport for about US$30. Your passport should be valid for at least six months.

Getting there. EgyptAir flies nonstop to Cairo from New York JFK, Newark and Washington and added Los Angeles and Chicago in 2026. Domestic flights connect Cairo with Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Abu Simbel. Compare premium cabins on our airlines page.

Dress. Light, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is best in cities and at religious sites. Women need a scarf in mosques. Beachwear is normal at Red Sea and North Coast resorts.

Alcohol. Available in hotels, Nile cruise ships, licensed restaurants and bars. Egypt produces its own wine and beer.

Ramadan. Sites and hotels stay open, and many restaurants serve visitors by day. Evenings are festive. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around February 8, depending on the moon.

Money. Cards work in good hotels; carry pounds for tips. Entry to the Grand Egyptian Museum is priced in pounds; a private full-day guided tour of Giza costs from roughly US$150 to US$300. See our money and tipping guide.

Egypt's high season runs from October to April, when Cairo is warm and pleasant and Upper Egypt is dry and sunny. December and January are the busiest months, so book Nile cruises and the best hotels early. The Red Sea and the Mediterranean North Coast are at their best from spring through autumn, and the North Coast is the place to be in July and August, when Cairenes head for the sea.

Twice a year, around February 22 and October 22, the rising sun shines deep into the sanctuary of Abu Simbel and lights the statues of the gods, an event that draws visitors from around the world. Cairo also hosts a busy calendar of art fairs, music and film festivals in the cooler months, and the Grand Egyptian Museum regularly holds special events and exhibitions. Explore more on our culture pages.