Specific Places in Egypt
Also See Egypt Travel News and our complete Travel Guide for more Information on Culture, specifically Destinations in Egypt. Also see Ancient Sites and our Monuments in Egypt Guide
Ain El Selini in the Fayoum by Seif Kamel
Though not a major tourist attraction for foreign tourists, the Gardens of Ain El Selini in the Fayoum are popular among Egyptians, and they make a great place to rest up and have a bit of lunch if one is touring the Fayoum monuments.
Ain Soukhna by Jimmy Dunn
Ain Soukhna on the Egyptian Red Sea Coast (actually on the Gulf of Suez) has often been referred to as a town, but is really not. Ain Soukhna can be translated as "hot spring" and the name originates from sulfur springs in Gebal Ataqa, a nearby Eastern Desert mountain. It is a region that stretches from just south of Suez down the coast for about sixty kilometers, and mostly consists of a port along with a series of resort complexes, with a few independent restaurants, gas stations and other facilities scattered along the coastal road. It seems only natural for this region to be so developed, considering that it represents the closest beaches to Cairo, one of the largest cities in the world.
The Andalusian Gardens in Cairo by Lara Iskander
While many tourists drive by the Andalusian Garden, or 'Hadikat Al-Andalus', few know anything about this wonderful little park in Cairo located in southern Zamalek between Qasr al-Nil Bridge and Sixth October Bridge.
The Area of Al-Alamein by Jimmy Dunn
The region around al-Alamein is being developed for tourism, so many more people will be visiting this famous area in the near future.
The Al-Alemein War Museum by Seif Kamel
This story on the Al-Alemein War museum is a bit premature. Next week we will have information about the battle itself.
The Alexandria National Museum by Zahraa Adel Awed
The Alexandria National Museum, relatively new, is a unique museum in Egypt, completely modern with an educational orientation.
Antoniadis Villa and its Gardens by Zahraa Adel Awed
This Villa and gardens are one of Alexandria's most beautiful areas, and are important historically, as well as to the city's future
Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, Egypt by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
The Al-Azhar Park is important for tourists to Egypt because this hilly site is surrounded by the most significant historic districts of Islamic Cairo. This is one of the primary destinations for many visitors to the city, and this new park located in its heart provides many advantages, including a wonderful view of the surrounding area. The creation of the 30 hectare (74 acre) Al-Azhar Park on Al-Darassa, by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, came when his highness the Aga Khan decided to donate a park to the citizens of Cairo in 1984. The $30 million (USD) project was designed as an agent for economic development, and has become a case study for creative solutions to a spectrum of challenges facing historic cities, including ecological rehabilitation.
Aquarium Grotto Garden by Lara Iskander
Ismaels Grotto Garden was completed in 1867 on nine and half acres of his private property in what is now Zamalek in Cairo
The Bahariya Oasis, Part I: The Western Desert by Jimmy Dunn
Why pay 20 million dollars for a trip into space when you can go to the moon for so much less? OK, its not really the moon, but the landscape is surreal; alien in every way, and it changes from one moment to the next. It is the type of place that creates wonder in adults, where such feelings were long ago thought lost. It is a land not yet fully explored, with twists and turns that reveal ever changing landscapes. This is the Bahariya Oasis, and the nearby, or rather, encroaching western desert.
Basata, A Beach Haven in Egypt's Sinai by Sarah El Khodary
There is this spot that takes people to the days when one artificial source of light was considered a luxury, and trusting people with payment was the trend. Here, we go back to the simpler days, at a place literally called, Basata. Basata was the first tourist project in Sinai, established in 1986. It was designed and constructed by Sherif El-Ghamrawy, an Egyptian construction engineer from Cairo.
A Brief Look at the Sinai by Jimmy Dunn
The Sinai is a land of majestic granite mountains, colorful and more alive than many might suspect. But there are also beautiful beaches and exotic escapes.
The Cairo Agricultural Museum by Seif Kamel
Cairo's Agricultural Museum, created during the 1930s, was the world's first of its kind, and will become even more important.
Cairo's Bookseller's Market by Seif Kamel
The Bookseller's Market in Cairo, known as Soor Al Azbakeya, offers an amazing variety of both modern and rare texts.
Cairo International Conference Center by Dr. Maged El-Bialy
Egypt has long been the focal center of Africa and the Middle East, but while the capabilities of the facilities available were never in doubt, the proper facilities to conduct the larger conferences had not been available. To insure the capability to set up international and local conferences and conventions The Cairo International Conference Center (CICC) is the result of tireless planning and careful execution.
A Vision of Cairo (A Pictorial) by Jimmy Dunn
I am not certain how any experience could be more dramatic than waking up in Lubbock, Texas, catching an airplane, and soon arriving in Cairo, Egypt. I have done so more times now than I can count, but it remains both extraordinary and very pleasant. Obviously, there is the cultural side to this transformation, but not so much as one might expect. Even on my first visit, I can remember finding the people strangely familiar. They work hard, and have exceptional family values, reminding me of the residents in the even smaller Texas village where I grew up.
The Cairo Tower in Cairo, Egypt by Jimmy Dunn
Its nice to be up high in Cairo. It gives one a prospective view of this great city, with it's very modern and very ancient districts. Anyone who has stood atop the Citadel or from the upper floors of some of the taller hotels is aware of the grand views that Cairo offers. One of the best views is from the Cairo Tower, located on Gezira Island (Zemalak) just north of the Museum of Modern Art (which is also very much worth a visit), which provides a panoramic vision of Cairo. This 187 meter tall tower, in the form of a latticework tube that fans out slightly at the top, is said to imitate a lotus plant, and ranks only fourth among the worlds highest towers. It is made of granite, the same material often used by the ancient Egyptians, and is about 45 meters taller than the Great Pyramid at Giza. The whole of Cairo awaits you at the top of the tower.
Camels, and Trekking in Today's Sinai By Angela Wierstra
The "great and terrible wilderness" of the Bible has turned into a luxurious holiday paradise. Sinai has become well known for deluxe resorts located on the beaches of the Gulf of Aqaba and is famous for its extraordinary underwater world.
Camel Trekking in the Sinai by Joyce Carta
Non-divers and even non-snorkelers, would be charmed by Dahab. Its local flavor blends resolute Bedouin independence with the panache of seascapes bordered by the fierce Sinai mountains topped off with a waterfront full of curiosity shops, crafts and tented, fire-lit seafood eateries.
Carriage Museum in the Citadel by Seif Kamel
The Carriage Museum at the Citadel is small, with only eight carriages, but the ones they have are impressive and its worth a visit.
The Charm of Sharm by Jimmy Dunn
The site of Sharm el-Sheikh shows up as early as 1762 on a Spanish map, but until about 1968, it was nothing more than a quiet fishing community. However, in recent years, Sham el-Sheikh has become one of Egypt's best known and most visited beach resorts. In fact, in recent years, the Egyptian government has worked hard to spread around the Beach vacationers by developing or encouraging the development of many other beach resorts, but Sharm remains the leading tourist spot in the Sinai and there are a number of reasons for this. First of all, it is a year round resort, hot in the summer, but pleasant and warm in the winter, and it has an international airport that attracts both private and many international charter flights.
The Christian Monasteries of Egypt by Jimmy Dunn
As some of our readers may have noticed, we have been running a series on monasteries in Egypt. This is a long term project to track down, record and provide as much information on as many of Egypt's monasteries as possible. Before writing this article, I asked myself why tourists should be interested in visiting monasteries. Of course many people travel to Egypt specifically because it is part of the holy land and they wish to see holy monuments. But Egyptian monasteries have become very popular tourist destinations, and not just for people on religious tours.
The Citadel of Cairo by Jimmy Dunn
One of Cairo's most popular tourist attractions is the Citadel, located on a spur of limestone that had been detached from its parent Moqattam Hills by quarrying. The Citadel is one of the world's greatest monuments to medieval warfare, as well as a highly visible landmark on Cairo's eastern skyline. Particularly when viewed from the back side (from the north), the Citadel reveals a very medieval character. The area where the Citadel is now located began it's life not as a great military base of operations, but as the "Dome of the Wind", a pavilion created in 810 by Hatim Ibn Hartama, who was then governor.
Cities of the Dead by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
Like Naema Zaki and her five children have been forced to make the cemeteries in Cairos City of the Dead their permanent home because of the countrys chronic housing crisis shortage. We came to live in these cemeteries because they are inexpensive and practical for a starting point. However soon we realized that its not a temporary house and that we want to continue herethese people are kind and all of us here care for each other, unlike other Cairenes. said Zaki, a widow who lives in a tomb room in the Northern Cemetery with her children.
Climbing Mount Sinai by Joyce Carta
Climbing Mount Sinai is a tradition for travelers to the mountains of southern Sinai. While the 7,497 foot mountain has 3,750 steps hewn out of stone by the monks of St. Catherine's Monastery, most people will make the largest part of the journey by camel. But once on the mountain's peek, the view is astounding.
The Controversy in Qurna by Jane Akshar
There is controversy in the ancient village of Qurna on the West Bank of Luxor, as the residents face eviction from their homes.
Coptic Christian Museum by Jimmy Dunn
More than simply an archive of Coptic history, the Coptic Museum intricately weaves a web between religions at the end of the pagan era, and the beginning of the Christian period. It is a case study in the formative years of a major religion that grew, and sometimes intermingled, and sometimes borrowed from that of an ancient religion that it was replacing.
Cultural Park for Children Cairo, Egypt by Jimmy Dunn
The last time you were in Cairo, you probably missed the Cultural Park for Children, even if you took your kids along for the trip, and even though your tour probably came within a stone throw away from the park. Located in the Sayyida Zeinab area in the heart of medieval Cairo near the Ibn Tulun Mosque, the park has won the prestigious Aga Khan award (1992) for architecture, and is a favorite of area children. It is also a fine place for your own kids to soak up some local culture, actually come in contact and even play with the children of Cairo. Of course, it is also entertaining. Here, one finds a complex full of libraries, art studios, rooms with computers and video games, playgrounds, fountains and several areas for theatrical and performing arts.
A Day At the Pyramids by Adel Murad
Friday the 11th of January 2002 was an unusually cold day. Most residents of Cairo took a battering of a cold snap which saw the rare event of hail storms and flooding. The streets were empty, and the taxi driver took only 45 minutes from Heliopolis to the ticket office on the Giza plateau. The driver was very pleased with his first fare of the day (LE 25 / $ 5.5) that he decided to wait and take us back some 90 minutes later. Friday is the weekend in Cairo, and businesses and schools take the day off. It was our last day in Cairo before flying back to London. I had promised my son, Hadleigh, that on this trip we are going to go inside the Great Pyramid. But 10 days earlier, there was a power cut in the area, so we ended up going into some nearby tombs and riding horses.
The Dervish Theater in Cairo by Seif Kamel
The Dervish Theater in Cairo is one of the best places to catch a traditional Whirling Dervish dance, and the building itself is of interest.
A Desert Experience by Lara Iskander
The deserts of Egypt have a lot to offer, for each is unique in its beauty and landscape. Rocky hills and mountains, endless stretches of soft sand, amazing dunes, green oasis and springs rising in the middle of dryness, all creating a wild beautiful scenery. The Sinai is unlike the rest of Egypt. It's a varied, beautiful rocky desert, a land of mystery and a holy place. Traveling and discovering Sinai can be done through several ways. There is the comfortable journey; relaxing and enjoying the landscape and surrounding beauties and staying at one of the hotels around the towns of Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba.
Donkey Ride Over the Ridge by Jane Akshar
I now know the origin of the term, "walk like an Egyptian". Whoever said it must have taken the donkey ride on the ridge at Luxor.
The Eastern Desert and Red Sea Coast: A Historical Overview, Part I by Jimmy Dunn
In Egypt, the desert areas are divided by the Nile, which runs south to north, and these separate regions are most frequently referred to as the Western and Eastern deserts. The western desert is well known among those familiar with Egypt, particularly for its relatively large and important oasis areas. However, other than a few well known coastal resorts, the Eastern desert and the Red Sea coast including their history are less familiar to many. Yet this region, sometimes called the Arabian Desert, covers some twenty-one percent of present day Egypt.
Egyptian Beach Vacations Part I: An Overview by Jimmy Dunn
Despite Egypt's ancient allure, today the country probably attracts more beach vacationers than any other type of tourists. This is because, for many Europeans, the warm Egyptian beaches are both inexpensive and well appointed. Many European countries specifically lack warm beaches and the alternatives to Egypt are somewhat expensive. Therefore, not only do people come to Egypt's beaches independently, but many arrive by way of chartered airlines that specialize in such vacations from Europe. Depending on how one looks at it, Egypt can be said to have as many as seven beach zones.
Egyptian Beach Vacations Part II: Egypt's Mediterranean Coast by Jimmy Dunn
Today, one of the hot spots of tourism development is Egypt's north coast, specifically between Alexandria and Marsa Matruh, and even more specific to the region between Alexandria and Al-Alamein. In fact, this section of the coast is so much under development that it presents a bit of a moving target to discuss, with new vacation oriented beaches seemingly popping up everywhere along the coast, many of which lack much documentation. Much of the new development is not unlike the Ain Sukhna area on the Gulf of Suez, where village-like compounds are the common denominator.
Egyptian Beach Vacations Part III: Egypt's Mainland Gulf of Suez and Red Sea Coast by Jimmy Dunn
The mainland Egyptian coastline along the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea is one continuous stretch of mostly beaches, but very different in many ways. Obviously, there are differences in the water within a confined gulf as opposed to the open Red Sea, but there are considerable differences in the facilities and some difference in the types of activities available. We can actually define three of the most popular regions as Ain Sukhna at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez, the Region around Hurghada and El-Gouna just about where the Gulf of Suez opens up into the Red Sea, and Marsa Alam, which is becoming very popular considerably south of Hurghada, but still some distance from the southern Egyptian border.
Egypt Beach Vacations, Part IV: The Sinai Beaches by Jimmy Dunn
Many people today still think of Egypt as a desert country, which it is to a large extent. But between its mainland Mediterranean coast, its long mainland Red Sea coast and the Sinai, it has an impressive amount of beach area. In fact, despite Egypt's aggressive construction of new beach resorts, the Sinai's western coast remains almost completely undeveloped. However, a notable exception is Ras Sidr, which is a very nice beach better known to Egyptians than foreign travelers. It lies about sixty kilometers south of the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel. The eastern coastline and the southern tip of the Sinai have a number of beach resort regions, though by far the most developed region is the region in and around Sharm el-Sheikh.
Egyptian Modern Art Museum by Seif Kamel
While the Egyptian Modern Art Museum is like others of its type, it also provides a unique window into Egypt's fascinating culture.
Fagnoon, Fun and Learning for Kids in Cairo by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
Fagnoon is one of the rare places in Cairo where both parents and children can take a break and spend a few unforgettable hours away from the citys loud noise and pollution. The word Fagnoon itself is a combination of two interesting words Fonoon (art) and Gonoon (wild). It is a place for families to play, run, dance, paint, draw, as well as as well as trying out a bouquet of crafts including pottery, word carpentry, agriculture, baking, jewelry making, iron smithy, and much more. Over the past few years, Fagnoon has become one of Egypts most popular destinations for young and old, Egyptian and non-Egyptian.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum by Seif Kamel
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is one of the finest examples of Orientalist era collections with almost cult status for those who love that era.
Getting Around in Cairo by Jimmy Dunn
We take a look at taxis, not for the first time, and we take a first look at the Cairo Metro. Taxis are one of the main ways to get about in Egypt, but knowing how they operate can save hundreds of dollars, and knowing that the Cairo Metro is a clean safe and utterly inexpensive alternative can even save even more.
Gilf Kebir, Part I by Allan Watson
Gilf Kebir is one of those fantastic places of Egypt that makes one feel like they have discovered a distant planet (but with Rock Art!).
Gilf Kebir, Part II by Allan Watson
Part two of this series is a guide to the individual wadis of the Gilf Kebir and the rock art they contain.
The Village of New Gourna by Lara Iskander
Famous architect and artist, Hassan Fathy was born in Alexandria in 1899 to an Egyptian father and a Turkish mother. He studied at Cairo University and later became a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts and was head of the Architectural School. He was an architect who devoted himself to housing the poor in developing nations. He aimed to create affordable and livable spaces suitable to the surrounding environment, thus improving the economy and the standard of living in rural areas. Nevertheless, Hassan Fathy was not very successful at convincing the state of his ideas.
Hunkering Down in Cairo by Jimmy Dunn
For Travelers to Egypt who wish to examine this great old land in depth, several visits may be in order, with the first concentrating on Cairo and the surrounding area. This offers a number of advantages because modern Cairo provides considerable comforts while at the same time giving the traveler a fairly good overview of Egyptian antiquities and culture. Many monuments, including pyramids, tombs, ancient churches and monasteries, and Islamic monuments are either within Cairo, or a short drive away, and there are also all sorts of Egyptian culture at hand.
The Imbaba Bridge in Cairo by Seif Kamel
Cairo's bridges are well known to many tourists, though one of the most important and interesting ones, the Imbaba, is not.
Insight Inside, A Therapeutic Center by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
The moment I entered the place I found a sense of peace that immediately relaxed me. In the beginning I thought that this could be a psychological effect because I am in a center that promotes balance between the body, mind and soul, but soon I realized its the friendliness of the people who work there. Let Insight lead you Inside, is more than just a motto that Linda, the proprietor, follows.
Into the Wilderness of the Sinai by Kate Nivison
Nothing could capture Egypts desert wilderness of Sinai better than that wonderful scene from David Leans great desert epic, Lawrence of Arabia. A rashly brave Lawrence, played by Peter OToole, has announced that he will cross the Sinai Desert to take news of their surprise capture of the port of Aqaba to the British in Cairo.
The Jewel Palace by Seif Kamel
The Jewel Palace at the Citadel has a misleading name. It is not full of jewels, but rather memories and artifacts of the Ottomans.
Lake Mariut (Mareotis) a Landlocked Sea South of Alexandria, Egypt by Jimmy Dunn
Lake Mariut (Mariout, Maryut, Mareotis) is just south of, and actually forms the southern border of Alexandria. Along the shore are reed-beds where fishermen, as in ancient times, move about in flat-bottomed boats propelled by long poles. As in the Nile Valley, where much farming continues to be carried on in much the same way as in ancient times, here, fisherman also carry on mostly following in their ancestor's footsteps.
Lake Qarun in the Egypt Fayoum by Seif Kamel
Lake Qarun is an amazing location seldom visited by foreign tourists. Here, and around the Fayoum region are fine monuments and natural wonders of all kinds. Indeed, the Lake Qarun region is one of Egypt's oldest nature preserves.
The New Annex of the Luxor Museum in Luxor, Egypt by Jane Akshar
Recently, I went to visited the new annex of Luxor Museum (in Luxor) in order to see its much heralded new Egyptian military exhibition; I found the experience to be both enlightening and pleasurable. The exhibition is titled "Thebes Glory Military Technology", and it has a range of exhibits reflecting the great period of Egyptian military history during the 18th and 19th Dynasties. There are many statues of famous pharaohs, articles of war, stele, and most famous of all, the mummies of the two founders of their respective dynasties.
A Luxor Adventure by Seif Kamel
Luxor is full of grand old monuments and tombs, the largest open air museum in the world, but what else is there to do besides sightsee.
Luxor Tombs & Temples open to the public & ticket prices by Jimmy Dunn
We are often asked about site pricing, and which antiquity sites are open and available to the public.
Al Mokattam Mountain by Seif Kamel
The best view of Cairo may not be from the Cairo Tower, but rather from the Al Mokattam Mountain situated behind the Citadel.
Marina on Egypt's North Coast, Where the Egyptian Elite Come to Play by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
Marina is a tourist village located in the Northern Coast which stretches 525 Kilometers along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt east to Sallum on the Libyan border. There are actually a number of tourist villages along the northern coast, and more planned, though Marina has earned the reputation of being one of the most exclusive, traditionally catering to many of Egypt's rich and elite. It has been, in fact, considered mostly exclusively Egyptian, though that attitude seems to be opening up just a bit, and some tour operators such as Champion Tours rent villas in the area.
The Marine Museum in Alexandria, Egypt by Seif Kamel
Its one of the smallest museums in Egypt, and a bit on the quaint side, but still, located next to Fort Qaytbey, its great for kids.
A Marsa Alam Adventure by Seif Kamel
Seif Kamel travels to the southern Red Sea resort area of Marsa Alam and heads out, not to the sea, but to the desert!
Marsa Alam, Today and the Vision to Come by Jimmy Dunn
Many modern guides to Marsa Alam describe it as a fishing village on Egypt's Red Sea coast 132km (82mi) from Al-Quseir. However, with a new international airport, a number of other planed tourism projects and many new hotels, it is rapidly becoming much more than a fishing village. Marsa Alam sits on the T-junction between the Red Sea coast road and the road from Edfu which sits on the Nile river about 230km (142mi) inland.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Center for Indian Culture in Egypt by Dr. Maged El-Bialy
Egypt and India are two countries with great civilizations. They both have a mystical magic, which simply lures you to hypnotically fall into the experience they offer. Both cultures are similar in hospitality and welcoming attitude. So a trip to the Indian cultural center while you are touring Egypt will definitely boost the pleasure of the trip and you will experience a mixture of Egyptian and Indian culture. Situated in the heart of downtown Cairo, the Center for Indian Culture offers visitors and members an escape to India within the two floors of this large center.
Midan al-Tahrir by Lara Iskander
Cairo offers its visitors an incredible selection of attractions, encompassing former cities with a mix of monuments, but this is modern Cairo.
The Military Museum in the Citadel by Seif Kamel Many
visit the Citadel without even knowing about the existence of the War Museum, which is more interesting than some might realize.
The Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary (Muharraq Monastery) by Jimmy Dunn
The Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary, also known as the Muharraq Monastery, or simply the Burnt Monastery, lies on the path of the flight of the Holy Family in Egypt. It is located about 60 km from Assiut (327 km south of Cairo). The Monastery is referred to as "Al Muharraq" because "muharraq" is an Arabic word which means "burn or wound inflicted by fire" and the Monastery was partially burned by foreign invaders in the middle centuries. The monastery is unusual in that it is not located in the desert. The site is considered very holy to Egyptian Copts who have nicknamed the location the "Second Bethlehem".
The Mugamma, The Center of Egypt's Sprawling Bureaucracy by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
Mugamma, literary meaning combined, is Egypts government office complex located on the south side of Midan El Tahrir in Cairo, Egypt, where all the paperwork is done. Its a twenty story tall building with narrow hallways, unlabeled doors and a billion people (seemingly) all shouting at the top of their lungs trying to get their paperwork done at the many government agencies located in this one building. The agencies there include the Fire Fighting Organization, the Tax Evasion Investigations Offices, the Passport Offices and the High Committee for Sports and Youth, as well as many others.
The Mummification Museum, Luxor by Seif Kamel
The Mummification Museum in Luxor is small, but well done, very interesting and particularly educational, and also has a great book store.
Museum of Islamic Art by Dr. Maged El-Bialy
The museum of Islamic art is truly a wonderful reservoir of Islamic antiquities. It has a vast supplement of about 10200 artifacts that one cannot explore in a single day. The museum displays arts from the different Islamic eras that Egypt passed through including the Fatimid, Turkish and Persian periods
My Cairo by Jimmy Dunn
Cairo was a grand city when many of the world's huge metropolises were but babes. Yet she remains a city cloaked in excitement and mystery, dark secrets and bright celebrations. She is a city that often mixes both the many cultures of the world, with the many ages of the world. She offers up cuisine from her French, sometimes new age culture from her Germans, enterprise from her Americans all the while embracing her Egyptian heritage from the dawn of civilization. She mixes modern religion with ancient traditions as easily as her streets accommodate Mercedes and donkey drawn carts. America has no claim as a melting pot in relations to Cairo, for Cairo melts both time and culture into one city that can embrace us as no other.
My Favorite Neighborhood in Cairo by Jimmy Dunn
There are many nice places with good neighborhoods where one may stay in Cairo. Downtown is always fun with its many tourists hotels and a variety of restaurants and many, many stores. Some people like other notable areas include Helipolois, closer to the airport and sometimes a good place to stay when conducting business, Giza, where the great pyramids are located and a number of my ex-pat friends live in Egypt. There is also Dokki which is usually considered to be nicely upscale with many fine stores and restaurants. However, my personal preference is Zamalek, perhaps because I am most familiar with the area, but also because it is an upscale area with much to offer.
My Luxor by Jane Akshar
Everyone has their favorite places in Egypt, and for Jane Akshar, its her hassle free home on the West Bank of Luxor.
The Nabq Protected Area in South Sinai by Lara Iskander
South Sinai is one of the most spectacularly beautiful landscapes found in Egypt and perhaps even in the world. In the past years, many of the sites have been set aside as national parkland (see also our Overview). The most famous of Egypt's national parks is situated at the far southern tip of Sinai, where the sandy peninsula of Ras Mohammed edges out into the Red Sea. Heading northeast up the Aqaba coast, you pass through Sharm el Sheikh-the best-known resort of southern Sinai- and Naama Bay. Afterwards, you come across Wadi Kid, which runs far into the center of southern Sinai's mountains. Wadi Kid is one of Sinai's most abundantly watered wadis, supporting a comparatively great abundance of vegetation all along its length.
The National Geographic Society Museum by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
The National Geographic Society Museum, located in the El Shura Council Compound in Kasr El Aini Street in Cairo, seems to be a hidden museum as many people are unaware of its existence. Trying to find it was a tough job. Immediately upon entering the compound I found a sign on one of the two buildings indicating it to be the National Geographic Society. I entered the museum and began to discover the different chambers. The museum consists of five main halls. These are labeled as Cairo Hall, Africa Hall, Suez Canal Hall, Egyptian Ethnography and a general Hall about Egypt.
National Parks and Reserves (Protected Areas) of Egypt by Jimmy Dunn
Today, there are some 21 national parks in Egypt, of which perhaps the best known and one of the oldest is at Ras Mohamed on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Only established in 1983, this is actually a marine reserve that is, to the outside world, most familiar to scuba divers. Here, one finds mangrove trees, along with some 200 species of coral, around 1,000 species of fish, along with various birds such as Osprey and White-eyed gulls, but also endangered turtle populations and even threatened mammals such as the Dorcas Gazelle.
Nature Reserves of Egypt: Abu Galum by The Egyptian Government
Abu Galum is one of the picturesque nature reserves in the country. With its high mountains, narrow sinuous valleys (wadis), freshwater springs, coastal sand dunes, gravel alluvial fans, raised fossil coral reefs and low lying saline sabkha, it is not surprising that this small area of the Sinai peninsula houses 165 plant species.
Nature Reserves of Egypt: Lake Qaroun, The World's Oldest Nature Reserve by The Government of Egypt
Lake Qaroun nature reserve in Egypt's Fayyoum, the oldest in the world, is distinguished by its matchless environmental and natural assets. Within this reserve that comprises 1155 sq. km of land and 230 sq. km of water, both the old and modern civilizations have converged. Lake Qaroun is a safe haven and warm cradle for thousands of migrant birds fleeing the severe cold of Europe. It is also the incubator and the happy nest that embraces infant birds on the lake islets during reproduction time. Various kinds of fish live in the lake waters, while many species of mammals, reptiles and birds live in this wonderful reserve. Moreover, the reserve abounds in rare fossils, archaeological and geological formations.
Nazlet-el-Samaan (Giza) by Jimmy Dunn
The story of how Nazlet-el-Samaan came into being is a fascinating one. In the old days when the Egyptian princes took guests to the pyramids they sometimes arranged a horse riding display as part of the days entertainment. Some eighty years ago a Turkish prince gave a desert party at Giza. A large tent had been erected for luncheon. The flaps on the front were thrown upward so that the guests might watch a riding display.
Neil Bush Family Visits El Gouna by Hazel Heyer
On 21 March 2001, together with his family and Ignite! CEO Kenneth Leonard, Neil Bush arrived in El Gouna aboard the luxurious private plane owned by his host Hamza El Khouli, chairman of the First Arabian Development Company. Hazel Heyer interviews the US Presidents brother about his stay at this exotic Red Sea resort.
Night of the Jackal by Tim Baily
At one of our camps, situated on a large island, a family of Golden Jackals (6 all told, Mum Dad and 4 youngsters) have been stranded, away from the mainland, by the rising waters of the lake. These lovely creatures, about the size of a small Alsatian dog, have become remarkably tame because we feed them.
Nuweiba by Jimmy Dunn
Nuweiba, which means "bubbling springs" in Arabic, is a 7-km long town stretched along the Aqaba coast of the Sinai Red Sea. Developed from a barren isolated place with no infrastructure into a promising and attractive tourist destination, Nuweiba has just recently been discovered by tourist investors who have established hotels along the coastline south and north of Nuweiba, connecting it with Taba in the north and Dahab in the south
Off the Beaten Path in the Sinai by Jimmy Dunn
While thriving a short time ago, Nuweiba, Taba and Dahab are now all but deserted. The reason for this is simple. These areas were major destinations for many Israelis vacationing in Egypt who are no longer coming due to the conflicts in that country. Yet they are far away from any such problems, and today they are quite, peaceful areas, unencumbered with large numbers of tourists, with prices that can't be beat.
The Police Museum in the Citadel by Seif Kamel
The National Police Museum at the Citadel might not be for everyone, but it does have its curious artifacts and a few strange stories to tell.
Qasr El Nile Bridge by Seif Kamel
If you've toured Egypt, than you probably road across, walked across or at least gazed upon the well known Qasr El Nile Bridge.
Al-Quseir on Egypt's Red Sea Coast by Heba Fatteen Bizzari
Al-Quseir, in Arabic translates as the Smaller Version of a place. Nevertheless, the position of the city once made it one of the major strategic ports of the Red Sea. It is located 85 kilometers south of Safaga and 140 kilometers south of Hurghada. The city was known as the White Harbor in the Ptolemaic times. Several civilizations during the past four thousand years have used this remote outpost on the Red Sea coast as a starting point to go exploring, expanding and trading with remote lands. The importance of Al-Quseir is that it is located at the end of the shortest route from the Nile River to the Red Sea.
Dr. Ragab's Papyrus Institute by Lara Iskander
The Papyrus Institute, also known as the Papyrus Museum in Cairo is one of the best places in Egypt to purchase quality Papyrus art.
Egypt's Railway Museum by Seif Kamel
One of Egypt's lesser known museums is the Railway Museum, located in Ramsis Square, the main Cairo Train Station.
Ramses Square & Ramesses II Statue by Lara Iskander
Ramses Square will soon note be the same, with the huge statue of Ramesses II being moved to a new location in the near future.
Ramses Wessa Wassef Art Center by Lara Iskander
This art center was first founded by the late Egyptian Architect and Educator Ramses Wessa Wassef in the early 1950s. He set out with a goal to prove his idea that any human being using his natural creativity is able to produce art when provided with suitable circumstances. Through this art establishment, Wessa Wassef began realizing his dream and offering people such opportunities. Wessa Wassef was born in 1911. He earned his degree from an Art School in Paris in 1935 and upon his return to Cairo, became a professor of Art and History of Architecture in the college of Fine Arts in Cairo.
The Other Side of the Sinai Ras Sidr by Mark White
Most people who have an interest in Egyptian travel are certainly familiar with Sharm el-Sheikh, on the southern tip, and may also know of the resorts which line its southeastern shores, such as Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. However, most non Egyptian travelers are far less familiar with the Sinai's western coast, facing the Gulf of Suez. One resort along this coast that warrants considerable attention is Ras Sidr.
Rawdah (Roda Island) by Jimmy Dunn
Today there are two main islands in the Nile at Cairo, though this was not always the case. Zamalek, more familiar to many tourists because of its several five star hotels and upscale restaurants and entertainment, did not exist in the dynastic period. Rawdah (Officially Al Manyal ar-Rawdah but commonly known as Roda outside of Egypt) island, is composed of bedrock and probably always existed, though its placement in the Nile has changed. In the Dynastic period, it was referred to as Per-hapi-n-On Which means the House of the Nile of On, and it was this name that was probably mistranslated by the Greeks as Babylon.
Revival of the Library of Alexandria by the Egyptian Government
The Egyptian Government, in co-operation with UNESCO, has decided to resurrect the old dream to endow this part of the world with an important focal point for culture, education and science.
Seven Girls' Monastery at Wadi Feiran by Jimmy Dunn
The biblical Rephidim is today's Feiran (Firan, Faran, Pharan) Oasis in the Sinai. The Greek Seven Girls' Monastery (it may be referred to as the Monastery of Moses, the Monastery of Feiran, the Seven Sisters Monastery, the Monastery of the Seven Nuns or even Dir Za'ir Monastery) is located on a spring in the middle of the oasis where it is thought that Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses and Aaron gave prayerful support. Many visitors to Egypt who go on to the Sinai will visit the convent on their way to or coming from St. Catherine's Monastery. Today, the Seven Girl's Monastery falls under the authority of St. Catherine's Monastery. The Wadi Feiran is a beautiful four kilometer area surrounded by palms, vines and trees and is the Southern Sinai's largest oasis, often called the "Pearl of the Sinai".
Sharm: The Little City that Could by Jimmy Dunn
Sharm is proving something. It is showing its character and its personality, and it is showing us how life is suppose to be lived.
Shubra: An Egyptian Melting Pot by Adel Murad
in Cairo Few tourists venture into Shubra, an old but interesting Cairo district, but this melting pot has much to offer, particularly for shoppers.
The Monastery of St. Simon (Simeon) the Tanner by Lara Iskander
The Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner, located on the opposite side of the road leading to the Citadel contains seven Churches and Chapels hidden in a series of caves in the Mokattam (Muqattam) hills. The Monastery was erected and dedicated to Saint Simon a thousand years after his miracle and his death. It lies behind "Mansheiyet Nasser", the Zabbalin village (garbage collectors). This village was erratically established in 1969 when the Governor decided to move all the garbage collectors of Cairo to one of the hills of the Mokattam. There, they built themselves primitive houses of tin.
The Sinai's Colored Canyon by Lara Iskander
The Sinai is a wondrous land of magic and the Colored Canyon is one of its most treasured gifts of intriguing rock formations and color.
The Sinai Might be More Fun by Jimmy Dunn
Recently I was told that Egypt's Sinai is closer to the East Coast of the US then Hawaii. That is not correct, but it is only a little more than another hour's flight away. And depending on how hard one looks for airfare, the cost of getting to each location can be very similar, though perhaps once there, Sinai is a bit less expensive.
An Overview of the Siwa Oasis Part I: Geology and Geography by Jimmy Dunn
The Siwa Oasis must seem very mysterious to us, even though today it is slowly becoming more of a tourist destination. It has its own airport now, and is sometimes visited more for a few health resorts located there than for its antiquities. Nevertheless, it is certainly off the beaten path, or at least the antiquity path forged by the Nile River, and so it may never become a mainstream tourist destination. It remains one of Egypt's most isolated desert oases, and therefore it has today, as it always has had, a unique and interesting culture, as well as a fascinating history. Even though the Siwa Oasis may ever receive the millions of tourists that visit Giza or Luxor, it is nevertheless famous for one specific reason, at least to those interested in history. It was here that Alexander the Great traveled to consult the Oracle of Amun, and there to be confirmed as God and King of Egypt.
The Snow White Desert by the Egyptian Government
The richness and variety of Egyptian landscape is endless. At least if you ever decide to visit the White Desert, that's the message you'll get. It is a vast stretch of land in the Western Desert that borders Baharia Oasis to the north and Al-Farafra to the south.
Souq al-Goma'a (Friday Market) by Lara Iskander
The Souk al-Goma'a is perhaps an unusual place to find a tourists, but this Friday market in Egypt is well worth a visit.
The Suez Canal by Jimmy Dunn
The Suez Canal of today is an important source of income for Egypt, but it also remains an interesting tourist attractions which is not really very far from Cairo.
A Tour in Egypt's Mohammed Ali's Mosque by Muhammad Hegab
"Do you see this great mosque? Its called Mohammed Alis Mosque. He was one of the greatest governors of Egypt in the modern age. When he came to power in the 19th century, he saw that it was necessary to build a big mosque in The Citadel to be a place for prayer and other tasks".
Visiting the Valley of the Kings by Jimmy Dunn
As I write this article (January 8th, 2002), Egypt is experiencing a cold spell. In fact, long time residents of Luxor, across the river from the Valley of the Kings, insist that they cannot remember a time when it was colder. For many Luxor vacationers, this is bad news, because they come here not to sightsee, but to enjoy the temperate climate. These tourists come from various European countries to escape their harsh winter climates. It is grand tombing weather. Tombs can be swelteringly hot, particularly deep in the summer months. Therefore, it is best to visit the Valley of the Kings during the late autumn, winter and early spring months. For example, temperatures in Luxor during November usually range from a high of 31c (88f) to a low of 13c (55f). Still, it is best to get an early start, and this is particularly true during warmer months.
Wadi el Rayan in the Fayoum by Seif Kamel
The Fayoum in Egypt if full of natural wonders, and a few man made ones such as Wadi el Rayan, a national protected area and now a major birding site and the home to almost all of Egypt's waterfalls between its two lakes.
A Walk Down Mui'z Street by Seif Kamel
Sometimes the best way to really get to know Cairo is to simply take a walk down one of its famous, old, historic streets
Walking Tours of the Sinai by the Egyptian Government
The National Parks of Egypt has created Protectorate Development Programs that provide a wide variety of information on the Saint Katherine (Catherine) Protectorate
Wekalet el Balah by Seif Kamel
While the Wekalet el Balah is not a tourist bazaar as such, one can get a taste of Egyptian culture and find some reasonable prices.
The Western Desert of Egypt: Adventure Travel at its Best by Cassandra VivianIf
I were talking about Tutankamun, this article would attract readers automatically, such is the draw of Ancient Egypt. But I am talking about Kharga Oasis, Gebel Uwaynat, and the Great Sand Sea. Although all of them have mysteries as tantalizing as those of ancient Egypt, they are for the most part unrecognizable names in the United States. If I told you Medusa turned men to stone in the Western Desert, would that hold your interest? If I said after his 12 labors Hercules rested in the Western Desert, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra romanced here, Antony and Cleopatra faced defeat here, and the first Allied victory in World War II took place here, would that do it? If I said the heroine of the Academy Award winning film The English Patient died in one of its caves --- ahh haa, now I gotcha, dont I??
What ever happened to New El-Gourna by Jane Akshar
The residents of Gourna on the West Bank at Luxor are moving, but not to the city originally planned for them some 60 years ago by the renowned architect, Hassan Fathy.
Zamalek by Jimmy Dunn
Zamalek is one of my favorite sections of
is Zamalek, an island in the Nile that basically lies between modern downtown Cairo and Giza. It is an upscale, garden area with a number of attractions as well as many embassies, schools popular hotels and some of the better budget hotels. It seems that Khedive Ismail popularized the island when he built his summer palace on there, and a number of royal families followed suite. There are several legend's surrounding Ismail's palace. One is that he built it to house three of his 14 wives, but probably the most popular story is that he built it to accommodate the Empress Eugenie during the inauguration of the Suez Canal. Certainly Eugenie, and other guests of the Suez Inauguration stayed in the palace. Today this island remains one of the most important of Cairo's districts.
Zaman, the Castle by the Sea by Jimmy Dunn
Want the honeymoon of a lifetime? Stay a few days in a private castle overlooking the Red Sea, with servants and all the amenities.
The Zoo at Giza by Tour Egypt Staff
The Zoo at Giza is one of the most beautiful in the world and the the most densely inhabited by the various animal and plant species. Its area is about 80 feddans. It is located near the west bank of the Nile. Its northern tip overlooks Cairo University. It is not far from down town Cairo and is linked to it by numerous buses. The Zoo is under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture in Egypt.
Last Updated: June 13th, 2011