When you travel to Egypt nowadays, many people instinctively raise an eyebrow and bring up safety concerns. However, Egypt is a very big place, and while there are certainly places you do not want to go, the main tourist attractions remain intact and safe. With many people staying away, the time to see this spectacular country is now! Pack in a pair of comfortable walking shoes (you will need them!), get your travel insurance for Egypt sorted out, and jump on a plane to the place 'where it all begins'.
Egypt is home to one of the oldest civilizations on the planet, and it is as if you can taste this when you walk through the streets of Cairo. Walking through this buzzing city, you can easily tell that there is an amazing depth of culture and history. The oldest part of Cairo is a UNESCO Site and one of the oldest Islamic cities in the world. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities is also located in Cairo and offers an amazing array of historic artifacts from excavations all over Egypt. The curators of the museum have been highly active in recovering stolen artifacts from all over the world, so the collection is constantly growing and becoming ever more impressive. While you are in Cairo do make sure to visit the bazaar. At first it can be a bit overwhelming, particularly when you hit the food bazaar, but it is a truly unique mix of things to see, touch, taste and smell. You can find some excellent food here, do make sure to use your common sense though. Hygiene in these places works a little bit differently, so be careful! As a precaution, make sure you have Egypt travel insurance before eating anything too outrageous.
From Cairo you can quickly shoot to the coast and explore the Mediterranean coastline as well as the port city of Alexandria. This coastline is beautiful to explore, with dramatic thunderstorms happening in winter. Due to some current unrest, it is best to stay out of North Sinai and stick to this side of the Suez Canal.
Heading inland from Cairo you find one of Egypt's most recognizable sites: The Pyramid's of Giza. Yes, you may have seen many pictures of it, seen it on television, or seen a snapshot of it from a friend's holidays, but nothing truly prepares you for seeing the Sphinx yourself. To truly stand there staring at a marvel that Ancient Romans already stared at is something quite special. Around this iconic statue are amazing pyramids, and you should make sure to visit this location while you are in Egypt.
Staying in-land but travelling further south, you come across Luxor, and in Egypt's furthest southern reaches, Abu Simbel. Both sites offer amazing artifacts of Egyptian history. The city of Luxor is the springboard to the Valley of Kings. Within the city of Luxor are also the remains of the city the Greeks knew as Thebes and Egyptians knew as The City of Amun, their sun God. For history or Greek literature buffs, visiting Luxor is a must!
If instead of staying in the desert, you venture east, you will find yourself at the Red Sea coast. The Red Sea is a wonderful contrast to all the history and culture you have been seeing so far, and it is nice to get away and relax. While you are here, do make sure to at the very least go snorkeling, or even better, go for a dive. The Red Sea is probably the best diving location in the world, taking into account the amazing marine life, the reefs, the visibility, and the water temperature. There are a lot of diving schools here as well, and if you have the time it is well worth doing a full certification. It is best to have travel insurance for Egypt before going diving though.
Food in Egypt shows its Middle Eastern influences, but it is still a lot more accessible to tourists. While Egyptians like it spicy, the food is a lot milder than in many neighboring countries. One item everyone travelling to Egypt has to try is falafel! Known as one of the most popular take away foods in the world, this Egyptian snack is made here with fava beans as opposed to chickpeas, giving it a different flavor. You can also find a wonderful fruit selection in Egypt and it is recommended to try as many different types of fruit as you can find. At the coast you will find a lot of markets selling the catch of the day - even as a tourist it is well worth buying a good fish, as you can normally find someone to cook the fish for you at the local bazaar.
While it is recommended to stay away from North Sinai, as well as any large protests, Egypt is actually a very safe place to travel. Tourism being so important, everyone is very protective over tourists. Do make sure to have Egypt travel insurance before going, but otherwise enjoy the amazing history, culture, and foods!
