Egypt

Egypt has long been a place of wonder. Though its capital city, Cairo, is a modern megalopolis, the main reason to visit Egypt is to visit the monuments of ancient history. From the Dynastic Pharaohs to Greek and Roman invaders to Islam to British imperialism, the Egypt of today—from Alexandria to Cairo (including Giza, the Pyramids, and the Sphinx) to Luxor to Aswan—reflects its status as one of the birthplaces of civilization as well as one of the longest-inhabited places on Earth.

Egypt’s history has always followed the banks of the Nile River. At the river’s northernmost point, where the Nile enters the Mediterranean Sea, is the city of Alexandria. Established in the 3rd Century BC by Alexander the Great, Alexandria’s main attraction today is the Greco-Roman Museum. Unfortunately, few traces remain of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Further along the Nile is Cairo, Egypt’s largest city. Central Cairo contains the Egyptian Museum, home of over 100,000 pieces of Egyptian history. This is where you’ll find the treasure of Tutankhamen and the Royal Mummy Room. A trip to the Great Pyramids of Giza, just outside of Cairo, is more or less required; this is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that remains standing today. Greeting the rising sun each morning near the Pyramids is the Great Sphinx, believed to be over 4,500 years old.

Continuing to the south, the next city to visit is Luxor, on the site that was once ancient Thebes. Sometimes referred to as the world’s greatest open-air museum, Luxor has been a tourist destination for as long as tourism has existed. The Temple of Luxor, Temple of Karnak, Valley of the Kings (which includes the tombs of Tutankhamen and Ramesses III), and the Mummification museum are all part of this epicenter of ancient Egyptian culture.

The southernmost Egyptian city is Aswan, a sunny locale that’s home to even more ancient artifacts. The main point of interest here is Elephantine Island, on which stands the Temple of Khrum and some lovely gardens. The area along the banks of the Nile is known as the Corniche, along which runs the city’s bazaar. Regulating the yearly flood of the Nile is the Aswan High Dam, considered one of the wonders of the modern world.