41 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Egypt - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Egypt

Alexandria, Egypt

The Lost City of Heracleion

An ancient city exhumed from the depths of the ocean.

Nilometer

An ancient instrument used to measure the waters of the Nile so Egyptian farmers would know whether to expect famine or flood.

The Temple of Abu Simbel

Ozymandias’ time-keeping temple.

Dandarah, Egypt

Hathor Temple

One of the most well-preserved temples of ancient Egypt.

City of the Dead

An endless sea of white conical domes.

Colossi of Memnon

These Egyptian statues have survived for 3,400 years and were an acoustic wonder of the ancient world.

Al Farafrah, Egypt

White Desert

An alien landscape of chalk-rock in the Egyptian desert.

Qesm Hurghada, Egypt

Desert Breath

A massive work of modern art that appears to be a crop circle in the middle of the desert.

See All 41 Things to Do in Egypt See All 41 Places

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Atlas Obscura Trips

In the Footsteps of Pharaohs: Exploring Ancient Egypt

Discover ancient and modern Cairo then cruise along the Nile taking in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.

Community Forums / Africa / Egypt

Top Discussions in the Egypt Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Traveling to Egypt	9 April 26, 2019	1007	April 26, 2019
Hatshepsut's Myrrh Tree	4 October 17, 2019	1683	October 17, 2019
The Lost City of Heracleion	6 August 13, 2019	1763	August 13, 2019
Fesikh	1 April 2, 2019	1256	April 2, 2019
Colossi of Memnon	1 January 19, 2020	1309	January 19, 2020

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Stories About Egypt

Podcast: Valley of the Whales

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

A granite sarcophagus believed to be that of Ramesses I, on display in Cairo.

The Thorny Ethics of Displaying Egyptian Mummies to the Public

Mummy exhibits are big draws for museums, but curators are grappling with issues of cultural and racial sensitivity.

The Red Sea, dividing Africa and Arabia, may be the world's youngest ocean.

Is the Red Sea Really the Red Ocean?

It's complicated.

by Gemma Tarlach

Berenice's history as a port may partially explain why so many cats were buried there.

Is This Egyptian Site the World’s Oldest Pet Cemetery?

Perhaps, but humans all over the world, from Siberia to Illinois, have a long history of burying animals with respect.

by Gemma Tarlach

After a thorough cleaning, this column capital showed off striking color.

The Messy Business of Scrubbing 2,000 Years of Bird Poop From an Egyptian Temple

The crap covered up cartouches and constellations.

by Isaac Schultz

January 13, 2021

The ifrit is the most meddlesome and sinister of the djinn.

Across the Islamic World, the Ifrit Brings Miseries Both Large and Small

To believe in them and other djinns is to acknowledge there is a world beyond our own.

by Harry Spitzer

October 29, 2020

Two workers blend a tiger nut mixture for cakes in this painting from the tomb of a vizier.

Recreate the Ancient Egyptian Recipes Painted on Tomb Walls

Make bread fit for a pharaoh and a sweet treat out of tiger nuts.

August 21, 2020

The Siena Pianoforte has seen its share of adventure.

Sold: An Ornate Piano Found on a World War II Battlefield

It traveled three continents, survived desert warfare, and accidentally ended up with a man who'd been looking for it all along.

by Matthew Taub

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