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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Egypt

45 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Egypt

Updated October 24, 2023

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  1. Alexandria
  2. Aswan
  3. Cairo
  4. Dandarah
  5. Luxor
  6. Qesm Al Wahat Ad Dakhlah
  7. Qesm Saint Katrin
  8. Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh

Unusual Attractions in Egypt

See All 45 Things To Do in Egypt

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Ancient Wonders: Egypt & The Nile

Explore pyramids, tombs, and local cuisine with your Egyptologist guide.

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Explore Egypt

Ancient 14
Ruins 7
Memento Mori 5
Deserts 5
Catacombs And Crypts 5
Architectural Oddities 5
Archaeology 5
Ecosystems 4

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Stories About Egypt

After death, an individual's heart was weighed; hearts heavy with sin were devoured by the terrifying Ammit, a chimera of ancient Egypt's most feared predators: crocodile, lion, and hippopotamus.

In Ancient Egypt, Judgement of the Dead Was Severe

To enter the realm of Osiris, the dead had to complete a long to-do list—and face a terrifying devourer of souls.
by Nicky Nielsen
By the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), both royals and non-royals were buried with dozens of figurines known as shabti, which would serve them in the afterlife.

In Ancient Egypt, Human Sacrifice and Shabti Figures Ensured an Afterlife of Servitude

Clay figurines and murdered retainers provided plenty of company—and a workforce—for the dead.
by Nicky Nielsen
Elaborately inscribed false doors in tombs of the elite allowed family and friends to leave offerings that ensured the dead would want for nothing in the afterlife.

In Ancient Egypt, Soul Houses and False Doors Connected the Living and the Dead

Rich or poor, you could reach out to friends and family in the afterlife—and communication went both ways.
by Nicky Nielsen
Each night during his journey across the netherworld, the sun god Ra's barque crosses the desert Rostau, realm of the falcon god Sokar, borne by snakes.

In Ancient Egypt, the Duat Was a Netherworld of Gods and Monsters

A guide called the Amduat helped pharaohs navigate the complex afterlife.
by Nicky Nielsen
The limestone canopic jars of lady Senetnay featured lids shaped like human heads. Two jars are kept at the Museum August Kestner in Hanover, Germany.

Get a Whiff of Ancient Egypt’s 'Scent of Eternity'

Experts reconstructed the smell of mummified organs—and it’s actually pretty pleasant.
by Roxanne Hoorn
A map of West Africa features the world's roundest country (which is also the 14th most rectangular). Can you spot it? What about the eighth most rectangular?

What Are the World’s Roundest and Most Rectangular Countries?

Mind-boggling as it is, they're often one and the same.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think

Did Ancient Egypt Have a Pigeon Problem?

More than 3,000 years ago, the birds appeared in unexpected places.
by Shoshi Parks

In Egypt's ‘Land of Death,’ Dinosaurs Were Supersized—and Hungry

Fossils unearthed in the Bahariya Oasis tell a story of giant predators hunting on land and in the water.
by Abe Musselman

Lists Featuring Egypt

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.
A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet
Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

12

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

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