In the eastern district of Old Cairo lies an ancient citadel that was built in the 12th century as a defense against the Crusaders. For over seven long centuries, this beautiful region of the city was home to the ruling parties of Egypt, including the Ayyubid Dynasty, the Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, and even the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte. The citadel is characterized by three iconic but very different mosques, several beautiful palaces, a handful of museums, and some terraces that afford beautiful views all the way to the Pyramids of Giza on the western border of Cairo

Across the Nile River from the city of Luxor are the Colossi of Memnon, two huge statues of stone that represent Pharaoh Amenhotep III, an ancient Egyptian ruler from around 1400 BC. They are almost all that remains of the temple they once guarded, which was the largest and most extravagant in all of Egypt at the time. About 2,000 years ago, an earthquake cracked and damaged one of the statues. When dew forms in the cracks and dries in the hot morning sun, the statue emits a strange, melodic sound that caused early visitors from Greece and Rome to name the statue “Memnon” after a legendary hero of the Trojan War

Of all the amazing attractions in Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza are undoubtedly the most famous and iconic. Although they can be quite busy with tourists, no trip to Egypt would be complete without seeing this complex of six pyramids, located just west of the city of Cairo. The largest of them, the Great Pyramid of Giza, is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and is remarkably well preserved. Getting to the pyramids is as easy as hopping on a bus from the city, and from there it is easy to walk, or ride on a horse or camel, to the iconic structures.

Karnak is the largest temple precinct that is still in existence today. This amazing expanse of temples, located on the East Bank of Thebes, is home to courts, pylons, and shrines to several Theban gods like Amun, Mut, Khonsu and Montu, and to celebrated pharaohs like Ramses III. From columns shaped like enormous bundles of papyrus to decorations and reliefs depicting ceremonies and cult rituals, the temples at Karnak form an enchanting maze of structures, which provides a fascinating insight into Theban culture.

The Luxor Museum, located on the banks of the Nile in the city of Luxor, is an archaeological museum that displays mostly items from ancient Thebes. Statues, pharaonic art, and two royal mummies, including one that is believed to be the mummy of Ramses I, can be found within the museum’s walls. Admirers of Egyptian history and art will find no shortage of pieces to admire in the Luxor’s collection, from both the Old Kingdom and the New Kingdom in Thebes. There is even an entire section of the museum devoted to the statues that were discovered under the floor of a temple in 1989. The museum opens daily at 9:00am, with closing hours that vary depending upon the season.