Egypt Tourism - Egyptian Sights and Activities

Large cities, long rivers

• Cairo - The largest city in Africa, bisected by the Nile River, boasts 17 million people. Its quilt work of neighborhoods bubble with self-contained pockets of distinct attractions, flavors and economies. The best way to soak in the hectic pace of this city is to tour on foot the various neighborhoods, such as the Islamic district with its ancient mazes of alleys, mosques and plazas. Once you've visited the Pyramids at Giza, seek out diversity and deeper layers of culture:
• The Egyptian Museum houses more Ancient Egyptian artifacts than any other museum in the world (price $3.50USD).
• The oldest church in Egypt, the Hanging Church, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and contains priceless icons and a pulpit carved from marble.
• When you're tired from touring, kick back at a local café and enjoy the chaos of this crazy city exploding around you.
• Alexandria - Once a playground for young British and European bohemians, Alexandria has had several incarnations since Alexander the Great established the city in 332 BC. Today, Alexandria resembles a quaint seaside community on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Some of its glimmer has dulled since Cleopatra and Julius Caesar's era, but it makes a great vacation destination for anyone seeking a more relaxed venue after the bustle of Cairo.
• Sinai - From beaches to the Bible, the Sinai Peninsula, shouldering Africa and Asia, offers a fantastic wedge of desert, mountain and coastline. Go snorkeling, diving and sunbathing in the Ras Muhammad National Park on the Red Sea, which offers some of the most invigorating waters anywhere. The surrounding mountains are the very mountains where Moses supposedly received the Ten Commandments. Nearby St. Catherine's monastery, built where God spoke to Moses as the Burning Bush, makes another interesting addition to your itinerary.
• Nile Valley - Egypt's source of life, this famed river feeds thousands and has been the lifeblood of Egyptians throughout the centuries. The country's population still crams near its shores - 90 percent of the population lives in its vicinity. Nothing beats a river cruise on the Nile, the best chance to view ancient monuments, countryside scenes and modern skylines.