Introduction
You don’t need me to tell you about the Pyramids of Giza. The last surviving Ancient Wonder of the World, we still don’t really know how they were constructed thousands of years ago, with conspiracy theories abounding on the internet about aliens and long lost technology.
However they got there, one thing is for sure, and it’s that the Pyramids of Giza are the main drawcard of any trip to Egypt. Located on the outskirts of Cairo, they’re impossible to miss and sure to be the first place you explore when touching down in the north African country. But there’s far more to Egypt than the pyramids. The whole country is an open-air museum, with a rich ancient culture to discover. From the tomb of Tutankhamun at the Valley of the Kings to the impressive façade of Abu Simbel and the necropolis of Saqqara, these are the top ancient sites to visit in Egypt, that aren’t the Pyramids of Giza.
Valley of the Kings
Without a doubt one of Egypt’s most impressive sites, the Valley of the Kings served as the royal burial ground for Pharaohs of the New Kingdom (approx 1550 – 1070 BCE). More than 60 royal tombs have been discovered here, with many more thought to still be hidden by the desert. The most famous discovery came in 1922, when archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of the boy king, Tutankhamun, and his legendary funerary mask. King Tut’s mummified body can still be seen inside the tomb, which can be visited for a small extra charge alongside the entry ticket to the Valley of the Kings. The mask is now in the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. On any given day, different tombs are open to the public, and an entrance ticket grants you entry to three of them. Each is uniquely decorated and the tombs range in size and design, based on the Pharaoh’s own wishes.
Karnak Temple
Located not far from the Valley of the Kings is the ruined temple complex of Karnak, which is one of the largest temples ever built. Originally constructed to honour the god Amun-Ra, over a period of 1,500 years, successive kings and queens added to the temple, giving it its extraordinary size. The highlight of Karnak is undoubtedly the Hypostyle Hall, where 134 towering columns are arranged in rows. Walking through this sandstone forest, you can’t help but wonder just how the temple was constructed and decorated in such supposedly primitive times. Each column was once covered in hieroglyphics, and you can see the remnants of many of these ancient carvings, which only makes Karnak more impressive. You will also want to stroll down the Avenue of the Sphinxes during a visit to Karnak, and admire the towering obelisks of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I.
Saqqara
Easily visited from Cairo, the ancient necropolis of Saqqara is home to the famous step pyramid of Djoser, a structure even older than the Giza Pyramids. The Saqqara pyramid was designed by Imhotep, a key architect of the Third Dynasty (approx 2686 – 2613) and marked one of the first times an Egyptian royal tomb had been built as a pyramid, rather than a more conventional flat tomb. The construction methods used to create the stacked levels of the step pyramid evolved over time to create the smooth sided pyramids like those at Giza.
Saqqara is more than just one pyramid however, home to countless tombs of nobles, priests and other members of Ancient Egyptian high society from thousands of years ago. And new discoveries continue to be made, including the recent unveiling of two rock-cut tombs in early 2025.
Abu Simbel
By far the most impressive feature of the sandstone temples of Abu Simbel are the rock-cut facades. The main temple was built during the reign of Ramses II in the 13th century BCE and is flanked by four colossal seated statues of the king himself. Dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, it also plays host to the bi-annual Sun Festival. On two dates each year, the 21 February and the 21 October, the inner sanctum of the temple is beautifully illuminated by the rising sun to commemorate the birthday and ascension date of Ramses II. This proves that the ancient Egyptians had a remarkable understanding of geometrics and alignment, adding to the mystery of their civilization.
In the 1960s, the Abu Simbel temple was threated by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, thanks to the creation of the Aswan High Dam. So the entire temple complex was relocated onto higher ground, piece by piece, in a project led by UNESCO. Crucially, the new location’s position ensured that the events of the Abu Simbel Sun Festival still occurred, retaining the temple’s original purpose, but shifting the day back – to the 22 February and the 22 October.
Conclusion
The Pyramids of Giza are the most important archaeological site in Egypt, and potentially, the world. But Egypt is a treasure trove of ancient sites, with so much more to discover. And as humanity only just begins to understand the secrets of Ancient Egypt, there is so much yet to learn about these ancient wonders.
Ben Bromley works full time in the travel tour industry and is also a freelance travel writer. His favourite destinations so far are Vietnam, Egypt and Jordan, with Slovenia coming up next!