The best things to do in Egypt with kids

Our trip to Egypt will go down as one of our most memorable trips. It was a trip of a lifetime and in the 10 days we spent in Egypt, we packed quite a number of bucket list experiences. As we were travelling with our 3 year old daughter, all bucket list experiences in Egypt were kids-friendly. With that being said, I have narrowed down the best things to do in Egypt with kids. 

Our days started early so as to beat the harsh sun and crowds and we relaxed in our hotel in the afternoons and evenings. For a full itinerary on how I organised our trip to Egypt, see our 10 day itinerary to Egypt.

Also, before diving into this, have a look at Everything you need to know before you visit Egypt. It contains all the FAQs about Egypt and just general things to be aware of.

12 of the best things to do in Egypt with kids

1. Visit The pyramids and Sphinx of Giza

We have all heard about the 7 wonders of the world. The last standing wonder of the world is the pyramids of Giza. It is the only one that is still standing today so you cannot visit Egypt without a visit to the pyramids.

The Sphinx sits on the same grounds, so this is a two for one thing to do in Egypt. When we visited, we went with a guide and there are shuttle buses that take you from the entrance to each point. We started our trip at the pyramids (my daughter named them daddy pyramid, mummy pyramid and Adanna pyramid lol). Then we made our way to the Sphinx and ended at the panoramic point. 

When you think about how the pyramid was built, it really is a wonder. In a time where there was no motor machinery, it is so hard to fathom how human beings transported the stones from Aswan through the Nile. Then built these massive structures brick by brick. Structures that are still standing today so you can imagine the artistry and excellence involved.

A detailed post on our experience: Visiting the pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

2. Sail on the Nile

There are popular multiple day cruises on the nile. The Aswan to Luxor 3 day cruise and the Luxor to Aswan 4 day cruise are quite popular. However, you don’t have to do them if you don’t want to. We didn’t and preferred the itinerary we did instead. 

When traveling with a child, it is important to note what is possible and what isn’t. For us, we just did not think it was time for our 1st cruise yet. We opted to fly to Aswan from Cairo and then drive to Luxor from Aswan. So what we did instead was to make sure we took the boat on the Nile whenever we could.

My most memorable ride was the boat trip from out hotel to the Nubian village. The ride was about 30 mins via motor boat and I just could not believe that we were sailing the 2nd longest river in the world. The experience is unmatched; you get to see little kids swimming by the shores, the incredible scenery and did I mention that you are sailing the 2nd longest river in the world?! Ok, yes I already did.

3. The Nubian village

When I read about Black people in Egypt, I knew I had to visit the area. The Nubian village is such a beautiful part of the country and is located in Aswan. A visit to the Nubian village is one of the best things to do in Egypt with kids. Nubians have their own language, a rich culture and unique traditions. We went by boat from our hotel and once we stepped into the colourful village, I was just in awe.

The walls were painted in the brightest beautiful colours. Art adorned those walls and the traditional Nubian houses looked like they were casually inserted there. It is a full and thriving community with lots of restaurants and guesthouses for tourists. The main road is lined with market stalls where the Nubians sell their arts and crafts. A truly fascinating place to visit. 

Visitors are drawn to the Nubian village for a once in a lifetime experience. A reminder to patronise the locals here as well as sight seeing. This community has shown so much resilience as they have kept their traditions alive for all these years. 

Sam, our guide organised a lovely meal for us with a Nubian family. We witnessed their grand and wholesome hospitality when they brought out a feast for us. The interesting thing is that you don’t take food home so whatever is remaining is shared amongst them. We were happy to hear this as there was so much left (it was just myself, Mr E and our guide, Nesreen who had some of the food)

4. A felucca sunset cruise

My love for sunsets knows no bounds and I have now successfully recruited my daughter to appreciate them too. I have always wanted to sail in a felucca which is a traditional Egyptian boat. So we booked one and made sure we did the sunset timings to get the best out of the experience.

We were picked up from the boat entrance of our hotel around 4.45pm and jumped in our felucca. For a bit of history about the feluccas, our guide explained that today, it is fully for tourism. However, the boats were used in the past to transport goods. It is a rich part of Egypt’s history and one of the best things to do in Egypt with kids.

We sailed very slowly for about 15 mins and once our captain, Hassan found a good spot, he docked and opened the sails. The sun set about 30 mins later and in the mean time, we watched the colours dance on the Nile. It was just such a blissful experience and one that will stay with us for a long time. 

Sunsets in Egypt

Since we are talking about sunsets, they say that you have not seen a sunset until you see the Egyptian sunset and I have to agree. One evening, I sat in our hotel room with my daughter and watched the sunset behind the sphinx and I could have cried. It was the most beautiful sunset I had seen. Adanna kept saying “wow mummy, this is so beautiful”. I was too dumbfounded and emotional to respond.

Sunset on the Nile or the beach is another stunning sight to witness and I am glad we caught sunsets from different parts of the country.

5. Visit Egypt’s Historic Temples

When in Egypt, you have to go Temple hopping. I genuinely think they all have different characteristics but I understand when people say that once you have seen one, you have seen them all lol. Although, I beg to differ. My suggestion is to choose 3-5 and enjoy them. It gets too much and genuinely boring once you start approaching the 10th temple. Well, unless you are a history buff or Egyptologist.

The Temples you have to visit in Egypt:

1. Kom Ombu, Aswan. The eye of Horus represented health and protection. Did you know that the Rx on medical prescriptions came from this fact?

2. Edfu, Aswan. This is the temple of the god, Horus and it is a Ptolemaic Temple. This means it was built when the greeks ruled Egypt. 

3. Philae, Aswan. This Temple was moved to its current site in 1972 as it was getting submerged by water. It is dedicated to the god, Isis with a very juicy back story. 

4. Luxor Temple, Luxor. The only Temple you can visit at night. Dedicated to gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu, its inner court was built in the 14th BC. The best part for me was the route from Luxor to Karnak which was used to transport the statues of the gods.

5. Karnak Temple, Luxor. This is the biggest Temple in all of Egypt and 2nd biggest in the world after Angkor Wat in Cambodia. 

6. Hatesheput Temple, Luxor. It is just so incredible as it is a temple dedicated to one of the very few female Pharaohs. It is a funeral Temple which blows my mind. Like the whole thing was built for one person’s funeral lol. She was kind enough to allow her servants and those who built the temple to be buried in the tombs just outside her own Temple. 

To Note: Worship Temples are on the east bank of Luxor and Funeral Temples are on the west bank. Karnak and Luxor are east; Hatesheput is west.

The one that got away:

Abu Simbel. It is a few hours from Aswan. We contemplated adding this to our Aswan itinerary but I just did not have the strength to sit for an extra 4 hours drive just to visit the Temple. So we scrapped it from our itinerary.

6. See the beach: Sharm el Sheikh

While Egypt is 68% desert, there is the beautiful coastal side to it and a visit to the coast is one of the best things to do in Egypt with kids. A visit to Sharm el Sheikh will entice you to a different type of Egypt. The one where snorkelling is popular and you get to see the incredible underwater the beautiful country has to offer. This side of Egypt sits on the Red Sea so its quite special and has the historic, Biblical attachment to it.

We ended our trip with a 3 day stay in Sharm el Sheikh and the vibe was so much more relaxed. Cairo, Aswan and Luxor were busy and like typical cities but Sharm felt slow. It made sense for us to end our trip here, lounging on the beach and just enjoying the serenity. 

Another popular beach city is Hurghada and I guess it might be even more popular. While Sharm el Sheikh is fully touristic, Hurghada seems to have more locals who now live there as well. 

7. Try some Egyptian delicacies

Falafel, Kofta, Koshari etc are just some of the specialties in Egypt.

I’m not the best person with experimenting when it comes to food as I’m sure you must have noticed from my blog posts. We hardly travel for the food but I thought to be a bit more adventurous on this trip. Our lovely guide, Sam encouraged me to try some new things and I did. It was my first time eating falafel and kofta. I really enjoyed Kofta and even found myself dipping it in the sesame seed oil.

Most importantly, I have to mention to be careful with street food. We did try some street food like the falafel but we were with a trusted guide who took us to his known vendor. In general, the hygiene standards for street food (like may other places) is low. Even with a strong stomach, caution is needed. 

8. Go city hopping 

One of the best things to do in Egypt with kids is to go city hopping. A lot of tourists go to one part of Egypt and just stay there the whole time. Especially tourist cities like Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada. While travel is what you make of it, I recommend a hop around a few different places in Egypt. We visited Cairo, Giza, Aswan, Luxor and Sharm el Sheikh and felt like we did a well rounded trip around Egypt.

The internal connections are really good; we flew from Cairo to Aswan and also from Luxor to Sharm el Sheikh. Both times with Egypt Air. Air Cairo is also a popular airline that flies within the country. Another option is the Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor. 

I have written a more detailed blog post on our 10 day family friendly itinerary covering everywhere we visited.

9. Visit a market

One thing I love about middle eastern countries is the market. It is chaotic, it is loud but it is the most exciting experience of all. We visited Khan el Khalili in Cairo and it was buzzing. It reminded me of Balogun market when I was younger and would visit with my mummy in Lagos.

We walked around and chatted with the market sellers; some teased us and some shoved their goods our way. Sometimes I wish I was the girl who shopped during travels but that’s just not me. The market is yet another cultural experience to immerse oneself in and if you don’t mind the chaos, do it!

I know the markets can be overwhelming but I just got used to it. I learnt a few phrases; most especially “La, Shukran” which means “No, thank you” for when I was being offered yet another scarf I did not want to buy.

10. Museum

By now, we have deduced that Egypt is a country deeply rooted in history. The best way to see much of this history is to visit a museum. We visited the Old Museum in Cairo and it was an education in itself. Thankfully, we were with Sam who made it so interesting for us with all the stories attached to each sighting. We also saw the (real) gold tomb of Tutankhamen which is genuinely the most epic thing in the museum. 

Our guide told us that a new museum was currently being built to be opened in late summer 2025. The tomb of Tutankhamen will be moved to the new museum so I’m sure that it will draw more people there.

In related news, make sure to see a mummy in real life. Yes you read that right. What is the point of visiting Egypt if you don’t see one? After all, this is the country of mummifications so it’s the best chance to see one. On our visit to the Old museum, we were greeted with a mummy just as we walked in. “The screaming mummy” it was called and of course had a significant story attached to it. 

11. See the historical Tombs

For parents who love to teach, this is one of the best things to do in Egypt with kids. It legit feels like you are in an open class room as the history pours out of the walls.

One thing Egypt will give you is tombs everywhere. Kings and Queens and nobles in general were buried all around the country. We decided to check out Valley of Kings to see a few of the burial sites which is a massive burial site. Till date, tombs are still being discovered. 65 in total have been discovered and today, 25 are still standing.

When we visited, there were 11 tombs open to the public. Of the 11, 8 were free entrance with the already purchased ticket. However, 3 (KV9 – Ramses V & VI, KV17 – Set the 1st and KV 62 – King Tutankhamen) needed an extra ticket. 

We visited Ramses the 2nd’s tomb and it was a work of art.

The most fascinating tomb we visited was Ramses IV (KV2); which in my opinion was the best one to see. Vibrant hieroglyphics adorned the walls and as dark as I might sound, it was a pretty tomb.

The great thing about visiting Valley of the Kings is that tour guides are not allowed into the tombs. Our guide explained that it is in respect of the gods and also, not to hold up the queues. Therefore, it is a fast cycle as you enter, walk through and come back out.

Photography at Valley of the Kings

We were allowed photos with our mobile phones. This is a recent development as previously, no pictures were allowed. It is strictly prohibited to use a DSLR and tripods are not allowed. So this is one for just your mobile phone camera.

Colossi of Memnon

These two magnificent, imposing statues show Pharaoh Amenhotep III. They have been partially destroyed; no thanks to weather elements but its a lovely stop. I don’t think it is worth visiting on its own but no visit to Valley of the Kings is complete without a stop at Colossi of Memnon.

How these structures are still standing till this day, I will never understand. 

12. Trace Jesus’ footsteps in Egypt – Coptic Quarter of Cairo

The Christian part of Cairo is the Coptic quarter and is one of the oldest parts of the city. Old Cairo used to be Babylon and this was where Jesus and his family stayed when they were in Egypt.

One of our most cherished experiences was a visit to Saints Sergius and Bacchus church aka the Cavern church – Abu Serga and The Hanging Church. This was where we learnt about the Egyptian Christians and their Coptic (Orthodox) Churches.

The Hanging Church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, built around 4th century AD. Its actual name is Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church. However, the Hanging Church seems more apt as it was built atop a Roman fortress and its nave is suspended over the ground.

Then we visited the church, Abu Serga that was built atop where Jesus and his family lived. We saw the well they drank from and Jesus’ little bed (a slab). The original floors from that time were there too and it was all so astonishing.

Fun fact: Coptic Christians still follow the old calendar hence why they celebrate Christmas on 7th January.

For families with Older Children:

Siwa Oasis is one to check out and is one of the best things to do in Egypt with kids. The drive alone to that part of Egypt can be as much as 8 – 10 hours so it was definitely not for us. However, photos look gorgeous and maybe if I was an adventure traveller, it would have enticed me. Also, a hot air balloon ride in Luxor is essential if you have older kids. It usually takes place on the east part of Luxor at sunrise but we caught a glimpse one morning and it was so beautiful.

I was tempted to add “ride a camel” but to be honest, jury is still out on how ethical this is. You will find donkeys, horses and camels casually strolling the streets and transporting people and goods in Egypt.

I know that these animals have been “working” animals and I genuinely didn’t see any looking unhealthy. I’d like to believe that just as in ancient Egypt, these working animals still serve their purpose in today’s Egypt. However, my fear would not let me ride any of them lol. If I wasn’t a scaredy cat, I’m sure I would have ridden on one.

The best things to do in Egypt with kids

One great thing about Egypt is that most of the attractions were free for kids under 6 years old. The prices for adults ranged from about 450-700 Egyptian pounds per person. I know that Egypt can be overwhelming but there are genuinely pockets of calm when you need it. All the hotels and restaurants we stayed in were family friendly. They had high chairs, kids menus and offered cots/extra beds too. The Egyptians were very kind towards my daughter and she was even gifted a bracelet in the market. 

I wouldn’t say that Egypt is a particularly kids friendly destination. However, I believe that if you want to go there with your kid(s), this post should guide you to the best things to do in Egypt with kids.

Bisous, Bugo x