Cities in Southern Egypt You Must Visit: Discover the Hidden Gems

When one thinks of cities and towns in Egypt, images of the wonderful Nile River, ancient pyramids, and bustling cities like Cairo, Alexandria, and Hurghada often come to mind. However, the southern region of Egypt, home to cities and towns such as Aswan, holds its own treasures and historical importance. Southern Egyptian cities like Luxor and Abu Simbel offer a unique glimpse into the ancient splendor of this culturally rich country. Another city to note, although not as old, is Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea which is now an important tourist site.

History and Significance of Cities in Southern Egypt

The history of the cities in southern Egypt dates back to the era of the ancient Egyptians, as these cities played a decisive role in the prosperity and development of the kingdom. The southern Egyptian city, known for its proximity to the first cataract of the Nile River, was a vital strategic and economic center in ancient times. The ancient city of Aswan was also closely linked to the Nubian civilization neighboring it, which led to a unique cultural exchange that contributed to shaping the cities’ identity.

Ancient Egyptian Influence and Heritage in the Cities in Southern Egypt 

The cities in southern Egypt are steeped in the heritage of ancient Egypt, with landmarks such as the Temple of Philae, the colossal statues of Abu Simbel, and the enchanting temples of Luxor and Karnak. These sites bear witness to the architectural prowess and religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, and attract visitors from all over the world to witness their grandeur and historical importance.

Demographics and Culture in Cities in Southern Egypt 

The cities in southern Egypt boast a rich demographic and cultural fabric, influenced by their proximity to Nubia and the vast desert landscape. Nubian heritage is widespread in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, reflected in the vibrant traditions, colorful handicrafts and warm hospitality of the locals. In addition, a thriving tourism industry has contributed to the cosmopolitan nature of these cities, making them popular destinations for travelers looking for a glimpse of Egypt’s diverse cultural heritage.

Luxor Egypt

Luxor, one of cities in southern Egypt . A city to be discovered in a land of so much magic, with great culture and great temples, you can walk the streets among the ruins of the Egyptian Empire, surrounded by mysticism and the feeling that time has stopped, hence its great appeal. A tourist destination that makes it the most visited city in several decades.

It Is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River, and was the capital of Egypt for more than 1,500 years. This city was built on the ruins of the former Thebes, a place that Homer called: “The City of a Hundred Gates.”

Most significant places to visit in Luxor:

Valley of the Kings:

It is a huge tomb where dozens of pharaohs were found. One of the most famous tombs of ancient Egypt is Ramses II, or the tomb of King Tutankhamun. It is an underground world containing more than 63 royal tombs where you can find paintings on the walls representing scenes of sun worship. At the entrance, majestic figures rise from the depths of the sand that will take your breath away.

Colossi of Memnon

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. Legend has it that behind these giants, sounds came out of the statues at sunrise every day, and this appears to be due to air passing through the statues’ pores. Many of people have traveled to see these statues. The Colossi of Memnon represent King Amenhotep III. In ancient times, these giants, carved in quartzite, guarded the entrance to his temple, but it was destroyed over thousands of years. You can’t see their faces clearly due to severe damage and erosion, but you can take a lot of photos.

Ramesseum

It is the memorial temple of Ramesses II. According to Egyptian beliefs at that time, the mummified body of the Pharaoh would go in a boat to the kingdom of the dead, and from there it would continue to watch over the living, as the Pharaoh was like a king. God is more for his people than man. In building this temple, Ramesses II sought absolute perfection, as an eternal testimony to his power.

Al Minya City

Al Minya is one of cities in southern Egypt. The capital of the same-sounding governorate, on the west bank of the Nile River. This city is located 225 km away. South of Cairo, locals call it the Bride of Upper Egypt because it is located directly on the border between the Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt.

It is famous in the country for being the main producer of soap and perfumes, and also a sugar manufacturer. Prosperous for years, its economy was once based on the cotton harvest, and those years coincided with some elegant homes adding to the already charming landscape.

A few kilometers from Minya is the largest known cemetery in the world. Its name is the City of Death, and it belongs to Christian and Muslim families.

This city on the banks of the Nile is truly an excellent place to enjoy the beauty of Egypt away from the saturation caused by the crowds of tourists who come to the big cities every year. Its streets are a temple to art, and its Greek fountains remind us of the era of Greek and Roman rule and the strong legacy they left in Minya.

Most significant places to visit in Al Minya:

Beni Hassan

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. It Is the site of approximately 40 tombs from the Eleventh and Twelfth Dynasties. These tombs are the tomb of Baquet, the ruler, and the soldier, the second to his son Khety, the third to Amenemhat, and the fourth to Khunumhotep, the successor of King Amenemhat.

Tuna El Gebel

It is the cultural center where pilgrims worshiped the god Thoth

Tell Al Amarna

Where King Akhenaten and his wife, Queen Nefertiti, founded this city in dedication to the worship of the new god Aten.

 Aswan

Aswan is one of cities in southern Egypt, and located 880 km from Cairo and 225 km from Luxor and is currently the main city in Nubia. Nubians and Egyptians live there. The city itself does not contain many ancient temples but the landscape is of unique beauty and to this we must add one of the best markets in the country. For me, it has a special charm because it still retains its charm.

The city was made fashionable in the 19th century by the English, who loved to spend their winters there, and figures such as Agatha Christie and the Aga Khan were influenced by the charm of the place.

Aswan extends on the banks of the Nile River for a length of 2 km, between the station in the north and the Cataract Hotel in the south. The street parallel to the Nile and more than one kilometer long is the market. To visit Aswan in good condition we will need at least 3 days, although it depends on what we want to see. From here, trips start to visit Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Esna, and a series of archaeological sites that are not usually part of organized trips.

Most significant places to visit in Aswan:

Visit a Nubian Village

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. There are many excursions to explore the colorful streets of Nubian villages. Do not hesitate for a moment, this is one of the experiences you will have in Aswan.

It Is much better to stay right there than just take a tour of its streets. Walk at your own pace through the village streets and allow yourself the pleasure of stopping to talk to the people who live there. Nubians are very hospitable and eager to talk to travelers.

Philae Temple

Philae Temple, the Pearl of the Nile, the temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Isis, is worth a visit. The temple was rescued from the bottom of the water, after being submerged by the waters of the Aswan Dam, and today it appears almost intact on the island of Agykia in the middle of the Nile River.

Felucca in the Nile

Being on the banks of the Nile above the traditional felucca is one of Egypt’s greatest pleasures. Especially now, when the Nile has become deserted with Maxi ferries that saturate and exhaust it. The ideal plan is to grab a packed lunch, eat it on board, and enjoy a peaceful nap.

Unfinished obelisk

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. How did they manage to get the obelisk, which is more than 30 meters long and weighs 1,000 tons, straight? This is the secret of the obelisk. You should also know that Aswan granite is very distinctive because of its reddish color and you will see it in many temples in Egypt.

Tomb of Nobles or Princes

On bank of the Nile is in front of the city, as if hidden in the mountain, you will find Qubbet el-Hawa. We arrive at the felucca, and there an Egyptian is waiting who guards its entrance and will show you the interior of some of the eighty tombs there are. From this point, you will have a wonderful view of the city.

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel. This is the crown jewel that every person  who travels to Egypt longs to see, along with the Pyramids of Giza. More than four hours to get there and many hours to return, but Abu Simbel is worth it.

Sharm El-Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh is one of cities in southern Egypt, and an Egyptian city located at the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, in the South Sinai Governorate, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. It has a population of about 13,000 people as of 2023. Sharm El Sheikh is the kids as are the mountainous interior, St. Catherine and Mount Sinai. It was historically a fishing town and a military base, then Israel developed it into a commercial and tourist city in 1968. Today, the city and holiday resort is an important center for tourism in Egypt, while also attracting many international conferences and diplomatic meetings.

Ras Mohammad National Park

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. Ras Mohammed is Egypt’s premier dive site for marine life. It covers an area of ​​480 square kilometers (185 square miles) and is a nature reserve and restricted area that harbors some of the richest biodiversity in the Red Sea.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery

At the foot of Mount Sinai lies one of the oldest functioning monasteries in the world, St. Catherine’s Monastery.

It Is a beautiful religious site and definitely one of the best places to visit from Sharm El Sheikh. Not only is the monastery itself impressive, but the treasures inside are also worth seeing.

Sunrise Hike to Mount Sinai

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. Deep in the South Sinai desert lies the famous Mount Sinai (also Jebel Musa or Mount Moses). Many scholars believe that this is the Mount Sinai mentioned in the Bible, where God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses in the Old Testament.

As you might expect, this is a very sacred mountain and is of importance to all Abrahamic religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Sahaba Mosque and the Al Mustafa Mosque

Al-Mustafa Mosque is one of the most impressive buildings in the Red Sea. It is a relatively new mosque, completed in 2008, and features two towering minarets, each reaching over 70 meters in height!

The central dome Is also huge and the entire memorial is beautiful when lit up at night.

Asyut

Asyut is one of cities in southern Egypt, and the few remaining places where silver-embellished shawls are still made. It also still produces fine pottery, inlaid woodwork, and carpets. In addition, there are modern textile mills and a chemical plant for fertilizer production.

Just north of the city and its river port of Al-Hamra is the Asyut Dam across the Nile (1902), an open limestone dam 2,730 feet (832 m) long. It feeds the Ibrahimiyya Canal, which parallels the Nile for about 200 miles (320 km) to the north, and irrigates much of Middle Egypt. A western branch is the Youssef Canal, which extends from Dayrut to the Fayoum Oasis. In the 1980s, the dam was improved and a hydroelectric power station was added.

Things To Do In Asyut

Asyut, one of cities in southern Egypt, and a city with deep historical roots in Upper Egypt, offers a mix of ancient sites and cultural experiences. Although it may not be as crowded with tourists as other Egyptian cities, it still retains its unique charm and historical importance. Here are some of the main hotspots and activities you can explore in Asyut:

New Valley Governorate 

One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt. New Valley Governorate or El Wadi El Gedid Governorate is one of cities in southern Egypt, the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the southwestern part of the country, in southern Egypt, Western Sahara (part of the Sahara), between the Nile River, northern Sudan and southeastern Libya. 

This governorate constitutes approximately half of the area of Egypt, and is the largest and most densely populated governorate in the country, and one of the largest state divisions in the world. Its capital is Kharga. The New Valley Governorate was named after the New Valley Project, which aims to irrigate parts of the Western Desert.

Attractions you can see in New Valley Governorate 

Kharga oasis

As for the archaeological and touristic places that can be visited in Kharga Oasis, One of attractions you can see in cities in southern Egypt, they are:

Kharga Palace: It is the center of the New Valley. Interesting sites are the Kharga Archaeological Museum, Al-Mabrouk Fountain, the Souq, and Darb Al-Sindadiyya (the original village of Kharga Palace).

Temple of Hebis: It is the largest temple in the Kharga Oasis, and it is also the best preserved structure in Egypt from the Sawi and Persian eras. It is located two kilometers north of Kharga Palace, on the paved road leading to the airport.

Al-Bagawat Cemetery: It is the oldest Christian cemetery in Egypt.

Ndora Temple: This is one of the other temples/forts that were built to protect the oasis;

Qasr Al-Ghuwayta: It is a beautiful garden fort. It is a large mud-brick fortress. It may have previously been the headquarters of the garrisons of the Roman forces stationed in the Kharga Oasis.

Al-Labikha Palace: It is one of the most magnificent fortresses and temples in Kharga.

Ain Umm al-Dabbadib: It is an important Roman settlement, and its most wonderful monument is the canal.

Dosh (Kesis): It was an ancient frontier town that housed a fortified fortress to protect the community and the southwestern borders of the Roman Empire;

Qasr Al-Zayyan: There was an ancient village here, and its most important remains today are a Roman temple.

Deir al-Munira: It contains traces of an ancient castle, a temple, and a cemetery.

Ain Manawer: It contains the remains of wide underground canals known as qanats, built by the Persians in the fifth century BC.

Ain al-Dabbashiyya: It contains traces of a village, a grain processing area, and an old pigeon house.

Mustafa Kashif Palace: It contains traces from the Coptic era, consisting of monastic buildings, a church, two Roman temples, and a hostel for travelers.

Ain al-Tirkwa: It is an unexcavated site, and its most important ruins are a sandstone temple.

Hassan Fathi Village: It is an abandoned village that was built in the 1960s to house a new agricultural community in the Kharga Oasis.

(FAQs) about cities in Southern Egypt

What are the major cities in Southern Egypt?

The most prominent cities in Southern Egypt include:

• Luxor: Known for the ancient city of Thebes, the Karnak and Luxor Temples, and the Valley of the Kings.
• Aswan: Famous for the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, and the Nubian culture.
• Abu Simbel: Renowned for the monumental temples of Ramses II and Nefertari.

What is the best time to visit cities in southern Egypt?

The best time to visit Southern Egypt is during the cooler months, from October to April, as the summer months (May to September) can be extremely hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C (104°F).

How do I travel between cities in southern Egypt?

The most common ways to travel between cities in southern Egypt are:

• By air: Domestic flights connect major cities like Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.
• By train: There are daily train services between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.
• By Nile cruise: A popular option for tourists, traveling by boat between Luxor and Aswan along the Nile River.
• By bus or car: Private taxis, buses, and car rentals are also available for road travel.

What are the must-see attractions in Luxor?

Luxor is often referred to as the world’s greatest open-air museum, and key attractions include:

• Karnak Temple: A vast complex dedicated to the god Amun-Ra.
• Luxor Temple: A large ancient temple on the east bank of the Nile.
• Valley of the Kings: Burial site of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, including Tutankhamun.
• Temple of Hatshepsut: A mortuary temple dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut.

What should I see in Aswan?

Aswan is known for its stunning landscapes and rich Nubian heritage. Must-see places include:

• Philae Temple: Dedicated to the goddess Isis, it’s located on an island in the Nile.
• Aswan High Dam: An engineering marvel that helped control the flooding of the Nile.
• Nubian Museum: Showcasing the history and culture of the Nubian people.
• Elephantine Island: Known for its ancient ruins and Nubian villages.

What is special about Abu Simbel?

Abu Simbel is home to two massive rock temples built by Pharaoh Ramses II. These temples are famous for:

• The Great Temple of Ramses II: Featuring four colossal statues of the pharaoh.
• The Temple of Nefertari: Dedicated to Ramses II’s favorite queen and the goddess Hathor.
• The entire site was relocated in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

What languages are spoken in Southern Egypt?

Arabic is the official language spoken across Egypt, including Southern Egypt. In tourist areas, English is widely spoken, especially by guides and in hotels. Some Nubian languages are also spoken by the Nubian communities around Aswan.

What are the accommodation options in Southern Egypt?

cities in southern Egypt offer a wide range of accommodation options, including:

• Luxury hotels: International chains and upscale resorts along the Nile, especially in Luxor and Aswan.
• Budget hotels: There are many affordable hotels and guesthouses catering to backpackers and budget travelers.
• Nubian guesthouses: Particularly in Aswan, you can find traditional Nubian-style accommodations offering a cultural experience.

What is the cultural significance of Nubian heritage in Aswan?

Nubians are an ethnic group native to Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan. Their culture is distinct and deeply rooted in Aswan, offering unique traditions, music, and art. The colorful Nubian villages around Aswan and on Elephantine Island are popular with tourists seeking to explore this rich cultural heritage.

Are there any UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southern Egypt?

Yes, cities in southern Egypt is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including:

• The Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple (part of the Ancient Thebes site).
• Valley of the Kings and Queens.
• Abu Simbel.
• Philae Temple (part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae).

Is Southern Egypt safe for tourists?

Yes, cities in southern Egypt is generally considered safe for tourists, with a strong focus on tourism and cultural heritage protection. However, as with any travel destination, it is advised to stay informed about local conditions, follow guidance from authorities, and be aware of your surroundings.

What is the local cuisine like in cities in southern Egypt?

The cuisine of Southern Egypt is similar to Egyptian food but also features Nubian influences, especially in Aswan. Typical dishes include:

• Koshari: A mix of rice, pasta, lentils, and tomato sauce.
• Ful medames: Slow-cooked fava beans, a staple Egyptian dish.
• Feteer: A layered pastry often served with honey or cheese.
• Taameya: Egyptian-style falafel made with fava beans.
• Nubian bread: A traditional bread baked in clay ovens.

What are the cultural norms and customs I should be aware of?

cities in southern Egypt, as in other parts of the country, modest dress is recommended, especially when visiting religious sites. While the local people are hospitable, respecting local customs, such as greeting with “Salam” and asking permission before taking photos of people, is important. Tipping (called “baksheesh”) is common in many situations, including in restaurants and for services.

How hot does it get to cities in Southern Egypt?

cities in southern Egypt, especially Aswan and Abu Simbel, experiences some of the hottest temperatures in the country. In summer, temperatures can reach over 40°C (104°F), while winters are much cooler, averaging 15-25°C (59-77°F).

What is the currency used in cities in southern Egypt?

The currency used is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). Most cities in Southern Egypt have ATMs, and credit cards are accepted in larger hotels, restaurants, and shops. However, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash for smaller purchases and tipping.