Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Africa 🢖 Wonders of Egypt

Territory

Wonders of Egypt

Giza Pyramids at night
Giza Pyramids at night / John Robinson, / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  Highlights

Egypt is home to many of the most important and impressive archaeological monuments in the world. Here, in the valley of Nile developed one of the first and greatest civilization – Ancient Egypt (3150 – 332 BC), leaving countless larger and smaller monuments.

Some of the greatest Egyptian landmarks are Great Pyramids of Giza, tombs of pharaohs in the Valley of Kings, Saqqara necropolis with the most ancient worked stone buildings in the world, ruins of Luxor.

The powerful roots of Egyptian civilization though go deeper in the past and last up to this day – there are numerous interesting prehistoric monuments and even more Roman, Christian and Islamic landmarks, e.g. the oldest Christian monasteries in the world (Paromeos Monastery, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Monastery of Saint Anthony and many others).

The enormous Egypt has many interesting natural landmarks as well – but these are overshadowed by the numerous amazing man made landmarks.

Map with the described wonders

Travelers' Map is loading...
If you see this after your page is loaded completely, leafletJS files are missing.

WorldViolet Top 25 wonders of Egypt

Geological wonders

Dahab Blue Hole

South Sinai

Approximately 130 m deep underwater sinkhole. At the depth of 56 m, there is a 26 m long tunnel – The Arch, leading out to the open sea. This unusual natural location has experienced many fatalities, bringing gruesome fame to the site.

Archaeological wonders

Giza Necropolis

Giza

One of the major cultural monuments of the world, with three giant pyramids (Khufu’s, Khafre’s, and Menkaure’s), Great Sphinx, cemeteries, and worker’s villages. Built mainly in the 26th century BC and served as burial and mortuary temple complex of the great pharaohs of Egypt.

Khufu’s Pyramid (Great Pyramid of Giza)

Giza

The tallest ancient pyramid and ancient structure in the world. It was constructed sometime around 2500 BC. Originally was 146.5 m tall, now – 138.8 m. The incredible size and precision of this structure are rarely surpassed today. Contains three chambers. The pyramid most likely was built as a burial and mortuary temple.

Great Sphinx of Giza

Giza

The largest monolithic statue in the world, most likely built around 2550 BC. 73.5 m long and up to 20.22 m high, one of the most iconic sculptures in the world, the central object of numerous legends and stories.

Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt
Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt / , Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Valley of the Kings with KV5, KV17, and other rock-cut tombs

Luxor

In total in the Valley of Kings are known 63 tombs and chambers. KV5 is the largest rock-cut tomb in the vast necropolis of ancient Egyptian noble families. Belonged to sons of Ramesses II. In KV5 thus far have been discovered 121 rooms or chambers and it is expected that more will be discovered, this complex was made in the 13th – 12th century BC. KV17 – the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I – is one of the best-decorated tombs and the longest in the valley, 137 m long.

Pyramid of Djoser

Cairo

The oldest cut stone building in the world, built in the 27th century BC for the burial of pharaoh Djoser. This giant stepped pyramid originally was 62 m tall. This structure marks major innovations in the history of world architecture and culture. Under the pyramid is a maze of underground passages and chambers with a total length of 5.6 km.

Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt
Pyramid of Djoser / horax zeigt hier, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Khafre’s Pyramid (Pyramid of Chefren)

Giza

The second-largest pyramid of Giza, originally 143.5 m tall, now it is 136.6 m tall. Built sometime around 2500 BC.

Head of Great Sphinx and Pyramid of Chephren
Head of Great Sphinx and Pyramid of Chephren / /CC BY-SA 3.0
Saqqara

Cairo

Very old royal necropolis of Ancient Egypt, the oldest burials are some 5000 years old. Contains one of the oldest complete cut stone buildings in the world – the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser and Gisr el-Mudir – the oldest cut stone structure, made sometime around 2690 BC.

Memphis

Cairo

The first capital of Lower Egypt in the times of the Old Kingdom. Established sometime around 3000 BC and declined around 1300 BC, was one of the first metropolises in the world. Contains remnants of numerous valuable structures, including several Temples of Ptah and many other temples, Saqqara necropolis, and royal palaces.

Bent Pyramid (Rhomboid Pyramid)

Giza

One of the large pyramids in Dahshur’s necropolis. This giant pyramid was built sometime around 2600 BC. The 101.1 m tall pyramid starts with a steep angle, then it becomes shallower, creating a bent appearance. The polished limestone casing remains intact which is unique.

Red Pyramid

Giza

One of the major pyramids in Dahshur necropolis, 104 m tall. The third-largest Egyptian pyramid. Possibly the first true pyramid in Egypt, the tallest structure in the world at its construction. Constructed approximately in 2580 BC.

Dendera Temple (Temple of Hathor)

Qena

One of the best-preserved Ancient Egyptian temples in Egypt. The current building was built in Ptolemaic times but stands on the fundament from the 26th – 25th century BC. Here was found a depiction of the zodiac.

Pyramid of Menkaure

Giza

The third pyramid of Giza, the smallest one. Nevertheless, this is a giant, 61 m tall structure (originally – 65.5 m). Built in the 26th century BC.

Deir el-Bahari (includes Hatshepsut’s Temple)

New Valley

A complex of mortuary temples, built around 2100 – 1300 BC. Includes partly rock-cut, partly built, enormous structures. Especially impressive and beautiful is Hatshepsut’s Temple (sometimes around 1450 BC), one of the great achievements in the history of architecture.

Edfu Temple

Aswan

A well-preserved temple, built between 237 and 57 BC, the best preserved Ancient Egyptian temple.

Hawara

Faiyum

An important archaeological monument – a large pyramid and necropolis next to it. On the coffins in this necropolis were found 146 realistic portraits on boards – some of the best paintings from Classical Antiquity, from the 2nd century AD. The pyramid had an interesting set of up to 20 tons of heavy trapdoors and many other devices aimed to prevent looting.

Painting of women from Hawara, Egypt - 1800 years old art
Painting of women from Hawara – 1800 years old art / Dave & Margie Hill / Kleerup, , / CC BY-SA 2.0
Valley of the Queens

New Valley

Necropolis of the queens, princesses, and princes of Egypt. Contains more than 70 tombs, many of them very ornate and lavishly decorated, e.g. tomb of Queen Nefertari.

Pyramid of Meidum

Beni Suef

An enormous step pyramid, originally 93.5 m tall, now – 65 m tall. Built in the 26th century BC. Most likely it experienced a catastrophic collapse during its construction.

Ramesseum

Luxor

Remnants of a statue of an enthroned pharaoh, 19 m high and weighing more than 1000 tons. Here is the largest ancient stone monolith that has been transported. This has been done for 275 km in the 13th century BC.

Luxor Temple

Luxor

Impressive ruins of an ancient temple that was founded sometime around 1400 BC. One of the main temples in the capital of Ancient Egypt.

Thebes

Luxor

The former capital of Egypt in the times of the Middle and New Kingdoms, one of the earliest metropolises in the world. Inhabited in the time period roughly from 3200 BC to 84 BC. The city contains ruins of numerous buildings of world importance, including the Temple of Ramses III, Ramesseum, Luxor Temple, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Columns of Memnon.

Architecture and legendary wonders

Mount Sinai

South Sinai

This 2,285 m high mountain is sacred in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. It is mentioned numerous times in sacred scripts of different religions as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Egyptian Museum

Cairo

One of the major archaeological museums of the world, devoted to Ancient Egypt. Contains numerous artifacts of huge importance, including 27 royal mummies, the Gold Mask of Tutankhamun, and many others.

Al-Azhar Mosque

Cairo

Impressive mosque from 970 AD, here developed the most significant Islamic university in the world. Nowadays one of the most influential intellectual centers in the Islamic world.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai

South Sinai

An ancient, continuously operating Christian monastery, active since around 381 AD. The monastery was built between 527 – 565 AD and hosts an extremely important library of ancient writings.

Saint Catherine's Monastery, Egypt
Saint Catherine’s Monastery / Vyacheslav Argenberg, , / CC BY 2.0

WorldYellow Recommended books

Art & Architecture Egypt


The culture of Egypt has thousands of years of recorded history. Ancient Egypt fascinates by its beautiful sculptures and paintings, spectacular buildings, complex and mysterious divinities, and rituals. This compact volume is meant for travelers eager to know more about this civilization.

Frommer’s Egypt


Our expert take on Egypt covers everything from the Pyramids in Giza and Luxor’s temples to diving the Red Sea and navigating the streets of Cairo.


0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments