Where to visit in Egypt with kids?

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Here’s a proper conundrum. What should you see in Egypt with kids? We squeezed a lot into our 10 days in Egypt and could have still done more as well as adding extra time to relax on the Red Sea coast.

I’d definitely recommend exploring further than Cairo. The pyramids are one of Egypt’s best known attractions but there’s so much more to the country’s historic treasures.

To be honest, it was Egypt’s temples that impressed us most.

We also wouldn’t have missed Southern Egypt. Reaching Abu Simbel from Aswan is an adventure in itself and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor was much more impressive than we had imagined.

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Want to find out more? Here’s our top five places for families visiting Egypt and why you should go:

The Pyramids of Giza

Even though they weren’t our favourite destination, who could go to Egypt without seeing the pyramids? Especially when travelling with kids!

After all they are the most recognisable landmark and one many little ones will know from Go Jetters.

If you are visiting Egypt independently, you can get a taxi to the entrance of the pyramid complex and buy tickets there. Or book a half day tour with transfers and a guide.

Add a trip to Cairo’s Old Egyptian Museum or the newer Grand Egyptian Museum to build a foundation of knowledge that will enrich the rest of your time in Egypt.

If you are staying in Hurghada or another Red Sea resort, it is possible to visit Cairo in a day to see the pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum or Old Egyptian Museum. You can fly to maximise your time or take the longer tour bus option (12 hour on the road).

Take a look at my guide to what to wear in Egypt before travelling to Cairo.

Kom Ombo

Mummified crocodiles…need I say more?

OK, I will. Kom Ombo’s collection of 300 preserved crocs were found buried at this Roman-Greaco site beside the River Nile.

The Temple itself is dedicated to two gods: Sobek and Horus.

Much of it is ruined but there’s plenty of incredible hieroglyphs to see including one depicting a mother giving birth. This kind of image has not been found nowhere else in Egypt.

We visited Kom Ombo on the road north from Aswan to Luxor. You can do the same route in this full day tour including Edfu temple, which is particularly handy if you’re travelling between the two cities anyway.

If you just want to visit from Luxor, returning the same day, that tour is also available.

The Temple of Philae

A visit the Temple of Philae in Aswan requires a boat trip to the island of Agilkia.

The temple was moved here in the 20th Century during the construction of the Aswan Dam which led to the original Philae site being flooded.

It’s a beautiful temple and its location makes it an extra special place to explore.

You can take a half day tour including being picked up from your hotel and your boat trip across to the island.

Valley of the Kings

I’m not sure why but I wasn’t expecting much from the Valley of the Kings. Tunnels cut into sand with a bare chamber at the end was what I suppose I had in mind.

But the Valley offered so much more. The colours of the hieroglyphs have been shielded from the sun and grave robbers never hung around long enough to bother defacing them in the way some temples have suffered.

They are also a marvel of ancient Egyptian engineering. It’s amazing to think that the architects, artists and workers spent years creating them below the surface.

You can buy tickets in advance for the valley which includes entry to three tombs.

Deir el-Bahri

Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple was my favourite Egyptian temple. Not only is it a unique design, it was interesting to experience a place inspired by such a fascinating figure in Egypt’s history.

Hatshepsut isn’t born to rule as pharaoh. But she talked herself into the job and ruled alongside her younger brother and the rightful heir, Tutmose III.

She built Deir el-Bahri temple for the god Amun and, according to ancient gossip, the architect was her lover. After she died and was buried in the Valley of the Kings he had a tunnel built from his own tomb to hers.

You can see the temple as part of a full day group tour of the East and West Bank. My recommendation with kids is to book a private tour of Luxor.

If you are staying in Hurghada, it is possible to book a day trip to Luxor and see both the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple.

Bonus place: Abu Simbel

OK, so I couldn’t miss this one off. The temples of Rameses II and Queen Nefertari on the edge of Lake Nassar are incredible. BUT! It’s a long drive and families with young kids might find it too much.

We visited as a day trip from Aswan which meant setting off at 4.30am and seven hours in our private mini bus. If you do visit Abu Simbel, take a private tour to maximise your comfort.

Also plan in some down time on either side and pack all the snacks!

Group tours are available if you want to reduce costs.

Want more tips for visiting? Read our full Egypt travel guide.

Find out more about each of these places and all of destinations we visited by reading our full 10 day Egypt itinerary.

Egypt books for kids and families visiting Egypt

We gave each of our girls a book about Egypt before our trip. It was a great way to get them excited and remind us all about the extraordinary places we were lucky enough to be visiting.

We can personally recommend National Geographic’s Ancient Egypt: Level 4 book for children aged seven and up and National Geographic’s 1,000 Facts About Ancient Egypt book for bite-sized information to share with children of all ages.

Younger children might prefer a sticker book. The British Museum does a lovely one that allows kids to add stickers to Egyptian scenes. And here’s plenty a short tales for young readers in Meet the Egyptians, which is part of the Horrible Histories book series.

If you’re looking for a guide book about Egypt for yourself I can recommend Lonely Planet.

You might also like to read

• My full Egypt travel guide
• What we thought of the Cairo to Aswan sleeper train
• What tourists need to know about visiting Egypt during Ramadan
• Our 10 day Egypt itinerary
• My review of where we stayed on the Red Sea

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