Egypt is filled with historical wonders famous all over the world. But there are someย sites that get less visitors than they deserve. Both foreign and local tourists are missing out on some of theseย touristic and historical sites:
Cairo’s Synagogues and Jewish Alley
Egypt’s Jewish history has long been overshadowed by its Pharaonic, Christian and Islamic history for tourists. But it’s easy to forget that there was once a vibrant Jewish community of over 600,000 before the 1967 War. The Hanging Church is crowded with tourists, but right behind it is the often forgotten Ben Ezra Synagogue. Similarly, everyone wants to visit Al Muizz St. and Islamic Cairo but Haret El Yahud will transport you to the Egypt ofย the 40sย and 50s. Inside are Torah manuscripts and temple relics that are unique to see in Egypt.
Now’s the best time to go because these synagogues are newly renovated. Theyย carry a long and rich history from medieval times. The best-preserved synagogue is Alexandria’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue. It’s a good chanceย to witness part of Egypt’s thousand-year-oldย culture, now almostย extinct.
See:ย Ben Ezra Synagogue, Maimonides Synagogue, Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue (Alexandria).ย
The Lost City of Heracleion
Near Alexandria an incredible diving experience awaits! Lost for 1200 years, this underwater city was discovered in 2000. There’s preserved Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman and medieval artifacts. Who could believe that Atlantis is actually in Egypt? Go with a professional diving expedition because it’s not open to commercial divingย yet.
The White Desert
Take a camping trip to the White Desert in winter and witness extraordinary rock formations. Even though desert camping is popular in Egypt, at the White Desert the calcium rocks reflect the changing colors of the sky. It’s a wonder to watch! See the night stars and sunset. The rocks takeย an interesting shape, like an atomic bomb exploding. Perfect for pictures!
Sannur Cave, Beni Suef
This cave formedย over 60ย million years ago but was discovered in the 1980s! Aย protected area in Beni Suef, this cave is only 2-3 hours by car from Cairo. It’s about 10 km outside Beni Suef but is very accessible. The cave is very beautiful, especially in daytime.
St. Catherine, Sinai
While it’sย better known than some of the sites on this list, St. Catherine is less explored than people might think. Recently, St. Catherine’s Monastery has been receiving more visitors but the entire protected region in Sinai tends to be left out. We recommend taking a camel trekย from the monastery down to Sharm El Sheikh for a traditional Bedouin experience. Along the way, you’ll see Bedouin tribes, ancient ruins and canyons.
Sohag
Such an underrated city in Egypt! Yes there’s Aswan butย the Nile in Sohag is simply beautiful! It’s green and lush unlike the bigger congested cities. There are no tourist boatsย or hotels crowding up the area so you can enjoy Egypt’s Nile to its fullest. Here you can findย Egypt’s agricultural traditions and take anย unpollutedย Nile river cruise. There are also two Coptic monasteries and a Pharaonic Museum that rivals Cairo’s Egyptian Museum.
See: Pharaonic Museum, Coptic Monasteries, Nile Bank
Hathor Temple Complex
For those who love Ancient Egypt, don’t miss out on this temple! Everyone wants to see the Karnak and Hatshepsut’s temples of course. But if you want to avoid the tourist crowds, two hours away from Luxor is the Hathor Temple in Dendera. It’s surprising how little people actually visit. It’s the best preserved temple in Egypt. The colors, carvings and statues are in the best condition compared to the better known temples.
These amazing sites in Egyptย should be visited more often! Take time on your next holiday to visit some of these underrated places. They’re all budget friendly and yourย pictures will look great!ย ย
