Egypt is high on many travelers’ lists of must-see places, and for good reason. The country is home to some of the oldest, most well-preserved artifacts and temples on the planet. Throw in a fabled river, an exotic culture, and the only surviving of the world’s seven ancient wonders, and you‘ve got the makings of a world-class adventure.

Here are my tips for a short visit to the country, with a focus on the Cairo area and points farther south:

Getting there

Several airlines offer service to Cairo from San Francisco International Airport (SFO); most flights stopover on the East Coast, in Europe, and/or in the Middle East.

Accommodations

Once in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, accommodations range from higher-end Western hotels like the Ramses Hilton to lower-end guesthouses and hostels. We particularly enjoyed our stay at the budget-focused Hotel Osiris, whose central downtown location, great hospitality, and amazing rooftop terrace made the bustle of this chaotic city more manageable.

Best time to go

Lonely Planet offers helpful insights for weather and optimal times to visit. High season is typically December-February, when temperatures are cooler.

Cairo sites

Egypt’s capital city has plenty to offer tourists. Our visit included the Egyptian Museum, the Islamic quarter (the mosques of Muhammad Ali, Ibn Tulun, and Al-Azhar are most notable), Old Cairo (also know as Coptic Cairo, home to many Christian churches), the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, and a sunset walk along the Nile.

Pyramids

While most renowned around the world, Giza’s pyramids and great sphinx are not the only game in town. For a more off-the-beaten-path adventure, hire a driver to explore the pyramids at Dahshur and Saqqara. We did the latter two in the morning, then hit the Giza attractions in the later afternoon. The entire day was magical, and our guesthouse arranged it for us.

Luxor to Aswan sites

Numerous outfitters offer trips between Luxor and Aswan. The most popular - not to mention relaxing - way to see the area is via a Nile cruise. Trips start in Luxor or Aswan, running both directions with numerous stops at historic sites in between the two cities. If you have more time and money, consider the entire round-trip excursion, which takes about eight days. There are no shortage of operators plying these waters, and many budget travelers show up in Luxor to shop around on foot, interviewing boat captains on the fly to get the best deals.

Overnight tourist trains with private two-person compartments run regularly between Cairo and Luxor, the easiest starting point for the Nile journey. You can also fly this route.

From Luxor to Aswan, the main sites along the Nile include Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings (including King Tut‘s tomb), the Hatshepsut complex at Deir el-Bahri, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and the temple at Philae. Once in Aswan, a visit to the city’s infamous dam is interesting, as is a felucca trip along the Nile. Heartier travelers continue on (via plane and/or bus) further south from Aswan to the temple complex at Abu Simbel.

A special note on safety

Sadly terrorist acts against foreign tourists have been a problem in Egypt, starting with the 1997 massacre at the Hatshepsut complex, in which many Western tourists were killed. As a result, independent tourist travel outside Cairo heading south is restricted in places, and often regulated by convoys and tourist-police escort.

On a good note, Egyptian officials have taken these violent attacks seriously, putting procedures in place to ensure the safety of foregin visitors. On a bad note, it can be more difficult to travel here, especially off the beaten path.

Book any tours through a reputable travel agency or guesthouse, and do your research in advance before arriving. Those intent on unregulated solo travel outside Cairo in the Luxor/Aswan areas could face fines or more serious measures if caught violating the rules.

All that aside, Egypt felt very safe when we visited in 2007, and the people are extremely friendly and curious. We'll definitely go back.