Thousands of people come every year to Egypt to take in the sights and explore the country’s culture, beautiful ancient relics, and heritage sites. However, few dare to venture off the beaten path and really delve deeper into what the country has to offer. Let’s take a look at some unusual things visitors can do on their first trip to Egypt.
Amazing and Unique Things to do in Egypt
Nile Cruise
If you were thinking of seeing the country’s many monuments, why not take a more unusual approach instead? You could take a Nile cruise which is one of the things that you must do when you are in Egypt. You could also see all the major monuments in less than one day and have a chance to go on many of the tours of major temples along the way. It’s a more relaxing and efficient way to see the important sites and gives you plenty of times for more activities later on.
Also you can book Nile Cruise and Stay
Check Out the Gianaclis Vineyards
Vineyards aren’t the first thing people think about when they come to Cairo, but the Nile Delta does have a few fine vineyards that are worth visiting. The Gianaclis Vineyards, in particular, offer a 5-star experience and produce some of the world’s best wines. A day at the vineyards is a great way to get a change of scenery and enjoy some of the winery’s top tipples. You will also learn about the winemaking process and tour the historic installations. The vineyard was founded in 1882 and remains a monument to Egypt’s history in the winemaking field.
Let it All Out at Unleashed
If you’re looking for something really out of the ordinary, then Unleashed is definitely for you. Situated in New Cairo, Unleashed is a great way to literally unleash yourself in a controlled environment. It is basically a huge locked room with tons of old objects like computer monitors, old televisions, glass bottles, and various pottery pieces and all kinds of tools for you to smash them. The concept is super simple, but it’s a great way for you and your little ones to let loose and have some fun.
Stroll Through the City of the Dead
The City of the Dead, which used to be a huge necropolis, is now a very vibrant, breathing community full of history. Beyond the graves and tombs, the City of the Dead now houses various shrines and memorials to many female saints, such as Nafisa, Sayyida Zainab, Ruqayya, and Sukayna just to name a few. Though the area is home to over 500,000 residents, it is one of the most unusual places in Cairo for ancient history.
The Cairo Agricultural Museum
While Egypt is known for its dynasties and architecture, few realize the role agriculture had in the rise of this civilization. The Cairo agricultural museum is a great way to explore another side of old Egyptian technology and is a must stop for any fans of ancient history. Among the various exhibitions is the “museum of bread” which is solely dedicated to the art of bread making and features a variety of ancient bread making machines and different types of breads ancient Egyptians used to bake.
Embark on the Cross Egypt Challenge
While unbeknownst to many, Egypt has an old and extensive history with motorsports and various other forms of vehicular entertainment. Every year, the country hosts a variety of different expos catering to auto enthusiasts and motorsports lovers from around the globe. This motorsports culture eventually gave birth to the Cross Egypt Challenge. Launched in 2011 to promote the tourism industry, the challenge has now become a major meeting for two-wheeled enthusiasts. The route keeps growing every year and takes bikers on off-road paths from Alexandria all the way to Luxor. It’s a great way to see another side of the country and is held every October.
Go to the St Simon Monastery
While large Christian communities aren’t that common in Egypt, the country still has a rich Christian history and is also home to one of the most unusual monasteries in the world, the St Simon Monastery. Built inside a cave, the monastery was created to accommodate the large Coptic Christian community that resides near the Mokattam cliffs. The monastery can seat over 20,000 people and is one of the most wonderful monasteries of its kind. While the monastery is not located in an area that is usually frequented by tourists, hundreds of thousands of Christians come to the monastery every year for a pilgrimage.