On the western bank of the Nile, facing Cairo over the Giza plateau, rise three pyramids, built by Cheops, Chepren, and Mycerinos, pharoahs who ruled at the height of Egyptian power. Nearby, the Sphynx, etched by centuries of wind and rain, keeps watch over the desert. Of the seven wonders of the ancient world described by the historian Philon in 146 B.C., only the Pyramids of Giza still stand. Among the many archaeological and historical treasures of Egypt, the pyramids and their majestic stone guardian are one of the world's most important tourist sites. At night, the the monuments are illuminated with spotlights to the accompaniment of traditional Egyptian music and a narration of the history. The sound and light performances are staged year-round and presented in Arabic, English, French, and German.

The ancient site of Menf (Memphis), the first capital of Egypt, is filled with monuments and tombs. The step pyramid of Saqqara, the oldest large-scale stone structure in the Eastern Hemisphere, was built in 2916 B.C. for the pharoah Zoser. Pyramids abound in Egypt, starting with the Pyramid of Abou Rawash in the north and ending with the Pyramids of Illahous at the mouth of the Fayoum.

Cairo is a city of religious sites, museums, shopping bazaars, and night life. Amr Ibn El Aas, built in A.D. 642, was the first mosque in Egypt and the fourth in the world. The first pillars were made from the trunks of palm trees, and the roof was covered with fronds. Ibn Touloun was the third mosque built in Egypt and is one of the largesy. The mosque of El Azhar houses one of the oldest Islamic universities with an extensive library of books and manuscripts. The Mosque and School of Sultan Hassan is one of the most impressive Islamic monuments in Egypt. Night life in Cairo is focused on night clubs, theaters, casinos, restaurants, and tea shops. Nile River cruises and camel rides are also popular leisure pastimes.

Alexandria is the largest seaport in Egypt and a popular summer resort area. Situated on the Mediterranean coast west of the Nile delta, the city was built for Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. as the Greek capital of Egypt. Alexandria is famous for its beaches, gardens, museums, archaeological sites. Pompei Pillar was erected in 297 A.D. in memory of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Montazah Palace, the former summer residence of the royal family, was built on a bluff overlooking a picturesque beach. Mersa Matrouh, a small seaport about 120 miles west of Alexandria, is noted for its long stretch of white sand beach and calm, protected waters.

The ruins of the ancient city of Thebes can be viewed in Luxor, along with ancient Egyptian temples and the Colossi of Memnon. The Temple of Luxor has huge papyrus columns adjoining the remnants of a Christian church and Abu Haggag Mosque. The Temples of Karnak are noted for their mysterious row of sphinxes bearing the faces of rams. In the City of the Dead, at the base of a huge cliff, are two collosal statues of Memnon guarding the tombs of Egyptian pharoahs and their queens. The tomb of Tut Ank Amun lies in the Valley of the Kings, and that of Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II, in the Valley of the Queens.

The Mausoleum of the Aga Khan can be explored at Aswan, in southern Egypt near the shore of Lake Nasser. Several beach resorts are found on the east coast south of Suez. Ain Sukhna and Hurghada are year-round resort areas and the starting points for deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and boat charters on the Red Sea. Other villages that cater to water-sports enthusiasts include Safaga, Kosseir, Mars Alam, and Bernice. Facing the Red Sea are more than 24 islands, including Zabargad opposite Bernice, and Gefton, near the coast at Hurghada. Egypt's famous beaches are at Ras Mohammad, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, and Newebaa. The Red Sea is one of the best scuba-diving sites in the world. The warm, clear waters and strong currents support a thriving community of marine life, with multicolored formations of soft coral and several species of fish that exist nowhere else. Most coastal towns have facilities for scuba diving.