Egypt in Pictures: 51 Free Photos of the Pyramids, Luxor and the Nile
Egypt in 51 free photos: the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx at Giza, the Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the fallen colossus of Ramses II at Memphis, the Citadel and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the temples of Karnak and Luxor, the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings on the west bank, the rock temples of Abu Simbel, the double temple of Kom Ombo, Lake Nasser, and feluccas sailing on the Nile. Each set of photos has a short note on the place.
Egypt at a glance
- Getting there: Cairo International Airport; Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts also have international flights.
- Getting around: domestic flights or the night sleeper train between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan; a Nile cruise of three or four nights between Luxor and Aswan; ride-hailing apps in Cairo.
- Money: Egyptian pound. Carry small notes for tips, which are expected for almost every service.
- When to go: October to April. In summer Luxor and Aswan are very hot; visit the sites early in the morning.
How to download: click a photo to see it large, then use Download. The originals are about 1200 × 800 pixels: right for blog posts, slides, social media, school projects and video call backgrounds.
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, built around 2560 BC, was the tallest structure made by people for almost 4,000 years and is the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. Beside it stand the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, and the Sphinx, carved from the bedrock, guards the causeway. The Grand Egyptian Museum, opened near the plateau, now holds the treasures of Tutankhamun.
Saqqara and Memphis
The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, about 4,700 years old, is the oldest of the pyramids and the first great building of cut stone. Nearby, at Memphis, the first capital of Egypt, a huge statue of Ramses II lies on its back and an alabaster sphinx stands among the palms.
Cairo
Cairo, the largest city in Africa and the Arab world, crowds along the Nile. The Muhammad Ali Mosque crowns the medieval Citadel, the old Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square is still full of antiquities, and the streets of Islamic Cairo lead to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Luxor, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings
Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, capital of Egypt at the height of its power. On the east bank, an avenue of sphinxes links the temple of Luxor with Karnak, the largest temple complex of the ancient world, with its forest of giant columns. On the west bank, the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in rock-cut tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and the two Colossi of Memnon still sit in the fields.
Aswan, Kom Ombo and Abu Simbel
Ramses II had the two temples of Abu Simbel cut into a mountain by the Nile; in the 1960s, when the Aswan High Dam created Lake Nasser, they were cut into blocks and moved 65 metres higher. Twice a year, in February and October, the rising sun reaches the statues deep inside. North of Aswan, the double temple of Kom Ombo is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus.
The Nile
Feluccas, the sailing boats of the Nile, cruise boats and ferries, palm groves and green fields along the river, and sunset over the water.
Tips for a first visit
- Go to Giza at opening time, and see the Sphinx before the tour buses.
- Visit Abu Simbel from Aswan by early morning convoy or a short flight.
- Take a felucca on the Nile at Aswan at sunset.
- Agree prices for taxis, camels and guides before you start.
More about Egypt
The Arab Republic of Egypt is probably one of the oldest tourist locations in the world; its marvels attracted the early Greeks, Romans, emperors and monarchs. These days however, Egypt has far more to offer than the Pyramids, Sphinx and other monuments. It remains true culture country but in addition to its visual beauty, Egypt has luxury hotels and restaurants, sparkling nightlife, Nile cruises and superb scuba diving in the Red Sea. The last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza, built over 4,000 years ago, still holds many mysteries.
With an area of around 1 million square kilometres, Egypt is the world’s 30th largest country, over 4 times the size of the United Kingdom. Its capital is Cairo, with a population of around 7 million the largest city in the Arab world. The population of modern-day Egypt has grown considerably. In 1800 there were only 2.5 million inhabitants; by 2010 this number had risen to over 80 million. The country has to import vast amounts of food in order to feed its population. The area devoted to agriculture is only around 3% of the total area of the country and is limited to the Nile Valley and Nile Delta plus a few oases. Farming accounts for about 15% of the country’s economy but much of the food produced is exported.
As much of the land is arid with insufficient water for efficient artificial irrigation, this import/export situation is unlikely to change. The construction of the Aswan Dam has also had a lasting effect: the Nile now seldom breaks its banks and the cultivation areas are no longer provided with the fertilizing Nile sludge. This has caused a reduction in areas that can be cultivated, but at least these areas can now be harvested more than once a year. Parts of the Sahara Desert to the west of the Nile are also being turned into arable land.
On 25 January 2011, a huge number of people began staging continuous mass demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, aimed at removing Mubarak from power. Mubarak, who had ruled with an iron fist for 30 years, stepped down on 11 February 2011 and fled Cairo. On 13 February 2011, the Egyptian military, which had taken control in the interim, announced that both the constitution and Egyptian parliament were to be dissolved and a general election held in September. This was subsequently postponed until November 2011, with a presidential election expected to take place in March or April 2012.
When to go: (But see warning below.) Egypt has a hot desert climate, but it is a dry heat. In summer (March to October) temperatures can reach 40˚C, although Cairo and the Mediterranean coast area are likely to be cooler. Most tourists go between December and February, especially on the Nile and the Red Sea coast, although the weather in Cairo may be overcast with chilly evenings.
Warning
At the time of writing (2014) travel to some parts of Egypt is not advised because of the danger of political unrest and even terrorism. These regions include the Sinai Peninsula (except for the immediate Sharm el Sheikh area, where there is increased security); and the Nile between Beni Suef and Sohag, including Minya and Asyut. The Mediterranean coast, Cairo and Luxor are considered less dangerous and the advice is to check before booking, but the threat from terrorism is regarded as high.
What to see
If the threat diminishes enough and you do plan to go to Egypt, these are some of the main sights:
Cairo: the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx. The even older step pyramids at Saqqara.
The Egyptian Museum (also known as The Museum of Cairo) for the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world.
Up the Nile: the temple at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens at Thebes, on the opposite bank to Luxor. The modern Aswan Dam and the fascinating city of Aswan. The Temple of Isis on the island of Philae and the colossi at Abu Simbel.
The Red Sea: Sharm el Sheikh is the best-known and most glamorous resort. Others are the quieter Makadi Bay and the picturesque Taba. Both, along with Hurghada are brilliant for scuba diving, but see *Warning* above.
Other things to do:
Take a Nile Cruise of one week (Cairo to Luxor), five days (Luxor to Aswan), or four days (Aswan to Luxor). For a true, historic Egyptian alternative, take a cruise on the Nile in a felucca sailing vessel.
More free photos
- Jordan pictures
- Tunisia pictures
- Israel pictures
- South Africa pictures
- Free stone textures
- Free sculpture pictures
- Sahara desert pictures
- Free ancient ruins pictures
- Africa pictures
Questions about these Egypt photos
Can I use these Egypt pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
How old are the pyramids of Giza?
About 4,500 years. The Great Pyramid of Khufu was finished around 2560 BC; the Step Pyramid of Saqqara is about a century older.
