Egypt is a the land of ancient civilizations, millennia-old monuments, and the snaking River Nile, sitting at the crossroads of northeast Africa and the Middle East. Egyptian history goes back a whopping 5,000 years, but it is so much more than its mummies and museums. Egypt’s unique climate paired with its awe-inspiring landmarks, shimmering beaches, and coral reefs makes it the perfect honeymoon destination, too.
Cue this guide to the very best honeymoon destinations in Egypt. It ranges from the bustling streets of Cairo where you’ll find Ottoman remnants, centuries-old mosques, and ancient Egyptian artifacts, to the star-studded resorts of the Red Sea, complete with golden sands, and deep-sea diving hotspots on the Red Sea coast.
It’s got something for folks looking for proper R&R under the African sun after the stress of the big day, but also stacks of culture-rich hotspots where you can visit ancient tombs and UNESCO-tagged temples from morning until night. Let’s take a closer look…
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Cairo
Let’s start with Egypt’s capital. This buzzing city sprawls along the northern fork of the Nile River. It’s the largest city in Africa and one of the most iconic when it comes to bucket-list landmarks. Cairo is strategically located near Giza, you see, which is the ancient site of the Great Pyramids and Sphinx which date back to 2,000 BC. The town is probably the best place in the whole world to learn about ancient Egyptian civilization.
At the heart of Cairo itself, you’ll find Tahrir Square and the expansive Egyptian Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts from the time of the pharaohs, including the haunting finds from Tutankhamum’s grave. Cairo is also known for its Ottoman-era relics and well-preserved Islamic-medieval core. Characterized by hundreds of mosques, tombs, caravanserais, madrasas, and mansions, it is no surprise that Cairo has earned the nickname, “The City of Thousand Minarets”.
Islamic Cairo holds one of the largest and most concentrated collections of historic Islamic architecture in the world. Still, getting lost strolling Old Cairo’s dusty and narrow streets, navigating street vendors and all the smells and sounds is a romantic adventure in itself. If you want to escape the chaos, head to the leafy Zamalek district on Gezira Island. You’ll find upscale restaurants, malls, and green spaces to lounge out and soak up the heat there. There’s also the Cairo Tower which soars 187 meters high and offers the best panoramic views of the city.
Places to stay in Cairo for honeymooners:
- New Pyramids Eyes Hotel ($) – Breakfast on a Parisian balcony set to breathtaking views of the Pyramids of Giza, could you imagine a more perfect budget hotel to kickstart an Egyptian adventure in style?
- Ramses Hilton ($$) – This five-star, well-loved hotel brand situates you right in the center of Cairo with city views and spacious suites. There’s even an in-house casino if you fancy testing your newly-wed luck.
- Fairmont Nile City ($$$) – True luxury on the Nile, this five-star spectacular offers sweeping views of Cairo and Giza with world-class food and even a rooftop pool.
Sharm El Sheikh
The coastal city, located between the Sinai Peninsula desert and the mystical Red Sea, has earned quite the reputation as a sparkly resort town in recent years and is one of the best honeymoon destinations in Egypt. Sharm El-Sheikh is best known for its palm-fringed, sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and colorful coral reefs, but the allure of the ocean makes it a place for action and relaxation in one.
Ras Muhammad National Park is one of the most popular diving destinations in the world with such a diverse set of marine life and fascinating underwater landmarks. You’ll find the Shark and Yolanda Reefs here, both rated as two of the top ten dive sites in the world, as well as the Thistlegorm wreck, a British cargo steamship built in 1940 and sunk by a German Bomber Aircrafts during WWII.
Whether you’re seasoned divers, or trying your hand at the extreme sport for a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon experience, Thistlegorm sits at a depth of just 30 meters meaning there is no need for any specialist equipment and training to explore the wreck. The site attracts divers from all around the world with the amount of cargo that can be seen with boots and even a motorcycle visible and preserved.
Still, Sharm El-Sheikh is much more than its underwater adventures. Take a camel ride in the desert dunes, laze at a luxury beach club in Naama Bay, splurge on a shopping spree in SOHO Square, and all while basking under the relentless sun, everything exudes romance.
Places to stay in Sharm El-Sheikh for honeymooners:
- Albatros Laguna Vista Resort ($$) – Located in Nabq Bay, this five-star beachfront resort has it all with three expansive pools, palm-lined private sands, and swim-up bars.
- Savoy Sharm El Sheikh ($$) – Arabian elegance with garden view rooms in the buzzing area of Sharks Bay. Perfect for adventurous honeymooners looking to try their hand at scuba diving.
- Pyramisa Beach Resort Sharm El Sheikh ($) – Remove the budgeting stress and indulge to your heart’s content with this all-inclusive option, boasting its own beach and seafront mega pool.
Alexandria
The historical port city on the northern coast of Egypt is dotted with Greco-Roman landmarks, old-world cafes, and sandy beaches. Home to the remnants of a Hellenistic storied library and lighthouse ranked one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, what makes Alexandria even more unique is that it is hugged by the Mediterranean sea.
With the allure of Western Europe but the year-round scorching temperatures of north Africa, Alexandria makes the perfect honeymoon escape for some winter sun.
Today, the contemporary, disc-shaped Bibliotheca Alexandrina takes the place of the Great Library, but visitors can still explore the relics within the grounds which were once part of a larger research institution of the ancient world. The Mouseion, as the complex was originally called, was dedicated to the nine goddesses of the arts, or “The Muses”, by the ancient Egyptians. You can’t get more romantic than ancient history and literature, right?
Perched on the Mediterannean seafront is also the 14th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, once a defensive fortress but now a museum, these fortifications protected the city of Alexandria from the advances of the Ottoman Empire. A honeymoon to Alexandria promises culture and excitement and something different from a European city break. There are also great beaches a few miles outside of the city and most of Cairo chooses to flock to these shores for their summer breaks over Red Sea hotspots.
Places to stay in Alexandria for honeymooners:
- Downtown Seaview Suites ($) – Enjoy home-cooked meals as you settle into married life in privacy with these beachfront self-contained holiday apartments.
- Royal Jewel Al Raml Hotel ($) – Experience the decadent architecture of Alexandria right from the city center and just 1,600 yards from the beach.
- Hilton Alexandria Corniche ($$) – With a dreamy rooftop infinity pool offering unspoiled views of the Mediterranean, this hotel is the perfect setting for solo honeymoon dinners within reaching distance from all of Alexandria’s action.
Luxor
Situated on the east bank of the River Nile in Southern Egypt, Luxor is a modern city on the ancient site of Thebes where you’ll find soaring high rises among prehistoric temples and the greatest open-air museum in the world. Best known as the former pharaoh’s capital of the foregone kingdom of Egypt, today, the city surrounds the two ancient Luxor and Karnak Temples that have stood since 3,000 BC and the reign of Pharaoh Seti I.
You could spend hours wandering the streets with your loved one soaking up all the magic and mystery that is Luxor with its centuries-old houses, cavernous souvenir shops, and bustling markets. The Royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens also lie on the west banks of the Nile in Luxor. Constructed by the workers of the village of Deir el-Medina, Ramesses Meryamen, son of Ramesses III was laid to rest here along with his wife, Queen Tyti, and as many as 20 other members of royalty from the 18th to 20th dynasties.
The East Bank of Luxor is much busier with upscale hotels and international restaurants, whereas you’ll find quaint local restaurants and Egyptian street food on the laidback West Bank. Still, the Temple of Karnak is Luxor’s undeniable highlight and an astonishing architectural feat. The Great Temple of Amun, the Temple of Kohns, and the Festival Temple of Tuthmosis III are all housed in the complex and provide hours of awe-inspiring exploring.
Places to stay in Luxor for honeymooners:
- Nefertiti Hotel Luxor ($) – Bohemian and chic, this boutique hotel offers the best Nile sunset views in Luxor from its quaint rooftop garden.
- Jolie Ville Hotel & Spa Kings Island ($) – Located riverside on the east bank in Luxor, this luxury hotel and spa is great value for money without sacrificing spectacular views.
- Steigenberger Resort Achti ($) – Riverfront infinity pools, sun-soaked day beds, and soaring palms, this resort offers true honeymoon relaxation, Luxor style.
- Djorff Palace ($$) – Private palatial balconies overlooking the palm-dotted grounds, this grand hotel is every bit Arabian nights as you could want.
Hurghada
Stretching some 40 kilometers along the Red Sea coast, Hurghada is a sun-soaked beach resort renowned for its scuba diving schools, restaurants, and nightclubs. If you’re looking for a quintessential honeymoon by the beach with an extra sprinkling of excitement, Hurghada is the place to go and it’s a year-round vacation hotspot.
Flanked with dive shops and schools, the private white sand beaches of Hurghada attract all manner of tourists. Palm tree-lined promenades, glitzy beach clubs, and seafront restaurants are all characteristic of Hurghada’s sheltered bays, and you’ll also find great shopping and green spaces in the modern Sekalla district.
Hurghada has its own old center too called El Dahar, which is home to traditional Egyptian coffee shops and souks if you want a touch of culture and a hint of old Egypt. The perfect place to pick up a souvenir before spending the afternoon soaking up the sun poolside of your beachfront hotel.
Hurghada reaches scorching highs in the summer months, close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, temperatures sit comfortably in the 80s throughout the rest of the year making it the ideal place to escape to around the festive or shoulder seasons.
Places to stay in Hurghada for honeymooners:
- Azzurra Apartments ($) – With sweeping views of the Red Sea, a shared pool, and private kitchens, these budget apartments are the perfect way to kick off married life.
- Sunrise Aqua Joy Resort ($$) – True, four-star, tropical luxury with stylish daybeds, six pools, and a convenient beachfront location.
- Hilton Hurghada Plaza Hotel ($$) – With stunning panoramas of the sparkling turquoise waters and private palm-fringed white sands, this Hilton hotel has earned its five stars.
Is Egypt good for a honeymoon?
Egypt is a vibrant and diverse country with sparkling resort locations and offbeat city breaks where you can discover the magical ancient history and tick wonders off your bucket list. From sunbathing on a sandy beach to trekking the desert by camel and touring the Pyramids of Giza, there is nowhere like it and the desert climate makes it perfect for winter sun.
Is it safe to swim in the sea in Egypt?
Egypt is flanked by the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. While the northern coast is similar to Western Europe, the Red Sea is home to some of the most diverse marine life in the world, which is great for divers but can make swimming a bit daunting. Egypt has been known to suffer some fatal shark attacks in recent years, but that said, there are plenty of flagged swimming beaches where you can enjoy the seas safely, as long as you follow the local guidelines.
When is the best time to visit Sharm El-Sheikh?
Across Egypt, temperatures are known to reach as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, which can make holidays near-unbearable if you plan to spend any time outside. Sharm El-Sheikh is a glitzy resort town, so you’ll have the Red Sea and your hotel pool to cool off in, but still, the best time to visit is spring or autumn when average highs hover in the low 80s and it isn’t excessively humid.