Things to do in  Edfu

Vast and beautifully preserved, complete with its original roof, the Temple of Horus (Edfu Temple still dominates the little Nile-side town of Edfu. Completed by Cleopatra’s father in the first century BC, it’s dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus and is one of Egypt’s largest ancient temples.

Hacked into both banks of the Nile, where it narrows to a sandstone gorge, Gebel el-Silsila was an important ancient Egyptian quarry site—as well as a place of worship, where priests performed sacrifices to ensure fertile land and a good harvest. The west bank houses 32 rock-cut chapels, plus porches, stelae, and a temple. Nile views through the windows and gateways are mesmerizing.

Originally known as Nekheb, El-Kab was one of ancient Egypt’s oldest and most important cities. Most of the city is an active archaeological dig and not open to visitors, but you can walk around its impressive mud-brick walls. You can also see the El-Kab tombs, three Nubian desert temples, and a vulture-shaped rock sacred to Nekhen’s presiding deity, vulture goddess Nekhbet.