10 Fun Facts About Egypt, Your Next Vacation Destination

Did you know that ancient Egyptians invented toothpaste and played board games 5,000 years ago?

I think all of us have developed a fascination with ancient Egypt at some point in our lives. But Egypt is far from ancient history, as the country saw 14.9 million visitors in 2023.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 interesting Egypt facts.

1. The people of ancient Egypt loved board games

Ancient Egyptians enjoyed board games, though the exact mechanics of many are unknown.

• Senet dating to c. 3500 BC, was depicted in tombs and played with pawns on a 30-square board. Senet was buried with the dead to aid their journey into the afterlife.
• Mehen was a predynastic Egyptian game with a coiled snake-shaped board, symbolically linked to religious practices.
• Hounds and Jackals was a game from around 2000 BC, with a complete set discovered in a 13th Dynasty tomb.

2. The ancient Egyptians built over 100 pyramids

The ancient Egyptians built more than 100 pyramids. These incredible structures were made to help Pharaohs in their journey into the afterlife.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid still standing. It was built as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu during the Fourth Dynasty and measures 455 feet (139 meters). The Great Pyramid is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

About the Great Pyramid of Giza

• Visiting hours: April to September – 7am to 6pm (Summer), October to March – 8am to 4pm (Winter)
• Entrances: The Great Pyramid of Khufu entrance and the Great Sphinx entrance
• Traveler Tip: Get there before 9am to avoid the tour bus crowds

Bonus Pyramid Fact: The ancient Egyptian pyramids are the best known in Africa, but Egypt doesn’t have the highest number of pyramids on the continent. Sudan has between 200 and 250 pyramids, around double that of Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid still standing.

3. Egypt is a transcontinental country with the Sinai Peninsula linking the two continents

Egypt lies primarily in northeastern Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula extending into western Asia. Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, Israel to the northeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the east.

The Sinai Peninsula covers 60,000 square kilometers, connecting the Egyptian mainland to the Levant region. The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, separates the peninsula from mainland Egypt, creating a 193-kilometer artificial waterway between Port Said on the Mediterranean and Suez on the Red Sea.

Egypt’s transcontinental status makes it part of both the African Union and the Arab League, with diplomatic and economic ties spanning both continents.

The Sinai Peninsula acts as a land bridge between Africa and the Middle East. But that’s not the only thing that makes the Sinai Peninsula special…

4. Moses received the Ten Commandments on Sinai

The Ten Commandments are believed to have been given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai’s exact location is debated, but the area holds religious and historical significance to Christians, Muslims and Jews worldwide.

The Ten Commandments are believed to have been given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

5. The ancient Egyptians worshipped over 2,000 gods

The ancient Egyptians worshipped over 2,000 gods with some nationally revered and some appreciated regionally. Some of the most important ancient Egyptian gods were Ra (god of the sun), Horus (god of the sky), Osiris (god of the afterlife), and Bastet (goddess of cats and home).

These gods were a key part of Egyptian life as the ancient Egyptians believed that the gods maintained ma’at—cosmic order and harmony. Ancient symbols called hieroglyphs were used to document the religious beliefs of the period.

Cats were considered sacred animals in ancient Egypt and were sometimes mummified to protect the deceased in the afterlife.

Ancient symbols called hieroglyphs were used to document the religious beliefs of the period.

6. Ancient Egypt was historically divided into Upper and Lower Egypt

Ancient Egypt was divided into two regions: Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north. These confusing names refer to the direction of the Nile River, which flows from south to north, so Upper Egypt was upriver and Lower Egypt was downriver.

There were power struggles between the two sides until King Narmer (also known as Menes) united the Nile Valley in around 3100 BCE, the start of a unified Egypt.

7. Cairo is a modern metropolis full of historic treasures

Egypt’s capital city, Cairo, is both historic and modern. It is one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East, with a population of over 23 million people in 2025.

Historic Cairo is itself a UNESCO World Heritage site with Islamic architecture like the Old Historic Mosque, the Citadel of Saladin and the Al-Azhar University, Egypt’s oldest degree-granting university.

8. Wadi al-Hitan is known as Whale Valley

Wadi al-Hitan is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Egypt’s Western Desert, 93 miles southwest of Cairo. It is famous for fossils of early whales, which show the evolutionary history of marine mammals.

9. Ancient Egyptians had surprising medical skills

Egyptians made significant advancements in medicine in ancient times, using surgical instruments that resemble those that we use today, such as scalpels and forceps. They even had forms of dentistry and used prosthetics.

10. Egypt is an Arab Republic

Egypt’s official name is the Arab Republic of Egypt. The term “Arab” signifies the country’s place within the Arab world, while “Republic” underscores its system of governance in which power rests with the people and their elected representatives, instead of a royal family like Saudi Arabia.

Egypt recognizes Islam as its state religion, with the majority of its population adhering to Sunni Islam. The official language is Arabic, and in daily life, most Egyptians speak Egyptian Arabic, a dialect.

While Islam is dominant, a minority of Egyptians follow other religions, including Christianity (primarily Coptic Orthodox) and Judaism.

Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world and the third-most populous in Africa with over 109 million people.

References:

• Egyptian Museum – Tickets & Opening Hours
• Egyptian Museum of Antiques – Website
• National Geographic – These mighty pyramids were built by one of Africa’s earliest civilizations
• State Information Service – Total volume of tourist arrivals to Egypt surpasses 8M in 2024