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The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins · 2026

The Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins in Egypt

11 of the 100 sites in The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins 2026 are in Egypt. The highest placed is Dendera Temple in Qena, at number 4 in the world. Abu Simbel in Abu Simbel (number 14) and Pyramids of Giza in Giza (number 17) follow.

Dendera Temple
N° 4 · Dendera Temple, Qena

Around Cairo

The pyramids of Giza stand at the edge of the city. Saqqara has the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Dahshur the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid.

Middle and Upper Egypt

Abydos and Dendera are north of Luxor. In Luxor the list has Karnak on the east bank and the Temple of Hatshepsut on the west bank. Esna and Edfu follow upstream, then Philae on an island at Aswan and Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser.

Sites

87. Philae 81. Temple of Edfu 74. Abydos 59. Dahshur 54. Temple of Khnum 38. Temple of Hatshepsut 35. Saqqara 19. Karnak 17. Pyramids of Giza 14. Abu Simbel 4. Dendera Temple
87. Philae 81. Temple of Edfu 74. Abydos 59. Dahshur 54. Temple of Khnum 38. Temple of Hatshepsut 35. Saqqara 19. Karnak 17. Pyramids of Giza 14. Abu Simbel 4. Dendera Temple
  1. Dendera Temple N° 4 Dendera Temple Qena Temple site
  2. Abu Simbel N° 14 Abu Simbel Abu Simbel Temple site
  3. Pyramids of Giza N° 17 Pyramids of Giza Giza Pyramid or tomb
  4. Karnak N° 19 Karnak Luxor Temple site
  5. Saqqara N° 35 Saqqara Saqqara Pyramid or tomb
  6. Temple of Hatshepsut N° 38 Temple of Hatshepsut Luxor Temple site
  7. Temple of Khnum N° 54 Temple of Khnum Esna Temple site
  8. Dahshur N° 59 Dahshur Dahshur Pyramid or tomb
  9. Abydos N° 74 Abydos El Balyana Temple site
  10. Temple of Edfu N° 81 Temple of Edfu Edfu Temple site
  11. Philae N° 87 Philae Aswan Temple site

Best by region

  1. EuropeNuraghe Santu AntineTorralba, ItalyN° 8
  2. AsiaEllora CavesEllora, IndiaN° 6
  3. The Middle EastPetraWadi Musa, JordanN° 2
  4. North AmericaCalakmulCalakmul, MexicoN° 1
  5. Latin AmericaMachu PicchuAguas Calientes, PeruN° 3
  6. AfricaDouggaTéboursouk, TunisiaN° 5

Best by kind

  1. Ancient citiesCalakmulCalakmul, MexicoN° 1
  2. Temple sitesDendera TempleQena, EgyptN° 4
  3. Pyramids & TombsPyramids of GizaGiza, EgyptN° 17
  4. Amphitheatres & TheatresAmphitheatre of El JemEl Jem, TunisiaN° 23
  5. Rock-cut sitesEllora CavesEllora, IndiaN° 6

Best by country

  1. TurkeySagalassosAğlasunN° 16
  2. MexicoCalakmulCalakmulN° 1
  3. EgyptDendera TempleQenaN° 4
  4. IndiaEllora CavesElloraN° 6
  5. ItalyNuraghe Santu AntineTorralbaN° 8