Egypt

Introduction

Desert transport over heating

© Rraven

As ancient as it is mysterious, Egypt's wonders are many. Most obviously, the complex pyramid structures have long been Egypt's hallmark. Indeed, it is testament to their brilliance that today, in a time of such modernity, visitors still flock to Egypt to marvel at the pyramids and the Sphinx.

Egyptian tourism is abundantly blessed: beyond the remains of the ancient Egyptian civilization, visitors can also enjoy remnants of Greek and Roman influence on the land, as well as centuries-old Christian churches and equally impressive Islamic mosques. The Red Sea and its stunning coral formation have long been considered by divers as one of the world's best spots. And even if you're not all too keen on diving, the Egyptian underwater world may soon interest you: there have been hints of development making it possible to view the submerged palace of Cleopatra.

Warning: Several western governments have issued travel warnings to many areas in Egypt. The UK Foreign Office recommends against all travel to the northern Sinai and the Libyan border, and against non-essential travel to the southern Sinai (although Sharm el-Sheikh is okay), and to the Western Desert region.
In some places, travel by land is prohibited for non-Egyptians, and in others the army or the police provide security escorts for vehicles carrying tourists.

Brief History

Home to one of the oldest known world civilisations, the state of Egypt was first founded around the start of the third millenium BC. It remained one of the strongest political powers of its time until its annexation by Rome in 30 BC. During this period many great cities were founded and monuments built. The wealth of ancient historical artifice, beautifully preserved by the desert, remains one of the main draws for the modern traveller.

The Roman annexation was the first of a series of occupations. Amongst them were the Greek, Persians, Arabs, Ottomans, French and British, all of which have left their mark on the country. The new Egyptian Government drafted and implemented a new constitution in 1923 based on a parliamentary representative system. Egypt was finally restored to full independence under the Presidency of Abdel Nasser in 1936. On 18 June 1953, the Egyptian Republic was declared, with General Muhammad Naguib as the first President of the Republic.

Nasser assumed power as President in June 1956. British forces completed their withdrawal from the occupied Suez Canal Zone on 13 June 1956. His nationalization of the Suez Canal on 26 July 1956 prompted the 1956 Suez Crisis.

Three years after the 1967 Six Day War, during which Israel had invaded and occupied Sinai, Nasser died and was succeeded by Anwar Sadat. Sadat switched Egypt's Cold War allegiance from the Soviet Union to the United States, expelling Soviet advisors in 1972. Sadat made a historic visit to Israel in 1977, which led to the 1979 peace treaty in exchange for the complete Israeli withdrawal from Sinai. Sadat's initiative sparked enormous controversy in the Arab world and led to Egypt's expulsion from the Arab League, but it was supported by the vast majority of Egyptians.

Beginning on 25 January 2011, a series of street demonstrations, protests, and civil disobedience acts have taken place in Egypt, with organisers counting on the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize. The demonstrations and riots were reported to have started over police brutality, state of emergency laws, unemployment, desire to raise the minimum wage, lack of housing, food inflation, corruption, lack of freedom of speech, and poor living conditions. The protests' main goal was achieved on February 11, when President Hosni Mubarak resigned after a rule of 30 years, leaving the military in charge of the country. How Egypts political future will evolve remains to be seen.

Geography

The majority of Egypt is based around the fertile Nile floodplain and delta. Several other large settlements, including Siwa, are located in desert oases. Most of the rest of Egypt consists of sparsely populated desert, including a section of the Sahara, and the rocky and arid Sinai Peninsula. Egypt shares international borders with Libya, Sudan and Israel.

The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world and is about the size of the United States. This desert covers ninety percent of Egypt and only has small settlements known as oasis near underground springs. The desert heat and blowing winds make the desert a natural barrier to protect Egypt from invasion. This protection allowed the Egyptians to focus their wealth on their many construction projects instead of building defensive structures.

The natural barrier of the huge Sahara Desert and the waters of the Famous Rivers#Nile River made Egypt an ideal location for people to live. The geography of Egypt made it possible for the ancient people of this region to flourish and develop a civilization which still marvels the entire world.

Regions

• Lower Egypt - containing the northern Nile delta, and the Mediterranean coast; Cairo, Alexandria
• Middle Egypt - the area along the Nile where the historical Upper and Lower kingdoms met; contains Al Minya & Asyut
• Upper Egypt - a string of amazing temple towns located on the southern stretch of the Nile; contains Luxor & Aswan
• Western Desert - location of the Western Oases: five pockets of green, each with their own unique attractions; contains Bahariya Oasis, Siwa Oasis, Dakhla Oasis and Kharga Oasis
• Red Sea Coast - Luxury beach resorts, diving and marine life; contains Hurghada and El Gouna
• Sinai - Rugged and isolated peninsula, with fascinating relics of the past, high mountains and great scuba diving; contains Sharm el-Sheikh, Saint Catherine and Dahab

Cities

• Alexandria - along the northern coast of Egypt
• Aswan - in the south near the border with Sudan
• Asyut
• Cairo - the country's capital.
• Dahab - popular beach town not far from the border with Israel
• Giza
• Hurghada - popular resort city along the Red Sea coastline
• Luxor - cultural city in the center of the country
• Marsa Alam - along the southern part of the Red Sea coastline
• Port Said - the centre of the third largest metropolitan area, has a cosmopolitan heritage, home to the Lighthouse of Port Said
• Sharm el-Sheikh - popular beach holiday destination on the tip of the Sinai peninsula
• Siwa
• Suez - along the famous Suez Channel

Sights and Activities

Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are some of the most recognizable sights in the world including the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx. These mega-structures were built thousands of years ago to protect the remains of long dead kings. The construction of these pyramids cost countless lives and tons of gold. These large structures easily attracted the attention of tomb robbers and were raided thousands of years ago. Today the Pyramids of Giza are one of the most popular sights in the world are next to Cairo. Bear in mind that the Pyramids of Giza are not the only Pyramids built, and there are many more that can be visited.

Shopping in Cairo's Souq

Khan el-Khalili is a major souq, or open air market, in the old city of Cairo. This souk is one of the main tourist attractions in Cairo and sells clothing, cloth, spices, souvenirs and Egpytian jewelry. There are also perfumes at good prices and yummy street food. The souq was orginally opened in 1382 and has been doing a brisk business ever since.

Deserts and Oases

The Siwa Oasis is a major oasis 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the Libyan border and 560 kilometres (348 miles) from Cairo This stunning oasis has been a hot spot of human activity since the 10th millennium BC. Today it is a center for a Berber population of 20,000 people. With their natural diet and clean living, Siwans have the best lifespan of all Egyptians, with many Siwans living upwards of 95 years. There is also no crime in this area; the last one was over ten years ago, both committed by and against outsiders. Be aware that the area is far more conservative than Cairo. It is impossible to obtain alchohol, and visitors, especially women, will want to cover up as much as possible. The towns are built in amazing ways and this hard to get place is worth the trek.
The Bahariya Oasis is more to the center of the country, about 360 kilometres (225 miles) from Cairo and is a depression with some magnificent villages, culture and desert landscapes. It is located int the Western Desert of Egypt, together with the Farafra Oasis and the Dakhla Oasis. Near the Farafra Oasis you'll find the spectacular White Desert. Other oases include the Kharga Oasis (the southernmost of the Western Desert oases) and the Faiyum Oasis, the northernmost and immediately west of the capital.

Abu Simbel

This is an area famous for the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel. The entrance of this grand temple is made up of four enormous statues of Pharaoh Ramses who built this entrance in an effort to command respect from the Nubians. Similar to the temples on Philae and Kalabsha, Abu Simbel was also relocated by UNESCO to its current location in an effort to protect it from the rising waters of the Nile caused by the construction of a large dam. An Abu Simbel tour is certainly worth while.

Luxor

Luxor was once the capital of Upper Egypt, when the city still went by the name of Thebe. Now the city is one of the main tourist attractions of the country. One of the main attractions is the temple complex of Karnak on the eastern side of the Nile. On the other side hidden away in the mountains, you can find the The Valley of the Kings, with it's many tombs, including of course the tomb discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Wadi Al-Hitan

Wadi Al-Hitan is a paleontological site in the Al Fayyum Governorate, some 150 kilometres southwest of Cairo. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005 for its hundreds of fossils of some of the earliest forms of whale, the archaeoceti (a now extinct sub-order of whales). The site reveals evidence for the explanation of one of the greatest mysteries of the evolution of whales: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. No other place in the world yields the number, concentration and quality of such fossils, as is their accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape. This is why it was added by the UNESCO to the list of protected World Heritage sites.

The fossils found at the site may not be the oldest but their great concentration in the area and the degree of their preservation is to the extent that even some stomach contents are intact. The presence of fossils of other early animals such as sharks, crocodiles, sawfish, turtles and rays found at Wadi El-Hitan makes it possible to reconstruct the surrounding environmental and ecological conditions of the time, adding to its justification to be cited as a Heritage site.

Other Sights and Activities

• Mount Sinai and St Katherines Monastery
• Diving in the Red Sea
• Steamboating or Felucca Sailing on the Nile
• Smoking a Sheesha at a Cairo street cafe

Events and Festivals

The Abu Simbel Festival

The Abu Simbel Festival celebrates one of the most incredible sights in the world, the temple of Abu Simbel. The temple was designed so that twice a year the inner sanctum would light up and create an amazing spectacle. It's a breathtaking sight and together with the music, food and dance accompanying the festival, it is a day not to be missed.

Cairo Oriental Dance Festival

The Cairo Oriental Dance Festival celebrates and pays homage to the beautiful Belly Dance. It is celebrated every year in Cairo from July 20-26 and you have the chance to see some of the world's best belly dancers, as well as chat to scholars on this ancient form of dance. With the workshops on offer you will not only have a chance to try the dance for yourself but also learn all about its history and cultural impact in Egypt.

====Moulid an-Nabi===
Taking place in Rabi’ al-awwal, the fifth month of the Islamic calendar, this festival celebrates the birth of the prophet Mohammed. While most religious events are quite private affairs, this one extends to the streets. Parades and processions take place in most Egyptian cities and there are a host of festivities which include music and dance. Travelers lucky enough to be here on this day will be spoiled with sweet treats and delicious fare from a myriad of street stalls.

Cairo Jazz Festival

The Cairo Jazz Festival brings together some of the world’s best musicians every year in March. Festival Attend top quality performances from some of the biggest names in the business. Held in three different locations in Cairo, the Cairo Jazz Club is the one not to be missed.

Sham al-Naseem

Literally translating to “sniffing the breeze,” this festival marks the arrival of spring in March. Most Egyptians spend the day outdoors, either in the countryside or in a public park, where they have picnics with their family. Several traditional Egyptian foods are prepared and the streets are taken over by musicians and dancers who keep the spirit alive.

Leylet en Nuktah

An ancient festival to provide female sacrifices to the gods, thanking them for the bounties brought by the Nile River, Leylet en Nuktah is still practiced today, albeit less harshly. In June every year, Egyptians gather on the banks of the river to have picnics. Some families camp out and party in the streets. Balls of dough represent the number of women family members in the house and the number of cracks they’ve acquired by morning is an indication of the person’s longevity and fortune.

Wafaa Al Nil

Another festival celebrating the Nile River, Wafaa Al Nil or “Fidelity of the Nile” is held annually in September. Many activities take place during this time, including painting competitions for children, concerts and poetry readings. These rituals reflect the Pharaonic legend which detailed how ancient Egyptians revered the river and its bounties.

Alexandria International Film Festival

Held annually in November, the film festival has been happening since 1979 and is one of the most highly anticipated events in Egypt. The goal is to broadcast the works of unknown artists, expand the culture of film and to connect movie makers from every region. There is a competition for various categories in which Mediterranean films are preferred, but international delights are also screened.

Sphinx Festival

This five-day festival takes place in December each year and highlights the best of Egyptian dance. Each year there is a plethora of seminars, choreography sessions, demonstrations and performances. The Sphinx Festival is a feast of tradition and customs enjoyable for all.

Weather

Egypt lies almost entirely within the Sahara desert and has hot and dry conditions year round. Only a small strip along the Mediterranean coastline is a wetter and has more mild temperatures. It is generally still warm during winter, and hot during summer - potentially extremely hot (50 °C in some cities, for example Luxor and Aswan). Don't go out during the day without plenty of water, a hat, shades and sun screen. Nights can be extremely cold in the desert, although only during the colder winter months of December to February. Most of the country averages only between 25 mm and 50 mm of rain a year, while the coastal strip has roughly 150 mm of rain a year, still quite dry to support crops.

Most of the rain here (for example in Alexandria) falls between November and February, during the cooler months. Temperatures are still around 20 °C during the day and slightly above 10 °C at night. In summer, temperatures are roughly 10 °C higher, both during the day and night. With southern winds though temperatures can reach 44 °C in summer as well. These high temperatures (also in Cairo) mainly occur during spring and early summer when hot, dry and dusty winds (Khamsin) blows from the Sahara.

More to the south, Egypt becomes very very dry and sunny as well. Aswan for example has virtually no rain whatsoever, making it one of the driest places on earth. Temperatures between November and February are pleasantly warm, between 23 °C and 28 °C, while average daytime temperatures in summer are above 40 °C, but records of 51 °C have been measured here!.

Getting There

By Plane

Dozens of airlines fly to and from Egypt from several destinations worldwide. Easyjet has started lowcost flights between Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada and London. Many budget operators and charter airlines fly from Europe and the Middle East to Egypt, mostly to Cairo but others to regional destinations including Hurghada International Airport, Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport and Luxor. The last caters mainly to charter flights from Europe and several other destinations. Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) offers a wide range of flights as well.

Egypt Air is the national airline of Egypt and is based at Cairo International Airport (CAI), 15 kilometres northeast of the centre of Cairo. It has international scheduled flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Accra, Addis Ababa, Aleppo, Alexandria, Algiers, Amman, Amsterdam, Asmara, Athens, Bahrain, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Beirut, Benghazi, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Casablanca, Damascus, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Entebbe, Frankfurt, Geneva, Guangzhou, Hurghada, Istanbul, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Kano, Khartoum, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lagos, Larnaca, Lisbon, London, Luxor, Kuwait, Madrid, Medina, Milan, Montréal, Moscow, Mumbai, Munich, Muscat, Nairobi, New York, Osaka, Paphos, Paris, Riyadh, Rome, Sana'a, Sharjah, Tokyo, Tripoli, Tunis and Vienna.

By Train

There are no international trains, though you can get from Egypt to Aswan and take the ferry to Wadi Halfa in Sudan from there where there is onward transport including a train.

By Car

You are able to take cars across the borders from Israel and Sudan if you are planning on travelling overland through Africa. Though note that you are not able to cross from Egypt to Israel with a private vehicle, only from Israel into Egypt. Egypt - Sudan is ok in both directions. You won't need a visa for Israel, but you do need one before you enter Egypt, otherwise you can only visit the Sinai Peninsula. You also need a Sudanese visa before arrival.
You need the right papers, insurance and expect some hassling and maybe a bribe when going to Sudan. Note that it's not possible to cross into Libya with your own vehicle. You need to pre-arrange transport and tours in Libya before arriving and a visa as well.

By Bus

Buses travel between Cairo, Alexandria and several cities in Israel (Eilat, onwards to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem) and Jordan (Aqaba, Amman). The buses to Jordan use the ferry between Nuweiba and Aqaba and buses leave from both Alexandria and Cairo for several Jordanese places.
The border crossing via Rafah using the Gaza strip as a short cut between Cairo and Tel Aviv is not available at the moment as borders are kept closed firmly during the last couple of years. You can also cross between Egypt and Libya (to Tobruk and Benghazi for example) by bus or shared taxi but you have to arrange visa before you do (in both directions!) and when entering Libya you are met with your tourguide, as independent travel is not allowed. There is no public transport between Egypt and Sudan, other than the ferry between Aswan and Wadi Halfa.

By Boat

Jordan
There are ferries between Aqaba, Jordan and Nuweiba on the Sinai peninsula. There is a daily fast ferry (US$90 for First class and US$70 for economy seat) leaving at 11:00am from Jordan and 3:00pm from Egypt. It takes 1 to 2 hours depending on sea conditions. The slow ferry leaves daily as well but costs almost the same and is much less comfortable and much slower indeed! These ferries are operated by AB Maritime, do check their website for more details. Citizens of most European countries, North America, Australia and New Zealand can get a visa for free when entering Aqaba.

Cyprus
In the summer season (May-October) there is a twice weekly ferry between Port Said (Egypt) and Limassol (Cyprus).

Saudi Arabia
There is a irregular services between Suez and Jeddah (taking 36 hours!) but generally this is not of much use for travellers at all, because of the strict visa regulations in Saudi Arabia. There is also a fast ferry between Hurghada and Dubba, taking around 3 hours.

Sudan
Apart from onward ferries from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), you can take a weekly ferry from Aswan to Wadi Halfa in Sudan. You will need a valid Sudanese visa or otherwise you won't be able to board the ferry. Check departures localy as these may vary. It takes about 20 hours on average.

Getting Around

By Plane

Egypt Air operates flights between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut and Hurghada and most cities are served at least daily.

By Train

Egypt's mainline railway follows the Nile: from Aswan north through Luxor to Cairo and Alexandria. Branch lines fan out across the Nile delta, as far east as Suez and Port Said, and west along the coast through El Alamein as far as Mersa Matruh. Train is an excellent way to travel between Cairo and Alexandria, and between Luxor and Aswan, with frequent daytime services taking 2–3 hrs. Trains also run between Cairo and Luxor and Aswan, both daytime and overnight. There are no trains to the Red Sea resorts or to Siwa oasis.

Almost all trains are run by the state-owned company Egyptian National Railways (ENR) (the exception is the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper run by Watania, described below). Express trains have air-conditioned classes called AC1 and AC2 (1st and 2nd class). They are clean and comfortable. For ordinary trains the classes AC1 and AC2 are likewise available, with A/C sometimes in AC1, but never in AC2. Fares are very cheap by Western standards, even the priciest Cairo-Alexandria single ticket is only about US$6; it is half that for slower trains, and half again for AC2, respectively. Punctuality could be described as "not bad for Egypt": trains generally start out from their first station on time but pick up delays along the way. Delays of up to an hour are not uncommon, especially between Cairo and Luxor. So, if your train is coming from somewhere else, do not expect it to be on time.

In addition, local 3rd class trains are a great way to explore attractions in the surrounding area. They can also be used for longer distances if you want to connect with the locals and are on a tight budget. 3rd class sounds worse than it actually is—the chairs are wooden but the interior is sometimes painted well. They are dirt cheap, LE1.50-4 for 50 km, but make sure you have small notes or coins available—even a 5 pound note can be a problem. The local train schedule is not available online, so you need to make enquiries at the station. Be insistent, they might just tell you the regular train schedule that you already know from the ENR website, expecting that you would not want to use anything beyond AC2 or even beyond AC1. Also, information can sometimes be very hard to confirm; which time, which platform, which stops. It is best to ask several people/officers and find out what they say. Or have a look at the station departure board a day or so before your intended travel, chances are trains run same time every day. Some local trains can get quite full, but mostly only the ones that travel far.

Travel by foreigners can be subject to security restrictions, but (in early 2018) there were no genuine restrictions. If you get told that a train is not running, it might simple be due to the expectation , e.g. by station personal, or that it cannot be booked online, e.g. by a travel clerk.

The best way to buy tickets for express trains is online, in advance, from ENR. This incurs no add-on charges, guarantees your seat and will save much hassle at stations or booking offices. The site content is in English and Arabic. First register with the site, then purchase is clunky but straightforward. Tickets go on sale 2 weeks ahead of departure - they are usually still available on the day of departure, but trains can book out at busy times. The site will only book expresses, ie 1st and 2nd class, and only for the main cities. You will need to file passport details for all the travellers in your group. The ENR site accepts payment from most major credit / debit cards. If you cannot print your ticket immediately, be sure to record the confirmation number so you can retrieve it later - ENR does not send you email confirmation. (Landscape printing is best, as portrait may crop the confirmation number.) The main details of the confirmation are in English, amid a welter of Arabic small print. Other websites, and travel agents offices, will simply sell you what is available on ENR or Watania and will charge extra for doing so.

Otherwise, you can queue at the station—make sure you are aiming for the correct window, and sort your money first to avoid exposing wallet and passport. Or you can board without a ticket and pay the conductor on the train. There is a surcharge of LE6 for this, and platform security do not seem to mind if you do not have a ticket, even for expresses that are supposedly reservation-only. The self-service ticket machines at the main stations are mostly broken and of no use.

It also is advisable to purchase tickets in advance, since at peak travel times, trains may be fully booked, especially the inexpensive ones. Except during busy holiday periods, it's not normally difficult to purchase tickets on the day of travel or the day before. To avoid complications, book as far ahead as possible.

The sleeper service Cairo-Luxor-Aswan is run by a private company, Watania . Buy tickets online from them, as ENR do not show those services on their timetable and do not sell tickets.

By Car

You can rent cars with major international as well as local companies and you have to be at least 25 years of age and have International driving permit and insurance. If bringing your own car, you need a carnet de passage. The main roads along the coast, Nile river and delta and the desert loop Asyut to Giza are all paved.

By Bus

There is a national bus system serving most major cities and towns along the coast and Nile. The main routes include Cairo to Sinai destination like St Catherine, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, and Taba. Another route is Suez to Sharm el-Sheikh and Sharm el-Sheikh to Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab and St Catherine. Coach services operate between Cairo and a bunch of places towards Hurghada. There are also service taxis (usually Peugeot 504 and 505 station) which leave when they are so full that breathing becomes challenge.

By Boat

There are both slow and fast ferry services between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, taking 1.5 to 6 hours.
Most other services are of the more touristic ones, including traditional Nile sailing boats (feluccas), which can be hired by the hour and there are alot longer Nile cruises operating between Luxor and Aswan, and sometimes all the way from Cairo.

If you would like to sail the Nile in style then you can hop onboard a Dahabiya. Instead of hearing the motor of a cruise ship, you will be able to enjoy the unspoilt tranquility of the Nile and let the wind guide you to your destination. Each Dahabiya varies, and some tour companies offer trips where you will only be sharing this immense boat with a few other people, as opposed to the many crammed cruise ships you'll see out there.

Red Tape

As a major tourist destination whose economy is dependent upon tourist money, Egypt is relatively easy to enter and/or obtain visas for if necessary. There are three types of Egyptian visa:

• Tourist Visa - usually valid for 3 months or less and granted on either a single or multiple entry basis
• Entry Visa - required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e.g. work, study. The possession of a valid Entry Visa is needed to complete the residence procedure in Egypt.
• Transit Visa - rarely needed and only for certain nationalities

Entry visas may be obtained from Egyptian diplomatic and consular missions abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). Non-Egyptians are required to have a valid passport.

Visa on arrival is available for many western countries; see below. Citizens, however, of the following countries are required to have a visa before arriving, which must be applied for through an Egyptian consulate or embassy outside of Egypt:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, R Congo, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, DPR Korea, R Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey (except those aged below 20 and above 45), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Visitors entering Egypt at the overland border crossing at Taba or at Sharm el Sheikh airport can be exempted from a visa and granted a free fourteen day entry visa to visit the Aqaba coast of the Sinai peninsula, including Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and St. Catherine's Monastery. Visitors wishing to leave the Sinai peninsula and to visit Cairo and other Egyptian cities are required to hold full Egyptian visas, although strictly speaking there is a small possibility no one will check for this unless you attempt to exit the country. These are not issued at the Taba border crossing and must be acquired in advance either in the country of residence, at the Egyptian consulate in Eilat or airport upon arrival. Visitors on organized tours often may be able to have their visas issued at the border, but should verify in advance with their travel agent or tour operator if this option is available. Those in possession of a residence permit are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave the country and return to it within the validity of their residence permit or within six months, whichever period is less.

Tourists visiting Sharm el Sheikh who are planning to undertake scuba diving outside local areas (i.e. Ras Mohammed) must obtain the tourist visa in order to leave the Sharm el Sheikh area. Officials on boats may check dive boats whilst on the waters so you are advised to obtain the visa beforehand: there may be fines involved for you and the boat captain if you are caught without the appropriate visa. Most reputable dive centres will ask to see your visa before allowing you on trips.

Egypt has peaceful relations with Israel, but the degree of friendliness varies, and with it, the direct connections between the two countries. A direct air service between Cairo and Tel Aviv is operated by EgyptAir under the guise of "Air Sinai". Bus service seems to continue, as described below. In any case, verify the situation as you plan, and again at the last minute.

Visa on Arrival

Citizens of Bahrain, Guinea, South Korea, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen receive a 3-month visa on arrival. Citizens of Kuwait can obtain 6-month Residence Permit upon arrival. China and Malaysian citizens receive a 15-day visa on arrival. Citizens of China (only Hong Kong and Macau SAR) may have a 30-day visit without visa.

Citizens of UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ukraine and USA may also obtain a visa on arrival at major points of entry.

The visa on arrival is US$25 for everyone. You will not necessarily need US dollars, most major currencies, down to small notes ($1, €5, £5), are accepted and exchanged by the visa fee collecting officer at a more than fair rate. The officer will also put the visa fee sticker into you passport, with which you will have to pass through passport control. The sticker is quite loose: if you feel like it is at the wrong location or taking too much space, you can move it to a more convenient location, or hide a stamp with it that you might want to conceal for certain reasons.

Money

See also Money Matters

Egyptian Pound (EGP; symbol E£) = 100 piastres.
Notes come in denominations of E£200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, 50 piastres and 25 piastres.
Coins come in denominations of 25, 20, 10 and 5 piastres. There is also a new LE 1 coin.

Work

There are jobs for foreigners in Egypt, but they are few and far between outside of the capital. Jobs can be paid in both local currency and foreign currency. The most lucrative jobs are those that pay in US dollars, and once converted to the local currency, enables you to live comfortably in Egypt.

The job market works predominantly on word of mouth rather than through job listings, though sometimes you will see adverts in local newspapers. A lot of foreigners will have organized their work placement in their native country before travelling to Egypt. You don't necessarily have to speak Arabic to work in Egypt, though it is always recommended to take some classes when you arrive as it will help you to make contacts and fit in more easily with the local culture.

Study

The American University in Cairo (AUC) is the best school in the country and offers degree, non-degree and summer school study options. Popular courses include Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Art and Architecture, Arab History and Culture, and, of course, Egyptology.
There are a number of options for learning Arabic in Cairo, including the Arabic Language Institute, Kalimat and International Language Institute

Language

The native spoken language in most of the country and the national lingua franca is Egyptian Arabic.

The official language of Egypt is Standard Arabic. Although largely unspoken, it is taught in schools and thus understood by nearly everyone, with the exception of a small minority, mainly uneducated individuals, bedouins, and desert dwellers. Standard Arabic is the Arabic used in most written and official forms such as television, newspapers, government speeches, teaching and educational institutions. It is the only common form that is understood by all the different countries of the Arab world (except Western Sahara, Mauritania and Chad).

Egyptian Arabic is one of the numerous (mostly mutually unintelligible) regional dialects of Arabic. Each country in the Arab world has its own dialect(s), Egyptian Arabic has the highest number of native speakers and is in fact also understood to varying degrees by many Arabic speakers especially in the neighbouring countries, due to the popularity of Egyptian cinema and media in the Middle East.

Most educated locals learn English at school. Travellers are unlikely to encounter difficulties finding someone who speaks English, especially in the cities and tourist centres. Although people who go to these schools might be able to speak the language with varying degrees, depending on their education and socio-economic class (the higher having more language skills).

Among the educated class, older people over 40 will generally be more fluent in French, as French was the dominant language of education in the past before English became dominant.

Eat

Egypt can be a fantastic place to sample a unique range of food: not too spicy and well-flavoured with herbs. For a convenient selection of Egyptian cuisine and staple foods try the Felfela chain of restaurants in Cairo. Some visitors complain, however, that these have become almost too tourist-friendly and have abandoned some elements of authenticity. A more affordable and wider-spread alternative is the Arabiata restaurant chain, Arabiata is considered by locals to be the number one destination for Egyptian delicacies as falafel and fūl too.

Beware of any restaurant listed in popular guidebooks and websites. Even if the restaurant was once great, after publication, they will likely create a "special" English menu that includes very high prices. As in many seaside countries, Egypt is full of fish restaurants and markets so fish and seafood are must-try. Frequently, fish markets have some food stalls nearby where you can point at specific fish species to be cooked. Stalls typically have shared tables, and locals are as frequent there as tourists. Many local foods are vegetarian or vegan compliant, a function of the high cost of meat in Egypt and the influence of Coptic Christianity (whose frequent fast days demand vegan food).

Classic Egyptian dishes: The dish fūl medammes is one of the most common Egyptian dishes; consists of fava beans (fūl) slow-cooked in a copper pot (other types of metal pots don't produce the right type of flavor) that have been partially or entirely mashed. fūl medammes is served with cumin, vegetable oil, optionally with chopped parsley, onion, garlic, lemon juice and hot pepper, and typically eaten with Egyptian (baladi) bread or occasionally Levantine (shāmi) pita.

One should try the classic falāfel which is deep-fried ground fava bean balls (but better known worldwide for the ground chickpea version typically found in other cuisines of the Middle Eastern region) that was believed to be invented by Egyptian Bedouins. Usually served as fast food, or a snack. Koshari is a famous dish, which is usually a mixture of macaroni, lentils, rice and chickpeas, topped with tomato sauce and fried onions. Very popular amongst the locals and a must try for tourists. The gratinated variation is called Tâgen. Additionally, hummus, a chickpea based food, also widespread in the Middle East. Kofta (meat balls) and kebab are also popular.

Egyptian cuisine is quite similar to the cuisine of the Middle Eastern countries. Dishes like stuffed vegetables and vine leaves and shawarma sandwiches are common in Egypt and the region.

Egypt is one of the most affordable countries for a European to try variety of fresh-grown exotic fruits. Guava, mango, watermelon and banana are all widely available from fruit stalls, especially in locals-oriented non-tourist marketplaces.

Sleep

Egypt has a full range of accommodation options, from basic backpacker hostels to five-star resorts. Most major hotel chains are represented in Greater Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh and Luxor, at least. You can reserve most of your accommodation online or contact a local agent who can organise both accommodation and trips.

Walk-in rates give you great discounts over online reservations, e.g. half-price in Aswan. Generally, online reservations are more expensive due to it being used by so many tourists. However, in Egypt most hotels do not have their own website and do not have to commit to the agreement with online reservations sites to offer the same price online as offline. Nevertheless, have a screenshot of the actual online price ready, just in case you encounter a hotel that is willing to overcharge you. In high season, it is best to reserve the first night and haggle for the following night(s). Otherwise, if there is no general shortage of rooms and less than 60 % are booked (usually displayed at the top of online reservation sites), then check out an area with many hotels and go there asking around. Hotels will also happily accept you cancelling your existing online reservation in person for a discount. When reserving online, often you have the flat price, with tax and fees added. Generally, you will get at least these taxes and fees as discount (10-15%) when cancelling the reservation in person and/or when bargaining.

Some online hotel sites state that payment is required in Egyptian pounds by law. However, most hotels will accept Egyptian pounds at a mostly fair conversion from the online stated rate.

Drink

Alcohol is available in most tourist areas of Egypt, such as Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and of course along the popular coastal areas. It is however difficult, often impossible, to find in the Western Desert areas and in central Egypt. Over-indulgence in public is viewed as disrespectful and generally unacceptible, therefore alcohol is best enjoyed in hotels bars and restaurants. During the month of Ramadan, where most of the country will be fasting during the day, alcohol will be less freely available and you would need to be even more discrete about consuming it in public. Local Sakkara and Stella beers are the most popular beers and there are some decent Egyptians wines from Alexandria. Do bear in mind that hangovers in hot, dry climates like Egypt can be unbearable!

Karkaday is deep red coloured non-alcoholic drink, made from an infusion of hibiscus flowers and is available in tea shops all over Egypt. It apparentlye keeps you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot! If it is a little sour for your taste, it can be served with sugar.

Juices can be widely found in Egypt - àSàb (sugar cane; قصب); liquorice (`erk sūs  عرق سوس); sobya (white juice; سوبيا); tàmr (sweet dates; تمر) and some fresh fruit juices (almost found at same shop which offer all these kind of juices except liquorice may be which you can find another places).
Hibiscus, known locally as karkadē (كركديه) or `ennāb (عناب), is also famous juice specially at Luxor which is drunk hot or cold but in Egypt it is preferred to drink it cold. Hibiscus and liquorice should not be consumed excessively as they may not be safe for those suffering low blood pressure or high blood pressure. Hibiscus may lower blood pressure, while liquorice may raise blood pressure.

Bottled water is widely available. The local brands (most common being Baraka, Hayat, Siwa ) are of the same price as foreign brand options which are also available: Nestle Pure Life, Dasani (bottled by Coca-Cola), and Aquafina (bottled by Pepsi). Evian is less available and is expensive. While safe to drink some may find the local brand, Baraka, has a very slight baking soda aftertaste, due to the high mineral content of its deep well water source.

No matter where you buy bottled water from (even hotels are not entirely reliable), before accepting it, check that there is a clear plastic seal on it and the neck ring is still attached to the cap by the breakable threads of plastic. It is common to collect empty but new bottles and refill them with tap water which drinking a bottle of might make you ill. Not all brands have the clear plastic cover but all the good ones do.

Health

See also Travel Health

Proof that you had a yellow fever vaccination is only required upon entering Egypte when you have been to an infected country within 7 days of entering the country, except when travelling from Argentina or Paraguay.

It's a good thing to get your vaccinations in order before travelling to Egypte. The general vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) is recommended. Also both hepatitis A as well as typhoid would be recommended.

If you are staying longer than 3 months or have a particular risk (travelling by bike, handling of animals, visits to caves) you might consider a rabies vaccination. Vaccination against Tuberculosis as well as hepatitis B are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months.

Other possible health issues include diarrhea and other general travellers' diseases like motion sickness. Watch what you eat and drink and in case you get it, drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration) and bring ORS.

If you go out during the day, be sure to take plenty of water with you to ensure you are well hydrated. If you are worried about tummy bugs, you may need to wash your hands more often than usual with good old fashioned soap and water when you can, especially when handling the and before eating.

Egypt can get incredibly hot, especially during the summer months. Make sure you wear plenty of high factor sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Heat exhaustion is very serious and will ruin your holiday. Be aware that you do not necessarily have to feel thirsty to become chronically dehydrated. So make sure to keep drinking water even before you feel thirsty.

Although Egypt's tap water is officially safe to drink, it tastes pretty awful, due to the chlorine content, and you are more susceptible to getting ill as your body is used to less chlorinated water. It is best to stick to bottled water, which is sold cheaply throughout the country.

With food, beware of undercooked meats, go for fruit that has been peeled, and stay away from ice cream sold on the street. Stick to the busy restaurants rather than the empty ones, for obvious reasons! Some people decide to stay away from eating salads, on the basis that they have probably been washed in tap water.

An important tip for ensuring good health in Egypt is to constantly wash your hands, especially if you've been handling cash. Dirty notes and coins which are exchanged from person to person carry a lot of bacteria and may cause you to catch a bug if you don't wash your hands enough. You can buy some portable hand wash gel to remind youself to use it frequently and have it with you for the whole trip.

Safety

See also Travel Safety

Overall, Egypt is a safe and friendly country to travel in. Unless you are visiting Sinai, have something against the local government or are overly disrespectful against Islam, you can freely move around in Egypt and its cities without many concerns. Travelling in Egypt is very much similar to Morocco, Jordan, Palestine or Turkey.

Egyptians on the whole are very friendly—if you are in need of assistance, they will generally try to help you as much as they are able. However, be aware of potential scams especially in overly touristy areas.

Egyptian men will make compliments to women; do not take offence if they do this to you. Men should not be worried, either; if they do this to your partner or daughter it hopefully won't go any further than that.

Be warned that foreign women often attract the attention of Egyptian men. Being overly friendly to or making direct eye contact with an Egyptian man may cause him to think that you're "into" him.

Some men may inappropriately touch you. If this ever happens, don't be afraid to create a scene and don't feel the need to be polite; no woman should put up with rotten behaviour like that. Bystanders may come to your aid if prompted. One way to deter harassers: loudly say "haraam aleik" (lit. shame on you) or the simpler phrase "imshi" (lit. go away or get lost)

Sexual harassment is a criminal offence in Egypt. Those convicted can face imprisonment, hefty fines, or both.

Egypt is a politically troubled country. Protests against the government can occur at any time and they can sometimes turn violent. It is believed that Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government is much more stricter than that of his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.

Publicising negative opinions about the government can cause trouble with the authorities. In some cases, people have been arrested for voicing strong opinions against the government on social media.

In other words, keep your political opinions to yourself.

Terrorism is a safety concern, and the country's terrorist groups have an unpleasant record of specifically targeting Western tourists and the places they frequent. However, lately the focus seems more on the minority of Coptic Christians than on tourists. The Egyptian security forces remain on a very high level of alert.

Realistically, the odds of being affected by terrorism are statistically low and most attacks have only succeeded in killing Egyptians, further increasing the revulsion the vast majority of Egyptians feel for the extremists. The government takes the issue very seriously only when it harms them financially and tourist sites are heavily guarded, though with the level and proficiency of Egyptian police leaving a lot to be desired. For example, if you take a taxi from Cairo to Alexandria, you will be stopped at a checkpoint before leaving Cairo. They will on occasion ask where you are going, and on occasion communicate with the checkpoint at Alexandria to make sure you reach your destination within a certain time period. The same goes for most trips into the desert, particularly in Upper Egypt, which is probably best avoided due to rising religious tensions that seep below the surface and whilst appearing safe has the capacity to erupt without a moment's notice. During different branches of your drive, you may be escorted by local police, who will expect some sort of financial payment if you are travelling in a taxi or private car. Generally, they will travel to your destination with you, wait around until you are finished, and usually stay behind at one of the next checkpoints often as they have nothing else to do and because tourists are seen as $ signs. The best example of this is when you travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel to visit the Temple of Ramses II. An armed tourism police officer will board your tourist bus and escort you until you arrive at Abu Simbel, and after your tour, he will ride on the same bus with you back to Aswan, again because it's part of his job and without the tourists there would be no jobs and there would be no reason to ensure security for their own people as they don't represent a financial figure to them.

There are also many tourism police officers armed with AK47s riding on camels patrolling the Giza plateau. They are there to ensure the safety of the tourists since the Pyramids are the crown jewels of all the Egyptian antiquities. They are very poorly maintained with no forthcoming investments from within Egypt, only outside investment given by countries and historical groups that cannot bear to see the ruin the local government is letting these sites of wonder become. Some tourists may find it exciting or even amusing to take pictures with these police officers on camel back; however, since they are all on patrol duty, it is not uncommon for them to verbally warn you not to pose next to them in order to take a picture with them, although anything is possible for financial payment.

Egypt treats drug offences extremely severely. The death penalty is possible for those who are convicted for drug trafficking.
Unauthorised consumption can result in up to 10 years in prison, a heavy fine or both. You can be charged for unauthorised consumption as long as traces of illicit drugs are found in your system, even if you can prove that they were consumed outside the country. You can also be charged for trafficking if drugs are found in bags that are in your possession or in your room, even if they aren't yours and regardless of whether you're aware of them - therefore be vigilant of your possessions.

Cannabis and other narcotics are banned and carry heavy penalties. However, hashish in particular is common, even among Egyptians; it is seen to some extent as a part of Egyptian culture and is generally considered much less objectionable than alcohol. Many Egyptian clerics regard it makruh (permitted but disapproved of) rather than haraam (forbidden). Many Egyptians who recoil at the idea of drinking alcohol think nothing of using hashish; it is commonly used on festive occasions in rural areas in some parts of the country and in many Sufi rituals nationwide. The police may use possession of hashish as a pretext for arresting and beating up people, but their targets are typically locals, not tourists. So long as you do not antagonise the security forces or otherwise attract their attention, foreigners are unlikely to be punished for private consumption of cannabis within Egypt. But bringing the stuff in or out of the country, or flying domestically with it, is likely to end badly.

Egypt, like the Gulf States, has clamped down on legal painkillers, even when they're accompanied by a prescription and are for the traveller's own use. Check their embassy website for the current list of what's not allowed. It's unclear how rigorously this will be enforced. But probably, as in other matters, unobtrusive personal use will be OK; get slurry on vodka and Tramadol and you could be in trouble.

Scams and hassle are the main concern in Egypt, especially in Luxor. Visitors often complain about being hassled and attempts at scamming. While irritating, most of this is pretty harmless stuff, like attempting to lure you into a local papyrus or perfume shop.

Be aware that many Egyptians who start a conversation with you want your money. Typically, you will be approached by a person speaking fluent English, German or Russian who will strike up a conversation under social pretences. He (and it will always be a he) will then attempt to get you to come along for a cup of tea or similar at his favourite (most-paying) souvenir shop. This could also happen outside museums, etc., where the scammer will try to make you believe the "museum is closed" or similar. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Demand prices for everything, because if you say "I thought it was free" after the fact you are in for a vicious argument.

Hassling, while never dangerous, could also be annoying, especially in the main tourist areas. There is no way to avoid this, but a polite la shukran (no thanks) helps a lot. Apart from that, try to take hassling with a smile. If you let yourself be bugged by everyone trying to sell you something, your holiday won't be a very happy one.

Potentially more annoying are taxi drivers or others getting a commission fee to lead you to their hotel of choice, of course paying commission fees for each guest they receive. Firmly stand your ground on this. If they insist, just ask to be dropped off at a street or landmark close to the place you are heading to. This scam is especially common among taxi drivers from the airport.

The gay scene in Egypt is not open and free like in the West. Gay and lesbian visitors should be self-aware and refrain from overt and public displays. While a few gay bars had been able to operate semi-openly in major cities in pre-revolutionary times, the situation has deteriorated and members of gay baths or gay wedding parties were being targeted for prosecution for "debauchery" in 2014. Egypt is an Islamic and conservative country. Any display of homosexuality is considered strange, weird, disrespectful and may lead on most occasions to hostile reactions. Depending on the situation and the place and time, it could be anything from weird looks to physical abuse. Therefore, gays and lesbians should be discreet while in Egypt. Gays have been arrested by the police and detained and even tortured in Cairo in the past for engaging in homosexual activity. Human rights groups have condemned such actions and the Egyptian government has been under pressure from different sources to stop this treatment of homosexuals.

Pick pocketing was a problem in the past in Egypt's bigger cities, particularly Greater Cairo. Many locals therefore opted not to carry wallets at all, instead keeping their money in a clip in their pocket, and tourists would be wise to adopt this as well. On the upside, violent crime is rare, especially for tourists, and you are highly unlikely to be mugged or robbed. If, however, you do find yourself the victim of crime, you may get the support of local pedestrians by shouting "Harami" (Thief) but do not pursue because it's the easiest way to get lost and most criminals carry pocket knives; if the crime happens in a tourist area you'll find a specially designated Tourism Police kiosk.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet access is easy to find and cheap. Most cities, such as Greater Cairo and Luxor, and even smaller tourist sites, such as Edfu, boast a plethora of small internet cafés. The price per hour is usually EGP 2-10 depending on the location/speed. In addition, an increasing number of coffee shops, restaurants, hotel lobbies and other locations now provide free wireless internet access. Free wi-fi (Mobilnil) is also available at modern coffee shops such as Cilantro and Costa Coffee, where you obtain access by getting a 2-hour "promotional" card from the waiter, and if you go into almost any McDonald's, you will have access to a free WiFi connection.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

The international telephone code for Egypt is 20.

Egypt has a reasonably modern telephone service including three GSM mobile service providers. The three mobile phone providers are Mobinil, Vodafone and Etisalat. Principal centers are located at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta. Roaming services are provided, although you should check with your service provider. Be aware that using your home SIM card can be very expensive, especially when using internet services but also calling is much more expensive. Try to get a local SIM card for your cell phone instead. Also, it is possible to purchase tourist mobile phone lines for the duration of your stay, which usually costs around EGP 30.

Post

Egypt Post is the national postal service in Egypt. Services are generally reliable, affordable though pretty slow, even if you send post domestically. International letters and postcards take days, if not weeks if send to the US or Australia. They do have express mail services though, but these are relatively expensive. Opening hours of post officies are mostly from 8:30am to 2:00pm or 3:00pm daily except Friday, when all of them are closed. The central ones might keep longer hours, generally until 8:00pm. You can buy stamps here, or at certain newspaper kiosks. In touristic areas, these are available at many shops as well. For parcels, it's much better to use international courier services such as DHL, TNT, FedEx or UPS.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Egyptian Tourism Website
• Egypt Information Portal