Country guide
Egypt
Egypt covers 1,001,450 km2, and about 99% of its people live on roughly 5.5% of it: the narrow Nile Valley and the Delta. That single line of green sets the trip. Cairo and Giza sit at the head of the Delta, Luxor and Aswan lie far upriver, and what joins them is the water itself or the rail line that follows it. The coasts behave like a separate country - Alexandria on the Mediterranean, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea, where people come for coral reefs rather than tombs. Sinai holds Mount Catherine, at 2,642 metres the highest ground in the country.
Cities
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
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Cairo
Photograph · Faris El-Gwely · CC BY 4.0
Cairo 1,322 places
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Practical information
Practical information
- Language spoken
- Arabic
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +20
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 122 police · 123 ambulance · 180 fire
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type C and F · 220 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Not recorded
- No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded
Planning a visit
- No data recorded for this month
- The current month
- January: no seasonality data recorded
- February: no seasonality data recorded
- March: no seasonality data recorded
- April: no seasonality data recorded
- May: no seasonality data recorded
- June: no seasonality data recorded
- July: no seasonality data recorded
- August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
- September: no seasonality data recorded
- October: no seasonality data recorded
- November: no seasonality data recorded
- December: no seasonality data recorded
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
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Common questions
How long should a first trip to Egypt be?
Eight to twelve days can combine Cairo and Giza with one Nile corridor, Red Sea stay or desert extension. Moving between these regions takes substantial time, so a short visit should not attempt all three.
What entry documents are needed for Egypt?
Egypt’s official e-Visa portal states which passports can apply online and which travellers need another consular process. Confirm eligibility, passport conditions and permitted stay on that service before departure.
What is the best way to travel around Egypt?
Cairo is the main air hub, with domestic flights linking Luxor, Aswan and Red Sea airports. The Cairo–Luxor–Aswan rail corridor and organised road transfers serve other common routes, but schedules and boarding points need direct confirmation.
When is a practical time to visit Egypt?
October to April avoids the most intense summer heat on many archaeological routes. Red Sea plans and desert nights have different conditions, so temperatures at the actual destination matter more than Cairo’s calendar alone.
What money and payment basics apply in Egypt?
Egyptian pounds (EGP) are the recorded currency. This file does not record current cash availability, card acceptance or exchange fees; establish the price and currency with the provider before paying.
What practical safety details should I save for Egypt?
Egypt’s numbers are 122 for police, 123 for ambulance and 180 for fire. Type C and F sockets supply 220 V; tap-water safety is Not recorded and must be checked locally.