Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Egypt

A photograph of Egypt
Photograph · kallerna · CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

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

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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Category

Historic monuments 1 Museums 0 Places of worship 3 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 4 1 to 2 hours 1

Interests

History 4 Art 3 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan
    01 30 min

    Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan

    مسجد السلطان حسن

    The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan is a monumental Islamic religious and educational complex in Cairo, Egypt.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Cairo
  2. Mosque of Amr ibn al-As Mosque of Amr ibn al-As
    02 30 min

    Mosque of Amr ibn al-As

    عمرو بن العاص

    The Amr ibn al-As Mosque is a historic Islamic religious building in Cairo, Egypt. It holds significance as one of the oldest mosques in Africa, originally founded in the 7th century following the Muslim conquest of Egypt.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Cairo
  3. Sharia al Muizz Li Din Allah Sharia al Muizz Li Din Allah
    03 45 min

    Sharia al Muizz Li Din Allah

    Al-Muizz Street is one of Cairo's most significant historic thoroughfares, stretching through the medieval Islamic quarter. The local name is شارع المعز لدين الله الفاطمي.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Cairo
  4. Sultan Al-Muayyad Mosque Sultan Al-Muayyad Mosque
    04 30 min

    Sultan Al-Muayyad Mosque

    مسجد السلطان المؤيَّد شيخ

    Al-Mu'ayyad Mosque is a historic Islamic religious complex in Cairo, Egypt. Built during the Mamluk period, it stands near Bab Zuweila, one of the remaining gates of the old Fatimid city.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Cairo

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

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.