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Egypt travel guide

Cairo

Meet Egypt Egypt weather report Getting into Egypt From the Egyptian kitchen From the Egyptian bar Currency in Egypt Major airports in Egypt Did you know?

Meet Egypt

The home of archaeology and the cradle of early civilization, Egypt is a popular sightseeing destination that also has a lot to offer in terms of luxury beach resorts. The country is almost completely divided between preserving the very old and indulging in the very new – with hardly anything in between.

Egypt is dotted with countless temples and tombs, many of which still lie undiscovered and are a testament to its rich history. There are of course, the most popular tourist attractions of Giza – with its Sphinx and the pyramids – and Luxor – the site of the ancient city of Thebes and now the site of the Valley of the Kings, and the famous Luxor and Karnak Temples. But there are hundreds of other smaller or less famous ruins at Abu Simbel, Aswan and Kom Ombo, to name a few.

On the other side of the coin, Egypt’s Red Sea coast is the setting of many gorgeous luxury resorts, providing the ultimate sun-seeker’s holiday. From Hurghada, you can travel to the protected Giftun island and have a literal desert island experience, or you can visit the popular, but slightly touristy, Sharm el-Sheikh where dramatic hotels exploit the raw beauty of the Sinai desert and the scuba diving is out of this world.

Holidaying in Egypt provides the opportunity get lost in the history, magic and culture of such an ancient country. Take a felucca sailing boat along the Nile at Luxor to fully appreciate the backdrop and arid surroundings, stroll through the frenetic souks in downtown Cairo and enjoy the bustle and noise of a modern-day African city, or sip strong sweet tea at a shady café overlooking the pyramids.

With its diverse mix of stunning resorts and world-famous sights, Egypt is the perfect destination for those who don’t like spending an entire holiday stuck to a deck-chair, but appreciate the relaxation said deck-chair provides.

Egypt weather report

Part desert, Egypt’s weather is usually hot. From March to October, you can be generally assured of dry sunshine. The further south you travel, the hotter it will be, a fact to consider if travelling south in the summer, as temperatures can reach as high as 50°C. Even Cairo and the northern cities can reach 31°C summer temperatures. During the winter, the north will get as cold as 8°C at night, and in the desert, the temperature extremes are even more severe.

The best time to travel for a sightseeing purpose is during the winter, as temperatures in Luxor and anywhere further south will not be as scorching as they are during the summer. In March and April a khamsin (hot, dry wind) blows from the desert making everything parched, boiling and sandy, so it’s not the most comfortable time to travel. If sun is what you’re after, head north during the summer, where temperatures are just about bearable around the Mediterranean and Dead Sea coasts. Cairo will be extremely draining with its combination of heat, pollution and chaos, but as long as you’re prepared for the heat, it adds to the experience of exploring a desert, African country.

For the latest weather info use the Pampo weather forecast tool.

Getting into Egypt

To enter Egypt, you will need a passport valid for six months after your arrival date. A visa is also required, and these can be purchased ahead of time or at the airport for approximately $25, where you will also have to fill in an immigration form and wait for it to be processed. This doesn’t take too long, but you should plan the possibility of delays into your schedule.

From the Egyptian kitchen

With the Nile such a focal point of almost everything in Egypt, it is no surprise that it also plays an important role in determining the traditions of Egyptian food. Vegetables and legumes are produced in large quantities along the banks of the Nile, and these exist as the base for Egyptian cuisine, making it an easy country for vegetarians.

Fuul medames is a classic Egyptian dish, consisting of slow cooked fava beans served with olive oil, garlic, onion, lemon juice and parsley. It is often accompanied by the popular flatbread aish merahrah or pita bread. Another favourite is the similarly vegetarian kushari, a dish of bown lentils, macaroni and chickpeas topped with and garlic tomato salsa.

Traditional meat dishes include the well-known starter of lamb testicles. Other less intimidating dishes include stuffed pigeon, vine leaves, kebabs and moussaqa’a.

From the Egyptian bar

Shai, or tea, is without a doubt Egypt’s national drink. It is consumed almost every morning, and after lunch. Hardly a social meeting will go by without featuring cups of the sticky black stuff. It is usually drunk extremely strong, with up to two teaspoonfuls of tea per serving, and boiled for up to five minutes before being sweetened with plenty of cane sugar. In southern Egypt, tea is often a lot lighter and weaker, flavoured with less sugar, some mint leaves, and sometimes milk. Coffee is also a popular drink and is usually served to welcome guests.

Alcohol is available in Egypt although devout Muslims refrain from drinking it. There are several local beers, including Stella, a light lager, Marzen and Aswanli, both dark beers. Zibib is an Egyptian variation of ouzo, or aniseed-flavoured alcohol. It is not as strong as arak, but is often diluted with water as a pre-dinner cocktail.

Currency in Egypt

The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (E£), a guinay in Arabic. 100 piastres (pt) make up one pound. Notes are in denominations of 50pt, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, although there are rarer notes to the value of 5pt, 10pt, 25pt and E£200. Coins are in circulation, but these are rarely used and are hard to come by.

Since the Egyptian currency has been rather poor in recent years, many hotels and tour operators will only accept US dollars and Euros, so it is important to check before you book anything.

Major airports in Egypt

Abu Simbel Airport (ABS) serves the remote southern archaeological site of Abu Simbel, with its two enormous temples.
Alexandria International Airport (ALY) is located very close to the city centre but has been closed to commercial operations since December 2009.
Cairo International Airport (CAI) is the busiest in Egypt and is the easiest way to get to Cairo and the pyramids at Giza.
Daraw Airport (ASW) serves Aswan, in the south.
Hurghada Airport (HRG) is a destination of many budget airlines, and serves the popular restorts along the Red Sea coast.
Luxor International Airport (LXR) serves the Luxor archaeological area.
Sharm-el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is also a budget airline destination, serving the luxury Red Sea resort

Did you know?

The Great Pyramid of Giza, considered by many to be one of the oldest structures in the world, is built from 2.5million stones, each weighing between two and seven tonnes.
A second Wonder of the Ancient World was located in Egypt: the Lighthouse at Alexandria was constructed around 290 BC from stone and white marble.
Cairo’s Khan Khalili souk is one of the oldest markets in the world, dating back to the 14^th century.
Bread, a staple of Egyptian cuisine, is subsidised by the government.
The Nile is 4,184 miles long, making it the world’s longest river.
Egypt has over 1,800 miles of coastline.
The Red Sea is the body of water that, according to the Bible, was split to allow the Israelites safe passage to Israel as they left Egypt.
The oldest working monastery in the world is located in the Sinai desert. St Catherine’s Monastery holds a large collection of religious manuscripts.