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Here, you'll find a comprehensive Egypt travel guide, your gateway to exploring the timeless wonders of this ancient land in northeastern Africa. From the iconic pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx to the vibrant markets of Cairo and the serene beauty of the Nile River, Egypt is a destination that promises unforgettable experiences.
Whether you're an adventurer seeking desert safaris, a history enthusiast delving into millennia-old ruins, or a leisure traveler looking to relax on the Red Sea beaches, our guide will provide you with all the information you need to plan the perfect trip. Dive into Egypt's rich culture, mouth-watering cuisine, and warm hospitality as you embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Let us be your companion on this journey, offering expert tips, detailed itineraries, and insider secrets to make your Egyptian escapade truly magical.
There are currently around 96 million inhabitants living in an area of over 390,000 square miles, making Egypt the most populous country in Africa. Most of the inhabitants live in the urban centers of Cairo and Alexandria and along the Nile. The official language is Arabic and over 90 percent of the population are Muslims. Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel to the east along the Sinai Peninsula.
Egypts major airports served are Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, and Marsa Alam on the Red Sea. The providers include Lufthansa, Condor, EgyptAir, Air Cairo, Eurowings, and EasyJet.
Despite the current political situation, there are many vacation regions that are considered safe, but also areas for which explicit travel warnings or at least safety advice have been issued.
The current entry regulations and safety information can be found on the website of the travel.state.gov. Please always read the current safety information before your trip, as it may change.
U.S. citizens must obtain a visa to enter Egypt. US travelers can purchase a single-entry 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Egyptian airports for a fee of roughly $25 USD. US travelers can also purchase a $60 USD mult-entry visa. Alternatively, you can apply for an e-visa for Egypt online before you leave.
With illustrations from various historical periods of Egypt and being located on the fertile lands of the River Nile, Cairo presents you with the most famous natural beauties of the country. Some of these attractions include:
The Red Sea
Nasser Lake
Suez Canal
Nile Valley
Sinai Peninsula
But the highlights of the city are not limited to its natural attractions. With its historical bazaar, madrasas, statues, towers, and European architecture, it is an appealing city that will feel like a time travelling experience. In the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, one of the major markets of Egypt, you can find souvenirs and pieces of jewelery made of silver, copper, and gold and enjoy the flavours of exotic spices of the East that soar through the colourful bazaars. You will surely find something to remember your Egyptian holiday by.
Whether it's a package vacation or an all-inclusive resort, a cultural trip through Cairo and Luxor, or a diving vacation: we present you the most beautiful vacation destinations in Egypt and what makes them special!
Ideal for family vacation and cheap package vacations with all-inclusive meals
Very well developed for tourism and safe
Short journey from the airport
Shopping promenade and pretty harbor for strolling with good fish restaurants
Many opportunities to go out
Convenient location for day trips to Cairo, Luxor, and the pyramids
Water sports such as diving, windsurfing, and kitesurfing
🏝Beach tip: The Giftun Islands
Quiet alternatives for a vacation near Hurghada are: Makadi Bay and Soma Bay with modern 4- to 5-star hotels, as well as Safaga with the most important historical port of Egypt.
Artificially created lagoon city with many small islands
Called "the Venice of Egypt"
25 miles from Hurghada Airport
Highest security in Egypt
Good for families with children
Modern marina for strolling and shopping
Chic and elegant buildings and houses
Many accommodations with a focus on sustainability
Formerly ancient Thebes and is translated as "the city of palaces"
Popular day trip from Hurghada and one of the most visited places in Egypt
Highlights: Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, the Temple of Luxor and the Karnak Temple
A short stay of a few days is usually sufficient to see all the cultural and historical sights
The southernmost city in the country
Quiet atmosphere, many palm trees and direct river location
With its own cultural identity of the former nomadic people of the Nubians
Historical treasures such as the temples of Abu Simbel and Philae
🏴☠️Pirate tip: A sunset trip on a felucca across the Nile
Influenced by the Mediterranean and Red Sea cuisines, the Egyptian cuisine consists of a unique and broad culinary culture. Fish, meat, rice and cereals, and spices are used quite frequently in the Egyptian cuisine. Cheese, salad, pickles and hummus, on the other hand, are generally served as starters appealing to all types of tastes. Ful medames, for instance, is one of the most consumed local foods: a local dish of cooked fava beans served with vegetable oil and cumin.
Another typical food, also common to many people is shawarma. You will feel the difference of the local shawarma prepared in chopsticks of meat pieces and tomato slices and cooked well in the oven. Whether you are in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh or Luxor, you should definitely taste the cheap local food, the flavor of which will linger for a long time – even after your stay.
Falafel (in Egypt they are called Ta'meya and are made from green beans) are the perfect snack between meals. They taste a little spicier than the falafel we know and are made from fava beans and lots of herbs.
"Koshari" is considered the Egyptian national dish and is the perfect cheap meal between meals - made from pasta, rice, lentils, and tomato sauce. Sometimes ingredients like chickpeas and fried onions are added. Vegetarian, cheap, delicious and REALLY filling!
“Meze” are the delicious starters that are usually served with fresh flatbread: These include delicious dips such as Baba Ganoush (made from baked eggplant), Kischk (yogurt) and of course hummus (made from chickpeas)
Mashi - Whether zucchini, eggplant, vine leaves or peppers: Mashi can be prepared with various vegetables, which are filled with rice, herbs, tomato sauce and oriental spices such as cinnamon and allspice.
Alcohol is prohibited on the streets, but this does not prevent Egypt from brewing its own good beers such as "Stella", which are available in bars, restaurants, and hotels. Alternatively, you can do as the locals do and avoid alcohol altogether and instead enjoy the delicious Arabic coffee or the Bedouin black sweetened mint tea, which is available at any time of the day and often even for free in Egypt.
One of the most entertaining activities during your Egypt vacation is the desert safari. An insider tip for experiencing a combination of sea, sun and desert is the city of Hurghada. Located at the north-east of Luxor, Hurghada offers rich options not only for desert safaris, during which you will closely observe Bedouin lifestyle, but also scuba diving to discover the under water mysteries of the Red Sea. Perfect for a sunny beach vacation.
The Nile stretches for over 4,225 miles through the otherwise dry desert of North Africa and provides green fields and palm forests on its banks. Nile cruises usually start in luxury and allow you to experience a large part of Egypt's sightseeing highlights in just a few days, including Thebes, Abu Simbel, Aswan, the Valley of the Kings, and much more.
The Pyramids of Giza are the last remaining of the ancient wonders of the world and were built between 2620 and 2500 BC on a limestone plateau. It is believed that they served as tombs for Egyptian rulers. The largest pyramid in the world is the Great Pyramid of Cheops, in which only an empty sarcophagus was found. In addition, it is still not known how the approximately 3 million stone blocks were transported for construction. The Sphinx of Giza stands right next to the pyramids and is a huge sculpture of a lioness with a human head, around 4,500 years old.
The impressive burial complex is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt. Most of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried here. The Valley of the Kings is located near Luxor and is one of Egypt's UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Abu Simbel is one of the most famous temple sites in Egypt, built in the 13th century BC to honor Pharaoh Ramses and his wife Nefertari. The impressive temples were carved into the rock and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are located in the south of the country, near Aswan.
The Greek Orthodox monastery is a World Heritage Site and is located in the middle of the desert on the Sinai Peninsula. It was built on the spot where God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and is one of the oldest Christian monasteries. Mount Sinai is a holy place for Jews, Christians and Muslims and an important pilgrimage destination that can be climbed in about 3 hours. We recommend doing the hike at sunrise or sunset to be able to observe the incredible spectacle of colors in the desert.
Giftun Islands are two islands directly off the coast of Hurghada, about 70 to 90 minutes by boat from Hurghada harbor. The nature park is a very popular destination for divers and snorkelers, as you can swim in the crystal clear water and experience the colorful and lively coral reef up close. In between, you can relax on the flat sandy beach. Tip: With a bit of luck, you can see dolphins from the boat (or even while snorkeling).
It is hard to get more remote than this oasis - but the long, arduous journey by bus from Cairo is worth it, because Siwa is a paradisiacal oasis in the middle of the desert, nestled among olive trees and date palms. The freshwater and saltwater lakes are particularly unique and are said to have a healing effect on the body and soul. Several Bedouin tribes still live in Siwa according to their old traditions.
The library was built in the 3rd century BC and was the most important ancient library. Hundreds of thousands of papyrus rolls were kept here and it is the base of the most important research center on ancient Egypt. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which reopened in 2002, now contains around eight million books and is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive libraries in the world.
If you travel to Cairo, you should definitely NOT miss the Egyptian Museum, as it will provide you with an incredible amount of knowledge about ancient Egypt, the history of the pyramids and many other sights! There are around 120,000 Egyptian finds inside the museum, including mummies of famous pharaohs and the death mask of Tutankhamun. The Egyptian Museum is one of the most famous museums in the world and you should plan at least a full day to visit it.
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