A photograph of Egypt

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 tri...

Photograph · kallerna · CC BY-SA 3.0

2,047 Places
1Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

Top things to see

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

  1. Egyptian Museum Egyptian Museum
    02 1 hr 30 min

    Egyptian Museum

    المتحف المصري

    The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and holds a vast collection of Pharaonic antiquities spanning the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman era.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  2. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
    03 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

    المتحف القومي للحضارة المصرية

    The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is a major museum in Fustat, Cairo, dedicated to presenting the full span of Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times through the present day.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  3. Museum of Islamic Art Museum of Islamic Art
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Islamic Art

    متحف الفنون الأسلامية

    The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo houses one of the world's foremost collections of Islamic material culture. Located in the heart of Historic Cairo, the institution preserves and displays artistic and historical objects spanning multiple centuries of Islamic civilization.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  4. Bayt al-Sinnari Bayt al-Sinnari
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Bayt al-Sinnari

    بيت السناري

    Bayt al-Sennari is a late-Ottoman period house located in the Sayyida Zaynab district of Historic Cairo.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  5. Egyptian Textile Museum Egyptian Textile Museum
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Egyptian Textile Museum

    The Egyptian Textile Museum, known locally as متحف النسيج المصري, is a museum situated on al-Muizz Street in Cairo. It occupies a historic Mamluk-era building, the Sabil of Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda, a structure of architectural significance in Islamic Cairo.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • 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.