Roavina

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.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

  1. Tahrir Square Tahrir Square
    02 1 hour

    Tahrir Square

    ميدان التحرير

    Tahrir Square is the central civic square of Cairo, Egypt. Its Arabic name, ميدان التحرير, translates to Liberation Square. The square functions as a major traffic intersection and public gathering space in downtown Cairo.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cairo
  2. Wadi Degla Wadi Degla
    03 1 hour

    Wadi Degla

    محمية وادي دجلة

    Wadi Degla Protected Area is a desert wadi situated at Cairo's southeastern edge, forming a natural corridor through rocky terrain. The protected status preserves this arid landscape from urban encroachment.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cairo
  3. Ḥadīqat al-Andalus
    04 1 hour

    Ḥadīqat al-Andalus

    حديقة الأندلس

    Al-Andalus Garden is a compact public garden situated on the eastern bank of the Nile River in central Cairo, immediately beside the Qasr El Nil Bridge.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cairo
  4. Al Azbakeya Garden
    05 1 hour

    Al Azbakeya Garden

    حديقة الأزبكية

    Al-Azbakeya Garden is a historic public garden in downtown Cairo. Established during the nineteenth-century Khedival period, it is one of the city’s oldest planned green spaces and forms part of the urban landscape of Khedival Cairo.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • 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.