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. Great Pyramid of Giza Great Pyramid of Giza
    02 2 hours

    Great Pyramid of Giza

    الهرم الأكبر بالجيزة

    The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest and oldest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex on the southwestern outskirts of Cairo.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Cairo
  2. Great Sphinx of Giza Great Sphinx of Giza
    03 2 hours

    Great Sphinx of Giza

    أبو الهول

    The Great Sphinx of Giza is a colossal limestone statue depicting a recumbent lion with a human head, situated on the Giza Plateau on the southwestern outskirts of Cairo.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Cairo
  3. Egyptian Museum Egyptian Museum
    04 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
  4. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
    05 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
  5. Museum of Islamic Art Museum of Islamic Art
    06 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
  6. Bayt al-Sinnari Bayt al-Sinnari
    07 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
  7. Egyptian Textile Museum Egyptian Textile Museum
    08 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
  8. National Military museum National Military museum
    09 1 hr 30 min

    National Military museum

    المتحف الحربي القومي

    The National Military Museum of Egypt is a military history museum located within the Cairo Citadel complex. Its Arabic name is المتحف الحربي القومي.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  9. Umm Kulthum Museum Umm Kulthum Museum
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Umm Kulthum Museum

    متحف أم كلثوم

    The Umm Kulthum Museum is a dedicated cultural institution on Roda Island in Cairo, Egypt. It serves as the city's principal memorial to Umm Kulthum, the iconic Egyptian singer whose voice and artistry shaped Arabic music across the twentieth century.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  10. Mukhtar Museum Mukhtar Museum
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Mukhtar Museum

    متحف محمود مختار

    The Mahmoud Mukhtar Museum is a small museum located on Zamalek island in Cairo. It is dedicated to the life and work of Mahmoud Mukhtar, widely regarded as Egypt's foundational modern sculptor.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  11. Museum of Islamic Ceramics Museum of Islamic Ceramics
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Islamic Ceramics

    متحف الخزف الإسلامي

    The Islamic Ceramics Museum is housed in the historic Prince Amr Ibrahim Palace in Zamalek, Cairo. The museum specializes in the display of Islamic ceramics, showcasing a significant art form from various periods of Islamic civilization.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  12. Egyptian Geological Museum Egyptian Geological Museum
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Egyptian Geological Museum

    المتخف الجيولوجي المصري

    The Egyptian Geological Museum is a specialist institution in Cairo dedicated to Egypt's geological heritage. Its local name is المتحف الجيولوجي المصري. The museum houses collections focused on fossils, minerals, and the geological history of Egypt.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Cairo
  13. Child Museum Child Museum
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Child Museum

    متحف الطفل

    The Child Museum, known locally as متحف الطفل, is a dedicated children's museum located in the Heliopolis district of Cairo. It stands as one of the Egyptian capital's stronger family-oriented educational attractions.

    • 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.