Overview

Travellers have marvelled at Egypt’s archaeological wonders for centuries, ever since the Ancient Greeks visited the pyramids.Today, the ancient wonders attract millions of tourists each year to the pyramids, temples, mosques and great monuments of the Nile Valley, as well as the stunning diving resorts of the Red Sea.

In 430 BC, when Herodotos exclaimed in awe over the magnificent monuments in Egypt, many of them were already 2,500 years old. Most, from the pyramids of Giza to the astonishingly beautiful temples of Karnak or Philae, or the painted tombs in the Valley of the Kings, can still be visited today. The sheer age of this great civilisation is mind-blowing.

The life-giving Nile pours across the map, feeding an emerald ribbon of irrigated fields adjacent to villages shaded by date palms. Whether on a cruise ship or traditional felucca, life on the water is a constant visual feast, while the few huge, dusty cities(Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Luxor) are a babble of exotic sounds and smells.

Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheik, on the Red Sea coast, are doors to a magical underwater world of technicolour fish and coral favoured by divers, while other adventurous travellers head inland. Here, you can discover monasteries amid the arid mountains of Sinai or the distant desert oases, homes of the hardy nomads whose camel trains still wander the Saharan sands.

 

 

Area

1,002,000 sq km (386,874 sq miles).

 

Population

74.9 million (UN estimate 2005).

 

Population Density

74.8 per sq km.

 

Capital

Cairo (El Qahira). Population: 16.7 million (2005 estimate).

 

Government

Republic.

 

Language

Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken.

 

Religion

According to the 1986 census, over 94% of the population follows Islam; the majority of the rest is Christian. All types of Christianity are represented, especially the Coptic Christian Church. There is also a small Jewish minority.

 

Time

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Friday in April to last Thursday in September).

Climate
Hot, dry summers with mild, dry winters and cold nights. Rainfall is negligible except on the coast. In April, the hot, dusty Khamsin wind blows from the Sahara.
  
 Required Clothing:  Lightweight cottons and linens during summer, with warmer clothes for winter and cooler evenings.

 

Social Conventions

Islam is the dominant influence and many traditional customs and beliefs are tied up with religion. The people are generally courteous and hospitable and expect similar respect from visitors. Shaking hands will suffice as a greeting. Because Egypt is a Muslim country, dress should be conservative and women should not wear revealing clothes, particularly when in religious buildings and in towns (although the Western style of dress is accepted in modern nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and bars in Cairo, Alexandria and other tourist destinations). Official or social functions and smart restaurants usually require more formal wear. Smoking is very common.

Photography: Tourists will have to pay a fee to take photographs inside pyramids, tombs and museums.

 

Electricity

Most areas 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Certain rural parts still use 110 to 380 volts AC.

 

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif since 2004.

 

Head of State

President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak since 1981.

Passport/Visa's

Passport Note
Visitors from all countries except the EU and the USA must register with the police within one week of arrival in Egypt, although this service is usually undertaken by the hotel.

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.
 

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following: 

(a) 1.EU nationals travelling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Newiba or Taba resorts for up to 14 days. They will receive an entry permission stamp upon arrival; 

(b) those continuing their journey to a third country within 24 hours, provided holding confirmed tickets; 

(c) cruise ship passengers entering Egypt, at any port, for a maximum of three days.

Visa Note

(a) Those in possession of a residence permit to Egypt are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave Egypt and return within the validity of their residence permit or within six months, whichever period is less. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the consulate/embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist and Business (single- and multiple-entry). Cost varies according to nationality. For UK nationals: Tourist: £15 (single-entry); £18 (multiple-entry). Business: £53 (single-entry); £91 (multiple-entry). Processing fees for other nationals vary considerably; check with the appropriate consulate (or consular section of embassy) – see Contact Addresses.
 

Validity

Three-month validity for stay of up to one month. Visas cannot be post-dated. If you have a reason to extend your stay, you can do that from the ministry of interior affairs in Egypt after declaring the reasons for that and their acceptance for that reasons.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses. 

Note: It is, however, possible for most visitors to obtain an entry visa at any of the major ports of entry. Visitors should check with their nearest Egyptian consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to their citizenship.

Working Days Required

Three-five working days.

Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the UK
26 South Street, London W1K 1DW, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 3304.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1630 (1000-1500 during Ramadan).
 
Egyptian Consulate in the UK
2 Lowndes Street, London SW1X 9ET, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 9777.
Website: www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 (lodging applications); 1430-1600 (visa collection).

 
Egyptian State Tourist Office in the UK
Egyptian House, 3rd Floor, 170 Piccadilly, London W1V 9EJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7493 5283 or 09001 600 299 (24-hour brochure service; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website: www.egypt.travel

 
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the USA
3521 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008 USA
Tel: (202) 895 5400.
Website: www.egyptembassy.us

 
Egyptian Tourist Authority in the USA
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2305, New York, NY 10111, USA
Tel: (212) 332 2570.
Website: www.egypt.travel

Money

Currency

Egyptian Pound (EGP; symbol E£) = 100 piastres. Notes are in denominations of E£100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, 50 piastres and 25 piastres. Coins are in denominations of 20, 10 and 5 piastres.

 

Currency Exchange

Available at banks, official bureaux de change and most hotels. Banks often have better exchange rates than bureaux de change or hotels. All common international currencies are accepted.

 

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted, but generally only in bigger hotels or restaurants in Cairo and restaurants in tourist areas.

Traveller's Cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Banking Hours

Sun-Thurs 0830-1400.

Entertainment

Food and Drink
Egyptian cuisine is excellent, combining many of the best traditions of Middle Eastern cooking, and there are both large hotel restaurants and smaller specialist ones throughout the main towns. Some of the larger hotels in Cairo and its environs have kitchens serving top quality cosmopolitan dishes. In the centre of Cairo, American-style snack bars are also spreading. Restaurants have waiter service. Although Egypt is a Muslim country, alcohol is available in cafe-style bars and good restaurants.

National specialities: 
• Foul (bean dishes).
• Stuffed vine leaves.
• Roast pigeon.
• Grilled aubergines.
• Kebabs.

National drinks: 
• Kahwa (thick, strong coffee).
• Shay bil na’na’ (mint tea).
• Karkaday (clear, bright red drink made from hibiscus flowers).
• Aswanli (dark beer made in Aswan).
• Zibib (alcoholic aniseed-flavoured drink).

Legal drinking age: 21.

Tipping: 10 to 12% is added to hotel and restaurant bills but an extra tip of 5% is normal.

Nightlife
Sophisticated nightclubs, discos, casinos and good restaurants can be found in Cairo, Alexandria and most large towns. The nightlife in Luxor and Aswan often includes barbecues along the Nile. 

Shopping 
The most interesting shopping area for tourists in Cairo is the old bazaar, Khan-el-Khalili, specialising in reproductions of antiquities. Jewellery, spices, copper utensils and Coptic cloth are some of the many special items. There are also modern shopping centres available, particularly near Tehrir Square. Haggling is expected, and sometimes encouraged, as a way of communication and human contact.

Shopping Hours:  Winter: Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat 0900-1900, Mon and Thurs 0900-2000. During Ramadan, hours vary, with shops often closing on Sunday. Summer: Tues, Wed, Fri-Sun 0900-1230 and 1600-2000.