Egypt
Phone Code
+20
Capital
Cairo
Population
109 Million
Native Name
مصر
Region
Africa
Northern Africa
Timezone
Eastern European Time
UTC+02:00
On This Page
Egypt is a transcontinental country spanning northeast Africa and the Sinai Peninsula, anchored by the Nile and home to the Pyramids of Giza — the last surviving Ancient Wonder — the Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel and 5,000 years of continuous civilisation. Cairo, the capital, is Africa's largest city and the cultural capital of the Arab world. The 2024 opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) adjacent to the pyramids, the long-running restoration programme in Luxor and Aswan, and the steady reopening of South Sinai and Red Sea resorts after the post-2011 dip have made 2026 one of the strongest moments for an Egypt trip in a generation. Visitors are drawn to the Pyramids and the GEM at Giza, Luxor's Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel and the Aswan dam temples, Nile cruise routes between Luxor and Aswan, Red Sea diving in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, the Sinai interior, Coptic and Islamic Cairo, the Siwa Oasis at the edge of the Great Sand Sea, and the White Desert's chalk formations. Egypt offers a depth and density of ancient history without parallel in the modern world.
Visa Requirements for Egypt
All foreign nationals require entry permission for Egypt. An e-visa is available to many eligible nationalities (including United States, United Kingdom, EU member states, Canada, Australia and Gulf passports) online through the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with typical processing within seven days; the single-entry e-visa is currently issued at USD 25 and is valid for three months from issue for a 30-day stay, while a multi-entry option exists for travellers who plan to enter Egypt more than once. Visa on arrival is offered to many of the same nationalities at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Luxor and other major international airports against payment in cash USD before passport control. Some nationalities are restricted to advance applications through Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad. All travellers must carry a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry and with at least one blank page for the entry stamp. A separate Sinai-Only entry permit (currently issued free at Sharm El-Sheikh airport for a 15-day stay) allows visits limited to the South Sinai resorts of Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and St Catherine's without a full Egyptian visa, but does not permit travel to Cairo, the Pyramids, Luxor or anywhere on the mainland. Fees, validity windows and the list of eligible nationalities are updated by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from time to time — verify current rules before booking flights.
Common Visa Types
E-Visa (Single Entry)
For tourism for citizens of eligible countries (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and many others) online through the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
E-Visa (Multiple Entry)
For travellers who need to enter Egypt more than once within the validity window — useful for Red Sea + Cairo + Jordan/Israel side-trip itineraries.
Visa on Arrival
For eligible nationalities arriving at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Luxor and other major international airports, for tourism.
Sinai-Only Entry Permit
For travellers who only plan to visit the South Sinai resorts (Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, St Catherine's) and do not need to enter mainland Egypt.
Important Travel Information
Egypt is pure overwhelm — no other country on Earth combines 5,000 years of monumental history with tropical coral reefs, Saharan desert adventures and a megacity that pulses with the energy of 22 million people. Standing before the Pyramids of Giza — the last surviving Ancient Wonder — recalibrates your sense of scale permanently: 2.3 million stone blocks, 4,500 years old, and the sprawl of Cairo begins at their feet. Next door, the new Grand Egyptian Museum opened in 2024 with 100,000+ artefacts under one roof, including the complete Tutankhamun collection — most of it on display for the first time since Howard Carter found the tomb in 1922 — and has fundamentally changed what a Cairo visit feels like. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is travel at its most classical: gliding on Egypt's lifeline while temples and palm groves drift past on the banks, feluccas sailing under the same wind that filled pharaonic sails, sunsets over ancient Thebes. The Valley of the Kings in Luxor hides 63 pharaonic tombs in the rock face, their paintings as vivid as the day they were sealed — Seti I's tomb (KV17) and Ramesses VI's (KV9) ceiling alone justify the flight. Abu Simbel's colossal rock temples in the extreme south, rescued in 1968 from the rising Lake Nasser in one of the 20th century's greatest engineering feats, still stun with their four 20-metre seated Ramesses II figures. Then the Red Sea: Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam offer some of the world's best diving — coral reefs in surreal colours, the Blue Hole of Dahab, the SS Thistlegorm wreck with its sunken motorcycles and railway carriages. Islamic Cairo is its own world: over 800 listed mosques, the Khan El-Khalili bazaar trading since 1382, Al-Azhar Mosque as one of humanity's oldest universities. The White Desert's chalk formations under a blanket of stars, the Siwa Oasis at the edge of the Great Sand Sea. And the food — ful medames for breakfast, koshari as the national dish layering lentils, rice, pasta and fried onions, freshly grilled fish on the Nile, basbousa and kunafa for dessert, strong Turkish coffee and hibiscus karkade tea on every corner.
Discover Egypt
Ways to Experience This Destination
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Luxor's Karnak Temple (the largest ancient temple complex on Earth), the Valley of the Kings with 63 royal tombs, Abu Simbel's colossal rock-cut temples, Saqqara's Step Pyramid (the world's oldest pyramid), and Dahshur's Bent and Red Pyramids — 5,000 years of civilisation you can walk through and touch.
Three to seven days on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan — passing the temples of Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with felucca sunset sails and views of timeless landscapes. The most classical way to experience Egypt's treasures, from intimate dahabiyya sailing boats to luxury five-star floating hotels.
The Red Sea ranks among the world's top five dive destinations: Ras Mohammed National Park, the Blue Hole of Dahab, the SS Thistlegorm wreck, coral gardens at Marsa Alam with dugongs and dolphins. Water temperature 22–28°C year-round, visibility regularly above 30 metres.
The White Desert's surreal chalk formations, the Black Desert's volcanic hills, overnight Saharan camping under a sky of impossible stars, jeep safaris, and the Siwa Oasis at the edge of the Great Sand Sea — desert experiences out of a storybook.
Koshari (Egypt's national dish of lentils, rice and pasta), ful medames for breakfast, taameya (Egyptian falafel made with fava beans, not chickpeas), grilled Nile fish, strong Turkish coffee, karkade hibiscus tea, and sweet kunafa — hearty, spiced and surprisingly diverse.
Africa's largest metropolis with the new Grand Egyptian Museum (the world's largest archaeological museum), the Khan El-Khalili bazaar, 800-plus historic mosques, Coptic churches in Old Cairo, and a street culture that runs on shisha, backgammon and the Arabic art of conversation.
Money & Currency
Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Currency code: EGP
Practical Money Tips
Best Places to Exchange Money
Exchange at banks or official exchange bureaus for the best rates. Airport exchange counters are convenient but offer slightly worse rates. US dollars and euros get the best rates; British pounds and Gulf currencies are accepted but at slightly weaker spreads. Avoid unofficial money changers on the street. Hotels give poor rates. The Egyptian pound has been in a multi-year managed float and rates move noticeably from month to month — check the live mid-market rate (XE, Wise) before exchanging large amounts and exchange in tranches rather than one lump sum. Bring crisp, undamaged bills (torn or marked notes are often rejected) and ask for a mix of 20 / 50 / 100 EGP notes rather than only 200s.
ATM Availability
ATMs are widely available in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, and Sharm El-Sheikh. Major banks (CIB, National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, QNB) have reliable ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard. Daily withdrawal limits are typically 5,000-10,000 EGP. ATMs in tourist areas occasionally run out of cash — carry backup options. Some ATMs dispense only 100 or 200 EGP notes; larger denominations (500 EGP) are less common at ATMs but useful for hotel payments.
Credit Card Acceptance
Credit cards are accepted at hotels, upscale restaurants, larger shops, and tourist-oriented businesses in major cities and resort areas. However, cash remains king for most daily transactions: bazaars, street food, taxis, smaller restaurants, tips, and rural areas are cash-only. Visa and Mastercard are most widely accepted. Many vendors add a 2-3% surcharge for card payments. Always carry sufficient Egyptian pounds in small denominations for day-to-day expenses.
Baksheesh (Tipping) Culture
Baksheesh is deeply embedded in Egyptian culture — it's not just a tip but a social lubricant that makes things happen. Expect to tip for nearly every service: restaurant staff (10-15% if no service charge), hotel porters (20-50 EGP per bag), guides (200-500 EGP per day), drivers (100-200 EGP per day), bathroom attendants (5-10 EGP), mosque/tomb guardians who open doors or point things out (10-20 EGP). Carry a stack of small notes (5, 10, 20 EGP). It can feel relentless at first but is part of the economic fabric. Also carry small USD bills ($1) for tourist sites where USD tips are appreciated.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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