Egypt: Travel Guide
Egypt is best for...
Couples: Spending time among the clean life of this area that experienced the pharaonic grand civilization is one of the greatest romantic things to do in Egypt for couples. Then there's the allure of this wonderful location, which has a distinct and magnificent past!
Families: A family Egypt holiday appeals to both young and elderly people, and it's easy to see why; few nations can boast as many intact examples of their ancient past as Egypt, while its modern attractions bring families from all over the world.
Night owls: When someone mentions Egypt, the first thing that springs to mind are pyramids, deserts, pharaohs, and hieroglyphics. Egypt is one of the best places to party until the sun rises. Clubs, pubs, discotheques, bars, restaurants, and cafés are some of the best venues to party. Visitors especially night owls will be kept engaged throughout the night.
Getting around Egypt
By train: Egypt's trains, with a limited network of routes, are best used for long distances, when air-conditioned services provide a more comfortable option to buses and taxis. Trains are slower and less reliable for shorter journeys. Egypt's trains, with a limited network of routes, are best used for long distances, when air-conditioned services provide a more comfortable option to buses and taxis. Trains are slower and less reliable for shorter journeys.
By bus: The primary mode of transportation for locals in Egypt is by bus. Most cities and towns are reachable by bus at a fair price. It is the finest route to several remote areas outside the Nile Valley and is secure and dependable. Long-distance bus services are controlled by five major companies, each of which covers a different region of the nation.
By ferry: Feluccas, the lateen-sailed boats that have been used on the Nile since antiquity, are still employed for transportation over numerous portions. Tourists enjoy them for sunset excursions because they let them to experience the various moods of the Nile while lounging in blissful indolence.
By car hire: Driving in Egypt is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced driver. Cities, motorways, backroads, and ski slopes all test drivers' skills and nerve. Pedestrians and carts appear unconcerned about heavy traffic.
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Fast facts for Egypt
Language: Arabic, however, English is also widely spoken, particularly in the main tourist areas and hotspots. If you are considering heading off the usual visitor trails, make sure you pack a phrasebook or download a translation app.
Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Local time: Egypt is +2 hours ahead of UK time
Fly to:
- Hurghada Airport for El Gouna, Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh
- Sharm el Sheikh Airport for Nabq Bay. Naama Bay, Ras Um Sid and Sharks Bay
- Transfer times vary from 15-100 minutes
Flight time from the UK: The flight time from the UK to Egypt is around 5 and a half hours.
Tourist information: Find further information on various Egypt destinations at the official Egypt tourism website.
Visa/health: Holders of full British passports need a visa when travelling to Egypt as well as a valid passport to travel. Visit the UK government's Egypt travel advice for up-to-date visa and health recommendations.
More travel guides: We also have other travel guides available for destinations including Greece | Portugal | Spain | Balearic Island | Canary Islands | United Arab Emirates | Turkey
Your Guide to Egypt holidays
- Food & Drinks
- Beaches
- We Love
- At a Glance
Food & Drinks
Egyptian food is unique in the Middle East due to its rich and diversified ingredients, with history and location both having played a role in its evolution. Few cuisines better represent the confluence of Africa and the Middle East. Egyptians will willingly queue for the best street food carts that serve kushari (a mix of noodles, rice, black lentils, fried onions, and tomato sauce) and ta'amiyya (Egyptian falafel prepared with fava beans). For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, fava beans are cooked. Egyptians enjoy lamb kebabs, grilled chicken, pigeon, and kofta (spiced ground meat patties barbecued on a skewer), and seafood from the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Lake Nasser, and Nile. Molokhiyya (garlicky, bitter soup made with jute mallow leaves), hamam (pigeon), and mahshi (stuffed vegetables) are further delicacies. The Egyptians have an insatiable sweet tooth, and no meal is complete without dessert. The most popular are muhallabiyeh (milk custard with pine nuts and almonds) and ruz bi laban (rice custard).
Beaches
Egypt has much more to offer beachgoers than sunny, leisurely days on the beaches. Many of the resort beach towns that dot Egypt's Red Sea coastline are within day-trip distance of Luxor's temples and tombs, making them ideal for combining some of Egypt's most famous tourist attractions and historical tours with days at the beach. Sharm El Sheikh is the most famous beach in Egypt for tourists. It is mainly a resort town cornered between the sandy desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the blue waters of the Red Sea. Therefore, it is a perfect place to live Arabian-Mediterranean realm.
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Naama Bay
Naama Bay's scoop of white-sand beach is located at the hub of Egypt's premier beach resort, Sharm el-Sheikh, on the Sinai Peninsula. During the winter months, sunbathers from Northern and Eastern Europe travel here to laze on sand lapped by the tranquil, aqua-blue waves of the Gulf of Aqaba and stare out at the dusky jagged silhouette of Saudi Arabia's hilly coastline in the distance.
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Shark's Bay
Residents of Sharm El Sheikh claim that the charming Sharks Bay still captures the essence of Sharm before the entrance of mass tourism: it is a laid-back, welcoming place with breathtaking views of Tiran Island and the marina.
We Love
During an Egypt holiday, you will encounter a world of wonder, where time is measured by kingdoms and distance by the setting sun. The splendour and beauty of Egypt's ancient civilisation and towering structures compel many visitors to come and marvel.
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Unique and Tasty Cuisines: Every era of Egypt's civilisation has left its stamp on the food preparation techniques, giving Egyptian cuisine a long history. The majority of foods are made in original ways and are frequently served at events and parties (this is a standard part of Middle Eastern culture).
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Ancient Sites: Another Egyptian fact is that everyone visits the country to experience some aspect of its culture, and historical exploration and ancient sites offer a variety of opportunities to do just that. These historic buildings narrate tales of numerous historical figures and events. From the Luxor Temple to the Giza Pyramids, multiple millennia-old constructions frequently reveal to visitors the most perplexing riddles known to man.
At a Glance
- The average flying time from the UK to Egypt is approximately 4 hrs 40 minutes.
- The main airport route flying between London and Cairo is: Heathrow (LHR) to Cairo International Airport (CAI). This route is covered by the following airline(s): EgyptAir. British Airways.
- Time Zone GMT +2
- Transfer Times: Between 20 minutes and 120 minutes, depending on the Egyptian resort.
- Egypt offers mild winters and hot summers.