Egypt

Discover the wonders of Egypt with our comprehensive travel guide. Learn about Egypt's weather patterns and find the best time to visit this ancient land. Explore tips on transportation options to make your journey smooth and enjoyable. Get insights into top cities like Cairo and Luxor, plus must-try Egyptian dishes such as koshari and ful medames. Our guide also reveals hidden gems off the tourist path that will make your Egyptian adventure truly unforgettable.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Cairo and the Nile Delta: October to April offers pleasant temperatures (18-24°C/65-75°F) for exploring pyramids and museums, avoiding summer's scorching heat that can exceed 37°C/100°F.

Luxor and Upper Egypt: November to February provides comfortable daytime temperatures (21-26°C/70-80°F) for touring temples and archaeological sites, with cool evenings.

Red Sea Coast (Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh): Year-round destination with mild winters (21-24°C/70-75°F) and hot summers (32-37°C/90-100°F). Peak diving seasons are spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) with excellent visibility.

Western Desert (Siwa, Bahariya): October to April offers tolerable temperatures for desert exploration. Avoid summer months (May-September) when temperatures can soar above 37°C/100°F.

Mediterranean Coast (Alexandria): June to September provides warm temperatures (24-29°C/75-85°F) ideal for beach activities, while spring offers pleasant conditions for sightseeing.

How to Get to Egypt

Egypt has several key airports that serve as entry points to the country's historical sites and beach destinations. Cairo International Airport is Egypt's primary aviation hub, handling over 15 million passengers annually. This busy airport serves as the main gateway to the Egyptian capital.

For travelers heading to coastal destinations, Hurghada International Airport provides access to the Red Sea's popular diving and beach areas. Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport serves visitors to the Sinai Peninsula's resort towns, where desert landscapes meet beautiful coastlines.

Luxor International Airport offers convenient access to the region's ancient temples and tombs, making it ideal for visitors interested in Egypt's archaeological treasures. In the northern part of the country, Borg El Arab Airport connects travelers to Alexandria, with its distinctive Mediterranean character.

These airports provide efficient connections to major Egyptian destinations, including:

• Cairo
• Luxor
• Aswan
• Giza
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From any of these airports, visitors can quickly reach Egypt's iconic attractions, whether you're interested in exploring ancient monuments, cruising the Nile, or enjoying the country's beach resorts.

How to Get Around

Egypt connects travelers through a network of practical transport choices. Domestic flights zip between major cities, saving precious vacation time when covering long distances. Trains roll along the Nile valley, giving passengers window views of farm life and desert landscapes as they journey from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. The steady rhythm of the rails tells stories of Egypt's countryside that airplanes simply can't share.

Buses crisscross the country, with air-conditioned coaches that stop at nearly every destination on the tourist map. They cost less than other options and often arrive when they promise. Rental cars put the journey in your hands, though Egyptian roads come with their own unwritten rules and creative driving styles.

In cities, transportation options include:

• -Taxis honk and weave through streets as a primary way to get around. Just agree on a fare before starting your ride.
• -Microbuses pack locals into every available seat, offering the cheapest way around but requiring some Arabic and courage to navigate.
• -Cairo's metro trains glide beneath the congested streets, carrying millions daily with surprising efficiency.
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For something different, try these unique transportation experiences:

• -Board a ferry to cross the Nile, feeling the same currents that carried pharaohs.
• -Tuk-tuks buzz through narrow alleys in smaller towns.
• -Horse carriages clip-clop through Luxor, with drivers often sharing stories passed down through generations.

When planning longer trips, check out Go Bus for comfortable intercity service or Siwa Bus to reach the desert oasis towns where few other services venture.

Food Scene

The scent of koshari wafts through Cairo's busy streets, drawing both locals and visitors to Abou Tarek's bustling restaurant. This layered dish of rice, pasta, and lentils tells the story of Egypt's resourcefulness, simple ingredients transformed into something far greater than their parts.

Morning in Egypt begins with ful medames. Street vendors ladle these stewed fava beans into small bowls, adding olive oil, lemon juice, and cumin as Egyptians have done for thousands of years. The beans fuel workers, students, and travelers alike through the day ahead.

Families gather around steaming bowls of molokhia, the green soup that generations of Egyptians have served alongside rabbit. The viscous texture might surprise first-timers, but the garlicky broth quickly becomes a comfort.

Food Markets & Street Eats

Cairo's Khan el-Khalili bazaar's narrow pathways lead to merchants whose families have sold spices and sweets for centuries. Downtown street carts serve ta'ameya—Egypt's fava bean version of falafel, greener and more flavorful than its chickpea cousin.

In Alexandria, fishermen bring their morning catch directly to the Fish Market, where cooks prepare it minutes later. 

Regional Specialities

Each Egyptian region offers its own culinary tale:

• Alexandria's kitchens prepare seafood using Mediterranean techniques.
• In Aswan, Nubian recipes feature slow-cooked stews that reflect centuries of desert life.
• Luxor's restaurants serve bamia, a rich okra stew, and stuffed pigeon—a delicacy dating back to pharaonic times.
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Hidden Gems

1. Wadi El Wishwashi

Deep in the Sinai mountains sits a natural pool that few travelers ever see. Water, clear enough to count pebbles at the bottom, fills a basin surrounded by towering canyon walls. The journey unfolds like a tale, taking you through a narrow gorge where shadows dance on ancient rock formations. The water stays cool even when summer heats the desert above. Those who come on weekdays during spring (March-May) might have this place to themselves. 

To find it, drive 30 minutes from Nuweiba town, then follow a rocky path for 20 minutes. Local Bedouin guides know exactly where the path narrows and turns; their knowledge makes the journey richer and easier.

2. Ageeba Beach

Locals call it "The Miracle," a fitting name for this small cove where white limestone cliffs curve around waters so blue they seem unreal. The beach itself isn't large, just a perfect pocket of sand where the Mediterranean feels like a private swimming pool. In September and October, the water holds summer's warmth without summer's crowds. 

The beach is 24 km/14 miles west of Marsa Matruh, a taxi or minibus ride from town. Morning visitors find the best spots in this small slice of seaside perfection.

3. Dendera Temple Complex

In a land famous for temples, Dendera stands apart. Here, the ancient goddess Hathor received praise under ceilings painted with stars and cosmic scenes. The famous Dendera Zodiac tells stories of the heavens as Egyptians understood them thousands of years ago. What makes this place special? The colors, blues, reds, and golds, still cling to the stone walls after centuries. 

Winter visitors (November-February) explore comfortably in mild temperatures. The temple is 60 km/37 miles north of Luxor, reachable by private taxi, tour, or take the morning train to Qena and then a short taxi ride to where ancient stories cover every wall.

Scenic Routes

Egypt tells its story through roads and waterways that wind through thousands of years of history. From the flowing Nile to desert expanses, these four journeys reveal Egypt's true character without the need for filters or exaggeration.

• Luxor to Aswan: The Nile carries travelers past temples that have stood for millennia and villages where daily life continues much as it has for centuries. During the winter months, between November and February, temperatures cool enough to spend hours on deck watching the riverbanks slide by. A journey over several days gives time to see the sun paint the water gold at dawn and dusk. 

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• Aswan to Abu Simbel: The road cuts through desert sands toward temples carved directly into cliffs. Morning light between October and March brings out details in the stone and keeps the heat at bay. From a window seat, watch the landscape shift from rocky outcrops to the wide blue of Lake Nasser. 

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• Cairo to Alexandria: The trip begins in Cairo's busy streets and ends at the Mediterranean Sea, passing through farmland where families have worked the soil for generations. Visit between March and May when fields turn green and the coast feels fresh with sea air. The train offers a comfortable way to watch rural scenes unfold. 

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• Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh: The boat crossing connects two coastal towns, often accompanied by dolphins that swim alongside. Morning departures from April to June offer calm water and the best chance to spot sea life. Choose a ferry with outdoor space to feel the sea breeze and watch the rocky coastline pass by. 

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Events, Festivals and Local Markets

At Khan El Khalili Market in Cairo, shopkeepers call out greetings as their families have done since the 14th century. Visitors walk the same narrow lanes where merchants traded spices, copper, and silver for hundreds of years. A shopkeeper might invite you for tea while showing handmade jewelry or explaining how particular spices flavor traditional dishes. The market buzzes with activity regardless of when you visit.

Twice yearly at the Abu Simbel temples in Aswan, something remarkable happens. On February 22 and October 22, the rising sun sends a beam of light deep into the temple, illuminating statues that sit in darkness the rest of the year. Ancient engineers planned this effect over 3,000 years ago. People gather in pre-dawn darkness, waiting for the moment when light touches the stone faces.

The Cairo International Book Fair transforms the city each January-February. Publishers from across the Middle East and beyond set up pavilions where readers browse thousands of titles. Children sit cross-legged at storytelling corners while authors discuss their work at panel discussions. Books in Arabic, English, and other languages change hands by the thousands.

Each October, the El Gouna Film Festival in Hurghada brings cinema to the Red Sea coast. Filmmakers from the Middle East and around the world screen their work. In outdoor theaters under the stars, audiences watch films that might never reach mainstream distribution. Between screenings, conversations about storytelling and culture continue at cafés along the water.

Best Places to Visit

1. Cairo

In Cairo, history breathes through ancient stones while car horns honk in traffic jams below. People sip strong coffee in sidewalk cafes as the Pyramids of Giza stand watch on the horizon. At the Egyptian Museum, King Tut's golden mask catches light from tall windows, its eyes following visitors across the room. Khan el-Khalili's narrow alleys overflow with copper lamps, chess sets, and shopkeepers calling out to passersby.

Between October and April, the air cools enough to walk comfortably through the city. Summer brings temperatures over 40°C (104°F), when even locals seek shade and cold drinks.

The Cairo Opera House fills evenings with music that drifts across the Nile. On weekends, Cairo Stadium rumbles with thousands of feet stomping and voices chanting for local football teams, the crowd moving like one organism.

How to get to Cairo

• -Fly directly to Cairo International Airport from major global cities.
• -Take a cruise on the Nile River from other Egyptian cities.
• -Travel by train from Alexandria or other major Egyptian cities.

2. Luxor 

This is where pharaohs once ruled ancient Thebes. The Nile cuts the city in two. East Bank holds massive temple columns where hieroglyphics tell 3,000-year-old stories. West Bank hides colorful tombs carved deep into rocky hills, their paintings still bright after millennia underground.

From October through April, morning light washes over the monuments in golden hues, and temperatures hover between 21-30°C/70-85°F–just right for climbing temple stairs and exploring underground chambers.

At night, Karnak Temple lights up while speakers narrate tales of gods and kings who walked these same paths. Along the Avenue of Sphinxes, ceremonial processions move slowly between temples, recreating rituals unchanged since the time of pharaohs.

• How to get to Luxor
• -Fly to Luxor International Airport from Cairo or international destinations.
• -Take an overnight train from Cairo to Luxor
• -Cruise the Nile from Aswan or other Nile cities

3. Hurghada

The Red Sea laps against Hurghada's sandy shores, its waters so clear that fish appear to float in mid-air. Beneath the surface, coral gardens house electric-blue tang fish, striped angelfish, and sometimes a curious sea turtle gliding past divers' bubbles.

Visit between April and June or September to November, when water feels like silk against skin and air temperatures make beach days comfortable rather than challenging.

At Hurghada Marina, sailboats with white triangular sails catch afternoon winds during weekly races. Dive centers fill their walls with underwater photographs from recent competitions–close-ups of tiny seahorses, barracuda teeth, and divers surrounded by silver fish clouds.

• How to get to Hurghada
• -Fly directly to Hurghada International Airport
• -Take a bus from Cairo (approximately 5-6 hours)
• -Book a private transfer from nearby coastal cities like El Gouna
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Tips for Traveling in Egypt

VISA & ENTRY

• Most tourists need an e-Visa ($25)
• Passport must be valid 6+ months beyond stay
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CULTURAL ETIQUETTE 

• Dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered, especially at religious sites)
• Ask before photographing locals
• Right hand for eating/greeting

MONEY MATTERS

• Egyptian Pound (EGP)
• Have small bills for tipping/bargaining
• Cards accepted in hotels/restaurants; cash for markets
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HEALTH & SAFETY

• Vaccinations: Hep A, Typhoid recommended
• Emergency: 123 (ambulance), 122 (police)
• Travel insurance mandatory
• Drink bottled water only
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TRANSPORTATION

• Uber is available in cities
• Negotiate taxi fares before riding
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