Egypt Travel Guide

Deciding when to come to Egypt depends a lot on where you want to go. Everywhere south of Cairo is uncomfortably hot in the summer months (June-August), especially Luxor and Aswan, so winter (December-February) is the best time to visit these areas. Summer is also the time when the Mediterranean coast is at its most crowded, but winter in Cairo can get pretty cool. March to May or September to November is the best time to enjoy the warm days without the crush of bodies on the beaches and the midday heat of high summer.

Currency: Egyptian Pound (LE) = 100 piastres (pt)
Most foreign currencies, cash, or traveler’s cheque can easily be changed in Egypt. There are many exchange bureaus in the larger cities but they mainly only deal in cash. Visa and MasterCard are suitable for cash advances and American Express JCB cards and Euro cards can be used in a wide range of shops and hotels. If you travel to lesser tourist areas while touring Egypt, the best currencies are US dollars, Pounds Sterling, and Egyptian Pounds.
Banking is usually open Sunday to Thursday: from 08:30 to 14:00 hours.

Electricity: Electric Power is 220V running at 50Hz. The Plug types used are Round pin attachment plugs.

Flights: Egypt Air has regular flights from everywhere to Cairo.
There is a variety of good options for getting to Egypt, with good connections between Cairo and many European cities. Super-cheap holiday packages including hotel vouchers can work out cheaper than booking a flight independently, and you can just chuck the vouchers away if resorts aren’t your style. Flights from elsewhere can be expensive and it’s worth looking into flying to Europe first and then making your way to Egypt from there, as this is often a cheaper option than flying direct.
Egypt’s national air carrier is Egypt Air.
Most travelers come into Egypt through Cairo, although people are increasingly disembarking at Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada (Al-Ghardaka), and Sharm el-Sheikh. These airports are serviced by some smaller carriers and charter companies with direct connections to Europe.
Other connections from elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East include the bus from Israel via the Gulf of Aqaba or the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, and ferries from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Tipping is a way of life in Egypt and bus drivers and tour guides expect it at restaurants. Having said this, you still retain the right to the tip and it is highly dependent on your satisfaction with the services received.

Here is a rough guide to tipping:
Bus drivers for a group day tour: LE 100,-
Guide for a group day tour: LE 150,-
The bus driver for a private day tour: LE 50,-
Guide for a private day tour: LE 100,-
Baggage handling: LE 05,- per bag per trip
These tips will be given to the driver, and guide after the services.
Nile Cruise: LE 30,- per night for the whole crew.
This can be given to the reception of the cruise vessel after the cruise.
Restaurants/Bars –12% of the bill.

Language: Arabic (official), English, and French widely understood by educated classes.

Flying is a good way to get around the country. Egypt Air offers daily flights between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Oasis. Air Sinai has flights from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheik, Taba, Luxor, Ras El Nakab, and Eilat.

Egypt has a regular efficient train service traveling between every major town within the country and offering a range of services from plush air-conditioned sleepers to 3rd class. Discounts are available for holders of Student cards and children under 9 years old.
Efficient bus service is available to and from all the major cities in the country including Sinai.
Ferries run between Egypt and Sudan, South Sinai and Jordan, and Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.

Passports should be valid for at least six months after you depart from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired Passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveler, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.
We recommend that you contact your closest Egyptian consulate or embassy for current information about your nationality.
In general official advice is that all nationalities obtain their Egypt visas in advance, as we cannot guarantee that you can get them at the airport. Or you can get An online e-visa. Please do not use any other website as many scam sites are offering Egypt e-visas.
In practice, however, many nationalities (including British and European, Australian, New Zealand, USA, and Canadian) can and do obtain their visas on arrival at Cairo airport. The process is much quicker and simpler, the cost is currently US$25 p/p and must be paid in hard currency (i.e. GBP, USD, or EUR) – you’ll be given a change in local currency if necessary.
All African & Indian nationals, and some others, will need to obtain their visas in advance.