"The Exotic Land of History and Mystery"
Egypt Tourism
Egypt is a country that brings to mind the exotic. Beautiful pyramids, mysterious mummies and lots of gold. That is what everybody perceives Egypt as. But it is so much more. There is Cairo, its most famous city, the river Nile, desert adventures, its temples and mosques and the general aura of history rooted in the culture that pervades the entire country.
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Best time to visit Egypt
September-April is the best time to visit Egypt
October to April is the best time to visit Egypt. During this time, the weather is pretty comfortable. December and January are the peak seasons in Egypt and the famous places like t (Read More)he Temples of Luxor, the Pyramids of Giza, and Abu Simbel remains the most crowded. Also, during these two months, the rates of all the Red Sea resorts are the most expensive. The summer months in Egypt are generally too hot and dry. From May to August, the sun is very strong, and it is imperative for you to carry sunscreens if you are travelling to Egypt during this time. The Nile Delta region and Cairo are cold from October to February. Apart from the weather conditions, the Islamic calendar can have a profound effect on your travel plans to Egypt. The weather in Egypt is usually sunny and hot throughout the year. So much so, that the wettest places in the country like, Rafah and Alexandria gets only around 46 days of rain per year. If you are planning to travel during Ramadan, you might need to give it a second thought. This is the month of daytime fasting, and hence, it might be problematic for transport and eating.
Stories about Egypt
Photos of Egypt
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Holidify's Opinion
What's Great?
Kind locals. Beautiful sight-seeing spots. Good and varied food.
What's Not So Great?
Pollution. Traffic on roads. Trash on streets. Too crowded at times.
For Whom?
History lovers. Culture enthusiasts. Architecture lovers. Archaeologists.
Read More on Egypt
Exchanging Money in Egypt
There are currency exchange shops scattered around, as well as several banks. You can exchange currency there. ATMs are also available in all the popular central hotels. You can even find ATMs stationed outside some banks. Regarding exchange, the EGP to USD conversion rate is the most popular and most frequently used one. Barclays, Citibank, HSBC, Credit Agricole are some of the international banks that you can access here.
Nightlife in Egypt
Egypt is not a party destination. However, there are odd clubs, pubs, and casinos for tourists and locals. Cairo has a couple of clubs, most of which are located inside hotels. The areas of Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab also have pubs and clubs. Bars can be found in nearly all of the Egyptian cities, and they churn out the famous local beer named Stella.
Shopping in Egypt
Egypt is a treasure trove of things just waiting to be found. Its Souks or the local markets are very popular and thronged with tourists and locals alike. Egyptian markets sell clothes, jewelry, fruits, vegetables, souvenirs and more. Cairo has a lot of lanes and markets to shop from including The Khan El Khalili Market which is a very well-known one, filled with a lot of beautiful objects. Portsaid, Luxor, and Alexandria are the other areas that are great for shopping.
Festivals of Egypt
Egypt celebrates some festivals, both religious and cultural. Songs and dancing in the streets during festival time is no uncommon sight. Ramadan, Leylet en Nuktah which includes worshipping the Nile, Sham al-Naseem, Coptic Christmas for the Catholics are some of the important festivals of Egypt. During this time, everyone comes together, and unity is forged. The Festive season is a great time to visit Egypt.
Hygiene in Egypt
Public toilets in Egypt are not that many. They aren't very often clean either, so it's safer to use ones at restaurants or your hotel. Toilet paper is seldom used. Improvements are being made to provide potable water and other sanitation facilities through various public initiatives.
Customs of Egypt
It is important to dress well but conservatively in Egypt. Preferably, women should avoid wearing clothes that are too revealing. Tipping is expected here. It is considered rude, impolite or a way of saying you are unhappy with the services provided if you do not leave a tip. Generally, peole tip up to 10% of the total bill.
Tips for visiting Egypt
Ask the hotel desk/reception to book you a cab; else you may end up getting mugged. Do not drink tap water here. Stay aware while crossing the road, as there is always a lot of heavy traffic.
Public displays of affection and Kissing are frowned upon.
Food of Egypt
Egyptian cuisine contains a lot of fruits, vegetables and legumes. This is because of the Nile valley, the presence of which makes the growth of the same very conducive. Bread is a staple here. It is consumed on a large scale and eaten along with nearly every meal. The Egyptians are also known to add a lot of onions and garlic to their preparations. Tea, usually without any milk, is consumed all across the country. Some famous Egyptian dishes are kushari, ful medames and other meat dishes. Desserts include basbousa, a sweet and spicy dish and Kahk, which is a customary sweet dish.
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