Egypt: home to the pharaohs, the world famous pyramids and one of the oldest and most fascinating histories in the world. This country is mostly known for the impressive pyramids, but Egypt has so much more to offer. From the Sahara dessert, the river Nile and the Red Sea, to the tombs, temples and mummies… Isn’t Egypt on everyone’s bucketlist?
The best time to visit Egypt is between October and April. During this period temperatures are cooler, but you can still be sure there will be a lot of sun. The temperatures are then most ideal for exploring. In the evening it can cool down, so be sure to bring a sweater.
The peak months are December and January, so keep in mind that during this period it can be extremely busy at the tourist attractions and accommodation prices will be a lot higher.
If you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to travel during shoulder season from March to May or September to early October. But keep in mind that it can get very hot, especially during May and September.
The summer months July and August are low season as temperatures can rise up to 42°C.
The official language in Egypt is Arabic. As Egypt was a British colony around 70 years ago, English is also widely spoken among the educated inhabitants, especially in touristic areas. Also French and Germany are taught in Egyptian schools, depending on socioeconomic status.
The official currency in Egypt is Egyptian pound (EGP) and you can pay by credit card in bigger restaurants and hotels, but not everywhere. It is therefore always useful to have enough cash with you, also to give tip. In many places they also take euros. If not, you will find ATM’s in every touristic area where you can withdraw money, but not in the more remote places.
As Egypt is an African country, European roaming charges don’t count. It is therefore best to buy a local SIM card locally (e.g. at the airport) to be able to use mobile data at low cost.
For Egypt there are two associated plug types C and F. The standard voltage is 220V and the frequency is 50Hz.
Egypt is, in general, a safe country to travel. The crime rate is low but you have to be aware of pickpockets and scammers. Within the tourist areas there is increased security, but outside here you should always be on your guard, especially if you are traveling alone. For their own comfort, women are not advised to travel or walk down the street alone, as catcalling is a common occurrence.
The time zone in Egypt is GMT+2 year-round.
Cairo
± 108.000.000
Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Arabic
Right
+20
C and F
GMT+2 year-round
In Egypt, it is common to tip (also called ‘Baksheesh’) anyone who has done something for you, regardless of whether or not the person has done the job well. Normally tips are around 5-10EGP or 10% of the bill.
Unfortunately, this is also taken advantage of and they’ll try to do something for you at every possible moment, while you could just as well have done this yourself. So sometimes you’ve got to put your foot down if you just want to carry your luggage yourself.
In Egypt it is common to negotiate the price of a product. By haggling a product will often cost you less than what they originally asked for.
Do not drink tap water. You should only drink bottled water to make sure you don’t get sick.
The dress code in Egypt, especially for women, is considered conservative by western standards. Women should always cover up from their shoulders to below the knee, so no shorts or tank/sleeveless tops (especially in Caïro) or any other too revealing outfit. For men normal trousers and (T-)shirts are fine.
Tourists are often taken advantage of. They get scammed by charging exorbitant prices and sometimes they pretend to be a tour operator or a taxi when they are not. It is therefore definitely recommended to compare or book a pre-organized tour. This can be done easily for example via Getyourguide.com
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Made with ❤ by Sarah & Cédric - Coordinotes
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