Egypt - travel to Egypt

Useful information about Egypt.

Geography: Egypt is located in north West Africa, and is bordered by Israel to the east, Libya to the west and Sudan to the south. In the north and east the Mediterranean Sea and the Red sea frames its border. The Western Sahara desert covers over 80 percent of the land surface. The Nile flows through the heart of Egypt; it’s one of the greatest rivers in the world.

Climate: The climate of Egypt is extremely hot. In the north of the country it does get mild because of the sea. Egypt receives the least amount of rainfall in the world.

Attractions: The greatest attraction in Egypt are the Pyramids of Cheops at Giza, which are the only survivors of the wonders of the Ancient World.

Travel/Holidays: A trip along the River Nile should be top of your list if you do decide to travel to Egypt. Egypt has many great historical places to visit including temples and pyramids. The Egyptian Museum at Cairo is also well worth a visit.

Accommodation: Egypt offers a wide range of accommodation to cater for Western style living, including hotels and lodgings. Price wise, the options range from less than 30 US Dollars per person for a bed to more than $250 per person for a night at a first class hotel.

Arts/Culture/People: Egyptian culture dates back over five thousand years. Sculpture, wall paintings and stone carvings all form parts of ancient Egyptian art. Music has always played an important part in Egyptian life. Egypt has a strong filmmaking industry dating back to the 1930s.

Religion: The majority of Egyptian people are Muslim - twenty percent are Christian.

Architecture: While all areas have modern architecture, Egypt is extremely famous for its ancient architecture - the pyramids attract thousands of visitors each year.

Landscape: The landscape of Egypt varies from extreme harsh desert, which accounts for about 80 percent of land surface, to the lush delta in the north of the country where green pastures can be found.

Flag: The national flag of Egypt is a vertical tricolour of red, white and black. A Coat of arms of the "Eagle of Saladin" with is shield of the national flag, holding a scroll with the words "Arab Republic of Egypt") in Arabic lies in the centre of the flag.

Government: The Arab Republic of Egypt is a democratic state. The Egyptian Constitution states that Arabic is the official language and principles of Islamic law (Shari'a) are the principal source of legislation. Egypt has both a president and a prime minister.

Drink: Beer, wine and spirits are available but Muslims do not drink alcohol. Egyptians drink a lot of tea that is sometimes flavoured with mint. Coffee and juices are also popular.

Facts: The capital city is Cairo. The population of Egypt was estimated at over 80 million.

Exports: Egypt exports large amounts of cotton, petroleum products and textiles mainly to Europe and Asia. Other exports include metals, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, light manufactures and food.

Food: The national dish of Egypt is thick soup called Molohia. Fish is a popular dish that features on most menus. The Egyptian diet also consists of pigeon, chicken, mutton, camel and buffalo. Minced meat is made into rissoles and kebabs.

Currency: The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound.

Time Zone: Standard Time is +9 GMT

Country Telephone code: The international country calling code of Egypt is + 20

Visa: The Egyptian tourist or business visa is issued for a single entry within three months, for a stay of up to 30 days. Multiple entries are issued for business travellers on written request. A double entry visa can be issued for tourists on written request.

Sport: Football is the most common sport in Egypt. Other sports include basketball, golf, hockey, tennis and swimming which is a national sport. Water sports are common in coastal areas and attract many tourists each year.

Economy: The three main sectors of the Egyptian economy are agriculture, petroleum and tourism. Over thirty percent of the population are employed in the agriculture sector. Egypt has large reserves of oil and natural gas.

History: The history of Egypt dates back to 3200bc. Alexander the Great conquered the country in 332 BC. In the year 640, the Arab conquest of Egypt led to the conversion of the Egyptians to Islam. The British occupation began in 1882 and continued until 1922 when Egypt became a monarchy. Egypt became a Republic in 1953 under Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Languages: The official language is Egyptian Arabic^.