EGYPT TRAVEL GUIDE: VISIT EGYPT AS A LOCAL

Ask the locals if you want to know about a country. “Ask the locals” is the most precious advice I give to any traveler. If you wish to find the best food, short-cuts, or even low price souvenirs, always “ask the locals”.

Now, here we come to Egypt travel guide. I believe it is the best and the most detailed guide about Egypt. Why? Because I am local.

BEFORE VISITING EGYPT

The reasons I believe that my Egypt travel guide is the best are two reasons. First of all, I am a local and locals know the best about their country.

Second, I have traveled to many destinations, and I been into many troubles and many situations. I said to myself, “if only I could know that before.”

So I think I know what a traveler needs to know before traveling to Egypt. I will do my best to give you the best “Egypt travel guide” ever.

There are many things you should know before visiting Egypt. The first and the most important is what all Egyptians believe is true.

“If you visited Egypt once and drink from the Nile, definitely you will come back again another time,” Get ready to hear it many times from every Egyptian you meet.

Also, get prepared to hear many more quotes about Egypt and Egyptians; most of them are against logic. However, indeed, you will find Egyptians are funny and helpful.

So before you visit Egypt and even before booking airplane tickets to Egypt, you should be clear about what you want to do in Egypt and what do you wish to see.

Are you fancy of ancient Egypt? Pharaohs, temples, and Papyrus papers. Even if the answer is No, I believe you should visit it at least once in your life.

Start from Giza pyramids, and then meet the Kings in the Valley of Kings in Luxor, to end with the charming Aswan and Abu Simple temples.

Maybe you are visiting Egypt only to chill out and relax then; you should not skip Sharm al-sheik. How about diving and get lost in the underwater heaven in the Red Sea. I am sure you will visit it many times.

I am here to help you and answer all your questions. I can arrange the best itinerary in Egypt and give the best advice. Also, I can buy gifts and souvenirs from Egypt if you like.

EGYPT TRAVEL GUIDE

Egypt is well known to everybody as the land of pyramids, myths, and Civilization.

Egyptian History starts with King Mina (Menes 3200–3000 BC), who was the first king of Egypt. He was the first to unite the Southern and the Northern Kingdom in one Egyptian Kingdom. Since that time, Egypt is united and never separated.

The Capital of Egypt now is Cairo City. Surprisingly, the Egyptians are not calling their biggest city Cairo. They call it “Masr,” which means Egypt in the local language.

Masr here means the Capital, which includes two major governments (Cairo & Giza) and three smaller governments (Qalyubia, Helwan, and 6^th October City).

Around 95% of Egypt is desert. Except for the River Nile with its East and West Bank.

The history and culture in Egypt are variable. That’s why I will arrange Egypt Travel Guide according to the Historical aura.

So there’s Ancient Egypt, The pharaoh, and Temples. Then there is Coptic Egypt with the Old Churches and the Holy family journey in Egypt.

Also, there is Islamic Egypt, the mosques, and the fantastic Islamic architect. Lastly, modern Egypt, including malls, beaches, and nightlife.

VISA TO VISIT EGYPT

Egypt has an e-Visa system, where you can apply for an electronic visa. The price is 25$ for a Single entry visa and 60$ for Multiple entries visa (for Tourism). It takes around seven days to issue an e-Visa.

Citizens of 42 countries are eligible for e-visa. Also, Citizens of some countries are eligible for Visa on arrival, but it is better to apply for an e-Visa more than one week before coming to Egypt.

Countries eligible for e-Visa are Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), United States of America.

By Twofortnights – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

The weather in Egypt is generally acceptable. And extremes are rare. Most of the year, the weather is hot all over Egypt. In the winter, it is mostly sunny and never snow, apart from mountains top in south Sinai.

Even though The transportation system in Egypt is weak, all cities are easily accessible from Cairo. In this article, I will focus on what interests the traveler about the Egyptian transport system

Arrive to Egypt:

Egypt got a central location between the old three continents. As a result, it is easy to find flights to and from Cairo to any airport in the world. You should note that many budget airlines got weekly trips to other international airports in Egypt. Cities such as Aswan, Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm al-sheik are well served with many budget flights from all over the world.

Travel from Cairo to another city inside Egypt:

So if you are in Cairo and you like to visit another city, it’s quite easy. Fortunately, all options are available starting from budget and end with luxurious options. So let’s give a hint about each of them

Airplanes: From Cairo International airport, there are daily flights to all airports in Egypt. However, you should know that flights are not the first option for Egyptians. That’s why the flights are limited, and you need prior booking. Not only Egypt air, but also many private airlines have flights to all the cities in Egypt. Fortunately, all are meeting the international standards for aviation, and the crew is amiable. Favorably, take the airplane to visit distant towns such as Aswan, Luxor, Hurghada, and Sharm al-sheik. Definitely, that would be better than spending long hours in a car or bus.

Trains: Egyptian railways are one of the eldest in the world. There is a railway line that starts from Cairo to Aswan passing by Luxor. Also, other railways lines from Cairo to Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh. Unfortunately, there is no line from Cairo to Hurghada or Sharm al-sheik. The options are variable. They are starting from 3^rd class to sleepy train. Unfortunately, the Egyptian railway website is not friendly. As a result, you may find it challenging to deal with it. If you need any help, please contact me, and I can book your ticket.

Bus: Many Buses are available, and all are air-conditioned. You can book online from any city to another city. The good news you don’t have to pass by Cairo. Again, the seats are limited, that’s why you have to book your ticket earlier, and if you need any help, you can contact me. I will do my best.

Cars: Renting a car in Egypt, Especially in Cairo, must not come to your mind unless you are looking for a great adventure. Driving in Egypt is not that easy for many reasons. First, the roads are not smooth; Second, the traffic can turn your trip into hell. You could take more than two hours locked behind the driving steer. Lastly, there is no respect at all to the traffic signs, chaotic pedestrians who cross the road suddenly. Driving a car in Egypt is nothing but a terrible adventure, not fun at all.

Travel from one City to Another inside Egypt

The best way is to tailor your travel. For instance, the best way to travel from Hurghada to Sharm al-sheik is by bus. As there is no direct flight, most flights should pass by Cairo first. Going from Luxor to Aswan can be through bus, car, or train. Ideally, it could be luxury scenery and relaxing through the Nile cruise. The Nile cruise can take 3, 4, or 7 days and includes the visit to temples and guided tours. As usual, early booking is recommended.

Move inside Cairo:

Moving inside Egypt is not that easy. As I mentioned earlier, the heavy traffic and chaos are not easy to tolerate. Here are the recommendations to move inside Cairo.

Uber and Careem: the top choice for you in Egypt. Because it is widely available in all cities, and they have a transparent price system and customer service.

The White Cap: The regular Cap “Taxi” in Cairo is a white color car. That’s why people call it The White Cap. Well, the White Cap should be your Second choice. Be aware that some drivers negotiate the price and expect big tips. Even if there is a meter, it is still either not working or prefixed, so you pay more. My advice to you, negotiate the price before getting in.

Metro: Cairo is served with three lines (5 lines by the end of 2020) and 65 Metro stations. According to the Cairo Metro webpage, Daily ridership is 3.6 million, and annual ridership is 1.314 billion (in 2015). Metro is affordable and continent, the ticket price is less than 0.5$. The train is overcrowded in the rush hours from 7 to 9 am and afternoon from 2 to 4 pm. Otherwise, it is acceptable.

Other means of transport: like bus, mini-bus, Tuk-Tuk are available, but they are not air-conditioned. Also, very cheap, let’s say it take you 20 km with only 0.1$. That is the reason it is very overcrowded. It is not recommended for you, but you can try it as an adventure!

Move inside other Cities

Moving inside other cities is much more comfortable. Still, Uber & Careem are available. Also, you can use Cab, which is widely available, and the price is less than in Cairo. But also you have to negotiate pay before you get in.

Many attractions and landmarks to visit in Egypt. Here I will give only the top attractions arranged according to the city starting from Cairo: (Click for Google Map location)

Egypt is famous for its pharaoh’s pyramids and beaches. However, Egyptian food will strike you. Actually, Egyptian cuisine is not like western food and also not like other Arabian or Turkish food. Later there will be a post about Egyptian food. Here let me give you a list of 6 foods that you should not miss

And still much more food and recipes that you should not miss when you visit Egypt

Egypt is one of the countries which are deficient in water resources. Egypt depends mainly on the River Nile for water supply. According to the CDC, the tap water in Egypt is NOT VALID for drinking. But, it is safe to use tap water for shower, cooking, hot drinks if well boiled.

How about the Locals? Locals also not using tap water for drinking if they can. Even now, in 2020, some villages in Egypt still without water supply inside houses. And mineral water is quite expensive for poor people. So most Egyptians use tap water for drinking. If you eat in a local restaurant, always ask for mineral water for drinking

The health service in Egypt given to the tourists is quite efficient. But as usual, get ready with your health insurance. There is an international hospital in each tourist city in Egypt, offering advanced medical service. Again don’t forget to bring your medications with you. Also, read my guide about the medicine you need to bring when visiting Africa.

Fortunately, Egypt is free from malaria, and no previous vaccines are needed. No vaccines or medications are mandatory before visiting Egypt. For more information, read the CDC guide to vaccines and precautions you may need before visiting Egypt.

The general lifestyle in Egypt is a conservative Islamic eastern lifestyle. However, there’s variability depend on the social and economic basis.

People: People in Egypt are simple funny, and friendly. Mostly all the stuff and people you will meet in Egypt are smiling and helpful. They are talkative and like to talk and make friends. Just try to ask one question, and you will get a full detailed answer.

Religion: Most of the Egyptians are Muslim sunny. There is a minority of orthodoxy Christian. In Egypt, at any time of a day, you can hear Azan (Muslim call for prayer) alongside the churches Bells.

Dress code: • Most of the Egyptian Women dress conservatively. Long sleeves, long dress, or pants. Muslim women cover hair (Hijab). The conservative style is prevailing in the low socio-economic class with some covering face and others not wearing Hijab. In modern areas of Cairo and the touristic regions, there are more liberated styles with short skirts and bikinis on the beach. As a female tourist visiting Egypt, you have more flexibility. It is accepted if you’re not covering hair or if sleeveless. However, it is wise to respect the local dress code and try to be more conservative. The recommended dress is long pants with a non-reviling shirt. On the beaches, the swimwear is accepted, but there are no nude beaches in Egypt.

Generally speaking, Egypt is safe. It is safe to visit Egypt and enjoy the beaches and Temples. However, there are some concerns about visiting Egypt. In recent days, security measures are much improved, especially in the touristic areas. All of the security measures are unnoticed and not affecting your activities. You can roam around Cairo or any other cities at any time of the day. However, consider the general safety precautions the same as when visiting any country in the world.

In the end, I hope I covered all the aspects of Egypt and answered all the questions about Egypt. I would be happy to answer all your queries about Egypt. Also, I can arrange all your itineraries and can help you to buy souvenirs postcards or anything you like. If you think I did an excellent job, I will be happy to read your comments. I hope I can see you in Egypt and hear from you at any time. Please share and subscribe to my blog for more articles in the future….. Enjoy!