The mythical, the miraculous and the chaotic everyday.

In the 5th century BC Herodotus wrote of Egypt that 'nowhere are there so many marvellous things...nor in the world besides are to be seen so many things of unspeakable greatness' - and not too much has changed. The Sphinx, the Nile, ancient Luxor, the pyramids - Egypt's scope is glorious.

It's not just the Pharaonic monuments that have drawn travellers to this country since long before the birth of Christ - it's the legacy of the Greeks, Romans and early Christians, and the profusion of art and architecture accumulated from centuries of successive Islamic dynasties.

Travel Warning: Caution Advised

Travellers to Egypt should steer clear of demonstrations, which are occurring quite frequently at the moment due to rising food costs, and may turn violent without warning.

The risk of terrorist attacks in Egypt remains high. In the past such attacks have targeted areas frequented by tourists with the resort city of Dahab in Sinai the most recent target in April 2006. Travellers should keep abreast of local news updates, remain alert and expect delays and increased security checks, especially at border crossings.

Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip is closed; due to recent conflicts in the area, nearby roads and tourist sites have also been closed.

severity: Mid-level alert

Fast Facts

Country Full Name

Arab Republic of Egypt

Population

80,000,000

Currency

Name: Egyptian Pound
Code: EGP
Symbol: £E

Electrical Plugs

European plug with two circular metal pins
220V 50Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: Arabic

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +2 

Country Dialing Code

+20

Weights & Measures

Metric

Egypt - Pick & Mix Chapters

Egypt - Pick & Mix Chapters

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