Egypt

Arabic is the official language and is written in Arabic script. Road signs and menus outside tourist areas are often Arabic-only, so a translation app is genuinely useful here. English is widely understood in hotels, tour operations, and restaurants in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea and Sinai resorts, but far less so elsewhere.

A local SIM or eSIM is easy to buy from Vodafone, Orange, or Etisalat at the airport or any phone shop — bring your passport, since registration is required. Coverage is strong in cities and resort areas, but can drop off in the desert and along quieter stretches of the Nile Valley.

Tap water isn't safe to drink — stick to bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth. Pharmacies are widespread in cities and can handle most minor ailments; look for a green cross sign. Talk to a doctor about recommended vaccinations, such as hepatitis A and typhoid, before traveling, and pack anti-diarrheal medication as a precaution.

Most nationalities need a visa to enter Egypt, though many can get one on arrival at major airports or apply in advance through the official e-Visa portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg. A handful of nationalities can enter visa-free for a short stay. The standard tourist visa allows a single 30-day stay.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Dress modestly, especially at mosques and churches — cover shoulders and knees, and women should carry a scarf for active mosques. Remove shoes before entering a mosque's prayer hall. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours out of respect, even though many restaurants stay open for tourists. Bargaining is expected in bazaars, such as Khan el-Khalili, and with taxi drivers who don't use a meter, but not in shops with marked prices. Ask before photographing people, especially near religious sites or in rural areas.

Public holidays mostly affect banks and government offices; many shops and restaurants stay open as usual. During Ramadan, hours shift: shops and offices often open later and close earlier in the afternoon, then reopen in the evening after the fast breaks, when streets stay lively late into the night.

• By train: Egyptian National Railways connects Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan; overnight sleeper trains run between Cairo and Aswan. Foreigner online booking is limited, so it's often easiest to book through a travel agent or buy tickets at the station. See Egyptian National Railways for schedules.
• By air: domestic flights save significant time between Cairo and Luxor, Aswan, or the Red Sea resorts — worth it if you're short on time.
• By bus: long-distance coaches link most cities and are the practical way to reach Sinai and the Red Sea coast from Cairo.
• By Nile cruise: a multi-day cruise or smaller dahabiya sailing between Luxor and Aswan is a popular way to see temple sites along the river.

Cairo also has a metro system, useful for skipping the city's traffic; buy a paper ticket or rechargeable card at any station.

Breakfast in Egypt is often ful medames (mashed fava beans) or ta'ameya (Egyptian-style falafel made with fava beans instead of chickpeas), scooped up with fresh baladi bread. Lunch is usually the main meal of the day, eaten in the early-to-mid afternoon, while dinner tends to be lighter and later.

Koshari — a filling mix of rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, crispy onions, and spiced tomato sauce — is Egypt's best-known comfort food. Other dishes worth trying include molokhia (a garlicky green soup), stuffed pigeon, and grilled kofta and kebab from street grills. For something sweet, look for konafa and basbousa, plus fresh sugarcane juice and hibiscus tea (karkade), served hot or cold.

Cities have everything from simple street stalls and koshari counters to sit-down restaurants, and sharing food at a casual local spot is often the best way to try a range of dishes. Tea and Arabic coffee are central to daily life and hospitality — expect to be offered a glass whenever you visit someone's home or shop.

Along the Nile: Cairo is the starting point for most trips, with the pyramids of Giza on its edge. Further south, Luxor and Aswan hold the country's greatest concentration of temples and tombs, often linked by a Nile cruise.

The Mediterranean coast: Alexandria has a calmer, more European seaside feel, with Greco-Roman ruins and a long waterfront corniche.

The Red Sea coast: Hurghada, El Gouna, and Marsa Alam are built around diving and beach resorts, with coral reefs just offshore.

Sinai Peninsula: Sharm el-Sheikh is Egypt's best-known resort town, while Dahab has a quieter, backpacker-friendly diving scene.

The Western Desert: Siwa is a remote oasis town known for its palm groves, hot springs, and distinct local culture — a good stop for travelers who want to get off the Nile Valley route.