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Majestic pyramids, well preserved ancient temples, a vast desert, the world’s longest river (did someone say cruise?), world-class diving, a rich history that captures the imagination, all inclusive resorts and oh, let’s not forget about the mummies! Egypt has a lot to offer, no matter what your travel style. It’s a country unlike any other and should be a priority on everyone’s bucket list.
It’s been a while since we were there ourselves, but I finally decided to write an Egypt travel guide.
Be sure to check out the route we followed during our two weeks in Egypt!
Table of Contents
Know before you go
Best time to visit Egypt
Egypt can get extremely hot in the summer months. I’m talking 40° C (104° F) or more! Therefore, the best time to visit Egypt is between October and April, when temperatures are more reasonable. Unfortunately, this is also high season in Egypt, with a peak in tourism around Christmas, New Year and Easter. We went to Egypt in February/March and the weather was just perfect for us. So were the crowds (we were basically the only tourists at the pyramids), but that may have something to do with the fact that we traveled there right after the Egyptian Revolution.
If you’re visiting Egypt during the holy month of Ramadan, you might want to know that some historic sites may close earlier than usual, whereas some restaurants may open later than usual or remain closed altogether (this is usually not the case for restaurants in tourist areas). It’s also recommended to avoid eating or drinking in public during this time. Other than that, you can visit the country just fine during Ramadan.
Visa requirements
Depending on your nationality, you’ll most likely need a visa to enter the country. You can apply for an eVisa online (valid for 90 days after issued) or you can obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport. Both tourist visas will let you stay in the country for a maxiumum of 30 days.
For Belgians specifically: you do not need an international passport to enter the country if you don’t plan on staying more than 30 days. Your national ID card is enough (but you may need to bring a passport photo if you want to arrange your visa at the airport).
Whether you travel with an international passport or a national ID card, both need to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Egypt.
Currency
The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Currently (March 2021), 1 EUR = 18,74 EGP (1 USD = 15,70 EGP). Don’t forget to inform your bank that you’ll be traveling to Egypt so they don’t block your card for withdrawing money at an Egyptian ATM. Personally, I felt safer bringing some Egyptian money with me from Belgium, just in case we didn’t find an ATM right away.
Electricity
Egyptian power voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You do not need an adapter if you’re traveling from Belgium.
Vaccinations
There are no vaccinations required to visit Egypt, except when you’re traveling from (or when you spent more than 12 hours at an airport of) a country where yellow fever may occur.
Other possibly suggested vaccinations for Egypt are:
- Hepatitis A
- DPT (diphtheria, polio and tetanus)
- MMR (mumps, measles and rubella)
- Typhoid
- Rabies
It is best to consult your doctor before traveling to Egypt.
Corona
At the moment (December 2022) there are no restrictions to travel to Egypt due to COVID-19. You can enter the country without a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test.
To travel back to Belgium, measures only apply if come from a country with a very high risk and for the time being, Egypt is not one of those countries.
Make sure to check the situation before departure, as this is always subject to change.
Group tour or self-organised?
When we visited Egypt back in 2011, we had no travel planning experience yet. We didn’t feel at ease traveling through an unknown African country on our own, so we booked a trip through an online travel agency. Our trip almost got canceled because of the Egyptian Revolution and when we finally got word that we could step on the plane on our planned departure date – as one of the first tourists back to Egypt – most of the other tourists had canceled their vacation and we ended up with a group of just 4 people, including the two of us.
For us, traveling through Egypt with an organised group tour ended up being a great success. Not only was our group so small that it didn’t feel as if we were traveling in group, but we also had a local guide with us almost the entire time we were out of our hotel. This may not seem like an advantage to many people, but we felt a lot safer with a local in our group, especially in Cairo, so soon after the Egyptian Revolution. Moreover, we learned a lot of things about (ancient) Egypt from our guide that we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Another advantage of an organised trip was that everything was perfectly arranged for us, from our hotels to our transportation, we didn’t need to worry about anything, we were even picked up at the airport by someone from our travel agency who got our visas for us.
Would I recommend an organised group tour? I don’t know… It turned out great for us under the given circumstances, but nowadays I prefer planning my own trip and I’ve become somewhat allergic to the idea of a group vacation. Nevertheless, I think Egypt is one of those countries where it really pays off to have a guide with you, even if it’s just in certain locations and for a few hours. Egypt just has so much history which will really come to life if you have the right guide to tell you all about it (luckily for us, we had a great guide). Try choosing an organization that works with smaller groups of people.
What to pack for a holiday in Egypt (as a woman)?
I strongly believe that respect for another culture is very important when you travel to a foreign country. That said, ten years ago, I hadn’t given much thought to what I should wear as a woman traveling in Egypt. Now, I’m not the type to wear miniskirts anyway and it wasn’t extremely hot when we were visiting the country in February/March, so I usually wore long pants or a skirt that covered my knees and a T-shirt with short sleeves or a light sweater, so my knees and shoulders were always covered. I never covered my hair except for that one time when we visited the inside of a mosque (ladies, don’t forget to pack a scarf to cover your hair). Nobody ever gave me a dirty look, so I think I was respectful enough as a tourist.
I’d suggest you bring enough sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Even if you’re traveling outside of the summer months, temperatures can still be very high, especially in the southern part of the country. At night, it can cool down quite a bit so a sweater is not an unnecessary luxury. Egypt is basically a desert, so expect a lot of dust (and ladies, I’d suggest you leave your high heels at home). Finally, bring a medicine kit. Chances are you’ll need Imodium at least once during your trip. If you’re prone to travel or motion sickness like me, don’t forget to pack something for that as well as you’ll probably find yourself on a boat at one point during your time in Egypt.
Finally, drones are not allowed in the country and could be confiscated at the airport.
Top things to see and do
Cairo (1-2 days)
Cairo is the chaotic, polluted capital of Egypt and most likely where you’ll enter the country. I found the city itself to be dirty and uninviting, but there are a few must-see attractions that you can’t escape.
Must-sees in Cairo
- The Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza: This is probably the main reason why you wanted to visit Egypt in the first place and I guarantee you that it will not disappoint. The massive pyramid of Cheops is the only remaining wonder of the ancient world! You need to pay extra to visit the inside of the pyramid, but there’s not a lot to see there. The only downside of visiting the pyramids are the many Egyptian vendors as they can be extremely pushy.
- Egyptian Museum: This museum houses an incredible amount of ancient statues and treasures – including the famous mask of Tutankhamun. You need to pay extra to see the mummies. I’d recommend getting a guide to show you all the highlights of the museum as there are more than 120.000 artefacts.
Also nice to see in Cairo
- The step pyramid of Djoser in necropolis Saqqara, which was actually the first pyramid ever built.
- The colossal statue of Ramesses II in Memphis, the ancient capital of Old Egypt.
- The Citadel of Saladin where you can visit the Muhammad Ali Mosque and enjoy a wonderful view over the city.
- Khan El-Khalili Bazaar: a busy place with many shops.
Luxor (2 days)
Luxor, known as Thebes back in the day, was the capital of Ancient Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdom. The archeological sites in this area are located on either the west or the east bank of the Nile, known as the “city of the dead” and the “land of the living”, respectively. This is because the ancient Egyptians believed the sun died in the west, only to be born again in the east.
Must-sees in Luxor
- Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut: Hatshepsut was one of the few female pharaohs to rule Ancient Egypt. Her mortuary temple is very different from the other temples we saw in Egypt.
- Valley of the Kings: Many Egyptian pharaohs were buried here back in the day. The tomb of King Tutankhamun may be the most famous of them all, but it’s certainly not the most impressive one. It’s only famous because, unlike other graves, it wasn’t discovered by looters, so when it finally was discovered, they found a lot of treasures, but these have all been moved to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Some of the other graves are much bigger and more heavily decorated (you’ll be amazed by the colours that were used on the walls, so well preserved after all this time!). You need to pay extra for certain graves (like the one of King Tut) and if you want a photo permit to take pictures inside the tombs.
- Colossi of Memnon: You can’t miss these impressive statues. They’re free of charge and will only cost you a few minutes.
- Karnak Temple Complex: This is the largest temple complex in Egypt and the second largest ancient religious site in the world. It’s very impressive to say the least! More than 30 different pharaohs contributed to this site over a period of 2.000 years. This is definitely a site you cannot miss!
Also nice to see in Luxor
- Temple of Luxor: I didn’t classify this temple as a must-see, simply because the Karnak Temple complex is so impressive and huge that the Luxor Temple may not impress you that much, but if you have the time, I would certainly recommend visiting this temple as well.
Aswan (1-2 days)
Aswan is a city in the south of Egypt, closer to the Sudan border. I found the atmosphere here much more relaxing and inviting than in the north of the country.
Must-sees in Aswan
- Philae Temple: The Philae Temple had to be relocated to save it from being flooded by Lake Nasser after the construction of the High Dam. This beautiful temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, was rebuilt on Agilkia Island and can be reached by boat.
- Abu Simbel: The Abu Simbel Temple complex consists of two massive temples, built to honour pharaoh Ramesses II and his favorite wife Nefertari. In the 1960s the entire temple complex was cut into large blocks and rebuilt on higher ground in order to save it from flooding by Lake Nasser. Though it’s not exactly located in Aswan (it’s a 300 kilometer (187 miles) drive through the desert and you’ll most likely start your journey before sunrise… or you could take the plane), this is something you do NOT want to miss! For me, it was the highlight of our whole Egypt adventure!
Also nice to see in Aswan
- The unfinished obelisk gives you a good idea of the technique ancient Egyptians used to create these obelisks.
- The Aswan Dam: this dam was built in the 1960s to control the Nile flooding and created a huge man-made lake that threatened to flood many archeological sites, like the above mentioned Abu Simbel and Philae Temple.
Nile cruise
I’m not normally a big fan of cruises, but Egypt is one of those countries where I would definitely recommend a few days on board a cruise ship. Most cruise ships sail from Aswan to Luxor or the other way around, letting you enjoy beautiful vistas along the way. During your cruise, you will most likely stop at the temple of Kom Ombo (special because of its double design) and the temple of Horus at Edfu (one of the best preserved temples in Egypt).
Related: My 5 Favourite Ancient Egyptian Temples
If you have a few days extra, you might consider a day trip to the city of Alexandria or the White Desert (both accessible from Cairo) or visit a Nubian Village in the south of Egypt (accessible from Aswan). You could also end your Egypt holiday in a hotel by the Red Sea to relax for a few days and/or go snorkeling or diving in the Red Sea’s beautiful underwater world.
Map
Is it safe to visit Egypt?
We were there right after the Arab Spring in 2011 and we never felt unsafe, except maybe briefly in the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar when there was this sudden loud noise and our guide quickly guided us out of there, but it turned out to be someone closing the blinds of his shop. We felt a lot of hope during our stay in the country and the Egyptian people were very happy to see us tourists again. I do have to say that, while in Cairo, we were never without our guide when we ventured outside of our hotel. I’ve read that the atmosphere turned more grim after our visit and there were even a few terrorist attacks, mainly in Cairo.
Whether you feel safe to travel to Egypt nowadays is something you need to make up for yourself, but I wouldn’t be put off too easily. From what I read in more recent blog posts from other travel bloggers, there is still a lot of military presence in Egypt, but it’s not necessarily unsafe to travel through the country. Just avoid certain areas like the Sinai Peninsula (the area bordering the Gaza Strip) and, as in any country, be mindful of your surroundings. I’d suggest you read up on the travel advice and consult people who visited Egypt more recently before traveling to the country.
Though this isn’t necessarily an issue of safety, we were harassed a couple of times by Egyptian vendors who were very pushy in trying to sell us their merchandise. I understand that their income mostly (or even entirely) depends on tourism (and I may have bought some stuff I didn’t need in order to help out a friendly local), but some vendors even became a bit agressive when we weren’t interested in what they had to offer. This was very unpleasant at times. Also, we encountered a few people who offered unsollicited advice and then demanded to be paid for it.
Another thing: I wouldn’t recommend driving in Egypt yourself, especially in Cairo. The traffic there is crazy and road markings are just for show.
Final tips
- It is unsafe to drink the tapwater in Egypt. This also applies to the ice cubes in your drink. To play it safe, you may even want to avoid brushing your teeth with tapwater as well.
- Tipping is common practice in Egypt. A “backsheesh” (the Egyptian word for tip) will be requested from anyone who offers you a service (like assisting you with your luggage), but people will also be asking you for a backsheesh for taking their picture – or their camel’s picture – or they might offer you information or advice that you didn’t ask for and then demand to be paid for it. Just remember that while tipping is important to the people of Egypt as they aren’t being paid a lot, you do not need to give money to people who provide you with a service that you didn’t ask for.
- Just like tipping, haggling is part of the Egyptian culture. If you don’t haggle, you will most likely get ripped off (although I have a strong feeling I got ripped off anyway, even when I was haggling, what can I say, it’s not one of my strengths).
Conclusion
Personally, I’m never visiting Egypt again! Why, you ask? Because I don’t think it can get any better! We were there at an extraordinary time, right after the Arab Spring, and didn’t have to deal with the usual mass tourism (though this still may be the case today). Most Egyptians were very happy to see tourists coming back to their country and we felt very welcome.
More importantly, the feeling you get when you lay eyes on the impressive temples and statues for the first time, is one of the best feelings in the world, but this is only the case if you visit Egypt for the first time. I cannot imagine getting that same feeling if I were to visit Egypt a second time.
In the end I was very happy that we opted for a (group) tour instead of planning our holiday ourselves as it was very easy that everything was arranged for us, especially the transportation. I felt a lot safer not having to travel through the country on our own. There were a few downsides when traveling through Egypt (like aggressive vendors and the haggling culture, two things that I really dislike on a holiday), but overall I would definitely recommed a holiday in Egypt. The temples and other archeological sites that you can visit here, are truly unique and a once in a lifetime experience!
