Egypt
Holidays
Egypt is best for...
Couples: Spending time in the clean life of this area that experienced the pharaonic grand civilization is one of the greatest romantic things to do in Egypt for couples. Then there's the allure of this wonderful location, which has a distinct and magnificent past!
Families: A family trip to Egypt appeals to both young and elderly people, and it's easy to see why: Few nations can boast as many intact examples of their ancient past as Egypt, while its modern attractions bring families from all over the world.
Night-owls: Egypt is one of the best places to party until the sun rises. Clubs, pubs, discotheques, bars, restaurants, and cafés are some of the best venues to party. Visitors, especially night owls, will be kept engaged throughout the night.
Getting around Egypt
By bus: The primary mode of transportation for locals in Egypt is by bus. Most cities and towns are reachable by bus at a fair price. It is the finest route to several remote areas outside the Nile Valley and is secure and dependable.
By train: Egypt's trains, with a limited network of routes, are best used for long distances when air-conditioned services provide a more comfortable option to buses and taxis. However, they tend to be slower and less reliable for shorter journeys.
By ferry: Feluccas, the lateen-sailed boats that have been used on the Nile since antiquity, are still employed for transportation over numerous portions. Tourists enjoy them for sunset excursions because they let them experience the various moods of the Nile while lounging in blissful indolence.
By car hire: Driving in Egypt is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced driver. Cities, motorways, backroads, and ski slopes all test drivers' skills and nerves.
Fast facts for Egypt
Language: Arabic. Most people also speak English, particularly in the main tourist areas. Make sure to bring a phrasebook or a translation app if you’re going to visit the off-the-beaten-path locations.
Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Local time: GMT+2
Fly to
· Hurghada Airport: For visits to El Gouna, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh
· Sharm El Sheikh Airport: For visits to Nabq Bay, Naama Bay, Ras Um Sid, Sharks Bay
Flight time from the UK: It takes around 5 and a half hours of flight from the UK.
Tourist Information: For more information on all Egypt locations, please visit the official tourism website here.
Visa/health: If you are a UK citizen and have a valid passport, you will need to apply for a visa to visit Egypt. Visit the official UK travels website for restrictions, travel advice, visa requirements and health advice here.
More travel guides: Curious for more? We have a range of travel guides and holiday destinations from all over the world! Here are a few: Cyprus | Greece | Turkey | Canary Islands | Spain
Your Guide to Egypt holidays
- Food & Drinks
- Beaches
- We Love
- At a Glance
Food & Drinks
Egyptian food is unique in the Middle East due to its rich and diversified ingredients, with history and location both having played a role in its evolution. Few cuisines better represent the confluence of Africa and the Middle East.
- Egyptians will willingly queue for the best street food carts that serve kushari (a mix of noodles, rice, black lentils, fried onions, and tomato sauce) and ta'amiyya (Egyptian falafel prepared with fava beans).
- Locals enjoy lamb kebabs, grilled chicken, pigeon, and kofta (spiced ground meat patties barbecued on a skewer) as well as seafood from nearby seas like the Mediterranean and the River Nile. Molokhiyya (garlicky, bitter soup made with jute mallow leaves), hamam (pigeon), and mahshi (stuffed vegetables) are further delicacies.
- Egyptians also have an insatiable sweet tooth, and no meal is complete without dessert. The most popular are muhallabiyeh (milk custard with pine nuts and almonds) and ruz bi laban (rice custard).
Beaches
Egypt has much more to offer beachgoers than sunny, leisurely days on the beaches. Many of the resort beach towns that dot Egypt's Red Sea coastline are within day-trip distance of Luxor's temples and tombs, making them ideal for combining some of Egypt's most famous tourist attractions and historical tours with days at the beach.
- Mainly a resort town, Sharm El Sheikh is the most famous beach in Egypt for tourists. Cornered between the sandy desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the blue waters of the Red Sea, it is a perfect place to live Arabian-Mediterranean realm.
- Naama Bay's scoop of white-sand beach is located at the hub of Egypt's premier beach resort, Sharm el-Sheikh, on the Sinai Peninsula. During the winter months, sunbathers from Northern and Eastern Europe travel here to laze on sand lapped by the tranquil, aqua-blue waves of the Gulf of Aqaba and stare out at the dusky jagged silhouette of Saudi Arabia's hilly coastline in the distance.
- Residents of Sharm El Sheikh claim that the charming Sharks Bay still captures the essence of Sharm before the entrance of mass tourism: It is a laid-back, welcoming place with breathtaking views of Tiran Island and the marina.
We Love
Egypt is a land of natural marvels. Follow the footsteps of legends on the endless sands, dip your toes in the clear waters or bask in the wondrous natural scenery that is around each corner of the country.
- Just to the south of Baharia Oasis lies the black and white deserts, a monochrome landscape that looks straight out of a movie. Owing its beauty entirely to its natural geography, each desert is a different wonder: White Desert offers a snowscape of limestone rocks while Black Desert is a sea of orange sand dotted all over with black volcanic stones.
- Or you could swim along dolphins among the coral reefs and witness sea turtles in the beautiful Marsa Alam, a top spot for scuba diving and underwater activities in Egypt. It’s home to unique spots like Elphinstone Reef and Abu Dabbab, one of the world’s top beaches for snorkelling. If you rather stay on solid ground, an exciting safari along Wadi el Gemal National Park or a camel-back stroll in Sharm el Luli Beach will be only a couple of your options.
At a Glance
- The average flight time from the UK to Egypt is 5 and a half hours.
- There are flights from a majority of UK Airports to Egypt but the main airport to Cairo International Airport would be London Heathrow.
- Egypt has mild winters and hot summers.
travel advice
Get advice about traveling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings on
FCDO website.