Egypt is a famous tourist destination in Africa because of its magnificent monuments and natural attractions.
But before traveling, you may have some inquiries and need some useful tips to have a perfect vacation and avoid any unexpected issues.
Is Egypt safe?
Yes, Egypt is a very safe country and its people are friendly and hospitable.
Especially in tourist cities, there are a lot of procedures to maintain safety.
If you want to feel safer, go on escorted tours instead of being alone.
And it is better to avoid going to abandoned places or narrow streets alone, especially at night.
Is Egypt Suitable for a Budget Traveler?
Yes, you can spend a vacation in Egypt at a very affordable price, especially since prices in Egypt are cheap due to the difference in the currency conversion between the dollar and the Egyptian pound.
Do I need a visa to enter Egypt?
Yes, you need a visa to enter Egypt, you can easily get a visa on arrival from the airport.
What are the best things to do in Egypt?
Actually, there are a lot of activities to do when visiting Egypt, such as:
- Visiting monuments, museums, and historical sites.
- Cruising the Nile.
- Do a safari.
- Rock climbing.
- Diving in the Red Sea.
- Visit Siwa and swim in salt lakes.
- Seeing the white desert.
- Ride a hot-air balloon in Luxor.
- Diving in the sites of submerged monuments in Alexandria.
What to wear in Egypt?
Try to wear modestly, since Egypt has conservative traditions concerning clothes. Make sure to have comfortable wear for historical sites tours, and light clothes are a must on sunny days, especially in summer.
Also, you need comfortable shoes to be able to walk for long distances.
What is the weather like in Egypt?
Generally, Egypt has a mild climate in most months of the year that tends to drought in many areas near the desert.
In the summer, the temperature is high, so avoid visiting Egypt from June to Augustus, which are the hottest months there, especially in upper Egypt where the heat might be unbearable.
The weather is warm in winter, but the coastal cities are the coolest, particularly in January.
As for rainfall, it rarely occurs in southern Egypt, but it falls somewhat heavily in coastal cities, especially the city of Alexandria in the north.
What are the best tourist cities in Egypt?
- Cairo ─ the capital of Egypt, best known to house the Egyptian museum along with important Coptic and Islamic monuments.
- Giza ─ where you can see the pyramids and the sphinx.
- Luxor ─ it is renowned for ancient tombs and temples.
- Aswan ─ a city in southern Egypt known for its historical sites and beautiful nature.
- Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada ─ the two resort cities that lie on the Red Sea coast, and are famous for swimming and diving.
- Alexandria ─ it lies on the coast of the Mediterranean where you can enjoy beaches, see Greco-Roman monuments, and visit its famous library.
What is the best time to visit Egypt?
If you prefer visiting monuments, especially in Luxor and Aswan and want to spend a lot of time there, the best months for your visit will be from October to April. These months are cooler than the rest of the year, so it is a suitable time Since visiting historical places in upper Egypt may be very exhausting in summer.
If you want to spend your vacation on the sea swimming and diving, it will be better to go in March, April, September, and October. The temperature during those months is mild, so you can enjoy the sea and nature.
How can I avoid getting sick in Egypt?
If you are visiting Egypt in a hot month, you need to avoid dehydration by drinking big amounts of water. So make sure to have a water bottle during your day tours and keep sipping water all the time.
Sunburns are also possible on hot days, so make sure to bring sunscreen and take it with you during tours. To avoid diarrhea, don’t use tap water, instead drink bottled water only.
Avoid eating street food, or you can only consume cooked food and avoid raw dishes.
Don’t turn the air conditioner on to very low temperatures during hot days because this radical temperature change is an essential reason for many diseases.
Is the Nile cruise worth it?
The Nile cruises is a very interesting way to explore Egypt, in Luxor and Aswan in particular. To book Nile cruises in Egypt check luxorandaswan.com. The Nile cruisers are luxurious with many facilities and entertaining programs.
Furthermore, it includes guided tours to the imposing monument along the Nile. The only drawback of the Nile cruise is the limited time of tours in each site and being restricted to the schedule of the journey.
5 Things to consider before traveling to Egypt
1. Tipping
In Egypt, most service providers expect to tip since they consider it a principal part of their income.
So you need Egyptian currency for tipping, because in some cases, you may be asked for tipping if you haven’t already given one.
2. Guided tours
Even if you travel independently, it is highly recommended to accompany a professional tour guide during your visits to the historical sites and monuments.
It will be difficult for you to recognize the history of those places on your own.
But the tour guide will explain the history and the architecture of each monument in a detailed way, which will make your tour much more interesting and useful.
The professional tour guide can add a lot to your experience, and the silent stone building will acquire meaning and become full of life.
3. Visiting Egypt with a tour agency
You can visit Egypt on your own, but it is much better to do it with a respectable tour agency.
Being with a tour agency will make your vacation more organized and will save you time and money, which may be wasted during trying to get to places or find good restaurants.
Furthermore, the tour agency and the tour guide prevent you from facing problems and if they exist they will solve them professionally.
4. Buy a SIM card
It is very easy and cheap to buy a SIM card after arriving in Egypt, even at the airport, you will find branches for telecommunication companies.
The phone card will be very useful for you in making calls and accessing the Internet.
5. Photography tickets
Some historical sites in Egypt require an additional photography ticket in order to take photos inside. Other sites require permission for only professional photography, but cell phone photos are allowed. So you need to inquire about the policy of each site before taking photos.
In conclusion
Egypt is an amazing country, but you need to plan your vacation well and know more about its tradition to have a perfect journey.