Egypt

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Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

In Cairo, the two best means of transport are the metro and the taxis. The metro has only two lines but a third is being constructed. It has the advantage that you can avoid the heavy traffic of the metropolis. There are very many taxis and they are convenient. But be careful, the meters in their vehicles are just decorative pieces and they have the tendency of exaggerating the tariff. Moreover, the drivers do not speak English and do not always know the schedules. Since 2006, there is a metered yellow taxi service, the Cairo City Cab. In Alexandria, there are tramway lines and taxis. Buses and urban minibuses are not recommended.

Maps of urban networks

Cairo Metro map.

Transportation from Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car rental
Cairo Intl (CAI)	19 km / 12 miles	EGP 70-80 / 30-60 min	Available	Available	www.cairo-airport.com/Available
Alexandria - Borg el Arab Intl (HBE)	60 km / 38 miles	EGP 80-100 / 40-45 min	EGP 6

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

There is a good railway network which serves all the cities along the Nile. There are also many buses stopping at the primary destinations of the country and notably Sinai. It is advised against taking the minibuses criss-crossing the country since they are very dangerous. Finally, there are domestic flights serving among others Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor, Alexandria, Aswan, Taba, Marsa Matrouh, etc.

Rail companies

Egyptian National Railways

Airlines

You can consult the list of airlines banned within the EU. Look also the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

The major roads are convenient. It is better to avoid night driving outside the towns. There are very few gas stations. In the event of an accident, help is almost nonexistent. Hence you must rely on the help from other drivers. Only third party insurance, cheap but not of high value, is compulsory. It is advised to take additional insurance once you are in the country.

Road maps

Egypt Maps

Find an itinerary

Via Michelin

Different forms of tourism

Historical

The city of Cairo with its historic district and the famous pyramids of Gizeh.
Luxor, Aswan and the Nile Valley cannot obviously be overlooked with their archeological sites (Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Temple of Karnak, Hatchepsout, Abou Simbel).

Cultural

Cairo hosts every year an international film festival in November. The city offers many cultural activities. The Ahram Hebdo proposes every week a selection of cultural events of the week at Alexandria and Cairo.

Nature

Ecotourism and desert safaris. Siwa Oasis, Marsa el Alam Park.

Religious

Religious tourism is not well developed. The pilgrimage around the St.Catherine convent can be pointed out. In the same way, the El Azhar mosque attracts many tourists.

Thermal

Spa tourism is not well-developed. It is mostly practiced around the Siwa oasis.

Beach

The Red Sea coastline is especially famous. Also the seaside resorts of Charm El Sheikh, Taba, Dahab and Hurghada have been developed to a great extent. Several tour operators offer stays in this area.

Winter sports

Non-existent

Outdoor activities

It is possible to do scuba diving, fishing and snorkeling in the Red Sea. In the same way, trekking in 4x4, on camel or on pony are possible in the desert.

Shopping

The Khan El Khalili Bazar in Cairo is part of the must-see, must-do places of Cairo. There is a trend of shopping centres multiplying, but for the most part, they have only medium range products. Some galleries of large hotels offer luxury products

Tourism organizations

Tourism Bureau
Tour Egypt

Health and safety

Health precautions

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers over one year old coming from affected areas.

The risk of Bird Flu is high.

Generally speaking, health and hygiene conditions are not very good and so it is best to avoid eating less cooked or raw food (especially meat and eggs), drinking tap water and eating raw vegetables. Likewise, it can be difficult for persons suffering from respiratory diseases to bear the atmospheric pollution in Cairo.
Bathing in freshwater exposes you to the risk of bilharziasis (or schistosomiasis) present in the Nile river valley and delta.  

You are advised against bathing unless you get reliable opinion on the spot. Hepatitis A and B are common and it is wise to be vaccinated. For long stays, expatriation or stays in rural areas, vaccines against rabies and typhoid are recommended. A very high rate of Hepatitis C has been noticed. Skin piercing, barbers or hairdressers which are very popular must be avoided at all costs.

For further information on sanitary conditions

Recommendations of the World Health Organization on Egypt.

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference

It is %T:%M %A in Cairo (GMT+2 in winter, GMT+3 in summer)

Summer time period

Summer time from April to September.