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About Egypt - The People and The Country

Egypt is an historic country engulfed in history and millenniums of mystical legends. The recent growth in property for sale in Egypt is evidence that the country is embracing the overseas property buyer.

Egyptian Country Statistics

  • Capital City: Cairo
  • Government: Republic
  • Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP) (LE / £E)
  • Area total: 1,001,450 km2 land: 995,450 km2 water: 6,000 km2
  • Population: 78,887,007(July 2006 est.)
  • Language: Arabic is the official language although English and French widely understood by educated people
  • Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic Christian and other 10%
  • Telephone Code: 00 20
  • Internet TLD: .eg
  • Time Zone: UTC +2

Places to Visit in Egypt

An absolute must for a visit during your holiday or break in Egypt must include some of the famous archaeological sites from both Lower (North) and Upper (South) Egypt.  The most popular and by a long way famous places include:

  • * The infamous Pyramids
  • * Egyptian Museum
  • * The pyramids and temple complexes at Saqqara and Dashur
  • * The temples of Luxor and the West Bank across the Nile
  • * The Valley of the Kings
  • * Alexandria, with several historical sights and the stunning new Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
  • * The Temples of Abu Simbel

In addition to the expected archaeological and historic sites don't forget the other side of Egypt:

  • * The Red Sea resorts at Sinai peninsula, including Dahab, Hurghada, and Sharm el Sheikh. The Red Sea offers some of the best dive locations in the world.
  • * The sights of the Sinai peninsula, including Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai.
  • * The western desert and the oases there, including Siwa,
  • * Memphis, with some relics of ancient Egypt - including a huge statue of Ramesses II, evoking the image which inspired Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem Ozymandias

Tipping in Egypt

Tips or baksheesh are an integral part of Egyptian culture. You are expected to tip pretty much everybody who does a service for you, and Egyptians will not hesitate to bluntly ask you for baksheesh. Keep a stack of small bills handy for tips — no change is given! Some general guidelines:

  • * Bathroom attendants: LE 1
  • * Cruises: LE 10/day, to be divided by all staff on board
  • * Guide: LE 25-30/day
  • * Hotel bellman: LE 5-10 for all bags
  • * Hotel doorman: LE 10 for services rendered (flagging down taxis etc)
  • * Restaurants: In fancier restaurants, a service charge (10-12%) is added to bills, but a 5-10% tip on top of that is common. In fast-food places, tipping is unnecessary.
  • * Taxi drivers: 10% on metered fares, but not necessary if you agreed the fare in advance
  • * Site custodians: LE 5 if they do something useful, none otherwise
  • * Tour drivers: LE 10/day

If you ask a stranger for directions, tips are not necessary and may even be considered offensive. Officials in uniform, such as police officers, should not be tipped, even though a good few will ask you. Remember that bribery is technically illegal, although if forced to provide one you can rest assured that nothing will happen to you.

Last but not least, be aware that as a foreign tourist, you are seen by many as easy money and you should not let yourself be pressured into tipping for unnecessary or unrequested "services" like self-appointed tour guides latching on to you.

Further Reading

For an excellent read on a guide to Egypt check out the Wikitravel website which features a lot of useful information and tips for travellers to Egypt.