Visitor Information
About Egypt
Official Name
Arab Republic of Egypt (Jumhuriyah Misr al-’Arabiyah)
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip
Area
total: 1,001,450 sq. km
land: 995,450 sq. km
water: 6,000 sq. km
Capital
Cairo (Al-Qahirah), 8,900,000 (estimation of 1995)
Main Cities : Population 62,226,000 (estimation of 1999)
Alexandria (al-Iskandariyah) 3,382,000 people, Ismailia, Port Said, El Giza (Al-Jizah),
General Information
Language:
The official language is Arabic; however, English and French are widely spoken.
Shopping:
Shops are generally open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., however, they have extended hours during the summer.
Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s famous bazaar, and similar shopping places have more flexible hours. Best shopping times are late morning and early evening. Bargaining is a common practice in all bazaars and can be fun. You may be offered tea or a soft drink, and when the deal is set, everyone will be smiling and happy.
Taxis and limousines are available at all hotels. Taxis are available at major hotels and usually have fixed rates for certain destinations. The bellman or the hotel information desk may be able to give you a reasonable estimate of the fares. Taxis are generally less expensive, but it is common for them to take in other passengers going the same direction. For the most part, however, they are perfectly reliable and a good bargain. When you hire them, it is best to negotiate the fare in advance.
Local buses are available to all places from the buses stations distributed all over Cairo and other big cities.
Photography:
Egypt is the perfect place for enthusiastic photographers. However, photography is strictly prohibited at military installations public works and government buildings. Some museums and historical sites may not allow photography while others may require a fee. Passport-Visa:
Non-Egyptian visitors arriving in Egypt are required to be in possession of a valid passport. Entry visas may be obtained from Egyptian Diplomatic and Consular Missions Abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). It is, however, possible for most tourists and visitors to obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Ports of Entry. Please check with your nearest Egyptian Consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship.
Note: Most travelers obtain their Visa upon entry to Egypt, and need to use the forms below to obtain a visa. Visa applications are normally passed out by airlines prior to landing at an Egyptian airport.
Download Page 1 in Gif Format
Download Page 2 in Gif Format
The visa form must then be completed, either by printing it out and filing it in or via a graphics editor and sent to the nearest Egyptian Embassy or Consulate.
Notes
- Visitors entering Egypt at the overland border post to Taba to visit Gulf of Aqaba coast and St. Catherine can be exempted from visa and granted a free residence permit for fourteen days to visit the area.
- Citizens of the following countries are required to be in possession of a pre-arrival visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chechnya, Croatia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri-Lanka, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and all African countries.
Residents of the above countries may apply for a visa through their nearest Egyptian Consulate or Embassy.
The Egyptian pound (L.E.) is equal to 100 piastres. Currency notes are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 L.E. Coins are available in 5, 10, 20, 25, and 50 Piasters. There is no mandatory exchange upon entry; however, all Egyptian currency must be accompanied by an official exchange receipt when paying hotel bills. Bank branches are conveniently located at ports of entry, and in all major hotels. Currency Exchange is
available at banks, official bureaux de change and most hotels. Banks often have better exchange rates than bureaux de change or hotels. All common international currencies are accepted.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs:
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted, but generally only in bigger hotels or restaurants in Cairo and restaurants in tourist areas.
Traveler’s Checks:
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler’s cheques in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.
Climate:
Egyptian climate is basically dry and mild. Summers are hot at mid-day, but cool off at night with a constant desert breeze. Winters are mild during the day, but can be quite cold at night. Check out the average season temperature. Rain is rare and is mainly in the winter. In the spring, there can be an occasional sand storm,
Accommodation
Hotels:
Tourism is one of Egypt’s main industries and accommodation is available around all the major attractions and the larger cities. Egypt has all types of accommodation on offer, from deluxe hotels to youth hostels, at prices to suit all budgets. The main cities have moderately priced quality hotels, which must be booked well in advance, especially during the winter months. Smaller hotels are very good value. Hotel bills are subject to a tax and service charge of 12%.
Accommodation Information
Egyptian Hotel Association
8 El Sad El Ali Street, Dokki, Giza, Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (2) 761 1400.
Website: www.egypttourism.org
Contact the Association to obtain a copy of the ’Egyptian Hotel Guide’.