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Time Zone |
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Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 from last Friday in April to last Friday in September). |
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Weather |
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The great thing about Egypt is you really don't have to plan for rain as it rarely seems to happen. If you go to Egypt in the summer be prepared for very hot weather. Throughout the Red Sea Riviera humidity is almost non-existent, constant breezes help to make the warm to hot temperatures more than bearable. In the coastal region average annual temperatures range from a maximum of 37° C (99° F) to a minimum of 14° C (57° F). |
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Language |
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Arabic is the official language although English and French are widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas. |
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Flight Time |
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The approximate flight time from London to Egypt is 5 hours. |
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Airports |
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The two main airports are Cairo International and Luxor International, although the main tourist airports are Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Taba and Marsa Alam. Airport facilities include bureaux de change, restaurants, internet cafes, shops, a tourist information desk, post office and left luggage. Wheelchairs are available for disabled passengers; airlines should be notified in advance. |
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Currency |
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The unit of currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), which is divided into 100 piastres. Most credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants. Visitors are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds to avoid additional exchange rate charges. Banks are usually closed on Friday and Saturday, but private exchange bureaux, called 'Forex', are open daily and banks in major hotels are open 24 hours. Branches of the Egyptian British Bank and Banque Misr now have ATMs available that accept Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus and are quite common in the main tourist areas. |
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Telephone Services |
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The international access code for Egypt is +20.
The outgoing code is 00 followed but the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for England).
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Emergency Services |
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Ambulance - 123
Police - 122
Fire Brigade - 180
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Communications |
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There are high surcharges on international calls from hotels; it is cheaper to phone long-distance from the 24-hour Post, Telephone and Telegraph (PTT) offices that are available in Tourist areas. The local mobile phone operators use GSM 900 networks and have roaming agreements with all major operators. Internet cafes are available in the main tourist areas. |
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Passport Information |
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UK citizens must have a passport valid for two months beyond the period of intended stay. |
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Visa
Information |
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A visa is required to enter Egypt. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travellers just travelling to the south Sinai resorts, a free 14-day visa can be obtained on arrival. UK visitors coming into Egypt for a short stay must register with the Office of Foreigners and Nationality within seven days of arrival; hotels will usually take care of this for guests. |
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Health & Safety/Vaccinations |
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No vaccinations are currently required for travel to Egypt, but the Centre for Disease Control recommends taking shots for the following: Hepatitis A, rabies, typhoid, as well as tetanus-diphtheria, measles and polio as needed. The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants and children who did not complete the series as infants, as well as for health care workers or others who might come in contact with blood. |
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EHIC (old E111) |
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A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)is not valid in Egypt. Travel insurance is required to cover all situations and emergencies. |
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Embassy |
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British Embassy
7 Ahmed Ragheb Street
Garden City
Cairo
(20) (2) 794 0852
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Tourist Offices/Information |
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Egyptian Tourist Authority
168 Piccadilly
London W1
Tel: 020 7493 5283
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Duty Free |
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The current duty free allowance when returning to the UK is:
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250 gms of tobacco.
Alcoholic Drinks: 2 litres of still table wine.
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs.
Perfume: 60cc/ml of perfume and 250cc/ml of toilet water.
Other Goods: Gifts and souvenirs to the value of £145.
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Electricity |
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The electricity current is 220 volts, 50 Hz, they use round-pronged plugs. Non 220-volt users are advised to bring a converter! If you are coming from the UK, you will need an adaptor for your plugs (these are available from most high street chemists). |
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Tipping |
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Tipping is known as 'baksheesh' and some small change is expected for most services, though small change can be hard to come by. 'Baksheesh' can be a useful practice in order to gain entry to seemingly inaccessible places, or for extra services- a small tip can open doors, literally. A service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills but a 5% tip is normally given directly to the waiter. Taxi drivers are tipped about 10%.
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Food & Drink |
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It is generally safe to eat properly-prepared, thoroughly cooked meat and vegetables in tourist hotels, on Nile cruise boats, and in tourist restaurants. Eating uncooked vegetables should be avoided. It is best to drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and filtered. Well-known brands of bottled beverages are generally considered to be safe. |
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Postal Services |
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Postcards to countries outside the Middle East cost £e1.25 and take a minimum of seven days to reach their destination. |
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Driving in Egypt |
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The major car rental agencies are represented in Egypt; Hertz, Avis, Budget and Europecar. Driving in Egypt, especially the cities can be a bit hazardous to say the least. Congestion is a huge problem and very few drivers actually follow any traffic rules, including stopping for a red traffic light. Take a taxi and enjoy the wild ride from the back seat! |
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Public Holidays |
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-January 7th - Coptic Christmas
-February 22nd - Union Day
-April 25th - Sinai Liberation Day
-May 1st - Labour Day
-June 18th - Evacuation Day
-July 1st - Bank Holiday
-July 23rd - Revolution Day
-September 11th - Coptic New Year
-October 6th - Armed Forces Day
-October 23rd - National Liberation Day
-October 24th - Suez Victory Day
-December 23rd - Victory Day
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