Welcome Cairo
Egypt! Land of the pharaohs, pyramids, and ancient mysteries. Here are some interesting facts and information about Egypt:
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Light, loose cotton clothing is highly recommended when visiting Egypt, and a light-medium jacket or windbreaker should be sufficient if you’re visiting during fall or winter. Make sure to pack all your hot and sunny weather essentials: sunscreen, lip balm, a hat, and sunglasses! Carrying a scarf or light cardigan is encouraged, as visitors will be expected to cover their arms and legs when visiting certain landmarks and sites, such as mosques, churches, and synagogues. Don’t forget comfortable shoes for visiting archaeological sites.
Arabic is the official language of Egypt, spoken by the entire population of over 100 million citizens. In urban centers and popular tourist destinations, many locals understand and are fluent in English. In tourist areas, other European languages—such as French, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, and Italian—are also commonly spoken.
Egypt’s national currency is the Egyptian Pound (geneh), and the design of each note depicts the country’s rich cultural heritage! Beautiful designs reflect images of ancient Egyptian figures, Islamic civilization, Arabesque patterns, and Arabic calligraphy. Banknotes come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200. The one pound is also circulated as a coin. Currency exchanges are readily available all around the country in nearly every major hotel, tourist destination, and airport. Commercial banks offer ATMs with currency exchange services 24/7.
If you don’t have roaming services enabled, all of Egypt’s major telecom operators offer temporary holiday lines for tourists. Visit any WE, Orange, Vodafone, or Etisalat shop and ask for a temporary line with plenty of minutes and internet data to last throughout your trip. If you are working remotely, you can also inquire about buying a MiFi device with a large data package. All telecom service providers will need to make copies of your passport in order to process the required paperwork. The majority of hotels offer free WiFi services for guests to use during their stay.
KEY FACTS
Capital
cairo
Government
Presidential republic
Population
102 million
Language
arabic (official)
Must-Visit Attractions
Pyramids of Giza
The Great Sphinx
The Grand Egyptian Museum
Luxor and Aswan
Essential Arabic Phrases
1. Hello: مرحبا
Pronounced: Marhaba
2. Thank you: شكرا
Pronounced: Shukraan
3. Goodbye: مع السلامة
Pronounced: Ma'a al-salaama
4. Yes: نعم
Pronounced: Na'am
5. No: لا
Pronounced: La
Currency
- Egyptian Pound (EGP) : The local currency, divided into 100 piastres.
- Credit Cards : Widely accepted in tourist areas, but cash is still king.
- ATMs : Available in major cities and tourist areas.
USEFUL CONTACTS
– Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: 19654
– Tourist Police: 126
– Ambulance: 123
– Air Hospital Service: +(202) 377 66392/3
In Egypt, the standard socket plug for electricity is:
Egypt travel adaptors
You will need to consider what to pack, to ensure you can use your personal electrical appliances safely whilst abroad. This normally includes the use of a travel adaptor, which is a device that simply allows you to plug any UK electrical appliance into a foreign electrical socket. It is important to note that it does not convert the voltage or frequency.
For Egypt there are two associated plug types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Egypt operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Additional Information:
– Egypt also uses Type C (Europlug) sockets, which are smaller and have 2 round prongs.
– Some older buildings or rural areas might use different types of sockets, but Type E/F is the most common.
Note: When traveling to Egypt, it’s a good idea to bring a universal travel adapter that can accommodate Type E/F plugs.
