FOLLOW US

World Travel Guide > Guides > Africa > Egypt

Egypt travel guide

About Egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country where history feels less like a subject and more like a companion. Stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the edge of the Sahara, Egypt is shaped by the Nile River, whose steady flow has sustained civilisation here for more than five millennia. Few destinations offer such a continuous human story, where ancient temples, medieval mosques and modern city life exist side by side.

Cairo, the capital, is a city of immense scale and energy, where traffic, call to prayer and daily life unfold against the backdrop of some of the world's most famous monuments. Just beyond the city rise the Pyramids of Giza, reminders of a time when Egypt stood at the centre of the ancient world. Further south, the Nile Valley reveals a procession of temples, tombs and river towns, culminating in Aswan, where Egypt slows and the river widens into a landscape of islands and granite outcrops.

Beyond its antiquities, Egypt offers striking contrasts. The Red Sea coast is known for coral reefs and clear waters, the Western Desert for vast oases and silence, and Alexandria for its Mediterranean character and layered history. Whether exploring tombs in Luxor, sipping tea on a felucca or diving offshore reefs, Egypt delivers experiences that feel both monumental and deeply human.

Travel here rewards curiosity and patience. Distances can be long, bureaucracy occasionally slow, and daily life noisy and chaotic. Yet Egypt's warmth, humour and sense of continuity leave a strong impression. This is not a country you simply visit; it is one you absorb.

Key facts

Area:

1,001,450 sq km (386,662 sq miles).

Population:

116.5 million (2024).

Population density:

119 per sq km.

Capital:

Cairo.

Government:

Democratic Republic.

Head of state:

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi since 2014.

Head of government:

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli since June 2018.

Related Articles

City Highlight: Cairo

Amid ancient monuments, 19th century splendour and the buzz of modern technology, Cairo, Egypt’s capital, roars with life

13 of the best lost cities

Determined archaeologists have helped to uncover ancient lost cities and put them on the map again, and here are our top picks

Book a Hotel