Question 1

Why Visit Egypt?

Accepted Answer

Egypt and its ancient culture along the Nile has captivated and amazed travelers for centuries. From the sand-covered tombs of lost civilizations to the dusty, barren desert of the Sahara, Egypt will bring out the adventurer in all of us.

You get to learn the history of Ancient Egypt, see firsthand the ruins of the pinnacle of human achievements, and act out one of your favorite scenes from the Indiana Jones movies. Now, tell me why you would not want to visit Egypt? 😛

Question 2

When to Visit Egypt?

Accepted Answer

October to April is usually the best time to visit due to mild weather, but in my opinion, the crowds and the increase in price might ruin it for you. I would recommend shoulder seasons like June or September, where you will have the best of both worlds with fewer people, okay weather, and not too expensive.

Question 3

How to Get to Egypt?

Accepted Answer

Cairo is a big city, in fact, one of the biggest in Africa, and you will have no trouble finding a flight there. But be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest possible flight for your trip.

Question 4

How to Get Around Egypt?

Accepted Answer

Trains and buses are well-connected with tourist cities. The cheapest mode of intercity transportation I found was buses, but trains do offer a nice way of seeing the country from a different perspective.

To learn more about the train schedule, I always consulted Seat61.com's comprehensive guide to trains in Egypt.

For buses, I always go with GoBus because they are comfortable, reliable, and cheaper than the trains.

In Cairo, taxis and metros are recommended. Metros are only accessible within the main city premises, so you might be required to take a taxi to go further, such as from Cairo to the pyramids of Giza. If you are taking a taxi, hail it from the street and don't ever get in until you verify that their meter is not "broken". If you don't have much choice, say coming back from the pyramid, bargain hard and don't ever get in a taxi until you and the driver agree upon a price.

Question 5

How NOT to Get Scammed?

Accepted Answer

Scamming is common in Egypt, and it is important for you to know how they do it and how you can avoid getting scammed, like I did. I have written an entire article about it, so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt here.

Here are a few things to keep in mind: Everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it is the taxi driver who pretends the meter is broken, a person impersonating a guard and attaching themselves to you like leeches until you pay them, people pretending to give you free stuff which is actually not free, or people starting a friendly conversation out of nowhere. So keep your eyes open and ignore any interactions that seem out of the ordinary.

If you really have no time for these scammers and would like to visit Egypt in peace, I highly recommend that you go on either a day trip or an organized tour instead. Being with a local tour guide will significantly reduce your chances of having to deal with these people, and you will be able to enjoy Egypt without any hassles.

There are several day trips you can join in Egypt from Viator or GetYourGuide. If you want to explore further, you can also go on an organized multi-day trip that will help you avoid all the unnecessary annoyances that come with visiting Egypt.

Question 6

Is it Safe in Egypt?

Accepted Answer

One thing to be aware of in Egypt is scams. Scamming is very common here, and it is important for you to know how they operate and how you can avoid getting scammed, as I did.

I have written an entire article about it, so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt there. That said, not all locals are out to scam you. It's just that the scammers are the loudest, most aggressive, and they always make themselves known to you the moment you arrive at a tourist attraction.

Here are a few things to keep in mind: everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it be the taxi driver who pretends the meter was broken, a person impersonating a security guard taking you to where you want to go before asking for money, or people pretending to give you free stuff but then aggressively asking you to pay.

There is simply no shortage of them, and there is no way to avoid them, either. So, whenever a person comes up to have a friendly conversation with you, be extremely skeptical about it, as more often than not, they will try to scam you along the way.

Start Here

2 Weeks in Egypt: A Complete Backpacking Itinerary

Planning

Explore Luxor: 10 Awesome Things to Do & Places to Visit

Discover Aswan: 8 Best Things to Do & Places to Visit

Exploring Cairo: 10 Best Things to Do & Places to See

22 Beautiful Travel Photos from Egypt

How Not to Get Scammed in Egypt