Egypt

Egypt occupies roughly 1,002,000 km² at the crossroads of Africa and western Asia, bordered by Libya, Sudan, Israel, and the Gaza Strip, with coastlines on both the Mediterranean and Red Sea. Cairo, one of Africa's largest cities, serves as the capital. Arabic is the official language and the Egyptian pound the currency. The country's identity is shaped by pharaonic history, Islamic culture, and the Nile, which sustains nearly all agricultural life in an otherwise arid nation.

Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at major Egyptian airports, and Egypt operates an official e-Visa portal through which travellers can apply in advance. Some nationalities require a pre-arranged visa from an Egyptian consulate. Travellers are advised to check the official Egyptian e-Visa system well before departure, as eligibility and conditions vary by passport.

The Giza Plateau outside Cairo holds the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, alongside the Sphinx. Luxor's open-air temple complexes at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings contain some of the best-preserved royal tombs ever found. The Egyptian Museum in central Cairo houses the original treasures of Tutankhamun. Further south, the temples of Abu Simbel, carved directly into a sandstone cliff during Ramesses II's reign, remain a remarkable feat of ancient engineering.

Egypt is predominantly hot desert, with almost no rainfall in most regions. Summers are intense, with temperatures regularly reaching 38–42 °C inland and slightly cooler along the coasts. Winters are mild to warm, ranging from 10–20 °C in Cairo and cooler in the Sinai highlands. October through April is generally the most comfortable period for sightseeing. The Red Sea coast remains warm year-round. Pack sun protection regardless of season, and a light layer for winter evenings.

• Ancient Egyptians invented one of the world's earliest writing systems.
• The Nile is the world's longest river.
• Egypt contains roughly one-third of all ancient monuments worldwide.
• Cairo's metro is Africa's first underground railway system.
• Egypt produces more feature films than any other Arab country.

• egypt.travel — official Egyptian Tourism Authority portal
• visa2egypt.gov.eg — official government e-Visa application system
• ema.gov.eg — Egyptian Meteorological Authority for weather data
• cairoairport.com — official Cairo International Airport authority