Egypt flag

Egypt

History

Upper and Lower Egypt were unified, beginning the pharaonic state.
The Great Pyramid was built at Giza for Khufu.
Alexander the Great took Egypt; Alexandria became a Hellenistic capital.
Arab conquest brought Islam and Arabic.
The Suez Canal opened, reshaping world shipping.
The Free Officers movement ended the monarchy and declared a republic.
Africa thumbnailPart ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalCairo
Population107.3M
Area1M km2
CurrencyEgyptian pound

Short facts

RegionNorth Africa
LanguageArabic
Time zoneEET (UTC+2)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Pyramids of Giza: The last surviving wonder of the ancient world, with the Great Sphinx.
  • Karnak and Luxor: Temple complexes on the Nile at ancient Thebes, opposite the Valley of the Kings.
  • Abu Simbel: Ramesses II's rock temples, relocated stone by stone above Lake Nasser.

Find a city in Egypt

Showing all cities

Cairo thumbnailCairoCity

Planning questions

What is Egypt known for?Pyramids of Giza, Karnak and Luxor, Abu Simbel.
What is the capital?Cairo.
Which language is useful?Arabic.
When is the national day?23 July.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Cairo International Film Festival thumbnailCairo International Film FestivalNov 2026 ยท Egypt

Use Cairo as the first planning anchor for Egypt, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Pyramids of GizaKarnak and LuxorAbu SimbelCairoStreet foodCoffee
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Africa thumbnailDesert and dry-season planningWeather windows, heat, distance and route timing.