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| Egypt. |
Egypt Facts & Information
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| Location
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Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and
includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula |
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| Climate
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Desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
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| Terrain
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Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley
and delta |
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| Population
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77,505,756 |
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| Nationality
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Egyptian |
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| Ethnic groups
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Eastern Hamitic stock 99%, Greek, Nubian,
Armenian, other European 1% |
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| Religions
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Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6% |
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| Languages
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Arabic (official), English and French |
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| Government Type
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Republic |
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| Capital
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Cairo |
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| Currency
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Egyptian pound (EGP) |
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| Description of Flag
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Three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and black; the national emblem centered in the white
band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar
to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, Iraq, which
has three green stars in a horizontal line centered in the white
band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band |
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| Egypt Flag
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More Information
 www.cia.gov
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Egypt Culture
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Egypt may be filled with miles
and miles of desert land, but there’s more than enough
habitable land to house some 77.5 million people. Most of the
population—some 99 percent—is made up of Egyptians,
Bedouins and Berbers, while the remaining 1 percent of the population
is made up of Greeks, Nubians, Armenians and other Europeans.
Despite there being a Coptic Era in Egypt’s history, when
Christianity was ushered in, only 6 percent of |
the population follows this religion. The remaining 94 percent
are Muslim, mostly Sunni.
If you’re worried about whether or not you’ll find
other English speakers during your travels, you may be relieved
to note that English (and French) is understood by many in the tourism
industry and those who have higher education in the city. Arabic,
however, is the official language and remains widely used.
Hoping to connect with modern-day Egyptian culture, but don’t
understand Arabic? Try the next best thing and check out a local
club to listen to the country’s eclectic music. Tombs and
temples have long been covered in paintings depicting various instruments
dating back thousands and thousands of years. And while no musical
pieces have been written down from that time, a number of universities
have tried to extrapolate the sounds those instruments would have
made in an attempt to recreate songs from the past. Today, you’ll
find popular Egyptian singers covering everything from American
Top 40 favorites (in Arabic) to songs from Egypt’s greatest
singers, including Umm Kulthum, whose funeral was said to be larger
than that of President Nasser. Whether you hear songs from the past
or present, Egyptians hold a special place for music—and you’ll
find yourself feeling the same, regardless of whether or not you
understand the spoken word.
More Information:
www.state.gov
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Egypt Shopping
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Before you head out to the market
in any of Egypt’s great cities, it’s important to
know that you’ll be encouraged—expected even—to
haggle with vendors. This is especially true over more expensive
items, such as gold and jewelry. Some even call haggling in
Egypt another art form (and, yes, it is legal). The trick with
haggling is to use any prewritten price as a maximum amount
that you’d be willing to pay—aim for something much
lower and then negotiate upwards, |
slowly, until you find a price in the middle that you’re happy
with. One trick: use cash, not credit card. Another tip: try to find
a local who you trust—whether a tour guide or someone you already
know from the country—to help you bring down the “international
tourist” inflation that you’ll no doubt be charged. Finally,
try the phrase “Be kam?” to ask “how much”
something is.
While there are literally hundreds of markets spread throughout
the country, the most famous—by far—is the Khan el-Khalili
market in Cairo. Better known simply as Khan, this market is said
to have been founded in 1382 and responsible for establishing major
trade between the East and West—apparently leading to the
discovery of the North American continent. While you’ll no
doubt find numerous stalls filled with Egyptian art and fine gold
jewelry, don’t be surprised to spot American branded jeans
and other international goods.
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Egypt Restaurants
We’ve provided listings for some of the top restaurants in
Egypt including Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor and more. You’ll
find lavish gourmet restaurants, affordable restaurants serving
up good food, and everything in between. Sample traditional Egyptian
cuisine or other specialty cuisines that are sure to make your taste
buds happy.
Read reviews entered by other patrons and be sure to return to
our site to submit your own restaurant review.
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Egypt Travel Guides
Frommer's Egypt
Lonely Planet Egypt
Let's Go Egypt
Fodors Egypt
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