Egypt Destination Guide

Egypt is a beguiling destination, inhospitably arid yet laced with verdant ribbons flanking its Nile River. Cairo, Egypt’s capital city, is in many respects a throbbing centre of cultural inspiration, artistic creativity and blooming democracy.

Of course, visits to the great Pyramids at Giza are a must, as are Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and its Temples of Luxor. Yet even as Ancient Egypt is fascinating, contemporary Egypt can be just as thrilling.

Egypt’s second largest city, Alexandria, rests on the northern shoals of Africa and enjoys an abundance of fresh fish and seafood. Visit Balbaa Restaurant, occupying an entire city block of Alexandria, and get caught up in a commotion of feasting locals. Always look up and admire the city’s Belle Epoque details on its buildings. Fill up like a camel on the coal-black coffee the city is famous for, and explore some of the beautiful oddities here, like Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa, the largest Roman crypts in Egypt.

Get out of Egypt’s thronged cities and visit the Coptic Monasteries on the Red Sea Coast, or spend the day at one of the (admittedly overdeveloped) beach resorts, possibly off the mainland of Hurghada, snorkeling and diving in its still-beautiful waters.