Arab Republic of Egypt
(Egypt)


<p>The mythical, the miraculous and the chaotic everyday.</p>
<p>In the fifth century BC Herodotus wrote of Egypt that 'nowhere are there so many marvellous things...nor in the world besides are to be seen so many things of unspeakable greatness' - and not too much has changed. The Sphinx, the Nile, ancient Luxor, the pyramids - Egypt's scope is glorious.</p>
<p>It's not just the Pharaonic monuments that have drawn travellers to this country since long before the birth of Christ - it's the legacy of the Greeks, Romans and early Christians, and the profusion of art and architecture accumulated from centuries of successive Islamic dynasties.</p>
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Getting There
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To Do & See
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At a Glance
Getting Around:
<p>Egypt has a very good system of public and private transport. Domestic air travel is clearly the quickest way to get around, although it's probably only worth considering if you have lots of money and little time. Otherwise the transport options include buses, trains and boats, and even camels, donkeys and horses.</p> <p> If you're claustrophobic or have a weak stomach you might be uncomfortable travelling on the buses and trains, but they are a great way to meet local people and get a feel for the culture. Buses service virtually every town in Egypt and the 5000km (3100mi) of rail also connects just about every town in the country from Aswan to Alexandria.</p> <p>You can also hire service taxis that shunt car loads of passengers between towns and cities. These vehicles are traditionally Peugeot 504s, however Toyota minibuses are becoming popular as service taxis or microbuses, and they usually congregate at the train and bus stations. The drivers wait until they're full (very full!) before they budge. If you want to join the throng and drive yourself, cars can easily be hired from hotels and airports in most Egyptian towns. Not recommended for the fainthearted.</p>
Weather:
<p>Egypt's climate is hot and dry most of the year. During the winter months - December, January and February - average daily temperatures stay up around 20&#176;C (68&#176;F) on the Mediterranean coast and a pleasant 26&#176;C (80&#176;F) in Aswan. Maximum temperatures get to 31&#176;C (88&#176;F) and 50&#176;C (122&#176;F) respectively. Winter nights only get down to 8&#176;C (45&#176;F), a very Egyptian version of chilly. Alexandria receives the most rain, with 19cm (7.5in) each year, while Aswan is almost bone-dry with just 2mm annually. Between March and April the <i>khamsin</i> blows in from the Western Desert at up to 150kmph (93mph).</p>
Dial in code(s):
Country code: 20
City code:02
Ethnic Groups:
<p>Egyptians, Berbers, Bedouin, Hamitic Arabs and Nubians</p>