How to enter Egypt, and where to land first.
Airports, the e-visa, internal connections, the cities that anchor each archaeological region.
Egypt is a long country arranged along a single line of water. Cairo sits roughly two-thirds of the way down from the Mediterranean coast. Luxor and Aswan are five hundred and seven hundred kilometres further south, respectively. Distances are real; any sensible plan divides the country into at least two bases.
Arrival
Cairo International (CAI) handles almost all intercontinental traffic. Sphinx International (SPX), twenty minutes west of CAI by motorway, is closer to the Giza plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum and now takes a growing volume of charter and regional flights. Alexandria runs two airports — Borg El Arab (HBE) and the smaller in-city Nouzha — useful if your route begins on the Mediterranean coast.
The e-visa
Most nationalities are eligible for a single-entry tourist visa on arrival, valid 30 days. The official e-Visa portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg issues the same document electronically. A passport with at least six months of remaining validity is the safe rule.
Within Egypt
By rail
The Egyptian National Railways (ENR) connects Cairo with Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan along its principal lines. The Watania overnight sleeper from Cairo Ramses south is the standard option for travellers who prefer not to fly internally. New-generation Talgo carriages were introduced in 2023 on the Cairo–Alexandria route.
By air
EgyptAir's domestic network links Cairo to Luxor (1 h), Aswan (1 h 20 min), and Abu Simbel via Aswan (40 min onward). Internal flights are heavily subsidised relative to international comparisons.
By river
A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan remains the slowest, loveliest method for the upper sites. Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae appear on the same itinerary, with the boat mooring within walking distance of each. Cruises run October to April.
Gateway by region
- Giza plateau & GEM Cairo or Sphinx International. Metro to Giza, taxi to the plateau. Forty minutes from central Cairo.
- Tahrir, Coptic Cairo, the Citadel Central Cairo. Direct, on the metro grid. The Citadel is best approached by taxi up Mokattam Hill.
- Saqqara, Dahshur, Memphis Cairo via the southern ring road. Forty to fifty-five minutes by car. Public transport is impractical; private hire is standard.
- Karnak, Luxor temple, Theban necropolis Luxor. One-hour internal flight from Cairo; overnight sleeper.
- Philae, Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam Aswan. The Philae complex is reached by motorboat from the south Aswan jetty.
- Abu Simbel Aswan, then onward by air (40 min) or by road (3 h).
- Alexandria, Bibliotheca, Catacombs Alexandria. Three hours by rail from Cairo, two and a half by car.
- White Desert, Black Desert Bahariya Oasis, five hours by road from Cairo. Private 4×4 onward.
- St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai Sharm El Sheikh, then road inland.
An itinerary that respects the geography of the river pauses long enough at each stop to let the place do its own talking.
Currency & payments
The Egyptian pound (EGP) is the local currency. The exchange rate is volatile; obtain a sense of the daily rate before exchanging. Cards work universally in Cairo, Alexandria and at major sites; cash is essential in oases and on the Luxor west bank. ATMs are common in cities and at airports.
Suggested allocation
Seven days, broadly: three in Cairo (Tahrir, GEM, NMEC, Coptic Cairo, Citadel), two in Luxor (Karnak, west bank), one in Aswan (Philae, Nubia Museum), one in Abu Simbel (full-day excursion from Aswan). Two weeks accommodates the addition of Alexandria, Saqqara, and one Western Desert oasis.