Travel to Egypt

Egypt: travel and transport

How do you get to Egypt?

From Europe, the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to travel to Egypt is usually by plane. But there are also ship connections and – but not from Europe – bus connections. Direct

Plane

flights go from various European cities to Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai, Hurghada on the Red Sea, Luxor and Marsa Alam. These airports also have connections to Eilat in Israel and Aqaba in Jordan.

Ship

There are ship connections for passengers from Genoa and Naples to Alexandria and Port Said and from Venice to Alexandria. There is also a ferry connection between Aqaba in Jordan and Nuweiba.

Bus Bus

connections go from Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and other places in Israel as well as from Amman in Jordan to Eilat on the Egyptian border. There is also a daily bus between Jerusalem and Cairo.

Travel in the country

Air connections

Domestic flights operate daily from Cairo to Alexandria, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel as well as weekly to Marsa Matruh, St. Catherine’s Monastery and Taba.

Bus

A very good national bus network connects all cities in Egypt as well as the remote regions. Shared taxis and minibuses even run between the individual villages.

Railway

The country has a total of around 5,100 km of railway line. There are train connections from Cairo to Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and towards Sinai.

Roads, rental cars

Egypt’s road network covers around 68,000 km. The country’s most important roads are very well developed, the secondary routes are less recommendable because of potholes and shifting dunes. An international driver’s license is required for rental cars.

Egypt is one of the countries with the highest number of traffic accidents in the world. On the long-distance routes in particular, there are often excessive speed violations and night driving without lights or only with parking lights. Due to the risk of fundamentalist terrorist attacks, traveling the distance from Cairo to Luxor by car or bus is only recommended when accompanied by a police convoy. Tours outside of official routes (so-called off-road tourism) as well as individual trips in certain regions require approval. All routes are provided with fixed checkpoints at regular intervals. Due to insufficiently marked minefields, special caution is required on the Sinai, in some coastal areas of the Red Sea.

Ferry connections

Egypt has around 3,500 km of navigable waterways, including the Nile, Lake Nasser, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. There is regular ferry service between Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada. Nile cruises are also offered to visit the temples between Luxor and Aswan. Driving on the route between Cairo and Luxor is not recommended because of the risk of terrorist attacks.

On the night of February 2nd to 3rd, 2006, the more than 30-year-old roll-on-roll-off ferry “Al Salam Boccaccio 98” sank on the way from Duba in Saudi Arabia to Safaga in Egypt. Of the approx. 1,400 passengers on the ferry, over 1,000 were believed to have died in the accident. According to expert statements from the London shipping register Lloyd’s, roll-on-roll-off ferries are generally not considered to be very stable. If little water gets into these ships, the risk of capsizing and sinking is very high. The percentage of this type of ferry in accidents of this kind is huge. Of course, this risk applies worldwide.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Egypt is:

ET

Tourist offices

Egyptian Tourist Office in Germany

Kaiserstraße 66

60329 Frankfurt/Main

Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 252 153

Fax: 0049 – (0) 69 – 239 876

Email: Staatlich@aegyptisches-fremdenverkehrsamt.de

Egyptian Tourist Office in Austria

Opernring 3/3/301

1010 Vienna

Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 587 66 33

Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 587 66 34

Email: aeggypt@chello.at

Egyptian Tourist Office in Switzerland

Marktgasse 59

3011 Berne

Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 311 22 10

Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 311 22 85

Official website: www.egypt.travel

Entry and exit regulations

Mit einem normalen sowie einem vorläufigen Pass ist die Einreise nach Ägypten möglich, sofern die Dokumente bei der Einreise noch sechs Monate gültig sind.

Bei der Einreise mit dem Personalausweis. Bei der Ankunft erhalten Touristen eine Einreisekarte, für die zwei biometrische Passfotos mitzubringen sind. Bislang war nur ein Foto nötig.

Außerdem benötigen deutsche Staatsangehörige ein Visum, das gegen eine Gebühr von der ägyptischen Botschaft in Berlin und den Generalkonsulaten in Frankfurt und Hamburg sowie seit Dezember 2017 auch als ‘E-Visa’ ausgestellt.”

Es besteht auch die Möglichkeit, das Dokument direkt bei der Einreise vor Ort kostenpflichtig an offiziellen Bankschalten vor Erreichen der Passschalter” zu erwerben.

Visa department of the Embassy of Egypt

Stauffenbergstr. 6-7

10785 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 47 90 18 80, 47 75 47 40/50

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 477 40 00

Email: consularsection@egyptian-embassy.de

Importing and exporting goods As a

rule, everything for personal use can be imported without any formalities, but you have to register in advance if you want to bring a video camera. The following articles can be imported into Egypt duty-free:

– 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 g tobacco

– 1 l alcoholic beverages

– 1 l eau de cologne and perfume for personal use

There is a strict import ban on drugs, narcotics, medication (except for personal use) and cotton. There is a strict export ban on antique objects (over 100 years old) and all plants and animals (e.g. corals) that are protected by nature and species. Drugs and food are not allowed. Gold and silver purchased in the country may only be exported in small quantities for personal use. Drug offenses are punishable by harsh penalties (imprisonment up to the death penalty in particularly severe cases) even if they are minor.

Import and export of foreign currency

  • Local currencyThe import and export of the local currency is limited to 5,000 EGP.
  • Foreign currenciesThe import of foreign currencies is unlimited, but there is an obligation to declare. The export is limited to the amount declared upon entry.

Egypt: travel medicine, vaccinations, warnings

Infectious Diseases

In Egypt, the following infectious diseases, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected:

  • Malaria: The risk of infection is rather low, especially between June and October. Both the more dangerous malaria tropica and malaria tertiana occur.
  • Amoebic dysentery
  • Bacterial agitation
  • Schistosomiasis
  • cholera
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
  • Filariasis
  • Typhus
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Kala Azar disease
  • Leishmaniasis Disease
  • Polio, polio
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • tetanus
  • rabies
  • typhus

Vaccination recommendations

  • Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
  • Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.

Compulsory vaccination

For all persons older than one year and coming from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.

Yellow fever vaccination of children

In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory, this also applies to children over a year old, and in some countries even from six months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!

Malaria prophylaxis

When traveling in the country it is advisable to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.

Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?

Most children in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.

Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007. There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge. Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.

As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.

  • cholera
  • diphtheria
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • Yellow fever
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Pneumococci
  • Polyo (polio)
  • Tetanus (tetanus)
  • rabies
  • typhus

Current warnings

Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizens Service

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000

Egypt: currency, shopping and exchange rate

The national currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound.

1 EG £ = 100 piastres.

The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:

  • 1
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20th
  • 50
  • £ 100 EC

Exchange rate

You can find a currency converter at: http://www.gcitrading.com/german/converter.htm

Bank opening hours

Banks in Egypt are open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday through Thursday.

Shop

Shop opening times

The shops in Egypt are in winter from Saturday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or Monday and Thursday until 8:00 p.m. and in summer from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Open at midnight. In the fasting month of Ramadan, the opening times change differently.

Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs

In Egypt , tourists like to buy jewelry (especially gold jewelry decorated with hieroglyphics), replicas of ancient Egyptian reliefs and statues, cotton clothing, Coptic fabrics, leather goods, carpets, papyri, wooden items such as game boards and musical instruments, metal goods made of copper and brass with engravings (plates, Tabletops), perfume essences and spices.

Egypt: embassies, consulates

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Egypt embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

Representations of Egypt in Germany

The embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt is located in the immediate vicinity of the “German Resistance” memorial in Stauffenbergstrasse. The building with its red-brown marble tiles – into which ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and symbols were incorporated – symbolizes the two ancient Egyptian capitals of Upper and Lower Egypt. Upper Egypt is symbolized by the papyrus cultivation and lower Egypt by the lotus. Diplomatic work in the building began in mid-October 2001.

Embassy in Berlin

Stauffenbergstrasse 6-7

10785 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 477 5470

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 477 1049

Email: embassy@egyptian-embassy.de

Web: www.egyptian-embassy.de

Responsible for Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia

Region Contact
Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarla Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Frankfurt am MainEysseneckstrasse 34

Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 955 1340

Fax: 0049 – (0) 69 – 597 2131

Email: www.egyptian-consulate-ffm.com

Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in HamburgMittelweg 183

20148 Hamburg

Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 133 260

Fax: 0049 – (0) 40 – 106 115

Email: gen-kons-et-hh@gmx.de

German representations in Egypt

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Cairo

Cairo 2

Sharia Berlin (corner of Sharia Hassan Sabri) Cairo Zamalek

mailing address

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, 2,

Sharia Berlin (off Sharia Hassan Sabri), Zamalek

Cairo 11211, Egypt

Tel: 0020 – (0) 2 – 27 28 20 00

Fax: 0020 – (0) 2 – 27 28 21 59

E-Mail: info@kairo.diplo.de

Web: www.kairo.diplo.de

Consulates

Region Contact
Governorates of Alexandria, Beheira, Dakahliya, Damiette, Gharbiya, Kafr El Sheikh Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Alexandria9, El Fawatem Street

Mazarita, Alexandria

:

Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany

Leader Group Shipping Services

9 El FawatemStreet

Mazarita, Alexandria, EgyptTel: 0020 – 3 – 486 7503

Fax: 0020 – 3 – 484 0977

Email: germconsulate@leadergroup.net

Red Sea Governorate Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Hurghada465, El Gabal El Shamali

Hurghada:

Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany

465, El Gabal El Shamali

Hurghada, Red Sea, EgyptTel: 0020 – 65 – 344 3605

Fax: 0020 – 65 – 344 3605

Austrian representations in Egypt

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Cairo

El Nile Street/Corner 5, Wissa Wassef Street,

5th Floor, Riyadth-Tower, Giza

11111 Cairo

Tel: 0020 – (0) 2 – 570 2975

Fax: 0020 – (0) 2 – 570 2979

Email: kairo-ob@bmaa.gv.at

www.bmeia.gv.at/botschaften-konsulate/suche-nach-oesterreichischen-vertretungen/

The Austrian embassy in Egypt is still responsible for Eritrea and Sudan.

Honorary Consulate General Alexandria (without passport authorization)

8 Rue Eglise Debbané

Alexandrien

Tel: 0020 – (0) 3 – 480 8888

Fax: 0020 – (0) 3 – 487 9190

Representations of Egypt in Austria

Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Vienna

Hohe Warte 50 – 54

1190 Vienna

Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 370 8104

Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 370 8104 – 27

Email: egyptembassyvienna@egyptembassyvienna.at

Web: www.egyptembassyvienna.at

Consular section of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Hohe Warte 50 – 54

1190 Vienna

Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 370 81 08 – 60, 61, 62

Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 370 81 08 – 69

Email: egyptembassyvienna @ egyptembassyvienna.at

Web: www.egyptembassyvienna.at

Swiss representations in Egypt

Embassy, Embassy of Switzerland in Cairo

10, Abdel Khalek Sarwat Street

11511 Cairo

:

Embassy of Switzerland

PO Box 633

11511 Cairo

Egypt

Tel: 0020 – (0) 2 – 2575 8284

Fax: 0020 – (0) 2 – 2574 5236

Email: cai.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

www.eda.admin.ch/cairo

Representations of Egypt in Switzerland

Chancellerie, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Bern

Elfenauweg 61

3006 Bern

Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 352 8012

0041 – (0) 31 – 352 8013

Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 352 0625

Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Geneva

Route de Florissant 47ter

1206 Geneva

Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 347 6379

0041 – (0) 22 – 347 6255

Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 346 0571

Travel to Egypt