Getting In and Around

Visas: A passport and a visa are required for entering Egypt, and you can obtain a renewable 30-day tourist visa on your arrival at any Egyptian airport.
 
Transportation: Driving is the most common form of travel within the country. Egypt’s transportation system is well developed, almost 80 percent of the road network being paved. Cairo’s subway line was completed in 1987 and was the first subway system on the continent of Africa. The Western Desert Highway, a high-speed toll road, connects Cairo and Alexandria, and although you can take the non-toll Delta Road, it will invariably be busier and the traffic slower.     

The state-owned Egyptian Railways, founded in 1852, manages the 3,104 miles (4,995 km) of railways in the country, and there are more than 2,175 miles (3,500 km) of navigable canals that link all parts of the country by steamer service, in addition to the Nile. One of the best ways we’ve traveled in the country is by arriving in Cairo, taking a flight to Aswan, and sailing up the Nile to Luxor, stopping at historic sites along the way. It is a great way to experience Egypt.
 
Mobile Phones: It’s possible to rent a SIM card during you stay in Africa, in case you have a GSM phone and your local cellular provider doesn’t provide service to Egypt. They are readily available in any cellular store in major cities. To dial outside your city code, dial 0 plus the city code plus the phone number. 

Safety and Security

The Egyptian government is aware that it’s in its best financial interest to make sure that tourists are kept safe in the country. Apart from isolated occurrences, Egypt has put in place many safety systems to ensure the protection and well-being of its visitors. Millions of international travelers flock to Egypt’s ancient sites every year, and they have no reason to feel unsafe. As always, however, use your best judgment when traveling in a foreign nation, and exercise heightened caution if you’re going outside the normal tourist areas and closer to Egypt’s borders. You can keep up-to-date with any advisories through the U.S. Department of State’s travel page on Egypt.