Located in north Africa, Egypt is now largely part of the Arab world in terms of culture and religion. The country borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east.

The northern coast borders the Mediterranean Sea, while the eastern coast borders the Red Sea.

Famed for its impressive ancient civilization, Egypt is home to the world famous pyramids and renowned monuments such as the Great Sphinx and the Giza pyramid complex. In the southern city of Luxor, visitors can view many significant ancient relics such as the Karnak Temple.

There are plenty of flight offers around, so tourists should find flights online in haste and book a last minute holiday to this exciting destination before it's too late.

Traditions and culture in Egypt

If it is culture you are after, then Egypt is the place for you. Egyptian culture has five thousand years of recorded history and its traditions have influenced later the cultures of Europe and the Middle East.

Egypt's capital city Cairo is Africa's largest and has been known for centuries as a centre of learning, culture and commerce. The country came under various outside influences including Hellenism, Christianity, Islam and Arab culture, which have all left their imprint.

Today, many aspects of Egypt's ancient culture still exist, but in interaction with newer elements, including the influence of modern Western culture.

The tradition of music and dance in Egypt is a vibrant mix of native African Egyptian, Arabic and Western influences. Starting from the 1970s, Egyptian pop music has become increasingly important within Egyptian culture, especially among young people.

Egyptian folk music is also popular and is played at weddings and other festivities. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Egyptian music has become a vehicle for socio-political issues.

Recommended in Egypt

There are several religious festivals in Egypt all year round, which offer a great way for tourists to understand and immerse themselves in the local culture.

Ras as-Sana is the celebration of the new Islamic year, and Moulid an-Nabi celebrates the Prophet Mohammed's birthday around May. These celebrations typically involve parades in city streets, with lights, feasts, drummers and various culinary treats.

Weather in Egypt

Egypt's climate is typically hot and dry most of the year. During the winter months - December, January and February - average daily temperatures remain around 20 degrees C (68 degrees Fahrenheit) on the Mediterranean coast and at an agreeable 26 degrees C (80 degrees Fahrenheit) around the Aswan area.

Destination checklist for Egypt

Egypt has a population of around 80 million.

The official language spoken is Arabic so a holiday guide with stock
phrases might be a good idea in order to communicate effectively with locals.

The currency in use is the Egyptian pound.

Egypt is two hours ahead of GMT

The country's international dialling code is +20.