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The journey
1. The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx · 2. The Grand Egyptian Museum · 3. Khan el-Khalili and Islamic Cairo · 4. The Citadel of Salah El Din · 5. A felucca on the Nile and Zamalek 5 Cairo and Giza 5 places6. Karnak Temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes · 7. Luxor Temple · 8. The Valley of the Kings · 9. A Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan · 10. Philae Temple · 11. The temples of Abu Simbel 6 Luxor and Aswan 6 places12. El Gouna · 13. The Giftun Islands · 14. Ras Mohammed National Park 3 The Red Sea 3 places15. Bibliotheca Alexandrina · 16. Qaitbay Citadel and the Corniche · 17. El Alamein and Marina 3 North Coast 3 places

Egypt · travel notes

EgyptEgypt travel guide: places, food, what to wear

Pyramids in winter, the sea all summer

See the places Homes here

Cairo · Giza · the Red Sea

Things to do in Egypt this week

Today, Saturday 7 November · 5 events

Today7 NovTomorrow8 NovMonday9 NovComing upNov / Dec
Conductor Nader Abbassi in white tie and tails holding his baton, in black and whiteConcert Cairo Symphony Orchestra: Scheherazade9:00 PM Kuwait · 8:00 PM CairoMain Hall, Cairo Opera House, CairoA Saturday night of Arabian Nights music under the chandeliers of Cairo's grand opera house
A trumpeter of the band ARIFA playing on stage under red lights; ARIFA play the festival on Friday 6 NovemberFestival Cairo International Jazz Festival 2026 (18th edition)Daily until Sat 7 NovAmerican University in Cairo, Tahrir Square campus, CairoThree nights of live jazz from 12 countries on a historic downtown campus, with a kids' workshop on Friday
Poster of the play Fein Alby: a portrait of Mohamed Fawzi with vinyl records rising from his head and the title in ArabicTheatre Fein Alby: Mohamed Fawzi's Play10:00 PM Kuwait · 9:00 PM CairoThe Theater, Movenpick, GizaA song and dance tribute to golden-age music legend Mohamed Fawzi
Refilwe Thlolakele of Mamelodi Sundowns runs with the ball in the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League qualifiersSport TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League, Egypt 2026Daily until Sun 15 NovSuez Canal Authority Stadium, IsmailiaAfrica's best women's club teams fight for the continental title, with Egypt's FC Masar in the mix.
Two stacked stone totems from Formed By Dialogue beside an ancient seated statue of Sekhmet at the Egyptian Museum in TahrirExhibition Formed By DialogueDaily until Sat 14 NovEgyptian Museum, CairoNew design pieces shown beside ancient treasures in Cairo's historic Egyptian Museum, ten days only

All events and what is coming up

Egypt at a glance

Egypt is the trip many Kuwaiti families feel they already know: the dialect from the films and songs, the food, the warmth of the welcome. It is about three hours away, halal food is the norm and the call to prayer marks every day. And it still surprises you: pyramids 4,500 years old at the edge of a city of millions, temples along the Nile, coral reefs in the Red Sea and white beaches on the Mediterranean.

This guide keeps it short: seventeen places in four regions, in the order families usually travel them. Cairo and Giza first, for the pyramids and the new Grand Egyptian Museum; then Luxor and Aswan, at their best in the winter sun; then the Red Sea resorts; and finally Alexandria and the North Coast, Egypt's summer shore. For each place we say what it is, when to go and one useful tip.

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Information checked in October 2026. Opening times, fees and booking change, so check the official site before you go.

Cairo and Giza

The pyramids and the new museum that tells their story, the old city's bazaar and citadel, and the Nile at sunset.

The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, GizaGizaThe Pyramids of Giza and the SphinxOctober to April, early morning1
The Grand Egyptian Museum, GizaGizaThe Grand Egyptian MuseumAll year, indoors2
Khan el-Khalili and Islamic Cairo, CairoCairoKhan el-Khalili and Islamic CairoOctober to April, late afternoon3
The Citadel of Salah El Din, CairoCairoThe Citadel of Salah El DinOctober to April, in the morning4
A felucca on the Nile and Zamalek, CairoCairoA felucca on the Nile and ZamalekOctober to April, at sunset5

Luxor and Aswan on the Nile

Temples and royal tombs on both banks of the river, a cruise between them, and temples saved from the lake in the far south, all in warm winter sun.

Karnak Temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes, LuxorLuxorKarnak Temple and the Avenue of SphinxesOctober to April, early or late in the day6
Luxor Temple, LuxorLuxorLuxor TempleOctober to April, after sunset7
The Valley of the Kings, West Bank, LuxorWest Bank, LuxorThe Valley of the KingsOctober to April, from opening time8
A Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, Luxor to AswanLuxor to AswanA Nile cruise from Luxor to AswanOctober to April9
Philae Temple, AswanAswanPhilae TempleOctober to April, late afternoon10
The temples of Abu Simbel, Abu Simbel, south of AswanAbu Simbel, south of AswanThe temples of Abu SimbelOctober to March, at sunrise11

The Red Sea

Coral reefs, calm lagoons and family resorts from El Gouna and Hurghada down to Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi, and across the water at Sharm El Sheikh.

El Gouna, Red Sea, north of HurghadaRed Sea, north of HurghadaEl GounaOctober to May12
The Giftun Islands, HurghadaHurghadaThe Giftun IslandsSpring and autumn13
Ras Mohammed National Park, South Sinai, near Sharm El SheikhSouth Sinai, near Sharm El SheikhRas Mohammed National ParkSpring and autumn14

Alexandria and the North Coast

A Mediterranean city of libraries and seafront cafés, then the white beaches of the Sahel, Egypt's summer coast, from El Alamein west to the turquoise bay of Ras El Hekma.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, AlexandriaAlexandriaBibliotheca AlexandrinaAll year, indoors15
Qaitbay Citadel and the Corniche, AlexandriaAlexandriaQaitbay Citadel and the CornicheAll year, late afternoon16
El Alamein and Marina, North CoastNorth CoastEl Alamein and MarinaJune to September17
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What to eat

Koshary
Photo: Dina Said · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
01Koshary

Rice, brown lentils and small pasta under chickpeas, a spiced tomato sauce, a garlic and vinegar dressing and crisp fried onions: Egypt's everyday dish, added by UNESCO to the world's living heritage in 2025.

Where to eat it
  1. Koshary Abou TarekDowntown, Cairo4.3Google44,600+ reviewsMapA whole building given to koshary for 70 years; the name Cairo guides give first.
  2. Koshary El TahrirTahrir Street, Dokki, Giza4.2Google9,100+ reviewsMapEgypt's largest koshary chain, known for a plate that tastes the same at every visit.
  3. Sayed Hanafy Koshary26th of July Street, Downtown, Cairo4.1Google1,700+ reviewsMapBegan as a koshary cart in 1952; Cairo 360 ranked it first in the city.
Show all 5Show fewer
  1. Zooba26th of July Street, Zamalek, Cairo4.2Google7,000+ reviewsMapA modern, calm Egyptian street-food room with fresh koshary, good for families.
  2. Koshari AfandinaTaha Hussein Street, Zamalek, Cairo4.3Google500+ reviewsMapA small Zamalek koshary shop named in SceneEats' guide to Egypt's best koshary.
Molokhia
Photo: Yosi I · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
02Molokhia

A silky green soup of finely chopped jute leaves, finished with garlic and coriander fried in ghee, and eaten with rice or bread and chicken.

Where to eat it
  1. Sobhy KaberRod El Farag, Shubra, Cairo4.3Google80,500+ reviewsMapCairo's most-reviewed Egyptian kitchen; molokhia with grills is the classic order.
  2. Fasahet SomayaBab El Louq, Downtown, Cairo4.4Google1,200+ reviewsMapHome cooking in a tiny room; CNN picked its molokhia as Egypt's best. Opens evenings.
  3. Kasr El KababgiNorth 90th Street, New Cairo4.4Google14,400+ reviewsMapA grill house whose signature molokhia is the dish Cairo food guides send people for.
Show all 4Show fewer
  1. El Menoufy El KababgyBanks Center Street, New Cairo4.2Google12,300+ reviewsMapA large family grill house in New Cairo, on SceneEats' short list for molokhia.
Ful medames and ta'ameya
Photo: Ahmed Fawzy · Pexels License
03Ful medames and ta'ameya

Slow-cooked fava beans with oil, cumin and lemon, beside ta'ameya, Egypt's green falafel made from fava beans and herbs rather than chickpeas: the breakfast of the whole country, with warm baladi bread.

Where to eat it
  1. Zooba26th of July Street, Zamalek, Cairo4.2Google7,000+ reviewsMapA calm family room for an Egyptian breakfast of slow-cooked ful and green ta'ameya.
  2. BashandyNasr City, Cairo4.5Google15,300+ reviewsMapOpen around the clock; east Cairo's favourite for ful and ta'ameya sandwiches.
  3. Mohamed AhmedShakour Street, Raml Station, Alexandria4.0Google15,800+ reviewsMapAlexandria's best-known ful and falafel house; worth a stop on a day trip.
Feteer meshaltet
Photo: Mohamed Ouda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
04Feteer meshaltet

A buttery pastry of many paper-thin layers folded with ghee and baked until crisp, eaten with honey, molasses and cream, or with cheese.

Where to eat it
  1. Tayer Ya FatayerBrazil Street, Zamalek, Cairo4.7Google1,600+ reviewsMapA feteer specialist with the highest rating of any feteer house in central Cairo.
  2. Awlad El HusseinMagles El Shaab Street, Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo4.2Google1,200+ reviewsMapA century-old kitchen known for a giant meshaltet made for the whole family to share.
  3. Fatatry El HusseinAl Azhar Street, near Khan El Khalili, Cairo4.0Google1,700+ reviewsMapA feteer shop by Al Azhar Mosque, an easy stop on a Khan El Khalili day.
Show all 4Show fewer
  1. Fetiret Dina FarmsFirst Settlement, New Cairo4.0Google1,000+ reviewsMapFeteer from a known Egyptian dairy farm, with aged cheese, honey and molasses.
Om Ali
Photo: Fred Cherrygarden · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
05Om Ali

Egypt's favourite warm dessert: pastry baked in sweet milk with nuts, raisins and coconut, served bubbling from the oven.

Where to eat it
  1. Simonds26th of July Street, Zamalek, Cairo4.4Google2,600+ reviewsMapA Zamalek bakery since 1898 whose Om Ali a 2025 Cairo guide ranks first.
  2. Amir El DomiatyEl Manial, Cairo4.3Google1,600+ reviewsMapA sweets house Lonely Planet names for Om Ali, classic or with new toppings.
  3. El MalkyAl Haram, Giza4.1Google1,200+ reviewsMapA dairy dessert house dating to 1917; its Om Ali is a Cairo winter favourite.
Show all 4Show fewer
  1. The Batter HalfMohammed Mazhar Street, Zamalek, Cairo4.4Google500+ reviewsMapA Zamalek dessert shop known for a rich, creamy Om Ali served in a clay pot.

Ratings and review counts read from Google Maps, November 2026

What to wear

Egypt is a conservative country with relaxed resorts. In the cities, the souqs and at religious sites, covered shoulders and knees are the norm, and mosques ask for more. In Red Sea and North Coast resorts dress is easy-going. Pack light, breathable layers for the sun, and one warm piece for winter evenings in Cairo and early desert mornings.

Women

  • Loose, light clothes covering shoulders and knees suit Cairo, Luxor and Aswan; tight or very short outfits draw attention in the streets and souqs.
  • The abaya and shayla are completely at home in Egypt, as in Kuwait.
  • For mosques: an ankle-length loose outfit, long sleeves and a scarf over the hair; carry your own scarf in your bag.
  • Swimwear is for the resort beach and pool; put on a cover-up to walk through the lobby or to the café.

Men

  • Trousers or knee-length shorts with a T-shirt are fine in resorts and malls; long trousers are better in old Cairo and at the temples.
  • Mosques need long trousers and a shirt with sleeves: no shorts and no vests.
  • A Kuwaiti dishdasha with ghutra and agal is perfectly normal anywhere in Egypt.
  • Keep your shirt on away from the beach and the pool.

Children and families

  • Children dress casually everywhere, with modest cover for mosque visits.
  • Sun hats, sunglasses and long-sleeved swim tops: the sun at the temples and on the boats is strong even in winter.
  • Closed trainers for the pyramids, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings: the ground is sandy, stony and uneven.
  • Water shoes for the Red Sea reefs, and a light jacket for air-conditioned museums and the early start to Abu Simbel.

By season and weather

  • November to March: light clothes by day and a sweater or jacket at night in Cairo and Alexandria, where winter evenings can feel cold; Alexandria also gets winter rain.
  • May to September: loose cotton or linen, a wide hat and plans built around the morning and the evening, especially in Luxor and Aswan.
  • On the North Coast in summer the sea breeze is pleasant, but the sun on the white sand is fierce: cover up between late morning and mid-afternoon.

Special places

  • Mosques such as Al-Azhar and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali: full cover for everyone, shoes off inside, hair covered for women.
  • The old churches of Coptic Cairo: shoulders and knees covered, and quiet voices during services.
  • Temples and tombs: comfortable shoes, a hat and water; inside the tombs it is warm and close.

Culture and customs

01

Greetings and hospitality

Egyptians are known across the Arab world for warmth and quick humour, and Gulf visitors are welcomed as old friends. Greet with as-salamu alaykum or ahlan, and expect tea to be offered in shops and homes; accepting a glass is polite, and so is a short chat before business.

02

Mosques, churches and Friday

Friday is the weekly holiday, and the noon prayer is the quiet hour of the week. Egypt is also home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, the Copts; the old churches of Coptic Cairo welcome respectful visitors outside service times.

03

Ramadan

Ramadan is one of the best times to feel Egypt: streets hung with lanterns, long iftar tables and lively nights until suhoor. By day, visitors should not eat, drink or smoke in public, and sites and shops keep shorter hours.

04

Photographing people and places

Ask before you photograph anyone, women especially, and expect a request for a small tip when you photograph a camel man or a boatman. Do not photograph official buildings or checkpoints, and check the photo rules at each museum and tomb, as some need a separate photo ticket.

05

Tipping, or baksheesh

Small tips are part of daily life: for the porter, the boat crew, the driver and the guard who opens a tomb or shows you a view. Keep small notes in a separate pocket; in restaurants, check whether service is included before you add more.

06

Bargaining in the bazaar

In Khan el-Khalili and the souqs of Luxor and Aswan, the first price is an opening line. Smile, offer less, take your time, and walk away politely if it does not feel right; shops with fixed prices will tell you so.

07

A few Egyptian words

Kuwaitis are understood everywhere, but a little Egyptian goes a long way: izzayak (how are you), bikam (how much), shukran (thank you), maalesh (never mind, no problem) and tamam (fine, agreed).

08

A late-night country

Egypt runs late. In Cairo and on the North Coast in summer, families dine after nine and the cafés and corniches stay busy past midnight, so plan sights in the morning and rest in the afternoon.

Good to know

  1. Dress modestly in towns, souqs and religious sites: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women in mosques. Coptic churches ask the same; swimwear is for resort beaches and pools.
  2. From May to September Luxor and Aswan often pass 40°C: see the temples at opening time, rest at midday and keep summer for the sea. Carry water everywhere, even in winter.
  3. Do not swim in the Nile. In the Red Sea wear water shoes, keep off the coral and swim in marked areas; on the open Mediterranean beaches follow the lifeguard and the red flag.
  4. Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants; carry small Egyptian pound notes for taxis, tips and markets. Tipping, called baksheesh, is part of daily life.
  5. Cairo traffic is heavy: use ride apps or a hotel car, and fly between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the coasts to save long days on the road.
  6. Entry rules: check only the official Egypt e-Visa portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, before you travel.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Egypt?

October to April for Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, when days are warm and evenings cool. The Red Sea is good most of the year, best in spring and autumn, and the North Coast is for June to September.

How long is the flight from Kuwait to Cairo?

About 3 hours nonstop, with several flights a day. From Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are each about an hour's flight.

Is there a time difference between Kuwait and Egypt?

In winter Egypt is one hour behind Kuwait. From the last Friday of April to the last Thursday of October Egypt uses summer time, so the clocks match.

Do Kuwaitis need a visa for Egypt?

Check the official Egypt e-Visa portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, before travelling; it sets out who can apply online and the current rules.

Is Egypt good for a family holiday from Kuwait?

Yes. The language and the food feel familiar, halal food is the norm, and the resorts on the Red Sea and the North Coast are built for families. Many families pair a few days of history in Cairo with a week by the sea.

How many days do you need in Egypt?

A week covers Cairo and Giza with two or three days in Luxor. Add four nights for a Nile cruise to Aswan and a day for Abu Simbel, or a few beach days on the Red Sea.

What should women wear in Egypt?

Loose clothes that cover the shoulders and knees in the cities, souqs and at the temples, and a headscarf with long sleeves for mosques. Swimwear is for resort beaches and pools; the abaya and shayla are welcome everywhere.

Is halal food easy to find in Egypt?

Yes. Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, so the meat in ordinary restaurants and street food is generally halal, and the call to prayer is heard everywhere. In international hotels you can simply ask the restaurant.

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After the trip

Fell for Egypt? Own a home in Egypt.

Al Mithaq sells new homes in Egypt by SODIC, part of the Aldar group: June, Caesar, Ogami and Nobu Residences on the North Coast and in Ras El Hekma, and Eastvale in Mada City, East Cairo. Owning a home in Egypt from USD 50,000 can open a renewable residency, and USD 300,000 sent from abroad can open the citizenship route.

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