What should you pay attention to when traveling to Egypt?

What should you pay attention to when traveling to Egypt?

There is an endless stream of tourists traveling to Egypt. Friends who travel to Egypt for the first time still need to know some local travel precautions. Below I We have compiled relevant content for you, welcome to read. I wish you a happy journey! Egyptian Customs

1. Food Customs

Egyptians like to eat sweets, and sweets are served as the last course of formal banquets or meals in wealthy families. Rural weddings are complicated, extravagant and last about 30 days. There is a strange marriage custom in the Siwa Oasis in the west. A girl is engaged at the age of 8 and married at the age of 14. The dowry is 100 robes and skirts. From the time a woman is born, her family starts sewing robes and skirts for her. Famous sweets include "Kunafa" and "Qaytaif". "Mallow soup" and "basic food particles" are the best foods in Egyptians' daily life. ?Gameldin? is a must-have food for Egyptians during Ramadan. ?Bava beans? are an essential food. There are many ways to make it, and the food it makes is also varied. For example, chopped broad beans, fried broad beans, stewed broad beans, dry fried broad beans and raw green broad beans.

Egyptians usually eat Yeshua as their staple food, and they eat it together with Fur (boiled beans), Kebna (white cheese), and Mosah (soup). And eat it. Yesu is a flat round Egyptian bread without yeast. They like to eat mutton, chicken, duck, eggs, peas, onions, pumpkins, eggplants, carrots, potatoes, etc. In terms of taste, it is generally required to be light, sweet, fragrant, and not greasy. Roast whole lamb on skewers is their delicacy for entertaining guests. It is worth mentioning that many Egyptians also particularly like to eat Chinese Sichuan Lai.

2. Marriage customs

When every adult Egyptian man reaches the age of marriage, he must first propose marriage to the father of the person he likes or choose a spouse among maternal relatives and neighbors. After proposing a marriage, the man and woman begin to discuss the amount of the woman's dowry. Generally, the man gives 2/3 of the dowry to the woman as a betrothal gift. Then, the marriage contract is concluded under the auspices of the village chief. Wedding scenes in rural Egypt are lively and extravagant. Before welcoming the bride, the groom holds a big banquet, accompanied by singing and dancing. Sometimes the banquet lasts for several days. When welcoming the bride, the groom's mother leads many beautifully decorated carriages to the bride's house to pick up the bride. The bride will sit on one of the floats decorated with expensive Kashmiri wool silk, roses, etc. After dinner, the groom will be led by the band to the mosque to kneel down and pray. Finally, he will return to the new house and drink a glass of spring water with the bride to show that they share the sweet happiness. Such a wedding lasts about 30 days and costs about a thousand Egyptian pounds. In the Siwa Oasis in the western desert of Egypt, there is a unique wedding custom. The girl was engaged at the age of 8 and got married at the age of 14. During this period, the young man must continue to give gifts to the woman's family. The bride has many braids on her head. Half of it is combed and braided by the mother's family, and the other half needs to be completed by the mother-in-law's family. The girl's dowry is 100 robes and skirts. Therefore, as soon as a daughter is born in a Siwa family, the mother will start busy sewing a dowry robe and skirt for her.

3. Funeral customs

In the southeast of Cairo, there is a cemetery with a history of hundreds of years. It was originally the burial place for graduates of Al-Azhar University and prominent figures. Later, it gradually became a public cemetery in the surrounding areas. People came here to build their own residence after death, so neatly arranged bungalows were built one after another, just like a "city of the dead". Every major Islamic festival, relatives and friends of the deceased gather here to commemorate the deceased. This is the unique burial custom of the Egyptians.

4. Social customs

The Egyptians’ social etiquette includes both traditional national customs and common Western practices. They are both, and the upper class prefers European and American etiquette. Egyptians are extremely enthusiastic when meeting people. Under normal circumstances, when meeting someone you don't know well, the person who greets you first says the greeting commonly used by Muslims around the world: "Anselam al-Qom" (literally translated as "Peace be upon you", which means "Hello") ?). Muslims in our country call it "Selan" for short. If it is an old friend, especially when they meet again after a long absence, they should hug each other in a kissing ceremony, that is, use your right hand to hold the other person's left shoulder, and your left hand to hug the other person's waist, first left and then right, each time or multiple times. And he will also send out a string of greetings like a barrage: How are you, how are you, how are you doing, and so on.

5. The general characteristics of Egyptian social customs

It can be summarized in a few sentences: Egyptians in North African countries are mostly Muslims. They strictly abide by religious doctrines and rules, and their civilization has a long history Last forever. Generally, people love cranes, and the numbers "5" and "7" are welcome; black, blue, and yellow are taboos, and "needle" is a special taboo. They hate spitting in public, and praising a girl's beauty is considered impure.

Warm Tips

1. The exchange rate of US dollars or euros to Egyptian pounds at Cairo International Airport is low. It is recommended to only exchange the necessary amount after getting off the plane, and leave the rest to the Exchange in the city center. Store and then redeem.

2. Phone cards are sold in the airport lobby. To buy a local phone card, MOBINIL card is recommended. The card fee is 20 Egyptian pounds. The signal is good. It costs 1 Egyptian pound per text message to return home and 0.2 Egyptian pound per minute to make a local call.

3. There are almost no free toilets in Egypt. Whether on the street or in scenic spots, all toilets charge at least 1 Egyptian pound per person and provide paper towels.

4. It is normal for Egyptian trains to leave late or arrive late, but buses are usually more punctual.

5. When ordering food at KFC and McDonald’s in Egypt, you have to pay tax, which is usually 10%, and the price is more expensive than in China. A set meal of hamburger, fries and cola is usually 30 Egyptian pounds.

6. When eating in Egyptian restaurants, especially in Cairo and Alexandria, you need to tip. You can decide how much you tip, or you can give change as a tip.

7. There are very few traffic lights on the streets of Cairo. You must be very careful when crossing the road when you first arrive in Cairo, because the speed of cars is generally very fast.

8. People in big cities such as Cairo and Alexandria still have a relatively casual concept of time, but the people in places like the Sinai Peninsula in the east and the Bahariya Oasis and Siwa Oasis in the west are still simple and very conservative. time.

9. Even if you are not a Muslim, try to choose clothes that cover your skin when visiting a mosque, and be sure to take off your shoes to show respect for the religious beliefs of others.

10. It is helpful for girls to keep a silk scarf or scarf to wrap their hair when going out. Whether it is a special occasion or a sunny day, it can play a certain role.

11. Although many travel guides recommend taking a white taxi when taking a taxi in Cairo, it is not uncommon for white taxis to use different pricing models or for drivers to pretend not to understand English and deliberately take detours. , so whether it is a white car or a black car, the most important thing is to prepare the destination in Arabic before getting on the car and be able to use simple Arabic numbers to bargain.

12. The English level of ordinary people in Egypt is still not ideal, and an English-Arabic or Han-Arabian manual is still very necessary.

13. Although cool gadgets with Chinese characteristics such as cooling oil, ballpoint pens, and paper-cutting have been circulated in Egypt for many years, they are still useful today. Sometimes giving you a box of cooling oil can help you save a lot of money. .

14. Egyptians have a very strong curiosity about people who look different from them. It is not uncommon to be watched, talked to or even touched. You must have a positive and healthy attitude. To deal with the passion of the Egyptians.

15. Passers-by in Egypt are very friendly and will help you with directions, translations, and price negotiations for free. It is easy to feel the warmth between people here.

16. The Pyramids in Cairo are the places where foreign tourists are most easily deceived. The main deception methods here are: deceiving you to ride a camel at a low price, but shortening the time agreed in advance, or moving the camel They lead you to a deserted place and don't let you down so as to ask for more money; or someone offers to guide you or take photos for you for free, and then asks for a tip. If you don't want to be bothered by these, the best way is to ignore anyone after entering the pyramid. As long as you insist on playing your own game, you won't lose money. If you want to ride a camel, be sure to go with more people, so that you are less likely to be slaughtered due to the strength of the crowd.

17. Taxi drivers and coachmen in tourist cities such as Luxor and Aswan often use the following method to deceive tourists: get you into the car at a low price, and then get you into a store to spend money. , the final settlement fare doubled several times, bully the good and fear the evil! Everyone must be careful of these people, bargain boldly, and be fierce enough! Their common trick to take advantage of small advantages is to use the excuse that they have no money, so be sure to be prepared small change.

18. An ISIC international student ID card (youth ID card, teacher ID card) that can be applied for at home or in Egypt is very easy to use in Egypt. You can enjoy half-price discounts at almost all attractions, which saves you money along the way. Big money.

19. Egypt has an arid climate. It is best to buy water hoses away from scenic spots before going. The price of drinks in scenic spots is about 5-10 Egyptian pounds, while 1.5 liters of drinking water in urban areas Water only costs 2-2.5 Egyptian pounds.

20. The three treasures of Egypt are hookah, essence and koshari. The teahouses on the street provide hookah smoking services for about 5 Egyptian pounds a time. Flavors can be purchased at Khan Al-Khalili Market, usually priced at US$1/ml, but if you know how to bargain, the price can be as high as 2 Egyptian pounds/ml. There are many restaurants specializing in Koshari in Cairo and Alexandria. Each one has its own unique secret tomato sauce. If you have time, try a few more.

The best time to travel

1. Although Egypt is located in Africa, the average daily temperature is not high because the temperature difference between morning and evening is very large. Due to the influence of the maritime humid climate in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the daily temperature difference is not large. The farther south and closer to the desert, the climate becomes drier, the daytime becomes hotter, and the temperature drops more at night.

2. Egypt has a Mediterranean climate with two distinct seasons, with summer from May to October every year. Autumn falls from November to April, with pleasant climate and the coldest temperature above 0 degrees. In mid-November, the daytime temperature is around 25 degrees and the night temperature is around 15 degrees. Therefore, when bringing summer clothes, you should also bring some cold-proof clothing. In summer, tour buses, restaurants, and hotels are all air-conditioned. Please be sure to bring sunscreen and sunglasses when visiting outdoors.

Formal banquets, concerts, receptions, etc. must wear formal suits.

Travel Tips

1. Traveling in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is relatively convenient. The main means of transportation that ordinary travelers can choose are two subway lines, taxis, and minibuses. Buses and trams in Cairo generally do not stop at their stops, and it is not uncommon for the doors to be open all the way for local passengers to jump on and off, so it is not recommended to take them unless you speak Arabic or know the routes of the vehicles.

2. Alexandria, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan and other cities do not have subways, but minibuses and taxis are also very cheap. If you go to tourist attractions such as the Sinai Peninsula and the Black and White Desert, public transport is scarce, so chartering a car will be a more convenient and time-saving option.

Travel essentials

Documents: Passport, ID card, copy of ID and 2 2-inch ID photos (convenient for replacement if the ID is lost). If you are under 16 years old and do not have an ID card, you need to bring your household registration book if you are transiting domestically.

Clothing:

1. It is best to bring cool summer clothes when traveling in summer. The local temperature difference between day and night is large, so it is best Bring a thin coat; the temperature is suitable in autumn and winter, so please bring clothing of appropriate thickness when traveling

2. When entering formal occasions, you are not allowed to wear slippers, shorts, short skirts, sleeveless tops and other inappropriate clothes, please note Carry

3. When going to the beach, please bring swimsuits, swimming caps, swimming goggles, swimming rings, water-draining shoes, etc. according to your needs

4. Go to jungles with more mosquitoes In the wild, you need to wear long clothes and long trousers, please bring them

5. Shoes should be light, suitable for walking, and new shoes and high heels are not suitable.

Daily necessities:

1. Please bring razors, skin care products, cosmetics, sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, umbrellas, watches, pens, and small notebooks according to your needs

2. Not provided in Egypt hotels Please bring disposable towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and slippers by yourself; some hotels are close to the Nile River and there are many mosquitoes, so it is recommended to bring mosquito repellent

Cash and bank cards:

1. RMB is not circulated in Egypt. You need to exchange RMB into US dollars before leaving the country, and then exchange it into Egyptian pounds locally or use it directly. For redemption methods, please call the customer service hotlines of major banks to inquire. Please be sure to redeem as soon as possible.

2. When shopping in Egypt, most large stores accept UnionPay, MasterCard, and VISA cards. It is recommended that you deposit money into the card. The situation of each bank and various cards is different. Please consult the card-issuing bank on how to use bank cards in Egypt.

3. China Customs stipulates that each person can carry a maximum of 20,000 yuan or equivalent foreign currency equivalent to 5,000 US dollars, so the currency exchanged is sufficient.

4. Reference exchange rate (based on the real-time bank quotation)

1 RMB is approximately equal to 0.15 U.S. dollars; 1 U.S. dollar is approximately equal to 5.701 Egyptian pounds;

1 U.S. dollar Approximately equal to 6.8 RMB; 1 Egyptian pound is approximately equal to 0.1754 US dollars;

Electronic appliances:

1. Please bring cameras, camcorders, batteries, chargers, memory cards, etc.

2. Whether your mobile phone can be used in Egypt, please call the mobile phone manufacturer to confirm the mobile phone model before traveling. If your number can be used in Egypt, how to use it and the tariff, please consult the operator

3. The sockets in Egypt are different from those in China. They are European-style two-hole sockets. Chinese electrical plugs cannot be used directly. They need to be used directly. Plug converter. Hotel front desks generally have them, but the quantity is limited. It is recommended that you purchase European standard plug adapters in advance from large domestic supermarkets and online electronic malls

Medicines:

1. Please bring ready-made medicines. Such as cold medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, analgesics and band-aids, wind oil essence, motion sickness medicine, etc.

2. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and other medical conditions and medical history, be sure to bring enough spares with you. drug.

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