Exploring the labyrinthine markets of Egypt is a must-do for travellers. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells! Look beyond the shops selling cheap, mass-produced tourist trinkets, and delve deeper to discover quality wares.
Most importantly, have fun and don’t forget to haggle for a good price. It’s also a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.
1. Chunky silver jewellery
2. Hand made leather bags, boots and belts
3. Cotton scarves in a kaleidoscope of colours
4. Authentic papyrus (watch out for fakes made from banana leaves)
5. Boho-style embroidered bedding & cushion covers
6. Handcrafted backgammon boards and jewellery boxes
7. Exquisite perfume bottles made from hand-blown glass (pack carefully)
8. Artisan-made alabaster pots and homewares
Egypt is what we call a transcontinental country. It sits in both Africa and Asia. However, the most significant part of Egypt is in Africa, which is why most consider it Africa. The other small piece of Egypt is in Asia.
The Nile River is one of the most significant geographical features of Egypt, providing the country with fertile land for agriculture and sustaining millions of people. The river flows from south to north, and the Nile Valley and Delta region is home to most of the country’s population and economic activities.
Cairo is fan-shaped, narrowest in the south, where the river valley is wedged between desert escarpments, and widest in the north, where the valley blends into the delta. Over the centuries the city expanded westward, as a receding river channel left land flood-free.
With a population of approximately 105,000,000 people, Egypt is located in the northeast corner of the African continent on the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered to the northeast by Palestine and Israel, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt has an area of 1,002,450 km2 (387,050 sq mi) which makes it the 29th largest country in the world. The longest straight-line distance in Egypt from north to south is 1,420 km (880 mi), while that from east to west measures 1,275 km (792 mi).
Get to the heart of Egypt with one of our in-depth guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
