Egypt

Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover Egypt's real distances -- EgyptAir and budget carriers connect Cairo with Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts in about an hour each, a significant time saver over the alternative overland routes.

Nile cruises and sleeper trains connect Luxor and Aswan directly along the river, a classic, comfortable way to see Upper Egypt's temples in the traditional order they were built to be experienced. Trains also run along the Nile Valley and Delta more broadly, generally reliable and affordable, though slower than flying.

Within Cairo, traffic is notoriously heavy and taxis/rideshares (Uber and the local Careem) are the standard way to get around -- walking is impractical for anything beyond a single neighborhood, and the Cairo Metro, while limited, is a fast way to cross the city's worst congestion when a route lines up.

Egypt's main tourist areas -- Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts -- are generally safe and see millions of visitors a year, though some regional variation and a few specific risks are worth real attention.

• Touts and scams are the most common everyday nuisance rather than a safety risk -- persistent selling, unofficial "guides" at monuments, and inflated prices for unrequested services (a "free" photo followed by a demand for payment) are common around every major site. A firm decline and walking on usually ends it.
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• The Sinai Peninsula's interior, away from the Red Sea resort towns and the well-traveled route to St. Catherine's Monastery, has an active government travel advisory due to militant activity -- stick to established tourist areas and organized transport, and check current advisories before any independent Sinai travel beyond the coast.
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• Traffic is a significant everyday hazard -- Cairo's driving is famously chaotic, with few enforced rules; crossing streets and choosing transport (a registered taxi or rideshare over an unmarked car) requires real caution.
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• Food and water safety: stick to bottled or purified water, and be selective with street food and salads washed in tap water, particularly early in a trip while adjusting.
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• Photography restrictions apply inside many tombs, museums, and near some government/military sites -- look for posted signs and ask before photographing, since enforcement can be strict and inconsistent.
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• Emergency number: 122 for police, 123 for ambulance.