Opening Hours And Public Holidays
Updated Guide to Opening Hours and Public Holidays in Egypt for 2024
When planning your trip to Egypt in 2024, it’s important to consider the opening hours of attractions and public holidays, as they can affect your travel plans. Here’s the latest information:
Opening Hours
- Historical Sites:
- Sites like the Pyramids, Paranoiac temples, and ancient mosques typically open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
- Evening attractions, such as the Karnak “Sound and Light Show” and Luxor Temple, may extend hours until 9 PM.
- Museums:
- General visiting hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM.
- Some, like the Luxor Museum, may have split sessions (e.g., 9 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM).
- Work Week:
- The standard work week is Sunday through Thursday, with business hours usually from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
- Some businesses might operate six days a week, including Saturday.
- Banks:
- Typically open from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, Sunday to Thursday.
- Extended hours and 24/7 services may be available in hotel branches.
- Businesses and Public Administration:
- Generally, operate from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Sunday to Thursday.
Public Holidays in Egypt (2024)
Please note that Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and dates may vary. The following are the expected dates for 2024:
- Coptic Christmas Day: Date to be confirmed (usually around 7th January)
- Revolution Day (January 25th Revolution): Date to be confirmed
- Sinai Liberation Day: Date to be confirmed (usually around 25th April)
- Easter (Spring Festival): Date to be confirmed (varies each year)
- Labour Day: 1st May
- Eid El Fitr: Dates vary (end of Ramadan)
- Revolution Day (June 30th Revolution): 30th June
- National Day (Revolution of 1952): 23rd July
- Eid El Adha: Dates vary (depends on Islamic lunar calendar)
- El Hijra (Islamic New Year): Date to be confirmed
- Armed Forces Day: 6th October
- Moulid El Nabi (Prophet Mohamed’s Birthday): Date to be confirmed
Tips for Travelers
- Stay Informed: Always check for the latest information on public holidays as Islamic dates may shift.
- Plan Accordingly: Be aware that some attractions may close or have limited hours on public holidays.
- Experience the Culture: Public holidays can offer unique insights into Egyptian culture but also lead to crowded conditions.
This updated guide for 2024 will help you navigate the opening hours and public holidays in Egypt, ensuring a well-planned and enriching travel experience.
Getting There!
By Plane through Cairo
Cairo International Airport (CAI) is the main international center for Egypt. EgyptAir, which has a practical domestic domination, uses it as its focal point for internal flights. Two other airports exist in Cairo, thought they are both used solely for private internal and government flights Various huge European and Middle Eastern airlines have customary flights into Cairo International. These include Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Air, British Airways, Czech Airlines, Emirates, Gulf Air, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Maley, Olympic Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian, Swiss International, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines. The Egyptian national carrier, Egypt-Air, also operates flights to most major European centers and has a daily direct flight to New York.
By Plane through Alexandria al Nozha (ALY)
In close proximity to the city than the Burg al Arab facilities, Al Nozha has an awkwardly short runway and is only utilized by Egypt-Air. Airfare from Cairo is the same as for Burg al Arab. Except you are one for exciting touchdowns, you would be better off using the trains from Ramses.
By Plane through Luxor International (LXR)
This airport is used mostly by local Egypt-Air flights and international discounted charter carriers such as My Air, TNT, and Transavia (which runs popular direct flights to Amsterdam). Flight time from Cairo is about an hour, making this an exceptional substitute to the tiresome and often bumpy 12-hour train ride from Cairo.
By Plane through Abu Simbel (ABS)
This airport is entirely for Egypt-Air tourist flights. It is more reasonable to fly instead of driving, as there is nothing to see on the way, and it can be tiresome waiting for the convoy.
By Plane through Marsa Allam (RMF)
At the time of writing, Egypt-Air was flying to Marsa Alam twice weekly (Sundays and Wednesdays). However, as demand is sure to increase noticeably here, the frequency of flights should as well. A return ticket costs about LE3,500 which is $200/£140.
By Plane through Marsa Matruh (MUH)
Egypt-Air usually has a few flights a week here during the summer, providing the only services here.
By Plane through Taba (TCP)
This airport is at present only being used by direct charters from European centers.
By Plane through Sharm El Shiekh (SSH)
Sharm El Shiekh International Airport (SSH) at present receives international flights worldwide from major airlines such as Alitalia, Austrian Air, British Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, and Swiss International, as well as many discounted operators such as Air One, Condor, Eurofly, and Transavia. This is a great entry point to the Sinai. Dahab, St. Catherine, and Taba are a few hours’ drive from Sharm, and Egypt-Air flights are inexpensive and realistically consistent. On rare occasions, this airport is also referred to by its Israeli name “Ophira”.
By Plane through Alexandria Burg al Arab (HBE)
At the outpost of Alexandria further than Al Nozha, having more contemporary facilities and a longer runway, this airport is utilized by EgyptAir, Emirates, and Lufthansa/United Airlines. A transport is available from the airport into the middle of Alexandria; any of the express trains from Ramses are a more enjoyable way to arrive, at around two and half hours, quicker considering the transfer time.
By Plane through Aswan (ASW)
Egypt-Air makes use of this small but astonishingly new little airport. If you are going to fly through here, confirm that the flight is direct since many flights from Cairo necessitates a 2- to 3-hour overlay in Luxor, even more than the flight duration. Return ticket from Cairo costs about LE 3,400 equating $185/£135.
By Plane through Hurghada (HRG)
This undersized, contemporary airport efficiently serves Gouna, Hurghada, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, Safaga, and Quseir. It is used directly from Europe by inexpensive operators such as Condor, Thomas Cook, and Transavia, as well as locally by Egypt-Air. Airfare from Cairo is abound LE2500 ($136/£105), and will save you a tiresome and obnoxious bus trip.
Flying to Cairo for Less
Various economical airlines in Europe are now famous for their cheap flights to Egypt. You can anticipate jam-packed planes, little leg space, and low, low prices. For instance, Dutch-based Transavia (tel. 20/4060406; http://en.transavia.com/en) has collected business markets from major airlines with its discounted flights to Sharm El Shiekh and Luxor from Amsterdam.
By Plane through Kharga (UVL)
This airport services one Egypt-Air flight a week, on Sundays. Ticket costs LE1750 which is $98/£70. As this is officially used by the government you may have booking difficulty, but it can be progressed by the Egypt-Air office in Kharga. Should you run into problems in Cairo, call their agents at the Kharga office.
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