In the fifth century BC Herodotus wrote of Egypt that 'nowhere are there so many marvellous things...nor in the world besides are to be seen so many things of unspeakable greatness' - and not too much has changed. The Sphinx, the Nile, ancient Luxor, the pyramids - Egypt's scope is glorious.

It's not just the Pharaonic monuments that have drawn travellers to this country since long before the birth of Christ - it's the legacy of the Greeks, Romans and early Christians, and the profusion of art and architecture accumulated from centuries of successive Islamic dynasties.

Facts about Egypt

• Full Name: Arab Republic of Egypt
• Capital City: Cairo
• Area: 1,001,449 sq km (386,659 sq miles)
• Population: 69,500,000
• Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2 ()
• Languages: Arabic (official)
• Religion: 94% Muslim, 6% Christian
• Currency: Egyptian Pound (£E)
• Electricity: 220V 50HzHz
• Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins
• Country Dialing Code: 20