© by Elsharawy on Unsplash
If you look through the list of some of Hollywood's most popular movies, you'll notice Egypt makes the list of film locations a fair number of times. Indeed, 2022 saw a retelling of the classic work Death on The Nile by Agatha Christie, to much critical acclaim. The country with its ancient history speaks to the imagination of many directors, and offers a prime setting for movies that tackle a variety of subjects.
From space robots to civil rights
Over the years, Egypt has inspired countless movies. This is in part because so many literary works are set in Egypt, and translating novels to film has always been popular. The list of movies that filmed on-site in Egypt include the likes of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which received special government approval to film at the famous pyramids, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, but also historic biopics such as Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington, which filmed at the Mohammed Ali Mosque in Cairo. From space robots to civil rights, the country seems to have something to offer every film director looking for inspiration.It's not hard to see why Egypt is so popular with directors. The country exudes the classic "Arabian Nights" atmosphere wherever you go. Few features in the world are as recognizable as the giant pyramids on the Giza Plateau, allowing for an easy way to establish a more globalized setting for a movie. But while most people know Egypt for its pyramids or the giant Sphynx, the country has many more historic sites that speak to the imagination: the aptly named Valley of Kings in Luxor, Abu Simbel in Aswan, the sunken Pharos of Alexandria, Cleopatra's lost palace, or simply major cities like Cairo with its sprawling alleys and crowded bazaars. Egypt was once the centre of the world, and it is that memory that movie directors want to tap into and transfer to the viewers.
© Photo by Dmitrii Zhodzishskii on Unsplash
Want to see Egypt for yourself? Remember your visa
Egypt is not just popular with big movie directors. The country draws millions of tourists each year, a large portion of them from the UK and other western countries. While the historic aspects of Egypt are one of a kind, many people choose to instead relax in the sun at the resorts along the Red Sea, such as in Hurghada. Indeed, these resort trips are so popular that Egypt decided to implement a visa waiver for people staying in the resort areas for their holidays for up to 15 days. This means these tourists won't need to apply for a visa for their trip to Egypt, as long as they stay 15 days or less.However, if you're more of an exploring kind or simply wish to also travel outside the resort areas, a visa is mandatory when travelling to Egypt. Egypt has a visa that can be acquired on arrival at the airport, though this requires you to join a lengthy queue after disembarking. Instead, most people choose to sort out their applications online before departure. The online Egypt visa can be applied for well before departure, avoiding the chance of any trouble at the airport. The visa is valid for a stay of up to 30 consecutive days in Egypt, and stays valid for 90 days in total.
