"Hip-pocket portable and richly illustrated." -- Conde Nast Traveler

The Pharoahs of ancient Egypt believed that even in death, life is everlasting, so their tombs stored the worldly possessions deemed necessary in the afterlife. In many ways, their desire for eternity has become realized as their civilization -- nearly 9,000 years after its birth -- still captures the imagination and hearts of travelers. Travel to this country and witness the Pyramids at Giza -- the only one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.

Journey through the Valley of the Kings and discover the spectacular Temple of Hatshepsut, the mysterious Sphinx, the dramatic interiors of the great pyramids and mosques. Visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum of Cairo with Tutankhamun's gold and treasures. Read about the daily life of the pharoahs, their gods and sacred funerary rites Learn about sand dunes, desert oases, and the fertile Nile delta. Travel to Alexandria -- once the second largest city in the Roman Empire -- and navigate its open-air markets and then steal-away to a quiet walled-garden. The Knopf Guide to Egypt is packed with all the essential, practical information you will need including where to stay, shop and enjoy local cuisine, as well as how to order a coffee ziada (sweet), mazbut (fairly sweet) or sada (bitter). It is a perfect companion to this engaging and sometimes challenging destination.