Cities in Egypt :

The land of the sphinxes and pyramids, Egypt is located witihn North Africa. It is hard to think of Egypt and not think of the Nile and the embryo of civilisation that it was and continues to be. Egypt is synonymous with a wealth of archeological information and historical data and ancient architectural marvels. Here is a list of the top five cities in Egypt according to polulation size.

Cairo :

Known as “the city of a thousand minarets”, the city of Cairo is splendid when it comes to the hustle and bustle of daily life. This city is both modern and traditional at the same time. It has a metropolitan area which is the 16th in the world in terms of size. It also has a fantastic metro which is among the fifteen busiest in the world.

However, founded in the year 969 AD, the city is situated near the Nile delta. Cairo has associations with its ancient traditions and history. Many Egyptians refer to the city of Cairo today as Masr – an old word associated with Egypt itself. This signifies the cities continous role in shaping the cultural and social ethos of the country and its civilisation.

Alexandria :

Known as the “pearl of the Mediterranean”, Alexandria is a trade hub in itself. Located in the coast of the Meditarranean Sea, it is the largest city to be situated so. It is Egypt’s largest sea port, accouning for 80% of Egypt’s import and export.

Besides being an industrial and trade centre, the city is also known because of its ancient roots. It was founded and named for Alexander the Great around 331 BC. Alexandria was known as an improtant city for three different empires – Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine. This was the case until the Muslim conquest in 641 AD. Alexandria is most famous for the Lighthouse for Alexandria, its Great Library as well as the Necropolis.

Giza :

This is the third-largest city in Egypt. It is situated on the Nile river, close to Cairo. Giza is, simply put, famous for its monuments, of which it has several. It is the site of the Giza Plateau that houses most notably the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, ancient Egyptian royal mortuary, ancient Egyptian pyramids and temples as well as other sacred structures.

The city is famous as a tourist spot. The infrastructure of the city is quite well developed. The city also saw large-scale development during British rule in the18th and 20th centuries and thus boasts of state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities.

Shubra El-Kheima :

Shubra El-Kheima is considered part of Greater Cairo and in itself is the fourth-largest city in the country. It is situated in the Al Qalyubiyah governorate. It is mainly a settlement for factory workers and their families who work in the nearby industrial area.

The city has been agglomerated into Greater Cairo due to large-scale migration from the northern part of the country. More than just a suburb, it is connected to Cairo through Line 2 of the Cairo metro.

Port Said :

Established during the building of the Suez Canal, this city is situated near the major canal close to the Mediterranean Sea. The city’s economic base is in fishing. It also thrives on the production of goods such as chemicals, cigarettes and processed food. Port Said is thus a commercial hub in Egypt.

The city, moreover, is a duty-free port, as well as a summer tourist spot. Because it comes in contact with traders from diffeent parts of the world, Port Said is said to be a glabal city, a conglomeration of various cultures. Tourists flock to the city for its beaches, museums, monuments and lighthouses.

There are several other major cities in Egypt. These are Suez, Luxor, al-Mansura, El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Tanta, and so on.