Bilbeis

Bilbeis
بلبيس‎
Nickname: 
Eastern gate of Egypt
Bilbeis
Location within Egypt
Coordinates: 30°25′18″N 31°33′33″E / 30.42167°N 31.55917°E / 30.42167; 31.55917
Country Egypt
GovernorateSharqia Governorate
Area
 • Total
337.0 km2 (130.1 sq mi)
Elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
895,017
 • Density2,656/km2 (6,879/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Bilbeis (Arabic: بلبيس pronounced [belˈbeːs]; Bohairic Coptic: Ⲫⲉⲗⲃⲉⲥ/Ⲫⲉⲗⲃⲏⲥ Phelbes/Phelbēs) is an ancient fortress city on the eastern edge of the southern Nile Delta in Egypt, the site of the ancient city and former bishopric of Phelbes and a Latin Catholic titular see. It is located 20 km from the city of 10th of Ramadan and roughly 50 km from the city of Cairo.

The city is small in size but densely populated, with over 407,300 residents. It also houses the Egyptian Air Force Academy complex, which contains the town's largest public school in Al-Zafer.

Coptic tradition says that Bilbeis was one of the stopping places of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt.