It’s important to know the best travel tips for Egypt before you visit, as it’s truly a country unlike any other.
Egypt is home to the most ancient sites in the entire world shrouded in mystery, pristine blue sea, vast expanses of unique desert landscapes, and sprawling busy cities. There’s a unique culture, different religions, and a certain dialect of Arabic spoken. To navigate all of this, there are definitely plenty of things to know before traveling to Egypt!
After intending to stay only one month, we got caught up in all the incredible places to visit in Egypt and ended up staying for four months. We traveled far and wide, really got to know the culture, made tons of local friends, and lived in Dahab on the Red Sea for a few months after visiting EVERYTHING we could.
So in this post I will share all the travel tips for Egypt I wish I had known before I went, as well as some things I wish I had brought or thought of before my trip that would have helped me, to help you!
Preliminary Egypt Tips for First Timers to Know Before You Go:
Here are some of the most basic Egypt travel tips to help you plan. See also my other helpful Egypt articles:
- Things to Do in Cairo: Full Travel Guide
- Day Trip to Alexandria From Cairo
- Best Views of the Pyramids of Giza
When is the Best Time to Visit Egypt?
I highly recommend to pay attention to the best times to visit Egypt, which is ideally fall and spring. Winter can get quite cold in Egypt, but summer is the biggest no-no unless you can stand the heat!
The best times to visit Egypt are March-May and October-December when the temperatures are moderate – not too hot or cold – and you can still enjoy a beach or two.
Make sure to know the dates of Ramadan before visiting Egypt also – I would advise to travel outside of Ramadan to experience Egypt in all its glory.
The Language is Arabic: Have a Translator App or Headphones
The language in Egypt is Arabic – the Egyptian dialect of Arabic. The Arabic language has its own alphabet which is of course entirely different to any language that uses Latin alphabet. If you are unfamiliar, it won’t be easy to read many street signs, prices, and other labels. Many signs and most grocery store labels also have English words, but not all of them.
Many people speak a few words of English, but a lot of people do not. It’s important to be able to translate on-the-go while in Egypt in many cases, which is why I recommend a translating app and headphones to carry on you.
Translators to Use
Timekettle Translation Earbuds are the most convenient way to make sure you are always able to communicate while traveling. After using slow translator apps for years and struggling typing potentially long phrases into a phone while passing it back and forth, I discovered these M3 earbuds that do it in a MUCH more convenient way.
These earbuds can be used as normal headphones – for music etc – and also have 3 translation modes for simultaneous long conversations, for one-way listening, and also ‘speaker mode’ for two-way quick conversations (which I find is best for travel, such as giving/getting directions, haggling, ordering food). In this method you can have anyone speak and hear the translation in your ears!
They do 90+ other languages too and make a great travel accessory. Check them out here.
Get Your Visa Ahead of Time or In the Airport
Depending on where you are from , you may have to apply for your Egypt visa ahead of time, or you may be able to get it in the airport.
Eliot and I (American and Australian) got our visas in the airport – you must make sure to jump in the line right before passport control and pay $25 for a visas on arrival.
Alternatively, certain countries can get their visas online beforehand to skip the line. Many tour companies will help you do this if you book ahead of time, or you can do it online as well.
Is Egypt Safe? Know About Egypt Safety
The big question everyone asks is, ” Is Egypt Safe?” The answer is YES – Egypt is very safe. In fact, you may find Egypt MUCH safer than many large European cities in terms of different petty crimes.
Egypt is still shedding its bad rap from the Arab Spring back in 2012, which was over 10 years ago now, and a few incidents in the mid 2010’s. There are a few areas you should not go – such as ner the Libyan border, the Israeli border/Gaza strip in North Sini – but other than that you will find Egypt to be the most welcoming and hospitable place EVER – even for solo female travelers.
I’ll write another post about Egypt safety tips soon, but there are just a few main things you should remember especially as a solo traveler:
Make sure to be vigilant at all times. Book ubers to get around. Book group tours or hire a reputable guide for the main sights. If you are getting hassled by salesmen, remain silent and walk away. Stay in main areas. Organize pick-ups from trains and busses by your hotel/tour agencies.
Plan Your Itinerary of Where to Go in Egypt Beforehand
Egypt is much more diverse in terms of landscape and things to do than most know about. If you come here just to see Cairo and the pyramids, you will be sorely missing out on some of the best parts of the country.
From the deep blue waters of the Red Sea on Egypt’s east coast and South Sinai Peninsula, to the White and Black deserts in the center of the country, to the lush Nile River with ancient temples all along it, to the Mediterranean north coast, huge city of Cairo, and even remote desert oases, this country has SO MUCH to see. Here’s a shortlist of the best places to visit in Egypt:
- Cairo: Giza, Pyraimds of Dashur, Nile
- Nile River Cruise: Aswan, Luxor, Abu Simbel and more
- Alexandria: Hisroty + North Coast Beaches
- South Sinai Peninsula: Sharm El Shiekh, Nuweiba, Taba, and my FAVORITE place, Dahab
- East Coast: Hurghada, El Gouna Resort Town, Marsa Alam for Diving
- Deserts: Siwa Oasis, White Desert, Blaack Desert
Check out my full guide to the best places to visit in Egypt below:
Have Travel Insurance
It’s important to have travel insurance for every trip, but Egypt is especially important! We use Heymondo Travel Insurance and have done so for years. Check out Heymondo here or read our review of our experiences with them.
Students + Children Get Into Sites for CHEAP
It’s important to know to bring your student card to Egypt if you have one, because it will help you save a SIGNIFICANT amount of money on your trip.
Students get into sites for half price, and this adds up a LOT when on the Nile River Cruise and visiting all the museums, pyramids, and sites in Cairo. Children are cheaper also.
Pack/Dress Modestly for Egypt
In general people dress more modestly in Egypt, but not to the extent that many think. I would definitely err on the side of conservative outfits, but Egypt is still rather progressive in many ways. People are used to tourists here, and many locals also dress in tight clothing.
If you are somewhere like Dahab or Sharm, bathing suits are totally fine. But in Cairo, smaller villages, or in religious sites, make sure to have cover.
Prepare for Security Checks + Military Presence Everywhere
From the moment you get your bags and try to exit the airport, you will become familiar with Egyptian security checks. You may have your bags searched when leaving the airport and on any long drive through the country. There are MANY security checks on main highways where you may need to get out and have your bag looked at.
However, this is nothing to be afraid of and actually exists purely for your safety. Tourism is SO important to Egypt that they go to extreme measures to ensure tourist safety, and general safety too.
Police/Military Convoys
If you ever notice a car following you, it maybe actually be police/military ensuring you get to your destination safely. This is the extent to which Egypt wants tourists to be safe and have a positive experience… they will literally send escorts to ensure your safety on the roads after you arrive.
Don’t Bring a Drone
Leave your drone at home – or, in my case, ship it home from the previous airport before your arrival in Egypt. They will NOT allow your drone into the country. They will either confiscate it or store it at the airport for a fee, which adds up fast.
If you leave it at the airport, you will get a paper to get the drone back, and from what I hear, if you lose the paper you also lose your drone. In my case as a full time traveler it was safer to ship it home to my parents.
Travel Tips For Egypt Once You Arrive
These are the top tips for traveling to Egypt to know when you arrive in the country.
Get a Local Sim
Getting a local SIM card in Egypt is helpful for many reasons. It helps you stay safe and connected at all times, allows you to use translators and headphones at all times, and gives you a great connection all over the country for whatever you may need (because posting tons of IG stories will be important too 😉 )
You can grab a SIM at the Orange Kiosk right in the international airport when you arrive! Make sure your phone is unlocked and show your passport to get one. The main providers are Orange, Vodaphone, Etisalat, and We/Telekom. We used Vodaphone.
Don’t Drink the Tap Water
Tap water in Egypt is not for drinking! Make sure to remember this when you shower, brush your teeth, and more You can always get big water bottles from the shops or huge jugs to stay hydrated.
Know the Currency + Have it On You
The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound, which at the time of publication was just under 20 to 1 USD. The Egyptian pound is abbreviated as EGP or LE.
It is wise to always have some cash on you while traveling in Egypt, especially smaller bills if possible. Many drivers or workers won’t have (or give) change for larger bills, and you will need to have small amounts for small tips as you visit big sites. More on that below.
Hiring a Guide/Tour Company Is Smart in Certain Situations
You’ll definitely want a guide for historic sites to give you important information about them and to help keep scammers and salesmen at bay. We hired a guide for all the pyramids in Cairo, for the Nile River Cruise, and some sites in South Sinai. Guided group tours would also be a great idea in Egypt.
Travel Tips for Egypt While Traveling
Here are some important things to know when visiting Egypt while you are traveling around.
Always Have Toilet Paper
One of the most important travel tips for Egypt is to always have toilet paper ON YOU! You will encounter many different kinds of toilets
Use Uber to Get Around Cities
Uber is the safest and cheapest way around Cairo, Alexandria, and more. This is safer for solo female travelers too. Uber’s set quote also enables you to know a fair price for the journey if you want to get a taxi.
Prepare to Tip, Tip, Tip… Nothing is Free
I did say that people are incredibly nice here, and they are, but it’s important to know that any worker who helps you with anything will expect a small tip.
While visiting any historic site there will be attendants there showing you where to go or perhaps offering to take a photo of you or have you take a photo of them. They will expect a tip for this. Hotel workers who help you with bags will expect a tip. Going to the bathroom often requires a small tip.
You can’t so much as take a picture of a camel without its owner coming over to you to ask for a tip. Be aware of this and be prepared to hand them a few pounds, or stand your ground!
Sometimes Photos Cost Extra
Apart from workers taking photos of you, many of the temples, historic sites, and pyramids charge an extra fee if you want to bring in a professional camera. Prepare to pay a few extra dollars to have a camera/tripod in many places in Egypt.
Some allow you to bring it in and some ask you to leave it at the front (I remember the catacombs in Alexandria did this). For the pyramids you only have to pay extra to use the camera INSIDE the pyramids. Taking photo/video with your phone is fine though.
Be Ready to Haggle + Be Aware of Scams/Bribes
Any salesman in Egypt will try and charge you 3-4x the price for anything at first to see if you will bite. You must be ready to HAGGLE like crazy for anything you want, and walk away when needed (they will always chase you). Ask a few different sellers the price for the same product to get an idea of where to start, and head to the back streets of markets for better prices.
And if you start haggling for something, be sure you actually might want it, because people may hound you for hours afterwards if they finally agree to the low price you said you wanted to pay (I had someone find me eating dinner a few streets away at the Khan El Khalili market in Cairo to agree to my price and I didn’t really even want it. Oops). Egypt is like the olympics of haggling. Get Ready.
People will charge you the maximum amount you are willing to pay for anything in Egypt, oftentimes bordering an actual scam.
Some Common Scams in Egypt are:
- Giving you a 50 Piastre note (like 50 cents) rather than 50 pound note. Know the difference.
- Paying a tiny amount for a camel ride at the pyramids and demanding more at the end. The government has set a price for camel rides at 350le. Don’t pay less or more.
- People have been known to sell fake papyrus (one of the most popular souvenirs) on the street made from other leaves, not papyrus.
- Taxis may try and overcharge you. This is why I use uber or at least always compare taxi fares to the uber quoted price.
- People may try and get you to pay bribes for a number of things – be aware!
Stay SILENT with Salesmen
Going to Egypt you must HAVE A THICK SKIN for hassling salesmen. Letting them ruin your experience would be a huge shame, and this happens to a lot of people. Don’t let it get to you, and try to have a laugh.
The best way to get rid of aggressive salesmen (if you don’t want something) is to REMAIN SILENT! I used to try and be nice and say ‘no thank you,’ ‘maybe later,’ etc, but this encourages them to find you again later, or follow you around. My Cairo tour guide told me the best move is silence, which I used for the rest of my trip, and it it truly the most respectful way to tell them to f*ck off! 😛
People May Want Photos With You
One of the funniest tips for visiting Egypt is that if you run into groups of schoolchildren or maybe domestic tourists from smaller villages, they often ask for photos with foreigners. It’s up to you if you want to oblige, but if you do, you may end up with a dozen people in line!
Probably DON’T Drive, Especially in Cairo
Cairo’s traffic is unlike anything I have ever seen. They even have their on honking language here, where certain honk patterns mean certain things. There are no lanes and there is no order. I would not drive in Cairo under any circumstance! Maybe in South Sinai or remote deserts, but certainly not Cairo or Alexandria.
Crossing the road is also an art in Cairo – make sure to stay safe crossing many lanes of haphazard traffic!
Travel Tips for Egypt Nile River Cruises
Nile River Cruises are pricier than many people expect, and they are also NOT relaxing at all but rather have a full-on schedule of early morning tample visits, some sailing, and evening visits/activities. However, we LOVED our Nile River Cruise and feel it’s the best way to see all the incredible temples of upper Egypt.
I feel there is a LOT of ambiguity surrounding Nile River Cruises and what they entail, so I wrote a whole post about them. Read my guide to booking a Nile River Cruise + How to Book Affordably.
Weekends are Friday-Saturday Here. Don’t Do Anything Touristy on A Friday.
Friday is basically the Islamic Sabbath and a day of worship, gathering, family, and friends. Friday in Egypt is like a Sunday in the US/Europe/Aus. So weekends begin Thursday night and end Saturday night.
So Friday is the day MANY locals choose to travel around, visit histpric sites, and take school groups around. This means any historic site will be uncomfortably crowded and you will now want to be anywhere near it. We ended up in Alexandria on a Friday and couldn’t get into the citadel, and our second visit to the pyramids was a Friday which we immensely regretted.
That’s all for now for travel tips Egypt requires! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below or feel free to reach out/follow me on instagram.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.