Are you getting ready to travel to Egypt for your first time and not sure what to expect? This country can be an overwhelming place to visit if you know nothing about it beforehand. Luckily, in this post, we’ll cover the most essential travel tips for Egypt so you feel safe and prepared to go!
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For most people, Egypt is a magical place they’ve dreamed about visiting ever since they were kids. However, this expectation can sometimes cloud the realities of what it’s like to visit a country in the middle east.
Everyone would benefit from some tips to know before traveling to this mesmerizing country. Tips and tricks to keep in mind so that you can have the best time possible and focus on the main reason you’re there – to see beautiful archaeological sites!
Whether you’ve already read up on plenty of Egypt blogs or you’re just getting started, I’ve got you covered! Here are the top 20 most important Egypt travel tips you should be aware of.
First Things First
Is Egypt Safe?
This is likely the most common question people ask before even thinking about visiting Egypt. Even though the US Embassy has a level 3 warning to reconsider travel to Egypt, it’s still quite a safe country to visit. I felt pretty safe traveling as a female alone at times.
However, there are places best to avoid because of terrorist attacks in the past such as the Sinai Penisula, the Western Desert, and any borders for that matter. As long as you stay in popular tourist cities and follow these Egypt travel tips, safety shouldn’t be a huge concern.
20 Helpful Egypt Travel Tips
1 Getting a Visa On Arrival
Americans require a visa to enter Egypt. While you can apply and receive your visa ahead of time online, it’s super easy to do it in person on arrival.
After you get off the plane, before customs, there is a bank where you can buy your visa for $25 US dollars. It takes almost no time but you do need to pay in US cash.
If you’re anything like me and like to collect passport stamps and visas, make sure to get yours in person! Because I got mine ahead of time online, they never gave me a visa sticker on my passport. I was expected to carry out my printed visa which is also just one more thing to worry about.
2 Expect Tons of Hasseling/Harassing by Touts
One of the worst parts about my trip to Egypt was unfortunately dealing with aggressive and relentless vendors. This can easily make or break your trip depending on the kind of person you are and your attitude/mentality.
I only wish someone had warned me about how bad it was so I knew what to expect. That being said, it’s pretty awful and equally exhausting to be chased down by vendors even after you’ve repeatedly told them you’re not interested.
This is only really an issue in popular tourist sites like the pyramids or parts of Luxor. Just do your best to ignore them and avoid eye contact. They take eye contact and even a simple ‘no, thank you’ as an invitation to engage.
Worst-case scenario, put your headphones in and just keep walking. This was the only thing that eventually got them to stop bothering me. This is one of the main travel tips I want you to remember about visiting Egypt!
3 Booking a Tour or Agency to Travel With
In order to avoid harassment by touts, one of the best tips to travel in Egypt is to go with a tour company or guide. I generally love to travel independently and do it myself but this is the one place I wish I had listened and gone with a tour company instead.
Egypt is just one of those countries that can be difficult to navigate by yourself. It can also be exhausting to constantly have to haggle and turn down aggressive salesmen and drivers. I believe I would have enjoyed my time better if I had traveled with some sort of company.
Just something to think about if you have the money to do so. I thought people suggested this for safety reasons but it’s purely for your own benefit. You will likely enjoy your trip more without all the extra fuss and worry.
4 Get a SIM Card at the Airport
This is something that is super easy and I recommend doing it in any country you visit. At the Cairo Airport, there is an Orange (phone company name) Kiosk where you can buy a SIM card.
Just make sure that you have an unlocked phone otherwise the SIM card won’t work. You can check this with your telephone provider before you visit.
Having a SIM will make your life and travels way easier. Plus in case of emergency, you have the internet at your fingertips.
5 Use Uber Whenever Possible
Another reason why you should get an Egyptian SIM card is so that you can use Uber to get around. Uber is by far the cheapest, safest, and most hassle-free way to travel through Cairo.
Taxi drivers are known to take you on longer trips to run the meter or just demand more money after the agreed-upon price. The best way around this is to use Uber but refuse to pay them in cash for safety purposes. You can absolutely pay through the app and if they tell you, you can’t it’s just a scam.
Unfortunately, Uber is only available in Cairo and Alexandria. However, Careem is the Uber alternative that is more widely available throughout the country.
To read more about Uber tips in Egypt and my personal shocking experience, click here.
6 Be Prepared to Pay in Cash Almost Everywhere
One of the more useful Egypt travel tips is to have plenty of Egyptian cash on hand! Although credit cards are widely accepted in most hotels and restaurants, they prefer cash in Egypt. They may even tell you the machine is down or broken to get you to pay in cash instead.
It’s best to keep this in mind and bring more cash than you think you’ll need. There are plenty of ATMs available as well as places to exchange money. Just be aware that you’ll need to show your passport to exchange cash in Egypt.
7 What to Pack/Wear in Egypt
The most important thing to know is that Egypt is a Muslim country so this means you’ll see most women completely covered up. Some will even wear hijabs or veils to cover their face, all will at least cover their arms and legs.
As a tourist, you are not expected to dress like this. Just do your best to dress as modestly as possible. Trust me, you’ll already get unwanted attention – you don’t want to give them another reason to stare at you.
Wear loose-fitting clothes and do your best to cover up your arms and legs. I also suggest carrying a lightweight scarf or pashmina so you can cover up if you enter a mosque or even from the sun.
I also recommend bringing hiking boots. Although it’s not necessary, you will be doing a lot of walking up and down into tombs. It’s better to be comfortable and not wear open-toed shoes if you can avoid it.
I personally love love love my Oboz hiking boots. They’re super comfy and I always bring them wherever I travel. They’re definitely an investment but if you walk/hike a lot, they’re the perfect shoe.
8 Common Scams
There are numerous amounts of scams and/or tourist exploitation. Here are a few but just be mindful and listen to your gut. Also never assume someone in the tourism industry is trying to help you for free! Such as touts or vendors. Kind local Egyptians are an exception.
- Ubers asking you or telling you, you must pay in cash. They just want the full fair amount but this means you will have to cancel your trip on the app, therefore it is not being tracked and is less safe.
- Vendors telling you things are ‘handmade in Egypt’. No, they are not, they are cheap trinkets from China. Their mothers did not hand-knit the scarves either.
- Beware of people at the pyramids taking your phone from you to take a picture of you. They will demand money after and won’t give you your phone back until you pay.
- Being told you have to ride a camel to enter the pyramids. This is a lie. Also, there are no ‘special days’ at the pyramids either. They will often tell you “Oh, today is a special day, the site is closed or you have to pay extra for this”
- Beware of people coming up to you on the streets and faking connections with you. They do this to strike up a conversation with you so they can bring you to their store to sell you ‘genuine papyrus or perfume’ for an inflated price.
9 Make Sure You Agree on a Price BEFORE You Do Anything
This is also a popular scam in Egypt. Whether it’s your taxi driver, the camel owner, or another guide/vendor. When you ask them how much it’ll cost, they often tell you “We can talk about that after.” This is obviously a very bad sign that they are going to charge you an unfair price.
Always agree on the price beforehand and make sure to agree on the currency as well. 30 Egyptian pounds for example, otherwise they’ll say they meant British pounds or something like that.
Even once you agree, they may still demand more in the end. They tend to get aggressive and start harassing you. Whether it’s them saying that it’s not enough money, or you hate Egyptians, or that $10 USD isn’t even that much money to you.
If they start getting loud and bold with you, the best thing to do is just walk away quickly or start a louder commotion so other people get involved. Unfortunately, this is the only way to get them to stop besides actually paying them extra money.
10 Do Not Bring Your Drone
I did not know this when I flew into Egypt so whatever you DON’T BRING YOUR DRONE – no matter the size. Drones are not allowed in Egypt and they will confiscate them at the airport.
I’ve heard from other travelers that they’ll just keep it at the airport for you until you leave. However, they charge you $6 a day to store it.
I was in a hurry and didn’t look up the drone laws in Egypt before I went so I brought mine. I got super LUCKY and no one noticed I had it or said anything about it. Of course, I didn’t fly it while I was there but just be aware of this!
11 Cairo is A Chaotic City with a Ton of Traffic
Beware that Cairo is quite a chaotic city. It’s overpacked, dirty, and hard to navigate at times. There is also so much traffic almost all of the time. Plan for extra time to get anywhere you’re going.
Not to mention that even the driving is chaotic. There isn’t much order or uniform lanes like there is in the US. Because of this, it can also be extremely intimidating trying to cross the streets.
You just have to start crossing and people will slow down for you. That’s just kind of how it goes so don’t be too afraid to cross the street. Just go for it and walk quickly.
12 Don’t Ride the Camels
I can’t stress this tip enough. I know we all want a picture with a camel in front of the pyramids but before you accept a ride, just think about the animals. They are practically skin and bones and the worst part is that this is just their lives.
They don’t get rest days like we do. The camels have to get up and down and walk and pose all of the time. It’s just not humane. Plus there have been multiple reports about the cruelty and abuse that goes on behind closed doors.
Please think of the animals and boycott riding any camels while you’re in Egypt. Yes, you may have to walk a little more but that’s better than contributing to their harm.
If you’re interested in reading more about why you should boycott camel rides, you can read my blog post about this topic here.
13 Egypt Has a Huge Smoking Culture
Egypt is like the US back in the 90s before smoking indoors was banned. Smoking is a huge part of Egyptian culture and they do it everywhere! Inside taxis, restaurants, and most other buildings. Just be aware of this as you will likely inhale plenty of secondhand smoke.
14 Be Prepared to Tip for Almost Anything
So this kind of goes hand in hand with the scamming aspect. Egyptians in the tourism industry expect a tip for literally everything. Even for things that you did not ask for or normally would require a tip. They even get in front of you while you’re already doing it but pretend like they helped you so they demand a tip.
For example, you might already be walking into the Sphynx area at the pyramids but someone will say “Come with me, follow me” and then walk right in front of you. They may act like they are giving you some sort of information or help. They expect a tip for this.
Tips are expected for handling your luggage, escorting you from one place to another, opening up doors for you, etc. This is where it’s up to you to tip accordingly when you feel it’s necessary or when you’re comfortable doing so.
Other times you just have to walk away. This is the unfortunate part of traveling in Egypt. Everyone expects money from you in one way or another.
15 Download Google Translate & Learn Basic Arabic
This is one of my favorite and most important tips that will save you a lot of time and hassle, not only in Egypt but anywhere you travel! Before you even board your plane to Egypt, make sure you download Google Translate. It would also be wise to screenshot the alphabet and numbers in Arabic.
Google Translate is such a useful tool because it’ll actually translate anything in real-time, whether it’s signs or menus in any language. You can hold up your camera to the document, it’ll scan it, and then translate it for you in English.
It will also translate conversations for you. If you need help communicating with an Egyptian, you can speak into the app and it’ll translate it out loud in Egyptian. I use this app everywhere I travel. It has saved me countless times.
Just be sure once you download the app to also download the language you will be using. You need to do this so you can use it even if you’re not connected to the internet.
16 Don’t Try to Drive or Rent a Car
As I’ve already mentioned, Cairo and Egypt in general, can be pretty chaotic at times. It’s best to not rent a car while you’re here and just leave it up to the professionals. My main concern would be getting into some kind of accident because it’s so stressful and people drive all over the place.
You can easily hire a driver for the day through your hotel if this suits you better than taking an Uber. In places like Luxor, where it’s calmer, I tried to look for rental car companies but had no luck finding any.
17 Always Carry a Little Bit of Toilet Paper With You
Most public bathrooms in Egypt are not kept very clean and usually cost money to use. Generally, once you pay, the attendant will hand you toilet paper but sometimes they do not.
It’s best to keep some rolled-up toilet paper with you at all times just in case. You can carry some in your fanny pack or backpack!
18 Be Prepared to See a lot of Poverty & Trash
One of the saddest parts about visiting Egypt, besides the mistreatment of camels, is the poverty. Depending on where you visit and walk in Cairo, you may see a lot of heart-wrenching things. People live in horrible conditions and there is trash almost everywhere.
There is so much trash that gets dumped in piles outside of the city on riverbanks. Be mindful of this and always say no to single-use plastic bags when you can. Carrying a reusable bag can help with this when going shopping.
It’s just good to be aware and prepared so maybe you get a little less caught off guard witnessing these things.
19 Don’t Drink The Tap Water
This is a great general rule of thumb while traveling – don’t drink the water! Only drink bottled water or bring some kind of filter so you can drink the tap water. Egypt is one of those countries where it’s very easy to get sick either from water or food contamination.
Getting sick will always ruin your time so try your best to avoid brushing your teeth or cooking with tap water. I like to buy big water jugs from the market and refill my own bottle that way so I try to waste less plastic.
20 Don’t be Afraid to Get to Know the Locals
I know there are a lot of heavy and negative things to avoid while visiting Egypt, but don’t let this deter you from enjoying the culture and the people. One of the best travel tips for Egypt I can give you is to let your guard down (when it’s appropriate) and get to know the locals.
Besides people from the tourism industry or whose livelihood depends on getting money from tourists, all the other Egyptians I met were some of the nicest people ever. Truly, they are extremely kind and welcoming. They are always willing to help and get to know you.
It can be difficult to distinguish people’s motives but trust your gut when it comes to meeting people. I believe one of the best parts about traveling is getting to know people and sharing stories. Those are the experiences that transform you and leave you with an open mind.
That wraps up the Egypt travel tips I have for you! I know it can seem like a lot while reading this but it’s important to make note of all of these things so you’re not caught off guard. The better prepared you are, the likelier you are to enjoy your time there and hopefully avoid getting scammed! I hope these tips will make your travel to Egypt as smooth as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to know before Travelling to Egypt?
The most important thing to know is how different the culture is. Vendors tend to harass and pester tourists to the point of aggression and irritability. This can easily ruin one’s trip. Many scams are rampant in Egypt but if you can get passed this, you should be able to enjoy your time.
Egypt is not for the fate-hearted or easily bothered tourist. Besides this, Egypt is a relatively safe country to visit.
What not to wear in Egypt as a tourist?
As a tourist, you are not required to dress like the locals but do keep in mind the customs and traditions. Cover up as much of your body as possible and don’t wear super tight or exposing clothes. No short shorts, no low-cut tops, etc.
Do Americans need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, Americans need a visa to enter Egypt. You can easily obtain one on arrival at the Cairo airport for $25 USD. Make sure you have US dollars and you can buy it at the bank right before customs.
If you prefer, you can also get one ahead of time online but they do not give you the sticker on your passport if you happen to be a collector. Plus you are required to travel with your printed visa at all times. Just more to worry about.
For more Egypt information, you may also like:
- Fantastic 17-Day Itinerary For Remarkable Egypt And Jordan Trip
- 5 Powerful Reasons You Should NOT Travel to Egypt
- How To Visit The Giza Pyramids Without a Guide & Still Have a Good Time (2023)
