Egypt has been a popular tourist destination for centuries, attracting visitors with its ancient wonders and vibrant culture. However, it's essential to stay informed about the latest travel advisories and safety guidelines to ensure a secure and enjoyable trip. Here's what you need to know before you plan your flights to Egypt.
Current Travel Advisories
Several countries issue travel advisories for Egypt, which are regularly updated to reflect the current security situation. For instance, the Department of State issued an updated Travel Advisory for Egypt on October 15, 2024, replacing an earlier advisory dated July 13, 2023. These advisories often highlight potential risks such as terrorism and civil unrest.
Canada's advisory urges exercising a high degree of caution in Egypt due to ongoing tensions, the unpredictable security situation, and the threat of terrorism. The UK Foreign Office also warns of "ongoing hostilities" and advises monitoring local and international media for the latest information.
It’s well known that tensions have been running high in the Middle East, and Egypt shares a land border with both Israel and Gaza. It hasn’t been affected directly by the fighting, and the UK Foreign Office still considers the country’s tourist areas safe to visit.
Broadly, yes, and the tourist resorts are far away from Gaza. Sharm el-Sheikh is more than 200 miles away from the Gaza border; Hurghada even further. More generally, there is no travel advisory in place for popular tourist spots in Egypt such as Cairo, cities along the Nile like Luxor and Aswan, and resorts by the Red Sea such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.
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As with the other countries in the region, the UK Foreign Office warns of “ongoing hostilities”, adding that the situation “could escalate quickly and pose security risks”. Travel could be disrupted and there may be protests, so visitors are told to monitor local and international media for the latest information and to be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities if anything happens.
As with other countries in the world, the Foreign Office has warned that terrorists are very likely to attempt attacks in Egypt. The risk is heightened during public holidays and festivals, such as Christmas and Ramadan, and is particularly high around religious sites, large public gatherings and places frequented by foreigners. Stay vigilant and carry photo ID with you at all times.
Specific Areas to Avoid
Certain areas in Egypt are considered high-risk and should be avoided.
- Northern Sinai Governorate: All travel to northern Sinai should be avoided due to terrorist activity and ongoing military operations.
- Western Desert: There's a high threat of terrorist attacks within 40km of Egypt's border with Libya.
- Borders with Sudan and Libya: These borders are porous, and bandits and armed groups are active in these areas.
The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to the North Sinai Governorate, which includes the Rafah crossing, and within 20km of the Libyan border (except El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel). It advises against all but essential travel to several other parts of the country, for example the northern part of South Sinai.
The more unstable areas of the Northern Sinai Peninsula have been off-limits to tourists for over a decade. The entire area of the Northern Sinai Peninsula that tourists should avoid, is off-limits anyway, and has been for years, even before the recent escalation at the Gaza/Egypt border.
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The area of Egypt's Western Desert that is not safe for tourists to visit is the area within 50 kilometers of the border with Libya. However, the areas that tourists want to visit, like Siwa Oasis, the Black and White Desert, or El Kharga Oasis, are not within this area. The unsafe portion of the Western Desert has nothing of interest for tourists, aside from lots of desert sand.
Even in areas considered safer, such as Red Sea resorts and Upper Egypt, it's advisable to exercise a high degree of caution. Sporadic terrorist attacks have targeted foreign tourists in recent years, so vigilance is key.
Travel Restrictions
You need permission to cross borders on the main sealed roads, including at the borders with Libya, Sudan, Israel and parts of the Sinai. The Australian Government can't influence the granting of approval or when the crossing will open. Travel to the Sinai in a 4WD vehicle may be restricted if you don't hold a valid permit.
Road travel to Abu Simbel, 40km north of the Sudanese border, can be dangerous. Road conditions are very poor. Where possible, avoid travelling by road.
Safety Tips for Travelers
To ensure a safe trip to Egypt, consider the following tips:
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- Stay Informed: Monitor local and international media for updates on the security situation.
- Avoid Demonstrations: Stay away from large gatherings and protests, as they can turn violent.
- Be Vigilant: Be particularly cautious in commercial establishments, government facilities, public areas, and tourist sites.
- Respect Local Customs: Be aware that Egypt is an Islamic country, and customs can be very different from Western cultures.
- Secure Transportation: Use reputable travel agencies for vehicles and drivers. Avoid microbuses due to hazardous driving habits.
- Inform Authorities: Before you go, tell local authorities of your planned travel. Ask them about current risks and precautions for your route and destination.
In terms of safety on the ground, it pays to be vigilant. Protests take place frequently and foreigners taking part in political activities in the country could be detained or subjected to other measures.
The Foreign Office says: “Avoid large gatherings, demonstrations and protests as the situation could change quickly and without warning. Police have used water cannons, tear gas, birdshot and live ammunition as crowd control.”
At popular tourist spots, visitors can be harassed for money or to buy things. There’s also a risk of theft and mugging, even in taxis. Travelling as part of an escorted tour can help reduce the risks. If you are a victim of crime, you should contact the local tourist police who can help you make a report.
Public displays of affection can also be frowned upon.
Before you head out for the day, check the news to see if there are any potential demonstrations, and be especially cautious on Fridays after prayer time (early afternoon) when protests usually happen. If you notice a demonstration when out and about, try to avoid the area as much as possible. Certain areas, like Tahrir Square, may become epicenters for protests and demonstrations. If you do find yourself in a demonstration, try to keep a low profile, move with the crowd (avoiding stationary objects like walls, poles, etc.), and break away to a more quiet, safe area as soon as possible.
Egyptians have been talking a lot recently about the war in Israel and Gaza. As best you can, avoid these conversations entirely, or if engaged in one, try:
- Saying you do not know a lot about politics
- Pretending you do not understand
- If you are American, saying that you do not agree with what the American Government is doing regarding the situation (this is often an easy answer to stop further conversation)
No matter what, avoid expressing support for Israel - in general, Egyptians are very supportive of Palestinians, and are lukewarm to hostile when it comes to Israel.
Safety for Women Travelers
Women should take care when travelling in taxis in Egypt. In general, yes, it is safe for female travellers. However, there have been reported incidents of sexual assault and harassment in the country, including some affecting minors. Most of the reported incidents have taken place in the Red Sea region and, according to the Foreign Office, are often committed by someone the victim had already met, including hotel workers and excursion staff.
The Foreign Office advises: “Female travellers should exercise caution when travelling alone, particularly at night, in buses, taxis and microbuses. If you are travelling on public transport, including microbuses, avoid being the last passenger left on board.”
Women, particularly foreigners, are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. This often takes the form of staring, inappropriate remarks, catcalls and touching. The risks increase around public holidays, when more men are in the streets.
LGBT Travelers
It can be problematic for LGBT travellers. While homosexuality is not technically illegal in Egypt, charges under “debauchery” laws have been used to prosecute LGBT people in the past, according to the Foreign Office. Some were arrested in 2017 on “debauchery” and “sexual deviance” charges after waving a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo, for example.
This blog post has a lot of information about the topic to prepare for your Egypt visit, but overall, yes, Egypt is safe for LGBT travelers, as long as these travelers know what the Egyptian law says about homosexuality, avoid public displays of affection, and respect local customs.
Specific Destinations
Cairo
Yes, the Foreign Office is not advising against travel to Cairo. However, it’s a big and busy city so it’s still worth staying vigilant for petty crime and harassment.
Cairo, despite being one of the largest cities in the world, is very safe. I have been living in Cairo off and on for 12 years, and, ironically, feel safer in Cairo than any other major city in the world I've been to, including where I live in the USA. Things like getting robbed, pickpocketed, or jumped have never been a concern to me in Cairo, and all of the travelers I have helped visit Egypt have felt safe in the capital city.
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is one of Egypt’s most popular holiday resorts, attracting around 10 million tourists a year, according to official figures. The Foreign Office considers it safe to visit. Since it reopened to British tourists in October 2019, four years after a bomb exploded on a Russian plane carrying 224 passengers and crew, there have been extra safety checks. Security measures were increased at the Red Sea resort: x-ray scanners in hotels, security walls and high perimeter fences around the airport were installed.
Hurghada
Yes. The Foreign Office does not advise against travel to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, which is known for its great diving and watersports.
Like all major tourists cities in Egypt, Hurghada has a heavy security presence that is focused on keeping toursits safe. There have been a few instances over the past 10 years where tourists in Hurghada have been harmed, but with the hundreds of thousands o...
Alexandria
Yes, Alexandria is totally safe, despite being the second largest city in Egypt. I love Alexandria, and encourage anyone with a few extra days in their itinerary to pay Egypt's Mediterranean Jewel a visit.
Additional Safety Measures
- Travel Insurance: Always make sure to organise appropriate travel insurance before travelling.
- Contingency Plan: Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
- Local Laws: Be aware of local laws, including those regarding alcohol consumption and photography.
Public drinking, for example, can lead to arrest - alcohol is only permitted in a licensed restaurant or bar.
Taking pictures of military property (strictly prohibited), embassies, government buildings, churches and even infrastructure such as railway stations can lead to arrest. If you want to photograph any Egyptian citizens, you must have written permission from them; photographing children is not permitted.
Taking or sharing photographs that are perceived to be damaging to the country’s image is also forbidden. Similarly, making strongly negative comments about the Egyptian government or its politics, including on social media, can lead to you being detained.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
Entry Requirements
For entry into Egypt, you’ll need at least six months’ validity on your passport. You’ll also need to apply for a tourist visa to visit most of the country. These can be obtained online before you travel (valid for up to three months) or on arrival at dedicated desks inside the airport (valid for up to 30 days).
If you’re travelling to the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you can get a free entry permission stamp upon arrival for stays of less than 15 days. You’ll have to get a visa if you want to stay longer or visit other places.
You must show proof of an entry stamp in your passport when you leave Egypt. If you cannot provide proof of entry, you cannot obtain an exit stamp and will be denied exit.
If you have entered the country with a Canadian passport and have obtained a new one while in Egypt, you must have the entry stamp transferred to the new passport by the Egyptian Immigration Authority. This requirement also applies to newborns and dual citizens.
If a child is born in Egypt to a Canadian parent, a data stamp proving that the child was born in Egypt must be added to the child's Canadian passport before the child can exit the country. Since there will be no entry stamp in the child's passport, you must submit both the child's birth certificate and Canadian passport to the Egyptian Immigration Authority to obtain what Egyptian authorities term the “data s...
Travel in Egypt Advice: Safety
Egypt Adventures Travel hosts group tours every year, which are a great way for travelers to have a safe and comfortable experience in Egypt.
If a group tour is not right for you, consider a private tour. Companies (like Egypt Adventures Travel) can connect you with vetted and trusted Egyptian guides and partners, who can handle all of the logistical details for your time in Egypt. Their main job is to make sure you are safe and taken care of while in Egypt, and they will always be keeping this in mind.
For example, tourism companies by law are required to file paperwork with Egypt’s Tourism Police (that’s right, Egypt has a police branch in each major city and governorate dedicated solely to keeping tourists safe) and also the Ministry of Tourism. This paperwork has all the identifying information of the individuals in the group, as well as all the tour guides and drivers the group will be working with, along with a basic itinerary for their time in Egypt. These paperwork documents are checked each morning upon pickup from the hotel, along the way each day at various sites, and upon returning to the hotel in the evening.
Sometimes, depending on the situation or the size of the group, additional security or a tourism police officer will join a group for a day, to keep an eye on everyone and make sure everyone is safe.
If there were to be some type of disaster, accident, civil unrest, etc., tourism companies have plans in place to help tourists find a safe place, and then consider next steps depending on the situation. Tour guides, drivers, and tour leaders are all prepared to spring to action if something happens during a tour.
The State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to enroll your trip with the U.S. Embassy, and allows travelers to get real-time text message updates from the relevant embassy wherever they are traveling. Embassy has an announcement or security update.
Travel and Trip Insurance are a great way to keep yourself covered in case something does happen, and you need medical attention or to be evacuated. Or, in case Egypt becomes a place that is too dangerous for tourism (or you simply decide to cancel your trip for personal reasons), many insurance companies will offer a plan that has “cancel for any reason” coverage, which usually returns back 75% of the cost you paid on your trip.
Uber is far safer than taking a normal, "white" taxi, since you know who your driver will be, you have GPS tracking enabled, you have a record of your ride, and you have the Uber central office in Cairo to contact in case anything goes wrong. Uber also has in-app safeguards to report issues in real time.
Public transit like buses, the metro, and microbuses are not often taken by tourists, but all modes of public transit in Egypt are perfectly safe. I have never worried about pickpockets, being harmed, or any other issues while taking public transit. However, I would not recommend solo female travelers who are not familiar with Egypt to take public transit by themselves, and any female taking public transit in Egypt should dress conservatively, covering up everything from ankles to wrists (no need to cover hair).
