Planning a trip to Egypt to see the Pyramids of Giza and explore the wonders of Cairo and beyond? Egypt is a top travel destination in Africa, offering a rich history and diverse culture. However, packing for Egypt requires careful consideration of both the weather and cultural norms. This guide will help you choose the best outfits to stay cool, comfortable, and respectful during your visit.
Understanding Egypt's Climate
Egypt's location in northeast Africa means much of the country has a desert climate with hot summers, mild winters, and minimal rain. Moving southward, the area around Cairo and the Nile Delta experiences temperatures similar to the Mediterranean, but with lower humidity. The southern region, including Luxor and the Red Sea coast (Upper Egypt), has a hot, dry desert climate with scorching summers and warm winters.
Although there’s not really a bad time of year to visit Egypt, the weather varies seasonally throughout the year.
- Summer: Expect hot, dry weather with temperatures often exceeding 35°C (95°F), and even surpassing 40°C (104°F) on the Red Sea coast and in southern Egypt.
- Autumn: Temperatures start to fall, returning to a more comfortable range of 20-35°C (68-95°F).
- Winter: Mild, with average daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 10-20°C (50-68°F).
- Spring: Daytime temperatures range from 15-25°C (59-77°F) in March to 25-35°C (77-95°F) in May.
I visited Egypt in June and the temperature was regularly above 38ºC by mid-morning. Daytime temperatures in spring range from 15-25°C in March to 25-35°C in May. The temperature hit 48°C in Aswan so you’ll need to be prepared.
Cultural Considerations
Egypt is a Muslim country with a modern, diverse culture and a rich history. It’s important for foreign visitors to respect the local culture and dress appropriately for a conservative country. Major cities like Cairo and tourist spots like Sharm el Sheikh tend to be more liberal than villages and towns in rural areas, where the local women will dress more conservatively.
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The dress code tends to be more relaxed in beach resorts, tourist hotels and on cruise ships. However, modesty is generally expected. Avoid wearing revealing or tight-fitting clothing, and opt for loose-fitting clothing like linen shirts, loose trousers, long pants and flowing skirts or dresses.
Essential Clothing Items for Egypt
When planning what to pack for Egypt, the best clothes are cool, comfortable and conservative. Here are some essential items to include in your packing list:
- Lightweight Trousers: It’s generally better to opt for light, loose-fitting trousers for comfort. I mainly stuck to linen or cotton wide-leg trousers.
- Long Jumpsuits: Long jumpsuits that are made of breathable materials are a fantastic option in Egypt.
- Midi and Maxi Dresses: Maxi dresses will feel cool and comfortable and you can pop a light scarf around your shoulders or wear a linen shirt over the top if the sun is too intense or you’re visiting a mosque. There’s no need to leave your sundresses at home, as long as your shoulders, chest and knees are covered.
- Linen Shirts: A linen shirt dress always looks the part too. A linen shirt dress always looks the part too.
- Skirts: If you prefer to wear skirts, make sure they cover your knees.
- Tops: Although modest dress is generally expected in Egypt, you don’t need to wear baggy, long-sleeved tops. Wearing short sleeves is fine as long as your shoulders are covered and the neckline isn’t too low-cut.
You can wear tight trousers like leggings or skinny jeans in most areas of Egypt if you pair them with a long top that covers your bottom. Short shorts are inappropriate for most destinations in Egypt, unless you’re staying in a tourist resort like Sharm el-Sheikh.
Footwear and Accessories
Comfortable footwear is another must. Breathable, closed-toe shoes with good support are a good choice for sightseeing, especially around historical sites like Giza, ancient temples, and the Valley of Kings where you’ll be walking on uneven surfaces. If you’re staying in a beach town, you might get away with sandals or flip flops, but you’ll need something more sturdy if you’re planning day trips to the Great Pyramids or the Valley of the Kings.
Don’t forget to pack your flip-flops if your hotel or river cruise boat has a pool. These are also good for wearing around your hotel room.
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Accessories are also important for protection and modesty:
- Hats: Hats are a saving grace in an area that doesn’t have much shade. A wide-brimmed or straw hat will also help shade your eyes and protect the delicate skin on your face and neck from the intense Egypt sun.
- Sunglasses: Sunglasses don’t just look good, they also help protect your eyes from the strong desert sun.
- Scarves: A lightweight shawl or scarf is really handy for covering your head and shoulders in conservative areas and religious sites. I used my light linen scarf to cover my arms when temperatures got too hot. It also help to protect the back of my neck from the sun.
Specific Outfit Ideas
Here are a few outfit ideas to inspire your packing:
- Classic White Dress and Scarf: A breathable white dress paired with a colorful scarf is a great go-to outfit.
- Khaki Pants and Button-Down Shirt: Inspired by adventurous explorers, this outfit is perfect for visiting the pyramids.
- Jumpsuit with a Button-Down Shirt: A versatile jumpsuit can be made more conservative by pairing it with a white button-down shirt.
- Midi Skirt and Button-Down Shirt: This combination is ideal for touring mosques and temples, with a scarf for covering your hair.
Loose attire is essential when packing for Egypt. Pack loose linen pants and even go up one size if you can - the less left for the imagination the better.
Additional Tips
- Sun Protection: Make no mistake, if there’s only one thing you don’t miss while packing for Egypt it should be high quality sunscreen. Shade is hard to come by and the sun blazes throughout the day regardless of the season.
- Insect Repellent: Mosquitoes can be a problem, especially if you’re visiting between late spring and early autumn.
- First Aid Kit: Hotels, resorts and river cruisers will all have medical facilities available, but it’s worth taking your own first aid kit.
- eSIM Card: For mobiles phone coverage eSIM cards will help you avoid roaming charges on your holiday.
What to Wear in Different Settings
- Great Pyramids: When visiting the Great Pyramids, you’ll want to stay cool and comfortable, as you’ll be walking on uneven terrain and in hot conditions. Opt for lightweight cotton or linen clothing and comfortable closed toe shoes suitable for walking rather than sandals or flip-flops.
- Beach Resorts: Female visitors can wear shorts in a beach resort like Sharm el-Sheikh, but I wouldn’t recommend wearing them in cities like Cairo.
- Mosques: However, it will be necessary to cover your hair if you visit mosques or other holy places, so it’s a good idea to keep a scarf or shawl handy.
Personal Experiences and Insights
During my trip to Egypt, I found that being respectful of local customs made the experience more comfortable. As such, I found myself covering my head with a scarf 99% of the time while exploring Cairo. In Aswan I had a different experience because we spent most of our time recharging and relaxing at the hotel (Cairo was a lot to handle). In Luxor, we spent most of our time at the hotel and embarked on tours with a guide (booked through the hotel).
In sum, answering the question of if you need to cover your hair in Egypt is kind of dependent on your comfort level. Speaking from personal experience, I was surprised by how often I felt compelled to cover my hair in Egypt (mostly to stave off unwanted male attention). Regardless, I noticed that most female tourists did NOT cover their hair, so to each their own.
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I strove to be respectful of cultures and norms when traveling and am not one for making waves or changing the status quo. I read that the general rule of thumb for tourists is no, women don’t need to cover their hair in Egypt.
Whether you’re planning a beach holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh, exploring the pyramids or sailing down the River Nile on a cruise boat, choosing what to wear in Egypt is easy if you remember a few simple rules.
