Egypt is one of the most magical destinations, captivating travelers from around the world with its rich history, breathtaking landmarks, and vibrant culture. As a child, Egypt was probably the first place I put on my travel bucket list. Ancient Egyptian history has always fascinated me.
To help you make the most of your journey, here are some essential Egypt travel tips to ensure a smooth and enriching experience.
Planning Your Trip
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Before planning your first trip to Egypt, make sure you are considering the best time to travel to Egypt. December to January is a popular choice as you’ll enjoy the warm weather and festivities, but it will be crowded. I visited in the fall. It’s an ideal time to visit in terms of moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. Egypt celebrates the New Year and then Christmas on January 7th, so you may want to plan your vacation around these busy dates.
Duration of Your Stay
A five-day trip is the shortest we recommend. This is long enough to visit just one destination and hit all the main tourist attractions. If you want more time to peruse your destination or hop from one city to another, a minimum of eight days will suffice. For a short trip, head to Cairo where you can see the pyramids and visit the museums, bazaars, cafés and get a real taste of the culture and history of Egypt.
Choosing Your Destinations
Cairo is the most popular destination as it is the capital of Egypt - most international plane journeys take you to Cairo too. You can reach all other cities from Cairo as well. If you are limited on time, you can still travel to Cairo and see the pyramids of Giza and make a day trip to Alexandria. Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast is another major destination, as is Sharm El Sheik and Hurghada on the Red Sea Coast.
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Tours vs. Independent Travel
A tour is the best way to see all of Egypt. It enables you to plan time to see all the historical sites, plus gives you access to a tour guide that knows how to safely navigate and communicate. I’d highly recommend hiring a guide while in Egypt and having someone help with the logistics of the itinerary. After spending 2 weeks in Egypt, we too came to the conclusion that independent travel would have been very difficult. For that reason, we recommend a private tour.
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Visa and Health Requirements
Visa Information
You will need a visa to visit Egypt - a tourist visa will enable you to spend up to three months in the country. You can obtain an e-visa online and simply print it off at home. For most visitors (including those from the UK and USA), a visa can also be obtained upon arrival at the airport. You’ll need to show your passport and pay the fee. Along with much of Western Europe, travelers from the UK can visit Egypt with an e-visa or apply for one when they land in the country. The rules for Canadian citizens have recently changed. To visit Egypt, Canadians will need to visit Egypt’s embassy or consulate in Canada to apply for a visa. Visitors from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and numerous other Arab countries can visit Egypt without a visa. Israeli citizens can visit Egypt using a visa and other entrance requirements.
Health and Safety
There is no risk of malaria or yellow fever in Egypt. We highly recommend travel insurance for lost baggage and cancellations. The number of American tourists visiting Egypt has increased each year since the COVID-19 pandemic - over half a million Americans discovered Egypt in 2022.
What to Pack
From clothes to money to sunscreen lotion, here’s everything you need to bring in a nutshell. You may encounter some things that might… surprise you? The first thing to know, is that Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. Specifically, the country is about 85-90% practicing Muslim. The majority of the rest of the population are Coptic Orthodox Christians. This is important to keep in mind for two reasons.
In the Muslim religion, drinking alcohol is forbidden. That means, if you enjoy being a lush on your vacations, this is a dry country and it will not be that kind of trip. The next reason, is in your attire. No matter where I travel, it is my desire and aim to respect all local customs, expectations and rules - spoken or unspoken. Thus, you’ll want to pack clothing that might be considered “conservative” by western standards. I mostly wore items that were long sleeve, flowy, long or at least shin length. I also wore head wraps and bandanas often, which is purely optional. You don’t need to feel obligated to cover your hair. But, I’d definitely avoid anything ‘revealing’ and shorts altogether. Yeah, so I definitely recommend avoiding both. Also, showing the “sole of your shoe” is also considered rude. So, keep both of those feet on the ground. Egypt is very conservative.
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The Egyptian pound is the currency used in Egypt, though some vendors will also take US dollars, euros, and British pounds. Until recently, most places required cash, but many attraction tickets are now paid by card only. Rounded two-prong plugs are used in Egypt and the electric supply runs at 220 volts. Bringing your phone is a must - it is easier for photography and navigating Egypt. You can also bring your camera and a work laptop if necessary. Leave the flip-flops at home. You may want to wear sturdy walking sandals for the beach and coast areas, but for inland Egypt like Cairo and visiting tourist attractions, choose closed-toe shoes. Tennis shoes or Converse are a good choice. Finally, heat protection. A head covering (a nice sunhat or scarf), sunscreen lotion, and after-sun skincare products are all essential.
Essential Tips for Your Trip
Language and Communication
English is widely spoken… but not exclusively. You’ll see road signs and most tourist signs written in both English and Arabic.
Safety and Security
Egypt is a safe country for the most part. There are only two locations where travel is not advised: North Sinai and the Libyan border area. There is some risk of terrorism and crime (tourist scams, pickpocketing, etc.) in most major cities and near tourist attractions, but this is the same in most countries. The UK government has the same terrorism risk level applied to Egypt as France, the USA, and numerous other countries (at the time of writing). There is a military presence across Egypt, and you will see armed security personnel at all main attractions. When traveling around Egypt, you may also find police checkpoints on major roads. They may look stern, but they are there for your protection.
Cultural Sensitivity
The culture in Egypt may be vastly different to what you are accustomed to. If you’re traveling with a partner or mate, save the PDA for the privacy of your room. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. I’d avoid any intimate behavior (cuddling, kissing and even hand holding).
Getting Around
Tourists stick out in the crowds and are approached by taxi drivers - you can politely haggle if the price offered is too high, or just say ‘no thank you’ with a smile and wait for another driver (there’s no shortage). For one, traffic - particularly in Cairo - is absolutely horrendous. I’ve never seen traffic as bad anywhere else in the world except, maybe, my hometown of Los Angeles. Secondly, the parking situations in Egypt are not anything you’re going to want to come close to dealing with. There are pubic transportations options, however, I would recommend booking a tour that comes with a private, air conditioned car, guide and driver. If you are a very, very experienced traveler, there are quite a few public transport options available. They have a bus system and Cairo metro (a rapid transit system), taxis and even Uber. But, unless you speak a considerable amount of Arabic and also have a fair amount of extra time for navigation and transport, I don’t recommend it.
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Most tourists head to Cairo and there are many attractions spread across downtown, along the Nile, and further out toward the pyramids. The metro runs through Cairo and is a fast and inexpensive way to avoid the endlessly congested streets, however, you may have trouble navigating. Taxis are a good and reliable choice - look for the white cabs - if you want to stay above ground. The final option is buses - we recommend sticking with tourist buses, led by a guide, as they take you straight to the attractions and on sightseeing routes. Domestic flights - great if you are traveling between inland Egypt (e.g. Cairo) and the coast (e.g. Nile - there are riverboats on the Nile that can take you between Luxor, Aswan, and Cairo. Coaches - there are coach journeys between cities, used by tourists for travel.
Shopping and Haggling
When you’re not admiring the historic Egyptian sites, you’ll be shopping. Any city where tourists gather will have stores selling souvenirs and other trinkets, to help you remember your trip. Cairo is the best destination for shopping, as it has both tourist-oriented establishments plus markets, bazaars, restaurants and more. With cash (see money advice above), you can haggle. To haggle successfully and not make vendors angry, start by asking what the price is for the item. Then, offer half of what you would like to pay for it. If you can’t get the price you like, you can smile and politely say ‘no, thank you’.
Tipping (Baksheesh)
Tips (baksheesh) are expected in Egypt and are usually around 10% to 20%. Tips are in cash, so try to get smaller note denominations at the money exchange booth and hold onto your change. Tips are expected for every service - even giving directions or guiding you to a destination if you are lost.
Common Scams
Like any tourist destination, there are scammers at work. Pickpocketing - this can happen in numerous ways, sometimes simply by being in a crowded place. Let’s not mince words here. There are plenty of ways to be swindled in Egypt. This is another very important Egypt tip for first timers. However, instead of writing out an exhaustive list of all the potential scams you may encounter, I’d rather say this: hire a good, trustworthy guide. Most unwanted occurrences will be thwarted by a knowledgeable guide. Otherwise, know that this is one of the most aggressive places I’ve visited in terms of asking for tips, selling things, interrupting to try to get your attention and more.
For example, in Luxor, we visited an alabaster and onyx pottery shoppe. Basically, there are no price tags on anything. In an instance like this, there is no work around other than you deciding what you’re willing to pay. Because, when we left, I kinda wondered if we overpaid for a beautiful alabaster vase and an onyx candy dish. I love them, but did we get a fair price? I did some research when we returned home and come to find out, authentic alabaster and onyx home goods can sell for quite a pretty penny.
I didn’t personally experience this, but, I’ve heard that a potential scam is not being given the correct change. Particularly, if you ask for change when tipping. Again, this is not something exclusive to Egypt. To alleviate any potential issues, try to tip exactly the amount you want to give, without requiring change.
Food and Drink
The first rule is don’t drink tap water. It is not safe for consumption, so either purchase a high-grade filtered water bottle or just rely on bottled water. Make sure to not consume or swim in fresh water in Egypt. Drink bottled water only! If you want to be extra cautious, use bottled water to brush your teeth as well. You cannot drink alcohol in public, but you can purchase it at bars, restaurants and sometimes hotels. The trick to buying street food is to stick to the busy and popular vendors.
You’ll find a lot of vegetarian-friendly foods in Egypt, plus the usual beef, lamb, and seafood (particularly along the coast). In Luxor, I didn’t go on a local food spree with reckless abandon, however, in hindsight, I realized fruit and fruit juices were the culprit. Make sure to not consume or swim in fresh water in Egypt. Drink bottled water only! If you want to be extra cautious, use bottled water to brush your teeth as well.
Health Precautions
I say the above words with caution. Firstly, I’m not a medical professional. Secondly, despite knowing that there is a high propensity for falling ill in Cairo and taking precautionary measures, you still might get sick. That said, I recommend consulting your personal primary care physician (or if you don’t have one, a medical professional you can trust) for their directives. Further, though, I’d urge you to do your best to “bulk up” your immune system prior to your trip. If you can, pack vitamins, immunity boosting powders and drink lots of tea while you’re in Egypt. I drank endless hot Egyptian mint tea while in Egypt, in addition to using a lot of peppermint essential oil that I bought at a shop in Cairo. This actually helped me tremendously. Tip: I visited in the fall. It’s an ideal time to visit in terms of moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. However, I’ve been told that the lower temperatures combined with the extreme dry air can increase your odds of getting sick in Cairo.
Restroom Essentials
After all that food and drink, you may need the restroom. Many public toilets in Egypt are lacking in toilet paper, so make sure you take some with you from the hotel room or carry a pack of tissues in your bag.
Must-See Attractions
Egypt offers a plethora of historical and cultural attractions. Here are some of the highlights:
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx: The most famous pyramids in the world and a must-see for any traveler.
- Saqqara: Tour the oldest pyramids of Saqqara where we saw the newly opened Tomb of Mehu (amazing!), Dashur, and the Colossus of Memphis.
- Egyptian Museum: A highlight of any trip, this museum is located in Old Cairo. This is a must see! Although there are about 120,000 items on display, there are more Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt than in the country because of theft *calling you out European countries* (although this is still the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts). One of the most memorable items is King Tutankhamun’s 11kg gold mask , which is in a room with security. You cannot take pictures!
- Luxor and Karnak Temples: You should definitely visit both Karnak temple and Luxor temple while in Luxor. Both are absolutely incredible sights to behold.
- Nile Cruise: Cruises along the Nile are super popular, and they stop at all the tourist sites in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor.
- Valley of the Kings: The Valley of the Kings is in Luxor, featuring the rock-cut tombs of past pharaohs.
- Abu Simbel: If you would like to visit Abu Simbel, one of the most picturesque complexes in all of Egypt, you can fly there by connecting in Aswan.
- Red Sea Resorts: Coastal city on the Red Sea with destination resorts. El Gouna sits on the Red Sea where some of the best underwater sites are-snorkeling or scuba diving is a must!
| Attraction | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramids of Giza | Ancient pyramids and the Sphinx | Giza, near Cairo |
| Karnak Temple | Largest religious structure ever built | Luxor |
| Abu Simbel | Picturesque complexes in all of Egypt | Aswan |
| Valley of the Kings | Tombs of pharaohs | Luxor |
| Egyptian Museum | Extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts | Cairo |
With these tips in mind, you're well-prepared to embark on an extraordinary adventure in Egypt. Embrace the rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
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