17 Travel Tips For Egypt – What You Need To Know Before You Go

UPDATED FEB 2020. I figured to follow up on the video I made (which is my favorite video ever by the way!), I would start with an overall guide on the travel planning process. This post is going to be like the foundation for your planning – 17 of the most useful travel tips for Egypt to help you start turning your dream trip into reality. If there is anything else you want to know about, please let me know in the comments. I’d be happy to answer any questions and/or create posts with more info. Ok, let’s get into it!

17 Travel Tips For Egypt – What You Need To Know Before You Go

Disclaimer

There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.

1. Entry requirements

When you arrive at the airport, you need to stop to get a visa before going through passport control. You can get the visa sticker from the banks (you will see signs and other people in line) and you need to pay $25USD in cash. Bring the exact change if you can.

The visa allows you to stay for 30 days.

Once you get your sticker, you are able to go through passport control.

You can also obtain your visa ahead of time by getting an e-visa here. This is the official site.

Your passport must be valid for 6 months and have at least 1 blank page.

2. Currency

The Egyptian Pound is the currency in Egypt, though many touristy places will also accept USD and take cards for payment.

Even if you will have US cash, it’s a good idea to get some money out in Egyptian Pounds.

You can get cash out from an ATM to use for tipping and in smaller places that will only accept it e.g. buying meals, souvenirs, water.

3. What vaccinations do you need to visit Egypt?

There are currently no mandatory vaccine requirements – though I recommend checking this before you travel in case requirements have changed.

Hepatitis and Typhoid are the main recommended vaccinations for Egypt.

I also recommend checking with your doctor before you travel in case there is anything else they recommend.

4. Is tap water safe to drink?

It’s best to avoid tap water in Egypt. Bottled water is commonly available.

It’s easy to find big 1.5L bottles which are helpful to keep in your room for drinking and brushing your teeth.

Make sure you always have some to keep yourself hydrated in the heat.

A water bottle with a filter like this one could be a useful back up option too.

If you have a tour guide, ask if they can take your money to buy water for you because it will be much cheaper for them to buy as the prices are hiked up for tourists.

5. Hygiene tips

Gastro upset is pretty common with traveling because you are exposed to new bacteria and bugs. To keep yourself as diarrhea-free as possible, make sure you pack:

• Probiotics
• Hand sanitizer
• Anti-bacterial wipes
• Tissues
• Imodium tablets in case you get travelers diarrhea

Probiotics will help give your gut bacteria a head start and there are a lot of good travel options on Amazon like these ones.

Make sure to keep them in the original bottle or packaging in case customs want to check them. You don’t want to be standing in front of security with a bag of pills in a ziplock bag.

Also, make sure to take hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, and tissues out with you each day to use before eating and after using the toilet.

6. What language is spoken?

Many people you meet in Egypt speak English which makes traveling for us English speakers really easy. It’s always nice to learn the greetings to show off to the people you meet though.

Salaam Alaikum – Use as a greeting instead of ‘hi’. If someone says it to you, you can say it in reverse back – Alaikum Salaam.

Shukran – Thank you

7. How long do you need to visit Egypt?

There’s so much more than just the Pyramids of Giza!

I think you need a minimum of one week for a visit to Egypt and I wouldn’t add any more than 3 cities in one week. I did 3 and it was really on-the-go.

If you have two weeks that would be ideal, but one week is a good starting point.

8. The most important tip – get a guide

Being a foreign woman alone in Egypt makes you a magnet for attention. My best advice is to book a tour guide.

It’s kind of like having a bodyguard who can teach you history.

I walked around on my own, as well as with guides, and walking with a guide was 100% more enjoyable.

In terms of safety, I never felt unsafe when I was walking by myself. However, the annoyance of people constantly coming up to sell things, get you on their tours, the marriage proposals, the catcalling, and having people constantly taking photos or asking for selfies got old really fast.

Having a guide dramatically reduced that, and they also taught me about history and took me to local spots I wouldn’t have found on my own.

Tour guides I traveled with in Egypt

Ahmed Mido

Ahmed was my main contact and he planned my trip for me. For getting through hustle and bustle of Cairo, he is definitely the man for the job because he’s a fast-paced city guy.

He knows the area well, has a lot of connections, and can guide you through the busy city with ease.

I was in contact with him after I moved on from Cairo and he was helpful with any questions I had or issues for the remainder of the trip.

You can read more about his inspiring story in my book in my book “Your Vacation, My Office” which I profiles people who work in travel around the world.

To contact Ahmed: Contact him on his Facebook page.

Amr Ali

Amr was my guide in Luxor who took me to see temples, tombs, and even to try some bakery food in a local cafe.

He’s a laid-back, gentle giant who is very passionate and knowledgeable about Egyptian history. He has even worked on some archeological excavations with one of the Universities there which I thought was really cool!

We had a lot of great chats sharing our cultures with each other. He always listened with interest and shared his own stories with enthusiasm.

To contact Amr: Contact him on his brand new Instagram and Facebook pages.

How to book a tour guide

Either Ahmed or Amr can plan your trip from start to finish, for individuals or groups.

They can travel with you to different cities, or arrange for other guides to meet you as you arrive in each new place. The latter is the cheaper option and is how I booked my trip.

Ahmed was my guide in Cairo, Amr was my guide in Luxor, and I traveled alone in Sharm el-sheik.

9. Safety for solo female travelers

I recommend reading my post of safety tips for solo female travel in Morocco because the same guidance applies to Egypt. I have a full post on what to know before traveling solo in Egypt as well.

Both posts have plenty of tips to help you prepare for a safe visit.

10. Dress conservatively

Traveling to Egypt requires a conservative dress code for men and women, but it is particularly important for solo female travelers.

Both men and women should make sure you are covered from shoulders to knees. Here is my full guide on how to dress in conservative countries.

It’s not to disguise yourself as a local because people will already be able to tell you are foreign, it’s more to show respect for the local culture. Covering up will also avoid attracting the wrong attention and/or disapproval by giving off a message that you are a ‘gal looking for a good time’ if you know what I mean.

Be sure to read up on acceptable etiquette for your behavior in public as well.

11. Save room in your suitcase

If you are planning a trip to Egypt, either buy an extra suitcase when you are there or make sure to leave a lot of spare room in the one you bring. The shopping there is amazing!

Ahmed is a great guide in this area because of his connections around Cairo and Giza which allow you to go off the tourist path to shop from smaller stores. A couple of stores even remained open one night for a private shopping experience for me which was a real highlight.

My favorite shopping in Egypt was for

• Papyrus with Egyptian paintings on them (this was my must-buy item in Egypt)
• A box of jars of essential oils
• Unique stone crafts (I only got a couple of little things but the stores were really cool)
• Custom-made jewelry
• And a pair of the most comfortable cotton pants which I love

12. Do you need a local SIM card?

Yes, or use roaming on your phone.

One thing I wish I had done was to buy a sim card when I arrived.

Hotels might advertise free WiFi but none of the hotels I stayed in had WiFi in the rooms, it was only available in the reception and lobby area.

It’s important to be in contact with your guide to get the pickup times each day and it would’ve been way easier to just have a sim with Internet access instead of walking to the lobby multiple times each night.

13. What is the security like?

I couldn’t get photos to show you (because it’s illegal) but I hope it reassures you to know that security is tight around the tourist areas in Egypt. Prepare for a lot of security screens and bag checks everywhere.

When it comes to entering many of the museums, temples, and sights there is a screening and bag check. The same for entering many hotels. At the airport, be sure to allow extra time because you will have multiple bag and ID checks as well as a pat-down at each checkpoint.

If you are a woman, you will have a woman doing the pat-down and don’t be surprised if the male guards gather around to watch.

With all the security in place, you can make it easier for yourself by always having ID on you and fill your backpack with only what you need for the day to keep the checks simple.

14. Do you need to tip?

Tipping is common in Egypt which is why I suggest having some smaller bills in cash. This way you can tip people who provide a service – guides, drivers, servers, bellhops, etc.

One thing I will mention is that I encountered lots of people who asked for tips for something I didn’t ask for in the first place.

If anyone offers you a service or a favor be aware that it’s not for free and ‘money for tip’ will be the sentence that follows it.

15. Taking photos in Egypt

At some of the sights, you pay an entrance fee and a separate fee if you want to take your camera in to take photos. There are people inside the areas to check your tickets if you start taking photos.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor are two places that had this rule.

It’s just something to be aware of so if you take a lot of photos like me you know to check the admission rules so you have the correct tickets. For me, it was totally worth it to buy the camera tickets to be able to have photos of the tombs and other things I was seeing.

Drones aren’t allowed – leave it at home.

16. Do you need to rent a car in Egypt?

The driving is pretty intense, especially in Cairo which could be better described as hectic!

If you are planning a trip to Egypt, I recommend having a guide and driver because it will make things a whole lot easier. My favorite driver was Diaa in Luxor whose smiling face was always there to greet my guide and I, and he navigated that roads like a pro.

Even if you will not be driving (I don’t recommend renting a car at all), keep the driving styles in mind when you are crossing the street. A green walking man light doesn’t mean there won’t be cars driving through, so always keep a lookout.

I think if you get to a point where you can cross the street without nervous hesitation and pauses, you’re probably a local. That was my goal anyway and I did it by myself in Luxor which was I was way too proud of!

17. Are locals friendly?

By far my favorite part of the trip was the people I met along the way. I was really lucky to have been able to talk to many people who shared their time, stories and culture with me and these memories are invaluable.

I found Egyptians to be very hospitable, friendly, keen for a laugh, protective of tourists (the street hasslers obviously weren’t but the people who work with you are) and community-focused.

They love to watch soccer, hate to wear seat belts, and drink lots of tea.

I hope you get to meet them too.

Other Egypt travel guides:

• The Best Things To Do When You Visit Egypt For An Epic Vacation
• What You Need To Know About Solo Female Travel In Egypt
• The Do’s And Don’ts Guide For Taking A Hot Air Balloon Ride In Luxor

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