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8 tips I wish I knew before traveling solo to Egypt

Egypt is a magical place that attracts travelers from all over the globe. Most tourists go there to see the pyramids in Giza, but you'd be remiss if you didn't branch out beyond Cairo's famous sites.

Traveling throughout Egypt can be a bit tricky. Fortunately, with a bit of research and careful planning, you can minimize the likelihood of encountering any unexpected surprises during your visit.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before you visit based on my solo travels around Egypt.

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Know what to expect when it comes to money

Overall, Egypt is an affordable destination, with most meals costing less than $5. However, be wary of scams and being overcharged. If you plan to shop, which you should at Khan el-Khalili in Cairo, be prepared to haggle. Never pay the first price offered by a local vendor, and use your bargaining skills to get whatever you're purchasing for a little bit cheaper.

Also be sure to pack cash. Although this is standard advice for just about everywhere, it's especially crucial in Egypt, as you'll be expected to leave a hefty tip in Egyptian pounds (the country's currency) for every service you partake in and receive.

Dress appropriately

While you may be tempted to whip out your short shorts due to the scalding heat, Egypt is not the place to do so, as it's a conservative country. Wear clothes that go at least past your knees, do not show any cleavage and make sure to cover your shoulders, especially at holy sites. Female tourists are not expected to wear a hijab, though they can choose to do so out of respect. It is recommended for women to wear baggy clothes.

Bring a light jacket if your visit is during winter. Despite popular belief, Egypt does indeed get chilly. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and don't repeat my mistake of wearing cute sandals while temple hopping in Luxor. Some tombs are underground with a steep slope downward, so good footwear is essential.

Related: The potential is there: A review of EgyptAir's business class on the 787-9 from Cairo to New York

Take advantage of student discounts

Most of Egypt's archaeological sites like the pyramids, temples and more charge an entry fee. These fees can add up over time, especially if you're trying to see several throughout your trip, as you should. I visited Egypt when I was a law student, and my guide in Luxor informed me there is a student discount. However, some sites wouldn't accept my New York City student ID card.

To avoid a U.S. state ID not being accepted, you can look into getting an international student ID card (or an ISIC), which will likely be accepted at all sites in Egypt. The only caveat is you have to be younger than 26 to qualify for the Egyptian student discount.

Sample the country's food and beverages

Sampling local cuisine is always a big treat when traveling. In Egypt, the delicious fare is seemingly endless. You'll find a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes in the country, including falafel and fül, a stew of cooked fava beans made with olive oil, parsley, cumin and garlic that's typically eaten for breakfast. You should also try koshari, Egypt's national dish. It's a wonderfully tasty concoction of pasta, rice, chickpeas, lentils and fried onions served in a spicy tomato sauce.

Tap water is not recommended for drinking here, so opt for a bottled beverage to wash down your meal. Despite being a predominantly Muslim nation where many locals abstain from drinking alcohol, Egypt produces its own wine and beer, so you'll have a few alcoholic options to choose from. If you want to indulge after a long day of sightseeing, most hotels serve alcohol or you can order it online through the popular Egyptian site Cheers. Know, though, that being intoxicated in public is a big no-no.

Come prepared with layers

There's a common misconception that Egypt is extremely hot year-round. While the country undoubtedly gets hot much of the year, it does indeed have a cooler season from December to late March, so bring a light jacket if you're planning a winter visit.

Know, too, that Egypt is a large country, so the weather may vary depending on where you are in the country.

Hire a guide

Egypt is an attractive tourist destination thanks to its rich history, which can be traced back to some of the earliest signs of communication. Self-research is always an option, but if you want to make the most of your Egypt experience, consider hiring a guide to explain the many sites you'll see to you. It can be overwhelming to view pyramids, hieroglyphics, mummies and more on your own. A certified Egyptologist will ensure you know what you're looking at and can deepen your connection to the country's history.

Additionally, a local guide who speaks the language can help you navigate unwanted attention, especially for women traveling on their own. Catcalling is unfortunately common in Egypt, but touring with a guide might eliminate some of the harassment experienced. If you're a woman traveling alone and you're uncomfortable hiring a male guide, don't fret: I was pleasantly surprised to find many female guides available for hire when I visited.

Related: Egypt opens 4,600-year-old 'Bent' Pyramid to the public

Plan your itinerary and in-country transportation ahead of time

There's more to Egypt than just Cairo. In fact, many travelers only spend a day or two in Cairo to see the pyramids before venturing out to other destinations. There are several ways to travel throughout the country, but you'll need to narrow down where you'd like to go before deciding how you'll get there.

Luxor, like Cairo, is an obvious choice for most since it offers some of the best and most popular sites in the country. If you're into scuba diving or snorkeling, any of the towns along the Red Sea should be on your radar. The most popular spots for water activities are Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Dahab. And if you're feeling adventurous, head east toward the Libyan border to discover the magical Siwa Oasis, where you can float in one of the area's famous salt pools.

Other popular destinations in Egypt include Abu Simbel, Aswan and Alexandria.

Once you narrow down where you'd like to go, you'll then have to decide how you'll get there. Traveling throughout Egypt via EgyptAir is incredibly easy, as there are flights connecting throughout most major cities at affordable rates. An overnight sleeper train is another popular way to travel due to its relatively low cost, or you can get a unique perspective of the country by enjoying a relaxing Nile River cruise .

Renting a car is an option, too. However, it's not recommended due to heavy traffic, lack of speed limit enforcement and the presence of police checkpoints throughout the country. Should you need to get around in a car, consider hailing a taxi or ordering an Uber.

Use the right photography tools and equipment

Getting photos with no one else in them can be a challenge due to the large volume of visitors that flock to the main tourist sites, so you may want to work on your photoshop skills. Most sites are grandiose in size, so a wide-angle lens will serve you well.

Remember that drones are prohibited. If you attempt to bring one to the airport, it will be confiscated.

Bottom line

Egypt is a thrill.

While you may want to brush up on your Arabic — it's the national language there — and check to see if you need any vaccinations (like one for yellow fever, which is required if you're not traveling directly to Egypt from the U.S.), these preparations are more than worth the effort to visit this culturally and historically rich destination.

As long as you practice general safety precautions, you should be all set to have the time of your life.

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Is it safe to travel to Egypt RIGHT NOW? - Egypt Forum

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Is it safe to travel to Egypt RIGHT NOW?

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40 replies to this topic

As for harassment and hassling, it’s the way of life for tourists. Irritating certainly, but no safety issue - just ignore it.

We visited Egypt in '18 with a similar travel status. I've never felt safer. Planning another trip for early '24. Our research and contact with friends in Egypt, indicates safety issues are about the same as in '18. Maybe better.

There were police everywhere. We couldn't get into our hotel in Giza without passing two security checkpoints.

A long cruise from Cairo to Aswan wasn't available in '18 due to terrorism concerns. Long cruises were brought back a year or so ago.

I'm not sure what you mean by "harassment, scams, and hustling". But, if I follow, you're gonna run into that. Everywhere. Taxi drivers, shopkeepers (especially in souks), kids, people selling guide books, etc, Camel ride vendors, and virtually anyone who wants to make a buck off you. The Egyptian economy is, at a certain level, gratuity-driven. They call it baksheesh. For example, there's a little old man with a donkey that hangs out at the Step Pyramid and approaches tourists for pictures of him and that donkey. It's kind of annoying until you realize this is probably how this old dude puts food on the table. I'll go back just to have our picture taken. Most of the time, all you have to do is say no.

Best thing for your safety concerns is to hire a guide. They know the lay of the land, so to speak. They know customs, the language, people, history, and even where the best spots for pictures are. They will even take you to cool spots and great places to eat, where you don't have to worry about getting Rameses' Revenge. If you do get a dose, your guide can even help you get to a pharmacy to get stuff that will fix you up (the stuff US doctors will give you won't work). If that isn't enough, hire a bodyguard. If that still isn't enough, go to Vegas, instead.

On the topic of Revenge, getting sick like that is a bigger concern than anything can think of. Looking for a WC every couple hours sucks.

Yes many tourists visiting now and having great holidays 👍🏽

We are walkers who go off the "tourist path" sometimes for up to 4 to 5 hours on foot on our own.

Down side streets into shabby neighbourhoods. Into the City of the Dead five separate times last year.

We have NEVER felt unsafe or threatened.

Can't say that for our home country.

As to being hassled, yes, there are very persistent vendors who won't take the first "no" and then leave you alone.

Whether you should come to Egypt then depends on your reaction. Do you get annoyed, but can live with it as a minor inconvenience to see the wonders of Egypt?

Or will it ruin your vacation and you won't want to venture outside? If the latter, then don't come.

Will some folks in Egypt try to cheat you?

You betcha.

Taxi drivers, guys selling souvenirs, other goods, etc. It's possible with a little common sense to spot those folks and avoid them.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowTopic-g294200-i9124-k14370136-How_to_be_an_Intelligent_Buyer_in_Egypt-Egypt.html

But if you can't tolerate the attempts and even successes, then spare yourself and go somewhere else.

Based on our experience, you will want to avoid the PRC, Thailand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, many of the other GCC states, Italy.

And if you're not a US citizen, you may well be cheated by taxi drivers in the US. Or merchants. Not to say that taxi drivers and merchants there don't cheat fellow citizens.

Is there potential danger in Egypt?

Yes, but note our experience in 10 trips. We think it's safer than our home country. Is it completely safe? No, no place is. One of my relatives had his wallet lifted in Vatican City!

We've had our pockets picked in Paris and Istanbul . NEVER in Egypt.

And attempts in Rome and New York City- not successful. So mark off those locations.

None of the people I know in Egypt have been killed, robbed, or raped. That's not the case in the USA.

Over the past 12 months or so, there have been just under 500 bombings of ATMs in the BRD as a robbery method. So you may be strolling auf der Strasse in Dusseldorf at the wrong time and get hit. Or attempting to make a withdrawal.

There were according to press reports some rather violent riots in Paris recently.

Mass shootings in the USA are fairly common. Across the land. Red states, blue states. Big cities, little hamlets. The gun to crazy individual ratio is rather high.

Like your home country. Ours has Egypt listed as reconsider your need to travel. We even had a follow up email from our travel insurers who also let us know that maybe we shouldn’t be travelling to Egypt.

But we pressed on. I agree with previous posters here. We felt safer in Egypt than USA.

Yes we were hassled for souvenirs and taxis etc but we never felt threatened or unsafe.

We had an amazing time and would recommend you to travel there.

I've had 5 x 4 week stays in the last 18 months and I was off the beaten track. See https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g294205-i9426-k13976865-Hawawshi_with_a_View-Luxor_Nile_River_Valley.html

I found that since tourism was back up, hassle etc. was less, apart from last month but then it's low season.

No country in the world is entirely safe from risk, an number of examples have already been given.

Also noted is the decreased levels of harassment in the form of pestering tourists to buy trinkets and souvenirs. You may get overcharged for a taxi ride, just as any tourist anywhere! You’ll be asked for tips, but no aggression as in some places in the US if they’re not satisfied with said tip.

The only warning I would give is to take care crossing roads as a pedestrian! And follow normal precautions that you would at any time anywhere.

i’m here now- i was more afraid traveling through new orleans in the day to the airport. hire a travel guide like Sherine and they will take care of you and you don’t have to worry about anything. the drivers are always 5 minutes early and the tour guides are very professional.

This is what the UK government currently says about travel to the US:

"Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the USA"

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/safety-and-security

I can only recommend visiting Egypt .

However, yes, taxi drivers, street sellers are extremely annoying and constantly and repeatedly trying to sell you something (way more than in any other part of the world I have been). Still, I didn't feel unsafe at any point :)

I have a post on my blog covering my Egypt 10-days Itinerary - hope you can find some inspiration there :)

>>> https://endlesswanderlustchronicles.wordpress.com/2023/07/07/unveiling-the-treasures-of-egypt-the-ultimate-10-day-itinerary-for-relaxation-and-historical-exploration/

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Egypt Travel Tips: 20+ Things You Need to Know Before Travelling to Egypt

Planning your trip to Egypt and not sure where to start. Don’t stress – this guide is packed with all the Egypt travel tips you need to know before you go. 

One day I’ll stop raving about my recent trip to Egypt … but that day is not today. If you’ve read my recent Egypt Itinerary , you’ll know that I had the most magical time in Egypt. 

It was a trip filled with awe and wonder – from gawping at the pyramids in Cairo to seeing the tomb of Tutankhamun in Luxor , Egypt was one of those rare much-hyped destinations that did not disappoint. 

That’s not to say that I didn’t have a few (OK, tonnes) of questions before I travelled to the country. Like how should I prepare for a trip to Egypt? What are the dos and don’ts in Egypt? Of course, I also had questions about the best way to travel in the country too. 

I’m guessing that if I had those questions, if you have a trip to Egypt on your radar, you’re also going to have them too. 

That’s why I’ve written this super-detailed guide  – all the things to know before travelling to Egypt – broken down into practical and actionable tips. Pack your bags peeps, we’re going on an adventure. 

PS: I even created a super-quick video with many of these tips. Check it out! 

@thediscoveriesof Travelling to Egypt? Yallah, yallah! I got you 🙌🏾 #egypt #egypttravel #egypttravelguide #egyptrip #egypttravels #cometravelwithme ♬ original sound – thediscoveriesof

Top 5 Egypt Travel Tips

Apply for Your Egypt Travel Visa Online

Before finding out the best way to travel in Egypt, you kind of need to make sure you’ve got the actual entering the country part of things covered. 

Citizens of most countries need a visa to enter Egypt (there are ten exceptions). It used to be the case that you’d have to get a visa on arrival at the airport (and this is still an option) but the Egyptian authorities have expedited the process and released an Egypt e-visa. 

To apply online, you only need your passport (or ID if you’re from certain countries) and host information for your accommodation in Egypt to apply online. You can stay for up to 30 days and need to pay a small fee with your application.

Inform Your Bank That You’re Visiting Egypt Before You Travel

Inform your bank well ahead of time when and where you’ll be travelling so you can use your bank account for international payments. 

Egypt’s currency is the Egyptian Pound. It’s not as strong as the British Pound or US Dollar, so if you’re from either of those countries you should have a pretty affordable time while you’re there (obvs this depends on how much cash you want to splash on things like hotels and tours).

You’ll find many ATMs dotted around which allow easy money withdrawals. You might struggle a bit more in smaller towns and villages, so have extra cash for them. 

Dress Conservatively  

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country that is still quite traditional. You should dress conservatively to respect the religion and local culture.

Men’s dress codes are more relaxed: as long as you cover your shoulders and wear trousers, you’re broadly OK. 

Women, you have to follow stricter rules. If you’re a female traveller, pack loose-fitting clothes covering your shoulders, chest, and knees. 

If you’re visiting a mosque or holy building, you’ll need to wear clothes covering your elbows, legs and head.

Fortunately, if you fancy a swim at your private hotel, you can bring your usual bikini or swimsuit. These rules only apply to public spaces and religious areas.

I’ve written a whole guide for what to pack for Egypt , which goes into a lot more detail about what to wear, but thought it was worth flagging here. 

Don’t Expect to Be Able to Pay for Everything in Egypt with Your Card 

I don’t know about you, but these days I pretty much never use cash at home to pay for things, preferring to pay for things using contactless on my phone. 

Things are a bit different in Egypt. 

While paying by card is not generally a problem for many larger places – like hotels, bigger restaurants and supermarkets – it can be a problem in smaller shops and (more surprisingly) at the ticket booths to some of the landmarks. 

For example, although you can pay for your tickets to the pyramids with a card, the card machine often isn’t working – so it’s better not to rely on a card as your only option.

This also happened (the card machine was out of order) when I wanted to pay for Nefertari’s tomb in Luxor’s Valley of the Queens . It was totally fine because I had cash, but as there is no ATM nearby, it would have been a very disappointing situation if I hadn’t. 

Key takeaway? Bring cash. 

Keep Safety in Mind

While Egypt is a relatively safe place to visit, it still requires some vigilance as petty crimes, like pickpocketing, are common. 

There are a few things you can do to help yourself stay safe like ensuring you have valuables packed away out of sight – but the biggest one is really being aware of your surroundings.

The Egyptian authorities have lots of safeguards in place to protect tourists during their time in the country. These include having large numbers of “Tourism Police” in place, particularly at landmarks and touristy spots like Khan el Khalili market in Cairo.

If you do run into any problems, or need help – the Tourism Police should be your first port of call. Not only are they geared up to help tourists, but they’re also more likely to speak some English too. 

Tip: Read my Ridge Wallet review for a travel-safe wallet review.

Egypt Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting Egypt 

Egypt is a big country with a long history of royalty, tragedy, and overcoming. So, it’s not surprising that there is also a long list of things to know before travelling to Egypt. To prepare you, here are the essential travel to Egypt tips.

Plan Your Trip for the Best Time to Visit Egypt

Egypt has a dry and hot climate dominated by the desert. It is almost always sunny, with occasional rainfall along the coast. 

The average expected highs in summer are 40°C (104°F), while the average lows in winter are 9.5°C (49 °F).

The best time to visit is between October and April to get pleasantly sunny weather without the extreme summer heat. Out of all three seasons that occur during these months, autumn, which happens between September and November, is the best time to visit.

This way, you avoid big crowds and miss spring’s sandy winds. Daytime highs range between 25°C-30°C, while evenings are a bit chilly. 

Plus, if you visit in October, there’s a good chance you’ll also experience the Abu Simbel Sun Festival– a bi-annual festival celebrating Ramses II, when the light touches the inner sanctum in the stunning Main Temple. 

Or Don’t…. 

I have to be honest – I totally ignored this advice and travelled at the beginning of June. 

Guess what? It. Was. Hot. 

I’m pretty comfortable in the heat and I’ll tell you, there were points in Luxor and Aswan where I was so hot I didn’t know what to do with myself. 

There were two significant upsides travelling at that time though: fewer crowds and cheaper prices. It’s up to you to decide. 

Learn Key Phrases

While most people in Egypt speak Egyptian Arabic, English is widely spoken and understood. You’ll especially encounter this if you stick to major cities like Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria near tourist hotspots, hotels, and resorts.

That said, learning a few Egyptian Arabic phrases wouldn’t harm. This handy Egyptian Arabic phrasebook will be a lifeline while in the country. 

Tip: Always carry your hotel’s business card with you if you get lost or encounter a language barrier with taxi drivers.

Haggle, Haggle, Haggle

One of the best tips on travelling to Egypt is that you can haggle (almost) every price at the markets and bazaars. It takes a bit of practising, but once you get your intended price, it can be so rewarding. 

Sometimes you can also haggle your taxi fare before entering the car. There are three types of taxis you can hail:

• The black taxis are usually old and don’t have metres, so you must negotiate a fare beforehand and stick to the negotiated price.
• The white taxis have metres and air-conditioning. But always check if the metre is running to avoid inflated prices. 
• The yellow taxis are expensive and only available through a cab service.

Solo Travel Tips for Egypt 

If you’re travelling solo or travelling as a woman, Egypt can seem a bit intimidating. But, that doesn’t have to be the case. 

Here are the best ways to tour Egypt as a solo traveller:

• If you’re travelling by train, the front cars on trains and streetcars are exclusively for women on many routes.
• Get a guide to show you around rather than walk around alone at night. They’ll also be able to tell you insider tips or info about the areas.
• Dress conservatively to respect the culture and avoid negative responses from people who feel you might not be honouring their customs.

Book Flights Wisely 

One of the top things to know when travelling to Egypt is knowing how to get the best deals on flights.

Typically, booking your flights in May or September is the cheapest as it is shoulder season. You’ll also save a few bucks if you book your flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays around midday. But, typically, flights are very affordable regardless of what time of the year you visit.

Good tips for travelling to Egypt or anywhere in the world is, if you travel often, apply for a rewards program with your airline or credit card provider. It offers many perks, including a few occasional free flights. 

Tip: EgyptAir offers fantastic direct flights from most countries, but notable airlines to also be aware of are Etihad Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates. Check flights on Skyscanner now.

Not Every ATM Works With Every Card in Egypt

Picture this – you go to an ATM to withdraw cash. You know you’ve got enough money in your bank account, but when you try and take your cash out, the transaction fails, the screen flashes an error message and the machine spits your card straight back into your hand. 

Don’t panic. 

Not every Egyptian ATM works with every international card. 

I can’t tell you the rhyme or reason behind which ones work and which ones don’t but try a few different banks before you panic. 

Obviously that’s a lot easier in places like Cairo and Luxor where there are lots of banks close to each other – I’d always recommend withdrawing before you run out of cash to try and head off any problems if one or two don’t play nicely with your card. 

Buy a Local Egyptian Sim Card (Or an E-Sim) 

While you’re in Egypt, it’s best to get a local sim card, just in case you’re not near an internet connection. You can buy a prepaid sim card at the kiosks at the airport. For your phone to work, you need to unlock it to be able to roam internationally. You can use this site to check if your phone will work abroad.

One near-magical (but more expensive) alternative is to get an e-sim for your phone. Rather than operating through an actual sim – an e-sim is a digital sim that you can operate in tandem with your normal simcard. 

There are a few benefits to using an e-sim over the traditional local-sim route. 

The first is that you can buy the e-sim before you travel, so it’s ready to go the moment you land. The second is that you can still keep your normal number for Whatsapp, voice calls and text messages. 

Overall, I’d recommend using an e-sim but it is more expensive – mine from Airalo cost $56 for 6GB over 14 days, which is still a lot cheaper than using roaming on my normal sim, but pricier than the local sim. 

Use a VPN to Browse the Internet

Almost every cafe in the big cities has Wi-Fi, but using public Wi-Fi can be unsafe as you risk making yourself vulnerable to hackers. 

If you use public Wi-Fi, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to keep your data secure. 

Get Tourist Cards for Free Access to Many Historical and Cultural Sites

The Cairo Pass offers entrance to sites in Cairo, Giza, Dahshur, Mit Rahina, and Saqqara. 

You need your passport, two photocopies of your main passport page, and two passport photos to get this pass. You can buy it at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities office and a few other attractions.

The Luxor Pass offers entry to all archaeological sites on the east and west bank of Luxor. You can purchase this pass at the visitor centre of the Valley of Kings and Karnak Temple.

Try Local Food, but Avoid Tap Water

Egyptian food is a fragrant blend of spices with recipes perfected over centuries. This cuisine offers many vegetarian-friendly options, but you can also get some meaty main meals.

I’m not even going to start on the falafel. THE FALAFEL. Drool. 

Not only will you get an authentic taste when you buy street food at markets, but you can also save a few bucks.

While it is essential to stay hydrated, don’t drink Egypt’s tap water. Instead, buy bottled water. Bring your own bottle for a more environmentally friendly alternative (although understand that there will be limited places for you to refill it).

Dos and Don’ts in Egypt: A Quick Guide

Travel hack your way through your trip to Egypt with these handy do’s and don’ts while you’re there.

Do use public transport like metros to get around at a reasonable price.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated, apply sunblock often, and bring your sunglasses. One of the most vital travel tips in Egypt people forget is that it is a desert climate with lots of sun and heat.

Do bring in small amounts of cash into Egypt, as there is a limit on the amount of money you can bring into the country. Don’t bring more than 10,000 USD.

Don’t forget to tip. The average tip percentage for waitstaff, tour guides, and taxi drivers is between five and 10%.

Do take many pictures of the ancient artefacts and structures but don’t take photos of any officials without consent. It is also prohibited to take photographs of the infrastructures outside of tourist hotspots.

Don’t neglect to download a currency conversion app like XE.com to keep tabs on how much money you’re spending. 

Travelling to Egypt: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Here are the best tips and tricks on how to travel to Egypt and where to stay while you’re in the beautiful country.

What to See

The best way to tour Egypt is to visit the best tourist hotspots. Besides the regular visits to the pyramids, consider these tours and trips too.

• Dinner Cruise on the Nile  
• Cairo and Giza Full-Day
• Private Cairo Tour
• Full-Day Plane Trip to Cairo

Where to Stay

One of my top tips for travelling to Egypt is finding accommodation near the city centre. Where you stay in Egypt also depends on what you hope to see on your trip.

As the country’s capital, it is no surprise that Cairo is many people’s top pick. It is modern compared to its historic buildings with many restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping malls.

Home to the jaw-dropping Valley of the Kings, Luxor is full of history and some of Egypt’s most stunning sights. 

This beach resort is great for beach lovers hoping to get in some scuba diving and snorkelling. It also has a lively nightlife and many restaurants to enjoy.

Alexandria will show you a different side of Egypt, especially if you’re interested in ancient Egypt. It is also on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, which will provide amazing views while travelling. 

Aswan takes you back in time with its scenery of the Nile Valley and its sailboats. It’s the perfect place to visit to avoid crowds due to its peaceful aura.

Best Travel Tips for Egypt: Frequently Asked Questions 

Keep these travelling to Egypt tips in mind when planning your trip and when you’re in the country.

How do I Prepare for a Trip to Egypt?

Read this guide of course! 

Other than that, a few top tips are to consider Egypt’s time zone (GMT +2) when booking flights or activities. You should also keep this in mind in terms of jet lag. 

Stay hydrated before, during, and after your flights to combat these effects.

What Should I Avoid in Egypt?

Avoid travelling close to risky areas like the Libyan and Israeli borders – and the Gaza strip. These areas are under strict military supervision. 

What is Forbidden in Egypt?

Egyptian Laws strictly forbid tourists to take pictures of or near military installations. You also shouldn’t take photographs of public buildings and infrastructures, such as train stations and bridges. To use drones for overhead shots, you must obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Things to Know When Travelling to Egypt: Read Next

• The Perfect 10-Day Egypt Itinerary
• Brilliant Things to do in Egypt
• The Ultimate Egypt Travel Guide
• The Best Time to Visit Egypt
• Brilliant Things to do in Cairo, Egypt
• Unmissable Things to do in Luxor
• The Ultimate Egypt Packing List
• Top Tips for Booking a Nile River Cruise

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I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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Top tips for female travellers visiting Egypt

Mar 7, 2019 • 6 min read

Woman in temple looking at hieroglyphics. Edfu temple.

After a few years in the tourism doldrums, Egypt is back on travel wishlists. The pyramids, the River Nile, Luxor’s glut of tombs and temples, and the Red Sea’s world-class diving are all major reasons to start planning your itinerary now, but some female travellers may be hesitant to start packing their bags straight away.

It’s fair to say that Egypt has a bad reputation with some travellers. Women thinking about a first-time trip to Egypt are often regaled by at least one acquaintance who’s previously travelled there with tales involving lecherous men. This reputation annoys many women who have happily travelled around the country, solo or with others, for years, but even they acknowledge that some of it is deserved.

Egypt may not be the easiest place to travel as a woman, but overall, the good far outweighs the bad. Aside from its wealth of ancient ruins, historic monuments, vast desert and coral reefs, one of the main joys of an Egypt trip are the people themselves. Egyptians are some of the most hospitable and garrulous people in the world. Although catcalling is rife, for every time a young man yells at you in the street, there will be an invitation to sit down and have lunch with a shopkeeper or a temple site-guardian who dishes out tea and jokes with you. Some of the best times to be had in Egypt are these random interactions, and female travellers would do well to not shut themselves off from chatting to Egyptian men for fear of being harassed. Go prepared, but bring an open mind.

Will I be harassed in Egypt?

Unfortunately, the short answer is yes. Harassment drops off a cliff for women rocking grey hair, but women are very likely to run into some sexual and verbal harassment. Blue-eyed travellers, black travellers and travellers with curvier body-shapes seem to attract more. Most harassment tends to come from groups of young men loitering on street corners shouting obscenities as you walk past. This is wearying, though not usually particularly threatening. Verbal harassment notches up the creepy-index when it involves men trailing you down the street. Physical harassment is more likely to occur in crowded, ‘trapped-in’ situations such as public transport.

As for that other hassling that Egypt is famous for – the souvenir-tat vendors, boat and camel touts hustling for business – take comfort in the fact that they’re equal opportunity hasslers: they’ll happily harass both male and female tourists until you crack and buy that toy pyramid and gold glitter snow globe.

How to deal with harassment

The best way to deal with 99% of verbal harassment is to ignore it. Most street harassment isn’t going to escalate, and if you responded to every incident by confronting the assailant, you’d end up exhausted. If the harasser is persistent, a useful phrase is ‘ ayb aleik ’ (shame on you), which, if shouted, can stop some cat-callers in their tracks. If you do lose your cool, it’s important to realise that everybody reaches breaking point at some stage: be kind to yourself. Nobody has saintly levels of patience.

Because the vast majority of Egyptians working in hospitality are male, many of your day-to-day interactions as a short-trip visitor will be with men, but one tourism career path that's popular with Egyptian women is tour guiding. If you’re looking for a site guide and feeling like you need a break from all the testosterone, look for female guides on guide-booking websites or specifically request a female guide with a local tour company. In Cairo , if you’re a bit of a foodie, consider supporting the women behind Bellies Enroute  who run food tours in the downtown area.

To tour or not to tour

Because of Egypt’s reputation, many women opt for the safety-in-numbers approach and book a group tour. If you’re short on time anyway and only want to see the highlights, tours can be great, but by their very nature tours are restrictive. Not only will you be giving up the freedom to explore, but group-think also leads to less interaction with locals (yes, even with the small-group operators who tout local experiences as their catchphrase), so those preconceived ideas you had about travelling in Egypt are unlikely to be smashed.

Place to avoid … and not to avoid

After dark, when the heat fizzles out, cities such as Cairo and Luxor buzz with families strolling the streets until late. Many solo female travellers find this an unexpected pleasure of their Egypt trip.

The vast amount of Egypt’s budget hotels are fine for solo women. Some dodgier hotels do remain, so trust your instincts. If your weird-vibe radar screams at you, find another place. There are absolutely no traveller-points awarded in staying somewhere you don’t feel comfortable.

Getting around Egypt as a female traveller

Some younger female travellers are huge flag-wavers for using Uber and Careem (the Middle Eastern version of the ride-hailing service) over standard taxis, though many experienced women travellers in Egypt don’t think there’s any difference in safety. Whatever taxi form you use though, sit in the back seat. With public transport, the Cairo metro has women-only carriages, which, as an added bonus, are always less crowded. On all other public transport, try to sit next to a woman. The sardine-squashed microbuses that run routes within towns can be prime harassment territory with little you can do about stray hands. Avoid rush hour if possible.

European-style bars and restaurants serving alcohol are fine for solo women to drink in. Egypt’s baladi (local) bars are best avoided if you’re by yourself. These spit-and-sawdust drinking dens are often frequented by a clientele who are there to get drunk, not just have a few beers. The typical drunken-male-at-bar hassle that can happen anywhere in the world is amplified here because women are a rare sight in these establishments. Staff will nearly always keep a protective eye on you, but your presence causes them undue stress as they attempt to stop inebriated patrons from staggering over to your table. If you want to check out these bars (and they can be great fun), go as part of a mixed group. Also note that there's rarely a toilet for women. If this is the case, head to the toilet in pairs rather than alone.

What to wear

Dressing modestly doesn’t necessarily lessen harassment (Egyptian women suffer just as much), but it helps hugely in other interactions. Egyptian culture (both Muslim and Coptic Christian) is conservative, and many locals wouldn’t dare strike up a conversation with a woman wearing skimpy clothing. If you want to experience the often hilarious, warm natural friendliness of Egyptians, dress respectfully by  covering knees, cleavage and upper arms. If you want to visit a mosque, cover down to ankles and wrists and have a headscarf on hand to wrap over your head. Save the singlets and shorts for when you’re on the beach.

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Egypt Travel Tips: Ultimate Guide to Visiting Egypt

Egypt is a land of dreams for travelers looking for a bustling destination with a vibrant culture. For Europeans, Egypt has been a popular spot (among Turkey and Tunisia) to go for a resort getaway with occasional day trips to Luxor and Cairo.

Growing up, I remember seeing many chartered flights to Sharm El Sheik and Hurghada, and everyone and their mother had been to Egypt. It’s no surprise that Egypt has been the first place I traveled to solo after my high school graduation back in 2007, at the age of eighteen.

However, Egypt for Americans has never been a ‘hot spot’, but after my second independent trip to Egypt, I can say that it surely should be! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Egypt and the most useful Egypt travel tips .

Ultimate Guide to Visiting Egypt

Safety in Egypt

First things first: is Egypt safe? Absolutely! When I visited Egypt back in 2008 safety wasn’t the biggest concern. Unfortunately, nowadays most of the Middle East is currently in political or social unrest, but we often forget to see the difference between Egypt and the rest of the Middle East.

Sure, there are some regions which are not safe, but there are also regions where are perfectly fine. Just like in any other country and city. That said, everywhere in Egypt I was told that the only rules for tourists in Egypt are to “enjoy and feel like at home”.

As you may know by now, Egypt is NOT on the travel alert or travel warning list for the U.S Department of State .

Tourist attractions are largely safe and not under any threat. Egyptians are one of the most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered on my travels ( among Iranians !) and they love tourists. Not once I feel in any danger anywhere in the country, people constantly had my back when I looked lost or unsure

I was very saddened to read a lot of other blog posts saying that everyone in Egypt wants your money, as it’s absolutely not my experience. I met locals trying to help me on numerous occasions, asking me if I’m all right, and feeding me good food. Everyone was nothing but nice to me.

Read more on my experience of traveling to Egypt solo .

When to Go to Egypt?

Don’t make my mistake during my first visit by going to Egipt in the summer. In summer, temperatures can get up to 45 degrees Celsius in dusty, so Luxor and Aswan are unbearable.

Remember that nights can be freezing so bring a sweater and a pair of warm socks. Trust me, you can thank me later.

The best time to go to Egypt is surely between October and April. The tourist high season is considered from December to February, so if you come slightly out of season you will also enjoy cheaper hotel prices and fewer crowds. Also, make sure to avoid traveling during Ramadan.

How Much Does it Cost to Travel to Egypt?

Not much. Egypt is comparatively cheap if you’re coming from a developed nation. For a bed in a dorm, you’ll usually pay about $4, guesthouse would be about $12 per night and a higher standard shouldn’t be more than $150. If you’re backpacking you could get by for $30 a day without any issues.

The most expensive thing I paid for in Egypt was my hot-air balloon flight ($50).

Always carry a lot of coins and small bills. You will have to “tip” many times a day, for all kinds of reasons. While you don’t HAVE TO do this, it’s customary to for instance give some coins to a bathroom lady who hands you a few sheets of toilet paper. 

I was completely fine with tipping here and there, especially after visiting some of the poorest neighborhoods of Cairo and Luxor.

Food in Egypt

I enjoyed the food in Egypt very much. I ate anything from basic kebabs to local vegetables and rice, through the most traditional dish – Koshary. It’s a mix of rice, macaroni, and lentils topped with tomato-vinegar sauce and fried onions.

If you’re staying in local hostels or hotels be prepared that you’ll be served a LOT of food. Quite often for breakfast, I was receiving a few bread rolls, 8 balls of falafel, hummus, omelet, hard boiled eggs, french fried, yogurt and a fresh smoothie. It was impossible to eat it all!

How to Get Around Egypt

Domestic flights in Egypt as affordable and great. You’d be looking at two airlines: EgyptAir and NileAir (I can only personally vouch for EgyptAir and they’re great). For a flight from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan, you’ll pay about $50-80 one way and the flight takes about an hour.

If you’re on a strict backpacking budget, you might want to look into Go Bus . Their buses are very comfy, cheap and easy to book on the website or app on your phone.

Sleeper trains are another popular way of traveling, but since my flight to Luxor cost me the same as the sleeping train would have, the choice was obvious.

Boat (Nile Cruise)

There is a cruise on the Nile that starts in all of the touristic cities, and most tourists decide to do it. Many travelers think the Nile Cruise is the only way to get to some places, which isn’t true as the same places can be reached by car or bus.

Keep in mind that it’s not going to be a very local experience hanging out at the pool and eating touristy food on the boat. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. I opted for a cheaper version staying in local guesthouses.

Uber & Taxis

In Cairo, you can take Uber anywhere and it’s extremely cheap. For instance, an average taxi trip from Cairo Airport to downtown Cairo should not cost more than 50-60 LE, whilst a journey from Cairo Airport to the Pyramids go for 100-110 LE.

Extra Egypt Travel Tips:

• Traffic jams and driving in Egypt, particularly in Cairo, can be quite intimidating. But don’t be afraid to cross the street.
• Egypt gets extremely hot, particularly during the summer, so stay hydrated. If you want to save on bottled water get a LifeStraw Water Bottle  . You can fill it anywhere even with water from a puddle!
• Always haggle a bit and never say yes to anything without discussing the price first.
• Bring your own toilet paper. The toilets here have a built-in bidet spray nozzle.

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Jean Brandl

Thursday 12th of May 2022

I stumbled upon your posts about Morocco and Egypt (going to both in June) and they are great. Your posts are encouraging and very helpful. Plus you seem really positive and modest.

Emily Rivera

Monday 8th of February 2021

Hey, I just have a few questions. My friend and I are planning to go to Egypt next year and we were wondering how you toured. - Were you touring privately or with a group? I’m just curious and interested on how you go about touring a country like Egypt. - How far do you have to plan in advance? My guess would be months but I’m not sure That’s all, thank you :)

Anna Karsten

Tuesday 9th of February 2021

I was on my own. Just used drivers when needed :) I never plan any travels months in advance, but Egypt is also super easy to arrange things. In fact, you can arrange everything (minus hotels) upon arrival without any issues.

Wednesday 10th of June 2020

Hey Anna, thanks for the monetary information. It'll help me prepare my itinerary well in advance along with the budget which is indeed the toughest part while planning a vacation. You've given some very vital information on taxis, airfares, transportation and places to stay. Keep building more stuff like these, your blog is very resourceful.

shamsa lalani

Monday 17th of February 2020

Hi We are planning 7 days trip to Egypt in the next two weeks. Want to know what is the best option to cover Aswan and Luxor - through three day Nile river cruise or by staying a night in Luxor and travel to Aswan through train and spend a night there. We will go with the tour agency so they have both the options

Wednesday 26th of February 2020

You can easily stay in Luxor overnight not on a boat - there are so many nice hotels. Nile cruises will be significantly more expensive than regular hotels. Both options seem fine, but you a cruise to Aswan will be more relaxing than going overland. Greeting from Cairo, as I'm actually in Egypt again :-)

Friday 24th of January 2020

Thank you Anna for sharing your great adventures. Your tips and experiences are so helpful. We will be going to Egypt in April and would love to know where you booked the private cars/guides? We've searched a few options online and would prefer to follow the route your took.

Take care and thank you again.

In Cairo I just moved around with Uber. In Luxor I rented a driver who took me to various spots of the West Bank. His name was Ahmed and he gave me his number: 01001202609. For the balloon tour I just booked one through my hotel, they sell them everywhere so don't worry - you can just get one upon arrival.

Egypt Solo Female Travel: What It’s Like Traveling to Egypt as a Woman

When I first booked my flights to Egypt I didn’t really hesitate – the ticket was cheap (around $500 round trip from New York) and I’d always dreamt of seeing the pyramids! But then I started to do some research and I came across all sorts of horror stories on Reddit and YouTube and I started to get a bit nervous. 

There were tales of hassle at airports, scams and sexual harrassment. YouTubers and vloggers told stories of major issues with bringing in camera equipment and filming in the streets. 

Lots of Reddit users advised not to travel to Egypt solo (see this one ) as a woman and many people talked about how stressful and exhausting it was to travel there. My friends were concerned for my safety and I started to consider changing my flight to somewhere like Italy or Greece. 

I asked people I know whether Egypt was worth visiting and the responses I got were a mixed bag. It really seems to be a ‘love it or hate it’ type of destination. 

In the end, I decided to take the trip. I’m a naturally adventurous and curious person so when people tell me not to go somewhere, it makes me all the more intrigued to see it for myself. 

Initially I was going to book hotels through Booking.com and then just organize day trips through Viator and GetYourGuide . I’m not a “tour” person really just because I like to set my own schedule and it’s cheaper to do it yourself. 

But since I was feeling quite apprehensive, I decided to book my trip through a company I found on Instagram that creates custom itineraries. Lots of influencers have used them and I figured perhaps it would be safer to have a contact on the ground who could help. 

In hindsight though. I wouldn’t book a packaged tour again. I’d much rather arrange my own travel and I felt like I was being overcharged. 

I’ll discuss that later in this article but first I want to share with you some of my general observations of traveling solo in Egypt. 

In all honesty, I had a terrible start to my trip. Within the first hour of arrival I lost my wallet containing all my credit cards and my green card. On days 1 and 2 in Cairo I barely got any sleep and considered just giving up and going home, but I’m glad I didn’t.

I completely fell in love with the country and I actually found it to be MUCH easier to travel there solo than people led me to believe. Despite what happened at the beginning I ended up having a great time and I would 100% go back to see more of the country. 

If you’re considering traveling to Egypt as a solo female then definitely do it! Don’t wait around for your friends. But do read as much information as you can before you go so you’re well prepared. 

Here are my top tips for solo female travel in Egypt:

Egypt Solo Female Travel: Observations and Tips

Take Care of Your Belongings

While I loved Egypt, my trip didn’t get off to the best of starts and that was mainly down to my carelessness on my part.

The company I organized my trip through had a driver pick me up from the airport. It was 1am, I was exhausted from the long flight and was feeling overwhelmed with things like purchasing my tourist visa on arrival and getting cash out of the ATM.  

Instead of putting my passport and my wallet away immediately when I got in the car, I sat in the back seat holding them in my hand. 

At some point I decided to check my bag to get some cash to tip the driver and I must’ve put the wallet and passport down on the seat. Stupidly, I didn’t check to see if I’d left anything in the car when I got out. It was also just very dark and I was overwhelmed with trying to figure out where my accommodation actually was. 

It was only when I got to my hostel and they asked for my passport that I realized I’d left my wallet and passport behind. Doh! 

Luckily they knew the driver and called him, but he said he could only find my passport and not my wallet. Supposedly he found my passport wedged between the car door and the car seat, so he suggested perhaps the wallet fell out onto the floor. While I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because he seemed like a nice guy, I’ll never know whether he took it, or whether it truly did fall out and someone else took it.

Unfortunately my wallet contained ALL of my credit cards and my green card, which I needed to get back into the United States. Usually I don’t keep all my credit cards in one place. I also wouldn’t usually keep my green card in my wallet but I was in such a rush packing for the trip that I wasn’t particularly organized.   

Luckily I’d withdrawn quite a bit of cash to pay for my tour and trip expenses, so I had just enough money to get me through the entire trip. I canceled the credit cards immediately. 

The green card issue, however, was a nightmare since airlines won’t let you on a flight to the US without it. In the end I had to beg the airport staff in Cairo to contact US Customs & Border Protection to verify my identity and authorize me to fly. 

If there’s one piece of advice I can give you; make sure you have a spare credit card and ATM card stored somewhere else in a separate pocket or bag. Always put your belongings away and check the taxi seat before you get out! Of course, travel insurance is also a must. 

Dealing with the Authorities is a Nightmare

I searched all over the street for my wallet, but no luck. So, in the middle of the night, a worker from the hostel gave me a ride on the back of his moped to the nearest police station, which was quite the experience.

The police station was located inside a crumbling mansion with cats wandering around the hallways. All the men seemed to be sitting around smoking cigarettes and doing not very much. There were lots of dramatic pauses as they examined my statement, and at one point I couldn’t help but feel like I was at a poker table in a Bond movie.

Having just come off a 19-hour flight all bleary eyed I was definitely starting to lose my patience. It felt like an eternity as I was sent from one person to the other trying to get the police report signed off.

The next day I made my way straight to the embassy as soon as it opened, but there was an enormous line outside and they wouldn’t let me in without an appointment. The staff outside didn’t speak much English and couldn’t seem to understand why I would be at the US embassy if my passport was British. 

I explained the green card situation to numerous people but eventually they just told me to go away and send them an email. When I finally received an automated response, it said they don’t even check the email. 

Feeling completely defeated and exhausted, I went back and explained my situation all over again to about three different people. It’s like Fort Knox to get even close to the embassy, yet alone inside it. 

Eventually someone put me on the phone to a person inside the embassy. I could send some info over and get an appointment for a special travel document…in about two weeks. My trip was only supposed to last 7 days! I didn’t want to stick around in Cairo, so I decided to wing it and just try my luck at the airport. 

I’m glad I did because Aswan and Luxor were amazing and definitely worth the visit. 

The Hassle Isn’t That Bad

I felt like the hassle really wasn’t as bad as people say. 

Yes, when you get to the tourist sights there are people selling all sorts of Egyptian souvenirs like scarves and ornaments. That happens in many places all over the world. I found that a simple “no thank you” was enough and I just kept walking. 

One of my guides in Luxor advised me to just say “no” once to be polite, but don’t say anything more after that. If you keep saying no then you’re engaging with them, so it’s better to just be firm and keep moving. Another good trick is to wear sunglasses and refrain from making eye contact.

If you start looking at the goods they’re selling, then the sellers will get pushy and will try to keep you there as long as possible. If you want to buy something, be prepared to haggle and have a price in mind that you’re willing to pay. Be firm and if you can’t strike a deal, just walk away. 

Hiring a Guide is the Way to Go

Hiring a guide will help to keep your trip stress-free. You can book plenty of day trips on Viator and Get Your Guide and you’ll usually have the option to pay for add-ons like camel rides and entrance fees up-front so it’s already included in the price of your tour. I love booking through these two companies because you can use a credit card and pay online in your home currency.  

Visiting the major tourist attractions with a guide will mean that the sellers and scammers will usually leave you alone. Scams usually involve things like overcharging you for things or telling you that the entrance is closed and you need to go a different way.

If you arrive with a guide they just don’t bother approaching you. Plus, your guide will also be able to help you take amazing photos! 

One thing worth noting though is that experiences with tour guides can really vary. Some are patient and full of information, while others will rush you and not go into much detail. I wasn’t really happy with my guide in Cairo because he was just really impatient, always walked far ahead of me and seemed to have his thumb over the camera whenever he took a photo of me. 

On the flip side I absolutely loved the guide who showed me around Abu Simbel. She was so patient, took great photos and explained everything in a really engaging way. 

It’s really a mixed bag so if you find one that comes highly recommended, then go with them!

Don’t Worry About Having Blonde Hair

When I told people I was going to Egypt a lot of them warned me that I’d attract a lot of extra attention with my blonde hair. I didn’t find this to be the case at all. The locals didn’t really bat an eyelid and there are so many tourists in Egypt that I think they’re pretty used to seeing women with blonde hair. So don’t feel nervous because of your hair color! 

Uber is Cheap and Safe for Solo Females

While you’re in Cairo I would highly recommend getting around by Uber. It’s ridiculously cheap (most rides seemed to be around $1-$3 USD) and I always felt safe because the ride is tracked in the app. Plus, you can even share your location with a friend so they can track you for safety! Uber is much easier than hailing taxis and negotiating fares, plus it charges your card so you don’t have to worry about having cash.

When you arrive at the airport in Cairo, you can book transportation through your hotel or use Cairo Shuttle Bus , which has its own office inside the airport arrivals hall. 

Crossing the Street, However, is a Bit of a Death Wish

When I got to Cairo one thing I wasn’t prepared for was the chaos of the traffic. There aren’t really proper crossings and lights so you just sort of have to walk into oncoming traffic and hope for the best. It was the same in Ho Chi Minh City too, except in Cairo I just felt like the vehicles weren’t going to stop! All I can say is; try to walk with other people so that you have someone to follow!

Egyptians Are Kind and Friendly 

On the whole I found the Egyptian people to be warm, welcoming and friendly. When I lost my wallet the hostel worker gave me a ride on his moped to the police station. The following day, my guide bought me food to cheer me up and helped me get to the embassy. 

When I froze in terror trying to cross the street in Cairo, an elderly gentleman helped me cross. In the Nubian Village , the locals had learnt British phrases like “lovely jubbly” so they can at least make you laugh when they’re trying to sell you something. 

Wherever I stayed I found that the staff gave me a warm welcome and were really helpful. So in general I found Egypt to be a great place for traveling solo.

Consider Hotels, They’re Cheap! 

Hotels in Egypt are pretty inexpensive and in Luxor you can get a 5-star hotel for less than $60 a night. 

While I sometimes recommend staying in hostels to meet people (especially in expensive cities), I’d suggest booking hotels in Egypt and then perhaps booking the odd shared tour to meet other travelers. 

I stayed in a hostel in Cairo and although it was nice to meet people, I realized at 35 I just really can’t do hostels any more. I need my privacy and I like my comforts. I don’t want to be tiptoeing into the room with a flashlight to avoid waking other people up and I don’t want to freeze my butt off because someone turned the AC down!  

After Cairo I spent the rest of my trip in hotels and it was so much more relaxing. 

If you’re young and down for budget travel then by all means, try a hostel, but the hotels in Egypt are so affordable that it’s worth booking your own room. Egypt is chaotic as it is, so it’s nice to have a quiet, comfortable room to come back to.  

You Can Totally Do a DIY Trip

So as I mentioned previously, I initially planned to just book nice hotels and day tours online. But as I started to plan my itinerary I got a little bit overwhelmed and was worried about my safety. I looked at shared tours with companies like Intrepid Travel and G Adventures but they only departed on specific dates and were too long, plus they were kind of expensive.

The company I eventually found creates custom itineraries/tours; you just tell them your approximate budget and what you want to do and they’ll try to work something out. Once you’ve agreed on the itinerary they add you to a Whatsapp group so you can ask questions and discuss arrangements with your guides. If there are any issues you can just message the Whatsapp group and they’ll take care of it, which is nice. 

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to deal with logistics and you’d rather have someone just take care of things from start to finish then it may totally be for you. The owner is really cool, fun and awesome and the tours are really popular with young people who want to have fun. If you’re interested, you can message me using the contact page to find out more. 

In all honesty though, I would have preferred to organize everything myself and it wasn’t for me. 

I had originally priced everything up with domestic flights, nice hotels, taxis and day trips and had a rough idea of what that would cost. When I gave them my budget, they wanted to put me in budget accommodation (hence the hostel in Cairo) and included various trips as “optional extras” so in reality it came to a few hundred dollars more than what it would’ve done to book it all on my own. 

In the end I went along with it because it was so last minute but ended up doing a sort of hybrid trip where I booked some of my own accommodation using Booking.com credits and did the tours and pick-ups/drop-offs through them. 

I realize that companies have to make a profit on their tours and you’re paying for convenience but I felt that Egypt is actually safe enough to just do a DIY trip. So if you’re traveling solo to Egypt as a woman, don’t feel like you have to do an organized tour. 

If you want to organize your own DIY tour, check out my 7 day Egypt itinerary , which includes Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.

What to Wear in Egypt as a Woman

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country so you’ll need to dress appropriately. Definitely pack lots of long dresses or loose pants so that your knees and legs are covered. Leave the booty shorts and the mini skirts at home for sure. This is not the place for those.

While you do need to dress conservatively in Egypt, it’s not quite as conservative as I thought. When visiting places like the pyramids or Abu Simbel there were quite a few tourists with their shoulders exposed so I felt comfortable just wearing my long dress without a jacket. 

It gets very, very hot in Egypt so it just got to a point where the jacket felt too hot. However, if you visit places like mosques and religious sites, you’ll need to have your arms and perhaps even your head covered. For that reason I’d suggest bringing a pashmina and a light jacket or cardigan. 

At the hotel pools you can wear a bikini, just make sure you don’t walk around the hotel grounds in your swimwear. Cover up once you leave the pool. 

Is Egypt Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

In the past there have definitely been some safety concerns in Egypt, but these days things are a lot safer. 

A Final Word…

I’m speaking from my own personal experience here but obviously everyone’s experience is different. From the various accounts online, there clearly have been women who’ve had issues with things like sexual harassment. That’s just not what I experienced. I felt quite safe in Egypt and in many ways, safer than I do when I’m riding the NYC subway sometimes. 

Obviously make sure you are respectful of the culture by dressing appropriately. Make sure you pack plenty of long dresses or loose pants to cover your knees and cover your shoulders if you go inside mosques etc. 

But aside from that, it’s not much different to visiting any other country. If you haven’t done much traveling then perhaps you’d find Egypt to be a bit of a culture shock but if you’ve visited other countries in the Middle East or Southeast Asia you probably won’t find it that intense. 

I walked around some of the busy streets in Cairo at night on my own and didn’t experience any issues. I also did the same in Aswan and went to dinner in a local restaurant on my own. Don’t feel like you have to only stick to the hotel restaurants. 

Egypt is an amazing country known for its unique Pharaonic history , so I definitely urge you to see it for yourself! The sheer size of the temples left me awestruck and the River Nile is magical. I’ll never forget the feeling of standing between the columns at Karnak Temple or gazing up at the statues outside Abu Simbel. I thought I would only visit Egypt once in my life but I’d definitely go back to see Siwa Oasis and the Red Sea.

With so many incredible attractions, Egypt attracts many tourists from all over the world. When I got there I couldn’t believe I’d been so apprehensive and I’m very glad I didn’t skip it. I hope you feel the same! For more inspiration and tips, see my Egypt travel guide , which is full of itineraries, practical tips and ideas for things to do.

Book Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance: Heymondo is the best travel insurance company and offers affordable policies. Safetywing is perfect for long-term travelers and digital nomads.

Book your flights: Find cheap flights using Google Flights or Skyscanner . To get travel deals sent straight to your inbox, sign up for Going or Jack’s Flight Club . Download the Hopper app for their algorithm-powered price predictions.

Booking your accommodation: I use Booking.com to book all my hotels. Their Genius loyalty program allows you to earn reward credits no bookings and 10%-20% off hotel prices. You can also try Google Hotels and TripAdvisor to search prices across a variety of sites. Agoda is the best site for booking hotels in Asia.

Use your phone abroad: Purchase an Airalo eSIM so you can avoid hefty data roaming charges while traveling.

Travel on a budget: Staying in hostels is a great way to meet people and is best if you’re on a budget. You can find plenty of awesome hostels with Hostelworld .

Find Tours: For day tours and multi-day trips I always use GetYourGuide and Viator .

Rental Cars: Search the best rental car deals on Rentalcars.com or Discover Cars .

About The Author

4 thoughts on “Egypt Solo Female Travel: What It’s Like Traveling to Egypt as a Woman”

Hi Victoria,

Thank you for this! I’m curious on how you were able to take these stunning pictures solo?

I had a guide at all the attractions so my guides took them for me.

Hi Victoria, Great blog for solo female travelers. It will be helpful if you can give us an idea of the total trip cost. Thank you.

Don’t have an exact figure but I’d say I spent around $1000 for the week with accommodation, tours and transport. That doesn’t include flights.

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Going Awesome Places

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Egypt Travel Guide – Things to Know Before You Go

Last Updated February 4, 2024 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Guides » Egypt Travel Guide – Things to Know Before You Go

I’m calling it.  Egypt is going to be one of the most epic trips you’ll ever do.  I know you haven’t even gone yet but you’re probably here because you’re in the middle of planning trip and looking for a travel guide that’s going to dish out all the things to know before going to Egypt.  You’ve come to the right place!

Let’s dig into the practical things you are already asking yourself in your head or going to be really soon as you delve deeper.

Read more about Egypt

• How to plan a 10 day Egypt itinerary
• Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan  – cruise ship or dahabiya?
• Best place to stay near the pyramids
• What to pack for a trip to Egypt

Where to stay with views of the pyramids?

• Everyone asked us where we stayed in Cairo to get those epic rooftop views.  The secret is to stay in Giza where there are new properties popping up thanks to the enterprising young generation.  Places like the Comfort Pyramids Inn have epic views of the pyramids.  This is one of the properties mentioned in our guide on the best rooftop hotels in Giza .

Table of Contents 

Jump to the topics that you’re most interested in.

In This Article

Egypt geography

How do you decide where to go, getting there, getting around, is egypt safe, why you need a good tour operator, what you need to know about cairo, what you need to know about egyptian sites, most annoying thing about egypt, food and drinks, connectivity, vaccinnations, how to prepare for a land tour day, what to wear in egypt, where to stay in egypt, what to pack for egypt, best time to go, about alcohol, how much does a trip to egypt cost, 5 main take aways , things to know before going to egypt.

This is meant to be a comprehensive Egypt travel guide of practical things you need to know before you go.  My aim is to arm you with the information you need to know so there are less surprises when you go.

I’ll touch on many topics that you might be thinking about already and others that would have never crossed your mind.

Egypt is an incredible place to go to but it’s one of those places where if you’re not prepared can quickly turn into a nightmare.  It’s not because of the people or some sort of next-level sketchiness.  On the contrary, I found Egyptians to be incredibly friendly and hospitable.  It’s not even a question of safety that I know is on everyone’s mind.  In many ways it’s just how business is done there that may throw some off.

• 1 EGP = $0.06 USD = $0.08 CAD
• ATMs are relatively easy in cities but since you’ll be spending a lot of time outside of populated areas, you’ll need to carefully plan and manage your money.
• SIM card – The three main companies in Egypt are Vodafone ,  Orange, and Etisalat .  All companies have some sort of pre-paid package available but perhaps the easiest and recommended carrier is Vodafone because of the convenience of picking it up right at the airport in the luggage carousel area.  More details on where and the pricing down below.
• Alternative data options – PokeFi – If you’re looking for a hotspot device that you can share with your group, an extremely affordable option is PokeFi.  It’s perfect for those that are hopping to many countries and like to save the hassle of having to buy SIM cards everywhere (watch the unboxing ).
• Measurement system  – Metric
• Tipping – You’ll quickly learn that the culture of tipping is quite aggressive.  In general, 10% is the rule of thumb for restaurants and for the one off thing, 10-20 EGP is sufficient.
• Language – The official language is Arabic.

Back to the top

Egypt is located on the northeastern part of the continent of Africa.  Geographically, it has quite a unique and strategic location both in ancient and modern times.  While it is officially in Africa, it has times to the Middle East with it belonging to the Arab League.  Bordering on the Mediterranean also means its connection with Europe.  Through the Suez Canal, the world connects with Europe from the Indian Ocean.

The defining feature of the country is the river Nile which is often described as the life blood of the nation. The water the flows from the south from Sudan and drains into the Mediterranean Sea is what provides vital natural resources to the Egyptian people in the form of fertile soil, plant life, animals, water, transportation, and electricity.  The Nile makes the country a hospitable place that is otherwise surrounded by desert.

With such vast spaces to cover, you’ll no doubt feel overwhelmed about how to plan your trip.  With the exception of the more adventurous itineraries that include the Siwa Oasis and the Sinai, it’s safe to say that you’ll be close to some form of water.  To me, it really comes down to asking yourself these questions:

• Do you want a resort vacation?   It doesn’t have to be the only thing you do but if beaches, diving, and other water sports are your thing, you’ll want to be looking at heading to the Red Sea and resort cities such as Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, and Marsa Alam.  This is a great trip extension that you can add on.
• Is Alexandria on your radar?   Egypt’s second largest city and founded by Alexander the Great, you’ll find ancient library the remains of the lighthouse, and Corniche with its beach, market, and walkway.   The overall feedback though is that it isn’t necessary a must-see.  That said, if you’re tight on time, you can find a way to fit it in as a day trip from Cairo.
• Do you want to do a Nile cruise? If the answer is yes, make sure you read my piece on choosing a Nile cruise.
• How much time do I have?   Ultimately, time is going to be your big limiting factor to how much you see and do.  2 weeks gives you a lot of breathing room but if you have 10 days or less, you’ll have to pick and choose.
• Are you interest in the “classic” route?   As you seek out example itineraries, whether from tour companies or like the one that I ended up doing , you’ll realize that there’s a common route that everyone does.

How do you choose and which is the “best”?  Now I knew that “best” was subjective but I wanted to start with a few baseline itineraries.  That’s when I went to check out the Egypt itineraries of G Adventures and Intrepid Travel to get a few ideas.

Luckily for you, our sample 10 day Egypt itinerary is a great proof point that you can have a killer trip without a lot of days.  While I would’ve loved to have incorporated somewhere like Hurghada, Siwa Oasis, and El Minya, it just wasn’t possible.

So let’s start off with transportation logistics.  How do you get into Egypt?

This is probably the least complicated.  The only way you want to think about getting into the country is by flying in.

Egypt’s primary international airport is Cairo International Airport (CAI) .  As the capital of Egypt, this makes sense.  It’s your main way in and out of the country coming from an international destination.

As alternatives, there are limited international flights that fly into Luxor International Airport (LXR) .

For the two of the largest vacation destinations in Egypt, there’s Hurghada International Airport (HRG) and Sharm el Sheikh International Airport (SSH) , there are many direct flights in via Europe or the Middle East.

The national carriers in Egypt are EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express and Nile Air.  EgyptAir is part of the Star Alliance and Nile Air is the local low cost carrier.

I recommend using the Skyscanner to find the best prices on flight tickets and be able to put alerts and trackers if you’re starting to plan early.   The Skyscanner app is also super helpful.

ALL ABOUT VISAS

Do you need a visa to enter Egypt? – Yes, you either need an e-Visa or visa-on-arrival in order to enter the country unless you belong to one of the 9 countries that are exempt.

Visa-on-arrival eligibility – Passport holders from these countries can get a visa-on-arrival:  USA, UK, EU Nationals, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Korea, and Ukraine

e-Visa eligibility – Passport holders from these countries can apply for an e-Visa online: All European Union citizens (including the UK), Albania, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, The United States and Vatican City.

Which countries are exempt from visas? – Bahrain, Macao, Hong Kong, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon (only at 3 specified airports), United Arab Emirates, Malaysia

How to get a visa-on-arrival? – This is easy to do as long as you know where to go.  The odd thing about Cairo Airport is that there aren’t many clear signs that tell you where to get the visa.  What you have to do is locate one of the National Bank of Egypt stores that’s located right before the customs officers.  There’s one to the right where everyone flocks to and there’s one to the left (if you’re looking at the custom officers).  All you have to do is pay $25 USD to the bank and they’ll give you a sticker.  You put the sticker on an empty page in your passport and you’re all set.

How to get an e-Visa? – The official government website for VOAs is here which should not be confused with third party websites like iVisa.  The process is relatively simple online.  The cost is $25 USD for a single-entry visa good for 3 months.  You have to create an e-Visa application at least 7 days before your departure.

Should I get an e-Visa or visa-on-arrival?  – The truth is, while it may seem seem more convenient to get an e-Visa, on both trips of mine I just did the visa-on-arrival.  It didn’t take much time at time at all and

Do you need a Yellow Fever vaccination card? – No but if you are coming from a country that is known for yellow fever (i.e. what I learned going to Seychelles via Ethiopia or my first trip to see Ethiopia’s Omo Valley ) you’ll need to have one as they will check based on my own experiences.

If you’ve seen any of my other trips like the one we did to the Greek Islands , Taiwan , or Newfoundland , you’ll know that I love planning independent adventures where I more or less figure everything out on my own and rely on local transportation or rent a car.

From my two trips to Egypt, my opinion is that it is not the kind of place that most people will want to do independently.  That’s why I highly recommend that you find a reputable tour operator.

When it comes to getting around Egypt, there are actually many ways to get around.

The easiest and fastest way to get between the main cities of Egypt are by plane.  For instance, there are flights that connect Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh.

For those that are tight on time, you can also find flights that will take you from Aswan to Abu Simbel.  These run on very specific schedules but does allow for travellers to drop in for the morning and fly out in the early afternoon.

The good news here is that inter-country flights are very affordable even when booking last minute.

• There are usually 2 sets of x-ray scanners, one to enter the airport and another to go to the gate.
• Make sure you bring a printout of your flight itinerary as they may ask for it at the x-ray security checkpoint to enter the doors of the airport.
• It’s a full pat down at every security checkpoint at the airport.  When it’s busy they also separate security checks into male and female for pat down purposes.
• There seems to be some arbitrary bias when it comes to photography and videography gadgets.  For some reason they weren’t cool with my LED light panel and that’s what prompted us to have to check it in.  I also saw them question camera gear from other passengers.
• Even domestic flights have food boxes so you don’t need to buy food at the airport cafe.
• Make sure to request not to be seated in front of exit rows because leg room even narrower and there is no recline.

A traditional way to get from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, or even up to Alexandria is by train.  The only thing is these trains aren’t the smooth operators that you’ll find in Europe or countries like Japan.

These are instead rickety trains that are a throwback to travel in the mid-20th century.  You have the option of standard class or first class sleeper cars.

There’s certainly an inescapable romance of travelling by train and the experience of doing an overnight train is quite unique but the honest truth is that it’s way more efficient and sometimes cheaper to take a domestic flight with a low cost carrier like Nile Air.

I’ve written a full feature on Nile cruises so make sure you head there to help you decide what kind of boat to look for and a my full breakdown of the dahabiya experience with Djed Egypt Travel .

One thing I found interesting is that while the Nile is incredibly important to the nation, it is not used for commercial purposes.  This means they do not use the Nile to transport goods by barge nor do they run ferries to bring people from village to village.

As a result, you’re really only find the Nile cruises on the river or in the case of big cities like Luxor and Aswan, there are boats that can bring you from the East to West bank or vice versa.  These are typically in small motorboats.

Cruises in traditional boats are either in the dahabiya or felluca .  I talk about the dahabiya extensively but for those curious about the felucca, it’s a traditional sail boat significantly smaller than a dahabiya.  Simply speaking, this is a wooden boat with a canvas sail but their designs come in many shapes with the main difference in that they do not have any cabins.  This is why felluca’s are used as leisure day excursions.

Group Tour Van/Bus

Since I recommend seeing Egypt with a local tour operator, you’ll be spending a large chunk of your trip in a van or bus.

With a private tour, you’ll have a 9 passenger van.  Accompanied by a driver and a guide, you’ll be comfortably driven from place to place.  The vans are also typically stocked with bottled water so you’ll never really need to buy any on-the-go.

For a larger group tour, you’re looking at the big coach buses which are pretty standard.

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room.  The most common question I received from our trip to Egypt was “is Egypt safe?”

Bluntly put, yes, Egypt is safe.  During our entire 10 days in Egypt, I never felt that we were put in any situations where I had concerns over my safety.

To understand the question, it’s worth talking about its origins.  9 years ago, Egypt went through a civil uprising and for 18 days, there were protests, demonstrations, marches, and civil resistance.  A boiling point was reached there was a revolt over the president, injustice, and lack of freedoms.  Things were incredibly unstable at this point and big cities like Cairo were a mess.

It was this Revolution of 2011 that kicked off the massive downturn in tourism in the country.  Since then, things have recovered but it still isn’t quite at the levels pre-Revolution.  The main issue has always been around safety because of the scenes seen around the world of Tahrir Square and also stories of the Russian plane crash and road-side bomb that have kept this sense of instability and terror.  Many countries still have a warning on travel to Egypt as well and that hasn’t helped.

The truth of the matter is that when you’re on the ground, the reality is far different than what is projected.

Here’s why Egypt is safe:

• Egyptians are incredibly friendly.
• Tourism is a top contributor to the industry and they are doing all they can right now to change the negative perception.
• No civil unrest visible in Cairo.
• A majority of your time in Egypt will be outside of the metropolis.  We were told by locals that the countryside was barely affected by the revolution.  Outside of Cairo, there are no safety concerns at all.
• Djed Egypt Travel does an amazing job at giving you opportunities to walk the local streets and you see everyone just going about their daily lives.
• There’s a steady police presence everywhere with security check points at many of the tourism sites and also on the highways.

Comparing with another recent trip, I honestly I felt like I had to be more cautious in Athens than I did throughout all of Egypt.

Now are there certain things that’ll really nag and bug the heck out of you in Egypt?  Yes but every country, especially in this region will have these kind of cultural differences.  To enjoy your trip, you learn to accept some of the peculiarities and move on.

Is Egypt Safe?

My full breakdown based on two separate trips since the Revolution.

The most important thing about Egypt is working with a good local operator on the ground.  These are the people that are going to be responsible for putting together the itinerary you want, have a solid roster of drivers and Egyptologists, is organized, and put customer experience first.

There are a couple of ways of finding the right tours.

• The big guys – You look at the big players like G Adventures and Intrepid Travel that have global reputation and brand behind them.  What is happening behind the scenes is that they will often subcontract the work to local operators.  These are often the larger group tours vs private ones. That said, these companies are leaps and bounds better when it comes to organization and communication.
• Tour platforms – You can look at Viator and GetYourGuide for individual tours or packages.  The challenge with these is that the platforms are designed to obfuscate who the actual operator is so you really are relying on the reviews to determine whether it’ll be a good experience or not.
• Find a legitimate local operator online – In Egypt this is harder than it sounds because most businesses are behind when it comes to the digital age but for those that are, you’ll appreciate that they can put together a package for you that is operated by their own people from start to end.
• Roll the dice once you land – If you don’t have any plans, there will be no shortage of people gunning after your business and that includes the hotels you’re staying at.  This is great for people that like to make last-minute plans.  The risk you take is not knowing what you’re going to get because everyone is going to advertise their tours as “awesome”.

So having a good tour operator matters in every corner of the world you travel to but what is it about Egypt that makes it that much more important?

• While safe, there are a lot of complexities of travel in Egypt where you really need someone local to help navigate.  This can include navigating tipping, known scams, what camera gear is allowed, and checkpoints.  These are things that you don’t want to have to deal with on your own.
• The industry is filled with freelancers and companies-for-hire so you want to avoid as best as possible being shuffled from one company to another while you’re in Egypt.  The ideal is a company that uses their own people and boats for the whole tour.  Tours can use freelancers but the key is that they are vetted, are a small pool of talent, and have a good reputation.
• While it may seem a little excessive at first but that end-to-end service is a necessary part of travel in Egypt to make sure you don’t have a negative experience.  A specific example is the airport pick up prior to customs which felt over-the-top and unnecessary but learned later that it eliminated visa-on-arrival confusion and the aggressive tipping which I’ll get to in a bit.
• There are many security check points along the road and entrances to sights. If you’re with a tour company we learned that they need to have all the itinerary paper work filed to the police.  This paperwork is then required to have available because checkpoint officers might ask to inspect it.  All tour operators should know this.

Travelling with Djed Egypt Travel

Egyptian run and locally owned, I’ve travelled in Egypt with them twice and I can safely say that they’re one of the best in the businesses.  They have dedicated teams of people at each major city (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan) and they own their own dahabiyas as well which means they have full control of the experience.

CHECK OUT DJED

When travelling in Cairo, there are several tips that I recall making a mental note of as things not commonly shared.

• While we loved our stay at the Comfort Pyramids Inn , these are technically unlicensed hotels in Giza.  Locals have taken neighbourhood apartments and converted them to hotels on their own which is why they’re cheap and also have great views of the pyramids.  Djed Egypt Travel warned us about it ahead of time but still went ahead of it.  Our stay was perfectly fine but did notice that it was still a bit of a work in progress.
• Pyramid Sound and Light Spectacular is from 7PM-8PM but then will also repeat again for 2 more languages so if you have a rooftop in Giza, you come back later in the evening if you missed the first show.
• The traffic is no joke in Cairo.  The only exception is Friday and Saturday which is their weekend days.
• To get to the airport, especially if you’re in Giza, account for 1 hour of transit plus an additional 2.5 hours of early check-in to be safe because at anytime they can shut down the roads because of a prince visit or the President travelling somewhere.

When in Egypt, you’ll be spending a lot of time at ancient archeological sites.  These are a collection of tips that I was either surprised about or wish we knew about before going.

• Where photography is sensitive is typically in tombs and indoor enclosed spaces where there’s door entrance.
• The Ministry of Antiquities has learned that smartphones are impossible to police so these are allowed in every site.  As a result, photos are allowed everywhere.
• As another source of revenue, photography passes are sold at the entrance if you’re looking to take photos with anything that resembles as DSLR (anything with interchangeable lenses) but point-and-shoots are ok.
• What they’re incredibly sensitive about is video.  In some enclosed spaces (i.e. inside the temples of Abu Simbel) they’ll stop you from recording video when stills are fine.  The other sensitivity about video comes from it being used for professional/journalistic purposes.
• They are sensitive around tripods.  Tripods are an automatic indication that you’re “professional” and so is either not allowed or requires a special tripod pass to be purchased.
• They are even more sensitive about microphones.  My recommendation is to not bring it into any archeological sites because this automatically means you’re from a television production and without special permission is banned and will be held at security.
• Don’t show tickets to anyone unless right at entrance to tombs or museums.  Our guide told us about a common scam in Giza where they’ll try to steal your ticket.

• There are “security guards” stationed  at tomb entrances and roaming around ancient sites.  They can be in uniform or in traditional garb.  Many will try to show you things, ask to take photos of you, or help you take photos of closed-off areas.  In return of course, they’ll ask for tips.  Just learn to say no and ignore them.
• Take a look at the special passes that are available including the Luxor Pass and the Cairo Pass . This makes sense for those that are doing a lot of the sites. Personally, I’m not sure if they’re worth it unless you’re really looking to do all or close to all of the sites that the passes include.

I love Egypt but man they are extremely aggressive when it comes to seeking out tips to the point that you’ll become either numb to it or find it comedic.

Here’s a common example of what you can expect immediately after walking into a tomb or temple.

• Guard:  Where are you from?
• You:  Canada
• Guard:  Canada Dry!!!
• You:  … yeah that’s right heh
• Guard:  Look!  Ramses!
• You:  *look at something else in another direction*
• Guard:  Picture for you!
• You:  No thanks!
• Guard:  *stalks you for awhile*
• Guard:  Hey!  Come over here.  Okay to take photo! *waves you over to a restricted area*
• You:  Haha that’s alright.
• You:  *continue to walk around*
• Guard:  Hello! Hello!
• You:  *you turn to him and he’s doing the tipping finger motion*
• You:  *Option A:  you feel bad and tip 10 EGP or Option B:  you pretend to be completely oblivious and walk away*

In this, you’ve played it cool and didn’t accept any of his attempts at providing you some sort of service.  If on the other hand you followed him around or got him to take a photo for you, he’d be all over you and relentlessly begging for tips.

Similar but different is the excessive hassling that happens as you pass by the stores that line the entrances leading to temples.  All the stores ironically will have signs that say “No hassle” but you’re guaranteed to be followed and harassed if you give any minuscule hint of interest at something.

It’s really unfortunate because you soon become immune to the strategies employed by people working at ancient Egyptian sites that you put your guard up anytime someone tries to help you or wants to talk to you.  I personally got to the point where I didn’t even want to do any souvenir shopping because I wanted to avoid the inevitable sales tactics.

At its core, it comes down to being fine tipping people for actual service rendered but if you’re going to harass me, not do anything for me, and still have the guts to ask for money, that’s what I have a problem with.

There’s a lot of amazing food you need to try when you’re in Egypt.  Egyptians cuisine is characterized as Eastern Mediterranean with heavy use of vegetables and fruit from the Nile Valley and Delta.  Here’s a list of a few dishes that you’ll need to have before you leave.

• Koshary – Something that feels born out a college-dorm but surprisingly works well.  It’s a mix of rice, lentils, chickpeas, and pasta are cooked individually, then tossed together and topped with cumin-infused tomato sauce and crunchy fried onions.
• Mixed grill – A variety of charcoal grilled meat.
• Tajin – Cooked in a clay pot and a mix of a vegetable stew with your pick of protein.
• Molokhia – Egyptian spinach.
• Freshly made falafel – Watch them spoon the fresh mix into balls and dunked into popping oil.  Having falafel fresh is something else.
• Baba Ghanouj – In other cultures, well-known as baba Ganoush, a puree of aubergines.
• Foul/Ful – A paste of fava beans, garlic, and lemon that works well with freshly-made pita.
• Camel meat – Not for everyone but if you’re feeling adventurous, they’ll certainly be opportunities to try this.
• Fresh fruits – mango and figs are out-of-this-world sweet in the right season.  You’ll be visiting many markets on your trip so make sure to ask your guide to help you pick some up from the local stand.
• Traditional breakfast – Not a specific dish but a culinary experience that you have to try at least once.

When it comes to drinks, our guides at Djed Egypt Travel also recommended a number of different ones for us to try.  In the end, it wasn’t that hard because these are the beverages that are offered at every restaurant.

• Fresh guava juice
• Fresh mango juice
• Lemon with fresh mint drink
• Hibiscus tea – hot or cold
• Tea with fresh mint

Another piece of advice that you’ll want to know are the do’s and don’ts of eating in Egypt.

• It is okay to brush your teeth with tap water but tap water is unsafe to drink.
• Make sure food has been thoroughly cooked.
• Avoid any uncooked food.  The only exception is fruit and vegetables that you can peel or shell.
• Only drink bottled water and ensure the seal is intact.
• Avoid fruit juices where water has been added.
• Avoid ice in drinks which are general made from unsafe tap water.
• They like a lot of sugar in their coffee/tea so you need to explicitly ask for less if that’s your preference.
• Most restaurants say they have diet drinks but when you actually order them, they won’t have Diet Coke or Pepsi.

There are 4 ways you can stay connected on your trip to Egypt.

Local SIM card

Luckily this is a very easy process.  Once you land in Cairo, head to the luggage carousel and there you’ll find a Vodafone counter.

Their rates for tourists is pretty simple.  It’s 250 EGP for 10GB of data and and 500 EGP for 30GB of data.  Both include voice minutes in case you need it.

Even for someone like myself that is social media heavy, I was totally fine with 10GB of data during my 10 days.  One reason for that was because we spent 4 days on the Nile where cellular data was weak and I primarily used the wifi available on the dahabiya.

In general, I found that the speeds were serviceable in cities but would drop off in the countryside.  Another thing you need to know is that while there is 4G/LTE, a majority of the country’s coverage is 3G.

TIP:   Set your smartphone to stick to 3G.  Otherwise, your phone will constantly switch between 3G and hunting for 4G/LTE.  You’ll get more reliable service this way.

Wifi hotspot

If you’d rather have everything ready ahead of time or will be hopping to many countries in a short span of time, it may make more sense for you to buy a pocket wifi hotspot such as the PokeFi .

Hotspots are ideal because you won’t have to waste 20-30 minutes at the Vodafone counter to have your passport scanned, and SIM card issued and activated.  All you have to do is turn on your device, it’ll connect to the local network and you’ll be ready to surf.  It’s also worth noting that you can share this data access with everyone else that you’re travelling with.

It’s independent of what country is in so it’s one unified rate.  For instance, PokeFi is 5GB of data for $15 USD.  Yes, this means it’s slightly more expensive than the local SIM option but the convenience tradeoff is often worth it.

Use the code GAP23200 to get $200 HKD or $25 USD off the starter package which comes with an extra battery.

TIP: A rookie mistake is to have your smartphone set to auto-update apps, run background tasks, and sync files when on wifi.  Make sure to turn these features off when using a pocket wifi device or use “Low Data Mode” if you use an iPhone.

All hotels should have free wifi at this point but what’s not guaranteed is whether you’ll have wifi access from your room.  For instance, Basma Hotel only has wifi in the lobby.

Nile cruise wifi

I talk about how the wifi worked aboard the dahabiya we were on in the Nile cruise guide so make sure you read those details.

There’s actually nothing compulsory to look into when planning a trip to Egypt.  The main thing you need to know is that there is no Yellow Fever or Malaria risk so you won’t need those shots.

Everything else you should already have:

• DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio)
• Hepatitis A

The one thing you might want to look into is Traveller’s Diarrhea.  This is where you can decide to take Dukoral before your trip to help shore up your defences against e-coli and cholera.

This deserves special attention because we felt like we were trying to figure things out as we went along.

Your days in Cairo and Luxor especially will be heavy because of the number of places you will go, the amount of knowledge you’ll take in, the walking, and the intense heat.  To make things as easy as possible, here are a few things that will help:

• Make sure your day pack is as light as possible.  I quickly ditched my Travel Backpack of camera gear in the van and used my Peak Design Sling .
• Pack a couple of 2L bottles of water for the van/bus but know that if you’re with a good tour operator, they’ll have a large supply of bottled water for you.  From our experience, you’ll easily down at least 3-4L of water per person per day.  The miraculous thing is that you’ll never feel the need to pee because you’ll be sweating it all out.
• Pack a power bank especially if you take a lot of photos.
• I don’t know if we were the exception but we ended up skipping lunch in favour of seeing more so snacks in the van are key.
• You will need a bag that’ll help keep everything in the bus organized.  This is where you’ll keep your bigger water bottles, power bank, snacks, sunscreen, and things you buy along the way.
• Put on sunscreen in the hotel before you leave because it might be a short ride to your first destination.

Managing your cash will be very important in Egypt because of how cash-driven everything is.  What makes it complicated is that it almost seems that USD is preferred over their own currency.

What you’ll notice is that tour prices and tipping recommendations are in USD.  This isn’t a bad thing because it’s much easier to exchange for USD in your home country compared to EGP.

That said, you’ll still need a healthy amount of EGP for daily discretionary spending and ad-hoc tipping.  The question inevitably will be, how much EGP should I exchange?

How much EGP to exchange?   This’ll be different person to person but to give you an idea, we exchanged 300 USD to EGP for two people for our 10 day trip.

Where to exchange EGP?  It is not recommended to convert in your home country.   Instead, do this once you arrive in Egypt for more favourable rates.  The good news here is that exchange rates at money changers are regulated and so it’ll be the same across the board which means you won’t need to shop around.

Are credit cards accepted?   Everything is cash with the exception of proper sit-down restaurants, hotels, and big stores like the alabaster and papyrus shops.

Can I use ATMs?   Yes, you can use your debit card to withdraw money from the ATM.  We were also surprised to find that some ATMs even had the capability to exchange currency although the machine was extremely finicky to use.  We also learned that the exchange rate was slightly worse.

Stay organized  – My recommendation is to try to stay as organized as you can with your money.  There’ll be plenty of fixed costs that you can anticipate since you’ll most likely be on a tour.  Have USD set aside in envelopes for the tour balance and tips.

Break big bills early – All the tipping you’ll do is in 10-20 EGP denominations so ask break your big bills at stores and restaurants at the beginning of your trip.  You can also ask your guide for smaller bills.

At the end of the day, you have to think of it like this.  USD is ultimately more versatile so it’s always more beneficial to carry more US bills and under-convert EGP knowing that you’ll be able to get Egyptian currency along the way if you need it.

TIP: When shopping, get for the EGP price.  Their USD prices are almost always inflated.

Tourism in Egypt is built upon tips and it’s a primary source of income for some which is why I can appreciate why people are so aggressive about it.  The other thing to understand is that tipping is culturally part of Egyptian daily life as an indispensable complement to the low income of the population.

When to comes to gratuities, it is of course discretionary but it helps to know what the expectations are.  Luckily, Djed Egypt Tour provided us with a guide as part of our pre-departure package.  We followed this to the letter so for those wondering, this’ll help prepare you.

• Egyptologist – $7-$10 USD per traveller per day.
• Drivers – $3-$5 USD per traveller per day.
• City representatives – $2-$4 USD per traveller per day (these are the folks that aren’t your main guides during the day but those that pick you up from the airport or will meet up with you for a walk around the city).
• Nile cruise crew – $10-$15 USD per traveller per cruise day (this is shared between all of the crew except your Egyptologist).
• 10% tip at restaurants and hotel room service.
• 20 EGP for porters, luggage carriers, washroom cleaners, and hotel cleaning staff.

The only other thing I can think of is the tipping that was shamelessly asked for by our camel guide in Giza with the classic line “You happy?  Okay you make me happy!”

• Camel tipping – No, I don’t mean a camel version of cow tipping!  Our guide recommended that for our group of 4, a total tip of 150 EGP  (~9 USD) is enough.

To get a good sense of the type of clothes to bring to Egypt, make sure to read the Egypt Packing List .

If you’re planning to do a classic trip to Egypt, you’ll only need accommodations in the primary cities of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, and Sharm el Sheikh.

In terms of things to know before going to Egypt, let me share what I learned from planning my own trip.

Here’s what I learned:

• You can certainly book your own hotels but in some cases your tour operator may have access to special rates so it doesn’t hurt to get quotes from them as well.
• I spoke about the hotels in Giza earlier – many at not officially licensed so there’s some element of risk in terms of the government doing a wide sweep of closures in one day.  That said, we didn’t have any issues.
• For Cairo, hotels in Giza are actually preferred by tour operators because most of your activities will be concentrated on this sector, helping cut down on transit time.
• We quite liked staying on the West Bank of Luxor.  We were initially worried that it was too far from everything but it turned out to be significantly quieter which we appreciated and the ferries were convenient to take.
• In some cases, Booking.com helped us save money thanks to level 2 Genius.  Getting up to Genius level only requires 2 bookings and once you’re at that level, there are a lot of properties that offer 10% (level 1 Genius) and 15% off (level 2 Genius).
• Most hotels in Egypt have breakfast included.
• Most hotels are also willing to create breakfast boxes if you have to leave early in the morning including Basma Hotel in Aswan.

For accommodation recommendations, make sure to read the 10 day Egypt itinerary .

We have a full fledged article about everything I packed for Egypt. Make sure you head there to find out what you need to be mindful about not just clothes but also gear to pack for a trip to Egypt.

READ EGYPT PACKING LIST

Normally, the standard answer applies but in terms of the best time to go to Egypt, it’s quite different because Egypt only has two seasons.

Winter (Mid-October – April)

Egypt experiences a mild winter which means that it is the most pleasant during these months.  As a result, it is also Egypt’s high season of travel.

If you’re looking for a quieter time, try to come at the beginning or end of the season (mid-October, early November, or April) to avoid the crowds.  The busiest time of the year is always around Christmas when families have time off.

Another thing to keep in mind that another thing people time their travel to is the Sun Festival which occurs February 22 and October 22.

Temperature wise, the evenings can drop to 0C (32F) but during the day, it rises to 18C or low 20’s (68F).

Summer (May – Mid-October)

Contrary to other destinations, summer is the worst time to go because the temperatures easily go up to 40C (104F) during the day.

The temperatures are a cooler along the coast but it is largely impossible to do a trip to Egypt so I wouldn’t even consider these months.

Just a quick blurb about this because you might not know.  As a Muslim country, alcohol is going to be a sensitive topic because it’s not allowed.  In fact, Egypt prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol anywhere.  The only exception are specific hotels and tourist facilities approved by the Ministry of Tourism.

Don’t expect to find any convenient stores to display beer, wine, or spirits for sale.  However, we did learn that some of these shops do hide beer in the back and so if you ask they might discretely disappear somewhere to bring out the local Egyptian Stella or maybe a Heineken.

Otherwise, if you’re looking to drink, you’ll have to do it on your cruise, at your hotel, or at tourist-specific restaurants.

If you’ve come from the  10 Day Egypt Itinerary , you’ll know that I didn’t do a breakdown of total costs but I did show the costs in the Nile cruise guide of our dahabiya experience.

To give you an idea of how much a 10 day trip costs for two people converted to $USD , I’ve broken down the costs by category.  Note that this does NOT include international flights (domestics are included) since this will vary drastically for people depending on where you’re located.  Another thing to be aware of is that most of the hotels were included in the tour package.

This breaks down to  $2,035.05 per person or $203.51 per person per day .

Compared to the cost of the trip to Greece in the Greek Islands Travel Guide , this was actually more affordable which really surprised me.  What might put over the top are the flights though so take that into consideration.

How did we do?   I’d say that we had a good balance of a trip that was very thorough for 10 days with an excellent local company without having to blow the budget.

In this things to know before you go to Egypt travel guide, I hope you’ve come away with a ton more information than you were looking for or thought you needed to know.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I somehow ended doing twice.  The first time was a bit of a teaser since I skipped Cairo.  The second time around, I managed to fit Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and the Nile cruise in 10 days and I couldn’t have been happier.

So if I was in an elevator and only had 30 seconds to tell you what you need to know to plan a trip without reading this Egypt travel guide, here’s what I would say.

• Egypt is safe.
• The dahabiya Nile cruise is a must-do.
• The world of Ancient Egypt will blow you away – there is so much to see and learn.
• The sheer scale, applied science/technology, and how old it all is mind boggling.
• Having a good guide/Egyptologist is so important.

Have specific questions about your upcoming trip to the Egypt?  Drop a comment below in this things to know before you go to Egypt travel guide!

What you should read next

• 10 Day Egypt Itinerary – Best of Egypt with Djed and Dahabiya Nile Cruise
• Egypt Packing List – What To Wear, Camera Gear, and more!
• 3 Days in Cairo Itinerary – Places to Visit Including The Pyramids
• The Best Way To See The Nile – Dahabiya Nile Cruise
• Is Egypt Safe for Travel? (How is it in 2022 with Safety Guide and Tips)

About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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34 Best Travel Tips For Egypt: Things to Know Before You Go

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Egypt has something for every traveller, from awe-inspiring ancient sites to vibrant markets. However, navigating this historically rich and culturally diverse country can be daunting for even the most seasoned globetrotter.

That’s why I’m sharing my best travel tips for Egypt, drawn from months of exploring this fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) country.

Whether you’re interested in exploring the iconic Pyramids of Giza, delving into Egyptian history in the Valley of the Kings, learning about the ancient Egyptians in Luxor, or relaxing on a Nile River cruise, these tips will help you make the most of your Egyptian adventure.

After visiting Egypt for nearly 30 years, the  34 helpful travel tips for Egypt travel in this article are the ones I wish I’d known before I visited Egypt for the first time.

You’ll find everything in this Egypt travel guide, from Egypt travel safety tips to what not to do in Egypt, packing tips for Egypt, and everything you need to know when travelling to Egypt, including what to do about tips in Egypt and how to deal with harassment.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive straight into these essential Egypt travel tips!

Practical Travel Tips For Egypt

Let’s get started with the absolute basics 🙂

1. Never (Ever) Drink The Water In Egypt!

Of all the travel tips for Egypt, this is the top one – and you need to be very clear about it. Tap water in Egypt  is unsafe for human consumption everywhere – on swanky cruise ships, in posh hotels or anywhere else.

No one drinks it, and it will likely make you as sick as a dog if you do – even if you only use it to brush your teeth in your hotel room.

Of course, you could rely on buying bottled water while visiting Egypt. But, I must tell you that the quality (and taste) of the bottled water brands available in Egypt is variable – while some are palatable, some are pretty horrid. And then there’s the environmental cost of plastic bottles!

Because of this, you’ll want to include a  Water-To-Go Filterable Water Bottle  on your  packing list for Egypt  (see below).

💦 FILTERABLE WATER BOTTLE

The Water-To-Go Bottle will keep you hydrated and filter out the nasties that often make people sick in Egypt.

The built-in, three-stage filter in  Water-To-Go Bottles  filters out 99.99999% of water-borne contaminants, including bacteria, parasites, toxins, chemicals, microplastics and heavy metals. It’s your best defence against getting sick in Egypt from the water. I carried mine everywhere 🙂

🤮 Need tips on what to do if you do get sick while visiting Egypt? Head to  How to Deal With Delhi Belly

2. Get Travel Insurance for Egypt

Egypt is a fantastic country to visit, but it’s not a great place to be if something doesn’t go according to plan or you get sick! I don’t mean to scare you —  just to make you think about these crucial things .

One of the most important travel tips for Egypt is to protect yourself from potential pitfalls on your vacation with  travel insurance .

Just as you insure your car, home and health, you can also insure your luggage, belongings and health while travelling – and you absolutely should do this when travelling to Egypt!

🏆 Best Egypt Travel Insurance

What is the best travel insurance for Egypt? I only ever recommend Travel Insurance Master because they have outstanding customer service.

3. Check Your Passport

To visit Egypt, your passport must be valid for at least six months from when you arrive in Egypt. If you need to renew your passport before your trip, be sure to apply for a new passport in good time.

4. Pre-Book Your Tours in Egypt

UK Government  travel tips for Egypt warn of a risk that “tourists at high-profile sites like the Giza Pyramids may be confronted aggressively for money or business, even while travelling by car or taxi.”

They also say that “visitors  using a pre-booked guide or taking an organised tour to visit the Giza Pyramids  are likely to face fewer difficulties.”

➡️ The best places to book your Nile cruise or tour of the great pyramids are Viator and GetYourGuide . Each tour carries a user rating, so it’s easy to see which ones other visitors have enjoyed the most – and you can read all the reviews before making your booking.

5. Sort Out Your Egyptian Visa Before You Travel

You need a visa to enter Egypt if you’re a citizen of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many more countries.

How to get your visa for Egypt

• Apply before you travel using the official  Visa2Egypt e-visa system . Your Egypt visa will be valid for a maximum of 3 months and will cost US$25 for a single entry to the country as a tourist.
• If you love standing in a queue after a long flight, you can get a visa on arrival in Egypt from one of the approved bank kiosks in the airport arrivals hall just before immigration. These visas cost US$25 (payable in US dollars) and are valid for 30 days.

⛔️ Do not buy a visa from an agent at the airport!!  They will sting you with an additional fee of more than US$25 for your visa. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY THIS. If you feel harassed, it’s easy to report any agent’s behaviour to the tourist police officers at the airport.

Travel to Egypt requirements for visitors to South Sinai resorts

👀 If you’re visiting the Red Sea resorts of Dahab , Nuweiba , Sharm el Sheikh , or Taba for up to 15 days, you receive a free entry permission stamp when you arrive. However,  you will need a visa if you plan to stay longer than 15 days or travel out of these areas .

👀 If you change your plans mid-trip and want to travel beyond one of the South Sinai resorts,  you can usually buy a visa at Sharm el Sheikh airport , allowing you to travel beyond the Sinai Peninsula.

⚠️Leaving Egypt with an out-of-date visa is problematic, to say the least, and you’ll likely have to pay a fine if your visa is more than 14 days out of date.

➡️ Contact the Egyptian Consulate in your home country for further information and enquiries.

Safe Travel Tips For Egypt

6. pre-book your transport from cairo international airport.

One of the most important things to book before you arrive in Egypt is your airport transfer from Cairo Airport .

It’s the best way to avoid the masses of scammy taxi drivers badgering you for the chance to drive you to your hotel and the safest way to travel as a female traveller. 

7. Stay Safe Online & Protect Your Data With a VPN

Whenever you use an open network to access your information on the web, you’re sending out an invitation for others to steal your data – from any device you use to connect to the web. This includes passwords, debit card and credit card info, and many other things you need to keep private.

This is why you need a VPN!

👀 What is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is essential in preventing cyber criminals from stealing your online and personal information.  NordVPN  is a trusted name in VPNs.

👀 How does a VPN work?

With a VPN, you create a secure (private) connection when you use a shared connection, for example, when you use a coffee shop WiFi. Without a VPN, you’re digitally connected to everyone else on the same shared network! And that’s risky!

⚠️  As you’ll likely need to use free, shared WiFi more when you’re travelling than at home,  the risk of your information being accessed by criminals is higher – unless you use a trusted VPN .

I recommend purchasing  NordVPN , one of the biggest and most-used VPNs, to keep your data safe while travelling.

▶︎ Get started now and protect your data with  NordVPN – it’s easy to set up 🙂

8. Take Care On Microbuses

Egypt generally has a low crime rate; however, some visitors have been victims of crime – especially petty crimes. Be cautious if travelling alone to reduce the risk of unwanted attention or harassment.

✔️ Don’t be the last passenger left on a bus or microbus.

✔️ Be vigilant when travelling alone in  taxis  and microbuses, particularly at night.

✔️  Report any crimes to the tourist police immediately .

9. Don’t Swim in the Nile!

“ Can you swim in the Nile ?” is one of the questions I’m most often asked about visiting Egypt! The simple answer is a resounding NO! The Nile River is contaminated with industrial, animal and human (!) waste. It’s also home to more than a few deadly snakes.

Read More: How Safe is Swimming in the Nile River?

10. Wear a Hat/Headscarf and Sunglasses

Most Egyptian women cover their hair, so you’ll attract less attention if you wear a long, lightweight scarf that covers your hair and neck. I forgot to pack a scarf on my first visit to Egypt, but I found it easy and cheap to buy one from a local market.

😎  Top Tip:  Sunglasses will help to disguise the colour of your eyes (not many Egyptians have blue or green eyes), and, like a mask, they can help you avoid eye contact.

11. Wear a Wedding Ring

Whether you’re married or not, wearing a simple gold band (or an inexpensive “ fake wedding ring  “) is a simple, inexpensive deterrent against unwanted male attention. I wore one on every trip to Egypt!

12. Respect Local Customs and Laws

I managed to get arrested in  Siwa Oasis  for swimming at the wrong time of day! It was a pretty scary time.

Fortunately, it was sorted out very quickly. Still, it was frightening at the time, and it made me realise how important it is to  be aware of local customs and laws to stay safe .

Egyptians can’t share a room with someone of a different gender (other than a spouse), as sex outside marriage is illegal! Don’t be surprised if your host(s) conduct room checks in rural areas!

13. Look After Your Valuables

Leave valuable jewellery at home and be careful with your camera, phone and other valuables. I use an ancient  Kipling cross-body bag  and an anti-theft  Pacsafe backpack  with a zip closure and a clip to keep my valuables safe.

Top Tip:  In crowded places, I wear my backpack on my front and my cross-body bag with the strap across my body. I also have an  RFID travel belt  to stash my cards, cash, passports, and important documents.

14. Be Careful with Your Cash

One way to  keep your cash safe while travelling  is to hide it in an  RFID bra   wallet ! Remember you’ll need somewhere discreet, like a public loo or changing room, to extract your secret stash.

❌ Never put valuables in your pockets, even ones with a zip! It’s much too tempting (and easy) for pickpockets and thieves. You don’t want to attract that sort of attention!

15. Security Before and On Your Trip

Security has been a problem for tourists in Egypt; however, there is a robust and visible police presence. You’ll also see special “tourist police” hired to protect tourists. Bag checks and scans at tourist sites and hotels are also there to keep you safe, although these can be a bit haphazard.

Egypt is still a volatile country, with some areas unsafe to visit. Other sites are safe, and almost 320,000 British tourists visited the country in 2017, mostly without any problems.

Check the latest travel advic e for Egypt here  and  purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel . I always use  Travel Insurance Master  because their rates are competitive; you can extend coverage if you travel longer,  and making claims online is easy.

Egypt Travel Fit Tips

16. check whether your medications are legal in egypt.

Egypt’s rules about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines differ from those of many other countries.

Some widely used medications are considered controlled substances in Egypt and you can’t take them to Egypt without permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health.  You risk prosecution under Egyptian law if you arrive in Egypt without the necessary documentation.

⚠️  Travelling with prescription medications?  Get an official letter from your physician confirming that the medicine is for a medical condition.

This should include details of your condition and how much medication you will be carrying. The letter should also state that the medicine is for personal use only.

➡️ Contact the Egyptian Embassy in your home country for more information and to find out which medicines are not permitted in Egypt.

17. Pack Plenty of Bug Spray

The mosquitoes in Egypt mean business and will soon make your life miserable if you’re not prepared for them!

I’ve always used Jungle Formula spray combined with this plug-in mosquito killer for my room. And if those nasty, itchy bites do happen, this inexpensive cream has been my go-to relief for decades!

18. Stock Up On Sun Protection Cream

Egypt is a hot country, where temperatures often soar well above 40 ° C (104 ° F) in the summer months. In addition to covering up and making sure to stay out of the sun, you’ll want lashings of high-SPF sun cream.

Cultural Travel Tips For Egypt

19. pack culturally appropriate clothes.

With my pale Northern European skin, blue eyes, and light coloured hair, I was a magnet for unwanted attention in Egypt.

From the irritating (constant offers of taxi rides, to change money or to buy things, and never-ending catcalls) to the offensive (blatant staring and leering, creepy handshakes, touching, and “accidental” brushing up against your breasts or bottom), there are lots of things to watch out for.

RELATED POST:  Travel Packing List for Egypt

I remember looking at handmade rugs in a crowded souk, only to realise that the man behind me was rubbing his erection against my bum! Many people saw what he was doing, but no one did anything…

⚠️ You need to  rethink your wardrobe for Egypt  to avoid being harassed. Dressing modestly is important if you’re going anywhere outside the main tourist areas.

✔️ Leave tight, revealing, or form-fitting clothes at home. Forget the strappy tank tops and shorts for anywhere outside of the main tourist resorts

✔️ Think conservative, loose, and floating, with  everything  covered up from your neck to below your knees.

✔️ Covering up shows respect for the local culture and will help you avoid attracting unwanted attention.

❌  Don’t flash any bare flesh or “show off” the shape of your body.

While I found the unwanted attention annoying,  I never felt unsafe , and most of the local people I met were delightful, welcoming, and kind.

20. Learn a Few Words in Arabic

Learn a few essential words in Arabic  as a courtesy and to summon help.

✔️  Google Translate usually helps ; however, I always feel safer when I have a few local words imprinted in my brain for emergencies.

21. Carry Small Bills For Tipping in the Local Currency

The custom of tipping or “baksheesh” is firmly embedded in Egyptian culture, and you should expect to tip a few Egyptian pounds in small change for most services.

While tipping is not mandatory in Egypt, it is customary as a way to thank an individual for great service. As a rough guide, here’s what to consider leaving when tipping in Egypt:

• Restaurants : leave a 10-15% tip
• Tour guides : Leave 10-15% of the tour price for the tour guide and 5-10% for the driver
• Hotels: Leave 10-15 Egyptian pounds per day for housekeeping staff, 5-10 Egyptian pounds per bag for porters and bellhops, and 10-15% of the bill for room service.

Practical Egypt Travel Tips

22. copy important documents before you travel.

Before any trip, make copies of all essential travel documents.

✔️ Save a scanned copy of the documents online to access them while travelling if necessary. Just in case! Leave copies with trusted contacts at home and take one copy in your carry-on bag.

✔️ If your hotel has a safe space, consider using it for important documents.

✔️ Save a scanned copy of the documents online to access them while travelling if necessary. Just in case!

23. Make a Contacts List

What would you do if your phone got lost or stolen? I’d be pretty lost! Making a copy of your key contacts is an excellent way to protect yourself if your phone does get broken or goes AWOL.

✔️ Save all your complete contact list online, including the contact details for your Embassy.

✔️ Carry a paper copy of your contacts list in your hand luggage.

Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but being prepared is good.

24. Watch Out If You’re Offered Egyptian Bananas

Watch out if anyone offers you “Egyptian bananas”. While bananas are grown in Egypt, they may not be talking about the fruit but being suggestive!

25. Bring Earplugs (Egypt is Noisy)

Egypt is a fantastically vibrant Muslim country, which means it can be loud! You’ll likely hear muezzins calling the faithful to prayer from the minarets of multiple mosques – five times a day, from early morning until late.

Then there are the street vendors touting their wares, the incessant blaring of horns and general traffic noise! You get the idea, but if (like me) you like a good night’s sleep, you’ll need good noise-cancelling earbuds to cope with the cacophony of Egypt!

🎧 These noise-cancelling earbuds have thousands of positive reviews on Amazon and work perfectly! If you don’t have wireless headphones, travelling is the best time to treat yourself and upgrade.

26. Always Carry Toilet Paper

It’s a massive understatement to say that public conveniences in Egypt are not up to Western standards.

Restrooms/loos in museums, on coaches and on trains range from the tolerable to the downright grim, so be sure to have TP and wipes with you whenever you leave your hotel!

27. Camel and/or Donkey Rides

Animal welfare is not the same in Egypt as it is in most Western countries . You simply cannot be sure that any animals you’re offered a ride on are well-treated . In a horrifying number of cases, they are not.

Better and more ethical ways exist to get out and explore this amazing country. This incredible tour includes a hot air balloon ride and a felucca sailing boat adventure , while you could also have a magical ATV adventure into the desert on this tour .

28. Snake Charming

I don’t love snakes (I’m scared of them), but there is nothing charming about this barbaric practice. And it’s almost entirely driven by tourist interest.

Some (not all) snake charmers make their living by capturing wild cobras, ripping out their venomous fangs and then sewing their mouths closed. The snakes suffer horribly for months before dying of starvation – only to be replaced by newly caught victims.

Please don’t support this animal cruelty on your trip to Egypt. There are much better things to post on Instagram.

29. Don’t Take a Minibus Tour to Abu Simbel

Seriously, this was one of my worst travel mistakes in Egypt! Lured in by a cheap ticket, I handed over my cash. I spent over four miserable hours (each way) travelling through the baking desert from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a bone-shaker minibus without air conditioning.

While the Temple of Abu Simbel is one of the best tourist landmarks in Egypt , I was too dehydrated when I arrived to really appreciate it!

Here are the three best ways to visit Abu Simbel:

• Fly to Abu Simbel and join this 3-night/4-day cruise from Lake Nasser to Aswan for a more comfortable and relaxing trip. [ Highly recommended ]
• Pick a private tour, including direct flights from Aswan to Abu Simbel and mercifully short transfers from the airport [ Likely to sell out ]
• Choose this highly-rated tour and make the road trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a private, air-conditioned car. [ Best budget option ]

30. Egypt Swelters in the Summer – Other Times Are More Pleasant

To help you plan your dream trip to Egypt, here’s a quick look at what the weather is like for each season:

Spring (March – May)

Spring in Egypt is a delightful time for exploration as temperatures are moderate and pleasant. With warm days that average around 25-30°C (77-86°F), you can comfortably discover attractions like the Pyramids of Giza, and Luxor’s temples or cruise along the Nile without enduring extreme heat. Additionally, blooming flowers add splashes of colour to various regions across Egypt.

Summer (June – August)

Egypt’s summer brings scorching temperatures that might be challenging for some visitors but there will be fewer crowds and lower prices. Daytime temperatures soar above 35°C (95°F) in most parts of the country; however, coastal cities like Alexandria or Hurghada provide respite with slightly milder conditions due to sea breezes.

If you choose to visit Egypt during the summer, you’ll need to stock up on sun protection essentials such as hats and sunscreen.

Autumn (September – November)

Autumn is an ideal time to explore Egypt’s wonders, with more comfortable temperatures returning after summer’s blistering heat subsides.

Average daytime temperatures range between 25-30°C (77-86°F), making it an excellent season for sightseeing at popular destinations like Cairo or Aswan without feeling overwhelmed by crowds.

Winter (December – February)

Winter in Egypt provides ample warmth for outdoor activities. Daytime temperatures hover around 15-20°C (59-68°F) in most regions, making exploring sites like the Valley of the Kings or Abu Simbel pleasant.

Evenings can be cooler, especially in desert areas and Upper Egypt, so you’ll want to pack a light jacket or sweater.

31. Expect to Pay To Take Photographs at Key Tourist Destinations

Whether you’re visiting the Egyptian Museum , the Pyramids of Giza or the vast temple of Abu Simbel, be prepared to pay a small fee for the right to photograph at or on the site.

Camel drivers and others will likely also demand a fee if you want to take their photograph.

Best Food in Egypt Tips

32. try the incredible street food.

Egyptian food is sublimely tasty. It’s well worth venturing out from your hotel to see what’s on offer from the local s treet stall street vendors and local restaurants. Kushari, baba ghanoush and hummus are all delicious!

In addition to the well-known sweet mint tea, why not sip some karkadeh (hibiscus juice)? It’s a very refreshing alternative!

33. Cover Up When Visiting Religious Sites

While some of Egypt’s ancient mosques allow tourist visits, it’s important to be respectful if you do visit.

When can I visit an Egyptian mosque?

Muslims pray five times a day, so it’s not appropriate to visit mosques during these times or to take photographs. 

How should I dress to visit a mosque in Egypt?

All visitors should remove their shoes before entering, and women should cover their hair with a scarf. A long-sleeved shirt is useful to cover up shoulders and arms, and you should wear a modest skirt or trousers.

What about visiting a Coptic monastery in Egypt?

The rules for entering an Egyptian Coptic monastery are similar in that you should dress conservatively and remove your shoes before entering. In addition, it’s not appropriate to visit during the period of Lent .

34. Always Pay in Local Currency When Making Digital Payments

Whether you’re using debit or credit cards to make payments when visiting Egypt, it’s important to make sure you always choose the option to pay in the local currency , not in your home currency.

If you choose to pay in the local currency, eg in Egyptian pounds, you will likely be stung with a worse currency exchange rate than your bank would charge you,

TRAVEL TIPS & RESOURCES

Here’s a quick look at all my favourite travel resources – the ones I use to plan every trip. Find more information on my  travel resources page .

🏠 Need a place to stay? Browse  Booking  or  VRBO 💃 How about fun experiences?  Get Your Guide  and  Viator  have it all 🚗 Considering renting a car? Use  Rentalcars 🚂 If you need transfers, bus or train tickets, check  Omio 🔒 Don’t forget about travel insurance from  Travel Insurance Master

• Your Ultimate Packing List for Travel to Egypt
• Visiting Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert – An Off-the-Beaten Path Adventure
• How to Avoid Holiday Tummy When Travelling

Final Thoughts on Travel Tips for Egypt

Whether this is your first trip to Egypt or you’ve been before, these are my best travel in Egypt tips: I hope they help you when you visit Egypt.

Egypt is a remarkable destination offering travellers rich historical and cultural experiences. By following these travel tips, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip to this fascinating country.

From planning your itinerary to respecting local customs and traditions, being aware of safety precautions, and embracing Egypt’s unique sights and sounds, you can make the most of your journey.

So pack your bags, immerse yourself in the wonders of ancient Egypt, explore bustling markets and tranquil oases, indulge in delicious cuisine, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy travels!

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Related Posts

• Visiting Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert – An Off-the-Beaten Path Adventure

Coralie Thornton, the owner and author of Grey Globetrotters, has been a traveller for more than four decades. Today, she helps others experience the UK, Europe and bucketlist destinations with meticulously crafted guides and affordable luxury itineraries, Her passion for adventure has led her through over 40 countries, seeking cultural experiences, delicious foods, and hidden gems.

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The Cost of Travel in Egypt: My 2023 Budget Breakdown

After spending five months travelling in Egypt, stopping for about two of those in Cairo, I got a real sense of how varied, unpredictable, and totally chaotic the country is. The messiness that characterizes every aspect of Egypt, from its streets riddled with cars, donkeys, and people (who never walk on the sidewalk!), to its complex cultural norms that seem to often contradict one another, but are followed rigorously by most, came to be what I loved about it. 

Despite how traditional Egypt may appear on the surface, if you stay for a while and you meet the right people, you’ll discover a hidden world of rebellious Egyptians who subtly defy tradition and are willing to fight tirelessly for a more tolerant and modern version of the country they love.

Egypt has attracted history fans for decades, and whilst the pyramids were mind-blowing and the ancient temples are spectacular, those weren’t the things that kept me in Egypt. If you’re willing to throw yourself into the chaos and go beyond the usual tourist attractions, you’ll learn about the politics and social norms that have shaped Egypt into what it is today.

I mostly stayed in the north of the country, and I began my trip in Dahab, along the Red Sea, where I spent my days diving, chilling at beach bars with spectacular views, and haggling at stalls. Though many save this destination till last, I think this laid-back town, that is touristic yet still authentic, is the perfect place to start. Essentially because it’s quintessentially Egyptian, but a less intense and chaotic version of every other destination. 

To be honest you can skip the other destinations along the Red Sea, like Hurghada, without missing out on much. These big resort cities don’t give you much insight into the real Egypt and they’re more expensive too – so unless it’s an all-inclusive holiday you’re after I’d head straight to Cairo.

The destinations that I was most captivated by were Cairo, because of how diverse it is, and Siwa, because of how much culture is packed into such a small place. 

Before we get into the intricacies of what you can expect to spend in Egypt, it’s worth noting that it is a super budget-friendly destination. Egypt is by no means expensive, and you can travel there from as little as $20 a day, with no luxuries included of course. 

The Cost of Accommodation in Egypt

Like in most countries, what you’ll spend on accommodation really depends on the type of property you’re looking for. Egypt has a range of options, from hostel dorms starting at as little as $5 in cheaper destinations, to fancy hotels in the center of Cairo, like Hilton, that will cost you upwards of $100 a night. 

The great thing about Egypt is that because it’s such a budget friendly country, even if you want to stay in higher end accommodation during your trip you won’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of dollars to do so. You can easily find double rooms in luxurious hotels for as little as $50 a night. 

Whether you want to exchange a few hours of work for your bed or you’re looking to splash out, you won’t struggle for options. If you’re on the tightest of tight budgets, there are several options that’ll land you with  free accommodation  while you’re in the country. 

Admittedly, Egypt isn’t the best destination for volunteering . There are some options on sites like WWOOFing , but they’re limited. When I looked there was one in Dahab and one outside of Cairo. But it’s worth having a look — you never know what you might find! 

Other sites worth checking are Workaway and WorldPackers . When I was looking, there weren’t many orientated around social or environmental work, but there were some options for working at hostels and hotels in marketing and secretarial roles. Readers of this site get a $10 discount for  WorldPackers  with the promo code neverendingfootsteps .

But when it comes to volunteering it might be easier to figure it out once you’re there. You can look for local organizations and wait for opportunities to reach you by word of mouth – Egypt still doesn’t have the most wide-spread online presence. 

Another option for those looking for free accommodation is Couchsurfing . If you haven’t heard about it before, how it works is that you stay on someone’s free sofa, or in their spare room, completely for free! 

Now, it’s a bit of a trade off because you never know what your host will be like until you’re there (although each host has a profile with reviews left by other travelers), but I’ve met lots of friends through couchsurfing.

If you’re a female traveler and you’re in Egypt by yourself (as I was), I’d be a bit more wary of using Couchsurfing. I hate the idea that being a woman holds us back from anything, and I always travel with a sense of freedom and independence, but the reality is that Egypt is very different culturally speaking and the interactions between men and women follow a completely new set of rules that can be hard to understand. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t couchsurf, just to be a bit more selective about who your host is. Perhaps opt for a female host and check to see if other females have left reviews on the contrary. 

There are plenty of Couchsurfing hosts in Egypt , especially in the big cities – so a free night’s sleep isn’t out of the question!

Housesitting  is another option. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and usually look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees as you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you do have that freedom, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while.  Trusted Housesitters  is one of the best sites for getting started with housesitting.

The Best Hostels in Egypt

There are lots of hostels in Egypt, and they became my go-to choice of accommodation after staying in a series of very disappointing Airbnbs (which tended to be at least double the price, not clean at all, and very basic). 

Curiously, the rules at hostels in Egypt are a little different. People with Egyptian and Arab passports aren’t allowed to stay in mixed dorms like other travelers, and there are a lot more all-female dorms than in other countries. It’s also complicated getting private rooms with Arabic travelers unless you’re married. These rules reflect the religious values that still dictate the country’s laws. 

All that said, let’s have a look at some of the top hostel picks in Egypt’s most famous cities.

• Alexandria:   At Ithaka Hostel you’ll pay $12 for a comfortable bunk bed in a dorm. It’s conveniently located in the city center, close to the seafront. The hostel has a quiet and cozy vibe. Bear in mind, there tend not to be many travelers in Alexandria.  It’s a bargain for a cute, colorful hostel with welcoming staff. The best thing is that a breakfast of falafel, salad, Arab flatbread, and pickles is included! I don’t recommend the AirBnbs in Alexandria, or in general across Egypt.
• Cairo : When I was in Cairo, I stayed in the Australian Hostel . You can get a single room with a shared bathroom for $10 , and a twin for $15 ! The location is good too, it’s in a busy area in the city center so there are loads of restaurants and shops around. The only drawback of this hostel is that there aren’t many common areas and there’s no kitchen. However, they have really affordable private rooms! Funnily enough, they have a luxury and non-luxury version of their hostel, which are in the same building. Check on Hostelworld for both, and on Booking if you want to stay in the luxury edition.Other hostels worth checking out are the Dahab Hostel which has a cute garden area, and Maadina Hostel – both are around the same price, with dorms for less than $10 ! 
• Dahab : If you’re in Dahab, book your stay at Rafiki Hostels . For $10 you’ll get a bed in a dorm, and for $27 you can book a private double room. The climate around the Red Sea is pretty warm, so I was glad for this hostel’s little dipping pool, and there’s a lovely balcony area with gorgeous views where you can hang out with other guests. The hostel runs lots of fun activities throughout the week to keep you busy. It’s situated right by the beachfront and breakfast is included – I loved it! 
• Luxor : For something a little different, stay at the Al Salam Camp . The hostel is designed similar to a Bedouin camp, giving it an authentic Egyptian atmosphere. Dorm beds are just $8 . I loved the unique design of this hostel, and saving money on accommodation meant I could spend more on activities in Luxor!
• Aswan : I spent my time in Aswan at the simple but comfortable Go Inn Backpackers . The hostel is by the riverside, so it boasts incredible views. The rooms were pretty basic, but for $8 a night I wouldn’t expect much more! Plus, the staff were super helpful and knew a lot about the different tours and activities worth doing in Aswan, which saved me a lot of research. 

The Cost of Hotels in Egypt

When I’m travelling, I’m always conscious to book the absolute best accommodation out there — well, as long as it doesn’t amount to hundreds of dollars a night. I can easily spend several hours researching accommodation for every stop along my way, ensuring I’ve chosen the place in the best location with the friendliest staff, and the greatest value for money.

My biggest tip? When you head to  Booking  to find a hotel, ignore the results that are sorted under “Our Top Picks” — that’s a list of all of the hotels that pay Booking the highest commission, some of which have some pretty poor write-ups. Instead, opt to sort the properties by “Top Reviewed”. That way, you’ll be able to see which options genuinely have the best reviews.

Dahab:  This stunning little apartment just outside of Dahab is the perfect place to come and relax and reset. There’s a cute outdoor area with a hot tub, lots of sun loungers – the optimal place to read a book or enjoy some star gazing. The apartment is quaint and cute, elegantly decorated with boho-chic decor. You can’t go wrong at  Villa Can Kiko .

Nuweiba:  While you’re in Nuweiba, you have to stay in a wooden cabin or Bedouin tent on the beach. They’re positioned at the edge of the shore, just metres away from the Red Sea.  Dayra Camp  is a popular option, visited by young adults who come from Cairo looking to relax and escape the loud crowds and intensity of the city. It’s got a somewhat hippy feel to it, and it’s not exactly luxury accommodation but it’s cheap, cool, and a great spot. 

Cairo:  The  Houseboat65 Hotel  offers something a little different. You get the best of both worlds here: the privacy and intimacy of an apartment and the perks and great service of a luxury hotel.

I particularly love the views of the Nile. You’ll feel like you’re in a dream as you sit on the waters edge sipping your morning coffee and watching little boats float by. It’s also the perfect place to escape the noise of the city without compromising on location!

This stunning property gave me the perfect balance between modern and traditional. I relished all the well-thoughtout details around the property and was delighted by the undeniably Egyptian feel of the place. 

Siwa:  Accommodation in Siwa is very simple and down-to-earth. It’s not exactly luxurious, but it’s comfortable and it does the job. I stayed  here , and really enjoyed it! The pictures don’t do the garden justice, and the owners were extremely kind and welcoming. There’s an outdoor fire too, so you can sit under the stars at night and watch the flicker of the flames. The kitchen is very basic, but the included breakfast is served in the garden, and it is always filling and delicious!

Elephantine Island:  This humble but comfortable property on Elephantine Island is run by a super friendly and welcoming family. There’s a little balcony in most of the rooms, and it’s right by the Nile so the views are incredible. If you’re looking for some peace and tranquillity,  Bayt Zaina  is the perfect place to come. 

Luxor:  This quintessentially Egyptian hotel on the West Bank feels homely, luxurious, and old-fashioned all at once. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and there’s a super lovely pool you can cool down in too! I’d highly recommend staying at  Djorff Palace  whilst you’re in Luxor.

Accommodation cost summarized  : Overall, you should budget around $10 a night for hostel dorms and around $15-$20 a night if you’re planning on staying in private rooms in hostels or basic hotels. If you’re planning on renting apartments or staying in rooms in slightly nicer hotels it should come to about $40 a night .

The Cost of Transportation in Egypt

There’s lots to see in Egypt, and there is an array of ways to get around the country, from buses to boats. Egypt is a pretty big country, so if you’re in a hurry you might want to consider some domestic flights to get from Cairo to other popular destinations further south, namely Luxor and Aswan. 

Let’s break the cost of transport down to give you a better idea of how much getting around will cost in Egypt!

Local transport cost : Depending on where you are in Egypt you can look into different local transport. I found that in Alexandria the local buses were pretty efficient and easy to figure out (especially since they essentially just run along the seafront, connecting the peripheral areas of the city to the city center). The buses, which look more like minivans, cost about 8 Egyptian Pounds at the time (less than 50 cents ). 

However, in Cairo I completely gave up on using public transport. The city is huge, and there’s often bad traffic on the roads so it was complicated figuring out the bus routes, and you’d often spend way longer than expected getting from one destination to the next.

On the other hand, the metro is absolutely rammed and the one time I used it I got off feeling sweaty, claustrophobic, and overwhelmed. My Egyptian friends laughed at me when I told them I had used the metro – they all use Uber to get around. I soon gave up on the public transport in Cairo and did the same.

Even at night Uber’s are a safe and affordable option. You can expect to pay about $2-$3 for a 30-minute ride depending on the time of day. They also have motorbike options on Uber in Egypt. They’re cheaper and whizzing through the traffic on a scooter is definitely a thrill!

Regional transport costs in Egypt : Egypt has a very varied landscape, which makes an array of transport options possible. Depending on where you’re going, it’s worth considering looking at flights, boat trips, and night buses to travel across Egypt. Here are some common routes and approximate prices:

Alexandria to Cairo by train : The most comfortable way to get from Alexandria to the capital is by train. Travel with Egyptian National Railway, they’re safe and comfortable.

Overall, the journey takes just under four hours. You can get your ticket at the station at the ticket desks or self-service machines (but be careful, they don’t always work) or you can book them on the Egyptian National Railway website, although that doesn’t always work either…

The trains run more or less every hour, but stop running at around 8pm. They leave from the Alexandria station and terminate at the Cairo Ramses station. You can choose between the express and ordinary trains, and select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class tickets.

The drawback of this transport method is that as of 2023, foreigners will have to pay an additional foreigner fee on their tickets. So, whilst 2nd class tickets used to cost just $7 , they’re now $20 . Yikes.

Cairo to Luxor by cruise : If you want the true Egypt experience, take a cruise between Cairo and Luxor. It’s by far the most luxurious mode of transport – and it’s sure not to disappoint. 

You can take fast cruises that don’t stop along the way and get you between these two iconic cities in a matter of days, but for the true cruise experience, splash out on a cruise with Movenpick. The journey takes around 12 days overall, with stops at destinations like Tell El Amarna and Abydos along the way. 

Admittedly I never took a Nile cruise because I was a bit short on time when I travelled to Luxor, but I regret not doing so. Everything from food to the day tours you’ll take are included, and cruises start at $700 ! 

Dahab to Cairo by bus : Dahab is a very small town, so the easiest way to book your ticket is to head to the main road that runs along the outskirts of the town. There is one main bus station there and a few small terminals that correspond to specific bus companies. You can ask around for prices and bus schedules to see which is best for you!

You can take the bus by day, but I recommend doing it as an overnight bus (that way you save some money on accommodation, and you don’t miss out on time you can use for sightseeing!). The journey takes about nine hours in total. Tickets cost somewhere between $10-$25 depending on what company you travel with, and the best choices are East Delta Travel or Go Bus Egypt. Both companies operate basic buses which are comfortable enough, but don’t expect a lot of leg room or a full night’s sleep.

The one downside of this journey is that there are various checkpoints along the way where they stop the bus and ask to look at the passenger’s luggage and passports. So, if you get woken up in the middle of the night, don’t panic – it’s just another checkpoint. It’s also worth finding out which stations they terminate at in Cairo when you’re choosing between bus companies. 

Aswan to Cairo by flight : You can also do this trip on a cruise boat along the Nile, but it takes much longer. The fastest (and often cheapest way) is to fly. Flights start at $50 and the price varies depending on whether it’s peak tourist season or not, and how far in advance you manage to book your ticket. However, if you’re booking at quite last minute and you fly with a budget airline you shouldn’t need to spend more than $100 .

EgyptAir and Air Cairo are the companies that have the best economy tickets for this trip. You can look on Skyscanner to find price comparisons across a range of companies in one place!

Cairo to Siwa on an overnight bus : For just 275 Egyptian Pounds (just over $11 ) you can get from Egypt’s busiest city to one of the most remote desert towns. The night bus from Cairo to Siwa is the most convenient way to get to this out of reach destination. Each night a bus leaves from Cairo at 10pm, and arrives in Siwa the next morning. How long the journey will take is a little ambiguous, but estimate around 12 hours. 

Buses depart from the Turgoman station and Cairo Gateway Bus Station and the company you’ll be travelling with is West Delta. It’s worth booking your ticket the day before directly at the station if you can, just to avoid disappointment. 

Hiring a car and why not to do it : You can hire a car in Egypt, but I strongly suggest you don’t. The roads are absolute chaos and you’re more likely to end up getting in an accident than enjoying the fun road trip you might have envisioned. 

If you’re still determined to rent a car, I’d recommend getting to Egypt first and seeing the roads for yourself, then deciding whether you’d be comfortable driving there. 

The Cost of Food in Egypt

Food is incredibly cheap in Egypt. In fact, if you dine at local restaurants or street stalls it’ll be the least expensive part of your trip. The food is a little greasy at times, but it’s always hearty and delicious. It’s super easy to be vegetarian, and even vegan, in Egypt as they have a range of veggie-friendly dishes that are easily available even in remote towns.

In Egypt you eat most dishes with your hands and a piece of aish baladi (a flatbread similar to a pitta) to help scoop the food up. Of course, if you’re in a restaurant or you’re eating a more messy and intricate dish, you will be given cutlery. 

One of the staple foods in Egypt is falafel. Unlike in other Arab countries they’re made with faba beans instead of chickpeas, making them more dense and heavy. You can get a falafel wrap in Egypt for as little as 5 cents , but they average about 25 cents from a street cart or local stall. 

A peculiar dish worth trying is koshari. It’s a carb-filled and hearty meal made up of a mix of pasta and rice, topped with fried onions, chickpeas, and an assortment of other toppings that are then covered in a vinegary tomato sauce. It doesn’t sound very appealing but somehow it works! A pot of koshari from a local restaurant will cost you about $2 .  

If you’re in Cairo, some of the best koshari spots are Sayed Hanady, Koshary El Tahrir, and Koshari Abou Tarek. 

Egypt also has a range of incredible dips that are perfect for a light lunch. My favorites are hummus and baba ghanoush, which are perfect for scooping up with some warm aish baladi. You’ll pay about $1 for a pot of either. 

Breakfast : Egyptian breakfasts don’t disappoint and are typically buffet style. Plates of falafel, eggs, a salty and creamy cheese mixed with tomatoes, olives, dips like hummus, and lots of aish baladi are laid out before you. This mezze platter style makes Egyptian breakfasts fit for a king! You can expect to pay around $3-$5 for a traditional Egyptian breakfast, depending on portion sizes.

Another breakfast favorite worth trying is shakshuka. In this dish eggs are poached in a tomato sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, green pepper, bell peppers, onions, olive oil, and topped with herbs like coriander. It makes sense then that the name of the dish is derived from the Arabic for “shaken together” or “mixed”.

It’s usually served in the pan and you can then scoop it up with bread straight from the skillet. Expect to pay around $2 for a shakshuka in an economical local restaurant.

Lunch : For lunch opt for something like a shawarma or kofta kebab that you can get when you’re out and about and eat on the move.

You can spend as little as 50 cents for lunch in Egypt, if you go for an on-the-go wrap style lunch, or as much as $10 if you decide to eat at a nice restaurant and order a big main plate. 

Dinner : After a day exploring, enjoy a sit-down dinner. Try bamya, an Egyptian style okra and lamb stew in a tomato sauce. The name makes sense since the word bamya means “okra” in Arabic. The dish is usually served with rice! 

You’ll typically pay around $3-$5 for a hearty and filling dinner in Egypt at a local restaurant, though prices at hipster restaurants in Cairo’s city center range around $10-$15 .

Alcohol : Alcohol is one of the most expensive things in Egypt. That’s largely due to the fact that there’s a large Muslim community in the country, and there are high alcohol taxes that make it expensive to import anything. You’ll pay about $2 for a small bottle of beer from a local shop, $2-$3 for a can of mixed spirits, and about $20 for a bottle of spirits and some $7 for a mid-range bottle of wine.

Most restaurants don’t sell alcohol, and during Ramadham there are few bars that sell it and you’ll need to show your foreigner ID to be served! Trust me, if you lay off the alcohol you’ll save yourself a lot of money. 

Overall cost breakdown of food : If you decide to cook simple food with locally sourced ingredients in an Airbnb expect to spend about $5 a day on food . Similarly, if you’re eating out and getting your meals from street carts and local restaurants you can spend as little as $5 a day and eat really well. 

Eating at mid-range restaurants that are frequented by tourists will bring your costs up to around $20-$30 a day , whilst dining at fancy restaurants and sampling luxurious meals will cost around $50 a day . If you’re drinking beer on the daily and having a glass of wine with meals, add on about $15 . 

The Cost of Activities in Egypt

There’s loads to do and see in Egypt, and sometimes it’s logistically a lot easier to do it with a tour. Most of the time, a simple day tour to a well-known site will cost you around $30 . If there’s an entrance fee for the site, or your meals are included this could go up to around $50 . Either way, even the most popular and sought after tours in Egypt are pretty budget friendly.

Remember that if you’re booking in person, you should always haggle to get the price down! 

Here are five of the most popular tours to give you an idea of prices.

Visiting the pyramids of Giza : You can’t come to Egypt and miss out on seeing the pyramids. Whilst it’s quite straightforward to visit this iconic site by yourself (you can take an Uber from Cairo to the entrance, and then back again afterwards), taking a tour is beneficial as there isn’t any actual information about the pyramids across the site. Consider this half day tour here for just $35 .

Nile dining experience: There are various tour agencies that run sunset river cruises down the Nile, but this one comes accompanied by a traditional Egyptian meal and a belly dance show! I thought it was fabulous, and very fairly priced at just $30 . I’d recommend doing it in a group.  

Diving in Dahab: My favorite Egyptian experience was diving in Dahab. The coral reefs and marine life are absolutely spectacular, and I was just meters away from the shore. I did it with a local diving agency called Aqua Divers and I found them to be very friendly, professional, and reassuring. 

For a single dive at the site known as the Lighthouse I paid $25 . They give you an entry course first to check you’re prepared and know the essentials when it comes to safety and communicating underwater. 

Trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan: Aswan and Luxor are famous for their temples, and few are as impressive as Abu Simbel. There are two temples on the site that were built by the Egyptian king Ramses II. The Great Temple of Ramesses II is protected by four momentous 20-meter seated pharaohs and smaller standing sculptures that are thought to depict his family (children, mother, and wife).

However, the site is pretty far away from the city of Aswan itself (about three hours by bus), so it’s worth taking a tour for a hassle-free experience. I booked this one for $70 and had a pleasant experience. If you’re a bigger group it gets cheaper!

Hot air balloon ride in Luxor: Soaring over Luxor in a hot air balloon as the sun rises over the milky Nile River and the barren landscape is a once in a lifetime experience. I didn’t have much time in Luxor so I decided to combine my hot air balloon trip with a tour that included the most famous Luxor attractions (Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple ,The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon). I paid $180 for this tour (a little more on the expensive side), but it was worth the time and planning it saved me. If you’re in a rush, this is the tour for you. 

How Much it Costs to Travel in Egypt

Overall, if you stay in the cheapest hostel dorms, stick to eating wraps from food stands, and opt for cheaper tours, you can travel Egypt for as little as $25 a day comfortably. If you spend humbly but you don’t hold back, you’ll average about $40 a day, and if you do a lot and stay at mid-range hotels you’re looking at $50 a day. 

It’d be hard to spend more than an average of $100 a day in Egypt, but if it’s luxury you’re seeking then that’s a comfortable amount to budget for. When I was there, I found there were days where I spent as little as $10 a day, and others where I spent around $50. All in all, Egypt is a great budget destination!

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Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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What to Do If You Have Upcoming Travel to Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon

By Jessica Puckett

This is a developing story and will be updated with more information.

In recent weeks, the war between Israel and Hamas has seeped further into surrounding areas of the Middle East. Violence has reached the southern stretch of the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have attacked cargo ships off the coast of Yemen, and the US has responded with its own airstrikes. On Israel’s border , clashes between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon continue to intensify.

While it's a no-brainer to reconfigure plans located in the immediate conflict zone, many travelers with upcoming trips to the surrounding region are wondering what to do. Is it safe, or responsible, to embark on a Nile cruise in Egypt at the moment? Or to continue on with a visit to Petra, in Jordan? The questions have become only murkier as the conflict expands.

Following a regional security alert issued by the State Department in October that advises US citizens throughout the Middle East to “take caution,” some travelers have responded by canceling trips, while others have pressed on with plans under the guidance of travel providers.

One luxury tour group, Red Savannah says that all travel they have arranged for clients in Egypt and Jordan is continuing as normal. “While we are holding off selling Lebanon, we believe that Egypt and Jordan continue to be safe destinations to visit,” says George Morgan-Grenville, CEO of Red Savannah. “Feedback from clients who traveled over Christmas was incredibly positive.”

According to data from the travel booking company Hopper, Jordan is currently seeing increased demand from US travelers compared to January of last year. US travel demand to Lebanon has dropped relative to other countries in the region, while bookings for Egypt have remained flat, Hopper tells Condé Nast Traveler.

For many, there's an emotional calculation to make when planning travel to countries in close proximity to conflict zones. “Every person has their own unique risk threshold,” says Dave Dennis, executive director of Cornerstone Safety Group, a risk management organization that supports travel companies. “An acceptable risk for one person can be very different from another.”

We asked safety and industry experts to share advice for travelers considering trips to Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and the Red Sea in the near future. Here's what travelers should know—from what's happening on the ground, to government advisories, to which choices other travelers are making.

Jump ahead:

Should you travel to Jordan right now?

Should you travel to egypt right now, should you travel to lebanon right now.

• Should you take a Red Sea cruise right now?
• Additional tips

The US State Department has kept Jordan under a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” travel alert that it first issued on July 13. The only regions that travelers are instructed to avoid are the country’s borders with Syria and Iraq, its refugee camps, and Zarqa, Rusayfah, and the Baqa’a neighborhood of Ayn Basha due to ongoing safety concerns, according to the department’s guidance.

“Jordan, being further from regional unrest, remains at a Level 2 advisory, which is a common category for many regions globally,” says Dennis. As such, most tours throughout Jordan continue to operate as scheduled, and visitors can visit highlights like the Dead Sea , the Wadi Rum desert, Petra, and the capital city of Amman.

The Jordanian Tourism Board told the Times of London in January that the country remains safe for international travel: “In light of the recent developments in Gaza, we want to emphasize that Jordan continues to be a safe and welcoming destination for tourists from around the world,” the agency said in the statement. “Our commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all visitors remains unwavering and we want to reassure everyone that Jordan’s borders are open to tourists.”

Egypt's alert level from the State Department hasn’t changed since July 13, and remains at a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel.” Tourists should continue to avoid travel to the Sinai Peninsula, the land bordering Israel and Gaza and to the east of Cairo, as it is a “particularly dangerous area,” according to the department.

In a December 20 security reminder , the US Embassy in Cairo advised US travelers in Egypt to maintain situational awareness and personal security vigilance, exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests, and to keep a low profile.

Many group tours, like Red Savannah's, which visit sites like the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Valley of the Kings , and Karnak Temple in Luxor, are continuing as normal. But even as many trips forge ahead, some operators are seeing significant cancellations. One firm in Egypt, Amisol Travel, has seen just 40 to 50% of its typical bookings from February and September 2024, according to the New York Times .

Nile River cruises are also continuing to operate as planned. The only changes at this time are cancellations of post-cruise land packages through Israel—most lines have removed these add-on tours for the near future.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza and have canceled a select number of Jerusalem extensions for our Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary,” says a January 11 statement on Viking’s website. “All of our departures in Egypt are operating as scheduled. Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our guests, crew and partners on the ground."

In recent months, AmaWaterways has been making similar cancellations ​​of extended land tours through Israel. “Guests with the post-cruise Israel package scheduled to depart on Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itinerary starting in Cairo up to and including June 21, 2024 will be refunded for the Israel land portion as well as the Cairo to Tel Aviv airfare,” the line said in an emailed statement. “There are no other changes to any other Egypt river cruise or associated land packages.”

Despite most Nile itineraries continuing as planned, lines are seeing an uptick in cancellations from passengers. "The impact has been pretty severe, quite honestly, for the first quarter of 2024," Pamela Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways, told Travel Weekly in early December. "Close to half of our guests canceled for the first quarter of 2024. The rest of the year has not seen as much impact."

As of October 17, the US State Department has had a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” warning for Lebanon. The advisory was last updated on December 19 and recommends US citizens do not travel to the country “due to crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping, and Embassy Beirut’s limited capacity to provide support to US citizens."

Jessica Puckett

Caitlin Morton

Olivia Morelli

The advisory "speaks to inherent dangers of the region and the lack of immediate emergency services if a traveler was in need of assistance from government agencies,” says Dennis.

Clashes between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have continued at the countries’ borders for months. Now, it's appearing more likely that serious conflict could spread even farther into Lebanon. The head of Israel’s military, Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi, said on January 17 that the IDF is increasing readiness for “fighting in Lebanon,” CNN reported .

“The State Department recommends that US citizens in Lebanon leave now, while commercial flights remain available, due to the unpredictable security situation,” says a security alert from the US Embassy in Beirut issued on November 4. (At the time of publication, no new security alerts have been issued from the Embassy in Beirut since).

What's happening with cruises in the Red Sea?

Some cruise lines have begun canceling or changing itineraries that were set to transit through the Red Sea, due to the heightening conflicts there. According to Seatrade Cruise News , MSC has canceled three sailings that had stops through the Red Sea and Middle East: a March 30 voyage on MSC Virtuosa sailing from Dubai to Southampton, England; an April 3 sailing on MSC Splendida from Cape Town to Genoa, Italy; and an April 21 sailing on MSC Opera from Dubai to Genoa.

Silversea has also canceled an upcoming voyage aboard Silver Moon from Dubai to Mumbai that was slated to depart on January 26. “Affected guests and their travel agents have been informed of the reprotection options,” Silversea told Traveler in an emailed statement. “The voyage between Mumbai and Singapore, scheduled between Feb 11 and Feb 29, is currently scheduled to proceed as planned. Our global security team continues to closely monitor the situation in the region and will make any additional changes if required.”

Additional tips for considering travel to the region

1. consider postponing instead of canceling.

The standard guidance in the travel industry, even in harrowing situations, is that postponing a trip is usually a better option than canceling, if you can swing it. That way, local workers and/or travel businesses don't completely lose out on travelers' support, particularly at a time of need. “We highly recommend postponing, or rebooking to another region, over canceling all together,” says Matt Berna, president The Americas for Intrepid Travel. "More than ever the world needs intrepid travelers. We want travelers to do and see incredible things, and for those experiences to have positive social and economic impacts on the host communities they visit.”

One benefit for travelers post-pandemic is that the majority of operators now offer flexible changes and postponements. “Since COVID-19, we have seen a trend towards rebooking flexibility in the travel industry,” says Christina Tunnah, general manager Americas for travel insurance provider World Nomads. “Many US-based airlines retained the credit and rebooking policies from the peak of COVID-19. If you booked with a tour provider, contact customer service to understand what kind of policies may apply in this type of situation.”

Some tour companies allow cancellations within a certain window or will give a voucher toward a future trip if you’d like to postpone. “Should a client feel uncomfortable about traveling, we will always do our best to offer a postponement,” says Morgan-Greenville of Red Savannah.

Jerry Sorkin , a travel specialist with Iconic Journeys Worldwide , says his company gives customers the option to reschedule and apply 100% of their funds toward a future tour to the same destination, up until 30 days before their trip. (Travelers who want to cancel their trip within 30 days of their departure will have to rely on travel insurance for refunds.) “If they did not take out travel insurance, they did so at their own risk and signed a document when booking with us that they had declined to take out travel insurance,” Sorkin says. These types of cancellation policies are standard throughout the industry, which makes understanding travel insurance policies all the more important.

2. Purchase travel insurance

“We always recommend purchasing travel insurance as soon as you invest in your flights, accommodations, and other travel costs,” says Tunnah. “All policies are different, so be sure the policy you select offers the coverage you are most concerned with, such as trip cancellation or trip interruption. And always be sure to read your policy details.” For instance, trip cancellations due to war, invasion, or hostilities between nations are generally excluded from travel insurance policies, but some may offer coverage for terrorist incidents that occur in your departure or destination city, according to Tunnah. (World Nomads’ travel insurance policies for US residents offer trip cancellation coverage in the event a terrorist incident occurs within 30 days of the scheduled departure date, for instance.)

3. Reference international sources during research and consider traveling with a local tour operator

If you decide to go ahead with your trip, there are still precautions to take, too, and ways to be as informed as possible. “I always advocate for travelers to research the areas visited, purchase travel insurance, and talk to insurance providers about coverage and emergency support options should a need arise,” says Dennis, the risk management expert. “Some travel insurance policies won't cover regions listed as a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) government rating, so it's important to verify exemptions prior to travel." Dennis also suggests traveling with a reputable, locally experienced operator: "These organizations typically have deep connections with the communities they visit and are responsible for making itinerary adjustments based on local circumstances.”

In your research, try to include international media sources for the most holistic picture of what’s happening in the area. “It's important to seek out information from multiple sources to find a balanced understanding of regional safety and security,” Dennis says. “This may include reviewing US, UK, Canadian, and even Australian State Department travel warnings, local embassy updates, and if available, gaining access to information from professional security organizations. Each resource may have slight variations of information depending on the audience they serve, so it's important to gather as many perspectives as possible for a balanced approach.”

4. Have an emergency plan

As a precaution, US tourists on international trips should always sign up for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive important safety alerts from the US embassy in the country they are visiting. Enrolling is free, only takes a few minutes, and will help the embassy contact you in the event of an emergency.

It’s also a good idea to make sure loved ones at home have key information about your travels. “Personally speaking, when I travel internationally, I always leave a copy of my itinerary, passport, and travel insurance policy with my family,” Dennis says. “I also make a check-in plan, so they know when to expect a call, text, or email.”

More than anything, making these difficult travel decisions is about building up a sense of personal intuition for what feels safe and enjoyable.

This article has been updated since its original publish date.

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Egypt Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 13, 2023, egypt - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Reconsider travel to Egypt due to  terrorism . Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to  the Embassy’s limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained.

Do not travel to:

• The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to  terrorism .
• The Western Desert due to  terrorism .
• Egyptian border areas due to  military zones .

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Egypt. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, and have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities. Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence. Terrorists have targeted religious sites, to include mosques, churches, monasteries, and buses traveling to these locations.

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Egypt, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit. Being near anti-government protests can draw scrutiny from Egyptian police and security forces. U.S. citizens have been detained for participating in protests and for posting content on social media perceived as critical of Egypt or its allies.

The U.S. Embassy may have a limited ability to provide consular services to dual U.S.-Egyptian citizens. Egyptian law considers dual citizens to be Egyptian citizens.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Egypt.

If you decide to travel to Egypt:  

• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Obtain comprehensive medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)   to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on   Facebook   and   Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report   for Egypt.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest   Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the   Traveler’s Checklist .

Sinai Peninsula – Level 4: Do Not Travel The Sinai Peninsula remains a particularly dangerous area, with frequent attacks on security forces and civilians.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens anywhere in the Sinai Peninsula as U.S. government employees are not authorized to travel to these areas (with the exception of the beach resort of Sharm El-Sheikh; travel to Sharm El-Sheikh is only permitted by air). Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

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• Section 10 - African Safaris
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CDC Yellow Book 2024

Author(s): Noha Farag

Destination Overview

Infectious disease risks, environmental hazards & risks, safety & security, availability & quality of medical care.

The Arab Republic of Egypt covers a land area of approximately 1 million km2, the same size as Texas and New Mexico combined; >95% of the country is desert. With an estimated 106 million people, Egypt accounts for one-fourth of the Arab world’s population. Egypt has long been considered the cradle of civilization and may be the oldest tourist destination on earth. Throughout the world, Egypt is synonymous with the legends of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids, treasure-laden tombs, and hieroglyphs. Travelers visit Egypt to see ancient monuments and timeless river vistas along the Nile Valley. Egypt possesses one-third of the world’s monuments and is considered “the Mother of the World” by Arabs.

A typical visit to Egypt includes arrival in the capital city of Cairo, one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East, with a population of approximately 22 million. Cairo today is a modern, cosmopolitan mix of Arab, African, and European influences. Travelers generally spend at least a few days in Cairo seeing the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (where the mummies are now housed), Pyramids at Giza, Citadel and Mosque of Al-Azhar, and Khan al-Khalili bazaar.

Most travelers include an Upper Nile River cruise as part of their itineraries (see Box 10-04 ). Egypt is a beach destination, with thousands of miles of Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlines. Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city, with 5.5 million people, is located on the Mediterranean Sea and has a string of beaches and seafood restaurants. The World War II battlefield of El-Alamein lies along the Mediterranean coast, and divers will find an array of sunken cities and wartime wrecks to explore offshore. For a truly relaxing beach vacation, travelers can visit one of the many resorts along the North Coast referred to as “Sahel.” The resorts offer a wide array of very private secluded beaches as well as beaches with an active night life scene.

Egypt’s Red Sea coast has reefs offshore, with diving and snorkeling traditionally centered in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. Edged by coral reefs and teeming with tropical fish, the Sinai Peninsula has excellent diving, snorkeling, and beaches; Sharm El Sheikh is the most developed and visited area of the Sinai. Visits to Mount Sinai (7,497 ft [2,285 m] above sea level) and Saint Catherine’s Monastery in the mountainous interior are popular destinations, especially with religious pilgrims. Adventure travelers favor desert jeep safaris and camel treks to remote oases and spectacular wadis . Travelers start in Cairo or Assyut and follow the “Great Desert Circuit” through four oases and the White Desert.

Map 10-15: Egypt

View Larger Figure

In addition to being up to date on routine vaccines, travelers to Egypt should obtain hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Detailed Egypt-specific travel advice can be found on the Egypt destination page .

Enteric Infections & Diseases

Hepatitis a.

Hepatitis A virus (see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 7, Hepatitis A ) is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water. Those who are fully vaccinated against hepatitis A have lower risk of infection. Instruct travelers to follow food and water safety precautions (see Sec. 2, Ch. 8, Food & Water Precautions ).

Travelers' Diarrhea

In most large international tourist hotels, the tap water is adequately chlorinated, but bottled water is generally provided for drinking. Tap water is not safe to drink outside of international tourist hotels because it might come from private water tanks not audited by the Ministry of Health. Eating thoroughly cooked meat and vegetables in tourist hotels, on Nile River cruise ships, and in tourist restaurants is generally safe. Eating raw or undercooked ground meat or shellfish should be avoided. As in many developing countries, the safety of uncooked vegetables and salads is questionable. The risk of travelers’ diarrhea in Egypt is high. Travelers affected by travelers’ diarrhea should hydrate to replace lost body fluids and minerals and use antimotility medications (e.g., loperamide). Clinicians could consider prescribing an antibiotic for travelers to Egypt to empirically self-treat travelers’ diarrhea (see Sec. 2, Ch. 6, Travelers’ Diarrhea ).

Respiratory Infections & Diseases

Coronavirus disease 2019.

All travelers going to Egypt should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines .

Sexually Transmitted Infections & HIV

Although the reported prevalence of HIV in Egypt is low, following standard precautions for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is always advised. Egypt has historically had an alarmingly high prevalence of hepatitis C. However, in 2014 Egypt launched an intensive national elimination campaign that has led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of hepatitis C.

Soil- & Waterborne Infections

Schistosomiasis.

Egypt implemented a campaign to eliminate Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium, which were endemic. Although Egypt has made significant progress towards eliminating schistosomiasis, travelers should avoid wading, swimming, or other contact with freshwater, including the Nile River and irrigation canals. Swimming in saline pools of desert oases, chlorinated swimming pools, the Mediterranean Sea, or the Red Sea does not pose a risk for acquiring schistosomiasis (see Sec. 5, Part 3, Ch. 20, Schistosomiasis ).

Vectorborne Diseases

Mosquitoes and other biting insects can be problematic for travelers. Avoiding insect bites will prevent local discomfort and irritation and reduce the risk of vectorborne diseases (see Sec. 4, Ch. 6, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Other Arthropods ). Consider vectorborne diseases in the differential diagnosis of travelers with fever returning from Egypt (see Sec. 11, Ch. 4, Fever in the Returned Traveler ).

Dengue & West Nile virus

Dengue (see see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 4, Dengue ) has been reported rarely in travelers who visited Egypt. Although some studies indicate that West Nile virus transmission is widely distributed, infections in returning travelers appear to be rare.

Isolated local transmission of malaria was last reported in Aswan Governorate in 2014. Although CDC does not recommend malaria prophylaxis for people going to Egypt, travelers should practice insect bite precautions.

Yellow Fever

There is no risk of yellow fever in Egypt. Egypt does, however, require travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for yellow fever virus transmission to provide proof of vaccination against this disease. For more details, seeSec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 26, Yellow Fever , Sec. 2, Ch. 5, Yellow Fever Vaccine & Malaria Prevention Information, by Country , and International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) .

Animal Bites & Rabies

As in most other low-income countries, rabies is endemic throughout Egypt. For most travelers on a package tour, the risk will be minimal. However, travelers should be aware there are large numbers of stray dogs and cats in urban and tourist areas and are thus advised to avoid contact with all animals, wild, feral, and domestic. Rabies vaccine is available in Egypt for preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis; human rabies immune globulin is also available (see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 18, Rabies ). Shark attacks are rare in the Red Sea; however, sporadic incidents have been reported, including two attacks in 2020 and two in 2022.

Climate & Sun Exposure

Temperature and weather conditions vary widely in Egypt. The desert is extremely hot in summer (>100°F; >38°C) and can be cold in winter (<32°F; <0°C). Thirst is a late indicator of dehydration, and travelers should drink fluids regularly in the heat (see Sec. 4, Ch. 1, Extremes of Temperature ). Because sweat evaporates immediately, people can become dehydrated without realizing it. Travelers who are elderly or take diuretic, anticholinergic, or neuroleptic medications are at increased risk of heat-associated illnesses. To stay cool and protect themselves from sun exposure, travelers should wear a hat and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, as well as use sunscreen.

Sandstorms occur sporadically in the desert. Desert sand, dust, and smog can cause eye irritation and exacerbate asthma or other lung disorders (see Sec. 4, Ch. 3, Air Quality & Ionizing Radiation ). Travelers who wear contact lenses should ensure to pack eyeglasses and contact lens care supplies.

The majority of criminal acts in Egypt are crimes of opportunity such as purse snatching and pickpocketing. Travelers should be alert to being overcharged for various services and for being victimized in scams common to tourist destinations worldwide. The Department of State advises against travel to Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of air travel to Sharm El Sheikh), the Western Desert, and border areas due to risk of terrorism. Military and police road checkpoints are common, and security services enforce official travel restrictions. Travelers should check the US Department of State Egypt International Travel Information for up-to-date information on travel restrictions and safety precautions before travel.

Traffic-Related Injuries

Traffic incidents are common in Egypt due to overcrowded roads and reckless driving. Travelers should wear seat belts at all times (see Sec. 8, Ch. 5, Road & Traffic Safety ). Pedestrians should be very careful because traffic rules are different in Egypt and pedestrians do not have right of way when in a crosswalk.

Hotels in Egypt are required by law to have an onsite clinic and resident physician. If further clinical care is required, the traveler would be referred to a hospital. Hospitals are available throughout the metropolitan areas. Most medications are available without a prescription; however, travelers should bring an adequate supply of any routine prescription medications (see Sec. 6, Ch. 3, . . . perspectives: Avoiding Poorly Regulated Medicines & Medical Products During Travel ).

Box 10-04. Nile River cruises

Nile River cruises are usually 3–7-day trips to Aswan and Luxor. Approximately 200 riverboats are based on the Nile, and the average boat accommodates 120 passengers. The largest boats accommodate upwards of 300 passengers; chartered yachts might have just a few cabins. Riverboats have a range of accommodations from basic to 5-star luxury, and nights aboard are generally spent cruising from one port to the next while enjoying the passing riverside scenes of ancient villages, minarets, traditional feluccas (small boats), and farmers in galabiyas (traditional dress worn by farmers).

When travelers disembark they can visit the High Dam and Philae Temple in Aswan or Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut Temple in Luxor. The temples of Edfu, Esna, and Kom Ombo are all a must-see.

Generally, the Nile is a slow, smooth river. The combination of diesel fuel, heat, and motion can, however, cause distress for travelers. Most travelers do not consider the possibility of motion sickness on a river, so they are unprepared. Onboard medical services vary greatly. Travelers who know that they are sensitive to motion should carry motion sickness medication (see Yellow Book chapter, Motion Sickness). It is also important to keep in mind that the living conditions on river cruises worldwide, not only in Egypt, could be associated with spread of highly infectious diseases. Examples of this were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when cruise ships served as foci for spread of the virus not only on the cruise ship but onward transmission globally.

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Ann M. Buff and Erik J. Reaves

Bibliography

Guagliardo, Sarah Anne J, et al. COVID-19 on the Nile: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of COVID-19 among Nile River Cruise Travellers Returning to the United States, February–March 2020. Journal of Travel Medicine, 29 Dec. 2022, 10.1093/jtm/taac153.

Hassanin a, Kamel S, Waked I, Fort M. Egypt’s ambitious strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus: a case study. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2021;9(1):187–200.

HIV, Global Hepatitis And Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes. Criteria for Validation of Elimination of Viral Hepatitis B and C: Report of 7 Country Pilots . 1 Sept. 2022, www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240055292.

Saifullin MA, Laritchev, VP, Grigorieva YE, Zvereva NN, Domkina AM, Saifullin RF, Bazarova MV, et al. Two cases of Dengue Fever imported from Egypt to Russsia, 2017. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2018; 24 (4): 813-814.

Selim A, Radwan A, Arnaout F. Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of West Nile virus in Egypt. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases. Vol 71; 2020, 101473.

Yameny AA. The evolving schistosomiasis agenda 2017–2020 in Egypt: moving from control toward final elimination. J Biosci Appl Res. 2017; 3(2);48–54.           

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The Partying Traveler

Survival of the littest, a guide to traveling in egypt during ramadan.

Ramadan is a very holy period for Muslims, and it can be confusing going into an Islamic country without knowing what to expect. Egypt is a majority Islamic country. The entire country observes Ramadan and whether you like it or not, it can affect your travels. How much it impacts your travels can depend on where you are, but no matter what, Ramadan is a very special time to be traveling in Egypt.

Traveling in Egypt during Ramadan can come with its challenges, but with an open mind and respect for the religion, it can also be a very rewarding and culturally immersive experience. Here’s everything you need to know beforehand.

Table of Contents

• When is Ramadan?
• What to Expect During Ramadan in Egypt
• Cultural Norms to Be Aware Of During Ramadan

The Pros of Visiting Egypt During Ramadan

The cons of visiting egypt during ramadan.

• Should You Observe Ramadan As A Traveler?

Will Ramadan Affect My Trip to Egypt?

Closing thoughts on spending ramadan in egypt.

And of course, it’s always important to have travel insurance handy when out adventuring the world. I use  SafetyWing  to keep me covered throughout my travels for as low as $45 a month, and their coverage includes Portugal among the 190+ countries that they cover.

When Is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it actually changes every year. Typically, Ramadan occurs about 10-12 days before the previous year’s Ramadan, so it is different each year. It starts and ends on a crescent moon, and can vary from country to country. I was in Egypt when Ramadan took place from March 22nd to April 20th, 2023. I arrived in Cairo right in the heart of Ramadan and spent the next few weeks traveling around the country during Ramadan and the following feast days of Eid. It’s amazing just how different the country is between the two periods.

I decided to partake in the religious tradition at least somewhat, having an early breakfast and then withholding on food until sunset came around. It wasn’t always by choice, but with limited options for food during the day, I decided to just wait until the restaurants opened up in the evening. For the most part, Ramadan is about community and reflection. Despite going through the motions, I didn’t get much out of it as I didn’t really have any stake in it as a non-Muslim. I didn’t get to look forward to iftar with my family, or gift-giving during Eid. Ramadan is much more than just fasting, and I can imagine it is a very special time of year for most Muslims.

What To Expect During Ramadan in Egypt

In some cities, you will feel the effects of Ramadan much more than others.

I stayed at a relatively local neighborhood in Cairo, and outside of the KFC and McDonalds, most restaurants were closed during the day. They would only open up at around 5 PM, an hour or so before sunset. At this point, they would mostly be preparing meals that were already pre-ordered by people earlier in the day. There will be massive lines in front of street food stalls and restaurants. Actually, line is a generous term for it. It’ll be a big crowd, and if you adhere to the custom of waiting in line, you will likely never make it to the front. If you want food, either wait for the line to subside or be aggressive.

In other parts of the country, Ramadan was a little more relaxed. This was especially true in places that relied heavily on tourism, such as Luxor and Aswan. Other places, like Dahab, with big communities of foreigners and digital nomads, one could ignore Ramadan entirely.

Cultural Norms for Ramadan

Egypt’s atmosphere during Ramadan is imbued with a strong sense of spirituality and reflection. Many Muslims will be engaged in acts of worship, charity, and self-discipline. The local communities often come together to share the spirit of compassion and generosity. It is crucial to be respectful of the cultural norms and religious traditions.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They start the day with a big meal and then withhold from eating, drinking, smoking, and other pleasures until the sun sets. Once the sun sets, everyone will break their fast with a meal known as iftar.

During the day, the streets will be relatively empty as most people snooze away or just take shelter from the blistering Egyptian midday sun. However, once everyone has finished their meals, the streets come to life. I’ve never seen more people in one place than at Khan el Khalili in Cairo after iftar. It was crazy. I walked over right before iftar, and found myself caught in a huge crowd where I barely even had to walk. I was pushed the entire way before escaping into a side street and catching people closing up shop so they could have their meals.

Many people will plop down on the streets or right in their shops as they eat. It was surreal to see the streets go from utter mayhem to just bizarrely empty. It felt like a scene from an apocalyptic movie. A massive city with a population of over 20 million with hardly a soul in sight. Catching a glimpse into the shops and seeing people eating was the only indicator that I was not alone. For about 30 minutes, everything was quiet and peaceful. Slowly, the streets came back to life as the reinvigorated faithful bounced back with a renewed energy.

The crowds returned in full force, and the streets of Khan el Khalili were alive once more.

To a lesser extent, the scene was similar in smaller cities like Luxor and Aswan. During the day, the streets were desolate, and you’d have a hard time finding an open restaurant that wasn’t a Western fast food chain. The best time to experience the true energy of a city was after iftar.

Egypt has a unique vibe during Ramadan especially at night. The shops are open throughout the night and the city really comes to life at this time. The mosques are lit up and the streets are decorated for Ramadan. There are also a few foods and desserts specific to Ramadan that are only offered during the month. Despite many restaurants being closed during the day, travelers can have the unique experience of sharing iftar meals with locals and savoring traditional Ramadan delicacies, sweets, and drinks after sunset. Sweets are a huge thing during Ramadan. If you have a sweet tooth, there is no better time to visit Egypt than during Ramadan. Night markets and food stalls come alive with a variety of delectable dishes and refreshing beverages.

It’s generally just a very festive time in general. Everyone seems to be happier and more generous, since good deeds are believed to be more meaningful during Ramadan. Even just roaming the streets of Cairo after iftar, I’d be handed drinks and food for free without expectation of anything in return. Sometimes, you’ll even get invited to break fast with a local family.

Giving and charity, as well as hospitality to travelers and foreigners, is a big thing in Islamic countries, and I’ve felt this in many of the Islamic countries I’ve visited. In Egypt, it was harder to distinguish who was genuine and who had ulterior motives, so I generally grew a bit more suspicious of hidden agendas and unfortunately ended up turning down offers that seemed to good to be true. I’m sure many of them were genuine and meant well, but I had one too many experiences where I was offered something for free and then harassed to pay at the end. Just try to use your best judgment. If you have local friends in Cairo, it can be extremely helpful.

The main thing that affects travelers during Ramadan are the changing hours of museums and temples, and of course, the fasting. Restaurants will be closed during the day, so if you do want to eat, your choices are very limited. Your best bet would be to grab some unhealthy snacks from a supermarket and munch away on them in secret.

This didn’t bother me too much, but if food is a big part of your travels, then you might have a tougher time. Alcohol and nightlife will also be more limited during this time, but I wasn’t particularly planning on visiting Egypt as a party destination, so this didn’t make much of a difference to me either.

Some businesses and attractions may also have altered operating hours, with some places opening later in the day and remaining open late into the night. Planning activities accordingly can ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience. Visit the tourist spots like museums and historical sites during the day and then save the bazaars, markets, and city strolls for late at night. Keep in mind, though, that many of these markets and bazaars will be ultra-packed with locals. It makes for a lively atmosphere, but dang, I did think I was going to get squashed in a crowd surge a few times.

Should You Observe Ramadan as a Traveler?

Foreigners are not expected to observe Ramadan in Egypt. However, it is respectful to avoid eating, drinking, and smoking in front of those who are observing it. You’ll see it even in the few restaurants that are open. They’ll black out the windows during the day so that Muslims passersby do not see people eating and drinking. I am not a Muslim, but in general, I always try to respect the cultural and religious norms of the countries that I visit. I arrived in Egypt at 8 AM after not having slept for 30 hours, and subsequently passed out until 9 PM. It was my first day in Egypt and it fell right in the middle of Ramadan. I figured, why not? Egypt was a new country for me, and the best way to immerse oneself in a country is by observing their customs and traditions. I already accidentally fasted for one day, so why not tough it out for the next two weeks?

Spoiler alert, I did not last two weeks, and even on the days where I did not eat, I drank water throughout the day which is also forbidden during Ramadan.

I mean, think about it. It’s over 100 degrees out, you’re in the desert, and your local guide and driver are partaking in Ramadan. It’s a bit cruel to down a liter of cold, refreshing water right in front of them, no? Most Egyptians working in the travel and tourism industry won’t mind, and will happily offer you drinks and refreshments throughout your tour. However, this is not always the case when you’re staying in more conservative neighborhoods. I’ve had people chastise me for taking a drink, sarcastically saying “Ramadan Kareem” as I took a sip of soda.

I’d say just use your best judgment. I didn’t think it would be an issue as we were at the entrance of a temple and had just passed a dozen mini markets where everyone was trying to sell tourists cold drinks. I withheld from eating or drinking when I was around locals, and if I was in a restaurant around iftar, I would wait for the locals to start eating before taking a bite of my own meal.

Respect is a big thing in Egypt, and I think that following or even just attempting to follow some of their customs and traditions will go a long way.

In short, no. Egypt relies heavily on tourism, so if you have any concerns that the pyramids or temples will be closed during Ramadan, don’t worry. Some places will have strange hours, usually closing down for an hour or two around iftar so that the workers can eat. Some scammers will take advantage of the confusion surrounding Ramadan by trying to convince you that certain attractions are closed because of Ramadan and try to redirect you elsewhere so they can get you to hop in their taxi or horse carriage.

Don’t listen to them, and see for yourself. The more they harass you, the more likely it is they’re lying. I fell victim to this at the pyramids where I was told over and over again that they would close at 3 PM because of Ramadan.

Most tourists that visit Egypt tend to stay in hotels that cater to Westerners. You won’t have to worry about starving if you’re staying at the Ritz Carlton. For my fellow backpackers, the same kind of goes for hostels. They’ll usually offer you breakfast, meaning that you can have a meal in the morning to tide you over during the day. No one at the hostel will chastise you for smoking or eating.

For a certain type of traveler, Ramadan might not affect them at all. It’s easy to avoid this custom if you frequent hotels and restaurants catering to tourists. Up to 20% of Egypt’s population are coptic Christians as well, so there are communities and neighborhoods where Ramadan might not even be observed.

Again, just use your best judgment. If you’re walking through a local market in the middle of the day, avoid taking that sip of water until you’re out of view. Someone offers you a cold hibiscus tea during one of your tour stops? Drink away.

It was a challenge, I will admit. Spending the first week in Cairo in a non-touristic neighborhood was a learning experience. I had to call my Egyptian friend just to get a few pointers and a run down of what to expect for Ramadan in Cairo. Some days, I would simply be counting down the minutes until I could eat, and even when I could, I’d be waiting in long lines to find food. I ended up getting into the routine of inhaling a can of Pringles while waiting for the lines to die down and then going on the prowl for a late night meal.

It was amazing to see a country so united in their devotion, and one could truly feel the energy shift from the late afternoon to the early evening.

Visiting Egypt during Ramadan can be hit or miss depending on your travel style and interests. After a few days, you get used to the routine, and whether you’re fasting or not, it can still find ways to dictate your day.

Overall, I don’t think Ramadan impacted my travels in Egypt as much as I thought it would. One can fully adhere to the tradition and immerse themself in the culture. Likewise, one can continue traveling normally without it affecting their travels at all. This is especially true in tourist hotspots like Luxor, Giza, Aswan, and Dahab.

As Ramadan comes to a close, things start to get really lively. You’ll hear fireworks go off throughout the day, and more frequently after the sun sets. Even in the small towns, you’ll here loud pops and booms go off through the night. Egypt is a loud country in general, and during Eid, it gets even crazier.

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2 places named Nineveh, not 7, in path of totality for April 8 eclipse | Fact check

The claim: Eclipse crosses seven cities named Ninevah, crosses 2017 eclipse path in 'Little Egypt, Illinois’

A March 29 Facebook post ( direct link , archive link ) shows a map of the U.S. with the paths of totality for the total solar eclipses in 2017 and 2024 and the annular eclipse in 2023.

“Not only does the solar eclipse April 8th go thru 7 cities called NINEVAH, it crosses the one from 2017 in a town called LITTLE EGYPT, IL (sic),” reads part of the post's caption, which goes on to make the case that those locations show a biblical connection to the eclipse event.

The post was shared more than 1,800 times in a week.

Fact check roundup :  Total solar eclipse sparks many misleading flat Earth claims online. Here's what's true and false

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: Partly false

This attempt to link the eclipse to biblical locations whiffs on the details. There are two Ninevehs, not seven, inside the April 8 eclipse's path of totality that is shown in the post. The other five Ninevahs will just see a partial eclipse, like nearly all of the continental U.S. The eclipse paths do cross in “Little Egypt,” but that's a large region, not a town.

Two Ninevehs lie in April 8 path of totality; no Illinois town named 'Little Egypt'

The first total solar eclipse to pass over the U.S. since 2017 takes place April 8 . Its path of totality – where the sun will be completely blocked as the moon moves between it and Earth – crosses 13 states from Texas t o Maine .

Fact check : A 'sex magic ritual'? No, NASA rockets are to study atmosphere during eclipse

The image shown in the post is a clear reference to the April 8 path of totality – with a thin yellow line marking the 115-mile-wide swath – along with totality paths from two past ecl ipses .

The Eclipse2024.org website lists municipalities that will experience the total solar eclipse and includes seven places across the U.S. named “Nineveh.” But only two fall in the path of totality: Nineveh, Indiana , and Nineveh, Ohio . Five others – in New York , Virginia , Pennsylvania , Texas and Kentucky – will see a partial eclipse.

Four more Ninevahs are not listed on the eclipse site but do appear on the National Weather Service's list , with two in Missouri , and one in Pennsylvania and New York . None are in the totality path, a searchable U.S. eclipse map published by the NWS in Texas shows.

The post also wrongly claims the April 8 path of totality intersects with the one from the 2017 total solar eclipse in a town named Little Egypt, Illinois. There is no such town. Rather, “Little Egypt” is the nickname for a section of Illinois that includes Carbondale and its surrounding area . Its definition has ranged from the southern half of the state to a group of fewer than 20 counties, according to Mississippi Valley Traveler .

The 2017 and 2024 totality paths cross in an area that spans parts of Missouri and Kentucky, as well as portions of the "Little Egypt" region in Illinois, according to nationaleclipse.com .

The April 8 eclipse has spawned a significant amount of misinformation online. Among the claims USA TODAY has debunked are assertions that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard had never before been mobilized for a solar eclipse and that the Earth, moon and sun are not scheduled to be aligned that day .

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post but did not immediately receive a response.

Lead Stories also debunked a version of the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

• National Weather Service (Internet Archive), accessed April 5, NWS List of Ninevehs
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, Eclipse Community Page for Nineveh, Indiana
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, The 2024 eclipse in Nineveh, Ohio, USA
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, The 2024 eclipse in Nineveh, New York, USA
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, The 2024 eclipse in Nineveh, Virginia, USA
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, The 2024 eclipse in Nineveh, Texas, USA
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, The 2024 eclipse in Nineveh, Pennsylvania, USA
• Eclipse2024, accessed April 5, The 2024 eclipse in Nineveh, Kentucky, USA
• National Weather Service (Internet Archive), accessed April 5, Nineveh MO Adair Co
• National Weather Service (Internet Archive), accessed April 5, Nineveh MO Lincoln Co
• National Weather Service (Internet Archive), accessed April 5, Nineveh PA Greene Co
• National Weather Service (Internet Archive), accessed April 5, Nineveh Junction NY
• Mississippi Valley Traveler, Dec. 8, 2018, Illinois’ Little Egypt
• Carbondale, Illinois, accessed April 5, Meet Our Town
• National Eclipse, accessed April 5, Eclipse Maps
• CBS News, April 5, NASA estimates 99 percent of Americans will see the sun covered, at least partially, during Monday's

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .

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See these 6 architectural wonders before they disappear

The world’s endangered marvels include Italy’s other leaning tower, Egypt’s looted temples, and Australia’s decaying petroglyphs. 

Due to shifting ground and an unsteady foundation, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been tilting since its construction in 1173. But thanks to a system of jumbo pylons and heavy duty steel cables, this UNESCO World Heritage site has been shored up and straightened up (a little) in recent decades.  

Now, the same tools engineers used at Pisa are being employed to prevent Italy ’s other slanting wonder, the 157-foot-tall Torre Garisenda, from becoming the Toppling Tower of Bologna.  

Garisenda, one of two 12th-century towers looming above Bologna’s picturesque Old Town, was born off balance, says Tomaso Trombetti , a professor of structural engineering at the University of Bologna. During construction of the brick torre , one side of its foundation settled more quickly than the other. This created a tilt that’s gradually worsened to four degrees, which is now “dangerous,” says Trombetti. (Bologna’s other tower, the Asinelli, is 319 feet tall, and does not significantly lean.)

The pylons from the 1993-2001 restoration at Pisa will be anchored to the subsoil around the Torre Garisenda, says Guido Gottardi, professor of geotechnical engineering at the University of Bologna. “They are essentially a passive countermeasure, able to safely hold the tower while strengthening and restoration interventions are being carried out on its basement and masonry structure.” Fundraising efforts to rehab both fragile towers are also currently underway.

The tower is one of many vulnerable historic structures that need human intervention to keep them from ruin. Beyond the ravages of time, such sites are being degraded by looting, overtourism, industrialization, and climate change. Here are five more endangered marvels which conservationists are trying to save.

Hurst Castle, Hampshire, England

King Henry VIII built Hurst Castle in 1544 on a spit of land along the Hampshire coast. The stone fortifications were meant to defend England from European invaders. But no human foe has been as persistent as the sea, which constantly laps and slaps the fort. Savage storms, rising sea levels, and constant beating waves eventually undercut the castle’s foundation, causing the structure’s eastern battery to partially collapse in 2021 .

In the years since the collapse, some 22,000 tons of rock and shingle have been added to reinforce the castle . “ Terrestrial laser scanning was used to create 3D digital models, which helped us appraise the best methods and practices [for] the restoration,” says Ron Blakeley, national project manager for English Heritage , which co-manages the complex. From April to early November, travelers can take a short boat ride to the site to explore its arsenal and gun tower.

Abydos, Egypt

In a parched valley 260 miles south of Cairo , Abydos is a sprawling temple and necropolis where many early ancient Egyptian pharaohs were buried. Building began here as far back as 5,900 years ago. Today visitors can wander amid the site’s stone columned halls, see fine wall carvings honoring Pharaoh Seti I, and peek at the Osireion, a subterranean stone structure that may have been erected to honor Osiris, the ancient Egyptian god of death.

But looters have degraded the site, stealing treasures in ancient times and continuing to illegally unearth artifacts here in recent years. Now Abydos is one of the country’s most guarded—and least trafficked—archaeological sites. “The high security and lack of visitor amenities contribute to the low level of visitation [at Abydos],” says Johnathan S. Bell, the vice president of programs at the World Monument Fund (WMF), an NGO which safeguards cultural heritage.

To halt the complex’s decline, the Egyptian government, the WMF, and other agencies have launched several conservation projects. They include painstaking cleaning of colorful wall friezes and installing steel anchors to reinforce weakened points of the Osireion.

( Learn about breathtaking natural wonders that no longer exist .)

Murujuga, Western Australia

Few museums exhibit as many artworks as Murujuga , a rugged landscape in Western Australia where Aboriginal peoples etched over a million petroglyphs into the rocks over thousands of years. Travel to this open air gallery, 780 miles north of Perth, and you can hike past carvings of wallabies, kangaroos, and Indigenous symbols.  

But mining and other industrialization is damaging the world’s largest rock art site on the isolated Burrup Peninsula. Scientists warn that Murujuga may not survive another century of rising pollution.

In February 2024, Murujuga’s Indigenous traditional owners celebrated two wins in their fight to preserve this site. About 627 acres earmarked for development were instead added to the protected Murujuga National Park by the government of Western Australia.  

The government also announced a new policy, hailed as a landmark by Indigenous groups, giving these communities greater influence over the site’s management. Those Aboriginal peoples are leading a bid to see Murujuga named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Teotihuacan, Mexico

Thirty miles north of Mexico City , more than a million travelers a year visit the ruins of Teotihuacan . Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D. by an unknown civilization, the 9,000-acre site was the largest metropolis in the Western Hemisphere a thousand years ago.

Known for impressive stone structures including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, Teotihuacan suffers from overtourism. Its buildings are decaying due to weather damage and poorly executed 1900s restorations. And the World Monument Fund warns that informal structures now fringe the site, occupying land that may brim with archaeological material.

Efforts to conserve Quetzalcoatl have already happened , including drainage improvements, filling of structural cracks, and the removal of corrosive salt that layered its facade. Now the WMF and other groups are pushing for deeper community involvement in a sustainable tourism strategy.

Osterman Gas Station, Arizona

Historic landmarks aren’t just grand castles or medieval towers. The 1920s Osterman Gas Station , in the tiny Arizona town of Peach Springs, was long treasured by its community and appreciated by travelers on Route 66. Built from a brick block kit from Sears department store, the building was particularly significant to the local Hualapai people, since many members of the Indigenous group worked at the station or gathered there with friends and relatives.

Located 40 miles south of Grand Canyon Skywalk , the gas station is so beloved by the Hualapai that, when it closed in 2005, the group bought the building. Now they’re restoring it with help from the National Trust for Historic Preservation , an NGO that protects heritage sites across the United States.

“The collapsed wall has been rebuilt and a new roof is currently being installed,” says Amy Webb, senior director of preservation at the National Trust. The Hualapai plan to use the building as a museum, arts center, coffee shop, and EV charging station.

( How to preserve a historic hotel—and why these iconic spots matter .)

Related Topics

• WORLD HERITAGE SITES
• PETROGLYPHS
• ARCHITECTURE
• ARCHAEOLOGY
• HISTORIC SITES
• HISTORIC PRESERVATION

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