Money, cards and tippingالنقود والبطاقات والبقشيش
The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, often written LE). ATMs are widespread in cities and resorts and are the usual way to get cash; cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants, museums and organised tours, and are useless in markets, small cafés, taxis and for tips.
Carry a working supply of small notes. Tipping — baksheesh — runs through daily life: hotel staff, drivers, the man who opens a tomb gate, the attendant in a washroom. It is not a scam, it is how a large part of the service economy is paid. Decide a comfortable daily amount, keep it in a separate pocket, and stop worrying about each individual instance.
Getting aroundالتنقل
| Domestic flights | EgyptAir and low-cost carriers link Cairo with Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Alexandria. Cheap, quick, and the default for long hops. |
|---|---|
| Trains | Cairo to Luxor and Aswan runs overnight and by day, including a sleeper service. Comfortable at the top end, slow and much cheaper below it. |
| Taxis and apps | Ride-hailing apps work well in Cairo, Alexandria and some resort towns, and remove the fare argument entirely. In street taxis, agree the fare first. |
| Cairo metro | Fast, very cheap and useful for the downtown corridor. There are women-only carriages. |
| Private car and driver | Common, inexpensive by international standards, and the easiest way to handle multi-site days around Cairo or Luxor. |
| Buses | Go Bus and similar run long-distance routes including Cairo to Hurghada and Sharm — long, cheap and fine. |
Dress, customs and behaviourاللباس والعادات
Egypt is a conservative, majority-Muslim country with a large Christian minority, and standards vary enormously between a Red Sea resort, a Cairo neighbourhood and a village in Upper Egypt. Outside resorts, both men and women are more comfortable with shoulders and knees covered — loose cotton, long sleeves and long skirts or trousers also handle the sun better than shorts. Women should carry a scarf for mosque visits, where head covering is required and shoes come off.
Public displays of affection attract attention. Photographing people needs a moment's permission first, and military installations, bridges and airports should not be photographed at all. Alcohol is available in hotels, licensed restaurants and bars, and is not part of public life.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public in daylight is unwelcome even for visitors; resorts and tourist restaurants continue as normal.
Health, water and connectivityالصحة والمياه والاتصال
- Water — drink bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth in places where the supply is unfamiliar. Refillable bottles with a filter work well and cut plastic waste.
- Food — busy, high-turnover places are the safest bet. Take the usual care with raw salads, unpeeled fruit and ice outside good hotels; street food in Cairo is excellent and worth eating where the queue is long.
- Sun and heat — there is no shade at most archaeological sites. Hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and far more water than you think.
- Pharmacies — widespread, well stocked and used to travellers' complaints. Bring your own prescription medication with documentation.
- SIM cards — Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat and WE sell tourist data packages at airports and in town for very little; an eSIM bought before travel also works. You will need your passport to register a physical SIM.
- Insurance — take travel insurance that covers diving if you intend to dive, and check whether it covers the pyramid interiors and quad excursions.
Common questionsأسئلة شائعة
Can you use credit cards in Egypt?
In hotels, larger restaurants, museums, airlines and organised tours, yes. Markets, taxis, small cafés and all tipping need cash, so withdraw regularly and keep small notes.
Is tap water safe to drink in Egypt?
It is chlorinated but not recommended for visitors. Use bottled or filtered water, and be careful with ice outside established hotels and restaurants.
What should women wear in Egypt?
In resorts, normal beachwear is fine within the resort. Elsewhere, covering shoulders and knees draws far less attention and is more comfortable in the heat. A scarf is needed for mosques.
Is Uber available in Egypt?
Ride-hailing apps operate in Cairo, Alexandria and some other cities, and are the simplest way to avoid fare negotiation. Coverage in smaller towns and resort areas is patchy.