By settingحسب المكان
| Red Sea resorts | Normal beachwear inside the resort, including swimsuits by the pool and beach. Cover up walking through the lobby; topless sunbathing is not acceptable. |
|---|---|
| Cairo, Luxor, Aswan | Shoulders and knees covered for both men and women is the comfortable default. Loose long sleeves and long trousers or skirts also beat shorts in the sun. |
| Mosques | Long sleeves, long legs, shoes off, and a headscarf for women. Some major mosques lend robes. |
| Churches and monasteries | Similar modesty expectations; St Catherine's is strict. |
| Archaeological sites | Whatever covers you from the sun. There is almost no shade anywhere. |
| Nile cruise boats | Resort-casual on board; cover up for shore visits. |
By seasonحسب الموسم
October to April — warm days and genuinely cold mornings and nights, especially on a cruise deck or at Luxor before sunrise. Layers, plus a real jacket for December and January.
May to September — loose, light, long. Covered skin in 40°C is cooler than bare skin in direct sun. A wide-brimmed hat matters more than sunglasses.
Year-round: the desert dust gets into everything, so dark or patterned fabrics forgive more than white linen does.
Packing listقائمة الأمتعة
- Closed walking shoes with grip — temple stone is uneven and tomb ramps are slippery.
- Wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses.
- A scarf or pashmina — mosque cover, sun cover, cold cruise deck, dusty bus.
- Refillable filter water bottle.
- Layers for winter mornings and air-conditioned interiors.
- A small torch is unnecessary — tombs are lit — but a power bank is not.
- Modest swimwear if you'll use hotel pools outside a resort setting.
- Small notes for tipping, kept separately.
Common questionsأسئلة شائعة
Do women have to cover their hair in Egypt?
Not in general, and not in the street. A headscarf is required inside mosques, and many women carry one for that purpose and for sun.
Can you wear shorts in Egypt?
Legally yes, and normally in resorts. In cities and at religious sites, longer clothing attracts far less attention and is more comfortable in the heat. Men wearing shorts in the street is less common than in Europe.
What should I wear to visit the pyramids?
Covered, loose, light clothing, a hat and closed walking shoes. The plateau is entirely unshaded and the sand is hard walking in sandals.
Can you wear a bikini in Egypt?
At Red Sea resorts and hotel pools, yes. On public beaches outside resort areas, Egyptian women typically swim covered, and visitors are more comfortable following suit.