Egypt Travel Tips: Money, Safety, Etiquette & Scams to Avoid

Egypt is warmer, safer and easier to travel than its reputation suggests — but a handful of specific habits save first-timers real money and hassle. Almost all the friction comes down to four things: cash logistics, tipping, ride apps, and a few well-worn scams. Get those right and the rest is smooth. This is the practical, in-the-weeds companion to our broader Egypt for first-time visitors orientation.

The five that matter most: buy a visa on arrival for 30 USD (up from 25 in March 2026) or an e-visa in advance; use Uber or Careem, never street taxis; carry small EGP notes for constant tipping; drink only bottled water; and dress to cover shoulders and knees away from the resorts.

Money: cash, cards and the small-note problem

The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP), trading around 48–50 to the US dollar in 2026. Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants, but you need cash for markets, taxis, small cafés, entry tips and everything informal. Withdraw from bank ATMs (not the standalone machines in tourist zones, which gouge on fees), take smaller amounts more often, and — this is the real trick — ask for smaller denominations. Breaking a 200-EGP note is a daily struggle, and "no change" is a common soft way to keep yours. Carry some US dollars in cash too, since the visa fee and some tour deposits are quoted in USD.

Tipping (baksheesh): structural, not optional

Tipping isn't a courtesy in Egypt, it's part of how the economy works, and a fistful of small notes is your most useful tool. Keep 5, 10 and 20-EGP notes accessible for porters, restroom attendants, the man who steadies your camel, and anyone who helps. Rough current norms:

Who	Customary tip
Restaurant (if no service charge)	10–15% of the bill
Café / street food	Round up, or 10–20 EGP
Hotel porter	20–40 EGP per bag
Restroom attendant	5–10 EGP
Private guide	~10–15 USD per person, per day
Day driver	~5–15 USD for the day
Felucca captain	~3–5 USD per trip
Nile cruise crew (pooled)	~5–8 USD per person, per day

Guides and drivers are usually tipped in USD or EUR; daily small change is EGP. It adds up to less than you fear and smooths nearly every interaction.

Getting around

In Cairo, Alexandria and other cities, Uber and Careem show a fixed fare up front and cut out the haggling entirely — street taxis rarely use the meter and quote tourists two or three times the going rate. For intercity travel, one-hour domestic flights on EgyptAir link Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada cheaply and are the fastest way to cover the distances; overnight sleeper trains run the Cairo–Luxor–Aswan corridor and save you a hotel night. Agree any non-app fare, including camel and horse rides, in full before you get in or on. In Luxor and Aswan, where ride apps are patchy, agree a half-day or full-day rate with a driver rather than paying per hop — it's cheaper and removes a dozen small negotiations. Nile cities are compact enough that a felucca or a short walk often beats a car anyway.

Bargaining without the stress

Haggling is expected in markets like Khan el-Khalili, but not in fixed-price shops, supermarkets or restaurants. When you do bargain, open around half the first price, keep it friendly, and be ready to walk — that walk usually drops the number fast. One rule: don't start negotiating unless you actually intend to buy. Because ride apps handle fares, the bazaar is really the only place you need this skill, which takes most of the daily friction off the table.

Etiquette and dress

Egypt is conservative outside the beach resorts, and you'll be both more comfortable and better received in loose, lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Mosques require it, and women should carry a scarf to cover their hair at religious sites. Inside Red Sea resorts, normal swimwear is fine. Ask before photographing people, and never photograph military sites, bridges or checkpoints — this is taken seriously. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight out of courtesy. A few words go a long way: shukran (thanks), aiwa (yes), la, shukran (no thanks). Our packing list for Egypt covers exactly what to bring.

Staying safe

Tourist areas are heavily policed and most visits pass without incident — read is Egypt safe? for the full picture, and solo female travel in Egypt if it applies. Apply normal city sense: mind your bag in crowds, agree every price before the service starts, and stick to ride apps. Women can expect some low-level attention; dressing modestly, projecting confidence, and a firm la, shukran defuse almost all of it.

The scams to know (they're the same five)

None of these are dangerous, and knowing them makes them harmless:

1. The "free" gift. Something is pressed into your hand — a bracelet, a headscarf, a "welcome" — then payment is demanded. Don't accept anything handed to you unasked.
2. The inflated ride. A camel or horse ride quoted cheap, then jacked up once you're mounted, with a separate charge to get down. Agree the total and the return before you climb on.
3. "The site is closed — come to my shop." Almost always false. Verify at the official gate, not with the friendly stranger outside it.
4. The "broken" meter. A taxi whose meter mysteriously fails. Use Uber or Careem instead.
5. The unsolicited "guide." Someone attaches themselves at a site, narrates unasked, then demands a fee. A polite, early "no thank you" saves the awkwardness.

Food, water and health

Tap water isn't for drinking — buy sealed bottles and use them for brushing teeth too. Street food like koshari and fresh juice is a genuine highlight, but ease in and favour busy stalls with high turnover. Pack rehydration salts and a stomach remedy; travellers' upsets are common and usually mild. Egyptian food leans on bread, beans and grilled meat, and vegetarians manage well. Alcohol is available in hotels, resorts and licensed bars, but not most local restaurants.

Connectivity and useful apps

Buy a Vodafone, Orange or Etisalat SIM at the airport with your passport — expect 200–400 EGP for a generous tourist data package, and have staff set it up before you leave the counter. Vodafone has the widest coverage. An eSIM bought before you fly works too and skips the queue. Once online, four apps carry most of the trip: Uber and Careem for rides, Google Maps with an offline area downloaded for when signal drops at the big sites, and Google Translate with the Arabic pack downloaded for menus and directions. WhatsApp is how nearly everyone communicates, including guides, drivers and hotels, so expect to arrange things through it.

Health, insurance and the small stuff

Get travel insurance that covers medical care and, if you're diving the Red Sea, scuba specifically — many standard policies exclude it. Pharmacies are excellent, well-stocked and cheap, and pharmacists often speak English and will advise on minor ailments, so you rarely need a doctor for small things. Carry hand sanitiser and tissues, since public toilets frequently lack both. If a site or restroom has an attendant, a 5–10 EGP note is the norm. Keep a photo of your passport on your phone and a paper photocopy separate from the original.

Odds and ends

Egypt runs 220V on European-style two-pin plugs, so bring an adapter. Business hours run late — shops and restaurants stay open into the evening, and Friday is the quiet day, with many government offices and some businesses closed. Keep expectations calibrated: Egyptians are famously hospitable, the frictions above are minor and predictable, and they fade fast against the sights. When you're ready to build the trip, start from our full experience catalogue.