Egypt
Last checked:
- Capital
- Cairo
- Currency
- EGP · Egyptian pound
- Languages
- Arabic (Egyptian Arabic)
- Plugs
- Type C, F · 220 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx · Giza
The last surviving wonder of the ancient world, at the edge of Cairo.
- Grand Egyptian Museum · Giza
Huge new museum near the pyramids housing the Tutankhamun collection.
- Karnak and Luxor temples · Luxor
Vast temple complexes on the east bank of the Nile.
- Valley of the Kings · Luxor (West Bank)
Painted royal tombs of the New Kingdom pharaohs.
- Abu Simbel · Aswan region
Ramses II's rock-cut temples, moved to save them from Lake Nasser.
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Works in Cairo, Alexandria and other big cities with an upfront price. Usually the easiest way for visitors to avoid taxi haggling. Cash or card.
Ride-hailing app
Careem
Popular alternative to Uber in Cairo and Alexandria; may need an Egyptian phone number (varies).
Ride-hailing app
inDrive
You propose a fare and drivers accept or counter. Often cheapest, but agree clearly before the trip.
Taxi
White taxis
Cairo's white taxis have meters but drivers often do not use them with tourists. Agree the fare before getting in or insist on the meter, and sit in the back.
Public transport
Cairo Metro
Three lines, very cheap, fares by distance. The first carriages are women-only. Crowded at rush hour.
Trains
Egyptian National Railways
Trains link Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan, including overnight sleeper trains. Foreigners often pay higher fares on some trains (varies).
Ferries
Nile cruises and feluccas
Multi-day cruises between Luxor and Aswan; short felucca sailing trips are agreed by price in advance.
Money and cash
Currency: EGP · Egyptian pound
Cash is still king for small purchases, taxis, markets and tips (baksheesh), so carry plenty of small notes (5, 10, 20, 50 EGP), which are often hard to get. Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants. Major sites like the Giza pyramids and museums increasingly take cards only (varies). Use bank ATMs and count change carefully.
Tipping
Tipping (baksheesh) is a big part of daily life in Egypt and is expected for many small services: toilet attendants, porters, guards who open tombs, drivers and guides. Many restaurants add a 12% service charge plus 14% VAT to the bill; a small extra tip for the waiter is still customary.
| Restaurants | If a 12% service charge is on the bill, leave about 5-10% extra in cash for the waiter in tourist restaurants (varies). In local cheap eateries, round up or leave small change. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Small change or a few pounds for table service at cafes (ahwa). |
| Taxis and ride apps | Rounding up the agreed fare is common; no extra tip for app rides unless service was good. |
| Hotels | Small notes for porters per bag and for housekeeping daily are customary (varies by hotel level). |
| Tours and guides | Guides and drivers expect tips, often given per day; Nile cruise crews usually share a collective tip at the end (varies). |
| Food delivery | A few pounds or rounding up is customary. |
Service charge: what’s true
Many sit-down restaurants and cafes add a 12% service charge and 14% VAT, shown as separate lines at the bottom of the bill. Menus may state prices are subject to these taxes. Visitors and guides widely report that the service charge does not reliably reach the waiter (varies), which is why a small separate cash tip is still the custom. Pay only what the menu stated; ask if unclear.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Baksheesh requests are common for any small 'help': taking your photo, showing you a 'better' view, pointing the way, or letting you into a closed tomb area. Camel and horse handlers at Giza may demand much more than agreed at the end of the ride. Only tip people you asked for a service, agree prices before any ride, keep small notes ready, and say 'La, shukran' (no, thanks) with a smile and walk on.
Useful phrases
- الحساب لو سمحت (el-hesab law samaht) The bill, please.
- الخدمة محسوبة؟ (el-khedma mahsooba?) Is service included?
- لا، شكرا (la, shukran) No, thank you.
Etiquette
- Dress modestly outside beach resorts: shoulders and knees covered; women may want a scarf for mosques.
- Remove shoes before entering a mosque; non-Muslims should avoid prayer times.
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daytime.
- Use your right hand to eat, give and receive.
- Bargaining is expected in markets, for felucca rides and with taxis; settle prices before the service.
- Avoid public displays of affection.
- Do not photograph military sites, police or government buildings.
Scams and how to handle them
Camel and horse ride overcharge
Where: Giza pyramids
How it works: Handlers agree a low price, then demand far more to bring you back, or claim the price was per person or per minute.
How to avoid it: Agree total price, duration and number of people before mounting, pay at the end only what was agreed, or skip rides.
'It's closed' or fake entrance
Where: Giza, museums, mosques
How it works: Men posing as officials say the site or entrance is closed and lead you to another 'entrance', a stable or a shop.
How to avoid it: Go straight to the official ticket office and ignore people who approach you.
Papyrus and perfume shop steering
Where: Cairo, Giza, Luxor
How it works: Drivers or 'friendly' locals take you to shops where they earn commission; fake papyrus made of banana leaf or overpriced perfume is sold.
How to avoid it: Choose shops yourself, compare prices and decline unplanned shop stops on tours.
Unsolicited help for baksheesh
Where: Tombs, temples, photo spots
How it works: Guards or locals offer to take photos, show hidden areas or explain carvings, then demand a tip.
How to avoid it: Decline help you did not ask for; carry small notes if you choose to accept.
Taxi fare disputes
Where: Cairo, Luxor, airports
How it works: Meters not used, fare changed at the end, or drivers claim no change for large notes.
How to avoid it: Use Uber or Careem, or agree fare first and carry small notes.
Friendly local invitation
Where: Cairo downtown, Luxor
How it works: A friendly stranger chats, invites you for tea or to a relative's shop or wedding, leading to high-pressure selling.
How to avoid it: Politely decline invitations from strangers on the street.
Felucca and carriage price switch
Where: Luxor and Aswan
How it works: Price is agreed in pounds and later claimed to be in euros or dollars, or per person.
How to avoid it: Confirm currency, total price and duration out loud before starting.
Safety
- Governments advise against travel to some parts of Egypt (border areas and parts of North Sinai) and the risk picture changes; check your government's latest advice (varies).
- Overall crime against tourists is low but touts and petty scams are very common at major sites.
- Women report frequent harassment; in Red Sea resorts the UK Foreign Office notes most reported assaults involved someone the victim had met, including hotel and excursion staff.
- Women should avoid taking taxis alone at night and share ride details with a friend.
- Report crimes to the tourist police (126) before leaving the country.
- Bringing in drones without permission is illegal; drug laws are very strict.
How widely English is spoken
Common among people working in tourism, hotels and upscale restaurants; limited among taxi drivers and outside tourist areas.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Egypt, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Egypt
- Wikivoyage: Cairo
- Wikivoyage: Giza
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.