Egypt Travel Guide
October–April is the comfortable season. May–September is extremely hot in Luxor and Aswan, regularly above 40°C.
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Egypt at a glance
Best time to visit Egypt
October–April is the comfortable season. May–September is extremely hot in Luxor and Aswan, regularly above 40°C.
Peak: Christmas–New Year and Easter, plus the cooler winter months on Nile cruises.
Shoulder season: October–November and March–April: warm rather than scorching, with better cruise availability.
Visa and entry
e-Visa required for most nationalities; apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg. Visa on arrival also available at major airports (USD 25). Sinai-only visits may use a free Sinai Permit.
Entry rules depend on your nationality and change frequently. Always confirm with an official embassy or consulate source before booking.
Money and tipping
Egypt uses the EGP (E£).
Expected everywhere — bakshish is part of the culture. 10–15% at restaurants; small notes for temple guards, restroom attendants, and luggage handlers.
Getting around
Cairo Metro fares are about EGP 8–15 by distance. There's no tourist pass; Uber and Careem are cheap and remove haggling entirely.
When a pass pays off: For a sightseeing day across the Nile, a driver hired for the day (roughly EGP 1,200–1,800) beats per-trip haggling from about 4 stops.
Local etiquette
Do
- Carry small notes for tips (“baksheesh”) — it's part of everyday service transactions.
- Dress modestly, especially at mosques and outside resorts; a scarf is useful.
- Agree taxi fares before getting in, or use Uber or Careem in Cairo.
Avoid
- Don't drink tap water.
- Don't photograph military or police installations, bridges or checkpoints.
- Don't accept an unrequested “guide” at monuments — payment will be expected.
Common scams and tourist traps
- “The site is closed” or “this entrance is for Egyptians” at Giza and Luxor, steering you to a camel or horse operator — buy tickets only at the official window.
- Camel and horse rides quoted per person, then a much larger fee demanded before you can get down; settle the total in writing first.
- Papyrus and perfume “factory” stops added to tours for commission — you may decline.
Health
Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for Egypt, and travelers should take standard food and water precautions. This is general information, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic before your trip.
When locals eat
Meal windows shift by country, and eating on the local clock is the difference between a full restaurant and a closed kitchen.
| Meal | Early riser | Typical | Night owl |
|---|---|---|---|
| breakfast | 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM | 10:00 AM |
| lunch | 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| dinner | 8:30 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:30 PM |
Useful Arabic (Egyptian dialect) phrases
English is common in hotels and tourism, limited elsewhere; a few Arabic words go a long way.
- Hello / peace be upon you
- السلام عليكم (As-salamu alaykum)(as-sa-LAM-u a-LAY-kum)
- Thank you
- شكرا (Shukran)(SHOOK-ran)
- Excuse me / please
- لو سمحت (Low samaht)(low sa-MAHT)
- How much is this?
- بكام؟ (Bikam?)(bi-KAM)
Staying connected
eSIM providers that cover Egypt: Airalo, Holafly. Buying an eSIM before you fly avoids airport queues and roaming charges.
Egypt travel FAQ
- When is the best time to visit Egypt?
- October–April is the comfortable season. May–September is extremely hot in Luxor and Aswan, regularly above 40°C.
- Do I need a visa to visit Egypt?
- e-Visa required for most nationalities; apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg. Visa on arrival also available at major airports (USD 25). Sinai-only visits may use a free Sinai Permit. Entry rules depend on your nationality and change often — confirm with an official consulate or embassy source before booking.
- Do you tip in Egypt?
- Expected everywhere — bakshish is part of the culture. 10–15% at restaurants; small notes for temple guards, restroom attendants, and luggage handlers.
- What currency is used in Egypt?
- Egypt uses the EGP (E£).
- What power plug and voltage does Egypt use?
- Egypt uses Type C and Type F sockets at 220V / 50 Hz. Check your device's rated input before travelling; most modern laptop and phone chargers handle both 110V and 220V.
- What is the emergency number in Egypt?
- In Egypt, call 122 (police) / 123 (ambulance) / 180 (fire).
- What time zone is Egypt in?
- Egypt is in the Africa/Cairo time zone (UTC+02:00).
- What language is spoken in Egypt?
- The main language is Arabic (Egyptian dialect). English is common in hotels and tourism, limited elsewhere; a few Arabic words go a long way.
- Is public transport worth buying a pass for in Egypt?
- Cairo Metro fares are about EGP 8–15 by distance. There's no tourist pass; Uber and Careem are cheap and remove haggling entirely. For a sightseeing day across the Nile, a driver hired for the day (roughly EGP 1,200–1,800) beats per-trip haggling from about 4 stops.
- What health precautions should I take in Egypt?
- Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for Egypt, and travelers should take standard food and water precautions. This is general information, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic before your trip.
Ready-made Egypt itineraries
Plan a Egypt trip around how you actually travel
Travaio builds a day-by-day plan from your travel style, with verified places, real opening hours, and local meal times already accounted for.
Plan my Egypt tripThis guide is general travel information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Visa, health, and safety requirements change — verify anything time-sensitive with an official source before you travel.