Are you planning your first Egypt holiday? Look no further as we have all your top things to know about Egypt before you go so that you are well-prepped and prepared.
Many people have an Egypt holiday on their bucket list, and rightly so.
Besides the world-famous pyramids, there are many more attractions such as Siwa Oasis, resorts by the Red Sea, and stunning ancient temples in cities such as Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.
We guarantee that this article will leave you with no question unanswered about your visit to Egypt, covering the best things to do in Egypt, Egypt Visa, Egypt budget, when is the best time to visit Egypt, and much more!
What Do You Need to Know About Egypt Before You go?
We loved our 30-day Egypt Holiday, and we want you to enjoy your visit to Egypt as much as we did.
In this article, our hope is to answer any questions your may have about your Egypt holiday and to leave you feeling nothing but ready and excited for your upcoming Egypt travels.
- If you are a parent and travelling to Egypt make sure to read this family friendly travel guide.
So, let’s get started with our list of what you need to know about Egypt before you go.
“At the time of writing this article, the US Dollar and the Euro were of the same value.
1 – Do I Need a Visa for Egypt?
When arriving on your Egypt Holiday, you are going to need a visa. Getting your visa can be done a few different ways, Visa on Arrival or else an E-Visa.
A single-entry tourist visa will cost you 25 USD and is valid for 30 days, should you wish to stay longer than 30 days then you must apply for an E-Visa.
Visa on arrival – This will be done at the airport once you arrive. Get off the plane and simply follow the signs to one of the Egyptian banks to purchase your visa. Here you will only pay your fee and receive a receipt, so remember this is NOT your visa!
Next, you move on to the official immigration counter, hand over your receipt and passport, get your passport stamped, and be welcomed into Egypt!
Just be aware, that you must have blank pages and more than 6 months of validation left on your passport.
Purchasing an E-visa before arriving for your Egypt holiday can save a bit of time.
In this case, you can walk straight to immigration to receive your stamp. The same fee of 25 USD and 30 days applies.
Should you wish to stay longer than 30 days then you need to apply online for a 3-month visa for 60 USD.
* Don’t leave it till the last minute as it can take up to 3 days to receive the E-visa!
2 – When is the Best Time to Visit Egypt?
When deciding on the best time to visit Egypt, note that the summer months (June – August) can be extremely hot with temperatures in the 40-degree Celsius mark.
Visiting in the winter months (November – February), however, can be a bit tricky as well, temperatures at night time can drop well below the 10-degree Celsius mark.
So ideally the best time to visit Egypt are April/May and September/October. Temperatures will still be high during the day but not scorching hot.
Don’t expect any heating in your accommodation. (We had to turn on an oven to get some heat in our apartment in March!)
3 – What are the Best Things to do in Egypt Other than the Pyramids?
During your Egypt trip, there will be lots of different attractions to see and do in all directions. Egypt is HUGE and unless you apply for a 3-month Visa it will be impossible to visit all of these sites, if you think this is possible then please let us know how!
Before arrival make sure to plan a rough Egypt trip itinerary and decide what you want to see and do.
After visiting Cairo, most tourists follow the Nile in a Southern direction towards famous historical sites such as Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.
To the East, you will have the Red Sea with beach resort towns such as Dahab, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Hurghada. Attractions here include snorkeling coral reefs, hiking, and soaking up the sun.
This is a popular area for an Egypt holiday during the winter months.
In the West, you have attractions such as desert towns like Siwa Oasis, The White Desert, and the Great Sand Sea. One of our favorite places in Egypt was Siwa Oasis and we would strongly recommend visiting.
3.1 – The Great Pyramids of Giza
Cairo is of course a must-visit with the main attraction of any Egypt holiday being the Pyramid Complex of Giza.
This wonder of the world is actually located outside Cairo in a place called Giza, hence the name “The Great Pyramids of Giza”.
It is possible to visit these magnificent structures on a day trip. Alternatively, you can also stay in Giza but a maximum of two days is all you need there, one day of exploring and the other day would be relaxing taking in the views from your hotel room.
Do not use Giza as your base, besides the pyramids, there is not much else to do.
There are so many more attractions in Cairo however than just pyramids. To find out what else there is to see click on the post below.
4 – Is Egypt Cheap to Visit?
The simple answer is Yes. Egypt is cheap to visit!
Choosing an Egypt trip can be very budget friendly!! You do not need to break the bank on your Egypt holiday. There is lots of fantastic budget accommodation available from 10 – 35 Euro.
Another great positive about Egypt is that food is extremely cheap, expect to pay only 5 Euro for a dinner at a local establishment for two people. Snacks, fruit, juices, and ice creams are also widely available for very cheap prices.
If luxury is more of your thing then we have good news for you too. You will find lots of great deals for some fabulous accommodation when compared to Western prices.
Check out the ultimate Egypt trip itinerary in the video below:
5 – Egypt Scams – How to Avoid Getting Scammed on Your Egypt Holiday
You may have read or heard that Egypt is full of extremely pushy vendors and conmen. We found it to be quite the opposite and were welcomed everywhere we traveled to, literally – Welcome to Egypt is all we heard!
Of course, there are people out there trying to scam you but that occurs in every country and not just Egypt.
In main tourist cities such as Giza, Luxor, and Aswan we found the majority of local vendors always trying to charge more.
In these cases, you need to keep track of how much your purchases will cost, or else you will be taken advantage of. Hence the importance of knowing the correct prices, see #14.
* A self-imposed rule we have is to simply walk away when the salesperson refuses to charge the correct price, especially after we pull them on it! Don’t waste your time and energy on it.
To go into more detail about getting swindled in Egypt (and every other country) check out the link below.
6 – Egypt Transport – Does Egypt Have Good Transportation?
When booking accommodation for your Egypt holiday always try to book a place that is close to modes of public transport, think of main bus stations and metro lines.
Cairo has a metro system that is cheap and easy to use. Tickets will cost 5 EGP/10 cent for up to nine stops away, while 7 EGP/ 15cent is charged for rides up to 15 stops away.
So again, is Egypt cheap? Yeah we think so!
6.1 – Uber is Available – Low Priced and Uncomplicated
Taxis are also widely available but our preference is Uber (available in Cairo and Alexandria) to avoid unnecessary haggling and of course the cheap fares.
Uber can also be used to your advantage as a haggling tool to show taxi drivers the real price during your Egypt holiday!
Should you opt to use a taxi then make sure to agree on a price beforehand.
Our favorite however is to simply wander around cities. Put on some decent footwear, clock up the miles, and enjoy the local life!
* Sometimes Uber drivers seem to be unfamiliar with Uber Maps/Google Maps and often show up hundreds of meters away from your actual location. Use Google Translate (your language to Arabic) and copy and paste the translated message (Arabic) to communicate with your driver.
6.2 – Egypt Domestic Travel
For destinations that are far away, you will have to use long-distance buses, trains, or domestic flights. Obviously, trains and buses are more budget-friendly than flying but more time-consuming.
Train travel is another budget option for you Egypt Holiday, unfortunately in 2022, the train fares went up by nearly 300% for tourists.
Don’t even bother trying to get a local to buy you a domestic ticket as you may have read online, you will be fined on the spot if caught with an incorrect ticket.
A train fare from Cairo to Luxor will cost you 25 USD compared to 8 USD by bus.
6.3 – The Cheapest Transport in Egypt
Traveling by bus is the cheapest alternative for your Egypt holiday. There are two main bus companies – West & Middle Delta Bus and Go-Bus for domestic travel.
Don’t expect to look up timetables or tickets on the West & Middle Delta Bus website because for some reason they never bothered creating one! The easiest option is with Go-Bus which has a website with all relative information in English.
Tickets are also available with 12go although they charge slightly more than at the bus station.
Buying tickets at the bus station is always interesting and fun, English is not always widely spoken so in these cases Google Translate is again one of your best friends.
Sometimes you can buy a ticket days in advance, other times they tell you to come back 5 minutes before departure!
Bus travel is very cheap in Egypt. You can travel from Cairo to Alexandria for around 6 euros on a five-hour bus ride.
A 12-hour bus from Siwa Oasis to Cairo costs around 8 euros. From Cairo to Luxor, it cost us also 8 Euro for a 10-hour journey.
Not all buses leaving on the same day will cost the same so ask for different prices.
6.4 – Be Prepared to Stop at Lots of Checkpoints
Along the way have your passport handy as you will pass through many military/police checkpoints, now and again you may be asked to show it to the boarding official.
Sometimes all passengers must disembark to show their luggage. Don’t be worried as it can look intimidating
However, our experience was always good. The soldiers/police will try to start a conversation with you about where you are from and if you like Egypt.
7 – Respect Religion & Culture
Islam is the dominant religion in Egypt. Approximately 90% of the population identifies as Muslim.
Although it is quite relaxed towards tourists you should still respect local traditions, customs, and laws while enjoying your Egypt holiday.
7.1 – What should I wear during my Egypt Holiday?
Tourists are not expected to dress formally according to Islamic traditions but there are a few things to know.
For women try wearing clothes that cover shoulders. Unless you like being stared at, then avoid wearing shorts/short skirts and short tops.
In the Red Sea resort towns, these rules are a bit more relaxed.
At some tourist sites, women wear headscarves, this is not a necessity and as a bonus, it looks good for photos!
For men, leave your tank tops at home, you look stupid with it anyway!
This rule does not really apply to beaches in the Red Sea area, the stupid look still does though!
7.2 – Can you drink alcohol in Egypt?
Despite Egypt being an Islamic country, alcohol can still be purchased, in the right places that is.
In Red Sea towns such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, most restaurants and resorts will serve beer and cocktails.
There are not many bar options available in Cairo and Luxor but they are there if you search on Google Maps.
A 500 ml of beer will cost 60-65 EGP/ 1.40 Euro and spirits/cocktails range from 100-140 EGP/ 3 Euro Important things to know is that drinking on the streets or falling around pissed out of your brain however is a big no-no!
7.3 – When is the Weekend in Egypt?
Egypt’s weekend is Friday and Saturday. So to explain that again, the weekend starts on Thursday night (We know some people who are not Muslim who live by that tradition!) and the week starts on Sunday.
All government buildings, embassies, and banks will be closed for those two days. (As we found out when we rocked up at the Sudan embassy on a Friday to get our visa!)
8 – Learn Some Basic Arabic Words
English is not widely spoken in Egypt so it is always handy to learn a few basic words that will make your Egypt holiday all the smoother.
These basic words along with a smile will get the message across! If you need to have a conversation then as previously mentioned Google Translate is your friend.
A word you will be using quite a lot is “Shukran” which means thank you.
9 – What Socket Type to Use During Your Egypt Holiday
The main socket type that is used in Egypt is a plug type C, also known as the Euro plug.
In case you don’t know what that is, it’s the plug with two round pins. Make sure to bring your converter if you are coming from Ireland, the UK, North America, and Oceania.
10 – Learn the Value of Local Currency During Your Egypt Holiday
There are two main currencies that can be used in Egypt, the Egyptian Pound and the US Dollar.
At the time of publication, 100 EGP is around 3 Euro, 3.25 USD, 2.60 GBP, and 4.80 AUD.
11 – Can you use ATMs in Egypt?
Now you know how much the currency is, let’s take out some money at the ATMs.
Everywhere you go you will come across an ATM and it is quite safe to take out money.
Having said that, always be cautious and don’t accept a helping hand from strangers when taking out cash, it’s not that difficult that you need help!
*One of our own safety rules we always apply are – taking out cash on the way home, and not taking an atm card when unnecessary. Many places only accept cash anyway.
12 – How to Negotiate in Egypt
Negotiating prices is a part of Egyptian life and culture.
When haggling with street vendors or shopkeepers selling souvenirs, sunglasses, clothing, etc. you should not settle for the first price given to you. Often you can bring that price down by at least 33% if not more!
Were you to be an excellent haggler you may even get that price down 50% or even more. One day I bought a pair of sunglasses for 100 EGP (2 Euro) down from 280 EGP.
However, some vendors are very honest and the prices are so cheap that you just pay for the asked amount.
This happened when I bought another pair of sunglasses for 60 EGP and a NY cap for 50 EGP. Go on, convert that to your own currency, and tell me how good of a deal that was!
13 – Prices of Main Tourist Attractions
All tourist attractions are fixed prices so no negotiating is needed.
Expect to pay between 50 EGP to 250 EGP (1-5 Euro) for most sights.
There is a small catch though as it is per attraction, for example – The Giza Pyramids and Sphinx entry is 240 EGP/ 5 Euro per person, but to enter The Great Pyramid is an additional 400 EGP/ 8 Euro per person.
To find out more about prices click this link.
The only time you will need to negotiate is for day tours, we were quoted 90 USD per person for our tour to the Step Pyramid, Bent Pyramid + Red Pyramid, and Memphis, and we ended up getting it for 25 EURO in total.
14 – Prices of Basic Food Items
Knowledge is power! We always hate arriving in new countries not knowing what basic items cost such as water, coffee, and food products.
The following items are what you should be paying.
| A 0.5 litre of water | 5 EGP |
| A 1.5 litre of water | 7 EGP |
| Snacks like non-brand chocolate, cake, biscuits | 8 EGP |
| A coffee in a shop, a packet of Nescafe for a coffee in your room | 15 – 25 EGP/ 5 EGP |
| Kosheri (which is the national dish of pasta, rice, lentils, meat and sauce) | 25 – 30 EGP |
| A shawarma | 30 – 50 EGP |
| Snacks like non brand chocolate, cake, biscuits | 5 EGP per item |
| A Kit Kat or Oreo ice cream | 10 EGP |
| A kilo of bananas | 20 EGP Per KG. |
15. Tipping – How Much Should You Tip Someone in Egypt?
The following is a snippet of an article we read about tipping in Egypt.
Tip small amounts ($1 or less) for one-off services, and tip more ($5-$20, or maybe even $30) for services that are more intensive or involve more time (driver who is with you for the day, massage, etc.)
Yes, the first part is partly true, but if you are tipping 20 to 30 dollars then you are insane and must be on that tour for 90$ per person, see #13.
Tipping is part of the Egyptian culture, but it does not have to be done for every action someone does for you. If you wish to give every person money that you make eye contact with then that’s entirely up to you.
As a general rule, the biggest tips we would give were for private drivers at around 15-20% of what we paid for the tour.
We have seen people give tips of 2 to 3 Egyptian Pounds only for small services such as bag handling and there seemed to be no issue. Maybe it’s just the action that counts and not the amount.
Most eat-in restaurants charge a service fee of 12-14% and this is normally declared on the menu.
We have also offered tips to people we felt deserving of it but they refused to take anything and just wanted to “Welcome us to Egypt”.
16. Egypt Traffic – How Do You Cross the Road in Egypt?
Mental is the only way to describe traffic in Egypt! The lines on the road must be street art because no one uses them.
Having said that, the chaos seems to work strangely. Crossing a road may look like an impossible task, but look and learn from the locals.
These brave lunatics will cross a street blindfolded with traffic beeping and driving in all directions.
For your first crossing on your Egypt holiday (and afterward as well) use a local as a “shield.”
Stand beside him/her, take a deep breath, and cross the street alongside them. Before you know it you too will be crossing these hectic streets effortlessly!
17 – Smoking in Egypt
Smoking for Egyptians is nearly equivalent to breathing! They love it!
Not only cigarettes but also hookah pipes. Every chore that has to be done is with a cigarette in the mouth.
Don’t be surprised if your driver, hotel manager, or cashier smokes or sparks one up in front of you.
18 – What SIM Card Should I Get for my Egypt Holiday?
Don’t expect Wi-Fi to be good. In fact, it is quite bad everywhere!
A solution for this can be the purchase of a SIM card which is available in airports, train stations, and shops around major cities.
The four main networks are Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat & WE. Prices range from 150 EGP to 700 EGP depending on what sort of data package you require.
*Make sure your phone is unlocked if you are going to purchase a SIM card
19 – Is Egypt Safe for Women?
Men wolf whistling at women. Something every woman loves when walking down the street on their Egypt holiday right?!……
Unfortunately, it happens quite a lot in Egypt. We experienced it a few times when local men thought Kate was walking by herself.
We understand this can be very frustrating and annoying but try not to get too bothered about it. Maybe even give them a hard stare such as below.
20 – Is Egypt Safe to Holiday?
The million-dollar question that many people ask is – Is it safe to holiday in Egypt? Yes, 100% it is safe!
We met some of the friendliest, honest, and helpful people on our Egypt holiday.
I have dropped money without knowing and a person would pick it up and give it back to us. Shopkeepers have told us the correct prices of what we should be paying and not once did we feel unsafe when walking the streets at night time.
It is not fair for Egypt and its marvelous citizens to have the bad reputation it has when it comes to scams, petty crime, and pickpockets because that can happen anywhere in the world.
Of course – Always apply common sense and trust your gut instinct.
Now you are prepared and have your most amazing Egypt holiday!!
Enjoy Your Egypt Holiday!
Overall would we recommend an Egypt holiday? You can bank on it!
Egypt is a brilliant country, with some world-class attractions, some amazing people, and extremely budget-friendly.
We loved our visit and the only negative we can say is that we did not have enough time to stay longer!
We would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to leave us a message below or contact us through our socials.
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