Important Tips For Egypt Travelers
Here are the most important tips for Egypt travelers. Egypt’s temperature is continental, so it’s dry and hot in the summer and warm in the winter. For summer, it’s best to pack light clothing like shirts, T-shirts, and shorts, but bring two long-sleeved items for sun protection or cooler evenings. If you visit in the winter, from December to March, don’t forget a windbreaker and a sweater for the cool mornings and evenings.
Most popular tourist destinations have sand and desert terrain, so leather shoes are not a good choice. Instead, wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking. When dining at 5-star hotels or on a Nile Cruise, wear trousers and shirts, especially at dinner time. Please don’t wear slippers.
To respect Egyptian culture, women should avoid wearing sleeveless tops or shorts. However, you can wear what you like while touring, since most people around you will be tourists. Men have more flexibility with what they wear, but wearing shorts might make you stand out and attract attention from street merchants.
Egyptian Visa requirements, Passport Registration
You can get a visa for most nationalities upon arrival at Egyptian airports. A visa costs around $25 USD and is valid for one month. When you arrive, go to the bank and buy the visa stamp. You must put this stamp in your passport before you go through customs. We also hire a company to help us with visa applications.
It is mandatory to register your passport during your first week in Egypt. You do not need to worry about this, as your hotel will usually handle it for you within 24 hours of your arrival.
Egyptian Currency, Banks, Credit Cards:
The Egyptian pound (“EGP” stands for Egyptian pound, or “LE” stands for the French word “Libre Egyptien”) is the country’s official currency. 100 piaster equals 1 EGP. It is not advisable to convert money in an airport bank since the rates are slightly lower than in metropolitan banks. Remember to bring one-dollar notes with you. Egyptians accept them almost everywhere in Egypt.
Banks in Egypt are open five days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are closed on Fridays and Saturdays. You can use credit cards almost everywhere in large cities. Most stores and hotels accept them. However, most Nile cruises do not accept American Express for any extra costs.
Power and Electricity in Egypt:
The two-pronged type of wall plug is the most common. The voltage is 220 volts and the frequency is 50 cycles per second. Be warned that charging your camera or phone on a sleeper train is not recommended since the electricity is unstable and may cause harm to your gadgets. However, if you have the correct charger, you may charge it in your tour bus or van.
Shops And Pharmacies In Egypt
Most shops are open from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Stores downtown are closed on Sunday. The Gold and Silver Shops in Khan El-Khalili are also closed on Sunday. Muslim-owned businesses close on Friday for prayer. Coptic Christian-owned shops are closed all day on Sunday.
Pharmacies are open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. A few are open 24 hours. You can find these on major streets and in busy areas.
Call Emergency:
- Ambulance: Tel: 123
- Police: Tel: 122
- Fire: Tel: 125
Important Tips For Egypt Travelers: Water, Drinks, and Food
It’s not a good idea for tourists to drink Nile water. It’s safe for Egyptians because it’s highly treated, but a visitor’s stomach isn’t used to it. You don’t have to worry, though, as you can easily find affordable bottles of mineral water all over Egypt.
Beverages
While in Egypt, try some delicious and healthy local drinks like sugarcane juice, Hibiscus (Karkade) tea, and Doam juice. Just remember that drinks are usually not included with your meals. The exception is tap water, which is free. In hotels, tea and coffee are included with breakfast.
Food
For lunch and dinner, the main ingredients are typically beef, chicken, or fish. You can also get sides like rice, spaghetti, or fries, along with your favorite salad.
Hotels usually offer a variety of breakfast foods, including cheese, honey, boiled eggs, and omelets. You can also find beans, yogurt, salads, bread, and fruit salad. Egyptians love brown beans, falafel, eggplants, and pita bread.
Egyptian cuisine has a few unique dishes. Koshari is a famous example. It’s a mix of pasta, rice, fried onions, chickpeas, and lentils, all with a tomato sauce, salt, and vinegar. Another popular dish is Mah’shi or Dolma, which is a mix of vegetables like cabbage, grape leaves, and eggplants stuffed with rice. You can often find this on the salad menu at tourist restaurants or on Nile cruises. While you’ll find Shish Kebab and Shish Tawook in Egypt, these popular dishes are actually Turkish.
Fast food restaurants in Egypt:
Fast food restaurants may be found in all of Egypt’s main cities, including Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, and the governorates.
International chains
- Pizza hut: Tel: 19000
- Roma Pizza 2 Go: 19914
- La Cassetta: Tel: 02-22618151
- Little Ceaser : Tel: 02-6074
- Fish Market: Tel: 02-35709694
- Dominos Pizza: Tel: 19223
- Chillis: Tel:02-761 7004
- T.G.I Fridays: Tel: 02-761 1113
- Fuddruckers: Tel: 16226
- KFC: Tel: 19019
- MC Donald’s: Tel: 19991
- Hardees: Tel: 19066
- Burger King: Tel: 02-24802474
Egyptian Chains
- Pizza king: Tel: 19519
- Pizza Alex: Tel 16008
- Cook Door: Tel: 16999
- MO’men: Tel: 16600
- Smiley’s: Tel: 02-692 30 71
- My Queen: Tel: 02-37491655
- Wessaya: Tel: 19303
- Tomatoes: Tel: 16999
- Al-Tazej: Tel: 19018
- Shawerma El Rim: Tel: 02-22755115
- Jaar Al kamar: Tel: 02-37499460
Tranditional Egyptian food Restaurants
- Abou El-sid: Tel: 02-23805050
- Citadel View Restaurant, Cairo: Tel: 02-3467757
- Akher Saa: Tel: 19550
- El-Tabie El-Domyati: Tel: 16015
- FelFela: Tel: 02-3761234
- El-Shabrawy: Tel: 16919
- Egyptian food bank: Tel: 16060
Korean, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese food restaurants
- Koloon Korean, Chinese: Tel: 02-25759831
- New China: Tel: 02-9 228-9939
Important Tips For Egypt Travelers: Transportation in Egypt
Egypt offers a variety of transportation options, from taxis to river buses. Each has its own benefits depending on your travel needs.
Taxis
Every city in Egypt has its own taxi color. While a few taxis use a meter, most do not. It’s best to agree on a price before you get in. Uber and other ride-sharing apps are also available.
Buses
In large cities, street buses are a common and affordable way to get around. For longer trips between cities, buses are of a higher quality. They often have a washroom and a waiter on board.
Service Vans
Service vans are a common form of public transportation. The price is very low, usually around 75 piasters to one pound. For a tourist, using a service van is a unique experience.
Trains
Trains are generally the safest way to travel in Egypt. First-class seats are more comfortable and worth the price. A trolley waiter serves hot and soft drinks, sandwiches, and snacks.
For overnight trips, sleeper trains are the best option. They are operated by Abella Egypt. The cabins are small but well-maintained. The beds are bunk beds, and you can store your luggage above them. Each cabin has a sink with hot water, A/C, and controls for music and lights. Families can book two connecting cabins. Cooked dinner and breakfast are included in the ticket price. A small tip for the conductor is expected, so bring some one-pound banknotes.
Metro
The metro is only in Cairo. It is well-organized and runs on a strict schedule. If it goes to places you want to visit, don’t miss it. The ticket price is very reasonable at 7 LE.
River Buses
In Cairo, people use river buses to cross the Nile. Tourists can use them to reach nearby attractions. You can visit places like the Giza Zoo, Cairo University, or any of the hotels along the Nile.
Geography & Distances between cities
Egypt lies in the northeast corner of Africa, while Sinai, a portion of Egypt, is in Asia. Egypt is a one-million-square-kilometer African Asiatic country. There are several domestic flights available for travel between cities. The best among them are Flash Airlines, Memphis Airlines, and Egyptair. Traveling between Cairo and Luxor/Aswan via sleeper train is an option.
- Cairo – Aswan: 13 hours by train – one hour 20 minutes flight.
- Cairo – Luxor: 10 hours train – 50 Minutes flight.
- Cairo – Hurghada 6 hours drive (no train available) – 35 minutes flight.
- Cairo – Sharm: 7 hours drive (no train available) – 40 minutes flight.
- Cairo – Alexandria – 2 hours train 3 Hours Drive
- Cairo – Suez Canal – 2 hours drive.
- Cairo – St.Catherine – 6 hours drive.
- Cairo – Fayoum – 90 minutes drive.
- Cairo – Menya 4 hours drive.
- Cairo – Baharia 4 hours drive.
- Cairo – Kharga 7.30 hours drive.
- Luxor – Aswan – 4 hours drive or 3 hours train.
- Aswan – Abusimbel – 30 minutes flight or 3.30 hours drive.
- Luxor – Abydos – 2 hours drive.
- Luxor – Hurghada – 4 hours drive
Alcohol, Washrooms, & Baksheesh (Tipping)
Most hotels and tourist restaurants in Egypt serve alcohol, but it can be expensive. We recommend checking the price before you order. You can also buy alcohol at a fair price from duty-free stores. You are welcome to drink it in your room.
Washrooms
It’s a good idea to carry tissues and small one-pound coins with you. Public washrooms are not always clean and often do not provide toilet paper. An attendant is usually present to offer a napkin for a small tip.
Baksheesh (Tipping)
Tipping, or baksheesh, is a common practice in Egypt, even among locals. It ensures extra services at monuments, museums, and other attractions. While it can feel inconvenient, it’s a normal part of Egyptian life. If you don’t want a service, you can politely but firmly decline.
If you have a guide, ask them about where tipping is needed. They usually handle baksheesh at tour sites and for included meals. When you are on your own, keep one-pound notes handy for tipping for services like baggage handling, housekeeping, and washrooms.
At the end of your trip, it is customary to tip your guide and driver. A typical amount is $20-$50 US per person per day for a guide and $3-$5 US per person per day for a driver. The same goes for cabin service and waiters on cruise ships.
You can put the tip in an envelope and add a small message if you like. The best way to give it is to hand it to them in person at the end of their service. While tipping is expected, the amount you tip is completely up to you.
If you want to give something to children you meet, pens or candy are good choices.
Hotels & Nile Cruise Categories
We are often asked what Hotels we use and what is the difference between 3*/4*/5* stars – so we have tried to explain this here.
- 3*Star – Tourist – clean hotel with no frills, private bathroom, mainly Egyptian family-owned.
- 4* Star – Superior Tourist – more amenities than the 3* like restaurants and pools. Some Egyptians owned some Western management Chain Hotels like the Novotel in Luxor.
- 5* Star – First Class – Major Chain hotels in Cairo i.e. Hilton, Meridien, Sheraton either on the Nile or by the Pyramid. In Hurghada, there are major resorts overlooking the water with private beaches and lots of facilities, and large swimming pools.
- Cruise ships: – We use only 4*/5* Star Cruise ships. All cabins are outside cabins with private facilities.
Drugs, Crime, & Smoking In Egypt
Drugs are strictly prohibited and the consequences for use can be very severe. Don’t even consider it.
Crime:
Crime is low, rape rare, Aids is almost nonexistent, arguments may flare up over a traffic violation, but are usually over quite quickly. Family feuds are more common than any form of crime. It is safe to walk the streets at any time of day, like all cities you should be cautious and attentive to your whereabouts.
Smoking:
Smoking is quite prevalent, although it is banned in all food restaurants. If you are a smoker yourself you might want to try smoking the water pipe (Shesha) in one of the many street cafes.
Customs, Culture, & Shopping In Egypt
Customs & Culture:
The population is made up of mainly Moslems and Coptic Christians. The main day of worship is Fridays, which is their weekend holiday. Government offices, Institutions, and Banks close Fridays and Saturdays.
The food is varied, chicken and lamb are popular, as is rice, pasta, beans, and Pita bread. Tea (Shai) is the main drink of the Egyptians and is served frequently with mint.
Egyptians keep themselves and their homes very clean. Litter is a problem, particularly in the poorer areas where solid waste disposal is lacking. The noise level in parts of the Cities is quite high, and Cairo, in particular, is a 24-hour city when most stores and activities going on around the clock non-stop.
It is common to form of greeting to see men or women holding hands, linking arms, and embracing on the cheek with others of the same sex. This is their culture and there are no sexual overtures to it. People do not show affection to each other in public. It is acceptable to hold, or link arms with your partner in public, but that is it. To be on the safe side, and so as not to offend, it is best to follow what you see, Kissing and hugging your partner or boy/girlfriend is not appropriate in public.
Shopping:
Cairo is a shopping adventure. Buy brass, copper, and inlaid wooden articles, silver and gold jewelry, leather shoes, bags and belts, cotton goods, and perfumes. Have a gold cartouche made with your name written in hieroglyphics. Be sure that the letters are soldered and not glued on. Have a kaftan of pure Egyptian cotton tailor-made in two days. Shop at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar for better variety, interesting and artistic goods. You should be able to bargain prices that were originally quoted to you.
Important Tips For Egypt Travelers: Telephone, Cell phones In Egypt
The Telephone system in Egypt is overloaded and antiquated. 4/5 Star Hotels will have direct line dialing and international service. Some hotels have data ports and even their own Internet Cafes, or you can hook up your laptop directly to the phone if you have an ISP service you can use.
You can use an International Operator, like AT&T, or credit cards for calling. You can buy calling cards everywhere and use these cards in local phone booths. There are usually two types of cards. The directions on the phone booths may not always be in English.
There are Internet Cafes in all the major cities – Cairo/Luxor/Aswan/Alexandria/Hurghada,
They usually range from $3 to $6 US an hour, with a minimum 15-minute charge. However, the ISP’s are not as reliable and it is sometimes difficult to get on particularly in the evening, and it’s not unusual to get booted off.
Cell phones are everywhere in Egypt, it has one of the highest usages for cell phones in the world, which makes sense as their Telephone system can’t keep up with the regular phone requirements. They have international cell phone service, and it covers just about everywhere, even the most remote areas. Outgoing calls are quite expensive, but in most cases, there is no charge for incoming calls. If renting independently, check all the charges ahead of time.
Happy Travels!!
