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Traveling to a new country can be pretty intimidating, especially when it's to a completely foreign part of the world. We've learned a ton of tips for visiting Egypt while traveling around the country, and are now here to help you on your journey!

From planning your trip to navigating the streets, you'd be surprised how many small tricks and tips can make your trip better, especially in Egypt!

In this guide we're going to cover local regulations, myths uncovered, and all of the best tips for visiting Egypt in 2024.

Tips for Visiting Egypt: Planning Your Trip

Before we start anything, we're going to dive into helping you plan the perfect trip to Egypt.

🏨 Book Your Accommodation in Advance, No Matter the Time of Year

There are a lot of really cool bucket-list worthy hotels in Egypt, especially near the Pyramids of Giza! We assumed they'd be available since we were visiting in March (which isn't a really popular month to visit), but we ended up not being able to stay at a lot of the cool hotels we had in mind.

Luckily, we were able to snag this epic jacuzzi Airbnb by rearranging our schedule, but you definitely wouldn't want to miss out on properties like this while visiting Egypt!

💸 Be Mindful of the Booking Fees 

One thing that we noticed when we were booking our accommodation on Booking.com is that many of the hotels would actually add their personal fees into the price when quoting the balance.

We started to notice that a lot of places we were staying at would do this, so that they wouldn't have to pay the fee to Booking.com (or whatever other third party) they they would would charge them as commission for their services).

Make sure you are not paying these extra fees, and we'd actually recommend to avoid the drama completely to try and choose properties that you can pay in full before the trip.

🚌 You Can Book Overnight Buses

This is one of our favorite tips for visiting Egypt, because it saved us a ton of time and money!

Distances are far in Egypt, and you'll want to get around in the most efficient way possible. Having to fly can be costly, and taxis are certainly not the most budget-friendly either.

Well, there are a few destination routes that have overnight buses. They have seats that lay almost all the way down so you can sleep and then wake up the next morning in your next destination.

Popular Overnight Bus Routes in Egypt

• Cairo to Siwa
• Siwa to Cairo
• Cairo to Hurghada
• Hurghada to Cairo
• Cairo to Luxor
• Luxor to Cairo
• Cairo to Sharm-el-sheikh
• Sharm-el-sheikh to Cairo

🤑 Everyone Wants a Tip

One of our top tips for visiting Egypt is to be ready to have your guard up a bit.

While there are so many friendly and helpful people out there, there are also a lot of people just looking for a buck.

If you ask someone for directions they may actually start to walk with you, and then have their hand out for a tip. While we love helping people, it can definitely be a bit much when everyone is looking for a handout all the time.

💰 Bring Plenty of Cash

Egypt is a mostly cash-driven country, so you'll definitely want to bring plenty of it.

Not only that though, the exchange is better with cash than with using a credit card! Want to learn more? We'll get into that a bit further into the article.

☀️ The Weather Isn't What You'd Expect

There's a common misconception that Egypt is always hot. The truth is that it DOES get cold in Egypt, especially in the areas of the desert, and in the winter months.

Don't be fooled by the cold though, the sun is still super strong, so you'll want to put on that sunscreen no matter what time you visit!

Tips for Visiting Egypt: Fact vs Myth

Now is a bit of a game of true and false! There are so many tips for visiting Egypt that we recieved before our trip. Some of the things we were told were right, and others were flat out misconceptions.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

🥷 Egypt is an Unsafe Country: FALSE

The number one question we got when we told people we were traveling to Egypt was "but is it safe there?". We honestly were worried with what everyone was toxically transferring to our thoughts. But after visiting Egypt, it is so clear that they haven't been to Egypt, or they visited ages ago.

We felt super safe in Egypt at all times, and the people were so friendly and welcoming.

One thing you will notice is that there are a lot of military on the streets, which certainly looks scary, but they are just making sure that the streets are safe. The only places we'd recommend staying away from are the borders, as with many countries this is where there is a bit of turmoil.

🗣 You Need a Guide to Explore Egypt: FALSE

Speaking about one of our top tips for visiting Egypt, it's got to be this one.

Before traveling to Egypt everyone told us "you NEED a guide". We were under the impression we'd need a full group tour planned, or that in each place we'd need to worry about finding someone to hire to bring us around.

This is NOT the case at all! Even popular spots like the Pyramids of Giza can be explored completely on your own, and there are also plenty of buses and trains between cities in Egypt, so you truly don't need to worry about having a guide. 

Hiring a guide is nice to learn more about certain destinations, but they certainly aren't a requirement. That being said, we did have a guide that we paid a reasonable price in Siwa, and absolutely loved him! Some places are worth having a guide, while others it is totally necessary.

🚗 The Driving is Crazy: TRUE

Egypt is notorious for their driving. We've heard so many stories about people whipping around the streets with no rules, crazy traffic, and overall chaos.

Honestly, this was pretty true if you compare Egypt to places in Europe or the US where traffic laws are strict. However, if you've been to India, Egypt looks like it's not as bad as people portray it.

You'll definitely want to be aware of your surroundings though, as no one is patiently waiting for you on the road or playing by the rules.

💸 Traveling in Egypt is Expensive: FALSE

Most people plan these crazy extravagant trips to Egypt, and with all of the false information out there about "needing a guide" or "having to hire a tour company", I was really nervous that our bank accounts were going to get drained really fast.

The truth is, that Egypt is an extremely affordable country, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. You can find accommodation options for as low as $15-20/night and have meals for just a couple of dollars.

It's safe and easy to go on your own to most places (with the exception of the White Desert), so you don't have to bring massive wads of cash with you on your trip. One of our tips for visiting Egypt is to pay for excursions and hotels in advance if you can, so that you won't have to carry as much cash with you.

👫 Women & Men are Not Treated Equally: True

Being a Muslim country, there are certain things you'll have to keep in mind when visiting Egypt, which we're going to get into a bit more in the next section.

While men and women are not treated equally in certain aspects (how to dress, traditional jobs they have, etc.) this actually does not mean they are treated poorly.

As a woman, I always felt very respected by the men in Egypt, and didn't have any of the issues that I faced in Morocco. That being said, you'll want to keep the differences in religion in mind, and continue to read some of the rules and societal norms while visiting.

Tips for Visiting Egypt: Rules & Customs to Keep in Mind

Now that we've busted some myths, we're going to tell you about some important rules in the country, and some tips for visiting Egypt in a safe and respectful way.

🚁 Drones are Illegal

More and more we're finding cities and even entire countries banning drones. Some will fine you if you fly it, but others actually may confiscate it.

We were told that many people have gotten their drones taken at the airport, and were given back upon leaving the country. This happened to us in Jordan, and luckily it didn't happen flying into Hurghada, as our plans were leaving through Cairo.

You may notice some drone shots taken by us, but these were in the middle of the desert with no one around, and it was a really big risk to take. If you can, leave the drone at home. But if you're traveling to other countries too, try to plan going in and out of the same airport in case they confiscate it.

💍 Some Hotels Require a Marriage License

People of the same sex are not allowed to stay in a hotel room together unless they are married.

Luckily, as we were foreigners, our hotels said it was okay, but you'll definitely want to check the fine print just in case, as we got denied a stay in Jodhpur, India for this very reason.

We heard they are much stricter with Egyptians on the matter, but it's definitely one of the things you'll want to be mindful of if you aren't married. If you are married, we'd recommend taking a picture of your marriage license to carry on you just in case.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Kissing in Public is Illegal

This is such an important thing to be aware of while traveling through Egypt! As a very affectionate couple, we had to actively make sure we had no PDA while in public, as you can get arrested for kissing in public in Egypt!

One of our tips for visiting Egypt is definitely to keep a bit more distance with your partner. This way you won't accidentally get yourself in serious trouble.

🥻 The Way You Dress Matters More in Certain Places Than Others

Many first time visitors to Egypt that are females worry a lot about what to pack. Honestly, I was paranoid myself as I wasn't sure what to expect.

On the streets of Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, and other popular tourist destinations such as Hurghada and Luxor you can actually wear whatever you want! It's really only the religious sites and smaller villages that you should be extra mindful.

We'd recommend long dresses or skirts with sleeves or shawls with light fabrics so that you can cover up but still stay comfortable.

👗 How to Dress at Religious Sites in Egypt

When it comes to religious sites, they are extremely strict, and women have to cover up from head to toe (even their hair).

One of my top tips for visiting Egypt is to stop at one of the shops that has those scarves and shawls as soon as you arrive. They are super affordable and good to keep on you for when you do need to cover up.

Male & Females are Separate

There are a lot of places where males and females are separated, especially when it comes to religious sites. 

This is because there are designated areas for praying, and people of the same sex are typically not put in the same place. This isn't necessarily one of our tips for visiting Egypt, but it's certainly something you'll want to be aware of.

There are People Smoking Everywhere

One thing that honestly was killing us in Egypt is the amount that people smoke, all the time, EVERYWHERE. We're talking even inside restaurants.

One of our tips for visiting Egypt is to sit outside at restaurants, and if smoke bothers you like it does us, we'd recommend choosing a table far away from people just in case.

Tips for Visiting Egypt: Fun Budget Hacks

Now for the fun stuff! You're going to love these tips for visiting Egypt, because they're all about getting more bang for your buck.

💷 The Black Market

Most countries have a regulated exchange rate, so exchanging your money or using a credit card won't have a massive difference.

But very much like Argentina's Blue Dollar, Egypt also has more than one exchange rate.

The official rate is much lower than the actual rate locals are going by, and if you bring USD or Euros with you then you'll be able to exchange them on the streets for a much better rate! Just make sure to ask around before jumping to exchange, and always check the local money before handing over yours.

🤝 Bargaining is Key

Bargaining is an art in Egypt, and whatever price is given to you in Egypt (unless it's in a very formal store with price tags) is actually up for discussion. 

In fact, locals expect you to bargain with them, and it's part of the game!

So whenever you're at a market never accept the first price. Browse around, and let them offer you lower prices before making any purchases.

🍜 The Ultimate Foodie Hack

There's this really unique and incredible hack for eating out in Egypt. We learned it from the owner of a restaurant in Siwa Oasis, who offered us to top up our plates of Koshari.

One thing you should know first is that Egypt has insanely large portions, and the people are also incredibly generous. So when we finished our Koshari we were super full, but loved the food so much so we told the owner, not knowing that we were going to hear one of our favorite tips for visiting Egypt.

He asked us if we wanted more, so we agreed. He then filled our bowls back up and told us that there's this expression in Egyptian which is "Kemela", and basically it's asking for another portion of your dish, which is completely free of charge!

Tips for Visiting Egypt: Other Random Fun Facts

Now you know a ton of tips for visiting Egypt, but we have a few more random things to share with you.

🧻 BYOTP

It's not uncommon for bathrooms to be without toilet paper, and there's nothing worse than doing your business and going to reach for toilet paper only to find there's nothing there. Well, this happened too many times in Egypt to us.

So you know what we like to say? "Bring your own toilet paper". We now always carry a small pack of tissues, as well as hand sanitizer just in case there isn't any soap either.

So are you ready for an exciting trip to Egypt? We hope our tips for visiting Egypt help you get ready for an amazing travel experience.

We have a ton of other Egypt travel guides coming up, so make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest articles!

Ready to book your upcoming trip? Let us help! Now Scratch Your Mapa offers travel planning services so that you can get the best rates on flights and stay at epic hotels. Not only that, but we're creating really fun group trips to Egypt soon!

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