THE ULTIMATE EGYPT TRAVEL GUIDE- Everything You Must Know

THE ULTIMATE EGYPT TRAVEL GUIDE

I promise you, Egypt will be one of the most memorable trips you’ll ever take.  Filled with extraordinary sites, history and people, Egypt truly is a magical destination.  If you are trying to plan your epic trip, or aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place!  This ultimate Egypt travel guide will tell you everything you need to know- from pre-planning your trip and what to expect once you arrive.

Let’s dive into all the practical things you need to know about your trip of a lifetime to Egypt.

FACTS ABOUT EGYPT

• Currency:  Egyptian Pounds (EGP)
• Language: Arabic
• Population: 99 million
• Capital City: Cairo
• Electricity: The standard voltage is 220 V, and frequency is 50 Hz.  You’ll need plugs C and F – universal with surge protection.  Use converter for hot tools.
• Visa Requirements:  Once you arrive in Egypt, you have to get your visa before entering the country.  Depending on where you are from, you will need to pay for your Egyptian visa (For Americans it’s $25 USD and can only be paid in cash!)  To check if your country requires a Visa to Egypt, click here.
• Vaccinations:   All travelers should be up to date on routine vaccines such as chickenpox, tetanus, flu, polio and measles.  It’s recommended most have Hepatitis A and Typhoid, and some should have yellow fever, rabies and hepatitis B.   For more information on what vaccines you should have prior to traveling to Egypt, here are the CDC’s recommendations.
• Credit Cards & ATMS:  Only some restaurants, shops and hotels will accept credit or debit cards. Always carry cash with you in Egypt.  There will be ATMs in most major hotels.
• Phone & Internet: Wifi is readily available in most hotels and restaurants.  Our Nile cruise had a lobby with access to wifi, but it never seemed to work properly.  Some phones will work in Egypt, but may incur charges for use of internet, data or foreign calls and texts.  Call your cell phone provider prior to your trip to see your options. When you arrive, you can always buy a local SIM card.  The three main telecommunication providers in Egypt are Vodafone, Etisalat and Orange.  Typically they all have kiosks found in the Cairo airport, but  will also have stores if you need to go to one later on.

Egypt Travel Guide-
Map of ancient Egypt’s tombs and temples

BUCKETLIST WORTHY THINGS TO SEE & DO IN EGYPT

•  The Great Pyramids– This one is obvious.  When in Egypt, you must make your way to Giza to see the last ancient wonder of the world!  The Great Pyramids are even more awe-inspiring than you would imagine, and should be at the top of your bucket list.
  
• The Valley of the Kings– Located near Luxor, in the west bank of the Nile river, the Valley of the Kings consists of 64 known tombs.  Home to some of the most famous pharaohs of the new kingdom, it is incredible to think how much is yet to be discovered.
  
• Take a Nile River Cruise– Providing food, fresh water and transportation, the Nile River was an extremely important part of every day life in ancient Egypt.  Cruising along one of the world’s largest rivers, you’ll see the beautiful countryside of Egypt and make stops at all of the most famous tombs and temples along the way.
  
• Abu Simbel Temples– Carved into the rock near the border of Sudan, the two Abu Simbel Temples are arguably some of the most impressive works from ancient Egypt.  Built for Ramses II and his wife Nefertiti, these massive temples are covered in intricate details.  Twice a year, the sun penetrates through the temple to the back of the inner sanctuary where it lights up the statue there.  The dates align with the birthday and coronation day of King Ramses II.  The craftsman ship needed to build these temples is absolutely mind blowing.
  
• The Egyptian Museum– Home to over 120,000 items, The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities has the largest Egyptian collection in the world.  On display are some of the most famous gems found in the uncovering of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922. 

Note: The new Grand Egyptian Museum is said to be opening in 2021. Many of the most valuable pieces in the current Egyptian museum will be transferred here.

Other questions to ask yourself while planning your trip to Egypt:

• Is it important to see Alexandria?  Alexandria is Egypt’s second largest city and was founded by Alexander the Great.  Today, you can see the remains of an ancient library, lighthouse and can walk around the markets of Corniche. Alexandria can be a day trip from Cairo (3 hour car ride), but most spend 1-2 days here if at all.
  
• Do you want to go on a Nile cruise?  I highly recommend taking this Nile cruise to see all of the sights from Luxor to Aswan, but you will need a solid 4-5 days for the built in itinerary. If you decide this isn’t for you, there are train or bus options from Cairo to Luxor, and you can stay at hotels or hostels in each city.
  
• Do you want a relaxed vacation?  If you want to spend some time near the beach with water sports or diving, you will want to visit Egypt’s resort towns near the Red Sea.  Sharm el Sheikh, and Marsa Alam are known to have beautiful beach resorts.
  
• Are you looking to do the classic Egypt route and see all the temples and tombs?  Most travelers visit Egypt for the ancient history.  If you want to see the most famous temples and tombs, check out these tours. I highly recommend any of those!
  

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO VISIT EGYPT?

Ten days in Egypt is a solid time to see all the main sites and temples.  However, if you have less time or more time, it’s still worth the trip!  Just the city of Cairo can be done in two days. Any of the resort towns, I would suggest 3-7 days, and you can see many of the temples in 5-7 if you don’t care about seeing every single one.

WHEN TO VISIT EGYPT

Since Egypt is in the desert, it can get extremely hot during the summer months.  For this reason, it’s smart to plan your trip between October and April when the temperatures won’t be as scorching.

Tip: December and January are considered the peak season, so avoid these months if you want less crowds and lines at temples.  (Also prices will be cheaper!)

If you have flexible dates, use Skyscanner to see when the cheapest dates would be to travel. 

Note: If you are doing a Nile cruise, make sure you know the days the boat disembarks, so the dates work well with the rest of your itinerary.  

TRANSPORTATION IN EGYPT

FLY
I use Skyscanner because they always have the best and cheapest flight options. Most international travelers will fly into the biggest airport in Egypt, Cairo International Airport.   There are some smaller airports in Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh and Aswan as well.

Tip:  If you are short on time, pay a little extra to take short flights within the country of Egypt.  We flew from Cairo to Luxor and then boarded our Nile cruise to Aswan, which saved us at least 10 hours of drive time!

TRAIN OR BOAT
There are 12 hour train options out of Cairo every day to Luxor.  Take this sleeper train if you would prefer to go overnight. Many people opt to take a Nile River Cruise, which makes stops at all the major sights between Luxor and Aswan.

CAR OR BUS
In my opinion, Egypt isn’t the place you want to rent a car.  The traffic and driving in and around Cairo can get pretty intense, and having a reputable tour company or driver will save you a lot of stress.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A TOUR OPERATOR IN EGYPT

It’s extremely important to have a guide with you during your trip to Egypt.  Hiring a tour operator, you will have a driver and an Egyptologist to take you around by car or bus.  They will deal with not so fun logistics such as traffic patterns and entry tickets. All you’ll have to do is take in your surroundings and thoroughly enjoy your trip.  Plus, you’ll learn so many facts from your Egyptologist, who know the ins and outs of Egyptian history. 

Here are the most reputable tour operators:

• Get Your Guide
• Intrepid
• Memphis Tours

MONEY & TIPPING IN EGYPT

 

TIPPING IN EGYPT

I put together the chart below as a guide to follow when tipping in Egypt.  Keep in mind, you can adjust these accordingly depending on your experience.  For guides that were really good and spent all day with us, we would give them a little extra to thank them!

I’m going to be blunt with you- the most annoying part of traveling in Egypt is tipping.  Tips, or “Baksheesh” are expected for everything.  If someone offers to take your picture, they’ll often ask for a baksheesh after the fact.  It can get frustrating at times, but knowing it going into your trip, you’ll be better prepared.   

HAGGLING IN EGYPT

Haggling in Egypt can be pretty intense.  When going to markets or bazaars, local vendors will chase after you and try to sell things to you.  You should absolutely haggle on pricing in Egypt.  The first price named is never the fair price.  Having a guide when shopping for souvenirs can be super helpful. They know what is a fair price and can even bargain on your behalf. (Although it can be pretty fun to do on your own!)

Tip:  Make sure you have small bills and to keep them separate!  Nothing is more embarrassing than haggling for something, scoring it cheaper and then having to ask for change.  We learned this quickly, so we would keep smaller bills in one pocket and larger in another. This way we could easily pull out what we needed.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT EGYPT?

A trip to Egypt can be done on almost any budget.  There are many hostels with great reviews for the budget traveler, and luxury cruises and hotels for those who want to splurge. 

Click HERE to find budget hostels for your trip to Egypt.

We stayed within the mid-range budget and opted for a nicer room in Giza. (Although, in my opinion, it was still cheap for the view we got!)  We decided to take flights over train or bus rides so we could make the most out of our limited time in Egypt.  We upgraded some excursions such as ticket entry into King Tut’s tomb, and spending an afternoon at the Nubian Tribes in Aswan as well.

At the end of our trip, we figured we spent about $160.00 USD a day.  This included all tickets, guides, transportation, food, accommodation, and even photography passes.

Don’t get discouraged if this is above your budget though!  You can travel Egypt on any budget.

WHERE TO STAY IN EGYPT? 

TOP HOTELS IN CARIO:

• BUDGET: Ramses Hilton Hotel & Casino
• MID-RANGE: Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
• LUXURY: The Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo

TOP HOTELS IN GIZA:

• BUDGET: Giza Pyramids View Inn
• MID-RANGE: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa in Giza
• LUXURY: Marriott Mena House

We stayed at the Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa in Giza and it was one of THE BEST hotels I have ever stayed at.  Everything was amazing, from the view, to the complimentary breakfast.  We stayed in Giza strictly to be closer to the pyramids, but we could also get to downtown Cairo in 25 minutes.

Pro Tip:  ASK FOR THE PYRAMID VIEW ROOM- You will NOT regret this.  It’s only $20 USD more and you will never have this experience ever again in your life.  Worth every penny.

TOP NILE RIVER CRUISES

The Nile cruise we stayed on was a four star accommodation for 4 nights. Making all the stops from Luxor to Aswan, (or visa versa) Nile cruises are the perfect way to see all the major tombs and temples of Egypt without having to travel in the car for hours on end.  Most cruise packages include entry tickets to the sites, a guide, and most meals.

Book one of these Nile Cruises:

• BUDGET: This 3 day cruise won’t visit as many of the temples, but will still make stops at the most important ones in a shorter amount of time as others cruises.
  
• MID- RANGE: This is the 5 day cruise route we did. The boat is not as luxurious as the next option, but it still is perfect if you want to save time and money. Plus, you are out exploring most of the time anyway!
  
• LUXURY: This 7 day Nile Cruise is the most luxurious and clean Nile river boat in Egypt. This tour is filled with all the amenities including a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings, and a trip to the Abu Simbel (not included in most Nile Cruise itineraries.)

NOTE: Many Nile cruises will say it is 5 star accommodation. Egyptian 5 star is not the same as 5 star elsewhere.  For the budget and mid-range tours above, as long as you aren’t expecting a luxury experience, you will be good to go!  We had two twin beds with a full window to the outside, but no balcony.  There is an awesome sun deck on board with lounge chairs.

If you want a much cleaner, up to date boat, book this luxury 7 day Nile cruise.

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL IN EGYPT?

If I had to give you a one word answer, yes.  I never felt unsafe once during our visit to Egypt.

In 2011, Egypt went through a civil uprising.  There were many protests and marches that ended up boiling over to a revolt over the president.  Things became extremely unstable in larger cities like Cairo.  The media showed these scenes around the world, creating a picture of unrest and danger.  Egypt’s tourism industry was extremely affected and the country felt it economically for years to come.  Even ten years later, Egypt is working to rebuild their reputation and prove their country is safe for travel.

Because of the 2011 revolution, safety is something a lot of tourists worry about. It doesn’t help that many countries still have warnings on travel to Egypt.  However, it is a good idea to keep an eye on travel advisories from your home country and avoid certain parts of Egypt. 

Here is why I felt safe Egypt:

• Tourism is a top contributor to their economy and they are working hard to disprove their negative perceptions.
• Egyptians are super friendly.
• For the most part, only main cities faced civil unrest.  I did not visibly see any sign of this during my time in Cairo and spent a lot of time in more rural areas.
• Tourist companies and guides allow you to have a local with you at all times, making you less of a target.
• There is a police presence everywhere you go.  Some people may feel unsafe seeing police with guns walking around, but this actually made me feel more safe.
• You will often find metal detectors everyone must go through before entering hotels, museums and temples.

FOOD & DRINK IN EGYPT

Food in Egypt is most comparable to Mediterranean or Middle Eastern food.  You can find a wide range of dishes anywhere from $2-$30 USD depending on where you are or what you are ordering. 

Most Egyptians do not drink alcohol due to religious beliefs. Therefore, alcohol is not allowed in most areas.  However, you can find alcohol on Nile cruises or other touristy areas or restaurants.

Make sure you get some authentic Egyptian food.  It is delicious! 

Here are my recommendations for must try foods and drinks in Egypt:

EGYPTIAN FOOD

• Kushari aka Koshari– This is the national dish of Egypt!  It’s a combo of Middle Eastern, Italian and Indian influences and is a very popular street food.  You will find Koshari served cold or hot and includes noodles, lentils, rice, chickpeas, tomato sauce, cumin and coriander.  All topped with fried onions.  Honestly, it’s AMAZING.  If you can try one dish in Egypt, this is my recommendation.
• Mahshi–  Egyptian stuffed vegetables.  Typically you’ll see either eggplant, bell peppers or zucchini stuffed with rice, herbs and tomato sauce.
• Aish Baladi–  Watching people carry hundreds of these puffy breads down the streets of Luxor was a site to see!  These Egyptian flat breads are so good and FRESH.  You will typically get these with any meal and they often have dips that are served with them. 
• Rabbit– If your guide gives you the option to have rabbit for lunch, take them up on it.  If you haven’t had rabbit before it is actually delicious.  I remember thinking it was better than chicken!
• Pigeon– (yes you read that right) Unlike New York City, Egyptians literally have cages to catch pigeons.  They are bred for eating and are a delicacy here!  We were told many people serve pigeon at their weddings in Egypt.

EGYPTIAN DRINKS

• Egyptian Coffee–  You will often get asked if you want coffee or tea when entering into a store (how nice!) Coffee in Egypt is so good, but it doesn’t taste like everyday coffee.  More like an espresso, the taste is very strong and is prepared by mixing very fine coffee grounds with sugar and hot water. Almost always you will find lots of grounds in the bottom of your cup.
• Hibiscus Tea- This Egyptian drink is very popular and is traditionally used to toast with.  Served both hot and cold, this bright red tea is sweet to taste and very refreshing!
• Sakara Gold–  When in Egypt, try Egyptian beer!  This is one of few alcoholic beverages you can find since most Egyptians do not drink alcohol.  Typically you will only find alcohol in tourist-oriented locations.  This beer is a light lager and tastes crisp and refreshing on hot days!

The do’s & don’t of eating and drinking in Egypt:

• Do not drink the tap water.  Always drink bottled water.  We even used bottled water to brush our teeth.  The water in Egypt is not safe for tourists to consume.
• Avoid uncooked food.  Unless it is something you can peel, I highly recommend avoiding any food that could potentially be washed in their water such as fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid drinks with ice unless you know the ice was made with bottled water.
• Don’t drink fruit juices in which water may have been added.
• Do try the local cuisine.

These measures may seem extreme to some travelers, but I abided to these rules and never got sick during my trip.  I knew some others who ate and drank whatever they wanted and felt the consequences. In my opinion it’s better safe than sorry!  

WHAT TO WEAR/PACK FOR EGYPT

Packing for Egypt can be tricky! Because Egypt is a Muslim country, you should wear modest clothing. This dress code is not as expected around main tourist sites, but it is considered respectful to cover your knees and shoulders throughout the country. As a woman, I recommend wearing loose and conservative clothing to be less of a target to cat calling. Also, bring a scarf to cover your hair in religious sites.

Check out my Egypt Packing Guide for a detailed list of everything you will need in Egypt.

If you are going during the summer, it will be very hot. Despite the temperature, it’s important to still wear conservative clothing. Make sure you pack clothes that are loose fitting and comfortable to walk around in during extreme temperatures!

EGYPT TRAVEL GUIDE- IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS

1. Do not drink the water in Egypt.
2. Having a guide or Egyptologist is important to get the most out of your visit.
3. Always have cash.
4. Egypt is (for the most part) safe.
5. The ancient history of Egypt is incredible and is 100% worth seeing in person. 
6. You will often have to pay for a photography pass at temples.
7. You can visit Egypt on any budget.
8. Tips or “Backsheesh” are expected for everything and anything.
9. Get Travel Insurance

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There you have it! You now have all the best tips and information to make your trip to Egypt go as smoothly as possible! I hope this Egypt travel guide helped get you excited to experience everything this wonderful country has to offer. You are about to see some of the most historical and unreal landmarks in all of ancient history. It will be a trip of a lifetime, I promise.

Time to start planning your trip to Egypt!

If you have any questions about travel in Egypt, or have suggestions from your own experiences, comment below and let me know! I’d love to hear from you.

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BEST EGYPT TRAVEL RESOURCES:

1. DO NOT FORGET TRAVEL INSURANCE ON YOUR TRIP TO ICELAND!

I use World Nomads. Their website is super easy to navigate and claims are simple to submit.  This coverage will keep you protected from anything from “oh no” moments, flight cancellations, and even lost luggage! Honestly- worth every penny!

2. BOOK FLIGHTS WITH SKYSCANNER
3. BOOK ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING.COM or HOTELS.COM
4. BOOK ACTIVITIES AND TOURS WITH GET YOUR GUIDE

Need help planning your trip to ICELAND? Go to my travel resources page for my favorite travel companies to save you money, time, and headaches!

Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Go to my travel resources page for my favorite travel companies to save you money, time, and headaches!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.  I only recommend companies and products I use, and the income is used to keep the site up and running.  

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