Practical Information for visiting Egypt

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP). Cash dominates: cards work in hotels, better restaurants and larger shops in cities, but markets, taxis, tips and small businesses are cash only.

ATMs are common in cities and tourist areas and scarcer elsewhere. Carry small denominations, as change for large notes is frequently unavailable.

Baksheesh is embedded in daily life — small amounts for guides, drivers, attendants and anyone who assists you. Restaurant tipping of around ten per cent is normal, on top of any service charge.

Coverage for mobile networks is good in cities, the Nile valley and Red Sea resorts, and patchy in the deserts. Local SIMs are inexpensive and sold at airports with passport registration.

Wi-fi is standard in hotels. Domestic flights link Cairo with Luxor, Aswan and the coast; the overnight sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor is a practical alternative and is booked separately for foreign travellers.

Egypt's main tourist areas -- Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts -- are generally safe and see millions of visitors a year, though some regional variation and a few specific risks are worth real attention.

• Touts and scams are the most common everyday nuisance rather than a safety risk -- persistent selling, unofficial "guides" at monuments, and inflated prices for unrequested services (a "free" photo followed by a demand for payment) are common around every major site. A firm decline and walking on usually ends it.
• The Sinai Peninsula's interior, away from the Red Sea resort towns and the well-traveled route to St. Catherine's Monastery, has an active government travel advisory due to militant activity -- stick to established tourist areas and organized transport, and check current advisories before any independent Sinai travel beyond the coast.
• Traffic is a significant everyday hazard -- Cairo's driving is famously chaotic, with few enforced rules; crossing streets and choosing transport (a registered taxi or rideshare over an unmarked car) requires real caution.
• Food and water safety: stick to bottled or purified water, and be selective with street food and salads washed in tap water, particularly early in a trip while adjusting.
• Photography restrictions apply inside many tombs, museums, and near some government/military sites -- look for posted signs and ask before photographing, since enforcement can be strict and inconsistent.
• Emergency number: 122 for police, 123 for ambulance.

Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended. Do not drink tap water; bottled water is cheap and universal, and take care with ice and uncooked food.

Stomach upsets are the most common complaint. Heat is a serious risk between May and September, particularly at open desert sites with no shade — the Valley of the Kings offers almost none.

Bilharzia is present in the Nile and in canals; do not swim or wade in fresh water. The Red Sea is safe and excellent for diving.

Comprehensive travel insurance including evacuation is advisable, as facilities outside Cairo are limited.

Dress modestly away from resorts — shoulders and knees covered for both men and women — and cover hair when entering a mosque. Remove shoes at mosque entrances.

Photography of military and police installations, bridges and some government buildings is prohibited and taken seriously. Ask before photographing people; many will ask for baksheesh afterwards.

Public displays of affection are not acceptable. Alcohol is available in hotels and licensed restaurants but not widely elsewhere, and is not consumed in public. Same-sex relationships, while not explicitly illegal, are prosecuted under other laws and discretion is strongly advised.

Ramadan changes everything for a month: eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight is offensive and in some places unlawful.

122 reaches the police, 123 the ambulance service and 180 the fire brigade. 126 is the dedicated tourist police, which is often the most useful number for visitors and where English is most likely.

Response times and standards vary considerably outside Cairo and the main tourist centres.

In the Western Desert and Sinai, travel is restricted in places and may require permits or a guide; check current requirements, which change with the security situation.