Egypt is an absolutely incredible country to visit. It ranks as one of Kayla’s favorite places she’s ever visited. With that being said, there are some things you should know before you go to Egypt, especially if you’re an American and never been to a predominantly Muslim country or aren’t familiar with Muslim culture.
This list of 20 things to know before you go to Egypt contains advice on how to be mindful and respectful of the culture, societal norms to be aware of, and things that pleasantly surprised Kayla on her first visit.
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1. The Egyptian government goes to great lengths to keep tourists safe.
One of the most common concerns that people have when visiting Egypt is whether it’s safe – especially if you live in the USA where the media depicts all Muslim countries as being particularly dangerous. For over a decade, Egypt has also appeared as a level 3 travel advisory for American tourists. However, Kayla felt completely safe the entire time she was in Egypt.
Tourism is the primary form of income for the Egyptian economy, and the government takes extreme measures to protect their visitors. There is an entire branch of the Egyptian government dedicated to ensuring the safety of tourists, and you’ll find a police presence at all tourists sites.
While the countries that border Egypt are in turmoil, the borders are heavily guarded, tour groups do not go to that area, and even if they wanted to, they would not be allowed. Tour companies have to have each tour itinerary vetted and marked as safe by authorities.
To ensure you have an outstanding experience, we recommend you explore Egypt with a guided tour. Not only is this the safest option, it’s also a guarantee that you’ll learn a ton about the history and culture of Egypt. It’s also a good idea to enroll in the STEP program (or your country’s equivalent) to receive alerts and important info from the US embassy.
2. Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country.
Egypt is 90% Muslim and 10% Christian. It is important to be respectful and mindful of this culture while you are there. The call to prayer will be played over loud speakers 5 times a day. Traditional Muslim attire will be worn by most of the population – this includes hijabs, galabeyas, burqas, nikabs, chadors, and thobes. If you visit during Ramadan, businesses will have limited hours and food may not be available at local restaurants during the day.
While this may not be a culture that you are accustomed to or even acquainted with, you are a visitor in their country and should be respectful of their beliefs.
3. It’s best to dress conservatively.
With it being a Muslim country, everyone dresses very conservatively. If you’re a woman, keep shoulders and knees covered and avoid tops that expose your midriff or cleavage.
While it is not necessary to cover your hair, it’s a good idea to bring a lightweight one in case a mosque requires it. These can also come in handy when it’s unbearably hot and you want to keep your head cool!
4. Be prepared to remove your shoes if entering a mosque.
The prayer area of a mosque is considered sacred and the soles of shoes are considered dirty. Thus, it’s required to remove your shoes before entering the prayer area. A lot of mosques have shoe racks or a designated area to put your shoes.
5. US dollars are accepted mostly everywhere, but may not get you the best deal.
The Egyptian Pound is the national currency of Egypt. The bills are colorful and have depictions of Egyptian architecture, pharaohs, and art. Most hotel chains have ATMs where you can withdraw Egyptian Pounds, but if not, you’ll be able to use US dollars at most businesses – especially if you’ve booked with a tour guide. Just know that you will likely get the best deals if paying with Egyptian Pounds.
6. Tipping is expected.
Egyptian economy is highly dependent on tourism, and tipping is greatly appreciated and expected. Have small bills handy for one off services like carrying bags, hotel cleaning staff, bathroom attendants, (more on that below). 10-20% is the norm for restaurants (though check the bill to see if a service charge has already been applied to the bill). If you have a tour guide (which we highly recommend you do), $20-25 per day is standard for an outstanding experience.
One of Kayla’s favorite memories from her first trip to Egypt was when she visited Karnak Temple and tipped an employee a couple of dollars – in return, he took her up a narrow staircase and proudly showed her a fantastic overlook of the temple grounds!
7. Bring your own toilet paper or pay for it.
Nearly every bathroom is going to have a bathroom attendant in Egypt. They are responsible for keeping the bathrooms maintained and in a lot of cases, rationing out toilet paper. We recommend traveling with your own toilet paper, because a lot of times you only get a few squares which is sparse in our opinion. However, if you do get toilet paper from the attendant, it’s customary to tip them. And even if you don’t, it’s a nice gesture though not required.
8. The food is delicious.
Kayla is sort of a picky eater, but she was blown away by the food the first time she visited Egypt. It is absolutely delicious! Be adventurous and try new things, because you might just be surprised by how much you love it!
Kayla’s favorite dish was koshary, which is widely considered Egypt’s national dish. It consists of lentils, pasta, chickpeas, and rice tossed in a tomato based sauce. You then have the option of adding garlic vinegar and crunchy fried onions (which you should definitely do). Each restaurant’s recipe for koshary tastes slightly different, which in our opinion is a good excuse to try it in every city you visit!
Be sure to check out our list of 12 Foods You Need to Try in Egypt to find out all the traditional foods you need to eat during your visit!
9. With that being said, don’t drink the water.
The tap water in Egypt is not considered safe to drink. Stick to bottled water with the seals intact. This should be kept in mind not just for drinking water, but raw fruits and vegetables that may have been washed with tap water. You should also use bottled water when brushing your teeth and be cautious of getting the water in your eyes when showering.
It’s always good to carry some Pepto Bismol Chewable Tablets and Imodium with you though just in case – not just for Egypt, but every country!
10. Egypt is dry and dusty.
You probably already known that Egypt is in a hotter climate, but if you aren’t accustomed to being in a desert climate, you might not realize how dry and dusty it can be.
You should definitely bring lotion and chapstick to keep your skin moisturized. We also recommend bringing eye drops if you wear contacts and nasal mist or spray if your sinuses are prone to irritation.
Avoid wearing white, as dust will cling to it and turn your clothes into a lovely shade of light brown.
11. You are required to get a visa upon arrival.
A tourist visa is required upon arrival and only costs $25 USD. This is a walk-up service that can be completed at the Cairo airport (or whatever Egyptian airport you fly into). If you have a guided tour with airport transfers included, your driver may even help you obtain your visa. However, it’s a pretty straight forward process with a well marked area for getting the visa.
12. Strangers may stare and want to take a picture with you.
This is especially the case if you have features that are unusual to Egypt or the eastern world – freckles, blue eyes, blonde hair, red hair, etc. When Kayla visited, it was mainly tourists from Asian and African countries who wanted to take pictures, but some locals did as well.
It was harmless in Kayla’s experience, but can definitely be a little off putting if you don’t expect it or haven’t experienced a situation like that before. Keep in mind that these people might not have ever seen someone with curly blonde hair and blue eyes or maybe they’ve only seen people with freckles in pictures. However, feel free to politely decline if you feel uncomfortable (and sometimes you just have to).
13. Buying souvenirs can be a stressful experience.
Speaking of uncomfortable situations, shop owners and market vendors can be extremely pushy. Tourism is how they put their food on the table. A lot of times, there is almost a desperation in the market stall owner’s attempts to get you to purchase their products. Wearing sunglasses is helpful in avoiding eye contact and dissuading unwanted approaches. A firm “no” (or “la” in Arabic) is also helpful.
When you do find something you want to buy though, expect to haggle. Never accept the first price. It is expected that you bargain for your souvenirs. How do you deal with it if you aren’t used to haggling? Have fun with it and go into it with a sense of humor. Be polite, but don’t be afraid to negotiate. You should also have a general idea up front of how much you’re willing to pay for an item.
14. Learn some Arabic before you go.
No matter where you travel, it’s always good to learn a little bit of the local language. Locals are impressed and appreciative when they encounter a tourist who has taken the time to learn more about their culture and language. Scammers will also think you’re not as easy of a target if they hear you speaking the local language.
Here are some basic Arabic words and phrases to learn before your trip:
Marhaba = Hello
Shukran = Thank you
Afwan = You’re welcome
Min fadlik = Please
Inshallah = God willing
15. You can take photos at most historic sites, but pictures aren’t allowed at all of them.
Photography is allowed at most of the historic sites, but there’s a few where it’s not OR you have to pay for it. For instance, you’ll have to purchase a photography pass to take pictures inside of Abu Simbel. And you are not allowed to photograph King Tut’s mummy.
Your tour guide should be able to let you know in advance where you can and can’t take pictures. Sites where it is not allowed typically also have signs up. Please be respectful of the rules enforced at historical sites.
16. Alcohol is uncommon.
If you’re a hardcore partier, Egypt might not be the place for you. While alcohol isn’t nonexistent, it is harder to find unless you’re at a touristy restaurant, hotel, or on one of the Nile River Cruises. This is because Muslims abstain from alcohol.
Not only is alcohol scarce, public consumption is frowned upon and you can be arrested for public intoxication. So, know your limits if you do choose to drink and be familiar with the law so you don’t get yourself into any trouble.
If you visit during Ramadan, you may find that alcohol isn’t served in some places where it would typically be served outside of the holy month.
17. PDA is frowned upon.
Being a conservative country, it is considered inappropriate to show public displays of affection – regardless of relationship status. Save the kissing, hugging, and hand holding until you’re in the privacy of your own hotel room. Egyptians view it as being immodest and also disrespectful when at religious sites.
While it is believed that some Ancient Egypt paintings depicted homosexual relationships, same sex marriage is not legal in Egypt and displays of public affection between same sex couples could lead to unwanted negative attention. Not only is it best to avoid any type of PDA, it is also best to avoid wearing any sort of LGBTQ identifiers (rainbows, symbols, etc).
If you are traveling with your same-sex partner, we recommend traveling with a tour guide so that you have an extra level of protection and guidance on what is accepted and what is not.
18. Traffic is… intense.
Imagine an 8 lane road with no lines and LOTS of honking. That’s the experience driving from the Cairo airport into downtown Cairo. Which is why we do NOT recommend driving unless that is an atmosphere you are accustomed to navigating on your own. Instead, hire a driver or a tour company that includes airport transfers.
You might find yourself gripping the armrest of your seat at first, but once you get used to the chaos of it all, it’s quite the adventure!
19. Keep an open mind.
Egypt will be unlike anywhere you’ve ever traveled to before – especially if you are from a western country and haven’t spent time in a place where you are the minority. Instead of shying away from the differences though, we encourage you to keep an open mind and embrace them.
It might take you a day or two into your trip, but you’ll slowly start to feel your shoulders relax. You’ll stop spotting the differences and start seeing all the beauty that Egypt has to offer – not just in its historic sites, but in the people, the language, the traditions, and the culture. And the sooner you allow yourself to start embracing the beauty that comes in the unknown, the better of a time you will have.
20. You’re going to want to go back.
Kayla struggles to sum up her trip to Egypt in only a few words. She knew that she would enjoy her time there, but had no idea that she would absolutely fall head over heels for the culture, language, history, and people.
She loved the noisy traffic filled with cacophonous honking and lack of marked lanes that made for confusing and exciting car rides. She looked forward to hearing the call to prayer 5 times a day, even though she had no idea what was being said. Arabic was a beautiful puzzle that she found herself wanting to solve. She’s usually a picky eater, but did not come across anything that she did not like during her time there. Her first trip to Egypt opened her eyes to a whole new world that she cannot wait to get back to.
In the city of Aswan, there are signs on the side of the road that say “Sweet you are, my country”. And sweet it is.
Did we miss anything on our list of 20 things to know before you go to Egypt? Tell us in the comments below!
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