Egypt can be an intimidating travel destination, but here are the must know travel tips for Egypt.
*This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I am an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases. I appreciate your support.
Tipping
Egypt has a strong tipping culture, so it’s a good idea to carry small bills on you. You will tip everyone including your tour guides and drivers. In April 2024, I tipped my tour guides between $15-$20 USD per day and my drivers between $5-$10 per day. At restaurants, I tipped 10-15% of the bill. You can also ask your tour provider for recommendations on tipping amount. If you are taking a Nile River cruise, you can tip the staff at the end of the cruise. They will usually give you an envelope for tips when you are settling your final bill.
Nile River Cruise
You can either take a 3 night or 4 night cruise based on whether you begin the cruise in Aswan or Luxor. You will still see all the same sites, but you will have a bit more time to enjoy cruising as well as more time at Edfu temple if you choose the 4 night cruise out of Luxor. If you have the time to spare, I would recommend the 4 night cruise. However, the 3 night cruise is perfectly sufficient and I was extremely happy my experience through Luxor and Aswan Travel.
Food is typically included on your Nile River cruise, but you will probably pay for beverages. They keep track of the beverages you order during your cruise and you settle the bill at the end of the cruise.
Domestic Flight or Sleeper Train?
I was debating whether to take the sleeper train or a flight to Aswan for my Nile River cruise. After watching videos on what the sleeper train looked like, I chose to spend the extra money and book domestic flights for my Nile River cruise. The trains don’t get the best reviews, so I would recommend taking a flight. If you are considering the sleeper train, make sure to look up review videos before booking one so you are fully prepared for the experience you signed up for. The flights were convenient and worth the extra money in my opinion. You can check out the prices of the domestic flights below.
Bathrooms
Most bathrooms will cost money so you really need to make sure you have small bills on you. Always carry toilet paper on you because it may not be available. Don’t flush the toilet paper. Instead, dispose of it in the small trash cans.
Visa on Arrival
If you qualify for a visa on arrival, it’s a very easy process. When I went, it was $25 in USD and they do ask for it in USD. You can also exchange currency at the same booth where you pick up your visa. Consider using Welcome Pickups to schedule an airport transfer ahead of time.
Air Quality
The air quality in Cairo definitely started to aggravate my sinuses after a day or two. Make sure to bring cough suppressants, decongestants, and lozenges. Without cough suppressants, I would have been up all night coughing. My Cairo cough disappeared after I arrived in Aswan.
Foodborne Illness
It seems like a lot of people end up dealing with gastrointestinal issues when visiting Egypt. After talking to Passport Health about my upcoming trip, they suggested Travelan. I took one pill before every meal and I never had an issue while I was there. You can buy Travelan here.
Haggling
Haggling can be a very awkward experience if you’ve never done it before and it takes practice to get better at it. First of all, make sure you are looking at multiple items in a shop. Don’t get stuck on one item because you don’t want to show them your weakness haha. Ask for prices on multiple items. Your first counter should be at half the price they initially provide. This may seem low, but it tends to be the advice that is given. I countered at half and honestly did not move up much from there. Also, be prepared to walk away. Many shops in a market like Khan El Khalili tend to have the same items, so you can move on easily if you are not happy with the price. This can also be an effective haggling technique because when a shop owner thinks you are walking out, they will probably offer a lower price.
Must Have Travel Items for Egypt
- Scarves for entering mosques
- Cargo pants for desert exploration
- Linen pants to help you beat the heat
- Travelan to avoid GI issues
- Supergoop sunscreen is my favorite face sunscreen
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes
- Airalo eSIM (your phone must be unlocked)
- Ekta Travel Insurance
Like it? Pin it!
Extend Your Trip with 2 Free Nights in Abu Dhabi
If you choose to fly Etihad, you can add a free 1-2 night stopover in Abu Dhabi where they will pay for your hotel. Read more about this opportunity here.