Cairo Made Easy-ish: Egypt Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors!

Finally visiting Egypt? We’re so excited for you!! Egypt is one of the world’s most unique and culturally rich destinations, and because we want you to fully enjoy your time here, we’ve put together a quick guide with some essential Egypt travel tips for first-time visitors to help make your trip smooth, easy, and fun!

1. Stay Hydrated. 

   
   

The Egyptian sun doesn’t play around. The country is pretty much sunny all year long and gets REALLY hot during summer, so always keep a bottle of water with you. In Egypt, October thru March is the BEST time to visit for beautiful (mild to warm) weather. Summers are intense heat wise and can make it less enjoyable visiting sites as most are outside in the full sun. No matter the season, always keep a water bottle on you to stay hydrated!

2. Tipping.
   

   Though not required for all services, tipping in Egypt - locally known as Baksheesh- is deeply ingrained in the Egyptian society and culture and is always done by the locals themselves.  Egyptians usually tip everyone, including delivery services, taxis and sometimes even those working for transportation apps like Uber. So keep small EGP notes with you for casual everyday tipping, as it is highly appreciated. Larger tips are usually given for long-term services such as private drivers and tour guides.

3. PDA is frowned up in Egypt. 

   
   

   At the end of the day, Egypt is a generally considered a “traditional” country; at least when it comes to public behavior. So public displays of affection that go beyond holding hands or casual hugs generally aren’t well received in Egypt. Of course, like many other things, it varies from one area to another, but it's best to stay mindful and keep it minimal throughout your trip.

   
   

4. More than Pyramids.

   
   

   Yes, the Pyramids of Giza are amazing and worth all the hype but always remember that there’s more to Cairo than the Pyramids and more to Egypt than Cairo. It’s impossible to list every single thing to do/see in Egypt so make sure you add as much as you can when you visit! 

   
   
   
   

5. Museums require credit/debit cards.

   
   

   Though it's essential to carry cash with you in Egypt, you must have your card/s with you at museums because they require cards to book tickets.

   
   

6. Communication.

   
   

Most Egyptians on the street you meet can at least communicate in very basic English and if they can't, they'll make it work using hand gestures, so no need to worry about communication that much. Very sociable at heart, nothing can stop Egyptians from communicating with strangers! However, feel free to use Google Translate (though be aware that Google Translate is a different dialect than Egyptian Arabic so it may take a minute for the translation to be understood when sharing with whoever you're speaking to) when you feel the need and knowing basic Egyptian words bring an instant smile to their faces.

7. Getting from A to B -aka: TRANSPORTATION!

   
   

   Egypt in general is a lively country but Cairo? It truly never sleeps! Getting around Cairo isn't hard and you'll almost always find a way to get to where you need to be, HOWEVER - Public transport can be confusing for non-Egyptians (even for some Egyptians, If I'm being honest), if you're needing to get around an Uber will be your best option.
   

Pro Tip: Brace yourself for Cairo's traffic and don’t get too surprised by how Egyptians drive; it makes no sense to Westerners, but Egypt's traffic has it's own language and they all have an understanding of it. Even if it looks terrifying to you!

8. Cultural Etiquette.

   
   

Egyptians are way more forgiving and open than you probably think and they understand that some people just don't know much about their culture; but because we want your trip to be as smooth and loving as possible here are some  things to keep in mind regarding religious and cultural etiquette:

- When entering a Mosque, everyone should take off their shoes and women should cover their heads.

- You'll be hearing the call to prayer 5 times a day, and though it's totally understandable it could sound unfamiliar to you, it's very important to not mock it or do something obviously disrespectful while its being called.

- It's very important to show respect in historical places by not touching, leaning on, or climbing ancient ruins/buildings/antiques, and remember to always turn off your flash when taking pictures inside all museums, tombs or ancient temples. Egyptians are very connected to and proud of their country and history and aren't very forgiving to people deliberately being disrespectful.

-  Be mindful when discussing politics of sensitive subjects as Egyptians are very politically opinionated and, again, don't take their country being ridiculed or disrespected lightly.

- You CAN eat and drink during Ramadan, as obviously non-Muslims and tourists aren't expected to fast too, however- the whole day is affected during Ramadan so make sure to double check operating hours before planning anything.  

9. Always confirm the total cost before agreeing to anything.

Just a general rule and It'll save you a lot of time, energy and headaches. And be aware NOTHING is free. If someone offers something for free, they'll come back later looking for money you "owe".

10. Security.

    
    

Security checkpoints are found everywhere and anywhere in Egypt, especially in touristic areas and though they supposedly move fast, it's good to keep that in mind and put some extra time in consideration when planning things. If you’re traveling outside of the major cities, make sure to keep your passport and ID on you as there are checkpoints where the police will require identification. This is completely normal and it’s not something to be stressed about. If you’re staying in Cairo, you wont need to keep your passport on you so you can leave it safely at your accommodation.

11. Haggling.

    
    

Ahhhhhh, you want the authentic Egyptian experience, we get you! Haggling in Egypt is a big part of it and everyone is ready to haggle now, if not for the actual money, but for the experience of it.

Though sellers don't appreciate the non-ending back and forth process, if you truly think something is very overpriced, it's totally fine to put on your auntie hat on and haggle a bit. Remember that haggling, like everything else in Egypt, is a social interaction so put your humor to use, keep it light and respectful and always remain friendly and patient. If you're not going anywhere and you lose interest, just calmly walk away.

12. Consider an Egyptian SIM card when you arrive.

You won’t find free WiFi everywhere , so getting an Egyptian SIM card from one of the major providers—Vodafone,Etisalat, or Orange—won't only make your trip smoother but will also be much kinder to your bank account.  

13. Know your emergency numbers.
    

Egyptian Tourist Police: 126.

Egyptian Ambulance Service Hotline: 123.

Egyptian Police Hotline: 122.

Or you can always call your Egyptian friend, they'll be the first to arrive!

No Egyptian friends yet? No need to worry! We can take on that role and help you make the best out of your Egypt trip. Just reach out to us — we’re always happy to help :)

Egypt is a big and rich country with so much to offer, and Egyptians LOVE tourists so just go with genuine curiosity, patience, love and respect and you'll always have a home there.