In this post we want to give you 10 Egypt Travel Tips 2023 we wish we had known before going to Egypt. How to move around Egypt, how to bargain and handle money, and many more.
Egypt has been one of our favorite trips so far. It’s chaotic, noisy, overwhelming but at the same time it’s magical, fun and stunning.
10 Egypt Travel Tips 2023
1. Don’t be scared of crossing the streets
The cities of Egypt are basically in a constant traffic jam to the point where even if there were a stoplight or crosswalk of some sort, it would just be blocked by cars!
In Egypt, people simply step in front of oncoming cars to cross the street.
The first time we tried to cross a street in Cairo and we saw school kids crossing in front of 100 speeding cars on a 4-lane highway without even looking, we were shocked for sure! There was no way we would be able to do that.
The assumption is that pedestrians will cross the street out of necessity and that cars will stop for them out of necessity. There is no need to be courteous or avoid the subject.
So yes, basically you just have to jump into it, in the hope that you don’t die in the process.
2. Negotiate with confidence
In Egyptian markets and bazaars, haggling is a popular activity. When purchasing souvenirs, don’t be afraid to haggle over the price as long as you do it politely and with a smile.
We recommend asking your guide what is a reasonable price for a certain item, or how much of a percentage should you go down of the initial price.
3. Always carry cash
Although credit cards are generally accepted in urban areas, it is nevertheless advisable to carry some local cash (Egyptian pounds), particularly when traveling to more distant sites or local markets.
Check out a common tourist trap involving cash in our post: 5 Worst Egypt Tourist Traps.
4. Use APPs such as Uber to move around the cities
Uber is available in large cities, making it easy and affordable to move about. Cairo has a subway system. Be prepared, though, for Cairo’s infamous gridlock.
Cairo is one of the worst when it comes to traffic, due to the sheer amount of people living in the city. Avoid rush hour if you can. We used Uber to move around and had no problem, so we recommend using an app such as Uber in order to have a fixed price for the trip. Plus, you know that the driver is following the marked trip.
Furthermore, if you don’t feel secure with a taxi, knowing that the app tracks the trip you make, can help you feel secure.
5. Check with your doctor before the trip
Before traveling to Egypt, ask your doctor about the needed immunizations. Drink bottled or purified water as well to prevent any health difficulties, and think about purchasing travel insurance to pay for unforeseen medical costs.
Traveling from Spain in 2023 you do not need any vaccines to travel to Egypt. But we always recommend checking out with your doctor.
6. Do not drink tap water!
Tap water is not the cleanest in Egypt and therefore we do not recommend using it. Even to brush your teeth, if you can avoid it completely it would be better.
A lot of people, us included, got the curse of Tutankhamun, which is basically vomiting from drinking dirty water. It can last for days and will ruin a part of your trip. So try to avoid untapped water at all costs.
Even vegetables and fruits, these are often washed or irrigated with water from the Nile, so they are also a source of possible problems.
You will see with your own eyes the state of the water of the Nile in certain parts of the country, so you can assess the use of this water on your own. Hoarding water bottles is a good practice, because you use tap water for more things than you expect. For example, one that often people forget is washing your menstrual cup if you use one.
7. Hire a great guide
One of the most important travel tips for Egypt 2023 is hiring a great guide. Egypt is a country full of history, and the monuments and museums are great, but if you want to understand them, you will need a guide.
The group of the people per guide must be small, I would not recommend more than 10 people for a single guide. We were lucky and Ahmed (our guide) was very knowledgeable and very patient.
The guide will also be very helpful in dealing with locals, help you bargain the prices of your souvenirs, and most importantly he/she will know where the bad spots are, and will indicate to you where you have to be aware of your surroundings, and your valuable items.
Furthermore, a guide with contacts across the country can provide you services at a cheaper price. So don’t be cheap when hiring a guide because it will be one of the most important decisions you make.
8. Don’t go into the Pyramids
The Pyramids were looted a long time ago, and are completely empty now. To go into the pyramids it will cost you around 15€, and all you will see is an empty corridor.
The corridors inside the pyramids are very narrow, so if you have claustrophobia it is not advisable. Plus, even if you don’t have claustrophobia you will leave the pyramid disappointed and with back pain from being a hunchback that hall time you are in.
The only reason why people go in, is to say that they have been in the pyramid. Instead we recommend being smart and spending your time in the vicinity of the pyramids admiring the sheer size of them. You can even spend around 10€ for a camel ride near the pyramids.
9. Don’t be cheap with the hotels
The hotels do not have the same standards as the ones in Europe for example. I mean that a three star hotel will not be as luxurious as a 3 star hotel in Germany. Therefore, spend a bit more and go to at least a four star hotel.
We booked the Hotel Marriot (5 Star Luxury Hotel | Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino), it is a luxurious hotel, which will provide you with all the amenities you could need. The garden with the pool is great for the hot summer days.
Another great option is the Conrad Hotel (Conrad Cairo (hilton.com)), these two are great options situated in the center near the Nile river.
10. Learn how to deal with the child vendors
You will 100% encounter children selling all kinds of stuff. It is very sad, as these kids are often very young, but often the parents will be hanging around in the nearest bar to collect the money. So do not feel bad for not buying their stuff. We recommend asking your guide if you want to donate money to needed children, he/she will surely indicate to you how to do it.
Even in the boats, there are children that cross the Nile on top of a wooden plank or on a small boat to sell carpets and other stuff to the tourists on the boats. Some of these children are incredibly smart and even know how to speak and sing in numerous languages.
Our experience
These Egypt Travel Tips 2023 are based on our recent trip to the country. If you want to know an excellent itinerary for 10 days see the post: Egypt in 10 days. Also make sure to check out our post on how to book the best Nile Cruise in this post: How to Choose the Best Nile Cruise? Easy Egypt.
Explore other topics!
Egypt Flag: Meaning, Colors and History
Egypt flag has three horizontal red, white, and black stripes run the length of the flag. Each of these hues has special meaning.
10 Essential Egypt Travel Tips 2023
Egypt Travel Tips 2023 we wish we had known before going to Egypt. How to move around Egypt, how to bargain and handle money, etc.
5 Worst Egypt Tourist Traps and How to Avoid Them
Egypt is known for its ancient history and rich culture, but also the Egypt tourist traps, which trick or outright steal from the tourists.