15 Tips for Your First Visit to Egypt
So, you’re planning your first trip to Egypt? Amazing choice! We’re really excited for you and since Egypt is our second home, we have our best 15 local tips for your first visit to Egypt coming along.
This country will seriously blow your mind with ancient wonders, golden deserts, chaotic cities, crystal clear water, unforgettable marine life and the warmest hospitality of the locals. But let’s be honest: it can also be a little overwhelming if you’re not prepared.
From sunburn to Pharaoh’s revenge, we’ve been there—so here are 15 honest tips for your first time in Egypt. Trust us, they’ll save you some stress.
1. Choose the Right Time to Visit Egypt (Avoid the Melt Season)
Egypt is hot. Like step-outside-and-instantly-sweat hot. If you’re not a fan of frying, avoid traveling between May and September, especially if you’re heading to Luxor or Aswan.
☀️ Best months? October to April – you’ll get sunshine without heatstroke, and it’s much easier to enjoy temples and beaches when you’re not baking in the heat.
2. Yes, You Can Get a Visa at the Airport
If you have a European or North American passport, you can usually buy a tourist visa on arrival. It costs around $25 / €23 (bring cash in USD or EUR), and you’ll get it at a little kiosk before passport control. Super easy. You can also apply online before your trip (check for “Egypt eVisa”) if you like having things sorted in advance.
3. Get a SIM Card or eSIM
You’ll need data to navigate, use Uber, translate signs, or Google “how to cross a street in Cairo without dying.”
Grab a local SIM card (Vodafone, Orange or Etisalat) at the airport or use an eSIM if your phone supports it.
Prices for SIM cards and data are really cheap, and you’ll thank yourself when you’re trying to connect to a hotel’s free WiFi (which seems to exist but often doesn’t work). When you’re on your first visit to Egypt you will need internet access with you all times to make life more easy.
4. Don’t Drive in Cairo – Seriously, Don’t
We mean it. This tip for your first visit to Egypt will make your time here much less stressfull. Unless you enjoy playing real-life Mario Kart in six lanes with no rules. Cairo traffic is next level!!
There are no visible rules, horns are a second language, lanes are… suggestions, and pedestrians and animals cross like they’re in an action movie. There are bumps in the road for speed control that are mostly impossible to see and that will just destroy your car if you miss them.
Instead, use Uber. It’s cheap, air-conditioned, and far less terrifying 😉.
For us, Hoss is always driving (he was born and raised there – so there’s that). Anni would NEVER dare to drive in Cairo – even after all these years of travelling there.
However driving outside the city with a rental car is something you can do, but keep a good eye on the road at all times. You’ll find speed bumps in the middle of the road and also the streets are not maintained everywhere. Keep an eye on stuff lying on the street and potholes.
5. The Country Is HUGE – Tips for Egypt to Plan Accordingly
Looking at a map can be deceiving. Egypt isn’t just Cairo and the Pyramids. Distances between major destinations are long.
For example:
- Cairo → Luxor = 650 km (≈ 10 hours by car!)
- Luxor → Aswan = 3.5 hours
- Cairo → Hurghada = 6–7 hours
Domestic flights or overnight trains can save you loads of time.
If you don’t want to take a plane or night train you can book organized tours or even a private driver.
GoBus is also a good idea as their buses are cheap, comfy and clean and take you to most likely all places. In order to save time we would recommend domestic flights for the longer distances. Most important touristic places have own airports like Aswan, Luxor, Hurghada, Marsa Alam.
6. Protect Yourself: Sun, Desert Heat, and Mosquitos are Real
Bring:
- Sunscreen (high SPF!)
- Wear a hat – it helps A LOT!
- A scarf (plus for women: doubles as sun protection and for visiting mosques)
- Loose, breathable clothes
- Mosquito repellent, especially if you’re near the Nile river or in the Red Sea region (I recommend “OFF!” spray, you can buy it in a local pharmacy)
7. Dress for the Place, Not Only for the Weather
Egypt is conservative, especially outside of touristy beach towns. For women, it’s a good idea to cover shoulders and knees when visiting cities and a scarf will be needed for visiting mosques.
That said: a light scarf is your best friend – it works as sun protection and can cover your hair when needed.
At beach resorts like Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, you can wear your bikini with no problem and also going out with shorter clothes is totally fine.
If you feel unsure – just bring your friend the scarf in case of need 😉.
Guys – good news: T-shirts and longer shorts are fine almost anywhere.
Read more here in our article about what to wear in Egypt.
8. Don’t Drink the Tap Water
Let’s talk about Pharaoh’s Revenge – aka stomach problems that love to strike around the Red Sea region. It’s real, and it’s brutal. But it does not affect everybody. You may drink the water and don’t feel a thing – or it may ruin at least some days of your vacation.
Stick to:
- Bottled water (for drinking and brushing your teeth!)
- Avoid ice cubes unless you’re in a nice hotel
- Be cautious with fruits, salads, street food, or any uncooked stuff
We speak from experience. Just trust us on this one.
In case you couldn’t prevent it from catching you: Don’t try any medicine that you brought from home – it’s most likely useless. Go to a local pharmacy and they will instantly know what medicine you need. The medicine I took is called Antinal.
In towns like Cairo or Alexandria it’s not such a big issue, however we’d recommend always to drink only bottled water. But an ice cube or two shouldn’t harm you here.
9. Bring Cash – Cards Don’t Work Everywhere
Many places in Egypt are cash-only—especially street vendors, small shops, and taxi drivers.
There are ATMs around, but bring some cash in € or $ to exchange when you arrive. Having Egyptian Pounds (EGP) in small denominations makes life easier.
In many shops for souvenirs in the touristic places they may also accept if you pay in Dollar or Euro – just ask 😉.
💡 Tip: Ask the exchange office for small bills. You’ll need them for tipping!
You can also exchange your money on the ATM’s. This is much easier because you will find a lot of them.
10. Tipping Is Common – But Not Everything Deserves One
Tipping (or “baksheesh“) is part of Egyptian culture. That said—not every “favor” needs a tip.
Examples of fair tipping:
- Hotel staff helping with bags
- Tour guides or drivers
- Restaurant service
- Cleaning staff for room service or toilets
Examples of hustles:
- Someone opening a bathroom door and asking for €1
- “Helpers” who guide you 10 meters to a sign you already saw
👉 Be kind, but don’t be guilt-tripped. Have small change, but don’t hand it out like candy.
11. Bargaining Is Part of the Game
Don’t accept the first price—ever. Vendors expect you to haggle, and it’s totally normal. Start at around 40% of the asking price, stay polite, and don’t feel bad walking away if the price is too high from your perspective.
🎭 Think of it as a performance, not a fight. It’s part of the game and real fun and the shop owners expect it.
Smile, laugh, and enjoy it! We had so much fun with many shop owners and often ended up drinking tea together or even get some additional gifts like perfume or jewellery. Anni once gave some German translations of historical Egyptian words to a shop owner and was gifted an additional necklace for it. So it really doesn’t hurt to talk to them.
You want the full shopping and bargaining experience? Go to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo!
12. Always Carry Your Passport or a Copy
You’ll go through frequent security checks—at hotels, museums, transportation, and even road checkpoints.
Having your passport or at least a digital copy on your phone is smart and saves time.
Also, if you book domestic flights or trains, you’ll need your passport number anyway.
Best keep it in a place in your bag that is secured and away from your wallet.
13. Get Ready for “Egyptian Time” 😉
Schedules in Egypt are… flexible. “I’ll be there in 10 minutes” might mean 40. Or never. Tours might start late. Traffic might delay everything. And nobody seems too worried about it. You should bring your patience, adjust your expectations, and try to laugh about it. 😄
Anni as a native german had her fair share of troubles with this (as germans are always on time!!). So our tip for Egypt: keep calm and take timing like an egyptian!
14. Don’t Bring a Drone – Just Don’t.
We know, Egypt’s landscapes are Instagram gold and that drone shot over the Pyramids would be epic. But don’t even try. Drones are strictly illegal for tourists and even locals who don’t have a permission for it. At the airport customs will happily confiscate it or fine you, no questions asked. Some travellers have even had their entire trips delayed over this. Leave it at home and enjoy the view the old-fashioned way—with your eyes and your normal camera or phone.
Believe us: you will come home with many amazing photos! Need some inspiration? Then check our post with our best Egypt photography tips here.
15. Get a Local Guide for Your First Visit to Egypt – It’s Worth Every Pound
Egyptian history is fascinating—but also overwhelming. Having a guide means you’ll:
- Actually understand what you’re looking at
- Learn local stories and hidden secrets
- Avoid tourist traps
Wrapping It Up
Egypt is chaotic, colorful, ancient, loud, beautiful, intense—and absolutely unforgettable. With a little preparation and a good sense of humor, you’ll have the time of your life.
We’ve left our footprints in this magical place—and now it’s your turn. ✨
Got questions or need more tips to visit Egypt? Please reach out to us—we’d love to hear from you!
