Traveler toolkit
Everything for the ground game: convert prices, speak a little Arabic, and reach help fast.
Egypt, without the hassle
Honest, on-the-ground basics — real prices, the common scams, and how to get around with confidence.
- Keep small notes (5–20 EGP) handy — a little baksheesh is expected for small services (a bag carried, a washroom, a helpful hand).
- Restaurants: around 10% if service isn't already included. Cafés: just round up.
- Hotel housekeeping ~20–40 EGP a day; a bellhop ~20 EGP per bag.
- You're never obliged to tip for unsolicited 'help' or photos — a calm 'la, shukran' (no, thanks) is enough.
- Haggle in bazaars, with souvenir stalls and unmetered taxis — not in supermarkets, malls or fixed-price shops.
- Start near 40–50% of the first price and meet in the middle. Stay friendly and smiling.
- Walking away usually reveals the real price — there's no rush.
- Agree the fare BEFORE a taxi or calèche ride, or use Uber/Careem for a fixed price.
- 'It's closed today' or 'let me show you a better place' is usually a detour to a shop — check the official hours yourself.
- Politely decline unsolicited 'guides' who attach themselves at a site and then ask for money.
- 'Free' gifts (a bracelet, a headscarf) are never free — don't accept what you didn't ask for.
- Papyrus, perfume or cotton 'factory/museum' visits are sales stops — skip them unless you want to shop.
- Camel or horse rides: agree the full price (and the ride back) before you climb on.
- Outside beach resorts Egypt is conservative — covering shoulders and knees is respectful, especially for women.
- Mosques: take your shoes off; women cover their hair (bring a light scarf). Some sites lend a robe.
- Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, Sharm) are relaxed — keep swimwear to the pool and the beach.
- Loose, light clothing also shields you from the sun.
- Egypt is generally safe for visitors — the main nuisance is persistent vendors, not danger.
- Women travelers: catcalling happens; a firm, calm 'la, shukran' and ignoring it works well. Avoid walking alone late at night.
- Don't drink tap water — stick to sealed bottled water, and skip ice in cheap spots.
- Tourist police: 122. Carry a copy of your passport rather than the original.
- Uber and Careem run in Cairo, Giza and Alexandria — fixed price, no haggling, GPS-tracked. The easy default.
- The Cairo metro is cheap and fast; the middle carriages (4 and 5) are women-only.
- Between cities: comfortable AC trains Cairo↔Alexandria, and a sleeper train to Luxor and Aswan — book ahead.
- Avoid unmetered street taxis unless you fix the price first.
Currency converter
100 EGP = 1.9 EUR
Indicative offline rates — confirm before exchanging.
Emergency numbers
Also save your embassy's number before you travel.
Arabic phrasebook
Hello
السلام عليكم · is-salāmu ʿalaykum
Thank you
شكراً · shukran
Please
من فضلك · min faḍlak
Yes / No
أيوه / لأ · aywa / laʾ
Excuse me
عن إذنك · ʿan iznak
No, thank you
لا شكراً · laʾ shukran
I don't understand
مش فاهم · mish fāhim
How much?
بكام؟ · bikām?
Too expensive
ده غالي · da ghāli
Lower the price?
ممكن تنزّل السعر؟ · mumkin tnazzil is-siʿr?
I'll take it
هاخده · hākhdu
Where is…?
فين…؟ · fēn…?
Taxi
تاكسي · taksi
Left / Right
شمال / يمين · shimāl / yimīn
Straight ahead
على طول · ʿala ṭūl
Stop here
قف هنا · ʾif hina
Water
مياه · mayya
The bill, please
الحساب لو سمحت · il-ḥisāb law samaḥt
Delicious
لذيذ · lazīz
No sugar
من غير سكر · min ghēr sukkar
Tea / Coffee
شاي / قهوة · shāy / ʾahwa
Help!
النجدة · in-nagda
Doctor
دكتور · duktūr
Hospital
مستشفى · mustashfa
I'm lost
أنا تايه · ana tāyih