8 Things to Know Before Traveling to Egypt

1 Getting to Egypt & Entry Requirements. Egypt requires a tourist visa to enter. It’s $25 per person. You can apply online by creating an account; approval takes a few days.

2 Best Time to Visit Egypt. The best time to visit Egypt between October and April, the cooler months where you won’t melt away by the Saharan sun. I visited during mid-September, a week away from when temperatures would normally drop, and I still couldn’t stand the heat much. Luxor, the hottest city in Egypt, was unbearable and reached temperatures of 101 Fahrenheit. I survived but it was uncomfortable.

3 Transportation. Uber is the best and cheapest mode of transportation, especially in Cairo. DO NOT get a taxi from the airport to your hotel, it is the biggest rip off. We paid $450 Egyptian Pounds when it would’ve only been $35 Egyptian Pounds.

4 Money and Credit Card Usage. Cash is king in Egypt, so plan accordingly. However, Visa credit cards work well too. The currency exchange is very favorable when exchanging USD to EP. While traveling around Egypt make sure to negotiate everything unless you’re at a fixed price store (inquire before entering).

5 Culture and Religion. Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. As a woman, you should dress respectfully and cover both your shoulders and knees. Avoid any tight-fitting clothes and that is too revealing. You can dress normally when at the beach and resorts. 

6 Safety. Egypt is generally safe. However, scamming tourists isn’t unheard of. If you encounter any issues, such as being scammed or anything done to you by a local, contact Tourist police and let your hotel know ASAP. I learned of tourists being scammed when buying gold and tourist police were able to get their money returned.

7 Language. The native language in Egypt is Arabic. You shouldn’t encounter speaking barriers while in tourist cities such as Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, but some occasional misunderstandings may arise so it’s advisable to have a translating app just in case. 

8 Booking Tours. Truthfully, navigating Egypt solo is exhausting. There is so much scamming and harassing of tourists that booking a tour with a guide is the norm and I highly advise it. My tour guide for Cairo is Mohammed and can be contacted through WhatsApp at +20 100 198 3882. My guide in Luxor, Abrahem, can be reached on WhatsApp at +20 102 421 2595.