Don’t Come to Egypt Until You Know This (2026 Guide)

Rasha Mediene
Jan 4
7 min read

If you’re planning to head to Egypt anytime soon, you need this.

Don’t come to egypt in 2026 without reading this! — Don’t come to Egypt in 2026 until you know this

My name is Rasha and Egypt is basically my second home. I’m not Egyptian, but I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, before we’d even go to other countries. I’ve watched the scams, the chaos, the glow ups, the “welcome to Egypt” moments… all of it.

Egypt is cheap, lively, crazy, and not for beginners. But if you know how to move, it can be one of the best trips of your life.

This guide covers everything from visas, airport scams, phone service, Uber, money, transportation, safety, what to wear, food, where to stay, and what else to do beyond Cairo.

And if you still have questions after reading, leave them in the comments. I got you. And if you’d prefer to get this information over a YouTube video you can just click here: https://youtu.be/kbCr-C9R4eg?si=6YAtgD7A3I-c87p7

Before You Land: Visas in Egypt (Visa on Arrival)

On the plane (usually into Cairo), they’ll usually hand you an immigration form.

It asks basic stuff:

Passport number
Name
Where you’re staying

It’s not that deep. If you don’t get it on the plane, you can grab it near the immigration counters.

Visa sticker process

When you get to immigration, you’ll see multiple bank windows. That’s where you buy the visa sticker.

Visa on arrival is usually $25 USD
Some banks accept card, some don’t
Some days the card machine “doesn’t work”

Welcome to Egypt.

Pro tip: If you only have a $50 or $100, give it. They’ll give you the difference back in Egyptian pounds and now you’ve got cash on you.

And don’t put the sticker in your passport yourself. That’s the officer’s job. If it ends up crooked, upside down, sideways… yeah. That’s Egypt.

Important: Not everyone gets visa on arrival. Check your passport country rules first. For many people it’s visa on arrival and it’s 30 days.

The Airport: Where the Scams Start Immediately

The second you exit immigration, it starts.

People will offer “help” with:

bags
directions
taxis
basically anything

They’ll act like it’s free and then ask you for money.

The golden rule in Egypt

Set the price BEFORE anyone does anything.

Agree on it first. Then only pay that. Period.

But me personally? I don’t even engage. I ignore everyone, grab my bags, and keep it moving.

Phone Service in Egypt: What Actually Works in 2026

You need service the minute you land because you need:

Uber
Maps
translators
messaging hotels/drivers
not getting stuck at the airport

Here’s the issue:

Egypt has eSIMs… but tourists usually can’t get them

Egypt has eSIMs now (2026), but as a tourist you generally can’t get a local eSIM unless you have residency paperwork. So what you CAN do is get a physical SIM card.

Problem: If you have an iPhone 14 or newer, there’s no SIM slot. That’s why I literally keep an older phone that takes a SIM.

Best option if you’re staying longer

Bring a phone that takes a physical SIM card so you can buy a cheap Egyptian SIM and be good.

Best option if you travel a lot

Google Fi.

It keeps your same number and works globally with unlimited data.

Google Fi referral (get $60 credit):

👉 https://g.co/fi/r/09EDAJ

eSIM options if you’re only there a week

Airalo

👉 https://airalo.tpk.lu/6awK4FZV

Yesim

👉 https://yesim.tpk.lu/6UeHQq3Q

Holafly

👉 http://rwrd.io/igbf815

Don’t Rent a Car in Cairo. Just Don’t.

I’m not even being dramatic.

If it’s your first time in Egypt, especially Cairo, do not rent a car unless you’re extremely comfortable in chaotic environments.

Lanes don’t exist. A 4-lane road becomes 6 lanes. People walk in the street. Buses stop wherever they feel like it. Motorcycles appear from thin air. It’s a free-for-all.

Cairo will test your soul.

Must-Have Apps in Egypt

Download these before you arrive.

Getting around

Uber (card-friendly, easiest for tourists)

👉 https://referrals.uber.com/refer?id=y4x8rffwfd3w

InDrive (cash + bid pricing, often cheapest)

👉 https://indrive.com/en-eg

Careem exists too, but I mainly use Uber + InDrive.

Food delivery

Talabat (like DoorDash)

👉 https://talabat.go.link/116p5

Use code: RASHAME-260234

WhatsApp

Most places & people use WhatsApp. If you don’t have it, download it now. You can message businesses, drivers, hotels, all of it.

Uber in Egypt: Read This So You Don’t Get Played

Uber works, but here’s what happens sometimes:

Drivers may message you asking to pay cash even if you selected card.

They claim Uber takes too much commission, which may be true, but from your side you chose card for a reason.

If you’re low on cash or don’t want to deal with it:

Cancel
Rebook
Keep it moving

If you’re cash-friendly and okay with negotiating, use InDrive instead.

Money, Cash, ATMs, and Foreign Exchange

You need cash in Egypt. Not because you’ll use it nonstop, but because you never know.

My personal rule

Have at least 1,000 EGP on you at all times (around $20-ish depending on exchange rates).

ATMs and exchange

ATMs are everywhere, especially tourist areas. Many ATMs also have foreign exchange machines with two slots.

Important: You cannot easily convert Egyptian pounds back to USD unless you have specific bank accounts. So don’t over-withdraw.

Never accept the ATM “conversion offer”

When the ATM asks:

“Convert using our exchange rate?”

Say NO.

Let your bank do the conversion. Their rate is usually better.

Revolut (travel card I use)

Revolut is great for travel spending + conversion and can reduce ATM fees depending on your plan.

👉 https://revolut.com/referral/?referral-code=rashaag9x!DEC2-25-AR-US-REFBLOCK&geo-redirect

Tipping Culture in Egypt

Tipping is a thing here and people expect it.

A small tip can genuinely make someone’s day. Like seriously, $2 can be huge.

If service is good, tip. If someone is hustling you or scamming you, don’t.

“Scams” vs Cultural Sales Tactics

Some things feel like scams, but they’re just how people sell.

Example:

On trains, workers will place snacks in front of you (even on your seat), announce the price, then come back later and collect whatever you didn’t take.

If you took something, you pay.

If you didn’t, they take it back.

If you don’t know this, you’ll think you got scammed. You didn’t. That’s just their sales method.

Same thing can happen in lounges or cafes where someone drops sunflower seeds on your table and collects later.

Rule: nothing is free

If someone gives you something you didn’t ask for, assume it costs money. Decide if you want it or not.

Real Street Scams to Watch For

1. Taxi scams

Taxis are cash only and usually not tracked. I don’t suggest taxis unless there’s literally no other option.

If you MUST:

Get a metered taxi
Set the price BEFORE you enter if there’s no meter
Keep Google Maps open
Trust your instincts

Example price reference: Airport to pyramids should not be more than $10 (often $6). If someone says $50, laugh.

2. Fake authority / wrong directions

Some people pretend to be guards or say “this entrance is closed” to redirect you.

If it feels off:

Keep walking
Confirm with a shop owner or neutral person
Don’t follow random street advice blindly

Safety in Egypt: The Truth

Egypt is safe. I solo travel here all the time.

Yes, I speak Arabic, but most people assume I’m a foreigner anyway. They talk to me in English. Sometimes Spanish. They usually don’t assume Arabic.

Here’s the reality:

People stare (a lot)
Men may try to talk to you
Sellers may be aggressive
But physical safety? I’ve never been touched
They don’t want issues with foreigners or embassies

Move with confidence. Keep walking. Ignore what you don’t want. And if you ever need to raise your voice, do it.

What to Wear in Egypt

Don’t come to Egypt flashing Rolexes, chains, designer everything. It’s unnecessary and you’re asking for problems.

Women

If you’re unsure, default to modest:

leggings + longer shirt
cover your butt area if you’re in conservative areas
avoid see-through outfits, lots of skin, etc in Cairo/Giza

Pyramids area especially? Be more covered. That area is more gritty and you’ll get stared at harder.

If you want your cute pyramid photos:

Dress modest to arrive, change for photos if you want, then change back when you leave.

Red Sea destinations

Hurghada, El Gouna, Sharm, Dahab are more relaxed, especially near beaches and resorts. Bikinis are normal at the beach.

El Gouna is basically the “Europe of Egypt.”

Food, Water, and Health

Water

Do not drink tap water. Even boiled.

Buy bottled water (it’s cheap) or order it.

Talabat makes it easy.

You can brush your teeth with tap water if you want, that’s usually fine.

Stomach issues

A lot of stomach problems come from:

tomatoes (especially old ones in salads)
food from slow/empty restaurants

If you’re getting a salad, ask yourself:

Is this place busy? Are ingredients fresh?

Food advice that will save your trip

Don’t come ordering Western food expecting it to taste like home.

If you want to enjoy Egypt:

Eat foods you don’t have expectations for.

Try Egyptian food.

Examples:

Koshary (huge meal, super cheap)
Foul + taameya breakfast plates
Egyptian rice, grilled meats, etc

Pharmacies

Egypt pharmacies are elite.

You can walk in, explain your symptoms, and they’ll help. A lot of meds are accessible and cheap. Good quality too.

Where to Stay in Cairo (and why I don’t recommend staying long)

I don’t suggest staying in Cairo longer than 2–3 days.

You go for the pyramids, the Nile, maybe a few highlights… but Cairo is intense.

If you stay by the pyramids

Yes, you can get the iconic pyramid view.

But the streets below? It’s gritty. Loud. Chaos. Honking. Tuk tuks. Old school Egypt.

Some people love it. Some people regret it immediately.

Best base options

Downtown Nile area: best location balance, luxury hotels, central, 30 min to airport, 30 min to pyramids
Sheikh Zayed: modern, calmer, close-ish to pyramids
New Cairo / Rehab / Madinaty: modern, quiet, farther out, good if you want calm and airport access

Egypt Is Not Just Cairo (and that’s the whole point)

Egypt has so much more than pyramids and camels.

You’ve got: