Egypt first-time visitor guide
Single-entry visa $25 USD on arrival (30 days). Cash is absolutely essential — cards barely work outside 5-star hotels.
🛬Entry & visa
Almost all nationalities can get a single-entry tourist visa ($25 USD) on arrival at Cairo, Luxor, Aswan airports — pay in cash USD, sterling, or Euros (no cards). Valid 30 days.
🏛️Must-visit highlights
Cairo (3 days): Giza Pyramids + Sphinx (¥180/$5.80, take a $5 horse/camel ride around the plateau — negotiate before mounting, photos with Sphinx $2), Egyptian Museum (¥160/$5), Citadel of Saladin (¥130/$4.20), Khan El Khalili bazaar.
🍜Must-try foods
Koshari: National dish — rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, fried onions, tomato sauce, vinegar. ¥25-50 ($0.80-1.60). At every street corner. Abou El Sid chain is reliable.
Ful Medames: Slow-cooked fava beans with oil and lemon. ¥10-20 ($0.35-0.65). Classic breakfast.
Taameya: Egyptian falafel (made from fava beans, not chickpeas). ¥25 ($0.80) per sandwich.
Molokhia: Green leafy vegetable stew with chicken or rabbit. ¥80-150 ($2.60-4.80). Love it or hate it.
Shawarma: Egyptian version — large portions, garlic sauce. ¥80-120 ($2.60-3.90).
Mahshi: Stuffed vegetables (zucchini, cabbage) with rice and herbs. ¥100-180 ($3.20-5.80).
Seafood: Alexandria has excellent fresh seafood. ¥200-500 ($6.40-16) for a whole grilled fish.
Fruit drinks: Sugarcane juice ¥10-15 ($0.35-0.50), mango/guava smoothies ¥30-40 ($1-1.30).
🚇Getting around
Domestic flights: EgyptAir, Nile Air. Cairo→Luxor 1 hr, $40-100 one-way. Cairo→Sharm El Sheikh 1 hr.
💰Money-saving tips
Exchange USD/Euros at authorised banks (Banque Misr, National Bank of Egypt) or exchange offices. Avoid airport exchange and hotel exchange.
⚠️Common pitfalls
Scams: Abu al-Hol, "official photographer" scam, "closed attraction" diversion, perfume shop scams. See r/Egypt for full list. If anyone approaches you with a "can I help you" — 95% chance it's a scam.
Cash only: Almost nothing accepts cards. Carrying $500+ USD cash is normal.
Negotiate BEFORE getting on a camel/horse: "5 Egyptian pounds" often means "5 pounds per minute, 30 minutes, 150 total". Write the agreed price on your phone.
Temple photography: ¥50 ($1.60) photography permit at most temples. Flash photography is BANNED inside tombs (ruins wall paintings).
Dress modestly: Cover shoulders and knees for temples and mosques.
Water: Don't drink tap water. Buy bottled water (¥5/$0.16 per 1.5L).
Heat: Summer (June-Aug) 40-45°C. Best time is October-April.
Pickpockets: Khan El Khalili bazaar, Cairo metro, bus stations. Keep bags front-facing.
🛍️Shopping tips
Khan El Khalili bazaar (Cairo): Spices, perfumes, papyrus, jewellery, alabaster, shisha pipes. Haggling is mandatory — start at 30% of asking price. Avoid "perfume palace" scams where guides get commission; wander independently.
🏨Where to stay
Cairo: Stay in Downtown or Zamalek (leafy island, safe, restaurants) — mid-range hotels $40-80/night, hostels $10-20/bed. Giza offers pyramid-view hotels $50-200 but you're far from the city. Avoid cheap downtown hostels without reviews — some are grimy.
🎉Festivals & events
Abu Simbel Sun Festival (Feb 22 and Oct 22): Twice a year, sunrise aligns to illuminate Ramses II's statue deep inside the temple. Crowded but magical — arrive before dawn, $25 entry.
📚Content sources
This guide was curated by editors from the sources below, then condensed after AI cross-verification. Each source keeps its original link and author attribution.
- OfficialEgyptian MFA·2026-08-19
"Visa on arrival and e-Visa information."
https://www.mfa.gov.eg - Redditr/Egypt·2026-08-12
"2026 scam list, cash vs card, itinerary tips."
https://www.reddit.com/r/Egypt/
Last verified: 2026-09-02
Sources may have changed; please verify independently.
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