Travel tips · Cairo · Egypt
Cairo travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wael El Sisi, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Cairo is a vast, crowded and sociable city of more than 20 million people in its metropolitan area, majority Muslim with a large Coptic Christian community. Street life runs late into the night, Egyptian Arabic is familiar across the Arab world through the country's films and songs, and humour and hospitality sit alongside relentless traffic and noise.
Key facts
- Language
- Arabic (Egyptian) and English
- Currency
- EGP
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is chlorinated, but visitors should drink bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency
- 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
Things to know
- Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, and women should carry a scarf for mosques.
- Remove your shoes before entering a mosque, and avoid visiting during Friday midday prayers.
- Use your right hand for eating and passing things.
- Ask before photographing people, and don't photograph military or police sites.
- Baksheesh — small tips for small services — is part of daily life, so keep low-value notes handy.
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours.
- Book Pyramids of Giza ahead: Tickets for the Great Pyramid's interior are limited and sold separately from plateau entry; buy them early in the day or online.
- Book Grand Egyptian Museum ahead: Buy timed tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and the winter high season.
- Ticket prices for foreign visitors are set in Egyptian pounds and have risen often in recent years, so check the official prices before you go.
Tipping
Restaurants often add a service charge, but leaving another 5–10% for the waiter is customary. Small tips are expected by guards who open a tomb or show you a view, toilet attendants, porters and drivers; guides usually expect a larger tip at the end of a tour.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Salam alaikum | Hello (peace be upon you) |
| Shukran | Thank you |
| La, shukran | No, thank you |
| Bikam? | How much? |
| Min fadlak / min fadlik | Please (to a man / to a woman) |
| Yalla | Let's go / come on |
| Ma'a salama | Goodbye |
What to wear
Light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees is practical and respectful; add a hat and sunglasses for the Giza plateau and a warm layer for winter evenings.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is chlorinated, but visitors should drink bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
- Phone and internet
- Local SIM cards from Vodafone, Orange, e& and WE are sold at the airport and are registered with your passport; eSIMs are also widely available.
- Time zone
- Africa/Cairo
The most common problems are persistent touts and commission-driven 'helpers' at the Giza plateau and Khan el-Khalili, and very heavy traffic — cross busy roads alongside locals. Women may face unwanted comments, and heat and dust are real hazards from April to September.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Egypt's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Cairo?
Restaurants often add a service charge, but leaving another 5–10% for the waiter is customary. Small tips are expected by guards who open a tomb or show you a view, toilet attendants, porters and drivers; guides usually expect a larger tip at the end of a tour.
+Can you drink the tap water in Cairo?
Tap water is chlorinated, but visitors should drink bottled or filtered water.
+What plugs are used in Cairo?
Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Cairo?
Arabic (Egyptian) and English.