To make your vacation in Egypt an unforgettable memory, we have put together these travel tips for you. Here you will find a lot of important information and some tips.
Best time to travel
Egypt is known as a year-round destination. Egypt is a country that borders the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Red Sea, Libya and Sudan. Corresponding to this geographical location, Egypt has two types of climatic conditions; on the one hand, a Mediterranean-style climate and, on the other hand, the climate, which is clearly characterized by the desert. The best time to travel always depends on what you want to do as a tourist in Egypt and what temperatures you prefer. Because it doesn’t just depend on the time of year, but also on the area of Egypt you want to visit.
The best months for tours are from mid-September to April, the temperatures are around 25 degrees (during the day). At night, especially in the desert regions, the temperature can drop significantly to around 10 degrees.
In Upper Egypt, around the regions of Aswan and Luxor, the climate is dry and hot, but it can often get very cold at night. In the desert, however, the temperature differences between day and night are most striking.
In Egypt you can swim all year round. Beach holidays are recommended in the months of May to September, as temperatures here too reach 30 – 35 degrees in summer and night temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees.
Passport and visa
To enter Egypt you need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the end of your trip. Check this before your trip. You also need a visa. You can apply for this visa before departure or purchase it upon your arrival in Egypt. This visa is issued with a validity of one month. Children need a child ID card or passport with a photo. Further information can also be found on the Federal Foreign Office website.
Festivals & Holidays
Many holidays in Egypt have a religious origin. Christian and Islamic holidays are respected and recognized. Religious festivals are celebrated on the streets. The mosques and churches are decorated, children’s carousels are set up and colorful parades are held. Coptic Easter is celebrated as a public holiday by all people in Egypt.
The fasting month of Ramadan is also observed in Egypt and is based on the Islamic calendar. During Lent, workers in Egypt get off work about two hours earlier than usual. During this time, special respect is required as a tourist; Smoking, drinking and eating are not permitted in public during the day. There will also be restrictions on business activities, restaurants and shops will close earlier and will usually not open again until the evening, but then often into the night. Hotels and resorts usually do not offer their guests any restrictions. After the fasting month, the so-called “breaking of the fast” is traditionally celebrated. The festival is celebrated for three days.
Fixed public holidays in Egypt are January 1st, May 1st, June 18th, July 23rd (Egypt’s national holiday) and October 6th.
Friday is the weekly rest day (comparable to Sunday), although banks are also closed on Saturdays. Private and public companies, however, are allowed to decide their own weekend. Some are therefore closed on Friday and Saturday, others on Friday and Sunday.
Health Care
Health care is reasonably well developed in Egypt. However, it is also less hygienic than you are used to at home. It is strongly recommended that you take out travel health insurance with a return option. Treatments in clinics and practices must be paid for in cash in Egypt. No vaccinations are required for Egypt. For up-to-date information and expert advice, contact a tropical center or your family doctor.
Clothing
As an Islamic country, Egyptians attach great importance to ensuring that their moral values are respected even as tourists. This means, especially for women, that they should not dress in a body-hugging manner, but their arms, shoulders and legs remain covered. Within hotels and resorts, regulations may be more relaxed. Bathing topless or even naked is prohibited under penalty of punishment in Egypt.
A headscarf is not required for tourists. An exception applies to visits to mosques. In general, it is advisable as a woman to always carry a scarf with you so that you can adapt at short notice if necessary, which is particularly true in the outskirts outside of centers and tourist attractions.
Language
The official language in Egypt is Arabic, but English is also widely spoken in hotels, resorts and also in offices and authorities and is usually not a problem. English is also spoken in many restaurants, shops and by merchants. In addition, French is also more common. In the large centers, especially in tourist areas, German is also becoming more and more common.
Electricity
The electricity network runs on 220 volts alternating current and 50Hz. Taking an adapter with you is recommended.
Phone Networks
The cell phone is omnipresent. The GSM900 network is well developed in large cities, centers and along the Nile, and thanks to roaming agreements with Vodafone, T-Mobile and E-plus, calls are even relatively portable. For longer stays, however, we recommend an Egyptian prepaid card in combination with a callback from the UK / Europe. If you want to take a trip into the desert, you should carry a satellite phone with you, which you can easily borrow.
Tipping
Every Egyptian is happy to receive a tip, which is known as baksheesh in the Arabic-speaking world. Baksheesh is one of the words you will definitely learn in Egypt. Egyptians are polite, very accommodating people, but they expect a tip as a sign that their work is appreciated. Although the Egyptians would not point out baksheesh out of politeness, they are extremely happy about a small donation.
Currency & Money
The official currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound. In Arabic it is called ‘Guineh’. It is divided into 100 piastres (pt) and is pegged to the US dollar rate. The abbreviation of the Egyptian pound is EGP, but usually LE. There are banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 LE, as well as coins of 1 LE. Please note: the 1 LE and 2 EURO coins look very similar. Imported money can be exchanged at the airport as well as in hotels and banks, but dealers also usually accept euros without any problems. You can pay with credit card in Egypt; they are accepted as a method of payment in most tourist places, shops and restaurants. You should also take cash with you. You can also withdraw money using your bank card in many places in Egypt. Especially in larger cities and tourist locations, there are several ATMs where this is possible with most bank cards. Egypt is a relatively inexpensive country.
Customs regulations
The duty-free import of everyday and everyday items such as clothing, shoes, jewelry and hygiene products is possible without any problems. However, jewelry must be declared at customs upon entry. Electrical devices and sports equipment are recorded upon entry and deleted upon departure.
The export of original antiques, works of art and coral is prohibited.
Notice
We review the above provisions at irregular intervals. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the data provided on this website, as the provisions may change from time to time and therefore between checks we carry out. For detailed information, please use the official authorities and the information on the Foreign Office’s Egypt page.