Practical Info A-Z

Medical care in Egypt is good to very good in major cities (Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Sharm) — there are private hospitals with international standards. In rural areas and Upper Egypt, care is significantly limited.

• Cairo: As-Salam International Hospital (German-speaking doctors), Dar Al Fouad Hospital (one of the best in Egypt), Anglo-American Hospital
• Hurghada: El Gouna Hospital (modern, good standard), Hurghada Hospital
• Sharm el-Sheikh: Sharm International Hospital, Hyperbaric Medical Center (for diving accidents)

Important: ALWAYS take out international travel health insurance (from 10 €/year). In Egypt, you often have to pay for medical services in cash and get reimbursed later. For divers: A special diving insurance (DAN, from 40 €/year) covers hyperbaric treatments.

Baksheesh (بقشيش) is not optional in Egypt — it is an integral part of the culture and economy. Many service workers (porters, toilet attendants, parking attendants) earn the majority of their income through tips. What may seem like begging is an established compensation system.

Baksheesh Guide

Tip: Always keep a supply of small bills (5, 10, 20 LE). Exchange money in advance and keep the small bills separately in your pocket — so you don't have to open your wallet in front of the tip recipient.

Egypt is a conservative, Muslim country — clothing should respect this, especially outside beach resorts.

General

• Women: Cover shoulders and knees. Loose, airy cotton clothing. No deep necklines. A light scarf is versatile: sun protection, headscarf for mosques, blanket for air-conditioned buses.
• Men: Long pants or knee-length shorts. T-shirt is okay, bare chest only at the beach/pool.
• Mosques: Remove shoes, cover shoulders and knees, women: headscarf (often provided at the entrance). No shorts or sleeveless tops.
• Beach Resorts: Bikini, shorts, etc. — western standards apply in the resort area. On the beach of El Gouna or Sharm, a bikini is completely normal.
• Luxor/Aswan (Temples): Comfortable shoes (sand, steps), hat, sunscreen, plenty of water. Light, long-sleeved clothing protects better from the sun than tank tops.

Egypt uses 220V, 50Hz, plug type C (European two-pin plug) — the same as in Germany. Generally, no adapter is needed. However, sockets in older hotels can be loose, and power outages (especially in Upper Egypt and during summer heat) occur. A headlamp or flashlight in your luggage doesn't hurt.

Egypt is a photographer's paradise — but there are rules:

• Temples and museums: Photography usually allowed, but often with a camera fee (50–300 LE). In some tombs in the Valley of the Kings and parts of the GEM, photography is prohibited. Flash is almost everywhere prohibited (damages the colors).
• Military installations: Photographing military, police, bridges, and government buildings is forbidden and can lead to problems.
• Photographing people: ALWAYS ask for permission beforehand (especially women). Many Egyptians like to pose, but some — especially in rural areas — find it disrespectful.
• Drones: Strictly forbidden in Egypt without special permission. Drones will be confiscated at the airport.

The currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP, LE — from Livre Égyptienne). 1 LE = 100 Piasters. Notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 LE. Coins: 25, 50 Piasters and 1 LE (barely in circulation).

Exchange Rate

The rate fluctuates significantly. As of 2026: 1 € ≈ 50–55 LE. The Egyptian economy has experienced several devaluations — the rate can change quickly. Check the current rate before your trip.

Withdrawing & Exchanging Money

• ATMs: Widely available in cities and tourist areas. CIB and Banque Misr have the most reliable machines. Withdraw in LE — limit often 5,000–8,000 LE per transaction. Fees: 0–50 LE per withdrawal, plus your bank's foreign fee.
• Credit cards: Accepted in hotels, upscale restaurants, and large stores (Visa, Mastercard). At the bazaar, in taxis, and for street food: cash only!
• Exchange offices: Better rate than at the airport or in hotels. Many exchange offices in Cairo Downtown and at the bazaar.
• Black market: There is a black market for foreign currency — STAY AWAY! It is illegal and you risk being scammed.

Recommended Vaccinations

• Mandatory: None (except when arriving from yellow fever areas)
• Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio (booster)
• For longer stays/adventure travel: Rabies, Meningococcal

Common Health Risks

• Traveler's diarrhea ("Pharaoh's Revenge"): The most common issue. Cause: tap water, ice cubes, raw vegetables, unwashed fruit. Prevention: Only bottled water, no ice cubes in simple restaurants, peel fruit. Remedy: Imodium + electrolytes.
• Sunstroke/Heatstroke: To be taken seriously! Hat, SPF 50+, at least 3 liters of water/day, avoid midday heat.
• Air pollution: Cairo has one of the worst air qualities in the world. Asthmatics should have medication ready.

Internet: Wi-Fi is available in all hotels (quality varies greatly — in budget hotels it can be painfully slow). Mobile data is cheap and fast: Buy a local SIM card at the airport (Vodafone Egypt, Orange, Etisalat). Prices: 200–500 LE for 10–30 GB (4G/LTE). Passport required for registration.

Phone: Egypt's country code: +20. Mobile: Numbers start with 01. Roaming from Germany: Expensive (5–15 €/MB with some providers) — use local SIM or Wi-Fi!

Egypt is not a safe destination for openly LGBTQ+ travelers. Although homosexuality is not explicitly punishable, the law against "debauchery" and "public immorality" is regularly applied against LGBTQ+ individuals. There have been arrests, including of foreigners. Recommendation: Extreme discretion, no public displays of affection (this also applies to heterosexual couples), do not use dating apps in Egypt (monitored by the police).

The Tourist Police (126) is specifically responsible for tourists and present in all tourist areas. They often speak English and are the best first point of contact for problems (theft, fraud, harassment).

The Ramadan is the fasting month of Islam — Muslims do not eat, drink, or smoke between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan shifts annually by about 11 days compared to the Gregorian calendar.

Impacts for Travelers

• During the day: Many restaurants closed (except in hotels and tourist areas). Shortened opening hours. Grocery stores open. The pace of the city is slowed.
• Evenings (after Iftar): Life explodes! Festive Iftar meals, streets full of people, Ramadan lanterns (Fanous), sweet sellers, music, fireworks. The most beautiful atmosphere of the year!
• Respect: Do not drink, eat, or smoke in public (in hotels and resorts it's okay). Wear modest clothing. Avoid loud music and parties during the day.
• Advantage: Attractions are less crowded, prices sometimes cheaper.

Egypt is generally a safe destination for tourists — the crime rate against foreigners is low, and Egyptian security authorities invest heavily in the protection of tourists (tourist police, convoys, security checks at hotels and attractions).

Risks

• Petty crime: Pickpocketing in crowds (bazaars, metro, buses). Do not take out your phone on the street, keep valuables in the hotel safe.
• Fraud: Overpriced goods, aggressive touts, "closed" attractions (to guide you to a more expensive alternative guide), manipulated taxi meters.
• Terrorism: The risk has significantly decreased in recent years. Tourist centers (Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm) are heavily monitored. The North Sinai (Rafah, Al-Arish) is a conflict area — DO NOT travel there!
• Traffic: The greatest actual risk. Traffic in Egypt is chaotic and deadly. Do not drive yourself. Use Uber.

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss need a visa for Egypt. The easiest option:

Visa on Arrival

At the airport (CAI, HRG, SSH, LXR) before passport control at the bank counter, buy a visa stamp: 25 USD (euros accepted, but at a worse rate). Single entry, valid for 30 days. Then proceed to passport control, have the stamp affixed in your passport, stamp — done.

E-Visa

Apply online in advance at visa2egypt.gov.eg: 25 USD (single entry) or 60 USD (multiple entry). Processing time: 5–7 business days. Advantage: You bypass the queue at the bank counter.

Sinai-only Permit

For trips limited to South Sinai (Sharm, Dahab, St. Catherine, Nuweiba), a free 15-day permit can be stamped at SSH airport. Only valid for Sinai — if you want to go to the mainland (Cairo, Luxor), you need the regular visa.

Passport Requirements

• Passport (no ID card!) with at least 6 months validity
• At least one blank page for the visa stamp
• Return ticket or proof of onward travel

An international travel health insurance is absolutely essential for Egypt — medical treatments (especially in private clinics) can be expensive, and repatriation to Germany costs 30,000–50,000 € without insurance.

• Health insurance: ADAC, HanseMerkur, Allianz — annual policies from 10–20 €. Ensure coverage for repatriation and diving accidents.
• Diving insurance: DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network) — from 40 €/year. Covers hyperbaric treatments (can otherwise cost 5,000–15,000 €!).
• Trip cancellation: Recommended for more expensive trips (Nile cruise, package tour).

DO NOT DRINK TAP WATER — not even for brushing teeth. Egyptian tap water contains bacteria and parasites that European stomachs are not accustomed to. Always buy bottled water (1.5 liters from 5–10 LE). Check that the seal is unopened (some vendors refill bottles with tap water).

In restaurants: No ice cubes in simple local restaurants (in hotels and upscale restaurants, ice from filtered water is okay). Avoid salads and raw vegetables in simple restaurants — often washed with tap water.

Egypt is in the time zone EET (Eastern European Time, UTC+2). There is no daylight saving time. This means:

• Winter Time (November–March): Egypt is 1 hour AHEAD (when it is 12:00 in Germany, it is 13:00 in Egypt)
• Summer Time (April–October): Egypt and Germany have the SAME time (Germany switches to CEST, Egypt does not)

• Import: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars, 1 liter of alcohol, personal items. Additional bottles of alcohol can be purchased at Duty Free within 48 hours of arrival (max. 3 liters of spirits, 2 cartons of cigarettes).
• Export: Antiquities (including replicas that look real) may NOT be exported without permission. Corals, shells, and marine life from the Red Sea: FORBIDDEN. Severe penalties!
• Currency: Import/export of LE is limited to 5,000 LE. Foreign currency: unlimited, but amounts over 10,000 USD must be declared.