Visiting Egypt

LANGUAGE: The official language in Egypt is Arabic, with Egyptian Arabic being the most commonly spoken dialect. However, English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, making communication easy for travelers. French and German can also be heard in popular tourist spots.

CURRENCY: Egypt's official currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), but US Dollars and Euros are often accepted in tourist-heavy areas. It’s always good to carry local currency for markets, smaller shops, and tips. Familiarize yourself with the conversion, you don’t want to be overly generous to a taxi driver because you thought 26 was USD instead of EGP like I did. (Nearly 17 times what he was asking for at the time!)

CREDIT CARDS / ATMS: Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and larger stores in urban areas like Cairo and Alexandria. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist destinations, but cash is essential when visiting rural areas or smaller markets.

PLUGS: Egypt uses Type C and Type F plugs, with a standard voltage of 220V and a frequency of 50Hz. A universal power adapter will come in handy, especially if you're visiting multiple destinations. I recommend having a Universal Power Adapter that'll work in almost any region you visit in Egypt.

VISAS: Many nationalities, including citizens of the U.S., U.K., and most European countries, can obtain a visa upon arrival or apply for an e-visa before traveling. It’s always best to check Egypt’s visa requirements with your embassy or consulate.

GETTING AROUND: Egypt offers various transport options, from domestic flights to trains, buses, taxis and even a traditional felucca! For exploring major cities like Cairo, taxis and ride-hailing apps like Uber are convenient. If you're planning to travel between cities, the train system is reliable, or you can take a short flight to popular tourist spots like Luxor or Aswan. Or choose a tried and true route - sail the Nile!