Featured image: Most monuments, including Karnak in Luxor, have very little shade for tourists, something I learned on my first solo trip to Egypt / Photo by Carolyn Ray

Travel tips to enjoy your time in Egypt  

by Carolyn Ray

There’s no question that Egypt has its own mystique, with its ancient monuments, the Nile River, the Valley of Kings and Karnak Temple. However, for solo women, there are also certain things I learned that helped me settle into the experience and enjoy the differences. While it wasn’t my first visit to a Muslim country, it was my first as a solo female traveller.

A country of about 109 million people, Egypt relies heavily on tourism, which generates about eight per cent of GDP. There are significant investments being made in the metro, roads, museums and improving access to its monuments; tourists are needed and desired to improve the quality of life. One thing is clear: Egyptians love their country passionately and want women to feel welcomed.

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Travel tips for your first solo trip to Egypt

1. Egypt is a Muslim country

The majority of Egyptians (90%) are practicing Muslims, with the rest Coptic Orthodox Christians. I arrived in June during Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, which runs for four days and one of the most important celebrations of the year. Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Adha on the last day of the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Muslims pray facing Mecca five times a day: at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark, so it’s never quiet, a quality that adds to Egypt’s energy and vibrance. Every Muslim must make at least one visit in their lifetime to the holy city of Mecca, assuming that health and finances permit the trip. Many write the dates on the outside of their homes.

2. Women are still in traditional roles

In ancient Egypt, women had equal rights, and many were rulers, like Cleopatra and Nefertiti, as well as priestesses, doctors, and workers.  There were also goddesses like Isis and Hathor, showing the esteem that Egyptians have for women.

While I had a female guide, I rarely saw other women working at restaurants, hotels, shops or as drivers. While some progress has been made, gender inequality remains a significant challenge, with most Egyptian women working in domestic roles. While women’s status has improved to some degree, women’s empowerment in Egypt has faced many obstacles, including the country’s political and economic conditions, its patriarchal social environment, and the efforts of religious extremists.

3. Plan for the heat

When I went to Egypt early June, temperatures were already reaching 40 degrees during the day. In southern Egypt, Aswan recorded the highest temperature in the region in June 2024 at 50.9 degrees in the shade. Due to the heat, the best time to go is in cooler months from September – February.  Even so, you’ll need a good quality hat (like a Tilley sunhat), sunscreen and a long shirt. Many people also use umbrellas, as there is very little shade at monuments.

6. Check for safety advisories before you book travel

Before crossing any borders, find out about your government’s embassy, consulate or home office in the country you’re visiting. Check their website for excellent and up-to-date online reports advising of security, safety, weather or health issues at your destination. Make note of their local address and telephone number. These people are your representatives on foreign soil and are an invaluable connection to have.

Currently, there are safety advisories against travel to the Sinai Peninsula and border regions due to ongoing developments in connection with hostilities in the Middle East. Check travel advisories before you travel, and register with your country’s travel program, such as the US STEP program, Canada’s Travel Abroad program, etc.

7. Dress conservatively in Egypt

There’s no hiding that you’re a tourist, but it’s best to dress conservatively in Egypt, otherwise you’ll stand out even more. Choose lightweight cotton fabrics, with elbows and knees covered, especially in larger cities. At temples and other monuments, longer shorts, skirts and pants are fine. I brought my Merrell hiking shoes and very comfortable Skechers sneakers; with uneven, sandy and sometimes grimy streets, you’ll want to protect your feet so I recommend against open-toed shoes.

8. Cover your shoulders and ankles when visiting mosques

If you go to a mosque, bring a scarf to cover your head, wear a long-sleeved shirt, and a long skirt or pants that cover your ankles. Shoes are removed at the door, so if you prefer not to have bare feet, wear socks. In mosques, men and women pray in separate areas.

9. Learn some Arabic words

According to Babbel, the Arabic alphabet technically has 28 letters, all of which are consonants (though three of them can act as vowels in certain situations, similar to a Y in English).  Knowing just a few phrases can be helpful, starting with thank you. Try Babbel here!

• “Thank you” – شكرا (chokran)
• “Good morning” – صباح الخير (Sabah al-khair)
• “Hello” – مرحبا (Marhaban)
• “Goodbye” – مع السلامة (ma-aa salama) or الى اللقاء (ila lika-e)
• “Yes” – نعم (Na-am)
• “No” – لا (La)
• “Please” – من فضلك (min fadlik)

10. Drink only bottled water

Do not drink tap water. You’ll want to bring your own water bottle and make sure you have lots of water to avoid dehydration. I drank about 8-10 bottles of water a day. Consider bringing electrolytes (pills or packets) and your own medication for stomach upset. Choose canned beverages.

11. Try the food

I found the food in Egypt tasteful and simple. A typical Egyptian diet includes rice, lentils, tomatoes, potatoes, seasoned with salt, cumin, coriander, onions and other spices. In addition to moussaka (eggplant) and tahini (chickpeas), bread is plentiful and served at most meals.  I ate a lot of street food, including shawarma and falafel balls several times; all delicious, without any issues. There were some things I declined to eat, but I’m not an adventurous eater.

However, plan ahead. Be sure to bring your hand sanitizer and wipes before you eat or handle food. Most restaurants provide tissues as napkins. Have some Imodium on hand should anything go awry.

12. Don’t expect beer and wine at meals

Water or juice is served at most meals in restaurants, or pop like Schweppes lemon mint soda. It’s very hard to find beer and wine as Muslims are not permitted to touch cans or bottles containing alcohol, but it can be found in small markets such as Drinkies. A can of regular and non-alcoholic beer is 70 EGP ($1.50 USD). I saw a bottle of California wine for approximately 400 EGP ($8 USD). In western restaurants, a glass of wine ranges from 190-400 EGP.  

13. Bring medication if you’re prone to motion sickness

While Egypt is investing in better infrastructure, its roads are not well developed and there are a lot of speed bumps, so if you are prone to motion sickness, bring Gravol tablets or ginger.

There is a new train station in Cairo, but the trains are older and not high-speed like much of Europe. I took the overnight sleeper train from Cairo, a 12-hour journey where I barely slept a wink due to the bumping and noise of the train, which dates back to the 1970s. Still, an experience worth doing at least once!

14. Seek better quality hotels than you might elsewhere

There is a mix of locally owned and chain hotels in Egypt. As I discovered, what is a three-star in Egypt can be more like a one-star. If you are looking for western touches, like a bar that serves drinks and a range of foods, try a chain hotel. If you are a light sleeper, consider some good quality earplugs, as most cities tend to be noisy.

Hotel prices differ; I stayed in one that was $50 a night for a single room (including breakfast). On my last night in Luxor, I wanted to see the Nile, so I changed hotels and found a fantastic deal at the Steigenberger Nile Palace for C$135 through Booking.com. It was well worth it for the swimming pool and views of the Valley of the Kings. In Aswan, our hotel faced the Movenpick and was close to the historic Old Cataract Hotel, the setting for Agatha Christie’s novel “Death on the Nile’, where the author stayed. Regardless, check the reviews on multiple sites and those recommended by women in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

15. Have cash to pay to use public bathrooms

Bathrooms are readily available and overall, I found them cleaner and more modern than in my previous travels to Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Even so, I still brought my own Kleenex, wipes and sanitizer. At monuments, there is always a charge to use the bathroom, ranging from 10-20 EGP cash, usually paid to a man sitting outside.

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16. Travel in a group

There’s nothing more important than having a local guide to explain the culture and traditions. I was fortunate to have a female guide who shared her own stories and upbringing as a Muslim woman in Egypt. Most of the guides speak multiple languages. If it’s your first time in Egypt, consider a group tour. You can find many designed for solo women in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

17. Purchase travel insurance

You absolutely must have emergency medical insurance. Most of us have heard horror stories about inadequately insured travellers who go off feeling perfectly well and then an unfortunate accident puts them in the hospital. These unlucky folks find themselves far from home without personal support systems in place and they’re often left with thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills. Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance and that it covers trip and cancellation changes. Do not rely on your credit card insurance. There are many options available in the US and Canada. To compare prices, check  insuremytrip.com and TuGo.  Read the policies and call and ask questions.

18. Have some Egyptian pounds (EGP) on hand

While you can pay for many things with a credit card, Egypt is a cash-based country. The Egyptian pound has a very good exchange rate, so most things aren’t too expensive. Don’t go to a bank machine alone. Bank machines offer withdrawals up to $2,000 EGP, which is roughly US$50/ CDN$65. A nice meal at a hotel can be had for US$20.

I used my Wise app to convert currency for a small fee and pay for items using the app on my phone. In most stores, prices are marked, but it’s easy to get taken advantage of if you don’t check in advance. The cost of a small bottle of water can range from 100-200 EGP.

19. Tipping is expected for everything

Everyone will expect a tip for any gesture, whether it’s a driver or a guide. As a general rule, tip hotel cleaning staff 20 EGP per night. For guides, it depends on the length of the trip. For a guided trip, $20USD/500 EGP a day is recommended. For two weeks on a guided tour, I used about 6,000 EGP in cash (roughly $150 USD) but I also didn’t buy any souvenirs at the markets. Some vendors will take euros or USD as well.

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20. There’s no such thing as ‘no hassle’ shopping

I found it humorous that many of the stores had signs promising ‘no hassle’ shopping. While some shopkeepers will stay in their stores and invite you to come in, others will stand in front of you and try to sell their wares. The opening question is generally ‘Where are you from?’. Should you decide to answer, it will lead to a dialogue that can last quite a while. For example, when I answered “Canada”, the response was typically “Oh, Canada Dry!” which always made me laugh. In most cases, I was able to say ‘no thank you’ and keep walking without too much trouble, but it does become wearisome. Shops are often closed from 1-2 pm for prayers, and on Fridays.

As a blond woman, I was the object of much attention, despite wearing a hat that covered my hair and dressing appropriately. Little boys sell bookmarks for a few dollars, and won’t hesitate to grab your hands, follow you or even take selfies with their phones. Keep a sense of humour, smile and carry on. Haggling is part of everything, and remember, you can always say no with a smile on your face.

21. Be aware of scams

Egyptian currency is a bit confusing, as it has so many zeros. For example, 1,000 EGP is about $27 Canadian. If you use a credit card, check the screen and make sure you are paying the correct amount. In Luxor, I purchased a scarf and a necklace in a store called Habiba Gallery, where the prices were clearly marked, and I used my credit card.

Also, watch what goes into your shopping bag upon purchase. On my trip, I heard a story about expensive items being swapped out for cheaper ones as the product was being purchased behind the cash register.

22. Use Uber or taxis to get around

I prefer to walk or use public transit, but on this trip, I used Uber in both Cairo and Luxor. I found taxi drivers fairly aggressive, but respectful. Expect them to honk or yell as they drive by, looking for a fare.

Ubers are not marked; rather, you must check the license plate numbers (look for numbers, as the plates are in Arabic) and ask the driver who he is picking up before you get in. In Cairo, I took an Uber from downtown Cairo to the Grand Egyptian Museum with no problem, but the return was more challenging because the drivers wanted up to $30 USD cash instead of the regular cost, which is less than $5USD billed through Uber. It took some patience and several tries, but finally I secured a driver who didn’t ask for cash. My advice: make sure to book a Comfort Uber, which tends to be a little nicer.  (Remember that Uber has a ride-sharing feature, where you can share your ride with a friend or family member if you’re nervous.)

23. Stay safe and connected with an eSIM

I used an eSIM from Airalo, which worked well (roughly $10 for 2 GB). I was happy to have this as I found the wifi inconsistent in the hotels we stayed in. I also needed it for Uber. I was extremely careful with my phone on the streets and normally kept it inside my cross-body bag.

24. You’ll need an Egyptian visa

Arriving in Cairo, Canadians will need an Egyptian visa. You can get one upon landing; there’s no need to get one in advance unless you are concerned about being rejected. The cost of a visa is US$25. I was anxious after being rejected by India last year, so I used Sherpa’s e-visa service at an additional cost of US$19 to feel confident, but it’s expensive. There is an Egyptian e-visa service on the government website, but it’s very glitchy.

In Egypt, there are separate security lines at airports for men and women, so take note as you enter the main security line. Flying from Luxor to Cairo, I had to show my passport and boarding pass entering the airport, then went through a security gate where a female agent patted me down, including both legs. Then, I went through a second security line. Transferring to an international flight, I went through a third passport check.

Before boarding my second flight, I went through two more passport checks and another security check where I was patted down yet again by a female agent. On my sixth security check, I had to unpack my carry-on bag. It was a humorous moment when they asked if I had a personal massager in my bag. Nope, it’s a travel curling brush, I told them with a smile. They then waved me through.

Disclaimer: The writer travelled with G Adventures on a 10-day Solo-ish trip to Egypt in June 2025. Her trip to the Grand Egyptian Museum was at her own expense, including admission and the Uber.   

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