Is Egypt safe for tourists?

Yes, Egypt is considered safe in major tourist areas like Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts. But stay aware of conflicts in the surrounding countries and plan ahead.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

Most travelers need a visa, which can usually be obtained as an e-visa or on arrival depending on your nationality.

How many days do you need in Egypt?

Ideally 7–10 days to cover Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. Add more time if you want a Red Sea stay or a slower itinerary.

Is a Nile cruise worth it?

Maybe, if you are going with a reputed company. However, if you are short on time and budget, I would suggest you to skip it and just do a Felucca ride on the Nile instead.

What should I wear in Egypt?

Light, breathable clothing that covers shoulders and knees is recommended – especially for women in non-touristy areas.

Do people speak English in Egypt?

Yes, English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by guides.

Egypt Travel Guide

with notes for Indian travellers

Updated: October 21, 2026

We did Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel over 8 days, completely DIY – no tour package, no daily guide, no Nile cruise. Just the two of us, with a Lonely Planet guide, and a lot of Google Maps. It worked. It also wasn’t easy. Egypt is loud, persistent, and at times genuinely exhausting and every temple visit comes with someone trying to “help” you for baksheesh. But the architecture, the scale, the sheer weight of history… that part I cannot oversell. It is everything ten-year-old me hoped it would be.

This guide contains visa numbers that are actually current, things I learned the hard way about scams, what worked for getting around without a guide, and the food we ended up eating every single day.

Capital

Cairo

Currency

Egyptian Pound (EGP / E£)

Time zone

EET (UTC +2)

Language

Arabic

When to Visit Egypt

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Winter
Shoulder (Warm)
Summer
Shoulder (Cold)
Best time to go

✦ Our pick

Winter months (October-March)

Egypt has essentially two seasons: bearable, and “why is it 44°C at 9 a.m.”

See the season-by-season breakdown

For first-timers doing the classic Cairo–Luxor–Aswan route, October through March is the safest choice. Days are 22–28°C, evenings cool down enough that you’ll want a light jacket on a felucca, and you can actually walk around Karnak in the middle of the day without melting.

December and January have the best weather but also the worst crowds and prices – Christmas, New Year, and the European winter break all collide here. February and March are the sweet spot if you can manage it.

Think twice before travelling May through September. Cairo is hot but survivable; Luxor and Aswan regularly hit 40°C+ and the Valley of the Kings becomes a furnace. Hotels are cheaper and sites are emptier, but you’ll structure your whole day around hiding from the sun

We went in January and it was perfect — warm enough for the river, cool enough for the temples, and for us, early risers, not really that crowded.

Visa for Indian passport holders

Last verified — May 2026

Yes, Indian passport holders need a visa for Egypt, but the good news is it's a proper online e-Visa, no embassy run, no biometrics. You apply at the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg, pay around US $25 for single-entry, and get the approval emailed to you in about a week.

Visa type

e-Visa (Tourist) - single or multiple entry

Validity

90 days from issue · 30 days stay per entry

Fee

Single entry: US $25 (≈ ₹2,200) · Multiple entry: US $60 (≈ ₹5,300)

Processing

5–7 working days (apply at least 7 days before travel)

Visa-on-arrival

Available ($25, 30 days) — but the e-Visa is faster and avoids airport queues

Flying in from India

I believe there is a ~7h direct flight from Delhi launched recently. From everywhere else in India you’re still routing through Doha, Dubai, Muscat, or Kuwait, which adds 4–8 hours of layover but often comes out cheaper.

I flew Bangalore → Cairo via Abu Dhabi — a 13 hours flight including the layover.

Currency and Budget for Egypt

Exchange rate

₹100 ≈ E£57

As of 1 May 2026

Check xe.com for live rates

Even for a budget trip, entrance tickets to sites cost a lot and its not something you can avoid. I have probably low-balled the entry ticket pricing here.

Category	Budget	Mid-range	Splurge
Stay	₹1,200+/night	₹5,000+/night	₹20,000+/night
Food	₹ 500	₹1,200	₹3.500
Sites & Transport	₹1,200/day(entry tickets + local trains/Uber)	₹2,000/day(entry +private taxis between sites)	₹5,000+/day (private driver, guide)
Daily total	~₹2,900	~₹8,200	~₹28,000+

Already decided?

Read our 10 day Egypt itinerary.

Take me there

Getting Around Egypt

Domestic Flights

EgyptAir flies Cairo to Luxor / Aswan / Hurghada in about an hour. Worth it if you're short on time; trains are part of the experience if you're not.

Bus

Buses (GoBus, Blue Bus) are cheaper than trains, slower, less comfortable. Useful for Hurghada and Sinai.

Trains

The state-run sleeper trains run Cairo → Luxor → Aswan. Book through the official site or at the station counter as agents at hotels will mark up by 50%+. Expect delays as everything runs on "Egyptian time".
For travel inside Cairo, Cairo Metro is useful and costs about E£10. Three lines, basic English signage, fastest way across the city.

Taxi

Uber and Careem work in Cairo, Alexandria, and Hurghada. Cheaper and less stressful than haggling with street taxis.
In Luxor and Aswan you'll mostly use taxis or feluccas. There is no Uber here but InDrive works.

Ferry / Nile Cruise / Felucca

Nile cruises - Run between Luxor and Aswan (3–5 nights, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo); Not worth it unless you want the floating-hotel experience.
Public ferry (Luxor) - The local boat between East Bank and West Bank costs E£10(they charged us E£50), runs all day, and is what locals use; ignore the touts at the dock offering a "private" motorboat.
Felucca rides - best done at sunset in Aswan; agree the price upfront per boat

Safety in Egypt

Safety rating

5

/10

Egypt felt physically safe but what's exhausting isn't crime, it's the constant low-level pressure: touts, hawkers, "free" things that aren't free, and the assumption that you, as an obvious tourist, exist to be sold to. By day three you'll have your "no thank you" voice down. Keep it polite, keep it firm, and don't engage.

Solo Female Travel

Doable but more demanding than most Asian destinations. Dress modestly outside Red Sea resorts (shoulders and knees covered, especially in Upper Egypt and Cairo's older quarters). Catcalling happens; physical safety is generally fine.

Pickpocketing/Bag-snatching

Petty pickpocketing is rare. Scams are constant - fake "free" perfume samples, "the temple is closed, come to my shop instead", inflated taxi fares, drivers tripling the agreed price at the destination.

Health & Medical

Private hospitals in Cairo (As-Salam International, Dar Al Fouad) are good but expensive; travel insurance is non-negotiable.
Tap water is not safe to drink - buy bottled (large jerrycans are cheaper)

Areas to Know

Sinai's interior and the Western Desert near the Libyan border are still subject to travel advisories - stick to the Nile Valley, Cairo/Giza, Alexandria, and the Red Sea coast (Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam). Don't photograph military or police installations, including some bridges and government buildings.

Language & Greetings in Egypt

Egypt speaks Egyptian Arabic. English is decent in Cairo and tourist sites; in smaller towns and at temples, a few Arabic phrases will earn you genuine smiles and (sometimes) a better price.

English	Arabic
Hello	As-salaam alaikum
Hello (casual reply)	Wa alaikum as-salaam
Thank you	Shukran
No, thank you	La, shukran (you will use this 50× a day)

Places to See in Egypt

FAQs about Egypt

Is Egypt safe for tourists?
Yes, Egypt is considered safe in major tourist areas like Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts. But stay aware of conflicts in the surrounding countries and plan ahead.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Most travelers need a visa, which can usually be obtained as an e-visa or on arrival depending on your nationality.
How many days do you need in Egypt?
Ideally 7–10 days to cover Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. Add more time if you want a Red Sea stay or a slower itinerary.
Is a Nile cruise worth it?
Maybe, if you are going with a reputed company. However, if you are short on time and budget, I would suggest you to skip it and just do a Felucca ride on the Nile instead.
What should I wear in Egypt?
Light, breathable clothing that covers shoulders and knees is recommended – especially for women in non-touristy areas.
Do people speak English in Egypt?
Yes, English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by guides.