Egypt’s national currency is the Egyptian Pound, which comes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 pound (geneh) notes. The smaller denominations, both in coin and paper form, are 25 and 50 Piasters (ersh), with 100 Piasters to every 1 Egyptian Pound. Although debit and /or credit cards are commonly accepted in most hotels and restaurants, it may be helpful to carry some cash. It is always useful to have notes and coins in smaller denominations, as market stalls do not always have change of larger denomination bank notes. Excluding accommodation; for budget travellers, we suggest a daily amount of 500 Egyptian Pounds (30 USD).
A vegetarian sandwich may cost up to 10 Egyptian Pounds (under 1 USD) and meat, such as shwarma about 30 Egyptian Pounds (under 2 USD). You can expect to pay around 60 Egyptian Pounds (about 4 USD) for a meal in a simple restaurant.
A more upmarket, three course meal may cost around 500 Egyptian Pounds (about 30 USD) and we suggest a daily amount of 600 to 1000 Egyptian Pounds (around 35 to 60 USD).
Beer typically costs around 30 – 40 Egyptian Pounds (about 2 USD) and a bottle of water around 17 Egyptian Pounds (about 1 USD). You should expect to pay more in hotels.
Tipping is a way of life in Egypt, and a great way to show your appreciation. If in doubt, tip. 5-10 Egyptian pounds is considered polite in cafes and expect to pay 10% of the bill in restaurants. It is considered polite to leave 5-10 Egyptian pounds for the shoe attendant at a mosque. On our group tours in Egypt a tipping kitty will be included for all included activities, accommodation and meals so you do not need to worry about it.
Egypt is definitely the place to go if you want to shop! Be sure to shop around various shops and stalls, and compare the materials and quality of the goods before you start to negotiate prices with a seller. There’ll be lots of beautifully hand embroidered clothing, art, metal and glass work and jewellery on offer in most of the markets. Not to mention mouth-watering sweets and delicacies. It’s particularly important to know the market value of your item before you agree a price – this can vary widely according to quality and materials. Be prepared to haggle but we ask that our travellers acknowledge that fair trade involves a bit of give and take, so it’s important to respect the effort, detail and skill that’s gone into making the product you’re buying.
Don’t get carried away with the art of the haggle, and be mindful that not all stallholders accept haggling, especially bakeries and other fresh food stall.
Part of the excitement and adventure of travel is meeting new people and listening to their stories. It is always worth asking the seller about the products they are selling. Their story will add something to yours when you are showing off your bargains to your friends at home.
Individual travelers over 18 years of age can bring a maximum of one liter of alcoholic and 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 grams of Tobacco for personal use into the country.
Goods not exceeding more than $200 from the duty-free shops within one month of arrival may be exempted from customs along with all personal effects, as long as it is for personal use.
There is a foreign currency limit of approximately $10,000 (or its equivalent) and a local currency limit of 5,000 Egyptian Pounds that can be brought in or taken out of the country.
Precious items purchased in Egypt, such as Gold and Silver, can only be exported in small quantities if it is clear it is for personal use.
All firearms, including sporting guns, narcotics and recreational drugs are prohibited from being brought into Egypt.
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