Egypt Guide
First time in Egypt?
Visa, money, what to wear, what to pack and when to go. From Beliva's own guest guide.
| Topic | Tip | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Apply online for the e-Visa before you fly, or buy it on arrival | USD 30 for a single-entry tourist visa (checked July 2026) – confirm on visa2egypt.gov.eg |
| Best time | Late Oct–early Dec and mid-Mar–mid-Apr | November and March: ideal temperatures, fewer crowds |
| Money | Carry 30–50 € per person per day in cash | For tips, taxis, markets. Withdraw EGP at Egyptian ATMs; keep part in the hotel safe |
| Water | Bottled water only – 2 L (winter) to 3 L (summer) a day | No tap water, avoid ice at street stalls the first days |
| Dress code | Cover shoulders & knees outside resorts | Headscarf for women in mosques; closed shoes for temples |
| Photos | Ask before photographing people | Some sites charge a photo ticket; drones are forbidden without permit |
| Tipping | Waiters 10–20 EGP · porters 5–10 EGP · drivers 50–100 EGP/day | Group guide 50–100 EGP/day · private guide 200–400 EGP/day |
| Bargaining | Expected in bazaars and souvenir shops only | Fixed prices in restaurants, shops with price tags and with Beliva |
| Power | Plugs type C/F, 220 V | Same as most of Europe |
| SIM card | Buy at the airport: Vodafone, Orange or e& (etisalat) | Bring your passport; eSIM also works for most phones |
| Weekend | Friday is the main day off | Many offices closed Fri (and Sat); tourist sites open daily |
| Ramadan | Respect fasting in public during the day | Hotels & tourist restaurants stay open; evenings are festive |
Best time to visit
Where to go, month by month
✓✓ best · ✓ good · – not ideal
| Month | Red Sea & Sinai | Luxor & Aswan | Cairo & Giza | Western Desert | Mediterranean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | – |
| Feb | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | – |
| Mar | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ |
| Apr | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ |
| May | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ |
| Jun | ✓✓ | – | ✓ | – | ✓✓ |
| Jul | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓✓ |
| Aug | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓✓ |
| Sep | ✓✓ | – | ✓ | – | ✓✓ |
| Oct | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ |
| Nov | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | – |
| Dec | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | – |
Packing
For a beach or boat day
- Item · Why
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50 · Strong sun on the water; protects the coral
- Rash guard / T-shirt for snorkeling · Avoids sunburn on your back
- Reef shoes · Protect feet from coral, urchins and hot sand
- Hat & sunglasses (polarised) · Glare on the water is intense
- Towel & dry bag · Keep phone, money and clothes dry on the boat
- Waterproof phone case · For photos and safety
- Seasickness tablets · Take 1 hour before the boat leaves
- After-sun & lip balm · Wind and sun dry the skin
- Light jacket / wetsuit (Nov–Mar) · Water and wind are cooler in winter
- Small cash in EGP · Photos, drinks on board, tips for the crew
- Golden rules · Don't touch or feed fish & coral · stay with your group · drink water
Packing
For sightseeing days
- Item · Why
- Comfortable closed walking shoes · Uneven stones, sand and long distances at temples
- Light long clothes (cotton / linen) · Sun protection + mosque/church dress code
- Scarf / shawl · For mosques and cool mornings in winter
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen · Little shade at Giza, Karnak, Valley of the Kings
- 1.5 L water + electrolytes · Heat and dry air dehydrate fast
- Small backpack & power bank · Long days, many photos
- Small EGP notes · Toilets, tips, snacks, photo tickets
- Wet wipes & hand gel · Useful on long road trips
- Passport or copy · Needed for some tickets and checkpoints (Cairo/Luxor trips)
- Start early · Visit before 11:00 and after 15:00 in hot months
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Best time to visit, season by season
| Season | Months | Weather | Best places | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Dec – Feb | Mild days, cool nights; desert nights cold | Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Nile cruise, Cairo & Giza, Red Sea sun (water cooler) | Wetsuit for snorkeling; Christmas & New Year are peak season – book early |
| Spring | Mar – May | Warm & sunny; dusty khamseen winds possible Mar–Apr | Everything! Siwa, White Desert, Sinai trekking, Fayoum, Red Sea | Easter and Pentecost holidays are busy |
| Summer | Jun – Aug | Very hot inland, pleasant on the coasts | Red Sea (Hurghada, Marsa Alam), diving, Alexandria & North Coast | Avoid midday visits in Luxor and Aswan |
| Autumn | Sep – Nov | Warm; the sea is at its warmest | Red Sea (best water), Cairo from Oct, Nile Valley from late Oct, desert trips from Oct | Autumn school holidays = high demand |
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Wellness & nature – and when to go
| Place | Region | Famous for | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safaga | Red Sea (1 h south of Hurghada) | Black mineral sand & salty sea – natural therapy | All year |
| Siwa Oasis | Western Desert | Hot-sand baths at Gebel Dakrour, Cleopatra spring, Bir Wahed hot spring | Sand baths Jul–Aug; springs all year |
| Hammam Pharaon | Sinai (Ras Sudr) | Hot sulphur springs & natural sauna caves by the sea | Oct–Apr |
| Uyun Musa (Moses Springs) | Sinai (near Ras Sudr) | Historic freshwater & mineral springs | Oct–Apr |
| Bahariya Oasis | Western Desert | Hot springs (e.g. Bir Sigam) near the Black & White Desert | Oct–Apr |
| Dakhla & Kharga Oases | Western Desert | Natural hot springs and mud | Oct–Apr |
| Helwan | South of Cairo | Historic sulphur springs (royal spa era) | Oct–Apr |
| Wadi El Hitan (Valley of the Whales) | Fayoum | UNESCO site – 40-million-year-old whale fossils | Oct–Apr |
| Wadi El Rayan | Fayoum | Desert lakes & Egypt's waterfalls, sandboarding | Oct–Apr |
| Tunis village | Fayoum | Eco-lodges & pottery village by Lake Qarun | Oct–May |
| Ras Mohammed National Park | Sinai (Sharm) | World-class coral reefs & sharks | All year |
| Nabq Protected Area | Sinai (Sharm) | Mangroves, dunes, Bedouin villages | Oct–May |
| Wadi El Gemal National Park | Marsa Alam | Mangroves, gazelles, Sataya dolphin reef | All year |
| St Catherine & Mount Sinai | South Sinai | Sunrise trek, monastery, Bedouin trails | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| White Desert National Park | Farafra / Bahariya | Chalk rock formations, desert camping under stars | Oct–Apr |
| Siwa eco-lodges | Siwa | Candle-lit mud-brick lodges, salt lakes | Oct–Apr |
| Lake Qarun | Fayoum | Bird watching – migratory birds | Nov–Feb |
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Apps to download before your trip
- WhatsApp · Talk to Beliva, guides, drivers and hotels
- Uber / Careem · Fixed-price rides in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Hurghada
- Google Maps · Directions – download offline maps before you fly
- Google Translate · Menus and signs with the camera; download Arabic offline
- Talabat · Food, groceries and pharmacy delivery
- XE Currency · EUR / USD / EGP conversion, works offline