First-Timer's Guide to Egypt (2026): Everything You Need Before You Fly
How to structure your first trip to Egypt: $25 USD Official E-Visa (`visa2egypt.gov.eg`) or $25 Cash Bank Kiosk Visa-on-Arrival Sticker at Cairo/Luxor/Hurghada Airports (Before Immigration!), Egyptian National Railways (ENR) Talgo High-Speed Day Trains (Cairo–Alexandria–Luxor) & Abela Egypt Sleeping Trains (#86/#87), Cairo Pass, EGP (E£) payments, and critical booking windows.
1. Entry Rules & Passport Requirements for Egypt
$25 USD Official E-Visa (`visa2egypt.gov.eg`) or $25 Cash Bank Kiosk Visa-on-Arrival Sticker at Cairo/Luxor/Hurghada Airports (Before Immigration!) Always verify your passport validity (at least 6 months beyond your planned departure) and keep digital copies of your return ticket and first hotel confirmation in Cairo & Grand Egyptian Museum or Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Saqqara.
2. Getting Around: Egyptian National Railways (ENR) Talgo High-Speed Day Trains (Cairo–Alexandria–Luxor) & Abela Egypt Sleeping Trains (#86/#87) & Cairo Pass
Travel seamlessly across Egypt on Egyptian National Railways (ENR) Talgo High-Speed Day Trains (Cairo–Alexandria–Luxor) & Abela Egypt Sleeping Trains (#86/#87). Compare walk-up fares against advance promotional tickets and regional passes in EGP (E£). For urban and regional transit in Cairo & Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Saqqara, and Luxor & Valley of the Kings, pick up or activate Cairo Pass (1) CARD-ONLY RULE AT ALL SITES: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism ticket windows at the Pyramids, GEM, Saqqara, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, and Abu Simbel no longer accept cash—bring two physical contactless Visa/Mastercard cards! 2) Meanwhile, keep plenty of E£20, E£50, and E£100 cash notes for baksheesh (tips), feluccas, and water. 3) In Cairo, always use Uber (links to your card and avoids taxi meter arguments).). Use our interactive Egyptian National Railways Calculator to compare point-to-point tickets against multi-day passes.
3. Money, Cards & EGP (E£) (E£ EGP)
The official currency is the EGP (E£) (E£, EGP), trading at roughly 1 USD ≈ 48.8 EGP (1 EUR ≈ 52.7 EGP). Always choose to be billed in EGP on card terminals to avoid 5–8% Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) markups.
4. Cultural Etiquette & Tipping Norms
Baksheesh (small tipping in E£20–E£100 notes) is an essential part of Egyptian daily income: carry a thick stack of E£20, E£50, and E£100 notes for tomb guardians, restroom attendants (E£10–20), luggage porters (E£50), drivers (E£200–300/day), and Egyptologist guides (E£400–600/day). Never drink tap water in Egypt; use sealed bottled water (Baraka / Dasani / Nestlé) even for brushing teeth. Tipping norm: Baksheesh (small tipping in E£20–E£100 notes) is an essential part of Egyptian daily income: carry a thick stack of E£20, E£50, and E£100 notes for tomb guardians, restroom attendants (E£10–20), luggage porters (E£50), drivers (E£200–300/day), and Egyptologist guides (E£400–600/day).