Arrival

By plane
Most travelers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland choose a direct flight to Egypt, as the flight time is usually only about 4 to 5 hours.

Main destination airports:

Cairo (CAI): Ideal for cultural trips and Nile cruises. Served by scheduled airlines (e.g. EgyptAir, Lufthansa, SWISS).
Hurghada (HRG), Marsa Alam (RMF) and Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) are the main airports for beach holidays. These are often served directly by charter and low-cost airlines.

By car
Traveling by car from Central Europe to Egypt is theoretically possible, but extremely time-consuming and not recommended for normal vacation trips. You would have to cross large parts of Europe, Turkey, and possibly the Middle East, which often involves ferry crossings and

Entry Requirements and Visa

For entry requirements, one should definitely consult the official sites as well.

Entry requires a passport or, in the case of selected countries, a national identity card. In all cases, the documents must be valid for six months upon the planned entry and three months after the planned exit. Only male (M) or female (F) may be entered as gender. Upon entry and exit, an arrival or departure card must be filled out.

Germany: Children under 16 years of age travel with a children’s passport (Kinderreisepass), but its validity must not have been manually changed.

A visa is required in any case. Visas are not available at the Egyptian land borders.

Citizens from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein can most easily obtain a tourist visa for a stay of up to four weeks as a visa on arrival at the airport. It costs $25 per person and can be purchased before immigration control. It is recommended to have the exact amount available in cash. The change is usually given in Egyptian pounds.

Visas can also be acquired at the Egyptian embassies. An e-Visa has also been offered for some time. This can be applied for online at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 7 days before entry. But be careful! Even the smallest typo or names that are too long can lead to automatic rejection. The money, however, will not be refunded.

The visa requirement or visa exemption for citizens of other countries is sometimes handled differently. For example, Turks who have a valid Schengen residence permit only receive a visa on arrival if they are not male and between 18 and 45 years old.

Getting Around in Egypt

By Plane
Only Egyptian airlines can be used for domestic flights. Besides EgyptAir Express, other private airlines like Petroleum Air Services also operate. As a foreigner, you must pay significantly higher prices—about four times the price—than locals for such flights.

By Train
The rail network is not well-developed and is very outdated. It is almost exclusively operated by the Egyptian National Railways.

The most important lines are Cairo–Minyā–Luxor–Edfu–Aswan, Cairo–Alexandria, Cairo–Port Said, and Marsā Maṭrūḥ–Alexandria–Ismailia. Trains run several times a day but are of varying quality. Air-conditioned express trains run about three times daily, while basic trains run more frequently.

Tickets can be purchased at the train station or online. Since 2023, foreigners are required to purchase their tickets in Dollars or Euros at significantly higher prices.

By Bus
You can get from A to B quite well by long-distance bus. The route network is better developed than the rail network. Various providers serve almost all places located directly on a road. Generally, only major cities like Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria, as well as the oases in the Western Desert, are directly connected to each other. Connections between smaller towns or villages usually rely on minibuses or service taxis and may require one or more transfers.

Exactly as many passengers are transported as there are seats available. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance, although this is only possible in larger cities.

Minibuses/shared taxis are also a common means of transport. These only depart when all seats are occupied. The price is often a matter of negotiation.

By Ferry
Ferry connections exist, for example, between Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh.

By Car
Maximum speeds for motorcycles, motor-caravans, cars, and motorhomes:

• Within towns: 30 km/h
• Outside towns: 60 km/h
• On expressways and motorways: 90 km/h or 100 km/h

Traffic drives on the right. Most larger towns are connected by asphalt roads. Tolls must be paid on the few motorways. Gas stations are quite rare here.

By Taxi
Numerous taxis operate in the major cities. They can be identified by the taxi sign on the roof, the uniform (usually white) coloring, and the contrasting colored fenders. In Cairo, there are special pink women-only taxis.

All taxis are supposed to have taximeters. However, these are often defective. If the taximeter is switched on at the start of the journey, ensure that it displays no more than the base fare of about LE 3. If the taximeter is missing or not working, you must negotiate the price before starting the journey, taking into account additional fees such as tolls and airport charges.

Safety and Travel Advisories

Travel advisories for Egypt often change. Be sure to check the latest information from the Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) shortly before your trip!

Absolute Travel Warning (You should NOT travel here)

• Northern Sinai Peninsula: Do not travel there (the resort town of Taba is an exception).
• Border area with Israel and Gaza: Avoid the Egyptian-Israeli border area and entry into Gaza via the Sinai.
• Border regions with Libya and Sudan: These areas have been declared restricted zones.
• Remote areas of the Sahara: Do not travel to these remote desert regions.

Advisories for Overland Travel
South Sinai: Do not drive overland on your own. Only use journeys that are accompanied by state security forces.

If you travel overland, it is strongly recommended to take a companion who is familiar with the local area.

General Safety Risks Throughout the Country
Terrorism Risk: There is an increased risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings nationwide. Targets are often security forces, but also civilian locations (such as sights, public transport, etc.).

Important Note on Social Media and Statements

Be cautious with comments: Critical statements about Egypt, political comments, or the dissemination of information deemed “fake news” can be punishable offenses. This also applies to posts on social media! Such actions can be interpreted as insulting or defaming the country or the state president and may lead to prosecution.

Best time to travel

The climate in Egypt is characterized by low rainfall and plenty of sunshine. However, there are some regional differences that should be taken into account when planning your trip.

Nile region/Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan)
Extremely hot in summer (May-October), often above 40°C. Winters are mild and pleasant for sightseeing.

Red Sea coast (Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh)
Warm all year round; very hot in summer, but bearable by the sea. Best water temperatures in summer.

Cairo/Mediterranean
Pleasant in spring and fall, milder in winter. Hot in summer, can be humid.

Sinai Mountains
Due to the high altitude, temperatures here are lower. In winter, they range from 12–15°C during the day and 0–5°C at night. In summer, they rise to 32°C during the day and 15–18°C at night.

Money

The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP).

Credit cards are accepted in tourist areas and hotels. Cash is necessary for markets, taxis, and smaller expenses. Banknotes are mostly used. The front usually features an Islamic monument and Arabic lettering, while the back shows a Pharaonic monument and English lettering.

Money can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, or hotels. ATMs can also be found in cities and tourist centers. When exchanging foreign currencies at banks and exchange offices, a copy of your passport will be made.

Tipping (baksheesh)

Tipping, or baksheesh, is very important in Egypt and often makes up a significant part of people’s income.

Restaurants: 10-20% of the bill is customary.

Services: Small amounts are customary and expected for porters, toilet attendants, chambermaids, taxi drivers, and guides.

Language

The official language is Arabic.

English is widely spoken in tourist centers, and German is also often spoken.

Telephone and Internet

Telephone network:
Good mobile phone reception in most populated areas. The international dialing code for Egypt is +20, usually also 0020.

The German mobile phone providers T-Mobile, Vodafone, and O2 have roaming agreements with the Egyptian mobile phone providers (Orange, Vodafone).

SIM cards:
Local prepaid SIM cards (e.g., Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat) are inexpensive for data and calls and are available at airports or in shops. There are special tourist prepaid cards that expire automatically after three months at the latest.

Wi-Fi:
Available in many hotels, restaurants, and cafés. Since 2013, thousands of websites have been blocked by the government. In the meantime, Signal and WhatsApp can at least be used again.

Clothing

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. Swimwear is normal in tourist resorts such as those on the Red Sea.

Outside the resorts (cities, tourist attractions): Respect the local culture by dressing modestly.

Women: Shoulders and knees should be covered.

Men: Long pants and T-shirts are advisable; shorts are acceptable but not appropriate for religious sites.

Religious sites (mosques): Appropriate, modest clothing is mandatory.

Health

Travel Vaccinations: Hepatitis A is often recommended, and for long-term stays or special exposure, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Rabies are also suggested.

Tap water is not drinking water! Only use bottled water (even for brushing your teeth).

Gastrointestinal diseases are among the most common illnesses for tourists. The cause is food and drinks contaminated with bacteria or viruses. You should only consume cooked and boiled food and only drink boiled or originally packaged water or comparable beverages.

Insect Bites: In humid areas, there can be proper mosquito plagues. Appropriate clothing and/or insect repellents should be used. Products purchased within the country are often very effective.

It is therefore absolutely essential to take out international travel health insurance that also covers medically necessary repatriation and operates an emergency hotline. These insurance companies can often name contracted doctors who usually do not require advance payment. Insurers typically do not pay overpriced bills, but only the standard local rates.

Tampons

It may be useful to consider when packing that, as of 2024, tampons are at least very difficult to find or possibly not sold at all in Egypt.

Toilets

During opening hours, toilets are available in churches, mosques, hotels, restaurants, and some shops. Cafés often do not have toilets, or only have urinals for men.

It is advisable to carry toilet paper with you. However, used paper should not be disposed of in the toilets, but in the buckets provided. Paper thrown into the toilets could cause blockages.

On desert safaris or trips on boats and feluccas, excrement must be burned or buried.

Alcohol

There is a strict ban on alcohol in public places. The minimum age for consuming alcohol is 21.

Alcohol is only served in upscale hotels and some restaurants.

Time zone

The time in Egypt is one hour ahead of Central European Time and two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Daylight saving time begins on the last Friday in April and ends on the last Thursday before October 31.

Travel adapter

A travel adapter is not normally required. Type C and F plugs are used, which are identical to the plugs used in Germany.