Egypt Travel Guide

• The pyramids and more: No other destination can boast the historical riches that Egypt offers. From the pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian museum in Cairo to the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered, it’s a history buff’s dream.
• The beaches: The Red Sea Coast has a stark beauty that lingers in the mind long after leaving. With teeming reefs just off-shore, it’s a dream for snorkelling fans, and a day trip will give divers some of the best below-water experiences of their lives.
• The Nile: This mighty river is the lifeblood of the country, forging a fertile path through an otherwise arid wasteland. It’s also the ideal place from which to see much of Egypt’s most spectacular monuments. A cruise on her waters is a feast for the senses.
• The scenery: Egypt has a unique beauty. Sometimes stark, sometimes challenging, its environments are always fascinating. From the fertile plains of the Nile to the surreal shapes of the White Desert, you’d better have your camera at the ready.

The food scene in Egypt is seriously underrated. Similar to Mediterranean cuisines but with its own unique twist, the food of the Pharaohs is hearty, aromatic and infused with many herbs and spices. Koshary is a local favourite. Made of layered pasta, rice, lentils, chickpeas, fried onions and tomato sauce, it’s filling, cheap and delicious. Shawarma (meat cut into thin slices and stacked on a spit before slow-roasting) is best eaten from a street stall (look for the one with the longest queue of locals!). Falafel is a veggie standard here, as it is across much of the Middle East, but is traditionally made with fava beans rather than chickpeas. Fuul mudammas is the breakfast staple. Slow-cooked, mashed fava beans flavoured with tomatoes, garlic and cumin, fuul can be eaten as a dish itself or stuffed into pitta. Either way, it’s delicious. Generally speaking, you can eat very well, even if you don’t have a massive budget, especially if you make use of the street stalls, which is often where the best food is to be found anyway.

Egypt has a hot, desert climate. It’s extremely dry all over the country, apart from the northern Mediterranean coast, which receives rainfall in winter. Some mountainous areas have cooler temperatures, especially at night.

Visa Assisance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Egypt’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Egypt set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Egypt, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least one blank page.   

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

British passport holders travelling to Egypt normally need a visa.

If you are arriving by air to Sharm El-Sheikh and staying for less than 15 days at resorts in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you do not need a visa. You will get a free entry permission stamp on arrival at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport. If you plan to travel outside the resorts or stay more than 15 days, you must get a visa. You can get a visa at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport or online.

If you arrive in South Sinai by land through the Taba Border Crossing, see ‘Entering Egypt from Israel’.

Applying for a visa

You can apply for a visa:

• online – getting an e-visa in advance can help to prevent delays, tourist e-visas are valid for up to 3 months
• in person or by post – apply through the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK
• on arrival in Egypt – approved airports have kiosks before you reach the immigration counters where you can buy a visa for 30 US dollars (cash only). Visas on arrival are valid for up to 30 days.

British passport holders from British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies cannot apply online. 

Visa extensions

You can apply for a visa extension at the Egyptian Passport and Immigration Offices. If you try to leave Egypt on an expired visa, you may face difficulties, including a fine if your visa has expired by more than 14 days. Contact the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK for more information.

Visa agents in airports

You do not need to buy a visa from an agent. Agents often charge more than the required 30 US dollars. If an agent harasses you, report the incident to the tourist police in the airport terminal.

Gender expression

You may be denied entry if your gender expression or physical appearance does not match the sex marker in your passport or your passport photograph. See general advice for LGBT+ travellers

Entering Egypt from Israel 

If you plan to cross the border from Israel into Egypt at Taba, we recommend you bring at least 170 US dollars (cash) per person, with some extra US dollars in cash to cover any further expenses. Since early March 2026, border crossing charges at Taba have been subject to increases at short notice.

• If staying in Taba, travellers will need to pay a border tax of 20 US dollars. The border tax allows you to obtain an entry permission stamp for a stay of up to 15 days

• If travelling further than Taba, including to Sharm El-Sheikh, but remaining within the Sinai Peninsula, travellers will need to pay a border tax of 120 US dollars. The border tax allows you to obtain an entry permission stamp for a stay of up to 15 days

• If travelling beyond the Sinai Peninsula, including to fly from airports such as Cairo and Hurghada, travellers will need to pay a border tax of 120 US dollars and purchase a standard entry visa for 30 US dollars. At Taba, this entry visa also requires a “letter of guarantee”, provided by travel agents and costing around 20 USD. Both the visa and the “letter of guarantee” can be purchased at the Border Crossing

If travelling by car through the Taba Border Crossing, you may also be required to pay 100 US dollars, with additional charges for parking.

Please note that ATMs at the Taba Border Crossing are unreliable and frequently run out of cash. Travellers should obtain US dollars before travelling or in Eilat before arriving at the Crossing as all payments are required in cash. 

Border officials may ask travellers to remove hats, coats or other items of clothing, including religious clothing, as they pass through the Taba Border Crossing terminal.

Entering Egypt from Jordan 

Ferry services operate between Aqaba, Jordan and Taba Heights and Nuweiba in Egypt. Contact ferry operators directly for schedules and availability. Please check Travel Advice for Jordan for latest on exit requirements. 

If your stay in Sinai will exceed 15 days, or you are planning to travel in Egypt beyond the Sinai Peninsula, including to fly from mainland airports, for example Cairo or Hurghada, you will need an entry visa. If entering at Taba Heights, this costs 35 US dollars.  If entering at Nuweiba, this costs 30 US dollars. Visas can be purchased at the port terminals. Travellers should obtain USD in cash before travelling given payments are often required in cash.

Entering Egypt from Sudan 

The situation at the Egypt-Sudan border remains unclear. There are 2 main land border crossings, Qustul and Argeen. There is almost no infrastructure at these crossings, and it is no longer possible to obtain a visa on arrival at these locations. The Egyptian consulate is based in Wadi Halfa, 30km from the border, applications for Egyptian visas can be made here, but visa approvals can take upwards of 6 months. 

The British Embassy in Cairo does not have staff at the border and our ability to provide assistance is very limited. Travel in and from Sudan is at your own risk. See Sudan travel advice. 

If you are a British national and have crossed into Egypt from Sudan without valid documents, contact the British Embassy in Cairo for support.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Egypt, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Egypt guide.

HIV test for work permits

You will need to show HIV test results to apply for a work permit.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Egypt. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Contact the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK for more information about customs rules.

Taking money into or out of Egypt

You can bring up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds into or out of Egypt.

You must declare foreign currency worth more than 10,000 US dollars on arrival – there is no limit to the amount of foreign currency you can bring.

Electronic and communication devices

You should declare high value electronic devices and recording equipment when you arrive. Officials are likely to confiscate satellite phones or radio communications equipment unless you have prior clearance from the Ministry of Telecommunications.

Egyptians are warm, welcoming, good-humoured people. However, Egypt is a predominantly Islamic country and local laws and customs reflect this. This is especially relevant during the holy month of Ramadan.

• ID: You should keep a valid photo ID with you at all times.
• Dress: Egypt is a conservative country.  You should dress modestly, avoiding tight or revealing clothing.
• Political: Publicising negative opinions about Egypt or making political comments can cause problems with the authorities. Derogatory comments on social media have led to custodial sentences in the past. There are also sensitivities about taking photos of public buildings, military installations or infrastructure. The use of drones is prohibited.
• Alcohol: It’s illegal to drink alcohol on the street or anywhere other than a licensed restaurant.
• Drugs: Possession or trafficking of recreational drugs is highly illegal and can result in a lengthy prison sentence, life imprisonment and even the death sentence.

Health

• Visit your GP ahead of travelling, to ensure you’ve had any vaccinations necessary and to make sure you have enough of any prescribed medication to see you through the duration of your trip. 
• If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 123 and ask for an ambulance. If you’re referred for treatment, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

Safety

• Since January 2011, Egypt has experienced significant political turmoil. Protests, marches and demonstrations have taken place across the country in the recent past. If you become aware of any events taking place, we recommend you move away from the local area.
• Crime levels are generally low and most crime is limited to pick-pocketing and bag-snatching. Take sensible precautions like keeping valuables in your accommodation safe, not travelling alone in a taxi, not walking alone at night and never carrying too much cash.