Jörg's Tips 🇪🇬
Below I would like to give you some important advice so that you can discover and travel through the land of the pharaohs in a safe, exciting and individual way.
I hope my tips help you with your travel plans to the ‘land of 1000 wonders’.
If you require any further information, please reach me by using my contact form.
In short…
- Always communicate respectfully and with a smile
- Make sure to adapt to local customs and traditions
- Learn a few Arabic small talk words
- As a woman, it is better to travel as a pair or accompanied by a man
- Tip people for their services, even if they don’t ask for it
- Stay connected with the use of eSIM
- Check the official travel and security advices of your authorities
Basic principles 🧳
As a traveler, I always see myself as an ambassador for Europe with a German passport. It would be wonderful if you, too, could travel the world with a similar understanding of being an ambassador.
For me, this means communicating respectfully and kindly with people in every country. I am mindful of local customs and traditions, but I remain true to myself and express my European perspective.
This approach is particularly well-received in cosmopolitan and liberal Egypt, where it opens doors and touches the hearts of peaceful Sunnis.
Show respect to your conversation partners 👳🏾
The easiest way to start a conversation is to know a few key words in the Egyptian dialect of Arabic. The following words and phrases are perfectly sufficient to begin with:
- Sabah / Masa el kheir ↔ Good morning / evening
- Sabah / Masa al nur ↔ Good morning / evening to you too
- Aiwa / La ↔ Yes / No
- Kaifa halak ↔ How are you?
- Alhamdulillah ↔ Thank God, I am well
- Meia meia ↔ 100/100, i.e., I am very well
- Awan ↔ Please
- Shokran / La shokran ↔ Thank you / No, thank you
- Shokran gasilien a la mousa tetek ↔ Thank you very much for your service
- Baksheesh ↔ Tip
In initial conversations, you should avoid political or religious topics.
As a German, however, you might be asked about the unspeakable Nazi era. You can and as I believe should talk to Egyptians about this horrific past of our parents/grandparents/great-grandparents, because unfortunately, the greatest criminal in German history enjoys a positive reputation among some Arabs. This is likely also related to the special relationship between the Arab world and the State of Israel.
Travelling as a solo tourist 🏝️
First and foremost: Egypt is now a largely safe and highly recommended travel destination.
This also applies to women. However, as a woman, you should still travel in pairs, in groups, or accompanied by a man whenever possible. Yet, with plenty of travel experience and a healthy dose of self-confidence, traveling alone is also possible. My good friend Tanja, who is self-employed in Egypt and owns property in Hurghada, is the perfect example of this. If she is flirted with by men – unfortunately, this still happens – she defends herself with a clear “red flag!”, accompanied by a stern look.
You can also defend yourself against pushy vendors, especially in tourist hotspots like Luxor, Hurghada, and at the pyramids of Giza, with a less aggressive strategy.
As with any trip, I recommend that you always exercise a degree of caution when traveling abroad.
Public transport & taxis 🚖
In all larger cities/towns, you can now easily use public transport for very little money. Uber is now also easy to use outside the tourist hotspots. When taking a taxi, you should always negotiate a price before starting the journey.
Here is an important note for Uber users in tourist hotspots (e.g. airports, Giza pyramids, GEM): Drivers often accept rides but then demand a higher price and cancel the ride if the passenger does not agree to the price! I therefore recommend either pre-booking a ride, using public transport or, as the least favourable alternative, negotiating an acceptable price with a taxi driver.
p.s. Cairo has Africa’s only metro system with an extensive network that is constantly being expanded. It is the best and easiest way to get from A to B in the capital. My guides in Cairo and Giza will be happy to explain and show you how to use the metro in Africa’s largest city.
Bakshish – the art of tipping in the Arab world 🪙
A well-considered tip can open many doors!
This is true everywhere, of course, but especially in Egypt. A decent Egyptian will never ask you for a tip. However, he/she will expect one if he/she provides you with good service, as is also customary worldwide.
I can’t give a general recommendation for the amount of the tip. Rather, it should depend on the type of service or the agreed price. Here are three examples (1 Euro = 55 Egyptian pounds, as of early 2026):
- Taxi ride for 50–100 Egyptian pounds → Tip 50–100 Egyptian pounds
- Restaurant visit → Tip 10–20% depending on the bill
- Massage → Tip 200 Egyptian pounds per massage for the therapist
Unfortunately, the Egyptian population has been impoverished due to the dramatic inflation of over 300% in recent years. The average monthly wage for a full-time employee is currently only about 14,000 Egyptian pounds, or 250€! Although Egyptians aren’t starving – Egypt has a certain social safety net – the situation is still precarious for many.
That’s why, on my walks, I often give street cleaners and hotel gardeners 100 to 200 Egyptian pounds as a token of my appreciation for their work. I also give a small donation to the few beggars I encounter, similar to what I would give in other countries. I decide the amount spontaneously, based on my gut feeling.
Stay safe, excited and individual! 🪬
I hope that everyone who has followed my tips so far will show the same respect to the people there as I try to live by. Thank you in advance!
All further travel tips regarding entry requirements, the usual – sometimes completely exaggerated – travel warnings, and all other “safety advice” can be found on the major travel portals. Just so you know: I don’t believe everything I read there.
You can find more great travel tips including mobile phone options here.
I hope my tips help you travel to the land of the pharaohs safely, excitingly, and in your own unique way!
Have fun in Egypt!
Jörg “George” Michael