Money and costs

Banknotes and coins

The Central Bank of Egypt issues the currency and sets monetary policy. The pound is divided into 100 piastres, and you will often see prices written as "LE" or "ج.م".

• Banknotes: EGP 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. Most paper notes show an Islamic monument, such as a Cairo mosque, on the Arabic side and a Pharaonic scene on the English side. For example, the 200 note shows the Seated Scribe and the 100 shows the Sphinx.
• Polymer notes: a plastic EGP 10 came out in July 2022 and an EGP 20 in June 2023. Paper and polymer versions of both are legal tender and are used side by side.
• Coins and small notes: 25 and 50 piastres and EGP 1. Older paper 25-piastre, 50-piastre and EGP 1 notes still turn up and remain legal tender.

Keep a supply of EGP 5, 10 and 20 notes for taxis, tips and small purchases, as change for EGP 200 notes can be hard to find.

Sources: egypttoday.com, egyptianstreets.com, egypttoday.com.

Where and how to exchange

You do not need to buy Egyptian pounds before you travel. US dollars, euros and pounds sterling are easy to exchange in Egypt. Bring clean, undamaged notes, because foreign coins cannot be exchanged.

• Banks: branches across the country and counters at the airports. Most branches open Sunday to Thursday, from morning to early afternoon. Airport and some hotel branches open longer.
• Licensed exchange offices: found in city centres and tourist areas, and they usually offer the same official rates.
• Hotels: convenient, but the rate is usually worse.

Avoid anyone offering to change money on the street. It is illegal and a common scam. Keep your exchange receipts in case you want to change pounds back before you leave.

Bringing cash in

You must declare foreign currency worth more than USD 10,000 on arrival. There is also a limit on how many Egyptian pounds you can bring in or take out. Check the current limits with your airline or Egyptian customs before you travel.

Sources: egypttoday.com, revolut.com, cbe.org.eg.

Cards, ATMs and digital payments

ATMs are easy to find in cities, airports, malls and resort areas. Banque Misr, the National Bank of Egypt, CIB, QNB and HSBC run large networks. ATMs are scarcer in Middle Egypt and the Western Desert oases, so take enough cash before you go. Each withdrawal is capped, and your own bank may charge foreign-use fees. Use ATMs attached to bank branches where you can.

Card payments with Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, chain restaurants, supermarkets, malls and at major ticket offices. More and more terminals take contactless payments and phone wallets, but not all of them, so carry a physical card too. You may be asked for ID when you pay by card. Small shops, markets, street food and most taxis take cash only.

InstaPay and Egyptian mobile wallets are now everywhere among locals, but they need an Egyptian bank account or phone number, so most visitors cannot use them. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem accept foreign cards.

Tell your bank before you travel, as some banks block cards used abroad.

Sources: revolut.com, nfcw.com, egyptindependent.com.

Typical costs and mobile data

Prices in Egypt have changed sharply since the pound was devalued several times between 2016 and 2024, so old price lists are no longer reliable. Instead of exact figures, here is a rough guide to the main budget levels:

• Budget: local cafés and street food, metro and buses, trains, guesthouses and simple hotels. Egypt is still cheap if you live like a local.
• Mid-range: three- and four-star hotels, sit-down restaurants, ride-hailing apps and first-class or sleeper trains.
• Luxury: five-star hotels and Nile cruises, often priced in US dollars, plus private guides and drivers.

Entry tickets to major sites are a big part of most budgets and go up regularly. Check current prices on the Egypt's Monuments site, where you can also buy some tickets.

Mobile data

The main networks are Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat by e& and WE. Each sells tourist SIMs with data bundles at the airport and in branded shops, and you will need your passport. A phone brought in from abroad can use a local SIM for 90 days. After that it must be registered and duty paid, or the network blocks it. Travel eSIMs and roaming are other options.

Sources: egymonuments.gov.eg, stampednomad.com, help.mobimatter.com.

Tipping (baksheesh)

Tipping, known as baksheesh, is not a legal requirement, but it is expected for most services. Many people working in tourism rely on it.

Restaurant bills often include a service charge, commonly around 12%, plus 14% VAT. The service charge does not always reach the waiter. Common practice is:

• Restaurants and cafés: leave another 5–10% in cash for good service.
• Taxis: round up the fare. With ride-hailing apps, a small tip is optional.
• Porters, toilet attendants, site guardians who unlock a tomb: a small note.
• Guides and drivers: tip at the end of the day or tour, according to its length and the service.

Tip in Egyptian pounds. Foreign coins are of no use, because banks will not exchange them. Keep small notes to hand. If someone offers help you did not ask for, such as taking a photo or pointing the way, a polite "la, shukran" (no, thank you) is enough to decline.

Sources: egypttoursplus.com, travellingking.com, en.wikipedia.org.