Currency

What is the official currency and which currencies are accepted in stores?

The Egyptian pound is the currency accepted in the vast majority of stores, bazaars, restaurants and markets. It is recommended to always have enough change on hand to pay for cabs and tipping, as change is often scarce in Egypt.

It is quite common for prices to be quoted in piastres rather than Egyptian pounds, but the calculation is easy: 2.50 EGP (Egyptian pounds) is 250 pt (piastres). Coins of 5, 10 and 25 piastres are rare, the most common being 1 EGP.

In hotels and tourist restaurants, as well as in offices or establishments offering tourist services, it is also possible to pay in euros or dollars.

Where to exchange currency in Egypt

If you need to change currency in Egypt, you can do it officially at the offices of Amex and Travel Choice Egypt, the two most important exchange houses in the country. It is also possible to do it in commercial banks and other bureaus such as Forex. Even the vast majority of hotels provide this service although, in this case, it may be more expensive than in exchange houses or banks.

Rates are usually similar in all establishments because they depend on the state of the currency on the day you need to exchange it. But it is always a good idea to check it on the Internet, to make sure you get the corresponding exchange rate and also to ask what kind of commission you will be charged.

Is it possible to pay by credit card in Egypt?

If you wish to pay by credit card during your trip to Egypt, you will be able to do so with total security in hotels and tourist restaurants of medium and high price, where they usually accept credit cards and with a sales rate that ranges between 3% and 10%.

But in the rest of the stores (bazaars, such as Khan el-Khalili, markets, street stalls) it is almost impossible to pay by card and you will not be able to pay in any currency other than the Egyptian pound, with some occasional exceptions in which it is possible that they accept dollars or euros, being very rare. And with a credit card, in this type of establishments, it is practically impossible.

Cash withdrawals at ATMs

While it is not the norm to accept card payments, the good news for tourists in Egypt is that the vast majority of Egyptian cities have a good number of ATMs, with the exception of areas in the interior of Middle Egypt and in the oases. It is therefore recommended that during the days you stay in Cairo or Alexandria, you take the opportunity to get enough money to be able to manage later, during the excursions in the desert or along the Nile River.

It is also recommended that when withdrawing money, you avoid accumulating too many 200 Egyptian pound bills as they tend to be very difficult to exchange. It is best to withdraw small amounts as small bills will allow you to move around Egypt with much greater comfort and peace of mind. And in case you have no choice but to withdraw larger bills, we recommend you reserve them for when you have to make larger payments.

What is the budget to travel to Egypt?

If you want to know what your average daily spending can be during your trip to Egypt, we will give you an approximate of what you can make traveling with different budgets and counting accommodation, food, internal transports and excursions. But first, a list of basic expenses for an average tourist visiting Egypt, so you have a framework on which to guide you and know exactly what you can do with each of the budgets.

• City bus ticket in Cairo: 8GP – 0.25 euros.
• Chicken shawarma at a street stall: 35 EGP – 1.07 euros.
• Plate of falafel with hummus in a restaurant: 10 EGP – 0.31 euros.
• Plate of kofta (spiced lamb meat): 35 EGP – 1.07 euros.
• Entrance fee to the pyramids: 200 EGP – 6.14 euros.
• Entrance to the interior of the Pyramid of Cheops: 400 EGP – 12,28 euros.
• Accommodation in cheap hotels: between 200 and 250 EGP per night in a double room – around 7 euros.
• Accommodation in mid-priced hotels: between 500 and 600 EGP per night in a double room – around 16 euros.
• Accommodation in expensive hotels: between 850 and 1100 EGP per night in a double room – about 30 euros.
• Luxury cruise on the Nile: 1200 EGP per person per night – 36.85 euros.
• Private car rental in Luxor: 300 EGP – 9.2 euros.
• Average expenditure on souvenirs and sweets in bazaars: between 150 and 300 EGP, depending on the type of products and quantities – about 6 euros.

What to do in Egypt on 800 EGP per day

With the smallest of the available budgets you will be able to eat typical Egyptian food without any inconvenience, take the excursions to the pyramids, move around Cairo by city bus, stay in inexpensive hotels and buy some gifts in one of the Egyptian bazaars with some moderation.

What to do in Egypt on 800-1800 EGP per day

This budget gives you more leeway to stay in medium category hotels where, depending on the case, you will have access to air conditioning service. And you will also be able to spend more money on souvenirs and sweets, as well as get a taste of the inside of the legendary Pyramid of Cheops.

What to do in Egypt with more than 1800 GBS

With this budget you are free for everything and you can access two luxury services: the cruise on the Nile River and the rental car in Luxor for a period of three hours, which you can extend if you need more time and if you have enough money.

Pictures of Egyptian pounds from 1 to 200