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7 Things You Can Expect in Egypt As a Traveler
1. It's not as dangerous as many are stating
The often question people ask you when you reveal your travel plan, is: Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
We know Egypt isn't regarded as one of the safest places to travel (from past travel warnings about Egypt, you'll probably be convinced that ISIS will come for you if you step foot in the country). And it's true that terrorist groups are active in certain parts of the country.
3. Cairo is chaos incarnate
You already heard that Cairo was a big, bustling city. Actually, the city of 19.5 million is essentially chaos incarnate.
Adding to the chaos is all the dust/sand (Egypt is essentially a big desert, after all) and the smog.
The often question people ask you when you reveal your travel plan, is: Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
We know Egypt isn't regarded as one of the safest places to travel (from past travel warnings about Egypt, you'll probably be convinced that ISIS will come for you if you step foot in the country). And it's true that terrorist groups are active in certain parts of the country.
But the main tourist sites in Egypt are no more dangerous than popular places you might visit in the USA or Europe. There's a strong military presence at most major sites in Egypt – armed guards, metal detectors, and bag checks become second nature as you visit temples and museums – but you don’t find yourself feeling “in danger” at any point.
There are certain parts of Egypt that are no-gos right now, but they aren't places that most tourists would go anyway. (In fact, all tour operators in Egypt have modified many of their itineraries to ensure that they're not taking anyone to any of these places.)
Yes, there have been recent terror attacks in Egypt that have claimed lives – but there have been terror attacks in places like London, Paris, Las Vegas and New Zealand in recent years that have been deadly, too. In the Middle East Egypt is considered to be the second safest country.
2. People are incredibly friendly
Sure you can expect to get some extra attention as a white, non-Muslim person traveling in Egypt. But sometimes you just don’t expect to be instant celebrity every time you walked outside At many major sites you will be constantly being approached by young Egyptians (and occasionally older ones!) asking for selfies with you.
To explain it shortly for you – maybe it will be firstly confusing, why they want to keep photo with complete stranger, but it's a cool badge of honor here to have a shoot with a tourist. Tourism numbers have been so low in Egypt in the past few years that people are excited to see more visitors now.
You already heard that Cairo was a big, bustling city. Actually, the city of 19.5 million is essentially chaos incarnate.
Traffic is insane. No one uses the painted lanes on the roads. Horns are constantly honking. People jump in and out of old VW buses in the middle of the road. And that road is being shared by everything from cars to buses to donkey carts.
Adding to the chaos is all the dust/sand (Egypt is essentially a big desert, after all) and the smog.
If you visit Egypt in the winter, Cairo day begins with a thick, murky fog spread out over the city. This is something to keep in mind if you're planning to visit the Pyramids in Giza, because it means that there's a chance you may have to plan your visit around the visibility – on some days you can't see the pyramids at all!
4. Egyptian food is unique and tasty
You'll find a lot of traditionally Middle-Eastern foods in Egypt
(like falafel and shawerma and kofta), and also some Moroccan dishes like tagine. But Egypt's take is always a little unique – for example with lot of cinnamon in many dishes!If you're looking to try a unique Egyptian dish, go for a bowl of Kushari (or Koshary). It's a mixture of rice, pasta, lentils, and chickpeas, topped with onion and a tomato sauce. It's known as the national dish of Egypt, and can be had extremely cheaply (less than $1 USD for a bowl).
Other things you can try in Egypt include camel and stuffed pigeon – it's common here to raise pigeons for meat like you would chickens.
5. Tipping is expected – for everything
Often referred to as “baksheesh,” you'll be asked to tip
for everything from a porter bringing your bag to your hotel room to someone handing you a paper towel in the bathroom.In some instances you won't be given a choice (for example, don't expect to use the toilet – even at the airport – without paying at least 2 or 3 Egyptian pounds), while in other cases a tip won't be explicitly asked for but will still be expected.
It does get a bit annoying being constantly asked for money, but remind yourself that the amounts are incredibly small (5 Egyptian pounds is only 25 cents USD) and that many people in Egypt don't make a living wage.
Good advice is to always have some small Egyptian bills or coins on your person, or come prepared with fresh $1 bills from home.
6. All the ancient sites are 10x better in real life
The constant need to tip is more than made up for by the fact that all the ancient sites you'll visit in Egypt – all the tombs and temples and ruins – are 10 times better in person than they are in any photos or documentaries you've seen. Egypt's history is incredible, and so much of it has been preserved!This is why you travel to Egypt.
You'll see temples
that are thousands of years old that still have paint on them; mummies of pharaohs that you read about in history books; tombs with walls that look like they were carved just yesterday.
If you've put off visiting Egypt, don't put it off any longer. Its treasures are even more impressive in person.7. Egypt is so much better with a guide
We are sure, that Egypt is definitely a place to visit with a local guide. Many people prefer to travel independently, but this is a country where you get a lot more out of the experience when you have someone with you who is knowledgeable about the history, the religion, and the present-day culture of the country.Your guides at historical sites are licensed and professional, they can (sometimes) read the hieroglyphics, tell you all the best places to eat, organize extra side trips your want to take, and let you know how not to get ripped off when buying souvenirs.
Plus, it’s always great to talk to someone who's lived his whole life in Egypt and has a passion for showing his country to other people.
The last point is very important – to show a country to other people. You should keep in mind that Egypt is not the Western world. Egypt is both part of the Middle-East and North Africa, too.
What does this mean as far as traveling? Well, expect that “5-star” accommodations in Egypt won't be like 5-star accommodations in Europe. Things will be done at a slower pace. You will be confronted with poverty, garbage on the streets, and sometimes animal neglect (definitely think twice before riding a camel or using a horse carriage).You can also expect to be hassled by vendors at all the major tourist sites. You often have to say no and just keep walking – but know that they'll follow you for a while anyway trying to sell you that scarf or hat or scarab carving.
