Egyptian Culture and Travel Info
Know more about the Egyptian culture and traditions, and check our Egypt travel advice list that you need to know for arrival in Egypt including food and drink of Egypt, Egyptian cuisine, Egypt weather and climate, safety in Egypt for tourists, Egypt visa requirements, and Ramadan in Egypt to help your planning your Egypt Tour Package!
FAQs
Is Egypt considered a safe destination?
- Egypt has served as one of the best and safest tourist destinations for decades. Surrounded by warm Egyptian hospitality, courteous and kind-hearted locals you're gonna feel at home and as safe as you'll ever be. With some Sensible precautions and preparations, you will be able to explore Egypt tours and trips and enjoy Egypt's generally very safe cities with your mind at ease. Boasting a usually low crime rate visitors will be more than safe especially in areas frequently visited by tourists.
Why book with Memphis Tours Egypt?
Memphis tours being one of the leading figures and key players in tourism industry offers a wide array of benefits to its clientele. Ensuring that your journey with us is a once in a lifetime experience that will leave you longing for more. Here are a couple of reasons why Memphis Tours should be your default to-go travel companion...
- Customer Feedback: With over 8000 reviews on Tripadvisor scoring at an average of 4.9
- Flexible itineraries
- Competitive prices
- Excellent customer service
- Facilitated payment
- Our River Nile Cruises: home to the fascinating river Nile cruises we assure you a unique and insightful experience.
Is there a special rate for private groups booking with Memphis Tours?
Yes, Memphis Tours Egypt does provide a discount for private trips booked with large groups. Some Egypt travel packages will include discount as well for repeated customers, loyalty program members and students.
How much will I have to pay as a deposit?
The fixed deposit amount is 25% of the tours total price Except for Egypt Christmas tours, new years and other peak seasons where the deposit goes up to 50%.
Is there any surcharge on transactions completed using a debit or credit card?
Standing by our designation to make the payment process as smooth and effortless as possible we do not apply any surcharge on your transactions via Debit or Credit card.
How can I obtain my visa to visit Egypt?
Visitors and travellers to Egypt are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months from there arrival date. However, in an effort to revitalize tourism in Egypt the following nationalities can purchase a 1-month entry visa on arrival.
The Nationalities that benefit from the aforementioned exception are Australia, Canda, Croatia, the European Union, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, South Korea, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and The U.S.A.
The Process for acquiring these entry visas is extremely simple and only takes a mere couple of minutes through any bank window before proceeding to customs.
What kind of transportation can be used to move in Egypt cities ?
From your very first step after landing in Cairo airport, there will be a wide range of comfortable and affordable means of transport under your beck and call. The Fastest and most abundant is the Taxi. It is preferred to avoid white taxis as they Rarely abide by a meter reading and might ask for an exaggerated fare.
However, the GPs and meter utilizing Uber transportation service is a preferred alternative. Another popular and highly accessible option for moving around is the Subway/Metro. With the Streets occasionally getting congested with people and automobiles the metro has become one of the fastest means of transportation to move from point A to Point B in Egypt. It tends to get crowded in rush hour times but still stands as a fast and convenient means of transport.
Do Egyptians speak languages other than Arabic?
Have no fear Most Egyptians living in Cities have a basic command over the English language and some English words and phrases.
However the same cannot be said for French, Italian, Spanish and finally German. Nevertheless, Professionals working in the tourism sector have easily adapted to visitors who don't speak Arabic. Satisfying the needs of most travellers with a combination of English and other lingual phrases.
Is it a common practice to give tips in Egypt?
Service charges are by default included in the bill when dining in a restaurant. However, these fees go to the restaurant and not the waiters. Knowing this it is advisable and courteous to directly tip the servers with an additional 10 %.
Do I have to learn Arabic in order to enjoy my visit to Egypt?
It's not a must but definitely advisable and beneficial to learn a couple of day to day basic Arabic words and phrases such as greetings amongst others. If you are planning to dive deeper and explore more than the Popular destinations and famous tourist attractions learning some phrases is surely a smart move.
What different types of hotels are there in hotels in Egypt? What about check-in time?
Accommodations for travelers in Egypt fall across a broad range—everything from world class luxury to simple hostel accommodations are available. The nicest hotels compare well with luxury hotels anywhere, Egyptian hotels have their own rating system that loosely classifies them on a 5-star scale.
The check-in time in most hotels in Egypt is around midday, 12 or 1 PM.
Can I take pictures while visiting the monuments in Egypt?
Photography is allowed in most of the historical sites and museums in Egypt, but some of them have extra charges for taking in a camera.
in some museums, like the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, and some historical sites, like the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, photography is prohibited and visitors are asked to leave their cameras at the reception before entering.
Is there any special dress code to be followed during visiting a mosque in Egypt?
modest dress would be highly recommended and in some mosques, women will be asked to cover their hair and perhaps their arms and legs.
Both women and men will be asked to remove their shoes before entering a mosque.
Are there any health issues that I should worry about in Egypt?
Some travelers might suffer sunburn or heat stroke from the heat and sun during the summer if they are not careful; however, taking the proper precautions and drinking bottled water can eliminate any health risks.
Can I bring a supply of cigarettes & alcohol while visiting Egypt?
It is always recommended for travelers who wish to have their own supply of cigarettes and alcohol with them in Egypt to purchase them upon arrival. There are duty free shops in the airports in Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, El Gouna and Sharm El Sheikh. Tourists are allowed to purchase up to 3 liters of alcohol and up to 200 cigarettes on arrival.
What are the opening hours for shops and different stores in Egypt?
Most of the shops in Egypt open from around 10 AM and stay open until 10PM; however, many shops, cafes, and restaurants especially in major cities stay open much later and some
facilities and shops are open 24 hours.
What are the opening hours for monuments in Egypt?
Most of the monuments, historical sites, and museums in Egypt open from 9 AM until 5 PM.
Open-air historical sites, like the Pyramids of Giza, are open from 8 AM until sunset.
Some museums have morning opening hours, from 9 AM to 4 PM
evening opening hours, from 5 PM to 9 or 10 PM.During Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic calendar, be aware that these hours will change significantly.
Is there any special advice for women travelers while visiting Egypt?
In less touristic places, relatively modest dress is recommended.
Women should avoid very tight clothing, keep their shoulders and knees covered, and avoid very revealing necklines. Men should also avoid particularly revealing clothing.
wearing shorts is not very common among Egyptians. Dressing with relative modesty is a way of respecting the local culture.
The metro in Cairo has separate cars for women that might be more comfortable, especially during rush hours when the cars can be very full.
How much should I tip?
In a restaurant, it is good to give between 5 and 10% tip directly to the waiter.
For a small favor, like carrying luggage or parking a car, a few Egyptian pounds would be appropriate. Not more than five.
Often times in Egypt you will find someone tending to the bathroom to keep it clean. Giving them one Egyptian pound is an appropriate amount.
Tipping your tour guide and vehicle driver is completely optional but should be considered if you're provided with great service. If you decide to tip feel free to give what you think your experience was worth.
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Tips
- The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound, The value of the Pound is effectively fixed at the rate of 0.056 LE to 1 USD, Credit cards are widely used in Egypt.
- Service charges that have been included on your bill go to the restaurant, not the waiter. Be sure to tip the servers 10% in addition by handing it to them directly.
- The metro is one of the best ways to go from one place to another within Cairo.
- Arabic is the official language, English is widely used as second language.
- Try “Fool”, Egyptian beans, and “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish.
- Try Kebab and Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
Highlights
- Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and valley temple which belongs to king Chephren.
- See Luxor temple, Hatshepsut temple, Valley of the Kings and Karnak temple in Luxor.
- Admire the wonders of ancient history at the Egyptian Museum.
- Discover the magic of Egyptian oases like Siwa or Bahariya
- Dive or snorkel in Sinai or cities situated on the Red Sea.
- Going on a Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan or vise versa.
- Shop at Khan El Khalili touristic market in Cairo.
- Visit Philae and Abu Simbel temples in Aswan.
- Visit the Saint Catherine Monastery in Sinai.
- Exploring Islamic Cairo on foot.