10 Things You Need to Know to Stay Safe, Before Going to Egypt

Egypt is one of the most historically significant destinations in the world. Architecture and relics from some of the most critical moments in human history. Here I have compiled a list of the top scams and mistakes tourists often find themselves caught up in. Hopefully, this list will help you have a worry-free, relaxing vacation while soaking up the magical secrets of this fabulous land.

1. Bringing the wrong clothes

Egypt is HOT in the summer so you are going to want to throw some shorts and tank tops in your bag but PLEASE don’t. Egypt is a very conservative county. The primary religion is Islam and showing too much skin is frowned upon. While foreigners are not bound by Islam’s rules of dress it is respectful to cover your shoulders and knees when exploring this beautiful country. I would personally opt for light cotton or other breathable fabrics because in the tourist season the temperature can hit above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Paying at entrance gates that arent entrance gates

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Traveling to one of the many historic sites in Egypt by yourself makes you a target to scammers. One of the most frequent scams is stopping a car and pretending to be the entrance and charging a fee. The poor unassuming tourist will pay the fee only to find the actual ticket booth is at the true gate of the site. You will know when you are at the entrance of an attraction. There are likely to be a lot of tour buses and an actual ticket booth. If you are stopped and the person is not wearing a uniform ( Police or Military) DO NOT GIVE THEM MONEY. They may even show you an official-looking card with the pyramids on it. Don’t be fooled it’s their driver’s license. Kindly say that you think they are scamming you. They will argue a bit but usually just walk away because they know there will be another tourist along shortly that was not smart enough to read this blog. 

3. Eating at random street vendors

While the sweet smell of Egyptian spices may be tempting be very careful while eating from street vendors. Our western stomachs don’t always do well with exotic foods. While most street vendors are licensed by the city, not all are. The most common problems people have are nausea and diarrhea and the most common culprit is unwashed fruits and vegetables. If you really want an authentic taste of Egypt may I recommend a street food tour? These tours have had many western visitors and know which vendors to go to, to give you the best experience. I have listed my favorite Cairo food tour at the end of this post.

4. Helping, by taking pictures for you. 

While this isn’t really a scam it is a way for them to ask for money. I say ask but it usually turns into a demand. Scammers will pretend to be helpful by taking a picture but trust me they do have an ulterior motive. If you’re traveling alone ask another tourist to take photos for you and of course offer to take some in return. Who knows you might just make a new friend but you will for sure save yourself time and the aggravation you would have spent dealing with a scammer. 

5. Always pay attention to the agreed-upon price.

One of the biggest scams in Egypt is camel rides.  Whether this is ethical or not I won’t discuss it here but I will say if you arent careful you will definitely get scammed. The most common scam goes something like this, You agree upon a price for the camel ride. You pay the vendor and he helps you on the camel. Camels are HUGE by the way so you are definitely going to need assistance. You go on a camel ride for 30 or so minutes and they bring you back to the vendor. That’s where the scam kicks in. You have to pay another price to get off the camel.  Getting off a camel is not easily done by the normal tourist so you end up paying a second price usually equal to or more than the first price. So my advice is to agree upon a price for both getting on and off the camel and if possible video it. Nothing will take the smile off a scammer’s face faster than hearing his own words come back to haunt him. 

6. Attempting to drive yourself in Cairo or any other big city in Egypt.

Besides the signs being totally unreadable to most tourists the traffic is crazy and the rules of the road are very flexible. While you can rent a car with a US license I wouldn’t if I were you. To most of us outsiders, the drivers seem a bit unhinged, a local will know the roads and how to get around much more safely than a tourist. Most of Egypt has Uber or ask for a reputable taxi at your hotel but please do not try and drive.

7. Only exchange money at a bank.

Money exchange scams are rampant in tourist areas all over the world. The exchange rate is constantly changing and understanding the coins and bills is sometimes confusing. One of the most common is for someone to ask to exchange coins for bills, usually near a machine that takes bills, but the change you get will probably be less than a quarter of what you gave them. I recommend saying no and walking away and always exchanging money at a bank or getting money directly out of an ATM. You should also have a money converter app on your phone for where ever you travel in the world.

8. Locals who show you a shortcut or help you cross the street

Locals will see a tourist walking with a map or looking even slightly lost and will come to their aid. They will offer to help you safely to the other side of a busy street or get you to your desired destination quicker than your map shows but they are ALWAYS looking for a tip. While it’s a tempting offer to let them assist you, you should definitely be ready to pay up. Some people get very angry when they expect a tip and don’t get it. While this isn’t technically a scam it is a pain when they try and extort money out of you. 

9. The most popular scam is the “Gift” scam

When walking amongst vendors one will ask you where you’re from and your name. It’s easy to say “just don’t answer” but contrary to popular belief most tourists are by nature friendly. They will then ask you to come and take a look at their offerings and usually, they will tell you it’s a gift and then offer to inscribe or write your name on it in hieroglyphics. At this point they pretty much have you… the sob story will come out about how his grandmother is sick and could you offer some money to help. If you say no they will then demand that you pay for the “gift” and refuse to take it back because it has your name inscribed on it. They will become louder and louder until you finally give in and give them the money they want. My best advice is a hard one… don’t be so friendly.  Never accept gifts. Feel free to look around the markets. These are a great way to help boost the economy but only get things that you really want and leave the “gifts” for other tourists. 

10. All that glitters isn’t gold

Egypt is one of the cheapest places in the world to buy gold and in some instances, there is good reason, it’s not really gold. One way to tell you’re being scammed is that they are very pushy and keep repeating what a good deal you’re getting. The fact is at any time you can look up the price of gold and I recommend you do so before shopping. Look up both 18K and 24K gold so you know approximately how much you should be paying. Always have them show you the weight. Don’t shop the markets. Go to a reputable jeweler. Get a certificate of authenticity with the weight on it. Always check that 18K gold is stamped with 750 to prove its authenticity. The jewelry in Egypt is absolutely beautiful but be a smart shopper and don’t take home any fools gold. 

I wrote this blog not to scare travelers into not going to Egypt because it really is an incredible place. I wrote it so that you don’t go home with bad feelings about the Egyptian people. Most Egyptians are good, hardworking people but they usually don’t hang out in touristy areas. The ones you do encounter there are often looking to relieve you of some of your travel money. Just be smart and follow some of the simple instructions from this blog and you should have no problem staying clear of the scammers. In the end, even scamming is a job so if you put up a fight at all they are going to move on to where the job is easier. 

Lastly, I want to include the last resort option. If you feel that you have been taken advantage of and you really want to get the law involved, Egypt has what is called tourist police. Just go to any hotel and they can contact them for you. Remember though the best way to not get scammed is to be prepared. 

Have a wonderful vacation and WELCOME TO EGYPT.

Here are a couple of reputable tours in the Cairo area that I highly recommend

Food Tour by Mila…. A wonderful lady with advanced knowledge of Egyptian food and culture. A definite can’t miss when you are in Cairo

https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/2475793

Tour of the Pyramids, Saqqara, and Memphis

Mo is a great tour guide. Extremely knowledgeable about ancient Egypt and a wonderful guide.

https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1093446