10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Egypt

If you're thinking about visiting Egypt, there are a few things you need to know. First, this beautiful country is home to some incredible ancient ruins, but it's also a very different place than what you may be used to.

This blog post will discuss ten things you need to know before your trip!

Bring 25 USD for Your Visa Upon Arrival

Getting your visa for Egypt is extremely easy. Simply have exact cash in 25 USD. Yes, it has to be USD, even if you're going from Europe. Don't fall victim to services that try and get you to book your visa before arrival. All you need to do is walk up to a counter, hand a man 25 bucks, and you'll receive your visa before going through customs at the airport. It is literally that easy.

Bring Imodium

I'm going to give you the honest truth here. I got food poisoning, and it was bad. I lost 7 pounds in ten days from –well – you can imagine.

For the first part of my Egypt trip, I was on a group tour, and almost the entire group had food poisoning. I've heard that this is incredibly common for Westerners. Be prepared. Bring medicine. It was honestly horrible. It is worth visiting Egypt for, but it is a horrendous experience that most people who visit Egypt seem to encounter.

It's a Cash Country

You're going to want to have cash handy at all times. Be sure to only use ATMs in your hotel or at the airport. This will protect you from rigged machines and some folks who may be watching you a bit too closely at a random ATM in the city. Plus, it is a huge tipping culture, so you always want to have a little something on you.

Be Prepared to Say No

People will constantly be trying to get your attention and money. They'll say anything to get you to go on a tour with them, buy something from their shop, or take a taxi with them. It can be really overwhelming if you're not used to it. Just be firm, say no, and keep walking.

Have Your Hotel's Business Card Handy

If you're lost or need to take a taxi back to your hotel, it's always good to have the business card of where you're staying. This will make it much easier for locals to help you out and ensure that you don't get ripped off by a taxi driver.

Bargain, Bargain, Bargain

If you want to buy anything – and I mean anything – be prepared to bargain. It is expected, and it's how prices are set here. If you don't bargain, you're pretty much paying tourist prices which are always higher.

Don't Drink the Water – Or Brush Your Teeth With It

You should not drink the water in Egypt. And, seriously, use bottled water to brush your teeth. Even our guide used bottled water for his toothbrush. Just trust me on this one.

Bring Your Own Toilet Paper

This is another one where I'm just going to tell it like it is – the toilet paper situation in Egypt is not great. It's usually just a single napkin, or sometimes there is no toilet paper at all! So, be sure to bring your own and keep it with you at all times. Especially if you fall victim to the same situation I did.

Oh - and you have to almost always pay for the restrooms. So yet another reason to have cash on you.

Expect to be Stared At

If you're not used to it, the staring can be really overwhelming. It's not uncommon for people – particularly men – to just stare at you. Sometimes it's because they're curious, sometimes it's because they think you're pretty, and sometimes it's because they want to sell you something. Either way, it's something you should be prepared for. So avoid eye contact and carry on with your day.

Have Fun!

Egypt is a fantastic country with so much to see and do. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you'll never forget. So, even though there are a few things you need to be aware of before visiting, don't let that stop you from having the time of your life!