How Safe is Egypt for Tourists?

Egypt has a score of 2.48 on the Global Peace Index and is not a very safe country for tourists to visit. Your main concerns are political violent activities and terrorism. Women traveling solo get harassed frequently and you should be aware of ‘no-go’ areas and other safety issues.

Even though Egypt is ranked 130 out of 163 countries it is probably safer than this ranking might indicate. While tourists have come to harm and have been killed in terrorist attacks the actual number is relatively small. While these terror acts are of course extremely scary and unpredictable, the reality is that you are more likely to come to harm in a car accident on your way to the airport in your home country than to die in a terrorist attack in Egypt.

Main safety concerns in Egypt for travelers:

Topics covered:

Crimes and scams in Egypt

Health risks – food and water safety and medical care

Unsafe areas in Egypt

Terrorism and civil unrest in Egypt

Is Egypt safe for solo female tourists?

Safe transport in Egypt for tourists

Dangerous animals

Natural disasters

Staying safe as a tourist in Egypt during recreational activities and excursions

Observe local laws to stay safe as a tourist in Egypt

What tourists need to know in Egypt to stay safe: Emergency contacts

Crimes and scams in Egypt

There is a moderate level of crime in Egypt, mainly due to property theft, petty crime, and scams. Violent crimes like sexual assault, kidnapping, and homicides also do occur but are less frequent. Corruption and bribery are high, which in most cases will not affect visitors.

Crimes

The crime index for Egypt is 46.72 making it one of the safest countries in North Africa. This compares with a crime level of 48.8 for Morocco and 47.2 for Tunisia. The crime index for the USA is 47.85, which is slightly higher than for Egypt.

While petty crime like pickpocketing or bag snatching is common, tourists in Egypt have also reported they were mugged, robbed at knifepoint, or assaulted.

Be particularly careful at ATMs as robberies frequently occur once you have withdrawn money from the machine.

Furthermore, make sure that you secure your valuables in your accommodation as theft from hotel rooms and hostels are frequently reported. And secure your hotel room against intruders. Read our information on staying safe in your accommodation.

Harassment and sexual assault against women are frequently reported. Read further details in our section on ‘safety for solo female travelers in Egypt’.

Scams

Camel ride scams in Egypt

Half-way through the camel ride, you will be asked to pay more money.

You will not be let down from the camel unless you pay extra.

Your valuables will be stored on a satchel on the camel. At the end of your ride if you pay further money to have our valuables returned to you.

To entice you to take a camel ride the camel handler will claim that you have a better view of the Sphinx or the pyramids or that he can get you into the attraction via a secret entrance thus saving you the entrance fee.

A camel handler entices you to take a photo of him with his camel then asks you to pay for that privilege. Or you are offered to mount a camel and the handler takes a photo of you with your camera while you are on the camel. You will then not be let down until you have paid a fee.

Unofficial guide and fake guard scams

Unofficial guides will try and latch onto you to show you the sites. This can be quite persistent as they keep walking with you pointing out and explaining things and all of a sudden they are your guide demanding money.

Fake guards at attractions will ask to see your tickets, then either tell you that this is a wrong ticket or make the ticket disappear and try to fine you or sell you another ticket. Or they stand with a big key in front of a tomb demanding money for opening the tomb. After you have paid it turns out that the door to the tomb was already unlocked and freely accessible.

Tour scams

Make sure you know exactly what you are booking and what is included in a tour that is being offered. The cheap tours frequently turn out to have a lot of exclusions and you end up paying extra for admission fees, tips, food, transport, etc.

Other scams that you might come across in Egypt are fake ticket sellers, taxi scams where drivers overcharge you or have rigged their meter, airport luggage porters who grab your luggage uninvited and then demand payment, fake products like jewelry, oils, perfumes, saffron, or papyrus scrolls.

Health risks – food and water safety and medical care

Dehydration and heatstroke can be deadly. Make sure, in particular in the hotter months, that you wear light, long-sleeved clothes, a hat and stay hydrated.

Food and water can carry infectious diseases. Only drink boiled or bottled water and avoid raw and undercooked food. If you have diarrhea or a fever seek medical advice immediately.

Various diseases, like dengue and malaria, are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Make sure you protect yourself against these bites during the day and also by night with a mosquito net if your room is not closed and air-conditioned.

Do not swim in fresh, unchlorinated water to avoid the parasitic infection of Schistosomiasis .

Cairo has a high level of air pollution which you should be aware of before arriving if you have breathing difficulties.

You are required to have a Yellow Fever vaccination if you are traveling from a country with a high risk of Yellow Fever transmission if you are older than 9 months.

You should furthermore consider a rabies vaccination as dogs with rabies are commonly found in Egypt.

And for any travel to African countries, we recommend that you have a Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and B vaccination.

The medical facilities in most major cities are good. This can not be said for rural and remote areas. You will most likely have to pay for any treatment upfront.

Double-check that the prescription medication you are taking along is legal in Egypt. Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor confirming that you require that medication.

For a more detailed list of what your First Aid Kit for a visit to Egypt should contain check the CDC recommendation.

Unsafe areas in Egypt

There is a high-risk level of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and murder in these unsafe or ‘no-go’ areas in Egypt:

Terrorism and civil unrest in Egypt

In recent years several fatal terror attacks have taken place in Egypt. Those can happen anywhere but have frequently targeted places of Christian worship and tourist sites as well as government buildings, security facilities, and train/metro stations.

The Sinai peninsular is to be avoided due to the many terrorist activities and kidnappings in that area.

The likelihood of further terrorist attacks is high. A number of Egyptians are sympathetic or are members of Daesh (previously known as ISIS).

Register your travel plans with your home country’s Department of Foreign Affairs as they will keep you up-to-date and warn you of any imminent threats that they are aware of.

Protests take place from time to time. While they are mostly peaceful they can turn violent. Make sure you stay away from any demonstrations. Serious sexual assaults on women have occurred during these political protests. It is illegal for foreigners to participate in any political protests or demonstrations.

Hot spots for demonstrations are Tahrir Square and surrounding streets in Cairo and the area around the presidential palace in Giza.

Is Egypt safe for solo female tourists?

Many women have reported being sexually harassed and assaulted. Cairo in particular has a bad reputation for harassment of women.

Be extra vigilant when walking in a park or isolated areas. Taking a taxi for women, and in particular solo female travelers, should be approached with care. Pre-organize your transfer from the airport to your hotel in the city with a reliable transport company or a shuttle bus service. Or contact your hotel to send you a car.

Safe transport in Egypt for tourists

You can get from one destination to another in Egypt by bus, train, plane, car, motorbike, boat, or taxi.

The incidents of road accidents are high as most people’s behavior on the road is rather reckless. Drivers ignore road rules, exceed the speed limit, and drive without lights at night. The roads are not always in good condition with poor signage, lighting, and guardrails.

Trains

Traveling by train is probably the safest mode of transport for tourists visiting Egypt. Having said this there have however been several train derailments on the Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor line.

Buses

There are intercity buses between main destinations. Most buses are usually old and are poorly maintained, thereby making them quite unsafe. The drivers hurl along at reckless speeds of up to 150kmh/100milesh. This doesn’t just make a bus journey unsafe but also rather uncomfortable on the bumpy roads.

There are charter bus companies for overseas visitors and it might be a good idea to shell out a few extra Egyptian pounds and travel in one of these better-maintained buses with more responsible drivers.

Hiring a car

Before you head off in your hire car you should have your international driver’s license certified by Egyptian embassy staff.

Be aware that there are still unexploded landmines in some areas, namely around El Alamein, along the coastline near Mersa Matruh, the western side of the Gulf of Sues, and the Sinai Peninsula.

Ferries

There are budget ferries that ply the Nile as well as the route to Sharm al-sheik. We strongly advise against these cheap options as attractive as they may sound. These ferries are poorly maintained, overcrowded, and unsafe. Major fires break out frequently on these boats.

If you want to stay safe as a tourist traveling around Egypt then opt for more reputable companies with a good track record, even if you have to pay a higher price.

Taxis

The licensed taxis in Cairo are white and black/yellow in Alexandria. Only get into a taxi that has a working meter and seatbelts.

Women traveling without male companions frequently get sexually harassed by taxi drivers or even raped. Never take a taxi on your own if you are a solo female traveler.

Metro

The Cairo Metro is considered to be a reliable and safe way to get around the city.

Airplanes

Egypt is rated Category 1 in the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program, meaning it complies with the established safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Dangerous animals in Egypt

The dangerous animals in Egypt are the Nile crocodile, Egyptian cobra, Hippopotamus, Mosquito, Lionfish, and the Black Desert Cobra.

Cobras

The venom of the Egyptian as well as the Black Desert Cobra are both highly toxic and the bites can be fatal. Both prefer the fringes of the desert areas. The Black Desert Cobra is nocturnal, and bites and fatalities in humans are rare.

Nile crocodile

The Nile crocodile can be found in the south-east of the country. They are one of the largest crocodiles and can reach a length of 5.5 meters. It is estimated that there are about 500 crocodile attacks in Egypt each year, some of them fatal.

Hippopotamus

While a hippopotamus can be extremely aggressive and its attack ferocious and fatal, the likelihood of you coming to harm due to an encounter with a hippo is remote. There are very few hippopotami left in Egypt. Your best chance of seeing one of these animals is in the very south of the Nile.

Mosquito

While the cobras, crocodiles, and hippopotamus all look very scary, the animal you should be more frightened of in Egypt is the mosquito. There is the threat of malarial infection in particular in the Aswan region. However, the risk of contracting malaria in Egypt is not that high.

More worrisome is the threat of West Nile fever, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes. While it is rare to be bitten by a mosquito that carries the West Nile fever virus the symptoms are quite severe. And in 10% of the cases, the victim dies.

Lionfish

The beautifully orange/brown striped lionfish can be found in the Red Sea. Divers should be particularly careful as the dorsal fins of the Lionfish contain strong venom.

Natural disasters

You can expect sand and dust storms from March to May.

Egypt, in particular Cairo, is in an earthquake zone and minor earthquakes occur at times. Check the guidelines on how to protect yourself in an earthquake situation issued by the US Department of Homeland Security.

For regular updates on earthquakes check out the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System ( GDACS ). Furthermore, check the local media and download a natural disaster App.

Staying safe as a tourist in Egypt during recreational activities and excursions

Be aware of pick-pockets at all tourist destinations and on public transport. If you do decide to travel into more remote areas make sure you sign up with a well-established tour company.

There have been a few accidents with hot air balloons in Luxor where tourists have been injured or killed. Make sure your hot air balloon tour operator is licensed and has proper safety equipment.

Observe local laws and customs to stay safe as a tourist in Egypt

The penalties for drug-related offenses are severe. You will be looking at a long prison sentence, deportation, or even the death penalty when found in possession of illegal drugs.

It is a crime to criticize the Egyptian Government, security forces, and religion. To stay safe as a tourist in Egypt be careful what you say and what you write on your social media pages.

It is illegal to have sexual relations outside of marriage. You might have to provide a marriage certificate when checking into a double room in a hotel.

Homosexuality is not illegal but not socially tolerated.

Do not preach a religion other than Islam and do not bring non-Islamic religious material along with you on your vacation. Be particularly respectful of the local laws and customs during Ramadan. And dress conservatively.

It is illegal to take photos of official buildings, military personnel, and installations, bridges, and canals.

Do not use a drone without first applying for a permit from the Egyptian Government.

What tourists need to know to stay safe in Egypt: Emergency Contacts

Emergency phone numbers

Medical emergency: 123

Fire department: 180

Do not use any of the numbers from your home country. Use only the ones above.

Security updates and alerts

Register with your own country’s Department of Foreign Affairs to receive updates and alerts of changing security situations in Egypt.

Here is a quick pictorial summary

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