This post is to help you plan your trip to Egypt. The prices are as of Jan 2020.
Visa Condition
Check
here by entering your NATIONALITY and the DESTINATION.
Currency Exchange
Do it once you arrive at the airport. At most money changers, the exchange rates are very similar to
xe.com. Remember to have the xe.com app installed on your mobile phone, so you can compare the rates.
SIM Card
Check out the following packages for tourist:
Orange,
Etisalat,
Vodafone. I got my Orange package without international minutes for just 145 EGP.
Transportation - Train
To get to different cities, it's recommended to take a train. Go
here, click on ENGLISH > TRAIN SCHEDULE to check for train schedule.
As a foreigner, to make things easy, you can register an account and purchase a train ticket online. My Egyptian friends do not favor this as they said online transactions are not safe. I did it several times and everything was good.
However, their system is not perfect. After a successful purchase, a copy of the ticket will NOT be sent to your email address. Make sure you capture the screen or PDF your ticket after purchase. When the next page doesn't load successfully, just click Refresh.
When boarding the train, you just need to show the softcopy. If you are going to Egypt during high seasons, such as school holidays, buy your train tickets early. Only the locals will know how and where to get black market tickets.
Based on my Egyptian friends, it's OK to take a
bus for a short journey (3-4 hours). If you are traveling long, e.g. from Cairo to Luxor/Aswan, taking a train is safer, more comfortable, cheaper. It's NOT necessary to get a train ticket prior to boarding a train. If you are adventurous and fine with not have a secured seat, you can buy the ticket on the train.
When an Egyptian buys a train ticket, he needs to show his national ID. Therefore, no need to try buying a train ticket as a local, even you speak perfect Arabic.
The prices of taking a tourist sleeper train are:
|
Click for a larger image |
If more details are required, check out
seat61. Also,
please expect delays of train.
Transportation - Taxi / Uber / Careem
Before going to Egypt, install both the Uber and Careem apps on your mobile, and tie them to your credit card. Why both? Because not all areas have both services available. I normally use Uber, only if
Uber is not available, I use
Careem.
- Cairo and Alexandria - both
- Luxor - Careem only
- Aswan - Careem only
If you prefer getting a local taxi and haggle, feel free to. That is always my last option.
Accommodation
This really depends on personal preference: hotel/hostel; private/shared etc. These are the sites I use:
hostelworld.com,
booking.com,
airbnb.com,
couchsurfing.org
Food and Drinks
As of Jan 2020, a 1.5L mineral water is 5 EGP. For Egyptian food, check out
this album or these videos (
1 &
2).
Attractions Ticket Price
The prices change pretty quickly. Check
this page for the latest.
The price of taking a hot-air balloon in Luxor is 920 EGP (about USD 60). It's said to be the cheapest place. Doing the same in Cappadocia, Turkey will cost USD250.
To visit the attractions in West Bank Luxor, the cheapest option would be to join a group tour (8am to 3pm). Services include transportation and a guide. Destinations include (i) Valley of the Kings (ii) Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (iii) Medinet Habu (iv) Colossi of Memnon. If you wish to start early to avoid the crowd, you can always hire a private taxi. 150 EGP is possible, but it's only transportation.
Suggested Itinerary?
Choose and go only those that match your interests. There is no single standard way that suits all or is the best.
- If you don't like museums, it's OK not to go to each museum.
- If you like markets, just enjoy yourself there.
- If you like to walk without a specific target and embrace different types of surprises, just do it!
- If you like to explore unheard places without tourists, why not?
- If you like to spend time talking with locals, go ahead!
Do what you like, not what others feel you should.
If you really need ideas to roughly plan how many days in each city, I'd say: Cairo (3-4 days), Alexandria (1-2 days), Luxor (3-4 days), Aswan (3-4 days).
Finally, I hope the above is sufficient to help you plan your budget and your own unique itinerary. Let me know if I miss anything. Thanks!