Money, cards and ATMs in Egypt

The currency

• The Egyptian pound floated in March 2024 and has traded in a range of roughly 49 to 52 to the US dollar through 2026.
• Inflation was 14.9 percent in July 2026, which is a great deal calmer than it was, but prices still move.
• Egypt is genuinely cheap for food, transport and services. It is not cheap for entry tickets to the major sites, which are priced for foreigners and have risen steeply.
• Change money at banks or official exchange offices, not on the street. Street rates that look better are the setup for a switch.
• ATMs are widespread in cities and resorts and dispense pounds. Use bank-branch machines, decline the machine's conversion, and be aware many have low withdrawal limits.

Baksheesh, explained properly

This is the thing visitors find hardest, and understanding it makes Egypt much more enjoyable.

• Baksheesh is a small payment for a small service, and it is a normal part of an economy where many wages are very low. It is not begging and it is not usually a scam.
• Someone opens a door, points at a tomb, watches your shoes, takes your photo: a few pounds.
• The tool is small notes. Get a thick stack of 5, 10 and 20 pound notes early and keep them in a separate pocket from your real money.
• You may decline. A firm, friendly "la, shukran" repeated works, and it is not rude.
• What is a scam is different: someone who takes your camera to "help", then demands payment to return it; a guard who beckons you past a rope and then demands money; a "free" gift pressed into your hand.
• Never hand over your passport or your phone.

Tipping

• Restaurants: 10 percent, on top of any service charge, which usually does not reach the staff.
• Hotel housekeeping: a small note daily.
• Nile cruise and tour staff: there is usually a suggested tipping envelope, and it is a real part of their pay.
• Drivers and guides: budget for it. A private guide for a day expects a meaningful tip.
• Egyptian pounds are better than dollars for tipping, despite what you will be told, because changing small foreign notes is hard for the recipient.

Cards and cash

• Resorts, good hotels and larger restaurants take cards. Very little else does.
• Carry cash daily, more than you think, in small denominations.
• Prices are quoted in pounds, dollars and euros depending on who is asking. Establish the currency before you agree.
• Keep some US dollars in reserve for the visa, the Taba border and emergencies.
• Bargaining is expected in bazaars and with taxis, and not in shops with marked prices. Start low, stay cheerful, and be willing to walk.