01Free
The 30-second card
Emergency · tap to call
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Visa · United States passport
Visa on arrival · up to 30 daysSource: U.S. Department of State · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗TippingRestaurants don't expect tips; upscale ones may add a service charge.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗
Water at restaurantsRestaurants usually serve water free of charge.Source: U.S. Department of State · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗
SIM and eSIM
Skip a local SIM: foreign phones owe a 38.5% import tax within 90 days or get blocked. Use an eSIM or roaming.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Apps locals use
Careem: fixed-fare ride-hailing in the big cities; the app shows the destination in Arabic for the driver.Uber: set-price rides in Cairo, Alexandria and Hurghada, with no haggling over taxi fares.inDrive: another ride-hailing option in the main cities.Google Translate: useful for making your point when a driver tries to change the agreed fare.
Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Cards or cash
Mostly cashMostly cards
Step 2 of 5: Cash is still the norm, though cards are accepted in some places.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Egypt
Egyptian Pound · E£ · EGP
Ask the ATM for an odd amount like LE350 so it pays out some smaller notes.
Most ATMs charge no withdrawal fee, but avoid Euronet machines.
Change leftover pounds into dollars, euros or sterling before leaving; they are hard to exchange abroad.
An ISIC student card or a teacher card halves entry fees at most sites.
Collect Egyptian Pound in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Thu, 7 Jan 2027 · Christmas Day (Orthodox) عيد الميلاد المجيد
Mon, 25 Jan 2027 · Revolution Day 2011 / National Police Day عيد الثورة 25 يناير
Mon, 8 Feb 2027–8 Mar · Ramadan (expected date)
Tue, 9 Mar 2027 · Eid al-Fitr (expected date)
Sun, 25 Apr 2027 · Sinai Liberation Day عيد تحرير سيناء
Sat, 1 May 2027 · Labour Day عيد العمال
Mon, 3 May 2027 · Easter Monday Sham El-Nessim
Sun, 16 May 2027 · Eid al-Adha (expected date)
Thu, 10 Jun 2027 · Islamic New Year
Thu, 1 Jul 2027 · June 30 Revolution ثورة 30 يونيو
Fri, 23 Jul 2027 · Revolution Day عيد ثورة 23 يوليو
Sat, 14 Aug 2027 · Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (expected date) Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Tentative Date)
Wed, 6 Oct 2027 · Armed Forces Day عيد القوات المسلحة
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Egypt say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
Travel warning for some regions
Calm
Caution ●
Serious
Don’t go
Some regions differ, see the official page.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Exercise increased caution
Calm
Caution ●
Serious
Don’t go
Level 2 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 14 Jul 2025 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 14 Jul 2025 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
Some regions differ, see the official page.
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 4 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 4 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Scams to know
Airport visa agents
Buy the visa at the official kiosk and report pushy agents to the airport tourist police.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Overcharging hotel doctors
Ask prices first; ordinary pharmacies outside the hotel usually sell medicine cheaper.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Touts at tourist sites
Stay alert at major sights and turn down unsolicited offers from people who approach.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Keep routine shots current; hepatitis A and typhoid advised. Yellow fever proof only if at risk.
Vaccinations
Be current on routine shots including measles (MMR); hepatitis A and typhoid are advised for most visitors, hepatitis B for those not yet vaccinated, and rabies shots are worth discussing for higher-risk trips. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is only asked of people arriving from countries with transmission risk.
Talk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 23 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 23 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
04Travel layer
In the app: the travel layer
The travel layer
Read a country like someone who’s been there.
What’s different from home, and what’s the lawMust-see places, free entry and World Heritage sites20 words to remember, with pronunciationStrange and surprising factsThe anthem and national symbolsSaved for offline use
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Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $365.3 billionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $3,086Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | refined petroleum, natural gas, fertilizers, garments, crude petroleum (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 118.4 millionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 24.6 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 75 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10%Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 1,001,450 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | desert; hot, dry summers with moderate wintersSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and deltaSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | presidential republicSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +20Source: libphonenumber · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 23 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 23 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 23 Oct 2026 ↗Nager.Date · 23 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗U.S. Department of State · 23 Oct 2026 ↗Umm al-Qura calendar (computed with ICU) · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 23 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 23 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
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