Organize your stay Egypt
Money Egypt
The national currency is the Egyptian pound (LE), divided into 100 piasters (PT). There are banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 LE, and 50 PT, as well as coins of 5, 10, 20 and 25 PT and 1 LE, which are increasingly used. It is becoming necessary to carry euros or dollars; certain tourist services are expressed in euros or dollars, then subject to the official exchange rate, which you will be shown on invoices, then payable in Egyptian pounds.
On October1, 2023, the exchange rate was as follows: 1 LE = €0.03; 1 € = 32.59 LE.
Budget & Tips Egypt
Due to the devaluation of the currency, which lost half its value in autumn 2016, many prices have risen, but the differential remains very advantageous for foreign tourists.
As a general rule, rates for small-to-medium hotels range from LE 100 to LE 450; restaurants from LE 50 to LE 350; the price of a museum ticket is LE 60 or LE 100 (50% discount for holders of an international student card); the price of a cab ride in Cairo is LE 70 for half the city.
For a small budget, a typical day, including one night's hotel accommodation and breakfast (200 LE), transport (80 LE), two visits (between 60 LE and 100 LE in Cairo, and between 100 LE and 200 LE in the Nile Valley), lunch and dinner (300 LE), comes to around 800 LE, or 38 €.
For a larger budget, grand hotels can go up to 600 US$ or more, and lunch and dinner in well-known restaurants can be had for between 400 and 600 LE per person, drinks not included.
Passport and visas Egypt
A tourist visa (maximum validity 1 month, cost US$25) is required in addition to a passport to enter Egypt. It can be obtained from the Egyptian diplomatic authorities in France, notably from the Egyptian embassy in Paris, but it is also easier to buy it on arrival at one of Egypt's international airports.
All passports issued in France are now biometric. They include your photo, fingerprints and a secure chip. To obtain a passport, go to the town hall with a tax stamp, proof of address, proof of identity and two passport photos. The passport is issued in about three weeks. It is valid for ten years. Children must have a personal passport (valid for five years).
Health Egypt
In Egypt, in addition to the sun, air pollution is a risk for you if you suffer from allergies, asthma or respiratory problems. Equip yourself with repellent to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, which carry viral diseases. Make sure that all vaccinations required in France are up to date (e.g. D.T. Polio). Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended. You should also be vaccinated against a number of diseases, such as typhoid, rabies and hepatitis B, as a preventive measure for extended stays in precarious conditions. There is no longer any malaria in Egypt.
Security Egypt
In 2023, in view of the regional security context (development of terrorism), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) reminds us that travel in the desert zone from the Egyptian-Libyan border to the Egyptian-Sudanese border is formally inadvisable. This area was rated red at the time of our survey, as was the north of the Sinai Peninsula.
Without giving in to recklessness or paranoia, be informed and responsible. You're leaving for a country that is occasionally the victim of upheavals, and it has to be said that the security situation has deteriorated somewhat since the 2011 revolution. Security around hotels has been particularly tight, and major establishments are heavily barricaded. Don't let yourself be intimidated - it's for your own comfort, after all. Don't shy away from the bag checks you'll be asked to undergo at the entrance to every museum and hotel. In the weeks leading up to your departure, it is imperative that you keep yourself informed about any possible upsurge in terrorist acts and the regions where they are committed. The Egyptian territory is vast enough for you to enjoy a pleasant stay, while avoiding dangerous areas. For its part, the Egyptian government is doing its utmost to ensure your safety in Upper Egypt. This translates into an impressive police presence, but also into constraints that make individual travel in this region increasingly difficult. You won't be aware of this as long as you stay in Luxor or Aswan. But if you intend to leave these cities, ask the tourist police about the means of transport you can use. You may be required to take a more or less discreet police escort (the one between Luxor and Aswan has been abolished). Sometimes, you'll have to wait for a convoy to leave before setting off. At other times, you'll be provided with special protection worthy of a (minor) head of state.
In the past, tourists were not allowed on trains that did not have a police guard on board. Although this ban has recently been abolished, tourists are frequently refused tickets for these trains at station ticket offices. The best solution is to get on the train of your choice and buy your ticket from the ticket inspector.
Time difference Egypt
The time difference is one hour, with the exception of short transitional periods of around one month when both countries are on the same time. Time changes in Egypt generally occur around May1 and October1. It's 9 a.m. in Cairo when it's 8 a.m. in Paris.
Spoken languages Egypt
Egyptians, of course, speak Egyptian Arabic, which is not the same as Middle Eastern or Maghrebi Arabic (although everyone can understand Egyptians, which is not always true in the opposite direction). Spoken Arabic is dialectal and varies somewhat from region to region. English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Most people over the age of 25 have studied French as a second language, but as they have never practised it, the few words they have learnt are quickly lost. Although not widely spoken, French is still very much appreciated. In the past, it was the language of the bourgeoisie. According to the French-speaking community, there are nearly 3 million French speakers in the country. Some Cairoites spoke it at school, and were even forbidden to use another language in the playground. In Cairo, you may come across a few Francophile Egyptians who will converse warmly with you. As for the few words of French addressed to you at tourist sites, they are simply intended to lure you into the stores in the souks or bazaars. In Sinai, many Bedouins speak Hebrew. Otherwise, unless you meet the village intellectual, you'll have no choice but to express yourself in Arabic. Memorizing a hundred or so words may be enough to cope with everyday situations or, more simply, to give pleasure by greeting your interlocutor in his native tongue, who will no doubt be pleasantly surprised. You probably don't speak it, but you should know that there's also a Coptic language. This language, derived from Pharaonic and Greek, is used in Christian liturgy.
Communication Egypt
Dial 140 (information).
To call from abroad to Egypt: 00 20 + the number of your correspondent (including area code, not preceded by the local 0).
To call from Egypt to France: 00 33 + the last 9 digits of your correspondent, without the initial 0.
Geographical areas. 02 (Cairo) - 03 (Alexandria) - 066 (Port-Saïd) - 064 (Ismaïlia) - 062 (Suez) - 069 (Sharm el-Sheikh) - 068 (El-Arich) - 046 (Siwa) - 086 (El-Minya) - 095 (Louxor) - 097 (Aswan) - 011 (Bahareyya) - 092 (Kharga) - 065 (Hourghada) - 084 (Fayoum).
The majority of Egyptians have cell phones. Those that barely fit in the palm of a hand are very popular. 3G and 4G sometimes work better than public wifi! All numbers start with 01. The lines, on the other hand, are somewhat capricious. In the oases, there's no need to climb to the top of the palm tree, as reception is rarely good.
Electricity and measurements Egypt
Even the smallest village deep in an oasis has electricity (220 V). This is one of the great achievements of modern Egypt, thanks to the Aswan High Dam. Don't look at the installations: in some establishments, this would prevent you from sleeping.
Intimate lighting is out of the question, and neon is king almost everywhere. Mosques, like year-round Christmas trees, raise their fluorescent minarets to the heavens. Sometimes, adding a touch of gaiety, the trunks of trees in Luxor, for example, are adorned with tiny dots of light as evening falls. Sockets are the same as in France, but, curiously, male plugs often have problems getting into them. A small adaptor will often come in handy.
Luggage Egypt
As far as possible, wear only cotton (for warmth, there's nothing better). In winter, don't forget sweaters, scarves, socks and windbreakers (it can get very cold). Headgear and sunglasses are particularly useful for site visits. Appropriate lightweight walking shoes are highly recommended. Avoid plastic as much as possible, as the heat and dust do not go down well with your toes! You'll find almost everything in Egypt, and it's generally cheaper than in France. Even so, remember to bring a sheet - or better still, a sleeping bag, because of the dodgy sheets in budget hotels - as well as earplugs and a blindfold if you're afraid of the light. Ra gets up early and you'll be up late, especially if you can only fall asleep in the quiet... Ladies, watch your outfits! Off the beach, short shorts are not at all recommended. Light pants or a long skirt will do. Always have something to put on if you're bare-shouldered (for example, if you're wearing a tank top with thin straps). Without it, you won't be able to visit certain tourist sites, such as mosques or churches. In Siwa, it's best to go out wearing T-shirts with no cleavage and at least short sleeves. Even if Egypt inspires you to dance the seven veils, reserve it for your hotel room and prefer non-transparent fabrics for outdoors. Anything can be light, but decent. You'll be all the calmer for it. Gentlemen, a decent outfit is also preferable for you. Shorts and wifebeaters don't go down well with visitors.
