What to Pack for Egypt (And What to Skip)

I’ve watched thousands of travelers arrive in Egypt overpacked, underpacked, or just wrong-packed. Here’s the practical list I send every client before they fly out.

The essentials

• Comfortable walking shoes — broken in. Temple visits involve uneven stone, sometimes hours of walking. Skip the new boots.
• Layers — daytime in temples is hot, but cruise-ship air-conditioning is aggressive, and Aswan evenings drop fast in winter.
• Wide-brim hat + sunglasses + high-SPF sunscreen — Egyptian sun is no joke even in winter.
• Refillable water bottle — most ships and hotels offer filtered refill stations now.
• Modest clothing for temple visits — shoulders and knees covered. Linen scarves work for both sexes as cover-ups.
• Smart-casual evening wear — most 5-star ships have a dress code at dinner (collared shirt, no shorts).

What to skip

• Heavy jackets or coats — even in January, a light fleece + windbreaker is enough.
• Hair dryers / hair tools — every 4-star+ hotel and cruise ship has them.
• Too many shoes — one walking pair + one evening pair is plenty.
• Bulky guidebooks — your Egyptologist guide knows more than any book.
• Egyptian pounds — exchange at the airport on arrival or use ATMs. USD/EUR widely accepted at tourist sites.

Smart additions most people forget

• Small bills of EGP or USD — for tips at hotels, ship crew, drivers, and bathroom attendants. $1-$2 bills are gold.
• Universal power adapter — Egypt uses European 2-prong (Type C/F), 220V.
• A small daypack — for temple visits with water, sunscreen, and a light scarf.
• Imodium + hand sanitizer — practical, just in case.
• A printed copy of your itinerary + visa — phones die, internet is patchy at remote temples.

Dahabiya travelers — one extra thing

Bring your own bottle (wine, whisky, whatever you like) — most dahabiyas are BYO with no corkage. The Princess Sarah Dahabiya has glassware and an ice bucket; you just supply the bottle.

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Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to visit temples in Egypt?

Light clothes that cover the shoulders and knees — a linen scarf works as a cover-up for both men and women — and closed, broken-in walking shoes with grip. Temple visits mean hours on uneven stone, and the paths into the tombs are loose limestone.

Do I need a warm jacket for a Nile cruise in winter?

No — a light one is enough. Even in January a light fleece and a windbreaker will do. Deck evenings are cooler than the forecast suggests, cruise-ship air-conditioning is strong and Aswan evenings drop fast in winter, so pack layers rather than a heavy coat.

Is there a dress code on Nile cruise ships?

Most 5-star ships ask for smart-casual at dinner: a collared shirt and no shorts. For the galabeya night, buy a galabeya at the Esna market for about $10 rather than packing a smart outfit.

What plug adapter do I need for Egypt?

Egypt uses the European two-pin plug, Type C/F, at 220V, so bring a universal power adapter.

Should I bring cash for tips in Egypt?

Yes, in small bills — Egyptian pounds or $1 to $2 US notes for hotel staff, ship crew, drivers and bathroom attendants. Change money at the airport on arrival or use ATMs; US dollars and euros are widely accepted at tourist sites.

What can I leave at home?

Heavy coats, hair dryers and hair tools (every 4-star-and-above hotel and cruise ship has them), more than one walking pair and one evening pair of shoes, and bulky guidebooks — your Egyptologist guide knows more than any book.

Written by Magdy Fattouh 39 guides published on this site Magdy Fattouh is a Cairo University history graduate and the writer behind the guides on this site. Over 13 years he has researched and written about Egypt's history, its monuments and how to travel to them — from the pharaohs and the temples to month-by-month planning, ship comparisons and day-by-day itineraries. He speaks English and Arabic, and reviews every guide here for accuracy before it is published. Read more by Magdy Fattouh →