Egypt Travel Guide

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Shopping

The most interesting shopping area for tourists in Cairo is the old bazaar, Khan-el-Khalili, specializing in reproductions of antiquities. Jewelry, spices, brass, copper utensils, cotton goods and Coptic cloth are some of the many special items. There are also modern shopping centers, particularly near Tehrir Square. Haggling is expected, and usually encouraged: goods do not have a fixed price, but are worth whatever the vendor feels happy selling at in balance with whatever the buyer is happy purchasing for at any given moment in time. External factors therefore play their part - including the mood the buyer is in, a row the vendor may have had with his wife in the morning, sales - or lack of sales - made earlier in the day.

There are vendors who are out to cheat the unsuspecting tourist in Egypt, selling fake goods or charging for bogus services. Their hard sell, particularly around the pyramids at Giza, can be highly intrusive and upsetting: if you take photographs of any man on a camel, for example, expect to pay even if you didn't plan on having the person in the frame.

Shopping hours: Winter: Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat 0900-1900, Mon and Thurs 0900-2000. During Ramadan, hours vary, with shops often closing on Sunday. Summer: Tues, Wed, Fri-Sun 0900-1230 and 1600-2000.

Currency

Egyptian Pound (EGP; symbol E£) = 100 piastres. Notes are in denominations of E£200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, 50 piastres and 25 piastres. Coins are in denominations of 25, 20, 10 and 5 piastres.

British pounds sterling, Euros and the US Dollar are accepted everywhere although change may be given in Egyptian pounds.

Currency Exchange

Available at banks, official bureau de change and most hotels. Banks often have better exchange rates than bureau de change or hotels. All common international currencies are accepted.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in all but the smallest hotels and restaurants throughout the country, except in the Western oases.

Travelers Checks

These are becoming less useful now that international ATMs are prevalent throughout the country. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Currency Restrictions

The import and export of local currency is limited to E£5,000. The import and export of foreign currency is limited to US$10,000 or equivalent.

Banking Hours

Sun-Thurs 0830-1400.

Exchange Rate