All visitors to Egypt are required to have a visa. Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada can get one upon arrival for a period up to three months. Nationals of other countries are required to obtain a visa from the Egyptian embassy in their home country before departing.

Health and Safety

Travelers to Egypt should be aware of the uprisings and mass demonstrations which took place in many large towns in 2011. The political situation remains volatile and protests could begin again at any time. For this reason, many cities have enforced a curfew between 6:00 p.m. and midnight.

Outside of that, expect to encounter the usual pick pockets and non-violent muggings. Don’t carry large sums of money and, if at all possible, refrain from carrying a wallet at all. Scams are also a big problem in Egypt and you should always insist on a price before purchasing a product or enlisting a service.

Female travelers would do well to travel in large groups, especially at night. Women tend to garner a lot of unwanted attention so try to dress modestly when in public. Expect to be heckled and, in extreme cases, touched by male strangers.

While the standard of medical care in the larger cites is good, tourists are still advised to take out health or travel insurance. This is especially necessary for those headed to more remote areas in Egypt, where facilities are few and far between. Immunizations for the following are recommended: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus and rabies.