The cradle of one of the oldest civilizations — pyramids, the Nile, temples and the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Easy to visit with a little planning. Here is the essential, verified (including a tip about WhatsApp calls).

Travel essentials

European citizens easily get an eVisa online or a visa on arrival at major airports. African passports (Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal) are generally outside the eVisa and need a consular visa obtained in advance — start early. Yellow fever is only required for arrivals from an endemic zone.

⚠️ Border rules change without notice. Always confirm with the official source (consulate, immigration, travel.state.gov, gov.uk, Portal das Comunidades) before travelling.

Health

Yellow fever is only required for arrivals from (or transiting) a country with risk — without a certificate there is a risk of quarantine. Keep routine vaccines up to date.

Passport

Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank pages. Overstaying can lead to fines.

Arrival & Safety

Airport

Gateways from Europe: Cairo International Airport (CAI), Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Luxor and Alexandria. In Cairo, expect multiple checkpoints on arrival and departure.

Getting in

In Cairo’s heavy traffic, Uber and InDrive are legal, active and the most reliable way around — they avoid the fare disputes and language barrier of the white street taxis. Carry small notes for the ever-present tipping (baksheesh).

Safety

Money

Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP). ATMs are common in cities and resorts; cards work in hotels, Nile cruises and many restaurants, but always carry cash for markets, taxis and tips (baksheesh).

Connectivity

Operators: Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (and WE/Telecom Egypt). Good 4G in cities and resorts, with 5G starting in Cairo and Alexandria. A local SIM needs your passport and a store visit — the Verde Wave eSIM avoids the chaotic airport queues.

SIM queues at Cairo Airport are notoriously long. A pre-installed eSIM saves time and avoids aggressive upselling at the terminals.

⚠️ Important: Egypt blocks WhatsApp, Skype and FaceTime voice and video CALLS — text messages work, but to call family by voice/video you often need a VPN. Browsing and messaging work normally.

Sending money Egypt

Sending money to Egypt is part of diaspora life. The usual options: bank transfer (slower and sometimes with hidden FX margins), specialist apps like Wise, Remitly and WorldRemit (fast and transparent on fees), and cash pickup via Western Union or MoneyGram. In Egypt, there are bank transfers and cash pickup in Egyptian pounds (EGP); always check the exchange rate applied. Always compare the total cost — fee plus exchange-rate margin — and the speed before sending. Verde Wave never handles money; we just point you to the tools.

Practical tips

Best time

Autumn and winter (October to April) are the most comfortable for Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the desert. Summer in Upper Egypt can be extremely hot.

Languages

Egyptian Arabic is the national language; English is widely used in tourism and hospitality, and French in some sectors.

Etiquette

A country of conservative norms: cover shoulders and knees in public, especially at religious sites. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. Avoid demonstrations and large crowds.

What to see & culture

Places

The Giza plateau (the pyramids and the Sphinx), the new Grand Egyptian Museum, the Luxor and Karnak temples, the Valley of the Kings, a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, Sharm).

Culture

The cradle of one of the oldest civilizations, with a legacy in architecture, writing and art. Modern culture is marked by figures like Umm Kulthum, whose voice still fills Egypt’s cafés.

Food

Koshari (a mix of lentils, rice, pasta and spicy tomato sauce), ful medames (stewed fava beans), falafel (ta’amiya), molokhia and grilled meats. The cuisine blends Levantine, North African and Mediterranean influences.

Sources

1. US State Department — Egypt Travel Advisory (Nível 2)
2. UK FCDO — Egypt foreign travel advice
3. Egypt Visa — portal oficial de eVisa
4. NaTHNaC / TravelHealthPro — Egypt (febre-amarela)