I am often asked about money in Egypt, including:

• What currency is used in Egypt?

• How much and when should I tip?

• Where can I exchange money?

• Will my credit cards work in Egypt?

This blog post will cover all of those questions, preparing you to be on top of your money game when traveling through Cairo and beyond.

Note: this post was first published in February 2022, and updated on July 31, 2024.

The Egyptian Pound

Egypt’s Currency is called the Egyptian Pound (now-on referred to simply as “pounds”), or guinea (pronounced like the country, “Guinea”) in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic. It is only used in Egypt, and is completely different from the “Pounds” used in the United Kingdom.

Egyptian Pounds on a micro-scale are divided up into quarter (25) and half (50) piaster coins (instead of “cents”, in Egypt they say “piasters”), but these are seldom used by tourists. There is also a 1 pound coin and 1 pound note, also seldom used by tourists. In addition, Egyptian Pounds come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 bills. Each bill has on one side an Islamic monument, and on the other, a monument or artifact from Ancient Egypt. Egyptian Pounds include Arabic and English letters and numbers, so tourists are always able to distinguish which bills and coins are worth which denominations. If you don’t see English on the bill, flip it over! One side has English, and the other side has Arabic.

When traveling throughout Egypt, I recommend using Egyptian Pounds or credit card to pay for all purchases, although with the recent fluctuations in the Egyptian Pound, US Dollars, Euros, Great British Pounds, and other foreign currencies are now accepted more often, and in some instances, preferred. I do notice getting better prices and being able to bargain and haggle more effectively when using Egyptian Pounds, though. And if you are wondering if you are allowed to pay for something in foreign currency, just ask! Your tour guide, a shopkeeper, hotel staff, or anyone you talk to will be able to tell you if they accept foreign currency or not, and they will also be able to tell you which currency is preferred.

Never try to make purchases or tip using foreign coins or $1 bills, as these cannot be exchanged. Only do this as a last resort, like if you have no other currency to tip with. The person accepting this currency will be forced to exchange it for Egyptian Pounds with other tourists since official exchange offices do not accept $1 bills or coins. If you see a local person coming up to you with a stack of $1 bills or a bunch of coins, they are asking if you can take this foreign currency from them and give them the equivalent in Egyptian Pounds. If you could use the currency back in your home country and on your travels, and if you are willing to do this informal exchange, it will help the Egyptian person a lot!

Tipping Culture in Egypt

Tipping is customary in many more instances in Egypt than it is in the United States, and many Egyptians who work in the tourism sector rely on tips to pay their basic expenses. You can read more about when and how much to tip in this blog post dedicated to the subject.

lnterested in joining a group tour of Egypt? Check out my next group tours here.

Where can I exchange money in Egypt?

In Egypt, there are three options to exchange money: at the airport, at exchange offices, and by pulling money direction from an ATM.

Exchanging money at the airport

When travelers arrive to Cairo International Airport (or any international airport in Egypt), they will purchase an entry visa for $25 USD, and the same counter where travelers purchase their entry visa is also the place where they can exchange foreign currency for Egyptian Pounds. I always exchange $100-200 USD for Egyptian Pounds at this point, to get me started, and to save hassle when it comes to getting from the airport to my hotel (it is much better to pay taxis in Egyptian Pounds than foreign currency).

Exchange offices

There are exchange offices throughout Cairo and the rest of Egypt, and these are great places to take foreign currency (in cash) and exchange it for Egyptian Pounds. Unlike many countries, Egypt regulates currency exchange offices, so travelers will receive the same rate no matter which currency exchange office is used. In Cairo, I often use exchange offices downtown, or in Dokki along Tahrir Street. There is also a convenient currency exchange office in the Hilton Ramses Hotel and in Coptic Cairo, so travelers will have numerous options to exchange foreign currency when in Cairo. In other cities frequented by tourists (Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, and more), there will also be many currency exchange offices, and a quick Google search or inquiry at one’s hotel should reveal the nearest one.

If you want to exchange money at an exchange office, you must have your physical passport with you. Exchange offices will need to make a copy of your passport, including your Egypt visa, and cannot do any currency exchange without this.

ATMs

My favorite option for getting the bulk of my Egyptian Pounds is using ATMs while in Egypt. ATMs give the same, government-set exchange rate, oftentimes do not charge extra fees (your bank may charge a fee however), and are ubiquitous throughout Egypt. Aside from Credit Agricole, I have not noticed consistent fees from ATMs in Egypt, and even the fees from Credit Agricole ATMs are usually only around $3 USD.

All you need to pull money from an ATM is your debit card (a credit card linked to a checking account) and your PIN, and most travelers will also need to inform their bank they are traveling in Egypt and will be using local ATMs.

Most ATMs in Egypt have a limit of 2000-3000 Egyptian Pounds for withdrawal, so travelers will often need to make multiple ATM trips throughout their time in Egypt, unless they have already exchanged lots of cash at the airport or foreign exchange offices

If your card is getting rejected at an ATM, and you are only trying to take 2000 or 3000 Egyptian Pounds, you can try these strategies:

• Make sure you are not trying to use an American Express or Discover card. These are not accepted in Egypt.

• Try using a different Visa or MasterCard than the one you are currently using.

• Try using a different ATM.

• Call your credit card issuer, ask them if they can see that you are attempting to use your card, and see if they placed any holds or blocks on your card.

Will My Credit Cards Work in Egypt?

In the USA, credit cards are almost universally accepted, but in Egypt, travelers trying to use credit cards may be frustrated, finding their cards are not accepted as often as back home.

Egypt is mostly a cash-based society, and credit cards are not something local Egyptians often use to make payments, but this has been changing over recent years, and they are now much more accepted than in the past. Places travelers can expect to use credit cards in Egypt include:

• When staying at international hotel chains, like Marriott, Hilton, etc.

• When staying at some boutique/smaller hotels (ask ahead of time if you can to make sure they accept credit cards)

• When dining in sit-down restaurants, especially places catering to tourists

• Fast food chains, like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc.

• Inside airports, shopping malls, and larger supermarkets

• Making online purchases, such as sleeper train tickets, air tickets, and booking hotels online

• Using Uber (although cash is preferred)

• At shops in upscale areas like Zamalek or Maadi

• At most tourist shops/bazaars catering to tourists (like Khan el Khalilii or markets in Luxor/Aswan)

• Buying tickets to sightseeing places (either online or in-person). In fact, cash is now no longer accepted at all for any tickets to visit historic sites.

However, in the following situations, credit cards are almost never accepted:

• Local restaurants and bars

• Street food and local markets (not tourist markets like Khan el Khalilii)

• Public transportation and taxis (not Uber)

• Local hotels and apartment rentals (depending on the place)

• Tipping

Frequently Asked Questions about Money and Currency

Am I missing your question? Leave a comment below asking the question, and I will add it to this blog!

Can I use my Amex or Discover card in Egypt?

American Express and Discover cards are almost never accepted in Egypt, except possibly at international hotel chains. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted credit cards.

Should I buy Egyptian Pounds ahead of my trip, so I have them ready when I arrive?

NO! DO NOT TRY TO BUY EGYPTIAN POUNDS BEFORE GOING TO EGYPT! First, it will be very difficult to even find a bank or currency exchange that sells Egyptian Pounds, so you’ll be pulling your hair out just trying to figure out where to buy them. Next, the exchange rate you will receive will be terrible. Finally, the very first thing you do in Egypt is buy your $25 USD entry visa at the airport, and the same place is also a currency exchange! So just give the person $25 USD cash for your visa, and then however much cash you want to exchange! Then keep the rest of your cash handy to use down the road at exchange offices, or use your Visa or MasterCard card to pull local currency from ATMs.

How much cash should I bring to Egypt?

It totally depends on the length of your trip, and what you are doing, but I recommend bringing at least $200-$300 worth of foreign currency with you, just in case, and if you feel like you will not lose it, bringing around $100 USD worth per day is a good idea (so if you are in Egypt for 7 days, bringing $700 equivalent in cash is a good idea). This is a just-in-case scenario, like if one of your cards doesn’t work at the local ATMs, or one of your tours requires payment in foreign currency, cash, and you didn’t know this ahead of time.

Can I use traveler’s cheques in Egypt?

No. Do not bring traveler’s cheques to Egypt — I have never heard of them being accepted, anywhere.

If I get too many Egyptian Pounds, can I exchange them at the airport when I leave.

No. Only get the Egyptian Pounds that you need for your trip, because at the airport, they almost never exchange Egyptian Pounds back to foreign currency. Sometimes travelers get lucky and they will do this, but more and more they are refusing to take Egyptian Pounds and to exchange it for foreign currency, because of the shortage of foreign currency in Egypt.

What is the “black market”?

In Egypt, a lot of people do unofficial currency exchanges, where they trade foreign currency for Egyptian Pounds (and vice-versa) without using a government exchange office. This is, technically, illegal, and yet it is something widely done in secret. I do not recommend doing any black market exchanges in Egypt, because there is a risk of having an issue with the tourism police, although tourists and local alike will often exchange currency this way, and I have not heard of any tourists having issues.

Can I use ATMs to pull out money in Egypt, instead of always exchanging cash?
Yes, this is the best way to get Egyptian Pounds throughout your trip. ATMs are plentiful in all of the places you will travel to, and are fairly easy to use. Be sure to have a Visa/Mastercard check/debit card with you (a card that is linked to a checking account back at your home bank, NOT a credit card). Tell your bank that you will be traveling to Egypt and will need to pull money out of ATMs during your trip (give them the dates you will be in Egypt). It is a good idea to bring two different cards, if you have them.

Which currency would you recommend for the pocket money. Egypt Pounds or US Dollar?

I recommend having a mixture of Euros cash (or USD), and Egyptian Pounds. Don’t have too much in Egyptian Pounds though, since at the end of the trip, these cannot be exchanged back to foreign currency. As you go throughout your trip, if you ever need more Egyptian Pounds, you can just get more from an ATM using your Visa or Mastercard Debit Card.

Is there money exchange at the airport ? If yes, is the rate same outside the airport and inside?

Yes, there is an exchange office in the airport, and yes, it’s the same, government-set rate, so you can exchange money there, or at an exchange office outside the airport.

How do I figure out the exchange rate?

Simply search Google! Type in “1 USD to EGP” or “1 Euro to EGP” or whatever currency you want to research. Google will show you the current exchange rate.

Preparing for your Egypt adventure by familiarizing yourself with the local currency, knowing when and how much to tip, and having plans on how to exchange money and when to use credit cards will help you focus on all the amazing experiences Egypt has to offer. What questions do you have about money in Egypt? Leave me a comment below!