Tipping in Egypt 🇪🇬

Baksheesh is the Egyptian term for a gratuity or tip — but it encompasses more than a simple restaurant tip. In Egypt, baksheesh is expected for almost any service: restaurant meals, hotel stays, temple visits, bathroom use, having your photo taken, and any situation where someone helps you. It is deeply embedded in Egyptian social culture and economic life. Always carry small denomination pounds for baksheesh throughout your trip.

£100–200 per person for a full-day guided tour is the appropriate range for Egyptian tour guides. At major sites like the Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple, guides work hard in challenging conditions and provide essential context. For half-day tours, £50–100 per person is appropriate. Always tip in cash directly to your guide at the end of the experience.

Yes — you will encounter a variety of people at Egyptian temples and monuments who expect baksheesh: site guards who unlock special areas, locals who offer to take your photograph, people who point out things of interest, and sometimes simply people who approach you for conversation. Having £10–20 notes available for these situations is practical. Never feel obligated to tip someone who approaches you aggressively — politely decline.

Egyptian pounds (EGP) are preferred for small baksheesh amounts. For larger tips to tour guides and hotel staff, USD is often gratefully accepted and provides more stable value given Egypt's occasional currency fluctuations. USD $1 bills are particularly useful for small tips in tourist areas. Always have both currencies available when visiting Egypt.

Porters at Egyptian hotels should receive £20–50 per bag when they carry luggage. Housekeeping staff should receive £20–50 per night — leave this daily as different staff may clean your room each day. For the concierge who arranges tours or resolves problems, £50–100 is appropriate. At luxury Red Sea and Sharm el Sheikh resorts, these amounts can be higher given the upscale environment.

Red Sea resort areas like Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada have a well-established tourist tipping culture influenced by large numbers of European visitors. Tipping expectations are similar to Cairo but with more exposure to international norms. All-inclusive resort workers particularly rely on tips as their salary is often minimal. At Nile cruise ships between Luxor and Aswan, tipping the crew (£200–500 per cabin for the voyage) is standard practice.