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There is one thing I hate more than bargaining, and that is mandatory tipping when nothing is actually provided. Tipping, or baksheesh, is extremely common in Egypt, so it should not take you more than a few hours to be introduced to it.
But this article will cover the basic questions so you are prepared.
Baksheesh is the name for tipping in Egypt, and a more politically correct blog or article on the topic might call it a cultural tradition given as a polite thank you for services rendered.
The truth is… not quite that.
For foreigners, it often feels less like a thank-you and more like a constant expectation for things like pointing out directions or helping for a few seconds. But that’s simply part of how tipping culture has evolved in Egypt due to foreign influences, especially in places that see a lot of tourists.
How does baksheesh work anyway?
There are two types of baksheesh. One is the polite type that you might feel inclined to provide on your own after good service is provided.
The other kind is the one that will be asked of you every hour of the day for everything.
Someone will say hello on the street and try to show you where to go, baksheesh.
A guide will offer to take your picture, baksheesh.
Your taxi driver helps with a bag, baksheesh.
A hotel employee goes to pick up your bag and only touches it for 2 seconds then gives it back… still baksheesh. You get the point.
For you, it might be rude to be treated like a walking ATM, but for them, it’s just as rude not to give a couple of dollars or more when they want it. And they do want it. And you are a foreigner, so you have it. So give it!
Kids are particularly good at the second one, as they will simply walk up to you and ask for baksheesh or a dollar for no particular reason.
And here is where your nerves of steel have to come in. You don’t argue, get angry, get offended, or fall victim to the mindset of “it’s just a dollar.” You just keep walking.
Easier said than done, but after the first 20 times, it does get easier.
My favorite “we got totally scammed” part of the trip was a stop at a ceramics shop near Luxor.
Even though we paid about 60 euros for the ceramic pottery, I was asked by the owner to baksheesh the person carving the names. The person that worked at his shop.. as in his employee.
Feeling slightly annoyed I offered a couple of Egyptian Pounds, but he countered with $10. Oh well..
Without generalizing, they also don’t really like it when the woman of the couple controls the money or starts bargaining. His smile faded a few times when addressing me.
Everyone deserves a bit of baksheesh! Plus, our cute new souvenir!
What are some of the common scam baksheesh scenarios?
The most common scammy opportunities are inside attractions, where people will pose as guides or guards. Or be actual guards but still ask for tips.
If they point you in a direction, they’ll ask for something extra.
Or they might show you a good viewpoint for photos, or even outright lie and say photos are not allowed unless payment is provided. Another common one is asking for money in order to use a tripod… which works well since a lot of people travel to take content photos.
We did meet a few individuals, though, who said “no baksheesh” when performing such tasks, and for that, some of my faith in humans was restored.
Make sure to charge your social battery
Because of this constant “tipping culture”, being outside or existing in certain places is simply exhausting.
If you’re coming to Egypt without a social battery as an introvert, you’ll want to have a plan for recovery.
It is common to be pitched services while walking or existing, or be asked for your phone number, as a way to keep the conversation going.
A firm but polite “No thanks” is good when stopped on the road, but it has to be followed through with absolute zero energy given towards that person. Which seems a bit rude, but it is truly never-ending.
If you don’t do well with having a ton of people calling after you, following you or just being around you and in your personal space… then you’ll struggle a bit!
The best thing to do is to schedule some down time outside the main cities.
Cairo for example and the area around Giza in particular are waaay worse than Hurghada.
Even if Hurghada is a touristy place, I found it alot more chill on that front. Plus, you get to scuba dive!
Should you follow official baksheesh guidelines?
Ummm.. no?
I try to be a good person and approach things from a local viewpoint. Egypt is a poor country, and as such, some cunning methods to secure one’s livelihood are expected.
I can’t blame the player for trying to survive in the game. But I can’t endorse it or enable it either. It is what it is, and I’m there as a visitor.
With that said, I would be lying if I said that the official tourism guidelines for Egypt when it comes to tipping are not outright ridiculous.
Suggestions for tipping include:
- $5 for taxi rides, housekeeping, and luggage
- Or 5–10% of the total cost of the service when it comes to restaurant meals, full-day tour guides, or guards.
Now that is ridiculous, I’m sorry.
Looking at average salaries in Egypt, while also speaking to a few drivers about their monthly income, it is clear that the average is at worst $70 per month and at best $300–$400.
Paying $5 for someone carrying my luggage in a room that costs $20 is outright silly. As is paying a driver another $5 for a ride that costs a local $0.50 and is already being charged to me at $5.
The other part of the official guidelines is that you should tip those that seem in need of your money. Again, I’m sorry to be the person to say it out loud, but there are millions in that country that need money. Every child that walked up to me wanted a dollar, and every adult could do with a lot more.
That guideline seems predatory on good intentions and pity from foreigners.
In all honesty, most of these guidelines seem to me like they target American tourists with an established tipping culture who consider an extra $15-$20 a day to be reasonable while on their Nile cruise.
There is also a broader question about how tipping culture affects the local economy, the expectations it creates, and how service providers may start prioritizing visitors from countries where tipping is more common.
What if I want to tip?
Awesome, you definitely should tip when and where you feel you want to. I did carry around a lot of $1 Egyptian pound bills, as well as a few $5 Egyptian pound bills, to give out as small gifts when necessary. Plus a few $1 USD bills.
The one person we did tip with no question without him asking was our guide during a full-day Luxor trip, who was polite, welcoming, friendly, and full of interesting suggestions and ideas.
Where baksheesh gets ugly
Where the situation really gets ugly is at the ancient sites.
Newsflash. This is not advertised very loudly, and with good reason.
In a country where everything has a price, this includes the ancient artifacts and historical items that most of us travel so far to see.
In other words, the unique and fascinating ancient Egyptian history is not treated that… respectfully by the locals.
Yes. Really.
Do you want to step into a pharaoh’s coffin? Sure, for the right baksheesh.
Want to take a little rock, a piece of this artifact, or honestly, here take the whole thing?
That also seems negotiable, depending on who you’re talking to and how discreet they are willing to be.
If you missed the story about the missing 3,000-year-old bracelet from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which was allegedly sold for less than $4,000, then you can probably imagine how much you can get away with on a smaller scale.
Which is sad, but also not surprising.
Should you take it personally?
While all of this sounds a bit grim, I would say the number one rule is to take nothing personally.
I didn’t feel particularly attacked, and while it was funny and we did leave thinking we forgot our names after being called “dollar, dollar,” it is just a survival tactic in an ugly world.
Does it get tiring? Absolutely!
Will you struggle more if you are not used to this type of country. 100%
Does it have the potential of getting ugly? Sure!
So if you still go ahead… minimize risk, avoid confrontation, realize you are in a foreign country with its own set of rules and don’t try to be smart.
Should you tip children?
This is a hard question, and the official government stance is that they are trying to limit child beggars for obvious reasons.
However, when foreign tourists continue to tip even small amounts, the incentive is there to continue.
When children make money outside the home, they will be taken out of school, and school attendance rates in Egypt already are, and have been, abysmal.
So that is up to you on whether to purchase souvenirs or items from kids.
Would you go back?
Absolutely!
My first stop would have to be Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh for diving, and I would consider either a live aboard or a nice hotel with daily excursions. I’d also love to go to Dahab and Aswan, but maybe without a leg brace and a bit more energy to seize the day!
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Must Know When Visiting Egypt
- Emergency: Dial 122 for police, 123 for ambulance, and 180 for fire services. English is not always guaranteed, so if it’s a serious situation, ask your hotel or a local contact for help calling.
- Language: Arabic is the official language. In tourist areas, hotels, and with guides, English is commonly spoken, but don’t expect it everywhere. Learning a few basics helps: Salam Aleikum (hello), Shukran (thank you), La shukran (no thank you). Google Translate works fairly well for Egyptian Arabic when you download it offline. Also keep in mind that some people can’t read so using voice recordings to communicate is better than showing them a translation in written Arabic.
- Navigation: Google Maps works in Egypt for driving and walking, but directions and ETAs can be unreliable, especially in Cairo. I found it most useful just for orientation and tracking routes in taxis rather than strict navigation. Always keep offline maps downloaded.
- Water: The general word of advice is to not drink the water in Egypt. You can stick to bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth, especially if you have a sensitive stomach.
- Driving: Cars drive on the right-hand side. Driving in Egypt, especially Cairo, is chaotic and not recommended unless you are very experienced and calm under pressure. If you need a car, arrange a driver or transfers instead. For longer distances, internal flights or trains are much easier. I would not drive in Egypt. If you must drive, check out Discover Cars for the best rates and comparisons across all major and local companies.
- Accommodation: Booking.com offers the widest range of hotels, from budget stays to luxury Nile-view properties. Hotels in Egypt tend to use their own rating scale: 1–3* are usually very basic, while 4–5* properties can be extremely expensive but often feel closer to a 3* in terms of amenities. Keep in mind that reviews at both the low and high end can be unreliable. A 3* property I booked turned out to be quite good, while an 8/10-rated one was underwhelming. Many hotels don’t even appear on Google Maps or have much of an online presence, so if you value comfort and predictability, it’s best to stick to well-known hotel chains.
- Public Transport: Public transport exists but is not tourist-friendly. Cairo’s metro is cheap and functional but very crowded. Most visitors rely on Uber, Careem, or pre-arranged drivers. For longer distances, domestic flights save a lot of time and stress.
- Activities: There’s no shortage of things to do in Egypt, from food tours around Cairo to full day guided tours in Luxor and lots of water and scuba activities near the coast. For hassle-free bookings with verified reviews, use Get Your Guide to arrange activities in advance.
- Taxi & Ride Apps: Uber works well in Cairo and was my preferred option. Careem is another solid alternative. Always avoid getting into random taxis off the street unless arranged by your hotel. Keep in mind that even Uber drivers will try to haggle a price with you (ahem, overcharge you) and cancel the ride if you don’t agree to it. If you find an Uber driver that you feel good with, exchange phones so you can request him when you need him.
- Culture: Egypt is conservative but welcoming. Dress modestly at religious sites (covered shoulders and knees). Expect attention as a tourist, especially in busy areas — staying polite, firm, and not engaging too much with unsolicited offers goes a long way. Tipping (baksheesh) is common for small services, though not mandatory everywhere. With that said, you will be asked to tip almost everywhere and sometimes less politely than other times.
- Connection and WiFi: The Wifi in Egypt is not very reliable. I’ve written a full guide on options for sims and e-sims plus my experience using them.
