Every popular destination has its tricks, and Egypt is no exception. Most Egypt scams are not crimes. They are sales tactics: a camel ride that costs more at the end than at the start, a "closed" museum that is really open, a scarf placed around your neck and then a hand held out for payment. Almost all of them depend on a price that was never agreed, or a favor you never asked for.
The land of the pharaohs has welcomed travelers for thousands of years, and its warmth is far stronger than its hustle. This guide explains why Egypt is safer than many visitors expect, the most common tourist scams in Egypt at the sights, on the road, on nile river cruises, and in the markets, and how to say no politely without spoiling your day. It also explains why booking with a trusted travel agency is the easiest way to avoid scams altogether.
Discover If Egypt Is Safe and Scams Versus Real Risk
Egypt is one of the safest travel destinations in the world for violent crime against visitors. In Gallup's global surveys on law and order, Egypt has ranked above countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom for how safe people feel walking alone at night. Major sites are guarded, the Tourist Police are posted at every big attraction, and serious crime against tourists is rare.
What visitors meet far more often is pressure: persistent sellers, overcharging, and requests for tips. That is annoying, but it is manageable once you know the patterns. Our guide on how safe a Nile cruise is covers safety on the river in more detail. Women traveling alone will find practical advice in our guide to solo female travel in Egypt.
The Best Way to Avoid Scams
The simplest way to avoid nearly every scam in this guide is to book with a reputable travel agency such as Trips in Egypt. Your entry tickets, transfers, guides and boat rides are arranged and paid for in advance. A licensed Egyptologist walks beside you and speaks the language. You are never left to bargain with a stranger at a gate.
This is also why Nile cruise passengers rarely run into trouble. Transport, touring and most visits are already organized by the cruise. Read our top reasons to choose a travel agent for your Nile cruise to see what that support includes.
Common Egypt Scams at the Pyramids, Temples and Tombs
The Camel and Horse Ride Price Change
At the Giza Pyramids, a handler quotes a low price for a short ride. Once you are on the camel and away from the crowd, the price rises, or you are charged again to get down or to have your photo taken.
How to avoid it: agree the total price before you mount. Confirm the route, the length of the ride, whether photos are included and where you will get off. Say the price in Egyptian pounds and show it on your phone. If the handler will not confirm, walk away. A ride booked through your tour is the easiest option.
"The Entrance Is Over There"
Men on the road to Giza sometimes wave cars down and claim the main gate is closed, or that you must buy tickets from them. Some say the site is shut "for prayer" or "for a ceremony" and offer to take you somewhere else, usually a shop or a stable.
How to avoid it: buy tickets only at the official ticket office or online through official channels. Visitors now enter at the new Pyramids Visitor Centre near the Grand Egyptian Museum. A free shuttle bus links the main viewpoints. Entry for foreign adults costs about 700 EGP, with a separate ticket to go inside the Great Pyramid. Our guide to things to do in Giza helps you plan the visit.
Fake Guides and "Officials"
At big sites, men attach themselves to you, start explaining, and ask for a fee at the end. Some wear lanyards to look official. Others pose as police and ask for a "registration fee."
How to avoid it: real Tourist Police wear uniforms and never collect fees. Licensed guides are booked in advance and can show their license card. Read our comparison of private and group Egypt tours to find a guide arrangement that suits you.
Free Gifts and Photo Help
Someone drapes a scarf over your shoulders, hands you a camel's lead, or offers to take your photo. Then they ask for money.
How to avoid it: do not take anything you did not ask for. Keep your hands to yourself, smile, and say no thank you. If you want a photo with a camel, agree the price first.
Baksheesh at Tombs and Temples
In quieter tombs and temples, especially in Upper Egypt, Saqqara and Dahshur, a guard may wave you into a corner, point out a carving or offer to hold your camera, and then hold out a hand. Tipping is a normal part of Egyptian life, and a small tip of about 20 to 50 EGP is fair if a guard genuinely opens a gate or shows you something special.
How to avoid it: you owe nothing for help you refused. Never pay a guard to let you take photos where they are banned. You can be fined, and the guard can lose his job. Our guide to tipping on Nile cruises explains fair amounts for crew, guides and drivers.
Scams on the Road, in the Markets and With Money
Taxi Scams
A street taxi driver may say the meter is broken, take a long route, or quote a price in pounds and then demand the same number in dollars or euros at the end. Some claim to have no change.
How to avoid it: use Uber or Careem in Cairo, Alexandria and Giza, where the price is shown before you book. Do not accept a request to cancel the app trip and pay cash. In a street taxi, insist on the meter or agree the fare in Egyptian pounds before you get in. Or book one of our tours and enjoy our state-of-the-art and safe transportation all across Egypt.
Airport "Official Taxis"
At Cairo International Airport, men in plain clothes inside the terminal offer "official" taxis or help with luggage.
How to avoid it: ignore them. Pre-book an airport transfer, use the official taxi stands outside, or order a ride app. If you are flying on to Luxor or Aswan, our Cairo to Luxor flight guide explains the airport process.
Commission Shops: Papyrus, Perfume and Alabaster
A driver or guide steers you to a "government" papyrus institute, a perfume factory or an alabaster workshop. These shops pay commission, which is added to your price, and some "papyrus" is really banana leaf.
How to avoid it: tell your driver or guide at the start that you do not want shop stops, or that you will choose them yourself. A free tea or demonstration does not oblige you to buy. Our guide to what to buy in Egypt explains what real papyrus, cotton and spices should look and cost like.
Overpriced Souvenirs
Shops near the big sites and in Khan El Khalili open with high prices.
How to avoid it: bargaining is expected in markets. Compare two or three stalls, start well below the asking price, keep it friendly and be ready to leave. Bargaining is not expected for fixed price goods, museum tickets or app fares.
Money and Change Tricks
Common money tricks include street money changers, card machines that offer to charge you in your home currency, and short change in busy markets.
How to avoid it:
- Change money only at banks, official exchange offices or bank ATMs.
- Always choose to pay in Egyptian pounds on card machines.
- Count your change before you walk away.
- Carry small notes of 10, 20 and 50 pounds.
Our guide to money in Egypt covers cards, cash and ATMs in detail.
Boats, Feluccas and Balloons
A felucca captain may quote a price without saying whether it is per person or per boat, or add extra charges halfway through the sail. Cheap hot air balloon offers sometimes come from unlicensed operators.
How to avoid it: before you board, confirm the price, whether it is per boat or per person, and how long the trip lasts. Pay part at the start and the rest at the end. Booking a sunset felucca ride in Aswan or a felucca ride in Luxor through a trusted company removes the guesswork. For balloons, read our Luxor hot air balloon guide.
Fake Booking Websites
Fake websites take deposits for hotel rooms, cruises or tours that do not exist.
How to avoid it: book through the official site of a known company, and be wary of requests to pay by bank transfer outside a platform. Our guide on how to book a Nile cruise shows what a genuine booking looks like.
How to Say No Politely in Egypt
Egyptians are famously warm and hospitable, and most people who approach you are simply trying to earn a living. Politeness works far better than anger.
Words and Habits That Work
- "La, shukran" means "no, thank you." Say it with a smile and keep walking. It is never rude.
- Do not stop to explain. A long reason invites a long negotiation.
- Do not touch anything handed to you, from a scarf to a bracelet.
- Agree everything first: price, currency, duration and what is included.
- Dress respectfully and keep your valuables out of sight. This draws less attention in busy markets.
- Move somewhere busy, such as a hotel, café or ticket office, if someone will not leave you alone.
If Something Goes Wrong
Call the Tourist Police on 126 for serious problems. If you cannot get through, ask hotel or site staff to call for you. Call 19654, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities hotline, for complaints about tourism services. Ask for a copy of any police report before you leave Egypt. For card fraud, call your bank from the number on your card. For a lost passport, contact your embassy. Travel insurance for Egypt is worth having for theft and medical cover.
Stay Safe and Book the Most Ideal Egypt Tour
Egypt's scams are mostly small and predictable. They rely on an unagreed price, a "closed" sign that is not real, or a gift that is not free. Agree on prices first, buy tickets at official counters, use ride apps, carry small notes, and say "la, shukran" with a smile. Do that, and most attempts simply fade away.
Behind every tout is a country of extraordinary kindness, where the warmth of the people is as timeless as the temples. For a trip without the hassle, book with a trusted agency such as Trips in Egypt. You can also choose one of our Egypt tour packages with a Nile cruise or a tailor made trip, with guides, tickets, and transfers handled for you.
