When to come
- October to April: the good season everywhere. Mild days, cool January evenings in Cairo — bring a jacket, everyone forgets.
- May to September: brutally hot in Upper Egypt (Luxor and Aswan top 45 °C). Visit at 6am, sleep through the afternoon. On the other hand, it's the best window for the Red Sea and Alexandria.
- Ramadan: hours shift, many restaurants close during the day, and the city comes alive after sunset. A wonderful time to experience, as long as you know in advance.
Dress for the place, not the weather
There's no legal dress code, but there are conventions, and they vary hugely between neighbourhoods. The simplest gauge: look at what Egyptian women around you are wearing and land roughly there.
- Cities and sites: shoulders and knees covered, men and women alike. Light trousers and a t-shirt do the job.
- Mosques: shoes off, headscarf for women, arms and legs covered. Keep a large scarf in your bag — it earns its place.
- Beach resorts (El Gouna, Sharm, Dahab, Red Sea hotels): swimwear is fine within the grounds. On public beaches outside resorts, stay covered.
The gestures that count
- Ask before photographing anyone. A smile and a gesture at the camera is enough — and a refusal is respected.
- Photographing soldiers, police posts, bridges or airports is prohibited. This is not a formality.
- Right hand to give, receive and eat. The left is reserved for other things.
- You'll be offered tea with no commercial motive far more often than you expect. Accept at least once.
- Alcohol is for licensed venues, hotels and tourist zones, not the street. During Ramadan, discretion in public is expected.