Egypt Local Customs

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Most Viewed Local Customs in Egypt

101.

Dress Codes for Women   Cairo

Dress Codes for Women, Cairo

 19 Reviews  Egypt is supposed to be one of the most modern country in entire Middle East & Africa.Contrary to the belief the all women here use veil( Hizab), I found almost every where married and un married work... 

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102.

ALEXANDRIAN culture   Alexandria

ALEXANDRIAN culture, Alexandria

 7 Reviews  Alexandria is blessed by a long Corniche, and this, of course, gives rise to a very healthy café culture. In the areas of the city such as Montazah, where there are many tourists and locals who come... 

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103.

Bargaining   Cairo

Bargaining, Cairo

 12 Reviews  Bargaining. Us Anglo's just don't get it, do we? In England about the only time we enter into any negotiation over price is when we buy a car or a house. Here' it's different. A love of the deal is... 

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104.

Islam   Cairo

Islam, Cairo

 22 Reviews  Islam is the main religion of Egypt with almost 90% of it's population practicing the religion. Other religions are Christianity, who form about another 10%. The city of Cairo has very beautiful... 

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105.

Traffic   Cairo

Traffic, Cairo

 10 Reviews  The automobile traffic and rules on the roadway in Cairo is unlike any conventional heavy traffic. a. donkeys, camels and donkey drawn carriages hauling garbage share the roads with cars b. the... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The Women's Role in Egypt

by matt10gonzalez

I believe it is a fact- women are discriminated in Egypt. Egypt no doubt is a men's world- virtually all the cafes you've heard and seen in the pictures or movies (and if you thought the cafes here were like in Europe or the US or Southeast Asia and other similarities where men and women sit naturally in a cafe, you can very well ditch that idea!) are dominated by men. Women CAN sit in, but most wear veils. A female tourist who's macho and brave (and crazy) enough to wear sexy attire will no doubt be the superstar here!Like what my auntie did: My Posh Classy Aunt: "I like it when the people here stare at my sexy body! I feel like a superstar!"Okay, cafes set aside, Egypt is really a men's world. Like how one Egyptian woman we interviewed in Luxor puts it:"I don't want to marry an Egyptian, I want to marry a foreigner and I wish I can transfer to Europe. (She was charming a foreigner by...

Tip Photo
Learn to Love the Chaos!

by matt10gonzalez

Let's face it- Egypt is a bit chaotic: Even coming from a 3rd world country like Philippines and Manila, I was still cultured shock to see the airport of Cairo in the beginning.I thought Manila's Ninoy Aquino Airport was the pits! (Even the Lonely Planet 2003 edition Philippines, says so- they said it's better to land in Cebu than Ninoy!) Wow! Wait till you see Cairo's!It was like a wet market! My gosh! It was so noisy, messy, and the immigration officers were just chatting, playing and exchanging seats! I was amazed! I've never seen something like this before!And the way they drive in Cairo (As bad as India for me) and the endless noise of honks! (But Calcutta is much louder) Wow! It's like a fun, crazy country! And there are the people, even though many of them ask for baksheesh for their cute and friendly acts, a lot of them are still extremely friendly and charming. And for the...

Dressing

by vesna04

The modesty is a key to be respected and to show respect in this islamic society. If you choose to do oposite, you may attract some unwanted attention and may experiance denials when wanting to enter some of the holly places, although many of the mosques and churches would give you some kind of robe to put on.

Tip Photo
The Great Pyramid

by dr.firas

When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its surface (some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre's pyramid). The sloping angle of its sides is 51 degrees and 51 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass, that is, north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%. The structure consists of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. It has been suggested that there are enough...

Tip Photo
Those priceless pics are not without price

by Tijavi

Beyond religious and cultural factors (because Islam does not encourage pictures of human forms, Muslims are generally averse to having their pictures taken - you have to ask their permission before taking their pictures), there are also monetary forces at work when taking people's pictures in Egypt. A tip of one Egyptian pound (about 20 US cents) would do the trick most of the time, but you might be unlucky, just like me, to encounter baksheesh (local term for tips) monsters like the one in Luxor. Having said that, not all Egyptians are obsessed with tips. All of the pictures I took in Aswan did not involve any exchange of monetary consideration - the friendly locals of Aswan relished posing and smiling before the camera. It was the same case in Cairo, where most people enjoyed having their pictures taken. In other cases, it is an unspoken rule to give something, especially when taking...

Tip Photo
The tea

by vesna04

The tea is realy the national drink in Egypt. They drink it very often. Iy is also the way of showing their hospitality. I had it a few times, it would be very rude to refuse it in those occasions but I didn't like it. To tell the truth I don't like any kind of tea at all.

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Where are you from

by vesna04

It seems everybody ask that question in Egypt: in the shops, on the streets, beach, hotel...I must admit I got bored with it. On one occasion I sad " I am from Pirot "( The name of the town in Serbia) and the guy responded: " Pirot, what a beautiful country "...I supose he was just trying to sell something to me :)

Tip Photo
Be gracious but not naive

by Tijavi

For a country that relies heavily on tourism, the issue on tips (baksheesh in the local language) becomes an issue of custom - at least from the perspective of those involved in the tourism business and from that of tourists.Wherever I go, I usually adjust my tip giving habits according to "prevailing market practice." And Egypt is one place where you have to make a lot of adjustments.Let's face it - the country is poor, so I think it is just right that tourists take this into consideration - and be a little bit more generous and understanding. But that doesn't mean you have to be naive and throw money around (which is actually not bad if you are overly rich and feeling so generous). Ask around for the "prevailing market practice" and try to use it as a benchmark. If you feel you were not happy with the service, then by all means deduct a certain percentage, but if you think the person...

Tip Photo
Muslim women dressed in black

by Joenes

In Egypt they have to wear this when they reach the age of 35.They could be mourning too but most of them are not!The women of farmers have to wear balck also when they go outside of the house.

Tip Photo
Sharpen your negotiating skills

by pisapie

I don't know if they've been there as long as the pyramids or the tombs, but if you're going to Egypt there is no way to avoid being approached by them. Who? The touts. "Taxi, sir?" "Felucca ride?...OK, maybe later?" "Only one Pound...what?, an Egyptian Pound?...I meant a British Pound."We found them especially prevalent in Luxor, an almost completely tourist town, but the city's riches, and that of the surrounding area (Thebes) are defintely worth the effort. You'll expect to bargain in the markets, but in addition, be prepared for a beavy of opportunities to negotiate, even for a cab ride (don't get in until you've struck a deal with the cabbie, there aren't meters on most cabs). Be prepared to be taken at least once, it's part of the experience. Touts are prevalent throughout the area and if you go during the low season, when we did, they may just out number you! It's easy to get...

Local traditions and culture in Egypt

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Four Seasons At The First  Cairo

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Local Customs: Cities in Egypt
  1. Sharm El Sheikh Local Customs
  2. Cairo Local Customs
  3. Hurghada Local Customs
  4. Luxor Local Customs
  5. Alexandria Local Customs
  6. Pyramids of Giza Local Customs
  7. Aswan Local Customs
  8. Temple of Abu Simbel Local Customs
  9. Taba Local Customs
  10. Marsa al `Alam Local Customs
  11. Kawm ad Dahab Local Customs
  12. Al Karnak Local Customs
  13. Nuweiba` Local Customs
  14. Siwa Local Customs
  15. Saqqarah Local Customs
  16. Suez Local Customs
  17. Ismailia Local Customs
  18. Temple of Horus Local Customs
  19. Isna Local Customs
  20. Kawm Umbu Local Customs
  21. Bawiti Local Customs

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Popular Regions in Egypt

Muhafazat Janub Sina' Local Customs  Muhafazat al Qahirah Local Customs  Muhafazat al Bahr al Ahmar Local Customs  Muhafazat Qina Local Customs  Muhafazat al Iskandariyah Local Customs  Muhafazat Aswan Local Customs  Muhafazat al Jizah Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  My husband and I booked a trip a few months ago to Cairo & Sharm, and we're considering cancelling given the recent kidnappings in... 

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A: I dont know what to tell you but I would still go...dont let anyone ruin your plans and dont live with what ifs...Are your planned trips going to be with big tour... 

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