Bring both, and expect to use cash more than you are used to. Hotels, larger restaurants and organised tours take cards without difficulty. Tips, taxis, markets, small cafés, entrance to minor sites and almost every transaction under a few dollars are cash. The most common mistake is not carrying too little money but carrying it in notes too large for anyone to change.
Where each one works
| Cards work | Cash only, in practice |
|---|---|
| Hotels | Tipping — all of it |
| Larger restaurants | Taxis and street transport |
| Prepaid tours and packages | Markets and souks |
| Airport shops and duty free | Small cafés and street food |
| Some museum ticket desks | Camel and horse rides, feluccas |
Getting Egyptian pounds
- ATMs are the normal route. They are common in cities and at airports, and give the interbank rate your bank applies.
- Withdraw in Egyptian pounds, not your home currency. If a machine offers to convert for you, decline — that conversion is nearly always worse than your own bank's.
- Take out larger amounts less often. Fixed per-withdrawal fees make small repeated withdrawals expensive.
- Tell your bank you are travelling or expect a card freeze on the first attempt.
- Break notes at the hotel. Large notes are hard to spend and impossible to tip with. Ask reception to change them early.
How much cash to carry
Enough for a day of tipping, transport and small purchases, kept somewhere separate from your wallet — see our tipping guide for what the daily total realistically looks like. Leave the rest in the hotel safe. Carrying a week of cash on you is the one genuine theft risk, and it is avoidable.
A note on foreign currency
Dollars and euros are accepted informally in some tourist settings, but usually at a rate that quietly costs you. Pay in Egyptian pounds where you can. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged at all and are effectively a donation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for everything by card?
No. Even on a fully prepaid trip you need cash daily for tips and small purchases.
Should I bring US dollars from home?
A small reserve is sensible in case of card problems. Beyond that, ATMs give a better rate than exchanging cash.
Are ATMs reliable?
Generally yes in cities and at the airports. In smaller towns and at desert sites, do not count on one — withdraw before you leave a city.
Is it safe to use my card?
At hotels and established restaurants, yes. Keep the card in sight during the transaction, as anywhere. Our budget guide covers what you will actually spend.
Reviewed September 2026. Exchange rates and card acceptance change; treat this as guidance on habits, not on rates.