Drink bottled or filtered water, not tap, and eat street food that is cooked hot in front of you. The common complaint among visitors is an upset stomach in the first days, and it comes far more often from ice, salads rinsed in tap water and food left standing than from street stalls with a queue. Egypt is not a country to avoid eating in — it is a country to choose where you eat.
Water
- Bottled or filtered for drinking. Check the seal is intact when you buy.
- Use it for brushing your teeth too for the first few days, which is when most people are affected.
- Skip ice unless you are in a hotel or restaurant that clearly uses purified water.
- Carry a bottle. Dehydration causes more ruined afternoons in Egypt than any stomach bug, particularly at open sites with no shade.
Food, by how it is served
| Usually fine | Be careful |
|---|---|
| Cooked hot to order, in front of you | Anything sitting warm at a buffet |
| Busy stalls with high turnover | Quiet stalls where food waits |
| Bread, rice, grilled meat, stews | Raw salads and uncooked herbs |
| Fruit you peel yourself | Pre-cut fruit |
| Hot tea and coffee | Fresh juice with added ice |
The Egyptian dishes worth seeking out — koshari, ful, taameya, grilled kofta — are all cooked hot and served fast, which is why they are also the safest things to eat.
What to bring
A basic kit handles almost everything: rehydration sachets, an anti-diarrhoeal, and hand sanitiser for before meals where there is no sink. Rehydration matters more than the medication; in Egyptian heat a stomach upset dehydrates you quickly. See our packing list for the full kit and health and safety guide for the wider picture.
If you do get ill
Most cases pass in a day or two with fluids and rest. Pharmacies are widespread, well stocked and used to advising travellers. Seek proper medical help if there is a fever, if it lasts beyond a couple of days, or if you cannot keep fluids down — hotels can arrange a doctor, and travel insurance normally covers the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink tap water in Egypt?
It is treated but not recommended for visitors. Bottled or filtered is the norm, and it is cheap and everywhere.
Is street food safe?
Often safer than a lukewarm buffet. Choose stalls with a queue, where food is cooked in front of you and nothing is standing.
Can I eat salad?
In good hotels and restaurants, generally yes. In the first few days, or anywhere you are unsure how it was washed, skip it.
What about food on a Nile cruise?
Cruise kitchens cater to international guests and are used to it. Apply the same buffet logic: hot food hot, and avoid anything that has been sitting.
Reviewed September 2026. General guidance, not medical advice — check your own requirements with a travel clinic before you go.