How Much Cash to Take on a Cairo Day Trip?

Working out how much cash to bring on a Cairo day trip is genuinely one of the more practical questions to sort out before you go, and the answer depends on a handful of predictable costs: tipping your guide and driver, drinks and snacks along the way, souvenirs if you want them, any optional paid extras, and knowing where cards work and where they genuinely don’t. This guide is purely financial — for advice on what to wear or how much walking to expect, see our separate guides on those topics.

Understanding the Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Egypt’s currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). As of late September 2026, the exchange rate was roughly 1 USD ≈ 52 EGP, 1 EUR ≈ 59 EGP, and 1 GBP ≈ 69 EGP — but these rates genuinely move, sometimes significantly, so check a current converter shortly before your trip rather than relying on fixed figures. Banknotes commonly circulate in denominations from 1 to 200 EGP; smaller notes (10, 20, 50 EGP) are genuinely more useful day to day than large ones, since tips, small purchases, and bathroom attendants often can’t break a 200 EGP note.

Tips — Guide, Driver & Others

Tipping is a genuine and expected part of the day in Egypt, generally not included in your tour price. A reasonable working range for a private or small-group tour is:

Keep a stock of small notes specifically for this — it’s genuinely awkward to tip with your only 200 EGP note and no change available.

Drinks & Snacks

If bottled water isn’t fully covering the day, a bottle from a local shop or vendor typically costs a small number of EGP, genuinely inexpensive by most visitors’ standards. Budget the equivalent of a few euros across the day for any extra drinks, a snack, or a coffee if your itinerary has free time for it.

Souvenirs

If your day includes a bazaar or market stop, souvenir spending is genuinely open-ended — from a few hundred EGP for small trinkets to considerably more for papyrus art, jewellery, or larger pieces. Bargaining is expected at most markets, so the first price quoted is rarely the final one; a relaxed, friendly negotiation is part of the experience, not an awkward confrontation. Bring cash specifically for this, since many smaller stalls don’t take cards, and carrying a cash budget in your head for souvenirs helps you avoid overspending in the moment.

Optional Extras & Tickets

Some genuinely worthwhile add-ons aren’t included in a standard tour price and are worth budgeting for separately if they interest you: entering the Great Pyramid’s interior requires a separate ticket at an additional cost; a camel or horse ride at the Giza Plateau is typically negotiated and paid directly, often with an expected tip on top; and photography permits are occasionally charged separately inside certain museum galleries. Ask your guide about current costs for anything you’re specifically interested in before committing.

Cards vs Cash

The safe approach is to treat cards as a genuine bonus rather than a plan — carry enough cash to cover your whole day comfortably, and use a card only where it’s obviously convenient to do so.

Avoiding Common Cash Problems

Break large notes early. Get smaller denominations at your hotel, an exchange bureau, or an early purchase, rather than discovering mid-afternoon that nobody can change your only large note.

Exchange a modest amount before you leave, then top up with an ATM if needed. ATMs are genuinely more common in Cairo than in smaller towns, but don’t count on finding one exactly when you need it during a packed touring day.

Keep tip money separate from spending money. A small, dedicated envelope or pocket of notes for tips avoids awkward fumbling in front of your guide at the end of the day.

Carry a small amount of your home currency as backup. US dollars and euros are widely recognised in Egypt’s tourism sector, genuinely useful if you run short of EGP unexpectedly.

Frequently Asked Questions