Tipping in Egypt 2026: Who You Tip and How Much to Give

Baksheesh - fundamental in the trip to Egypt

Le baksheesh (tip) is one of the questions most asked by British travelers planning a stay in Egypt. The practice is deeply ingrained in local culture - guides, drivers, boat crew and waiters often earn a very low base salary and supplement significantly via tips. Not giving = perceived as rude, and directly impacts their income.

This guide gives the exact amounts per category, the right time to give, the preferred motto, and the total budget to plan for 10 days - i.e. ~5-7% of the cost of the trip.

Amounts by category - quick reference

Tipping table in Egypt 2026 (amounts per person):

Category	Standard amount	When
Private English-speaking guide	£10/pers/day	End of service
Group guide (cruise)	5-£10/pers/day	End of cruise
Mercedes private driver	5-£10/pers/day	End of day
Airport-hotel transfer	2- (total)	On arrival
Cruise ship crew (7 nights, /pers)	£30-£50	End of cruise
Maid (hotel)	1-/day	End of stay
Luggage carrier	1- per bag	Right now
Room service	1- per order	On delivery
Restaurant (excluding hotel)	10-15% of the bill	To the note
Luxury restaurant (Mena House)	15% of the bill	To the note
Felucca Aswan	2-/pers	End of walk
Local Taxi	Round up + 5-10 EGP	On the way down

USD, EUR or EGP - which one to prefer

Beneficiaries largely prefer hard currencies (USD or euros) to the Egyptian pound, which suffers from local inflation. Recommended practice:

Prepare your bundle before departure: 10×1 USD, 10×5 USD, 5×10 USD = ~110 USD for 10 days/2 people.
Avoid very large denominations (50, 100 USD) without change - difficult for the recipient to change.
Ideal ratio: 70% USD/euros + 30% EGP for small services (porter, taxi).
Practical EGP for: the small taxi/cafe/market circles. Count ~50-100 EGP in coins and small notes of 5, 10, 20.

- Total budget -

How much to plan for 10 days in Egypt

Couple tips budget 10 days (Cairo + cruise + Red Sea):

→ Private English-speaking guide Cairo (3 days): £30-£50

→ Private driver Cairo (3 days): £20-£40

→ Cruise boat crew 4 nights (2 people): £60-£90

→ Local site guides (Karnak, Valley of the Kings, etc.): £20

→ Porters / room service / miscellaneous: £20

Total: £150-£220/couple (~5-7% of travel cost)

-FAQs-

Frequently asked questions about tipping

Is tipping obligatory in Egypt?

Not legally, but culturally YES - tipping (called “baksheesh”) is an integral part of the Egyptian tourist economy. Guides, drivers, boat crew, waiters earn a low base salary (sometimes as little as 80-15/month) and supplement significantly through tips. Not donating = perceived as rude and directly impacts their income. Allow on average 5-10% of the cost of the trip for all tips.

How much to give to the private English-speaking guide?

Standard 2026: £10/person/day for a private guide (couple = £20/day). For a guide shared in a group (cruise), 5-£10/person/day. To be given directly at the end of the visit or at the end of the group stay. If excellent service (exceptional guide, rich anecdotes, personal attentions), go up to £10-£20/person/day - a good guide radically changes the experience of traveling in Egypt.

How much to give to the crew of the Nile cruise ship?

Standard practice for 7 night cruise: £30-£50/person for the entire crew. Distribution: £20 for the maid, £10 for the restaurant waiter, £10 for the bartender, 5-£10 for the captain (symbolic). On some 5★ boats (Sonesta, Oberoi), a “centralized tipping” system exists - you give the amount at the start or end of the cruise, the hotelier distributes it fairly. Ask at boat reception about the current system.

How much to give to the private driver?

Private driver for the day: 5-£10/person/day (couple = £10-£20/day). Simple airport-hotel transfer : 2- tip (in addition to the price). Exceptional driver (listening, careful, clean, punctual): increase to £10/day. To be given at the end of the day or end of your stay. If you stay with the same driver for 5-10 days, give the total stay.

How much to tip at a restaurant in Egypt?

Restaurants outside the hotel: 10-15% of the bill (sometimes service tax is already included - check note). Restaurants in a 5★ hotel or cruise ship (full board): nothing obligatory (already included in the package), but 1- to the attentive waiter is always a pleasure. Cafes and street stalls: round up the bill or leave 5-10 EGP (~£0.1). Luxury restaurants (Mena House, Four Seasons): 15% usage.

Tip for other services (porter, room, taxi)?

Porter (airport, hotel luggage): 1- per bag (count ~ on arrival for a couple with 2 large suitcases). Maid (non-cruise hotel): 1- per day, to be left on the pillow at the end of your stay. Room service: 1- per order. Taxi in town: round up the negotiated price (non-metered taxis) - 2-5 additional EGP (~0.10-£20). Uber/Careem: tipping optional in the app, 5-10 EGP. Felucca boat Aswan: 2-/person in addition to the price.

Should you tip in Euros, USD or Egyptian Pounds (EGP)?

Very clear preference: USD or euros in small denominations (5, 10, 20). The Egyptian Pound (EGP) is also accepted but less valued (local inflation dilutes its purchasing power - beneficiaries prefer to store in hard currency). Preferred ratio: 70% USD/euros + 30% EGP for small tips (porters, taxis). Avoid very large denominations (50, 100 USD) without change - difficult for them to change. Prepare your bundle before departure: 10×1 USD, 10×5 USD, 5×10 USD = ~110 USD for 10 days/2 people.

What is the total budget for tips for a 10-day trip?

Indicative budget for couples over 10 days (Cairo + cruise + Red Sea):
→ Private English-speaking guide Cairo (3 days): £30-£50
→ Private driver Cairo (3 days): £20-£40
→ Cruise ship crew (4 nights, 2 people): £60-£90
→ Local guides at visited sites (Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Philae, Abu Simbel): £20
→ Porters / room service / small miscellaneous services: £20
Total: £150-£220/couple for 10 days (~5-7% of total trip cost). Prepare this amount in USD/euros small denominations before departure.

Tipping in Egypt 2026 - How much to give and to whom?

Baksheesh - fundamental in the trip to Egypt

Amounts by category - quick reference

USD, EUR or EGP - which one to prefer

How much to plan for 10 days in Egypt

Frequently asked questions about tipping

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