A cultural travel guide to the world

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

Egypt

4 rules found

Essential restrictionsRestaurants & barsPlace-specific guidance · Egypt

Egypt: drink only at licensed venues

Do

  • Drink in licensed restaurants, bars or within resorts

Don’t

  • Drinking in the street or other public places

Drinking outside licensed premises is illegal and can lead to arrest.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Egypt travel advice

Essential restrictionsPhotos & dronesPlace-specific guidance · Egypt

Egypt: ask before photographing people, and don't photograph children

Do

  • Ask local people before photographing them
  • If in doubt, ask before taking a photo

Don’t

  • Photographing children
  • Photographing military installations (including the Suez Canal)
  • Taking or sharing photos that could harm the country's image

Tourism ministry rules require written permission to photograph Egyptian citizens, and photographing children is banned; photographing military installations is illegal.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Egypt travel advice

Cultural sensitivitiesDressPlace-specific guidance · Egypt

Egypt: dress modestly and avoid public displays of affection

Do

  • Dress conservatively in villages, mosques and markets

Don’t

  • Kissing or hugging in public (holding hands is usually fine)

Behaviour accepted in resorts may be seen as offensive elsewhere.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Egypt travel advice

Site-specific notes 7

Taken from the "don'ts" on each site page here. Open a site for its full etiquette and background.

Grand Egyptian Museum

  • Don't use flash, tripods or selfie sticks
  • some exhibits (such as the golden mask) may restrict photography — follow on-site signage, and don't livestream either
  • don't touch display-case glass or openly displayed stone carvings and coffins
  • don't talk loudly in the galleries or block the passages in front of display cases for long — rotate in an orderly way before popular exhibits

Koshari

  • During Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public by day
  • don't pass or take food with your left hand

Old Cairo: Khan el-Khalili bazaar

  • Backing out after agreeing a price is considered rude
  • avoid eating and drinking in the street by day during Ramadan
  • greet stallholders before photographing them.

Abu Simbel

  • No flash inside the temples
  • don't climb the colossi or the cliff face
  • crowds are huge during the Sun Festival, so plan ahead.

The Giza pyramids and the Sphinx

  • Don't climb the pyramids (it's illegal and dangerous)
  • ask before photographing local people, especially women
  • during Ramadan avoid eating and drinking in public by day.