A Traveler’s Complete Guide to Tipping in Egypt: How Much to Tip and When

Navigating the Nuances of Tipping in Egypt: Your Ultimate Guide

One of the most frequently asked questions by travelers planning a trip to the land of the Pharaohs is, “How much do you tip in Egypt?” The short answer is: yes, you do tip, and it’s an integral part of the culture and economy. Tipping, known locally as baksheesh, is more than just a reward for good service; it’s a social custom and a vital supplement to the income of many Egyptians working in the service industry. Understanding the when, who, and how much of tipping can transform your travel experience from potentially awkward to gracefully appreciative.

This comprehensive article will serve as your go-to Egypt tipping guide, demystifying the concept of baksheesh and providing you with detailed, practical advice for virtually every situation you might encounter. From your tour guide and driver to the person who hands you toilet paper in a public restroom, we’ll cover it all, ensuring you feel confident and culturally aware throughout your journey.

The Cultural Heart of Tipping: Understanding Baksheesh

Before we dive into specific amounts, it’s incredibly helpful to understand the cultural significance of baksheesh. The word itself can be a bit of a catch-all term, and grasping its different meanings is key to navigating social interactions in Egypt. It’s not just a simple transaction; it’s deeply woven into the fabric of daily life.

What Exactly is Baksheesh?

Baksheesh can generally fall into three main categories, and recognizing which one you’re dealing with is crucial:

1. A Tip for Service Rendered: This is the most straightforward form and the one most familiar to Western travelers. It’s a token of appreciation for a job well done—for a waiter, a hotel porter, or a tour guide who has provided excellent service. This is the primary focus of our guide.
2. A Facilitation Fee (or a Small ‘Bribe’): Sometimes, a small amount of baksheesh can subtly expedite a service or grant you minor special access. For example, an attendant at a crowded historical site might ‘find’ a better photo spot for you, or a guard might unlock a tomb that is technically ‘closed’ for a moment. This is a gray area, but a common one. A polite refusal is perfectly acceptable if you’re not comfortable with it.
3. Alms or Charity: You may also be asked for baksheesh by people not providing a direct service, including the poor, elderly, or children. This is a form of almsgiving. While it’s a personal choice, it’s generally advised not to give money to children, as it can unfortunately encourage them to stay out of school. If you wish to help, donating to a registered local charity is a much more impactful alternative.

The Economic Reality

It’s important to remember that wages in Egypt’s tourism and service sectors can be quite low. Many workers, from the staff on a luxurious Nile cruise to the waiter at a local café, rely heavily on tips to support themselves and their families. Your tip isn’t just a bonus; it often constitutes a significant portion of their take-home pay. Approaching tipping with this understanding can foster a sense of shared humanity and appreciation, making the exchange feel less transactional and more like a genuine gesture of thanks.

The Golden Rules of Tipping in Egypt

Before we break down the numbers, let’s establish a few fundamental principles that will make the process smooth and respectful.

• Always Carry Small Change: This is perhaps the most important tip of all. Constantly having a stash of small Egyptian Pound (EGP) notes—specifically 5, 10, and 20 EGP notes—is essential. Trying to pay a 5 EGP tip with a 200 EGP note will likely result in the recipient being unable to make change, creating an awkward situation where you either over-tip significantly or can’t tip at all. Make it a habit to break larger notes at hotels or larger shops whenever you can.
• Tip in the Local Currency: While US dollars or Euros might be accepted for larger tips (like for a multi-day tour guide), it’s always, always better to tip in Egyptian Pounds. It’s more convenient for the recipient, as they won’t have to go through the hassle and potential loss of value in exchanging it. For all the small, day-to-day tips, EGP is the only way to go.
• Be Discreet and Respectful: Tipping is expected, but it should be done with a degree of subtlety. Instead of flashing money around, a more graceful approach is to fold the note(s) in your palm and pass it during a handshake of thanks. This is a common and appreciated practice.
• Learn a Little Arabic: A simple “Shukran” (thank you) goes a long way in showing respect and appreciation when giving a tip. If you want to politely decline an offer of unsolicited help, a firm but friendly “La, shukran” (No, thank you) is your best friend.

Your Detailed Egypt Tipping Guide: Who, When, and How Much

Alright, let’s get down to the specifics. Here is a detailed breakdown of recommended tipping amounts for various services you’ll encounter during your travels in Egypt. Remember, these are guidelines—feel free to give more for truly exceptional service.

Restaurants and Cafés

Tipping in Egyptian eateries can be a little confusing because a “service charge” is often automatically added to the bill. However, this charge rarely goes directly to your server.

• Casual Cafés (for coffee, tea, shisha): For smaller bills, simply rounding up to the nearest 5 or 10 EGP is perfectly fine. If you’ve been sitting for a while, leaving 10 EGP on the table is a nice gesture.
• Mid-Range Restaurants: Look at your bill. You will almost certainly see a 10-12% service charge included. It’s customary to leave an additional 5-10% of the total bill in cash directly for the waiter as their personal tip. So, for a 300 EGP bill, leaving an extra 15-30 EGP on the table is appropriate.
• High-End and Hotel Restaurants: The same principle applies here, but the expectation might be a little higher. After the service charge, a tip of 10-15% of the bill for the server is standard for excellent service.

Tour Guides and Drivers: The Heroes of Your Trip

Your guides and drivers are often the people who will make or break your Egyptian adventure. They provide historical context, navigate chaotic traffic, and offer a window into modern Egyptian life. Tipping them appropriately is a crucial way to show your gratitude. It’s generally best to give the tip at the very end of your time with them, perhaps with a handshake and a heartfelt “shukran”.

Important Note: The guide and the driver are tipped separately. Do not assume a tip given to the guide will be shared with the driver.

• Private Tour Guide (Full Day): For a guide who has spent the entire day with you, showing you the wonders of Cairo, Luxor, or Aswan, a tip of 150-250 EGP per person in your group is a good standard. For an exceptional guide who went above and beyond, tipping more is a wonderful way to show your appreciation.
• Private Driver (Full Day): For a full day of navigating the city, waiting patiently at each site, and ensuring your safety, a tip of 80-120 EGP per person is recommended.
• Group Tour Guide (e.g., on a bus tour): If you’re part of a larger group, the individual expectation is lower. A tip of 50-80 EGP per person for a full day is appropriate.
• Short-Distance Taxi / Ride-Hailing (Uber/Careem): For a standard taxi, rounding up the fare to the nearest 5 or 10 EGP is customary (e.g., if the fare is 42 EGP, give 50 EGP). For apps like Uber and Careem, you can easily tip through the app after the ride, with 10-20 EGP being a generous tip for a good ride.

Tipping on a Nile Cruise

This is a category that often causes confusion. You interact with dozens of staff members on a Nile cruise—from the housekeeping team and chefs to the engineers and sailors who work behind the scenes. Tipping them all individually would be impossible. Therefore, cruises have a standardized and highly efficient system.

• General Crew Staff: At the end of your cruise, you will be given an envelope. A single, collective tip should be placed in this envelope, which is then distributed fairly among all the ship’s crew (excluding the onboard guide). The recommended amount is typically 100-150 EGP per guest, per night of the cruise. So for a 4-night cruise, a tip of 400-600 EGP per person would be the standard.
• Onboard Egyptologist/Guide: The main guide who accompanies you on all the shore excursions is tipped separately from the crew. You should tip them directly at the end of the cruise, following the same guidelines as a private tour guide: 150-250 EGP per person for the entire trip.

Hotel Staff Tipping Etiquette

A little bit of baksheesh can go a long way in ensuring you have a comfortable and pleasant stay at your hotel.

• Porters / Bellhops: For help with your luggage, a tip of 10-20 EGP per bag is standard.
• Housekeeping: It’s best to tip the housekeeping staff daily, as the person cleaning your room can change. Leaving 20-30 EGP on your pillow each morning is a much-appreciated gesture.
• Concierge: For simple requests like directions, no tip is necessary. However, if the concierge performs a more significant service, like securing a hard-to-get dinner reservation or arranging complex transportation, a tip of 50-100 EGP is appropriate.
• Room Service: For the person who delivers your food, 10-20 EGP is a suitable tip.

Miscellaneous Services: The Small, Everyday Tips

These are the small but frequent tips that can catch travelers off guard. Having those small EGP notes handy is essential for these situations.

• Public Bathroom Attendants: In many public restrooms, especially at tourist sites and some restaurants, there will be an attendant who keeps the facilities clean and hands you toilet paper. A tip of 5 EGP is expected and very much deserved.
• Attendants at Temples and Tombs: You will often encounter “helpful” guards or attendants inside tombs or temples who will point out a “secret” hieroglyph or offer to take your photo in a restricted area. If you accept their help, a tip of 10-20 EGP is expected. If you’re not interested, a polite but firm “La, shukran” will suffice.
• Felucca Captain (for a short ride on the Nile): For an hour-long sail, a tip of 20-30 EGP per person for the captain is a nice thank-you.
• Horse/Camel Ride Handlers (at the Pyramids, etc.): This can be a tricky one. First, always agree on the price for the ride *before* you get on. The tip is separate and should be given at the very end, once you are safely off the animal. A tip of around 50 EGP given directly to the handler who walked with you is a fair amount for a standard ride. Be prepared for them to ask for more, but you can stand firm if you’ve tipped a fair amount.

Quick-Reference Tipping Table

To make things even easier, here is a summary table for quick reference during your trip.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Culture of Generosity

Figuring out how much you tip in Egypt may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but it quickly becomes a natural and rewarding part of your travels. Think of it not as a chore, but as a direct way to engage with and show appreciation for the hardworking people who make your trip memorable. Your generosity, guided by the cultural norms, will be deeply appreciated and will help ensure a positive experience for both you and the locals you interact with.

So, stock up on small EGP notes, practice your “shukran,” and prepare to embrace the art of baksheesh. It’s a small but significant way to give back to the country that is sure to give you memories that will last a lifetime.