Travel safety
Is Egypt safe to visit?
Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea resorts, including Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Dahab, are outside the warning zones. The FCDO advises against all travel to North Sinai and the Libyan border area only.
- Safe
- Avoid
- Essential only
- Never travel
Egypt has some of the strictest-looking FCDO warnings of any popular holiday country, which puts people off. Look at the map, though, and the warnings cover desert and border land that tourists don't visit. Security at the big sites is heavy, and the FCDO describes the crime rate as generally low.
Egypt region by region
- Cairo & GizaSafe
No regional warning. Touts at the pyramids are the main hassle.
- Luxor, Aswan & Abu SimbelSafe
Exempt from the Western Desert warning, so the Nile cruise route is clear.
- Hurghada, Marsa Alam & El GounaSafe
No warning. The FCDO flags variable dive-boat safety standards.
- Sharm el Sheikh & DahabSafe
The coastal strips of South Sinai are exempt from its warning.
- Siwa & the White DesertEssential only
The Western Desert is essential travel only, but the FCDO makes exceptions for Siwa, the White and Black Deserts, the main oases and listed roads.
- Inland northern South SinaiEssential only
North of the St Catherine to Nuweibaa road, away from the coast, is essential travel only.
- North SinaiNever travel
Advise against all travel.
- Libyan borderNever travel
No travel within 20km of the border, except El Salloum, which is essential travel only.
The real-world risks
- Terrorism. The FCDO says attacks are likely to be attempted, including at tourist sites. Security is visible and heavy. There were shootings in Alexandria in 2023 and 2024.
- Diving. The FCDO notes recent incidents on Red Sea dive boats and says standards vary considerably. Book liveaboards only with reputable operators, and never dive below your insurance depth limit.
- Harassment and assault. Most reported cases are in Red Sea resorts and involve someone the victim had just met, such as hotel or excursion staff.
- Touts and scams around every big site. Agree prices for camels, horses and taxis before you get on.
Before you go
- Report any crime to the Tourist Police on 126 before you fly home. Prosecutions are hard to start from the UK.
- Check your insurance covers sea or air rescue if you dive. It can cost over US$4,000 an hour.
- Book desert trips with operators who know the current exception routes.
Official advice: FCDO travel advice for Egypt
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