Season First: What Changes by Time of Year
☀️ Summer (May–September)
- Temperatures 35–45°C in Upper Egypt
- Pack MINIMAL clothing — heat is the enemy
- SPF 50+ sunscreen essential, apply every 2 hours
- Wide-brim hat + UV sunglasses — not optional
- 2L+ water capacity essential
- Light cotton/linen only — avoid synthetics
❄️ Winter (November–March)
- Cairo nights can drop to 10–15°C
- Luxor/Aswan warmer but cool evenings
- A light fleece or jacket for evenings
- Layering works well — warm days, cool nights
- Still need sun protection during the day
- Red Sea resort weather pleasant year-round
Clothing: What to Bring
Clothes — All Seasons
- Loose cotton/linen trousers (2-3 pairs)
- Long-sleeve lightweight shirts (2-3)
- Short-sleeve T-shirts (3-4)
- Light scarf or shawl (for women — mosque cover)
- Comfortable walking shoes (closed toe)
- Sandals or flip-flops (Red Sea / casual)
- Swimsuit (Red Sea, hotel pools)
Sun & Heat Protection
- SPF 50+ sunscreen (large bottle — expensive in Egypt)
- Wide-brim sun hat
- UV-blocking sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle (2L+)
- Electrolyte sachets (for dehydration)
- Lip balm with SPF
Health & Toiletries
- Hand sanitiser + antibacterial wipes
- Oral rehydration sachets (for stomach issues)
- Basic first aid kit (plasters, paracetamol)
- Antihistamines (dust + allergens)
- Imodium or equivalent
- Insect repellent (Nile areas)
Electronics & Gadgets
- Universal adaptor (Egypt: Type C/F, 220V)
- Portable power bank (charging on-the-go)
- Camera or smartphone with good lens
- Headphones (flights, trains)
- Download Google Maps Egypt offline
- Torch/flashlight (tombs are dark)
Documents & Money: The Critical List
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date
- Visa confirmation — printout of your eVisa or VOA receipt
- Travel insurance documents — printout or mobile access
- Hotel booking confirmations — shown at immigration occasionally
- Emergency contact card — your country’s embassy + your hotel
- Debit/credit card — Visa/Mastercard works at most ATMs and sites
- $100-200 USD cash — for initial arrival, tips, and emergencies
Planning Your Egypt Trip?
Our Egypt specialists handle everything — including visa help, transfer bookings, and packing advice specific to your itinerary.
What NOT to Pack (Buy in Egypt Instead)
Egypt has excellent pharmacies, markets, and shops. Save suitcase space:
- Bottled water — $0.10/bottle everywhere; bring a reusable bottle instead
- Light scarves and shawls — beautiful Egyptian cotton available in every market for $2-10
- Cheap sunglasses — markets sell decent ones for $3-8
- Souvenirs and gifts — obviously
- Toiletries (basics) — pharmacies sell toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant everywhere
- Heavy guidebooks — download a digital guide or use your guide’s knowledge
Temple & Mosque Dress Code: The Important Bit
This is where many visitors get caught out. The rules are simple:
- Mosques: Women must cover hair, arms, and legs. Men need long trousers. Shoes off at the entrance — bring socks.
- Major temples (Karnak, Luxor, Abu Simbel): Shoulders and knees covered is respectful and keeps you cooler. Security may turn away very revealing clothing.
- Beach resorts (Sharm, Hurghada): Normal resort wear — swimwear at the pool and beach is totally fine.
Pack one versatile lightweight scarf. It covers your shoulders at temples, wraps your head at mosques, protects from dust on desert trips, and doubles as a beach cover-up at Red Sea resorts. One item, five uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lightweight loose cotton clothing (not synthetics), SPF 50+ sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, UV sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, and electrolyte sachets. Pack minimal layers — Egypt’s heat means less is more. Avoid dark colours that absorb heat.
Loose long trousers or long skirts, shoulder-covering tops, a lightweight scarf (for mosque visits), comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a swimsuit for Red Sea resorts. You don’t need to cover up in beach resorts — modesty is mainly expected at religious sites and old city areas.
Yes, bring a large bottle of SPF 50+. Sunscreen is available in Egypt but expensive and harder to find in strong formulations outside pharmacies in major cities. Apply every 2 hours outdoors — Egyptian sun is intense year-round, especially in Upper Egypt.
Egypt uses Type C and Type F plugs, 220V/50Hz. Americans need both a plug adaptor AND a voltage converter for older devices. Europeans and Australians usually only need a plug adaptor. Most modern laptops, phones, and camera chargers are dual voltage (100-240V) — check the small print on the charger.