Egypt currency & money — EUR, USD, EGP guide 2026

Egypt is one of the easier countries in the world for tourist money: EUR works almost everywhere, USD works too, and cards work in any modern business. You barely need to touch local currency.

A few basic rules will save you €20–50 over a week, though. Here they are.

The Egyptian pound (EGP)

The official currency. After the March 2024 devaluation, rates stabilized around:

• 1 EUR ≈ 52 EGP (mid-2026)
• 1 USD ≈ 48 EGP
• 1 GBP ≈ 60 EGP
• 100 EGP ≈ €1.92 / $2.08

Rates do move — 2–5% monthly fluctuation is normal. Check the current number on xe.com right before you fly.

What's accepted where

EUR and USD — accepted almost everywhere:

• Hotels (room rate, extras, bar tabs)
• Restaurants in tourist zones (Hurghada, Sharm, Cairo center)
• Tour guides and excursion fees
• Taxi drivers (after negotiation)
• Shops and pharmacies in tourist areas
• Visa-on-arrival ($25 — EUR also accepted at $30)

EGP only:

• Local markets and bazaars (Khan El Khalili haggling is in EGP)
• Street kiosks and juice stands
• Modern supermarkets (Carrefour, Spinneys, Metro)
• Bus tickets (GoBus, Blue Bus, Egypt Air domestic)
• Museum entry fees (some accept EUR, but EGP is the standard)
• Mosque "donations"

Where to exchange — best to worst

1. Official banks (Banque Misr, NBE, CIB) — fixed daily rate, ~52 EGP/EUR. Open 8:30–14:30 weekdays.
2. Licensed forex offices (Forex Egypt, Western Union locations) — similar to banks, sometimes 1–2% worse.
3. Airport exchange counters — 2–3% worse than banks. Change only what you need on arrival (~EGP 50–100 for taxi and water).
4. Hotel reception — 5–7% worse. Emergency only.
5. Street changers — avoid. Bad rates and a non-zero risk of counterfeit notes. Not worth it.

ATMs

Often the best option — direct EGP, bank rate, no walking around with thick stacks of cash.

• Per-transaction limit: usually 4,000–5,000 EGP
• Egyptian bank fee: 50–100 EGP per transaction
• Your home bank's fee: typically €2–5 + 1–3% conversion (varies wildly)
• ATMs at all hotels, malls, banks, airports

Pro tip: Wise, Revolut, and Curve cards are very competitive — Wise converts EUR→EGP at near-market rate. A standard home-bank debit card often adds 3–5%. If you do a lot of ATM withdrawals, the right card pays for itself.

Cards — where they work and where they don't

Visa and Mastercard are standard. Amex is rarely accepted outside top hotels. Contactless is increasingly common in cities.

Cards work: supermarkets, restaurants in 4–5★ hotels, brand-name shops, malls, pharmacies, online taxi (Uber, Careem).

Cards don't work:

• Local family-run restaurants
• Bazaars and street markets
• Street taxis (online apps are fine)
• Most museum and site entries (EGP cash)
• Guide and driver tips (always EUR cash)

Typical cash budget for a week

Family of 4, one-week all-inclusive resort + a couple of excursions:

• Visa (4 × $25) = $100
• Tipping (see tipping guide) ≈ €200
• Drinks and snacks outside the resort ≈ €50–100
• Shopping and souvenirs ≈ €100–300
• Excursion extras (entries, photo fees) ≈ €50–100
• Buffer for the unexpected ≈ €100
• Total: €600–900 cash for a week (family of 4)

Pre-arrange tour costs (Cairo day trip, Luxor, Nile cruise) so you're not negotiating cash on the day.

Practical tips

• Bring small EUR denominations — 5 / 10 / 20 notes are much better for tips than a wad of 100s
• Exchange ~EGP 50–100 at the arrival airport for taxi, water, restrooms
• Use the hotel safe for the bulk of your cash; carry the day's spend in a thin wallet
• Bring two cards on separate banks — one main, one backup
• Notify your home bank of the dates and country — surprise transactions often trigger auto-blocks
• Skip the airport ATM — city / hotel ATMs give better rates
• Count notes before walking away from any exchange counter

Bottom line

Egypt is easy from a money standpoint: EUR/USD work nearly everywhere, cards cover modern businesses, ATMs are plentiful. A family of 4 needs about €600–900 in cash for a one-week holiday.

The biggest savings: don't over-convert to EGP upfront, don't use street changers, and pick the right card for ATM withdrawals.

Related guides: Tipping in Egypt, Visa requirements, What to pack, Is Egypt safe?