Travel guide · Money · Frissítve 2026-05-10
Tipping in Egypt — how much, to whom (baksheesh guide 2026)
Tipping (baksheesh) is part of Egyptian culture. Practical amounts for waiters, guides, drivers, housekeepers, porters — what to give in EGP vs. EUR/USD.
Sara Mahmoud · Senior coordinator, 5 years
6 perc olvasás
"Baksheesh" — it's the word you'll hear most often as a tourist in Egypt. It means tip, gratuity, or small gift, but in Egypt it isn't a bonus for extra service: it's part of the income system itself.
For visitors from countries where tipping is occasional (Europe) or not expected (Japan, Australia), Egypt feels different. This guide gives you concrete amounts so you don't over- or under-pay.
Why baksheesh exists
Wages in Egyptian tourism are low — EGP 3,000–5,000/month (~€60–100). The whole pay model assumes tips fill the gap. Not tipping is the cultural anomaly, not the other way around.
Don't stress about getting the amount perfect. Over-tipping is rarely an issue in local terms, and this guide stays well within local norms.
Restaurants and waiters
10% of the bill is standard at sit-down places. If the bill already shows a 12% "service charge", that goes to the house — leave another 5–10% in cash for the actual waiter.
- Local restaurant (Cairo / Luxor backstreets): EGP 5–10 on top of the bill
- Mid-range restaurant in tourist area: EGP 20–40 (~€0.40–0.80)
- Upscale or hotel restaurant: 10% of total bill
- Café or take-away: rounding up is fine, no formal tip needed
Taxis and drivers
- Short street taxi: EGP 5–10 on top of the agreed fare
- Airport-to-hotel transfer: EGP 20–50 (~€0.40–€1)
- Private driver, full-day excursion: EGP 100–200 (~€2–€4) per group
- Uber / Careem: not mandatory, but a 10–20 EGP tip is appreciated
Hotels — porters, housekeepers, concierge
- Porter (check-in / check-out): EGP 10–20 per bag (~€0.20–€0.40)
- Housekeeper: EGP 20–30 per day (~€0.50), left on the pillow daily
- Front desk: not customary unless they went well beyond — then EGP 50–100
- Concierge who arranges something for you: EGP 50–100 per favor
Tip the housekeeper daily rather than at the end of the stay — that way the right person actually receives it, not whoever happens to be on shift the day you leave.
Tour guides and drivers — the big one
This is the largest category and the one most travelers under-budget for. Guide and driver are tipped separately:
- Full-day tour guide: €5–€10 per person
- Full-day driver: €3–€5 per person
- Multi-day trip (Nile cruise, Cairo overnight): €15–€25 per person for the guide
- Snorkeling / boat trip crew: €5 per person for the group
Typical example: A family of 4 on a one-day Cairo tour: ~€30–40 for the guide + €15–20 for the driver. That's roughly 10% of the tour price — the local norm.
Museums and historical sites
A site guard who lets you take a photo (or shows you a "hidden" chamber): EGP 5–10. At the Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamun's tomb, and similar high-traffic sites, the "helpers" expect EGP 20–50 — either pay or politely decline and walk on.
Camel or horse photos near the Pyramids: the "photographer" assistant expects EGP 20–30 on top of the animal's rental.
Bazaars — Khan El Khalili and friends
No tipping here — it's a haggling system. If someone offers free mint tea "just to show you something", you can decline politely or leave EGP 10–20 if you stayed for the conversation.
Service-fee asks you'll encounter
Some places have unusual baksheesh moments — these are normal, not scams, and small amounts handle them:
- Public restrooms (especially at tourist sites): EGP 5–10
- "Free" map or directions in the street → EGP 10 once given
- Permission to take photos in some temples: EGP 5
- Opening a "side door" or restricted area: EGP 20–50
What not to do
- Don't tip with notes larger than 50 EGP — break them at a café or supermarket first
- Don't tip with $50 or $100 bills — hard to change, and small bills tip better
- Don't fumble for change too quickly — a small pause is normal in the local rhythm
- Don't feel obligated to tip on a first ask — a moment's pause is fine and expected
Weekly tipping budget
Family of 4, one-week resort holiday + 2–3 excursions:
- Hotel housekeeper, 7 × €1 = €7
- Restaurant waiters, 7 × €3 = €21
- Taxi tips and porters = €20
- Two full-day tours (guide + driver) = €50–60
- One multi-day or premium excursion = €40
- Misc. baksheesh (restrooms, photos, etc.) = €30
- Total ~ €170–200 / week / family of 4
Bring this in cash (small EUR or USD bills) — drawing it from ATMs in chunks gets expensive in fees. See our Egypt currency guide for ATM strategy.
Quick reference card
Save these numbers — they cover 95% of situations:
- Waiter: 10% (extra to any service charge)
- Taxi: EGP 5–10 on top of the fare
- Porter: EGP 10–20 / bag
- Housekeeper: EGP 20–30 / day
- Day-tour guide: €5–10 / person
- Day-tour driver: €3–5 / person
- Site helpers / fixers: EGP 5–20
Planning the rest of your trip? See our 5–14 day itineraries, visa guide, and safety overview.