Is Egypt Safe for Americans to Visit?
Khan el-Khalilii is one of the destinations travelers must see in Cairo. Despite the potential of falling for a scam, tourist spots like Khan el-Khalilii are very safe.
I get asked this question by many travelers from the U.S. who are thinking of going to Egypt. To many, Egypt is a very foreign place; they know about the Pyramids, Sphinx, King Tut, and the Nile River, but that’s about it. The idea of traveling to a place as unfamiliar as Egypt has many folks immediately thinking of safety--so, how safe is Egypt to visit?
Aside from the potential for women to face sexual harassment (see our previous blog post on this topic), the answer is simple: Egypt is one of the safest places U.S. tourists can visit in the world, if travelers have their wits about them and know some tricks to avoid scams.
What does it mean for a place to be “safe”?
Walking on a crowded street, like the Alexandria corniche? Keep a firm grip on your phone, but otherwise, you do not need to worry about pickpockets, being assaulted, or many of the other things U.S. Americans envision might happen in Egypt.
When I am asked if I feel safe traveling in Egypt, I usually boomerang the question back to the asker--do you feel safe in the United States? Most people say yes, but then I remind them of the prevalence of mass shootings, car accidents, violent crime, etc.
The reply is usually that these things do not happen often enough for them to be worried, they happen in specific places, or some other reason for why each situation does not seem to make them feel unsafe where they live.
Egypt is the same way. While there are dangerous things that happen in Egypt (see this Wikipedia article for a quick overview), many of those things are localized events that do not occur often (potentially a few times a year or fewer), and most of them do not involve tourists. Think about how many times we have news in the United States of a mass shooting--these are much more common occurrences than violent events in Egypt, but most U.S. Americans are not scared to enter a grocery store, movie theater, or school.
Most of the common crimes that happen in other travel destinations (pickpocketing, theft, assault) seldom happen to tourists in Egypt at all. Aside from keeping a firm grip on my iPhone while walking the streets of Cairo (men riding motorbikes have been known to snatch phones out of the hands of pedestrians and drive off), I never worry about anything adverse happening to me in Egypt. Again, everyone (especially women) should learn about the prevalence of sexual harassment and mitigation/avoidance strategies, but as a man, I always feel safe in Egypt, full stop.
Tips and tricks to avoid scams
I always avoid papyrus shops, but this one was recommended to me by a local tour company I trust, so I went inside with my guide. I got an awesome demonstration of how papyrus was made, and I was not pressured into buying anything.
Despite how safe Egypt is, I always warn travelers that Egypt has many scammers and con artists who target tourists. While it is important to keep in mind the situations that put people in the position of using dishonesty to make a living (wages in Egypt are abysmally low and tourism, the main source of income for thousands, virtually dried up after the 2011 Revolution), no one ever wants to waste time or money on someone being dishonest.
Check out my earlier blog post on common pitfalls to avoid in Egypt, where I go into scams in more detail. Here are some quick tips:
Book your trip through a reputable tour agency or guide, like us at Egypt Adventures Travel (we can also recommend honest, local guides!).
If traveling independently, keep Lonely Planet’s Egypt Guidebook handy at all times. Refer to your book for the most accurate information instead of relying on random people on the street.
It is not impolite to ignore anyone trying to talk to you (Egyptians do it all the time when someone is trying to sell them something they do not want!). If someone is really bothering you, walk away, and feel free to say “Luh, show-krahn” (“No, thank you.”) with finality.
Never, NEVER, EVER, agree to go with someone to their shop or store, unless you are with a trusted guide who recommends you go.
Do not believe someone when they tell you something is closed, unless they are a uniformed police or military officer, or the agent behind the ticket counter at a particular site.
Be especially wary when in Khan el-Khalilii, or any perfume, papyrus, or alabaster shop.
Negotiate prices for any services up-front. Try to hire a private driver or use Uber instead of taking normal taxis.
From someone who has traveled to Egypt for almost a decade, and spent two years living in Cairo, Egypt is one of the safest destinations U.S. tourists can experience, if they educate themselves on sexual harassment, and learn about some quick strategies to avoid time and money-wasting scams. Have you been to Egypt before, and did you feel safe? Share you thoughts in a comment below!
