Egypt

Is Egypt safe to visit?

For the classic itinerary, yes. Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts are guarded by a heavy police presence, with checkpoints on roads and extra security at tourist sites, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says pickpocketing is rare. About a million British people visit each year and most trips are trouble-free. The catches are roads, harassment, a constant stream of touts, and parts of the country where neither the US nor the UK wants you to go. We score Egypt 65, a little below Turkey and above India.

The last national homicide figure was 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2017 (UNODC), low by regional standards but old; WHO's model puts the 2021 rate higher, at 4.2. That uncertainty is why confidence is medium.

Where not to go

Egypt's no-go areas are large but far from the tourist trail. The US says do not travel to North and Middle Sinai, where militants have attacked security forces for years, or to the Western Desert unless you are with a professional guide. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary advises against all travel to North Sinai and within 20 km of the Libyan border, and against all but essential travel to the eastern side of the Suez Canal in Ismailiyah and the inland north of South Sinai.

The Western Desert advice has exceptions. Siwa, Bahariya, Farafra, the White and Black Deserts and the main oasis roads are open, but you need a permit and an official guide for Bahariya, Farafra and the White Desert.

Terrorism remains a threat elsewhere, and the FCDO says terrorists are likely to try attacks. The most recent cases targeted Israelis: a gunman killed two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide in Alexandria in 2023, and an Israeli-Canadian was shot dead there in 2024. The regional war has reached Egypt only at the edges. On 29 July 2026 an apparent drone strike set fire to two ships off Damietta.

Politics carries personal risk too. Protests need a permit, foreigners have been arrested for standing near one, and the US says you can be detained for social media posts critical of Egypt.

Roads, buses and boats

Transport is the main physical danger. CAPMAS, the statistics agency, counted 5,829 road deaths in 2025, up 10.8% on 2024, and pedestrians were the largest group of victims. Cairo governorate had the most deaths of any governorate, 779, so take particular care crossing roads in the capital. WHO's 2019 estimate, which adjusts for under-reporting, was 10.1 per 100,000 people. In September 2026 a bus overturned on the Dahab–Nuweiba road in South Sinai and killed 17 people, a month after a crash in Ismailia killed 18 day labourers.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary advises against driving outside cities and resorts at night. It also reports fatal train crashes, and accidents on overcrowded Red Sea ferries and Nile cruise boats.

At sea, the FCDO says safety on dive boats varies a great deal and British nationals have died on Red Sea trips. Book liveaboards through a reputable operator, ask for a safety briefing before departure, and stay within your insurance depth limit. Rescue can cost more than 4,000 dollars an hour, and the authorities only launch it once payment is guaranteed.

Harassment, touts and scams

Most visitors' complaints are about money and attention, not violence. At the pyramids, Khan el-Khalili and the temples of Luxor, expect camel handlers, unofficial guides and "gifts" that become demands for payment. Harassment of women is common and ranges from comments to groping in crowds.

Sexual assault is a more serious concern in the resorts. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says most cases reported to the British Embassy happened in Red Sea resorts, often by hotel or excursion staff, and some involved children. It also notes that hotel staff have sometimes discouraged victims from going to the police.

Health and heat

Health care for visitors is uneven. The US says emergency and intensive care are limited and may be unavailable in remote areas, and ambulances are rare and poorly equipped. CDC recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines and warns that rabid dogs are common, so treat any bite at once. Do not swim in the Nile because of schistosomiasis. Upset stomachs are the most common complaint; drink bottled water.

Summer heat in Upper Egypt is a real hazard. Visit Luxor's West Bank and Abu Simbel early in the morning and carry water.

How to stay safe in Egypt

• Keep a copy of your passport and visa on you; police check ID often.
• Agree prices for taxis, camels and guides before you start, or use a ride-hailing app.
• Avoid long road trips at night, and choose established coach companies for intercity travel.
• Do not bring a drone without Ministry of Defence permission.
• Report crimes to the tourist police (126) before you leave the country; it is hard to pursue a case later. Call 123 for an ambulance.

How we scored it

Health (60) and petty crime (60) are weak, and conflict (55) reflects the closed zones and the terrorist threat. Road safety (62) depends on which figure you trust; the official count is lower than WHO's estimate. Violent crime (75) scores well on WHO's modelled homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary of 4.2, since the last national figure is from 2017.