Field guide · 15 of 20
What should you wear in Egypt as a tourist?
Wear light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees: linen or cotton trousers, long shorts for men, long skirts or trousers for women, and a scarf. Closed, cushioned shoes for temples and tombs. Cover arms and legs in mosques; women need a headscarf. A warm layer for winter mornings and Nile evenings. Nothing formal is needed.
The principle
Egypt is hot, dusty and conservative in dress, in roughly that order of importance for a visitor. Clothes that keep you cool and covered solve all three. Nobody will lecture you for a sundress at a hotel pool, but at a temple in a Luxor village you will be more comfortable, and treated more warmly, in trousers and a shirt.
Fabrics and fit
- Linen, cotton, bamboo, or technical fabrics that breathe. Avoid polyester except for proper sports fabrics.
- Loose over tight. Air moves under loose cloth; it also hides dust and sweat.
- Light colours in the day. Dark colours absorb heat and show dust.
- Layers. Winter mornings in Luxor can be 8–10°C (mid-40s F) at 6am and 25°C (77°F) by noon. A light jumper or fleece that packs small is essential from November to March.
For women
- Long trousers, wide-leg or straight, or a maxi skirt. Linen trousers are the single most useful item.
- Tops that cover the shoulders. T-shirts and short sleeves are fine; vest tops are fine with a light shirt over them.
- A large scarf. It covers your head at a mosque, your shoulders on a windy deck, and your face in a sandstorm.
- Swimwear for the hotel pool or boat; a cover-up for the walk to it.
- For evenings in Cairo restaurants or on the dahabiya, the same clothes work. Egypt is not formal. A simple dress with sleeves, or trousers and a blouse, is appropriate anywhere we take you.
No one expects a visitor to dress as Egyptian women do. The aim is comfort and courtesy, not disguise.
For men
- Long trousers or chinos; long shorts to the knee are acceptable at tourist sites and on the boat, less so in city streets and never in mosques.
- Shirts or polo shirts. Short sleeves are fine. Avoid sleeveless.
- A collared shirt for dinner is enough; a jacket is never required, though some choose one for a celebration evening.
- A hat with a brim. A baseball cap protects your face but not your neck.
Temples and tombs
- Shoes. This is where most packing lists go wrong. Temple floors are stone, sand and rubble; tomb corridors are sloping wooden walkways; the Giza plateau is sand over rock. Wear closed, cushioned, broken-in shoes: walking trainers or light hiking shoes. Sandals fill with sand and expose your toes to dropped tripods.
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. Even in January.
- Light long sleeves are cooler in direct sun than bare arms and save you reapplying sunscreen.
- Tombs are warm and humid underground; a thin shirt rather than a jumper.
- Nothing clanking. A small crossbody bag with water, a tissue packet and small notes for tips is all you need.
Mosques
Visitors are welcome in Cairo's great mosques outside prayer times: Ibn Tulun, Sultan Hassan, Al-Azhar, Muhammad Ali in the Citadel.
- Shoulders, arms and legs covered, for everyone.
- Women cover their hair with a scarf. Some mosques lend wraps; your own scarf is simpler.
- Shoes off at the entrance. Socks are useful; the floors can be hot or cold.
- Shorts are not accepted. Some mosques will hand men a wrap; it is easier to wear trousers that day.
On the Nile
A dahabiya is informal. Days on deck are shorts, light trousers, swimwear if the boat moors for a swim in a safe stretch, and a hat. Evenings cool quickly once the sun drops, especially from November to March; bring a fleece or a pashmina. For a celebration dinner on deck, dress as you like; most of our travellers go slightly smarter, nobody goes formal.
Cairo evenings
Cairo's good restaurants are relaxed. Smart casual is the ceiling. A dress with sleeves or trousers and a good shirt is correct everywhere from a Zamalek rooftop to the terrace of a Giza hotel.
A short packing list
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| 2–3 pairs light long trousers or long skirts | Sites, mosques, cities |
| 4–6 breathable tops with sleeves | Sun and courtesy |
| 1 light long-sleeved shirt | Sun protection |
| 1 fleece or jumper | Winter mornings, Nile evenings |
| 1 large scarf | Mosques, wind, dust |
| Broken-in walking shoes | Everything |
| Sandals | Hotel and boat only |
| Hat with brim, sunglasses, SPF 50 | Daily |
| Small crossbody bag | Tips, water, tissues |
| Swimwear | Pool and boat |
What you do not need
Formal wear. Hiking boots. A money belt (your guide handles payments, and a crossbody bag is enough). Anything white if you plan to sit on temple steps.
FAQ
Do women have to cover their hair in Egypt? Only inside mosques. At temples, museums, hotels, restaurants and on the Nile, no head covering is expected. A scarf in your bag covers every case.
Can you wear shorts in Egypt? At tourist sites, hotels and on boats, knee-length shorts are fine for men and women. In city streets they draw attention, and in mosques they are not accepted. Light long trousers are more comfortable in the sun anyway.
What shoes should I wear for the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings? Closed, cushioned, broken-in walking shoes or trainers. Surfaces are sand, rubble and sloping wooden walkways. Sandals are for the hotel and the boat.
Packing questions are easier once the itinerary is fixed, so send us your dates and we will tell you what the weather will be doing and what to bring. Message us your dates.