Travel Smart
Honest, sourced guidance so you travel confident. Most of any country is calmer than the headlines suggest.
Safety
Countrywide advisory (Government of Canada)
Exercise increased cautionExercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) Regional advisories apply; see the source for zone-level detail.
Source: Government of Canada · Verified 2026-07-26
Cairo, Giza, Alexandria
Exercise increased cautionMajor urban centers with standard city safety concerns; petty crime and congestion are main issues.
Avoid: Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Some neighborhoods (east Cairo) are best avoided after dark. Stay away from political rallies.
Common scams: Unofficial tour guides; inflated tourist prices; gem/papyrus shop scams; taxi overcharging.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Suez Canal Zone and Eastern Desert
Reconsider travelStrategic zone with militant activity, particularly Sinai Peninsula; significant security concerns.
Avoid: Sinai Peninsula (entire region); Suez city; Eastern Desert beyond main highways.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Nile Valley and Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan)
Exercise normal precautionsTourist-heavy regions with heavy police presence and established infrastructure; relatively safe.
Common scams: Unofficial boat captains; inflated prices at tourist sites.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Western Desert (Oases)
Exercise increased cautionRemote desert oases are generally safe but isolated; road conditions can be poor.
Common scams: Unofficial guides; vehicle breakdowns in remote areas.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
5 zones rated separately against Government of Canada, UK FCDO. Oldest check on this page: 6 July 2026.
Emergency Contacts
Police
police
122 is the general police number. For anything involving you as a visitor, the tourist police on 126 are usually the better first call, since they are set up for it and more likely to have an English speaker.
SourceTourist and Antiquities Police
tourist_police
A separate force from the general police, and the one the UK Foreign Office tells visitors to call to report a crime. They cover the main sites and tourist areas.
SourceAnglo-American Hospital
hospital · Cairo
Listed by the UK Foreign Office among medical facilities in Egypt where some staff speak English. The Foreign Office publishes the list for convenience and does not endorse any provider, so check current details before relying on it.
SourceAs-Salam International Hospital
hospital · Cairo
A second Cairo option from the same UK Foreign Office list. The list also covers Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan, which is worth consulting if you are outside the capital.
SourceSharm International Hospital
hospital · Sharm El Sheikh
The main facility named for the Sinai resort coast on the UK Foreign Office list, which matters because most visitors to Egypt who need a hospital are on the Red Sea rather than in Cairo.
Source