What’s the Best Currency to Take to Egypt? All About Currency in Egypt for Travellers in 2023
Byron Mühlberg
Guide
Monito's Managing Editor, Byron has spent several years writing extensively about financial- and migration-related topics.
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Read moreAre you travelling to Egypt soon and wondering which currency you should take there? Curious whether you should take British pounds or US dollars along with you or whether it's best to buy the local currency at the airport? Then this short guide is for you!
Egypt uses the Egyptian pound as its currency, meaning that, except in tourist establishments, airports, or hotels, you normally won't be able to use your home currency to pay your way, even if it's a popular tourist currency like the British pound or the euro.
As we'll see, to pay while you're visiting Egypt, you'll either need to buy Egyptian pound banknotes before or during your trip, use your ordinary credit or debit card, or (cheapest of all) use a savvy multi-currency debit card like Revolut's or Wise's travel debit cards.
In a rush? Here are our recommendations for how to pay in Egypt if you're...
- from the UK: Revolut
- from the USA: Chime's VISA debit card
- from Canada: KOHO's debit Mastercard
- from the EU, Australia, or Singapore: Revolut
- wanting EGP banknotes: ChangeGroup
In this short guide, we'll discuss what's the best currency to take to Egypt, how you should pay when you're there, and what your cheapest options are to avoid paying hefty exchange rate charges.
Key Facts About Egyptian Currency for Travellers
💹 Currency in Egypt | Egyptian pound |
---|---|
💲Currency Symbol | £ or E£ |
🔠 Currency ISO-3 Code | EGP |
💵 Banknote Denominations | E£ 5, E£ 10, E£ 20, E£ 50, E£ 100, E£ 200 |
🪙 Minor Unit | Piastre |
💳 Ways to Pay in Egypt | Cash, Debit/Credit Card |
💷 Best Travel Card From the UK | |
💶 Best Travel Card From the EU | |
💵 Best Travel Card From the USA | |
💵 Best Travel Card From Canada | |
💴 Best Travel Card From Australia | |
⚕️ Best Travel Insurer | |
✈ Best Flight Aggregator | |
🛂 Best Visa Application Service |
Best Currency to Take to Egypt
Overview of Currency in Egypt
As we saw earlier, the currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound.
As the official legal tender in Egypt, it's the sole currency recognized by the Egyptian government, and you can use it to settle all financial obligations in the country, from paying for your hotel stay, to the entrance fee at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, to a bite to eat in the Maadi neighbourhood.
Taking Egyptian Pounds Home
If you plan to buy a large sum of Egyptian pound banknotes, there's a good chance you'll end up bringing some home unused with you after your holiday. In this case, you'll probably get a bad deal on the exchange rate by swapping Egyptian pounds back into your home currency since most banks and exchange offices mark up the Egyptian pound more than usual. This means that if you buy Egyptian pound banknotes, you should try to budget carefully to avoid bringing any home.
You can learn more about the Egyptian pound currency here.
Best Currency to Take to Egypt
Because it's the local currency and because you won't have any trouble buying goods with it, the best country to have on hand and spend while visiting Egypt is, unsurprisingly, the Egyptian pound.
However, if you arrive in Egypt with another currency on hand, it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be allowed to pay in Egypt. Especially if you're carrying a popular tourist currency like the pound sterling, the euro, or the US dollar, you'll find it easy to exchange them for Egyptian pounds at banks or currency exchange offices across Egypt — even if those currencies aren't official or used commercially in Egypt.
You can check out the prevalence of a few of the most popular tourist currencies in Egypt below:
British pounds in Egypt
Just like dollars, airports, hotels, and touristy establishments often let you pay in British pounds, though you'll probably be given a steep exchange rate and receive any change in Egyptian pounds. If you're from the UK, we recommend using Revolut's travel debit card, which has market-low currency exchange charges.
US dollars in Egypt
Although US dollars aren't offically accepted in Egypt, you can often use them anyway. Airports, hotels, or shops and restaurants in major tourist areas very frequently let you pay in dollars, making it a handy currency to travel with. However, if you pay with US dollars, be aware that you might be given change in Egyptian pounds. If you're from the USA, we recommend using Chime's debit card, which charges no foreign exchange fees, to make low-cost card payments while travelling in Egypt. However, out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees and over-the-counter advance fees may apply.
Euros in Egypt
Just like dollars and pounds, Egyptian airports, hotels, and touristy establishments often let you pay in euros. You'll probably be given a steep exchange rate and receive any change in Egyptian pounds. If you're from the European Union or EEA, we recommend using Revolut's or N26's debit cards, both of which charge no foreign exchange fees, to make low-cost card payments while travelling in Egypt.
Canadian dollars in Egypt
Canadian dollars are easily converted for Egyptian pound banknotes in Cairo and other major tourist centres, but they'll not be accepted if you try to buy something. Exchanging Canadian dollars for Egyptian pounds is typically slightly more expensive than exchanging US dollars or pounds. We recommend checking out KOHO's debit card for international travel. KOHO charges just 1.5% on foreign currency transactions abroad, which beats most credit cards and other debit cards in Canada.
Although the Egyptian pound is the best currency to use and other tourist currencies can be easily exchanged, exchanging currencies in the form of cash almost invariably leads to poor exchange rates for tourists (we've seen as high as 20% commissions, although the average is between 5% and 15% of the amount exchanged).
For this reason, it's generally a better idea to use your credit or debit card to pay at local points of sale wherever possible or (if cash is urgently needed — which can happen in Egypt) to withdraw some money from a local ATM. This will let your card provider handle the conversion, which is usually, although not always, a better deal than bringing foreign currency into Egypt and exchanging it there. However, as we'll see below, a conversion-friendly debit card is the best choice of all!
ChangeGroup
ChangeGroup is a reliable option if you need physical Egyptian pounds in cash on hand before your flight abroad to Egypt. Although it's generally more affordable than exchange offices in Cairo for buying Egyptian pound banknotes, it's still quite pricey compared to using your card, hovering around 15%. This is why we tend to recommend Revolut and Wise for spending in Egypt.
- FX Margin to Egyptian Pounds: 10% - 16%
- Home Delivery: For a fee
- Cash Pick Up: Free
- Guaranteed Buyback: For a fee
- Availability: UK, USA, Australia, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland
How to Pay in Egypt
When it comes to paying your way in Egypt, you'll have the following three options broadly speaking:
Method 1: Cash
As we mentioned earlier, cash is an important medium of exchange in Egypt. Pretty much all shops, restaurants, and commercial establishments around the country will accept Egyptian pound banknotes, and we recommend having some on hand when you travel. Foreign cash can be purchased before your trip from your bank in your home country, or during your trip at a local Egyptian bank or currency exchange office or (most affordably) from an ATM.
Note that in Egypt, currency exchange offices normally go by the name bureau de change, so if you want to exchange your home currency for Egyptian pound, be on the lookout for signage with this name.
- Cash Prevalence in Egypt: Very prevalent
- Cost to Exchange: 5% - 20% on average
Method 2: Credit Card
Although cash is king in Egypt, credit and debit cards issued by major global providers like VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted too. If your card is issued by American Express, Diner's Club, or another card company, there's a good chance they'll also be accepted in Egypt, but we recommend checking with your bank or card provider directly to make sure that Egyptian pound currency conversion is indeed supported, and that card machines and ATMs in Egypt commonly support cards of this type.
- Card Prevalence in Egypt: Prevalent
- Cost to Exchange: 2% - 5% on average
Method 3: Travel Debit Card
Just like credit cards, prepaid debit cards (which are also normally issued by VISA or Mastercard) provide an excellent way to pay while visiting Egypt, the main difference being that you normally pay lower fees and exchange rates. Depending on where you live, you'll probably have options from your bank or a third-party provider to use a commission-free debit card or a multi-currency card which can help you dodge high Egyptian pound conversion costs, including DCCs.
According to our analysis of dozens of providers, the top two options for travelling to Egypt, in general, are the following:
Revolut
Revolut is an excellent option for paying in Egypt. Its all-in-one mobile finance app and debit card offer competitive exchange rates to the Egyptian pound and low fees. Moreover, you can easily manage everything through your money through Revolut's user-friendly app.
- Monthly fee: $0
- Card type: Mastercard debit
- Card payment cost in Egyptian pound: 0.5% - 1.5%
- Cash withdrawal fee: 0% - 2%
- Egyptian pound balance: No
- Egyptian pound bank details: No
Wise Account
The Wise Account is another great option for paying in Egyptian pound. It gives you the lowest possible currency exchange rates with complete transparency and no hidden fees. It also allows you to hold and manage over 50 currencies in one account and provides fast and secure cross-border money transfers at a fraction of the cost of traditional banks.
- Monthly fee: $0
- Card type: VISA debit
- Card payment cost in Egyptian pound: 0.5% - 1.5%
- Cash withdrawal fee: 0% - 2%
- Egyptian pound balance: Yes
- Egyptian pound bank details: No
Wise and Revolut are excellent options that are available in many countries around the world. However, depending on where you live, you might have access to better deals still. We go over a few of them below:
United Kingdom
United States
- Chime®: Best all around; no fees for non-USD transactions.
- Revolut: Best all-around spending app.
- Wise: Best for foreign currency spending and holidays.
Canada
- KOHO: Best all around; just 1.5% on foreign transactions
- Wise: Best for foreign currency spending and holidays.
European Union
FAQ About Currency in Egypt
What's the best currency to take to Egypt?
The best currency to take to Egypt is the local currency, the Egyptian pound. US dollars are also highly exchangeable at local banks and currency exchange offices. However, instead of converting physical banknotes, the cheapest way to pay in Egypt is to use a multi-currency travel debit card like Revolut or Wise.
Should I exchange my currency before traveling to Egypt?
Generally, we don't recommend exchanging currency before travelling to Egypt. Although having some Egyptian pound cash on hand can be helpful, we recommend drawing some from an ATM once you've arrived in Egypt using a prepaid multi-currency card like Revolut to avoid the hidden currency exchange fees.
Is it better to use credit cards or cash when traveling abroad?
It depends on the country you're visiting and the expenses you will have. Credit cards are widely accepted in many countries, including Egypt, and can offer benefits such as rewards points and fraud protection. However, some places may only accept cash, especially in more rural areas. It's a good idea to have both cash and credit cards on hand and to research the best way to access your money while travelling.
How do I avoid exchange fees when traveling to Egypt?
The best way to avoid currency exchange fees when travelling to Egypt is to pay using a multi-currency travel debit card like Revolut or Wise. This way, you can make low-cost conversions to the Egyptian pound every time you tap your card or withdraw cash. Other excellent debit cards that don't charge conversion fees include Revolut in the UK and Chime in the US.
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