Tipping in Egypt
Tipping expectedEGP (E£)
Here's the tip.
Tipping — baksheesh — is constant and expected.
Baksheesh is woven into daily life in Egypt. Small tips are expected for almost any service, from carrying a bag to pointing you towards the right doorway. Wages in tourism are very low and tips are the main income. Budget for it and carry a thick stack of small notes — you will need them every day.
At a glance
- RestaurantsExpected10%, on top of any service charge
- CafésCommon5–10 EGP
- BarsCommon10%
- TaxisOptionalRound up
- Hotel portersExpected20–50 EGP per bag
- HousekeepingCommon50–100 EGP per day
- Tour guidesExpected200–500 EGP per person, per day
- Private driversCommon100–200 EGP per day
- Boat & yacht chartersExpected10% of the trip, into the crew box
- All-inclusive resortsExpected20–50 EGP per drink, or 100–200 EGP per day
Card tipping. Card tipping is not practical outside of large hotels. Cash in Egyptian pounds is essential; foreign notes are accepted but often at a poor rate.
- A 12% service charge plus tax is routinely added in restaurants and hotels. It rarely reaches the staff, so a direct cash tip is still expected.
- Break notes at every opportunity. Small denominations are the single most useful thing you can carry in Egypt.
- Expect unsolicited 'help' — an offer to take your photo, open a door, show you a shortcut — that comes with a tip request. A firm, friendly 'la shukran' is a complete answer.
- You are not obliged to tip for something you did not ask for.
Tip calculator
- 10%
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EGYPT
The tipping cheat sheet
- Restaurants10%, on top of any service charge
- Cafés5–10 EGP
- Bars10%
- TaxisRound up
- Hotel porters20–50 EGP per bag
- Housekeeping50–100 EGP per day
WhatTheTipwhatthetip.com/egypt
Common questions
- Do you tip in Egypt?
- Tipping — baksheesh — is constant and expected. Baksheesh is woven into daily life in Egypt. Small tips are expected for almost any service, from carrying a bag to pointing you towards the right doorway. Wages in tourism are very low and tips are the main income. Budget for it and carry a thick stack of small notes — you will need them every day.
- How much do you tip at a restaurant in Egypt?
- 10%, on top of any service charge. Leave about 10% in cash, even if service was added. Most restaurants add a 12% service charge, but it goes to the business rather than the waiter. Leaving 5–10% in cash directly with the server is the normal practice and genuinely expected. Local street food and koshary shops need nothing beyond rounding up.
- Can you tip by card in Egypt?
- Card tipping is not practical outside of large hotels. Cash in Egyptian pounds is essential; foreign notes are accepted but often at a poor rate.
Other destinations
Editorial review pending. These figures reflect widely reported norms for Egypt and have not yet been checked against cited sources.