Do you dare to travel to Egypt? - experiences from Sharm el Sheikh

Do you dare to travel to Egypt? We have received many different reactions both before and after our trip to Sharm el Sheikh. Some love the snorkelling and all that Egypt has to offer. Others are worried about everything from demonstrations to stomach flu. Here are our thoughts on travelling to Egypt.

Table of contents

Our experience

Egypt is a large country and conditions are different in different parts of the country. We are writing this post primarily for those who are thinking of visiting one of the tourist resorts, and from our own experience. We visited Sharm el Sheikh in the last week of September this year (2019) and felt like very safe. To answer the questions below, we have also done some reading, including on Sweden Abroad and on 1177 Vårdguiden.

Are there demonstrations?

Recently there have been reports of demonstrations in Egypt and we were asked whether we saw any demonstrators. We can say that any demonstrations seemed very far awaya, where we were in Sharm el Sheikh.

Egypt is very big and it takes at least 6 hours (maybe more like 7 in reality) to drive by car from Sharm el Sheikh to Cairo. According to our guides, it is unlikely that anyone would want to demonstrate in the tourist resorts, where everyone lives by and for the tourists.

Is there concern?

There have been previous terrorist attacks in Egypt, including in Cairo and the north of the country. Egypt is a large country and there are areas that are not recommended to visit. Today, large parts of the country, including tourist resorts (such as Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh) safe for visitors. Of course, security situations can change (as they do in all countries), and it is of course wise to check the current security situation before travelling at Sweden Abroad.

What about crime?

We neither saw nor heard about crime during our trip. According to the Finnish Embassy in Cairo, there is relatively little crime in Egypt, although theft, for example, can occur in the larger cities.

What about security?

Egypt is ruled with an iron fist, and there is a lot of investment in security in the form of roadblocks, security guards and security checks outside hotels and attractions. For a Swede it feels a bit unusual, but eventually you get used to scanning your bag ... again. "Safety first" seemed to be almost a concept among guides, and they were always careful to provide you with life jackets or whatever.

Is it Muslim - and what does it mean?

Egypt has freedom of religion, but the majority of the population is Muslim. Around 5 per cent (or more according to some sources) are Christians. The fact that the country is Muslim is mainly reflected in the fact that far more men than women work (we saw women working at Vodafone, at the airport and in a hotel reception), that most people do not drink alcohol (alcohol is mainly served in the tourist hotels) and that outside the tourist areas you should be a little more "modestly dressed" than we are perhaps used to in Western Europe.

Our experience was that all the Muslims we met were very open and tolerant of Christianity. Several of them guided us knowledgeably in Christian churches and one of them took enthusiastic photos in the big beautiful church in Sharm el Sheikh. The men drink tea in the restaurants in the evenings instead of alcohol, which in many ways makes the atmosphere feel calmer and safer than in most places where we have holidayed.

Can you travel in Egypt as a single woman?

We have travelled in Egypt as a couple, so it is perhaps a bit difficult for us to answer this question, but we saw a lot of female tourists in Sharm el Sheikh travelling alone or with a friend/group of friends.

We saw them in the hotels, on the streets, in the restaurants and on the excursions, and couldn't see any problem, at least not in a tourist area like Sharm el Sheikh. When going outside of the hotel areas and beaches, it may be appropriate for women to dress a little more "dressy", with clothes that cover the shoulders and knees.

Can you travel in Egypt as a homosexual?

Homosexuality is not prohibited by law, but is considered by many to be taboo and can be referred to the country's 'morality law'. We spoke to a guide on a boat who was upset that he had seen two men in a romantic relationship. Others may be able to answer this question better, but some caution should probably be exercised.

Are there dangerous animals?

Poisonous jellyfish are rare, but if you do see a jellyfish, it's a good idea not to touch it. On the other hand, when snorkelling or diving, you should be careful about touching things at all, as nature should be protected. Many years ago, sharks were triggered into unnatural behaviour due to feeding and the like, but today such activities are strictly forbidden in Egypt. The only animals we saw were colourful fish, small lizards, camels, goats and cats ...

READ MORE: Snorkelling in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt - a lovely boat trip
READ MORE: Two good hotels in Sharm el Sheikh - in different price ranges

Is it dangerous in traffic?

Travelling in traffic is probably one of the most dangerous things you do when travelling at all, regardless of your destination (including at home in Sweden). From a safety point of view, it is of course good to wear a seatbelt in a car/bus and a helmet when riding a moped/motorbike.

If you rent a vehicle, it is important to check what insurance is included. The roads we saw in the southern Sinai Peninsula were of excellent quality, and the roads were quiet. Driving in Cairo is certainly much more challenging.

Do you get sick to your stomach?

When travelling to Africa or Asia, there is always a certain risk of getting diarrhoea or stomach flu, as you will encounter a different bacterial culture. You can't eliminate the risk completely, but there are many ways to reduce the risk of getting sick:

Choose foods that are well cooked or boiled
Avoid raw fish and shellfish
Avoid food left out in the heat for a long time
Peel fruit and possibly be a little careful with fresh vegetables.
Drink only bottled water and avoid tap water.
Avoid ice cubes in your soda or drink (unless you are sure where the ice comes from).
Be sure to wash your hands

READ MORE: 10 great beaches in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
READ MORE: Food in Egypt - and restaurants in Sharm el Sheikh

Are there other health risks?

At certain times of the year (especially in summer!) the days can be very hot. It is important to drink plenty of fluids and you may also need to use sunscreen. Remember that young children are particularly sensitive to the sun and heat.

In some places there may be sea urchins, for example, which can be painful to step on. If you wish, you can wear swimming shoes.

You may want to protect yourself from mosquito bites. While malaria is not present in the country, some other diseases can be spread by mosquitoes.

Which laws should be observed?

You should avoid photographing or filming military installations, security guards and roadblocks, as this can be a criminal offence. For example, we avoided bringing our drone... You should also avoid publishing insults about the government, the state or the country's religion. Moreover, the penalties for drug offences are severe, and driving under the influence of alcohol is considered a serious offence.

So, do you dare to travel to Egypt?

We experienced our trip to Egypt as particularly calm and safe. Sharm el Sheikh is a quiet little tourist resort where you meet social and friendly Egyptians, and of course other tourists. The fact that tea is served on the outdoor terraces instead of wine and drinks makes it feel safer than other resorts, if possible. Of course, it is always wise to check the current security situation, especially if you are planning to travel to a completely different part of the country.

06 October 2019 6:00

Egypt

travel magazine

Helena

Administrator

22 Comments

Add yours →

Ruth in Virginia says:

What an excellent report! Well written!
Interesting, even if you don't plan to go there.

06 October 2019 - 6:53

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you Ruth! Glad it's appreciated! 🙂
  
  06 October 2019 - 10:13
  
  Reply
Maria's memoirs says:

Good and useful post ? I remember that at a certain time every day we were there, lots of big blue jellyfish would come to the shore. Since you weren't forbidden to swim, I guess they weren't dangerous, but I would guess they burned anyway. But it was probably a short swim when you realised you had these blue jelly creatures around you? It was in February and maybe this phenomenon does not happen all year round...?

The night bus we took to Cairo I remember took 7 hours. My aunt and her husband got a stomach bug one day, but my mum and I just got a bit "loose in the stomach".

06 October 2019 - 9:08

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We saw no jellyfish at all, but it could be as you say. A certain season or certain winds. This is the case on the west coast of Sweden, where jellyfish sometimes appear in the autumn.
  
  06 October 2019 - 10:15
  
  Reply
- Anonymous says:
  
  These jellyfish are completely harmless and do not burn.
  
  07 October 2019 - 0:33
  
  Reply
A little more pink - Cornelia Tonéri says:

That's good to hear. I'm definitely interested in travelling to Egypt. But it feels a bit like it's like in general in countries where there can be unrest. You should have common sense and usually you can feel safe in the tourist areas.
Now maybe I can persuade my partner to go to Egypt soon 😉.

06 October 2019 - 9:54

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Fun if you get away to Egypt! Agree, in most countries in the world, it is important to have some common sense and to check if there is something special to consider or watch out for. Otherwise, our experience is that people almost everywhere in the world are friendly and nice! 🙂
  
  06 October 2019 - 16:31
  
  Reply
Snows says:

Our daughter worked for six months in a hotel outside Hurghada. The security in the hotel area was usually good but it was not easy for her to move freely in Hurghada. There were also incidents that did not come to the attention of the guests but were known to the staff. For example, there was a suspected attack on the hotel area on a couple of occasions. It was reassuring to know that she was staying with the local staff and not with the tourists. She also had problems extending her visa and guards questioned the authenticity of her passport. So yes, Egypt is a great country but a lot can happen so you have to travel with judgement...

06 October 2019 - 12:04

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Interesting that she worked there! How long has it been? We were in Hurghada 10-15 years ago and found the vendors more "on" then than we do now in Sharm el Sheikh. Do not know if there is a difference between the places, or if times have changed. And of course, you should always travel with judgement!
  
  06 October 2019 - 16:33
  
  Reply
  - Snows says:
    
    That was eight years ago so maybe it's changed now. I remember when we were at Queen Hatshepsut's temple and the Valley of the Kings. Our daughter could hardly move freely. However, when she was in Hurghada with Egyptian male colleagues, it worked.
    
    However, she never regretted the half year so Egypt has a certain place in our hearts. But it was certainly quieter in Kalamata, which was the next destination.
    
    06 October 2019 - 19:24
    
    Reply
    - Comment by post author
      
      Helena says:
      
      Exciting job the daughter had! Of course, it provides many valuable experiences! I can imagine that the climate has changed somewhat, but then it is certainly different in different places as well.
      
      07 October 2019 - 6:47
      
      Reply
Lena - good for the soul says:

As long as a country is against homosexuality, it's not for me. It is so utterly stupid and outdated that I am at a loss for words. Everyone has the right to love and live with whoever they want, in my opinion. To me, it is just as stupid to say that you can't fall in love with someone of the same sex as it is to say that you can't fall in love with someone who is blonde or over 1.70 or likes cinnamon buns. Too bad about the otherwise nice destination. I would have liked it!

Thanks anyway for great posts from there!

Hug Lena

06 October 2019 - 16:26

Reply
4000mil says:

I experienced the Egyptian stomach flu myself when I visited the country in 2005. Pharaoh's revenge? Nothing to play with. 🙂

06 October 2019 - 17:14

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Such things are sometimes included when travelling, but not fun when it happens ... I felt a little "worried" in my stomach one day, but it wasn't worse than that 🙂.
  
  07 October 2019 - 6:48
  
  Reply
BP says:

What a great post with good advice and great pictures. Some of my prejudices were put to shame, I can say. Good for you! The only thing I would miss is probably beer and wine service in bars. But of course, you should take the custom where you come.

06 October 2019 - 19:14

Reply
- Anna says:
  
  Sharm el Sheikh has lots of beers that you can buy in their special alcohol shops. They have Stella and Sakara which is Egyptian beer and incredibly good...of course they also have wine and other alcoholic drinks. Not all restaurants sell alcohol but you can buy your own and drink in the restaurants along with the food. The bars and discos that are there of course have alcohol for sale, Some beaches also have rights and many restaurants especially the finer ones in naama bay, haddaba and nabq have alcohol on the menu. The sports shops also have delivery if the beer should run out during the party, you can get cold beer delivered to the door....egyptians who work in Sharm el Sheikh do everything to make the guests feel comfortable there and they do not see alcohol as something degrading because they themselves do not drink. This applies to everything there. You can be exactly who you are there and you can go lightly dressed throughout the city without any problems....Mvh someone who is there half the year and has been for the last ten years.
  
  07 October 2019 - 0:29
  
  Reply
  - Comment by post author
    
    Helena says:
    
    Anna, thank you very much for the additional info! Very good! I agree that there is beer and wine available in many places, although often not in restaurants outside the hotel areas. But no big problem I think, we drank wine and beer sometimes in the hotels and bars in the areas. Also saw a shop selling beer and wine. The beer they had at our hotel was not very good, but not sure what kind it was (they poured it into glasses so you couldn't see the bottle). Personally, I wouldn't go lightly dressed in the city even though I know you are "allowed". I actually wouldn't feel comfortable, but I'm sure it's different.
    
    07 October 2019 - 6:53
    
    Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  BP, a lot of bars are inside the hotel areas, and they have beer and wine. So we didn't see it as a problem.
  
  07 October 2019 - 6:50
  
  Reply
Lindha says:

Oh what very good and practical tips. I'm so keen to take my family to Egypt, especially for the fantastic snorkelling 🙂.
What a wonderful trip you seem to have had!

07 October 2019 - 18:16

Reply
Johnny Friskilä says:

Imagine, the only time I was in Egypt was in 1990. It's been a while now. Maybe time to go back soon?

12 October 2019 - 10:52

Reply
Magnus says:

Hi! Great little guide 🙂
What is the medical care like if something happens? We speculate to go in February to Safaga but have a small daughter of 1 year and 3 months at the planned time. The alternative is the Canary Islands. Anyone with experience? Thanks in advance, Regards Magnus

16 October 2019 - 14:28

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Hi Magnus! Nice that you are thinking about Egypt! 🙂 I can't really answer for sure, but I would think that you can get good healthcare in larger cities and in the tourist area. The embassy writes: "Medical care in Egypt can be expensive and the standard of care varies. Before travelling, check that you have taken out travel insurance or checked whether it is included in your home insurance."
  
  17 October 2019 - 18:26
  
  Reply

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Two great hotels in Sharm el Sheikh - in different price ranges | FREEDOMtravel

Do you dare to travel to Egypt? - experiences from Sharm el Sheikh

Our experience

Are there demonstrations?

Is there concern?

What about crime?

What about security?

Is it Muslim - and what does it mean?

Can you travel in Egypt as a single woman?

Can you travel in Egypt as a homosexual?

Are there dangerous animals?

Is it dangerous in traffic?

Do you get sick to your stomach?

Are there other health risks?

Which laws should be observed?

So, do you dare to travel to Egypt?

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22 Comments

Ruth in Virginia says:

Helena says:

Maria's memoirs says:

Helena says:

Anonymous says:

A little more pink - Cornelia Tonéri says:

Helena says:

Snows says:

Helena says:

Snows says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

4000mil says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Anna says:

Helena says:

Helena says:

Lindha says:

Johnny Friskilä says:

Magnus says:

Helena says:

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