Scams and Hassle: A Field Guide

Visitors complain about hassle in Egypt more than anything else. It is real — and easy to handle once you know how it works.

How it works

Nearly every scam starts with a small favour you did not ask for, then a bill. A headscarf is handed to your child. Your camera is taken to photograph you. A "guard" waves you into a chamber. A camel handler helps you climb on.

The price comes afterwards, once you feel you owe something.

Two phrases

"La, shukran." — No, thank you. Once, then keep walking at the same pace.

"How much before you start?" — Every time, for everything.

That covers about 90% of it.

The ones you will meet

Camels. Getting on and getting off are priced separately. Agree one total before you touch the camel, and photograph the number on your phone.

"It's closed." You are told the museum is shut today and offered somewhere else. It isn't. Go to the gate.

Fake guards. A man in a nearly-uniform shirt lifts a rope or offers a photo in a forbidden spot, then asks for money. He is not staff.

Papyrus "institutes". Good workshops exist and are worth seeing. The one a driver takes you to without asking pays him a 40% commission — which you pay.

Taxi meters. Cairo's black-and-white taxis don't use them. Fix the fare before you get in, or use Uber or Careem and skip the haggling.

Look-alike notes. Check your change: in poor light the 200 and 10 EGP notes are easy to confuse.

"Gifts". A scarab, a bracelet, a flower put into your hand. None of them are free.

Baksheesh is different

Tipping is a proper part of how service works in Egypt. A real service, a small amount, before you asked — that is baksheesh, and 10–20 EGP is normal and welcome. It is not the same as the tricks above.

With a guide

On a guided tour your Egyptologist takes care of all this: paying site staff, dealing with the camel, and keeping you out of shops unless you want to go in. Our guides take zero commission from any shop, so they will happily tell you when not to buy.