Egypt

Where the luxury lines call

• Cairo5 lines

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

• February
  • Abu Simbel Sun Festival, Abu Simbel
    Twice a year, in February and October, the dawn sun reaches the inner sanctuary of Ramesses II's temple and lights the statues of the king and the gods, an alignment about 3,300 years old.
• October
  • Nile cruising, Luxor to Aswan
    The classic way to see Upper Egypt from autumn to spring, with warm, dry days for the temples of Karnak, Edfu and Kom Ombo. The Oberoi Philae sails between Luxor and Aswan.
• November
  • Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt
    Founded in 1976 and based at the Cairo Opera House, it is the only festival in the Arab world and Africa accredited in the international film producers' federation's Category A.
  • Forever Is Now, Giza Pyramids, Egypt
    Contemporary art installations set among the Pyramids of Giza, organised by Art D'Égypte each autumn since 2021, under UNESCO patronage.

Language

Arabic is the official language; the Egyptian dialect is understood across the Arab world. English, and to a lesser extent French, are widely spoken among the educated and throughout luxury hotels, Nile cruises and upscale restaurants.

Greetings

A handshake is standard, usually offered with warmth and unhurried conversation, often over tea or coffee. Close friends of the same sex may kiss on the cheek. A man should let a woman offer her hand first.

Dress

Western clothing is fine in hotels, restaurants and tourist venues. For mosques and churches, cover shoulders and wear skirts or trousers below the knee; women should bring a headscarf for mosques, and shoes are removed at the entrance. Modest dress in town avoids unwanted attention; keep swimwear to the beach, pool or boat. On yachts and dahabiyas, no hard-soled shoes on deck. Fine dining is smart-casual.

Dining

Lunch is often the main meal and is taken in mid-afternoon; dinner is late, commonly 9 pm or after. Reservations are wise at leading restaurants in Cairo, Alexandria and the North Coast.

Tipping

Restaurants and bars generally add a 12% service charge, and VAT of 14% may be added on top of listed prices, yet a small extra tip for the waiter is still expected. Tipping (baksheesh) is a normal part of daily life: carry small notes for drivers, guides and attendants at sites. Luxury hotels: porters the equivalent of €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, in Egyptian pounds.

Good to know

During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants continue to serve visitors. The working week runs Sunday to Thursday.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.