Quick answer
Women do travel alone in Egypt safely, but most will experience frequent verbal harassment: comments, persistent attention, staring and, occasionally in crowds, unwanted touching. It is wearing rather than usually dangerous, and it drops sharply with a private guide and driver, at Red Sea resorts and in Aswan. Firm, short responses, ride-hailing apps and planning your evenings make the biggest difference.
What is harassment in Egypt actually like for foreign women?
Expect a steady stream of attention: men calling out, asking where you are from and whether you are married, sellers who will not take no for an answer, and a lot of staring; physical harassment is less common but does happen, mostly in crowds. It is not a myth or an exaggeration, and pretending otherwise does nobody any favours.
Context helps. Sexual harassment is a widely recognised problem for Egyptian women themselves; a much-cited 2013 UN Women study found the overwhelming majority of Egyptian women surveyed had experienced it. Foreign women are often perceived, through films and the internet, as more available, and a woman alone breaks the local norm of women moving with family or friends.
The good news is that most of it is verbal, it rarely escalates when you do not engage, and it varies hugely by place and by how you travel. Many women who travel solo in Egypt go home saying the attention was tiring but the country was wonderful, and that the kindness of Egyptian women and families more than balanced it.
Where will you notice it most, and least?
Harassment is heaviest where tourists, crowds and touts meet, and lightest in places with a relaxed pace or where you are visibly with a guide.
- Most: Khan el-Khalili and the surrounding lanes, downtown Cairo streets after dark, the horse and camel touts at Giza, Luxor's east bank corniche, and very crowded events such as Eid celebrations and moulids.
- Moderate: Hurghada town (as opposed to resorts), Luxor's markets, Alexandria's corniche.
- Least: Aswan, which is noticeably calmer; Zamalek in Cairo; inside the Red Sea resorts and El Gouna; on Nile cruises and dahabiyas; and anywhere you are with a licensed guide.
Ramadan evenings, football match nights and public holidays bring more people onto the streets, which means more crowds. They are also fun, so go, but with company. Our Khan el-Khalili guide covers the bazaar itself.
Which responses and tactics actually work?
Keep walking, keep it short, and do not explain: a calm "la, shukran" (no, thank you) without eye contact ends most approaches, and a loud, public rebuke ends nearly all the rest.
- Do not answer questions. "Where are you from?" is often an opener for a sales pitch or a conversation you do not want. You owe no reply.
- Escalate in public. If someone persists or touches you, say loudly "ihtirim nafsak" (respect yourself) or "aib!" (shame). Bystanders, especially older men and women, very often step in.
- Use sunglasses and headphones. They make it easier to ignore calls without seeming rude.
- Choose your seat. Sit next to women or families on trains and in cafés, and in the back seat of cars.
- Mention a husband if it helps. "Ana mitgawwiza" (I am married) closes a lot of conversations. Some women wear a plain ring for this reason; whether to do so is your call.
- Dress to reduce attention, not eliminate it. Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees help; they will not make you invisible. Our what to wear in Egypt guide covers the detail.
How should a woman travelling alone get around?
Use Uber or Careem rather than street taxis, sit in the back, share your live trip with someone, and fly or take the sleeper train between cities rather than microbuses.
- Ride-hailing. Apps record the driver and route, and the fare is fixed. Check the plate before you get in. If a driver makes comments, end the trip somewhere busy and report it in the app.
- Cairo Metro. Each train has carriages reserved for women, marked with signs; they are calmer and you can travel in mixed carriages too if you prefer. See our Cairo Metro guide.
- Trains. On the overnight sleeper, book a cabin to yourself if you are uneasy sharing; at the time of writing single occupancy can be bought for a supplement.
- At night. Avoid walking alone in quiet streets late, and do not take a private felucca or carriage ride alone after dark.
What are romance scams, and how common are they?
Friendly, attentive men working around tourism, especially in Luxor, Hurghada and Dahab, sometimes court foreign women with the aim of money, gifts or a visa; locals call it "bezness". Not every holiday romance is a scam, but the pattern is well known.
The script is consistent: intense early interest, declarations of love within days, then a sick relative, a business opportunity or a wedding that needs funding, often after you have flown home. Felucca captains, horse and carriage drivers, dive and snorkel crews and shop owners are common roles. If someone you have just met is unusually attentive, enjoy the company if you wish, but never lend money, never pay for a "family" emergency, and be cautious about going somewhere private.
Our common scams in Egypt guide covers the money tricks aimed at every traveller.
Does travelling with a private guide, or a female guide, help?
Yes, dramatically: with a licensed guide and driver, touts and commenters largely leave you alone, and you can request a female Egyptologist. Egypt has many qualified female guides, and some women find touring with one more relaxed, particularly for markets, mosques and evenings out. Availability depends on dates and languages, so ask early.
A private set-up also solves the evenings. Your guide can recommend restaurants where women dine alone without fuss, arrange a driver to collect you, and tell you which cafés are mixed and which are traditional male coffee houses (ahwas), where a lone foreign woman is unusual. A middle path is to use a guide for the big sites and markets and explore on your own in calmer places such as Aswan, Zamalek and resort towns.
Where should you stay, and how do you spend the evenings?
Choose hotels with a 24-hour reception and a restaurant on site, in calmer neighbourhoods such as Zamalek or Giza in Cairo, the west bank or a resort hotel in Luxor, and an island or riverside hotel in Aswan. Larger international hotels have security at the entrance and staff used to solo guests.
Dining alone is easy in hotel restaurants, cruise ships, Zamalek and Maadi cafés and Red Sea resorts. A food tour or cooking class gives you company for an evening with a local host. Rooftop bars in Cairo hotels are a comfortable place for a drink. If someone knocks at your hotel door unexpectedly, call reception rather than opening it.
What should you do if something goes wrong?
Move somewhere busy, ask a woman or family for help, and contact the tourist police on 126; for anything serious, also contact your embassy.
- Tourist police are stationed at major sites and in tourist areas, and take complaints from foreign visitors seriously.
- Tell your guide or hotel. They can help you report an incident and speak Arabic with officials.
- Australians can contact the Australian Embassy in Cairo or the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra (+61 2 6261 3305 at the time of writing; check Smartraveller for current numbers).
- New Zealanders should check SafeTravel for consular contacts.
Our is Egypt safe guide covers the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is Egypt safe for solo female travellers?
Most women who travel alone in Egypt have no serious problems, but nearly all experience verbal harassment and persistent attention. It is tiring rather than usually dangerous, and a private guide, ride-hailing apps and calmer bases such as Aswan reduce it a lot.
Should I wear a headscarf in Egypt as a tourist?
No. Foreign women only need to cover their hair inside mosques. Modest, loose clothing helps more than a headscarf, which does not stop harassment.
Can I request a female tour guide in Egypt?
Yes. Egypt has many licensed female Egyptologists. Ask when you book, as availability depends on your dates and language.
What should I say to someone harassing me in Egypt?
For most approaches, a firm "la, shukran" and walking on is enough. If someone persists or touches you, say loudly "ihtirim nafsak" (respect yourself), move towards other people and, if needed, call the tourist police on 126.
Is it safe to walk alone at night in Cairo?
Busy, well-lit areas such as Zamalek are generally fine in the evening, but expect more comments after dark downtown and around Khan el-Khalili. Use Uber or Careem to get home rather than walking quiet streets.
