Quick answer
Most toilets tourists use in Egypt, in hotels, cruise ships, restaurants, museums and major sites, are Western-style sit-down toilets, usually with a built-in bidet spray. Public toilets often have an attendant who hands out paper and expects a small tip of around 10 to 20 Egyptian pounds at the time of writing. Carry tissues, hand sanitiser and small notes, use the toilet whenever you see a good one, and put paper in the bin where one is provided.
What are toilets like in Egypt?
In hotels, cruise ships, good restaurants, museums and the main archaeological sites, toilets are Western-style and generally acceptable; in local cafés, older train carriages, roadside stops and villages, standards drop and squat toilets appear. On a private tour, your guide and driver plan stops around the cleanest options, which removes most of the anxiety travellers bring with them.
Two things surprise Australians. The first is the bidet spray, present in almost every Egyptian bathroom. The second is that public toilets are often staffed by an attendant who keeps them clean, hands out paper and expects a small tip. Neither is a problem once you know the routine.
The Grand Egyptian Museum and the newer visitor centres at sites such as the Valley of the Kings and the Giza plateau have modern, well-kept facilities. Older ticket-office toilets at smaller temples can be basic but usable. Signs often appear in Arabic only: rigal (رجال) for men and sayyidat (سيدات) for women. If in doubt, ask fein el-hammam? (where is the toilet?).
How do you use the bidet spray, or bum gun?
Egyptian toilets usually have either a small nozzle built into the back of the bowl, controlled by a tap beside the toilet, or a hand-held spray hose on the wall; both are for washing after using the toilet. Washing with water is the standard Egyptian practice for hygiene, which is also why the left hand is reserved for this and not for eating.
- Built-in nozzle: the small tap or lever, usually on the right of the toilet, sends a jet of water upward from inside the bowl. Turn it gently at first; pressure varies from a trickle to a fire hose, and an unwary turn while standing can soak you, the floor and the person in the next cubicle.
- Hand-held spray (shattafa): aim and squeeze; again, start gently.
- Drying: use a little toilet paper or tissue to pat dry. Egyptians often carry their own.
You don't have to use it, but many travellers become converts within a week. If the tap is dripping or the floor is wet, it is almost always water from the spray, not anything worse.
Do you need to carry toilet paper in Egypt?
Yes: carry a pocket pack of tissues and hand sanitiser at all times, because public toilets often have no paper or soap, or paper only from the attendant.
In older buildings and many smaller establishments, plumbing can't cope with paper, so a small lidded bin is provided beside the toilet for used paper. If there is a bin, use it, even though it feels strange; blockages are common otherwise. Hotels, cruise ships and modern buildings usually handle paper normally, and there will be no bin. Your cruise manager will tell you if a ship's system is an exception.
A small daypack kit makes every toilet stop painless: a pack of tissues or a travel roll, a small bottle of hand sanitiser, a few wet wipes, and some 10 and 20 pound notes. Women often add a sarong or scarf, useful for covering up at mosques too. Sanitary pads are sold in every pharmacy and supermarket; tampons are easy to buy in Cairo, Alexandria and the Red Sea resorts but scarce in smaller towns, so bring what you need for the trip. All of it fits in a zip pocket and costs little; see our Egypt packing list.
How much do you tip a toilet attendant in Egypt?
Around 10 to 20 Egyptian pounds per person is typical at the time of writing, handed over as you leave; you pay a little more if the attendant gives you paper or if the facilities are particularly well kept.
Attendants at tourist sites, cafés and service stations earn much of their income from these tips, and many keep the toilets spotless in difficult conditions. At some sites the attendant sits at the door with a small dish; elsewhere they will hand you a few sheets of paper as you go in. Paying is expected, but nobody should demand a large amount: if someone asks for 50 pounds or US dollars, smile, pay the normal amount and walk on.
Keep a stash of small notes specifically for toilets, since attendants rarely have change for a 200. Inflation means typical amounts creep upward; your guide will tell you what is current. For tipping across the rest of your trip, see our tipping in Egypt guide.
Where are the best toilet stops on a typical Egypt itinerary?
Use the toilets at your hotel, on the cruise ship and at museums before heading into the big open-air sites, because facilities inside the large temple and tomb complexes are limited and often only at the entrance.
| Place | What to expect | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Giza pyramids | Facilities near the entrances and visitor areas; little out on the plateau itself | Go before setting off to the panorama point or into a pyramid |
| Grand Egyptian Museum | Modern, plentiful and clean | A good stop on any Giza day |
| Valley of the Kings | At the visitor centre near the entrance | Nothing in the valley itself; go before the tram ride up |
| Karnak and Luxor temples | Near the entrances | Karnak is vast; plan before walking to the far end |
| Abu Simbel road | A rest stop roughly halfway on the three-hour drive from Aswan | Basic; carry tissues and small notes |
| Nile cruise | Your cabin bathroom, plus lobby toilets | Use the ship before temple excursions |
On long road journeys, such as Cairo to Alexandria, Hurghada to Luxor or Cairo to Bahariya Oasis, drivers stop at highway service stations, which range from modern rest areas with cafés to simple roadside facilities. Ask your driver to stop at the better ones; they know them all, and a quick word before you set off saves an awkward roadside request later.
What about squat toilets, the desert and travelling with children?
Squat toilets are still found in some local cafés, older train carriages, mosques and rural areas; in the desert there are often no toilets at all, and children are best handled with frequent planned stops.
- Squat toilets: face the door, roll up trouser hems, keep your pockets zipped, and use the spray or jug of water provided. Tourist trains and the sleeper train to Luxor and Aswan have sit-down toilets in most carriages.
- The desert: on White Desert and Siwa trips, the bathroom is behind a rock or dune. Some camps set up a portable toilet tent. Carry a small bag to take used paper away with you, as it doesn't decompose in the dry air. See our desert camping guide.
- On the water: feluccas have no toilets, so go before a two-hour sail. Dahabiyas have ensuite bathrooms in every cabin.
- Children: take every opportunity at hotels, museums and restaurants, carry a travel potty or disposable seat covers for toddlers, and keep wipes handy. Our Egypt with kids guide has more family tips.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to use toilets in Egypt?
Often, yes, in the form of a tip to the attendant. Around 10 to 20 Egyptian pounds is typical at the time of writing. Toilets in hotels, restaurants where you are eating, and on cruise ships are free.
Can you flush toilet paper in Egypt?
In hotels, cruise ships and modern buildings, usually yes. Where a small bin is provided beside the toilet, put used paper in the bin, because the plumbing may not cope with it.
Are there toilets at the pyramids?
Yes, near the entrances and visitor areas of the Giza plateau, and plenty at the nearby Grand Egyptian Museum. There are few or none out among the pyramids, so go before you set off.
What is the bum gun in Egyptian toilets?
It is a bidet spray, either a nozzle built into the toilet bowl and controlled by a tap beside it, or a hand-held hose. It is used for washing after using the toilet. Turn it on gently, as pressure can be strong.
