Are you wondering what to wear in Egypt? If so, you are in the right place! Whatever month you plan to visit, whether spring, fall, summer or winter, this Egypt packing list and guide to what to wear has women, men and children taken into account!
Egypt is a fascinating place, and can also be known as the hassle capital of the world. One hassle that you do not want to run into, is to ignore the Egypt dress code and cultural norms held by its people. If Egypt will be your first visit to the Middle East, or to a Muslim country, there will definitley be some cultural norms and expectations you will want to prepare for.
One of my favorite things about traveling, is seeing how those in other countries live. If you are anything like me, you will love the foreignness that Egypt brings, while also love the aspect of being a foreigner.
With this guide to what to wear in Egypt, you will not have to worry about packing the wrong types of clothes, or making any Egypt dress code faux pas.
What to Wear in Egypt
Packing your Bags
Before we get into the wardrobe and packing essentials, choose your luggage with care! Are you able to carry your rolling suitcase on and off curbs with ease, load and unload it into vehicles and navigate cobblestones or uneven pavement?
Are you able to carry your backpack with ease, or is it too heavy for your back and causes discomfort. Before you leave on your trip to Egypt, these are two considerations on what to actually put your clothing in, before we even get to the clothing and essentials!
I personally do not like backpacks, and use rolling suitcases whereever I go. I also do not pack light and do not like to stuff everything into a small bag. If you are like me, you are going to want a full size suitcase like this one.
If you hate having to deal with wheels and prefer to have your hands free, then traveling with a travel backpack might be better for you.
Carry On Luggage
Carry on luggage presents the same issues as those mentioned above. If you pack a rolling carryon, can you manage it over curbs and uneven pavement (especially if you already have a rolling suitcase). I personally make sure I only have one thing with wheels.
If you are the same, consider a travel pack or a shoulder bag or something that easily fits over your suitcase handle.
Here are some of the best travel carry on options
Rolling Carry on – If you are set on a roller, get yourself a slim one.
Keeping it all organized
While ziplock bags have been my go-to in the past, once I discovered packing cubes I have not traveled without them. I can get an entire kid’s wardrobe into one packing cube and it makes organizing my suitcase a breeze! I have different colored cubes for each person and then another cube for accessories.
Toiletries are in a handy toiletries bag (you will see more about my favorite one below) and then the shoes and other miscellaneous items are packed around those.
Travel Backpack
Electronics to Pack
Weather in Egypt
Passport Pouch
If you are the kind of person who likes having your passport on your body at all times, invest in a passport pouch. You can get either the neck one or the waist pack.
The big thing about passport pouches is the idea is to NOT go into it when you are out and about. Put your cash for the day in a wallet. If you are flying and know you need your passport, keep it handy.
When you go into your passport pouch in public, you are just showing would-be-theieves that you have valuables under your clothing.
Watch with the waist passport pouch that they do tend to get sweaty if you are in a hot place. You DO NOT want your passport getting wet.
Toiletries Packing List for Egypt
While you can get pretty much what you might have forgotten, if you are on a quick trip, the last thing you want to do is find toothpaste on your vacation. This list of toiletries to pack for Egypt will make sure you do not forget the essentials, or the comforts!
Toiletries Bag – Whether you prefer one toiletry bag or a few small ones the choice is up to you. Try and stay away from bulky ones and get one like this that is only a few inches tall. Since toiletry bags usually go in last, if you have a bulky one, you are going to have a hard time fitting it into your suitcase. If you like the one I linked above, you can also find it on amazon here
Toiletries for Women
Chap Stick (and lotion if you have dry skin) – Let me tell you, I do NOT have dry skin, but Egypt and much of the Middle East has a dry climate that many are not used to. Bring a good lip balm (I always travel with this one and you can get it on amazon here too) and your lips will thank you! Unless you are staying in five-star hotels, do not expect much in the way of bathroom amenities, so if you like a good body lotion, bring your own. There are great travel sizes here.
Shampoo and Conditioner – If you are not picky, feel free to stick with the hotel options, but I have found in the Middle East, the toiletries are severely lacking unless you are staying five-star. And even some of those have those lovely “conditioning shampoos.” If you are picky on your products, best to bring them along. Also if you want to contribute to using less plastic on vacation, avoid those toiletries in the hotel altogether. I have recently bought a shampoo bar (but still stick with my regular conditioner.) If you want to reduce your plastic consumption, you can check out a cute trial size here.
If you need small containers for your shampoo and conditioner, try these ones. They also work for sunscreen and hand sanitizer!
Dry Shampoo – I do not go anywhere without dry shampoo as I have oily hair. If you are doing multi-day hikes or have some early mornings or late nights in your itinerary, you might want to add dry shampoo to your packing list
Hairbrush / Comb and Hair Elastics – Make sure your toiletries bag has everything you need for your hair. If you like to use heat protectants or other products at home, make sure you pack those too (ideally in a travel size).
Hair Straightener / Curling Wand / Hair Dryer – While I rarely pack a hairdryer, if you are picky about it, you might want to bring your own as you may run into a situation where you do not have one while in Egypt. You can even get travel-sized hairdryers and strengtheners. Double-check that you get a dual voltage.
What to Wear in Egypt as a Woman
Packing essentials
cross body bag
Scarf – Whether you want to keep the sun off your head or want to show a little modesty, a scarf goes a long way in Egypt at any time of the year. You can bring one with you or pick up one when you arrive, but don’t leave your hotel in the morning without it! It can serve as a hat to keep the sun off your head and neck in the summer and can add some warmth in winter and can offer modesty to cover shoulders for women.
hat
First aid kit
Things to leave at home
