Money in Sharm El Sheikh: Currency, Cards, Cash and Tipping

Money in Sharm El Sheikh is simple once you know three things: prices are in Egyptian pounds, cards work in bigger places, and you need small notes for everything else. Here is the detail, with official prices where they exist.

The currency

Egypt's currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written E£). One pound is divided into 100 piastres. Sharm Connect, like many tour and transfer sellers, sets its prices in US dollars, but shops, taxis and cafes work in pounds. National Geographic suggests bringing some US dollars for bigger costs.

Cards or cash?

• Cards work in most hotels, bigger restaurants, shopping malls and tour companies.
• Smaller shops, markets, taxis and local cafes usually take cash only.
• ATMs are easy to find in tourist areas and at the airport, and they give Egyptian pounds.
• Banks open Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 to 15:00, with shorter hours in Ramadan.

A good plan is to pay larger bills by card and keep a mix of small Egyptian notes for everyday spending.

How much cash you can bring

You can bring up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds into or out of Egypt. If you carry foreign currency worth more than 10,000 US dollars, you must declare it when you arrive.

Visa costs

• Free entry stamp: if you fly into Sharm and stay less than 15 days in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, entry is free.
• Visa on arrival: 30 US dollars, cash only, valid for up to 30 days. Do not pay an agent more than this.
• E-visa: 30 US dollars for a single entry or 65 US dollars for multiple entries on the official portal. Apply at least 7 days before you travel.

A new fee of 15 US dollars on entry visas starts on 1 January 2027. How it changes the final price is not confirmed yet. Our visa checker tells you which option you need.

What things cost

We only list prices we could confirm from an official or published source:

• Sharm El Sheikh Museum: 200 Egyptian pounds for a foreign adult and 100 for a student.
• Airport transfer: Sharm Connect's fixed price per car starts at 20 US dollars, depending on your area. You pay online when you book, by PayPal or card.
• Glass-bottom boat: Sharm Connect's 2-hour reef cruise starts at 25 US dollars per adult.

For medicine, the UK Foreign Office notes that some hotel doctors have overcharged, and that pharmacies outside hotels often supply medication at lower prices.

Tipping (baksheesh)

Tipping, called baksheesh, is part of almost every service in Egypt. Keep small notes for porters, toilet attendants, mosque caretakers and guards at sites. Guidebooks give different amounts, so we do not quote a fixed figure: tip what feels fair for the service, and more for a guide or driver who looked after you all day.

Practical tips

• Tell your bank before you travel, so your card is not blocked.
• Carry a little cash for the first day in case an ATM is out of order.
• Ask the price before a taxi ride or a market purchase, and agree it before you start.
• Keep your passport or a copy with you: police check ID regularly.

Useful links

• Airport transfer prices for every area
• Egypt visa checker
• Egyptian SIM or eSIM set-up
• Things to do in Sharm El Sheikh

Sources

• Currency, cards, ATMs and bank hours, World Travel Guide (26 December 2025): worldtravelguide.net
• Cash, cards and tipping, National Geographic Traveller (9 May 2024): nationalgeographic.com
• Cash limits, entry stamp and visa on arrival, UK Foreign Office (updated 4 August 2026): gov.uk
• E-visa prices, Egypt e-Visa portal: visa2egypt.gov.eg
• New visa fee from 2027, Arab Finance (31 August 2026): arabfinance.com
• Museum tickets, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: egymonuments.gov.eg
• Hotel doctors and pharmacies, UK Foreign Office health advice: gov.uk
• ID checks, UK Foreign Office safety and security: gov.uk