Egypt: What to Wear

In Egypt, the religious atmosphere and desert climate call for a particular dress code. Visitors should allow for more conservative dress in Cairo and other cities, and especially in rural areas or when visiting mosques or other religious sites. Casual, loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that covers the knees and elbows is best.

Here, Indagare’s Egypt experts outline their top recommendations for what to wear in Egypt:

“Bring a hat and sunglasses to protect against the sun and sand,” advises Indagare founder Melissa Biggs Bradley. You can buy hats in Egypt, but they tend to be cheap and let the sun in, so it's better to pack your own.

2. Dress respectfully.

When you’re visiting religious sites, shoulders have to be covered, as well as legs (past the knee).

3. Go for casual comfort. For bottoms, we recommend bringing jeans, chinos and khakis, as well as clothing that you won’t worry about getting dusty. Bring light cotton shirts like tees or button-downs, in addition to a few sweaters that you can layer on and off throughout the day. 

4. Sturdy walking shoes are key.

“Comfortable shoes are so important,” says Indagare’s Ramona Bass. “You will spend a lot of time spent standing, and the ground is unpaved and uneven at many tourist sites.”

5. Layer. “The best piece of clothing I brought was a light Michael Kors down jacket,” says Indagare’s Ried Stelly. “ I also recommended a light scarf—not just for comfort, but to add some style to otherwise very casual attire.”