Can international travelers pay by card in Egypt, or is it better to withdraw Egyptian pounds in cash?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 17 days ago
TL;DR
Cards are accepted in some tourist spots in Egypt, but you should still carry Egyptian pounds in cash. The safest option is to withdraw EGP from an ATM at the hotel and use cards selectively in places like pharmacies, Senzo Mall shops, and airport duty free.
What the community said
In the most recent report, a UnionPay card worked in several places: withdrawing Egyptian pounds from an ATM next to the hotel reception, paying at a pharmacy, at the airport duty free, and at the Adidas store across the road. Small souvenirs were often paid in US dollars, while cash EGP was mainly used for tips and minor purchases.
17 days ago UnionPay, ATM by hotel reception, pharmacy, duty free, Adidas
One traveler noticed that card payments do happen in Egypt, but mostly among locals, so foreign cards may not always work reliably. If you are using an international bank card, it is safer to keep some Egyptian pounds on hand.
17 days ago
Another traveler reported that some places may refuse card payments entirely, so you should not rely only on cashless payment. In that case, the practical advice was to withdraw Egyptian pounds at the hotel, although card payment did work at a pharmacy in Senzo Mall.
17 days ago Senzo Mall