Where to exchange USD for Egyptian pounds in Sharm El Sheikh (best rates)?

In late August 2026 a traveler wrote that the exchange booth to the right of the mosque (when facing it) offers a better rate than ATMs — roughly 1 Egyptian pound more per dollar — but a passport is required. In their estimate, with 100 dollars the difference would barely cover a taxi back to the hotel, so any ATM will do; with 1,000 dollars or more, the trip to the booth makes sense.

After exchanging, paying in Egyptian pounds is generally more favorable: when paying in USD, sellers often use a tourist-unfriendly exchange rate and round the amount up. Excursions may be an exception.

Check the hotel rate too. In mid-August 2026 travelers wrote that they exchanged 100 dollars at a time everywhere, the ATM never refused, and the hotel rate turned out better than at the exchange point near Fix Price. In September another participant said they also almost always exchange 100 dollars at a time and spend it gradually.

Exchanging through an intermediary usually costs a little. In late August 2026 a tourist had money exchanged by a man other tourists booked excursions through: for 100 dollars she got 5,000 Egyptian pounds and considered the small gap from the market rate an acceptable price for not hunting for an exchange booth. In early August travelers also reported that at markets, beaches and Fix Price, change for dollar payments was given at 50 pounds per dollar.

There is an opposite view. In early August 2026 one traveler wrote that they prefer to withdraw pounds with a card despite the fee: they were put off by ATMs often swallowing new dollar bills, after which tourists spend two days at the bank getting them back. In their words, dollars are mostly needed for excursions.

In late July 2026 a traveler said they knew an exchange point in the Gomla area. Its sign is in Arabic, so they asked a local resident for help with the exchange and paid him a dollar for it.

In summer 2026 participants advised buying US dollars before the trip and exchanging them for Egyptian pounds on site: in their experience, paying in pounds works out better than paying in dollars.