Fair prices in Egypte — what things really cost

Borg El Arab airport lies about 45 kilometres west of central Alexandria, so a ride into town takes close to an hour. A ride-hailing app such as Uber or Careem fixes the price in advance and is usually cheaper and clearer than an airport taxi; agree any taxi fare before you set off.

The intercity train is the easiest way to arrive from Cairo, taking roughly two and a half to three hours. Faster air-conditioned Spanish and VIP trains cost more than the slower ordinary services. Buy tickets in advance at the station or through the official railway channels, and keep your ticket to hand.

Yellow-and-black city taxis rarely use a meter, so agree the fare before getting in or, better, use a ride-hailing app that fixes the price. Short hops around the centre should cost only a little; run all prices in Egyptian pounds and pay with small notes.

The city's famous spicy fried-liver sandwich is a cheap street classic sold from carts and hole-in-the-wall shops, especially downtown and in Bahari. Point to a busy stall with high turnover, and add tahini, pickles and chilli to taste for a filling few-pound snack.

At Alexandria's seafood restaurants you usually pick your fish from an iced display and pay by weight, then it is grilled or fried to order. Ask the price per kilo and confirm the total weight before cooking, so the bill matches what you chose. Bread, salads and dips are normally extra.

Sweet black tea, cardamom Turkish coffee and cold sobia are everywhere and cheap. A historic seafront cafe costs a little more than a backstreet ahwa, but both are normal and not a scam. Sitting for an hour over one drink is completely acceptable.

Airport taxis are not metered, so agree the fare before you get in or book a transfer in advance. The airport sits well outside town, so expect to pay more than a short in-town ride.

Prices are per boat, not per person, and are always negotiated. Agree the total price and the exact duration before boarding, since captains sometimes try to cut the sail short or add charges mid-trip.

A motorboat is faster and pricier than a felucca, useful for reaching Philae or a Nubian village on your own schedule. Confirm whether the quoted price covers the round trip and any waiting time.

Corniche restaurants with Nile views charge more for the setting; a block or two back, similar Egyptian and Nubian food costs noticeably less. Ask for the bill itemised if service isn't clearly included.

Cheap, filling and often the best food in town. Pick a busy stall for freshness and expect to pay in small notes.

Aswan is hibiscus country, and cold karkade is the local specialty; it should cost about the same as tea. Cafes on the Corniche charge a little more for the river view.

A qualified guide is especially useful at Abu Simbel and Philae, where the history is dense. Book through your hotel or a reputable agency and agree the price and itinerary in advance.

The temple ticket does not include the short boat ride to Agilkia Island. The fare is per boat, so it's cheaper if you can share with other visitors.

Order through a ride-hailing app for a fair, upfront price and to avoid airport touts. If you take a street taxi, agree the fare in advance as meters are often not used.

A ride-hailing app avoids haggling. For a street taxi, agree the price before getting in and carry small notes, as drivers rarely give correct change.

Eating where locals do is excellent value. Restaurants aimed squarely at tourists near the big sights charge much more for similar food.

Koshari, Egypt's rice, pasta and lentil staple, is filling and very cheap from a busy local shop. Choose places with high turnover for freshness.

A traditional coffee house is the cheapest and most authentic place for tea or Turkish coffee. Prices are posted or well known; confirm if unsure.

A qualified guide brings the history alive and helps you avoid touts. Book through your hotel or a reputable agency, and confirm the price and hours in advance.

A pre-booked private car from Sharm El Sheikh airport to your Dahab hotel is the most convenient arrival option and takes around 90 minutes. Agree the fixed price when you book, and if you are travelling solo, ask your guesthouse to help you share a car to cut the cost.

The public East Delta bus between Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab is by far the cheapest link but does not stop at the airport itself, so you need a short taxi to the bus station and some schedule flexibility. Buy your ticket at the station and keep small change ready.

Most dive centres run a Blue Hole day that bundles transport, guide, gear and the entrance and checkpoint fees into one clear price. Compare a couple of well-reviewed centres rather than the cheapest sign, and confirm exactly what is included before paying.

Dahab's blue pickup trucks act as taxis and short hops across town cost only a dollar or two. There are no meters, so agree the fare before getting in. Walking the promenade is free and often just as quick.

Fish and seafood are usually sold by weight and priced fresh, so ask the price per kilo and confirm the weight of your fish before it is cooked. Eating a street back from the seafront is often cheaper for the same catch.

Local street-food spots serve a filling plate of koshari, ful or taameya falafel for very little. These are the best value meals in town; prices are low, so rounding up or a small tip is a kind gesture.

Sweet black tea with fresh mint or desert herbs is served everywhere for the price of a coin. A cushioned seafront cafe costs a little more than a simple stall, but both are normal, not a scam.

Buy your ticket at the official plateau ticket office or online where available, not from anyone approaching you outside. The general ticket covers walking the site; interiors cost extra.

A limited number of interior tickets are sold each day and they cost extra. Buy only at the official window. The interior is cramped and hot, so decide if it is worth it for you.

Rides are optional. If you want one, agree the full price, the exact route and the duration in writing or clearly before mounting, and never hand over your ticket or phone to the handler.

A ride-hailing app gives an upfront fair price and drops you near the entrance. Avoid drivers who insist on waiting and then pressure you into shops or a set 'tour'.

A qualified guide explains the site and deflects touts. Book through your hotel or a reputable agency and confirm the price and hours in advance, separate from any ride or shopping stop.

Water on the plateau costs more than in the city. Carry plenty from your hotel, especially in warm months, as there is little shade among the monuments.

Restaurants right by the entrance with pyramid views charge a premium. Eat a little further into Giza for better value, or bring snacks for the plateau.

A full-day snorkelling boat trip with lunch is the classic Hurghada outing and good value when booked through a hotel or reputable operator. The cheapest tickets sold on the street can mean overcrowded boats and hidden marine-park fees, so confirm exactly what is included.

Hurghada airport is close to town, so a taxi should be cheap, but drivers rarely use a meter and will quote high to arrivals. Agree the fare and destination before getting in, or use a pre-booked hotel transfer, which is often clearer and only a little more.

Town taxis are unmetered, so negotiate the price before you set off and have small notes ready. Short hops within Hurghada should cost only a few dollars; the shared microbuses that run along the main road are far cheaper again if you know the route.

A sit-down meal at a mid-range restaurant is inexpensive by European standards. Eat a street back from the marina for better prices, and check whether service and tax are already added before leaving a tip.

Seafood restaurants often sell fish by weight from a chilled display. Confirm the price per kilo and the weight of your fish before it is cooked to avoid a surprise bill, and pick busy places where the catch turns over quickly.

A bowl of koshari from a dedicated koshari shop is one of the cheapest and most filling meals in Egypt. Portions are generous, it is vegetarian, and a large plate with extra sauce and crispy onions still costs very little.

Juice stalls press mango, guava, orange and sugarcane cheaply, and cold karkade (hibiscus) is a refreshing local staple. A cup costs about a dollar; agree the price at tourist-area stalls, which sometimes charge visitors more.

The airport is only about 6km from central Luxor. Agree the fare before getting in, or book a transfer through your hotel; ride-hailing app coverage in Luxor is limited compared with Cairo.

Agree the total price and duration before boarding, and confirm clearly that it is for the whole carriage, not per person - this is a very common misunderstanding.

Rates are negotiable and vary with the season and your bargaining. Settle the hourly price and total duration with the captain before casting off.

Restaurants along the corniche aimed at cruise-ship and tour groups charge noticeably more than places a block or two back from the river.

As in the rest of Egypt, koshari is cheap, filling and easy to find near the souk and town center. Pick a busy stall for the freshest bowl.

A simple tea house in the souk or side streets is far cheaper than a corniche-front cafe with river views.

Rates vary widely between hiring directly at a site, through your hotel, or via an agency; hotel and agency bookings usually cost more due to commission. Confirm the price, itinerary and hours in advance.

Book a transfer through your hotel or a ride app before you arrive for a fixed, fair price. Drivers waiting outside arrivals often quote several times the going rate to visitors who look unfamiliar with local fares.

A day trip to Tiran Island or the local reefs, usually with lunch and soft drinks included. Compare a few operators, since the quality of the boat, guide and gear varies more than the price does.

Prices vary a lot by dive center and what's included. Choose a PADI- or SSI-affiliated center over a cheap, unbranded operator, and ask to see the boat and equipment before booking if you can.

Restaurants along the Naama Bay promenade often add service charges or a cover fee for bread that aren't obvious on the menu. Ask for the full bill breakdown before you order if the menu doesn't show it.

Local taxis in Sharm almost never use their meters. Agree the fare before getting in, and ask your hotel reception what a fair price is for your specific trip.

Resort markups on water are steep. Buy a few large bottles from a supermarket or corner shop when you arrive rather than relying on hotel or beachfront prices.

Package price depends on group size and inclusions like camel rides or stargazing. Book with a licensed safari operator that provides a safety briefing and working quad bikes, not just the cheapest street-side offer.