Last Updated: August 13, 2024
Egypt is such an amazing place to visit for so many reasons. The Ancient Egyptian Architecture is staggering.
You feel like you’ve headed back in time or landed on a Hollywood blockbuster set, and a mummy might walk around the corner at any moment!
It also has some great coastal areas, with amazing beaches and beautiful diving and snorkelling areas.
Along with the friendly people and close communities, it really is a very welcoming place to go and a country that has a lot to offer travelling families.
We lived in Egypt for 4 months and got to really immerse ourselves in the country and completely fell in love with it.
Due to the length of time we had there, we got to really explore the country in detail. Below is what we learnt in order to pass onto other families for a guide to visiting the country.
Is Egypt Safe for families?
Egypt has had some troubles over the last couple of decades which has dented the tourism industry. They’ve mainly been isolated incidents, but have been enough to put some people off.
But as a result of these incidents, the Egyptian authorities have put in numerous additional measures to keep the country secure and safe.
And they are now extremely protective of tourists (somewhat annoyingly at times!).
There are regular check points on main roads and high police presence in most tourist areas. There are even some areas where they do not allow tourists to enter. Not because they are dangerous, but just because they are being extra careful.
You’ll often get police escorts as well during some transits. Again, don’t be alarmed if this happens, it’s usually just for show and as a precaution to make tourists feel safe.
Aside from the authorities being ever present, the community is also a very peaceful one.
The crime rate is pretty low in Egypt and the people are mostly very kind and caring.
The most likely unpleasant thing you will encounter in Egypt is being ‘scammed’ or general ‘hassle’, mainly in the tourist spots.
People can sometimes be overly enthusiastic at times about getting you to take their taxi, boat, shop, tour or whatever they are selling.
But if it ever gets too much, a stern ‘la’ (no) or ‘halas’ (that’s enough!) will usually suffice to move them on.
As a white man, I rarely have too much trouble wherever I go (one of the many unfair privileges we tend to get), but it can be more challenging for other genders and ethnicities.
The hassle Nadia would get was certainly a lot more intense than what I experienced, especially if she was out alone.
It’s nothing you won’t have experienced in tourist places before if you’re a frequent traveller. So take the right precautions and take a deep breath and be firm but fair when it gets to ‘that‘ point.
Don’t be afraid to call on the other locals if it gets too much. The good people outweigh the bad, and most will help you if you require it.
Western families are a regular occurrence in Egypt and so we didn’t experience too much over-attention with our kids. We had the odd person asking to take a picture, but pretty rarely in comparison to other countries we’ve been to.
The scams (if you can call them that) are the sort where a person will offer something, maybe taking a photo for you, but then ask for money once done.
So it’s the usual tricky balance of not going in too close minded and defensive, but also keeping your wits about you!
But other than this, we would say Egypt is no less safe than any other country we’ve visited. And one of the more visitor welcoming ones in many ways.
Entering and Staying in Egypt with Kids
Egypt is one of the simpler countries to enter currently, with a straightforward visa process that can be done online.
But there are few various options for how to enter and then stay in the country depending on where you are heading and for how long.
To read some further detail on this, head to our Egypt Entrance and Visa page.
Egypt itinerary for a family with kids
Egypt is split into 2 main sections, with the Sinai Peninsula to the east of the Gulf of Suez and then the remainder of Egypt to the west.
The vast majority of the population and sites are clustered up and down the River Nile or over by the Red Sea Coast. And taking the time to explore the various areas is highly recommended.
Below is our suggested 3 week Egypt itinerary for families. It covers the Nile area and Red Sea area. Hitting what we think are the best cultural and natural sites that you can do in a limited time.
If you have slightly less time we also have some suggestions of what you could cut down on in brackets to make a 2 week family itinerary.
1. Hurghada – 2. Marsa Alam – 3. Aswan – 4. Luxor – 5. Faiyum – 6. Cairo
Hurghada – 3 (1) Nights
Hurghada is a good starting point for families for many reasons.
Due to it being a popular holiday destination, there are many flights in and out of Hurghada. So this can be a good place to arrive into the country if coming in internationally.
Whilst it doesn’t have any Ancient Egyptian sites nearby, it has countless beaches and areas to swim. Plus many other attractions for kids to enjoy.
If you want some more detail on Hurghada then head over to our Hurghda Guide with Kids post to see the details of the city and it’s attractions.
Marsa Alam 4 (2) Nights
South of Hurghada is Marsa Alam, another Red Sea area, but this one is much quieter and an up and coming area.
If you’re after some peace and tranquillity then there are some great areas to hit around here.
Tondoba Bay, was an absolute paradise for our eldest. Here you can do snorkelling and diving courses. With spotting sea turtles a regular occurrence here.
Aswan – 2 (2) Nights
At the southern tip of the Nile lies Aswan. A gorgeous city, which is a great stop off on any Egyptian itinerary.
It’s one of the best places to take a Felucca on the Nile, which is the common type of sail boat you will often see on the waters.
You can cruise around Elephantine Island, one of the Nubian areas in Aswan. Stop off at the Tombs of the Nobles, Aswan Botanical Gardens, Aga Khan Mausoleum and whatever else takes your fancy.
A little drive from Aswan is also the High Damn and the Philae temple.
The High Damn is a little bit of a tourist trap in our opinion, with not much there and a bit of a high entry price (for Egypt) at around 150-200 EGP per person. But if you’re interested in it then it can be worth a butchers.
The Philae Temple is a beautiful one, and it is situated out on a small island. Because of this yo will need to take a boat, which can be costly. But pay what you feel is reasonable and maybe join with other tourists if it lowers the cost.
A much bigger drive from Aswan is also Abu Simbel, one of the most popular Ancient Egyptian temples to visit in Egypt. It’s over a 3 hour drive from Aswan, but is a popular day trip.
Luxor – 5 (3) Nights
You will be absolutely spoiled for Ancient Egyptian architecture in Luxor.
There is (deep breath) Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple Complex, Avenue of the Sphinx, Habu Temple, Colossi of Memnon and even more…
On top of all tat you can even do a hot air balloon ride to get a bird’s eye view of it all, which is an incredible experience and a great place to do one if you haven’t before.
With views of the desert and mountains one side, the fields of the west bank, the Nile river and the city of Luxor the other side.
Considering how much there is to do, it’s surprising how many people swing by Luxor on a day tour.
We would definitely say to stay a good few days and maybe even make it the biggest chunk of your trip. We’ve got a separate guide on Luxor if you want to know more.
Faiyum – 3 (3) Nights
Faiyum is an oasis just south of Cairo. Here you can head to some incredible sites.
Valley of the Whales is one of the more unique things we came across in Egypt. Where you can wonder around the desert and see prehistoric whale skeletons!
The other side of the oasis is also a petrified forest, along with some more prehistoric skeletons.
You can opt to do this area as a tour from Cairo, but we think that as there is so much on offer it’s more logistically comfortable to stay in Faiyum itself.
One of the usual stop off spots n the tours is Tunis Village. But this is a great place to actually stay so you can really explore this pottery village. And then from here, you can easily get jeep tours to the various sites without having to rush.
Cairo – 4 (3) Nights
Cairo has people on top of people on top of people. It’s a crazy and busy city and one that not all are a fan of. But we loved it and it has some great sites that you can visit.
And they don’t come much bigger than The Great Pyramids.
Although this is technically in Giza not Cairo. But it can easily be done from Cairo either on a tour, or just grabbing a taxi or Uber or even the microbus.
Some people opt to stay in Giza for some or all of their time, but other than the Pyramids there isn’t much other than overpriced tourist restaurants. And you will probably get more hassle in Giza than if you just stay in downtown Cairo.
Away from the Pyramids, there are other great attractions in Cairo.
The Citadel, a medieval Islamic fortification, is a great place to explore.
Here, you can visit numerous Mosques, the biggest being the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (not the boxer!). There’s also the National Military Museum. The outside being particularly fun for kids, with the opportunity to climb and sit on military vehicle replicas.
There are also amazing views of Cairo from there and on a clear day you can see right out to the pyramids.
The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities is also a must. Even though exhibits are in the process of being moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza (which has been partially opened now after many many delays!) thee are still some to explore at the old venue.
Getting Around Egypt
Getting around Egypt is a fairly simple and you have a good few options for doing it as a family. Although it does require some patience and perseverance (as a lot of things do in Egypt).
There are numerous ways to get about with, Trains, Boats, Coaches, Cars and Tuk-Tuks all offering a good method for various situations.
If you want some further detail, you can head to our Getting Around Egypt with Kids post.
Eating in Egypt with Kids
Egyptian food is cheap, fresh and delicious. With lots of different cuisines to try it can be a taste bud treat for families in Egypt.
We’ve been used to having Arabic food in our family, with the Yemini influence at home. And we found lots of our favourites in Egypt whilst there.
Ful is a hearty breakfast meal packed with protein as a beans based meal. And Shakshouka is another delicious breakfast that we love, made of eggs in a tomato base.
You’ll find numerous types of Tagines meals to eat. And for a quick bite a Shawarma, an Egyptian style sandwich, always hits the spot.
For the budget travellers it is very cheap for food in Egypt. Providing you don’t head to the tourist restaurants all the time.
Street food is common. You’ll see falafel stands regularly and they are absolutely delicious. We pretty much lived off the falafel sandwiches, and we never get bored of them. Even after 4 months!
For self catering you might need to hit a few shops when doing your groceries. Such as a convenience store for the essentials, then the fruit and veg shop, then the spice shop, then the bakery etc. They often won’t have prices so be prepared to haggle!
You do get larger supermarkets in some places as well. But they are often more expensive, although they have the advantage of usually having the price on the items at least.
Accommodation in Egypt
Accommodation varies widely by area. The more touristic areas have the big hotels. But you can also find lovely apartments and smaller BnBs and hostels for much cheaper if you prefer.
The usual sites such as Booking.com and Airbnb will have a choice for pretty much any level of budget.
Camping can also be done in a lot of areas. Camping in the dessert or on the beach is a great way to spend one or two nights. There’s various types of camping within Egypt. With permanent camps set up around various areas but some guides and tours will also take you out and set up tents like a traditional camping set up.
Some camping is only allowed if you have the resident permit. But there are plenty that will accommodate the short term tourists as well. So just have a quick check before you try to sort one out.
Accomodation can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, so decide your budget and go from there.