What to Wear in Egypt – Stylish and Appropriate Tips for Women
This is our guide for what to wear in Egypt as a female traveler — A complete packing guide to visiting all of Egypt’s most beautiful landmarks while respecting the local culture and feeling comfortable.
Trying to figure out what to wear as a woman in a Muslim-majority country like Egypt can be tricky. Can you wear skinny jeans or leggings? Shorts? Should I cover my head? As with many things, the answer is — it depends!
There are unofficial dress codes in Egypt, depending on the city and the region. Wearing something too revealing will not only attract unwanted attention, but could also offend locals. As a female tourist, I naturally stood out and drew attention, but dressing a certain way minimized this.
During our time living in and traveling around Egypt, I learned that the ‘dress code’ depends a lot on your environment (city centers, touristy areas, and resorts) and the time of year you’ll be traveling. For example, what you would wear in beach towns and resorts like Sharm El Sheikh is drastically different from what you would wear in Cairo.
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Certain clothing choices I felt were conservative enough still gave me a lot of stares and unwanted attention. After several weeks in Egypt and a lot of uncomfortable moments, I’ve finally figured it out. Here’s the comprehensive guide on what to wear as a woman traveling to Egypt in every situation!
We’ve also written about what you can expect as a solo woman traveling to Egypt. Read my honest observations and tips here.
Contents
Common Questions About How to Dress in Egypt
Below are my answers to a few common questions people have about what to wear in Egypt.
Do you have to cover your head or wear a head covering?
This is probably one of the first things I googled when I started the packing process. Despite being a Muslim majority country, Egypt is quite progressive than other countries in the region. So it is not required that you cover your head or wear a scarf over your head in Egypt.
That being said, you will be far more likely to get stares if your head isn’t covered. This isn’t because people are offended by you or feel your dress is inappropriate. They stare because you simply stand out as a foreigner.
Because not covering your head makes you stand out, I did make it a habit of wearing a hood over my head or a scarf if I didn’t want to draw too much attention.
Can you wear skinny jeans or leggings?
You may think skinny jeans or leggings might be too form-fitting, but this is a day-to-day staple of many local Egyptian women. Just make sure leggings are not see-through.
Can you wear shorts? How much leg is too much leg?
In general, I would say no, shorts are usually not appropriate in Egypt, especially in big cities. It’s even generally a no-no for men to wear shorts in Cairo.
What you can wear in Egypt depends a lot on where you are. The only places shorts are generally acceptable are in beach towns or resorts.
If you’re wondering “how much is too much leg?”: A good rule of thumb is to cover the knees. Skirts should generally be below the knees. Nice breezy maxi skirts are the safest bet. Short skirts and dresses are acceptable in beach towns and resorts.
Do I have to cover my shoulders and arms?
The answer to this is quite similar to the one about legs. Shoulders should almost always be covered and the only exception is if you’re in beach towns or resorts. T-shirts are ok, especially when it’s warmer.
What to Wear in Egypt – Weather Tips
The first thing to keep in mind when deciding what to pack is the time of year you’ll be visiting. We arrived in Cairo in January and found it to be surprisingly chilly with temps ranging from 45°F – 65°F. I debated whether I should bring my down jacket, but was glad I did.
Fall and Spring (Sept-November, March-May)
The best time to visit Egypt is fall or spring. The weather is cooler and it’s just in between the heavy tourist months of December and January. Plan to pack light, breezy fabrics such as cotton and linen are ideal. It’s also a good idea to bring a jacket and layer as it can get chilly in the evenings.
Winter (December-February)
Winter is also a great time to visit, but since it is peak tourist season, prices are higher and landmarks will be more crowded. It’s colder than in the Fall and Spring and certain areas will experience rain. Layering is advised, and you should also have a warm sweater. As I mentioned, I found Cairo in the winter to be quite cold. I often wore leggings under my skirts and wore long sleeve shirts and a jacket.
Summer (June-August)
On the other extreme, traveling to Egypt in the summer can be hot, uncomfortably hot. Average temps are 95°F and it gets even warmer in Upper Egypt (Luxor and Aswan). If you are traveling around this time, breathable, light fabrics will be essential.
Note on Ramadan: Be sure to check dates for Ramadan. During this period, landmarks and sites will be closed earlier and it will be difficult to find places to eat that are open during the day. Dress codes are much stricter during this time, so you’ll need to dress more conservatively.
What to Wear in Egypt City Centers – Dress Conservatively
Wearing loose-fitted clothing Covering arms and legs. Note: my top is slightly too low cut.
The most important observation regarding what to wear in Egypt was that the higher the local to tourist ratio, the more conservative you’ll need to dress. This means that in big cities like Cairo and Alexandria, where the majority of the population is Egyptian, you’ll need to dress more conservatively. I would also include the city centers in Aswan and Luxor. While you can dress a little freer in the tourist sites, you should be more conscious about your attire and be covered when you’re in a local area such as a restaurant or market.
Check out our Cairo guide, for tips on the best things to do in the city.
Key things to keep in mind about the ‘dress code’ in the city:
- Cover your shoulders and wear skirts past the knees.
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing, clothing that is too revealing (esp cleavage), and shorts.
- Short sleeve t-shirts are fine. Skinny jeans are ok as well.
- You won’t offend anyone if you don’t cover your hair, but this will take attention away from you.
As far as shoes, I’d advise wearing close-toed shoes. The streets are dusty, many parts of the city have a lot of trash and there are sometimes questionable wet puddles. When I went sightseeing and took photos, I would usually wear walking shoes and pack sandals to change into when it was time to take photos.
Recommended packing clothes:
- Maxi Dresses
- Maxi Skirts
- Cardigans
- Scarves
- Loose Jumpsuits
Shop similar looks:
Maxi Dresses
Long Skirts
Scarves / Shawls
What to Wear to the Pyramids and Other Historical Sites – Less Conservative, But Mindful
In popular tourist destinations like the Pyramids, Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Karnak in Luxor, the majority of the population is tourists, so the dress code is more relaxed. Tank tops are acceptable, especially during the summer.
However, I’d still recommend carrying a scarf with you in the temples, sticking to longer skirts, and avoiding short shorts. You’ll still attract unwanted attention. Locals will also feel uncomfortable and you may possibly offend them if wearing something too short even in these heavy tourist locations.
For footwear, it depends on how much walking you’ll be doing and your comfort level. I had extremely comfortable sandals that were broken in so I ended up wearing those on the majority of my sight-seeing trips.
The historical sites are clean, so I didn’t feel the need to wear close-toed shoes. But keep in mind that Egypt is very sandy, so you should wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty or are easy to clean.
Check out our Luxor Guide to see the best temples in Egypt
Recommended Sandals
The best shoes to wear are ones that will support you and stay comfortable after thousands of steps every day. I swear by these Teva sandals. They are seriously the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever worn. I was so thankful to have them after the tens of thousands of steps I put in walking around Egypt.
Recommended packing clothes (similar items as above, but you can swap out a cardigan for a scarf).
- Maxi Dresses
- Maxi Skirts
- Scarves
- Loose Jumpsuits
- Sandals
Shop similar looks:
What to Wear in Egypt Beach Towns and Resorts – Whatever you feel comfortable in!
Beach Towns and Resort areas like Dahab, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheik are predominantly inhabited by tourists and ex-pats, so you can dress in whatever you like, especially when you are in hotel or resort areas. We spent a lot of time in Dahab, and it was common to see women in shorts, crop tops, tank tops. For swimwear, bikinis are very common. When you leave the resort to go into town, you should cover up a bit more, but wearing shorts is acceptable.
Recommended packing clothes
Beachwear
Sundresses
Romper / Playsuits
Recommended Travel Bags
Travelling is always a little less stressful when you don’t have to constantly worry about keeping track of your belongings especially when you’re out sightseeing. Here are some nice options for bags that have some secure anti-theft features.
I usually prefer using a crossbody bag for everyday travel. It feels much more secure as it’s much more discrete and my important items are always within reach. But a secure travel bag that can carry a camera is essential for longer sightseeing days.
Very thorough advice! Thank you.
For a blessed/curvy woman, would skinny jeans not be acceptable? Im going to Egypt and Jordan in March and am a bit worried about what tops and bottoms will be acceptable in certain areas (Cairo, Alexandria, etc). Any advice would be much appreciated!
Yes you can definitely wear skinny jeans! Lots of Egyptian women wear them especially in city centers like Cairo and Alexandria. The style is similar in Jordan as well. If you don’t want to attract extra attention, I would wear a top that is a little longer and covers your butt. Enjoy your time!
I have a couple short sleeve tees that are crew neck but they have a 6″ long & 3″ wide opening on the upper back. Will that be considered too revealing?
Hi! Is it okay to west colorful tops in Cairo and at museums and pyramids? Are bright greens, blue and pink okay? Going there this November—so excited!
Hi Barbara! Yes, colorful tops are fine. Very excited about your upcoming trip. Hope you enjoy it!
I will be visiting Egypt in a few weeks and wondered if wearing nail polish on fingers and toes is a problem. Also, what about makeup in general?
Hi Leanne! Yes, nail polish and makeup are totally fine. Plenty of Egyptian women wear both. 🙂 Hope you and your daughter enjoy your time in Egypt!
Really useful guide thanks. Wondering is it ok to wear white in Egypt?
Hi there. Yes, it’s completely fine to wear white in Egypt. Enjoy your trip!