In normal times, Egypt is a popular holiday destination. Tourists come to its Red Sea coast for year-round sun and water sports, and its cities for fascinating history stretching back millennia. However, its location in northern Africa, bordering Israel, means Egypt feels regional heat when there is an escalation in violence in the Middle East.
Following missile fire between Iran and Israel, airspace across the region has shut, causing the cancellation of thousands of flights. However, at the moment, the UK Foreign Office considers it business as usual in Egypt, although visitors should use their common sense and be aware that the situation could change quickly.
Longstanding UK Foreign Office advice against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border and North Sinai, which borders Israel, remains in place, as does the similarly enduring caution against non-essential travel to the Western Desert. The government considers tourist destinations including Cairo and the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Hurghada safe to visit.
The Foreign Office does, however, warn of increased regional tensions during the conflict, which could lead to travel disruption. Britons should follow advice from local authorities. If you’re planning a holiday to Egypt, here’s what you need to know.
Are flights to Egypt cancelled?
Flights are still operating between the UK and Egypt but are subject to cancellations, delays and longer routings due to the closure of the airspace of neighbouring countries (Iran, Israel, Iraq and parts of Syria).
The situation is under review by Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation. You should check the latest advice from the airline you are due to travel with before leaving for the airport. If your flight has been cancelled by your airline, you are entitled to a full refund of your flight.
What is the latest Foreign Office advice on travel to Egypt?
There are longstanding “no-go” areas for travel, including the northern and central portions of the Sinai peninsula, which borders Gaza and Israel. A large swathe of western Egypt, which borders Libya, is considered not safe for travel. As ever, the tourist resorts of Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh and cities of Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria are considered safe.
The UK Foreign Office has not updated its advice since the start of the conflict. It advises British nationals should “take sensible precautions” and monitor local and international media for the latest information, bearing in mind things will change quickly. Visit the gov.uk website for more information.
Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel to Egypt?
The Foreign Office doesn’t currently advise against travelling to most parts of Egypt. If you want to cancel your holiday to somewhere the Foreign Office considers safe, normal booking conditions apply. Any request to cancel your holiday is considered to be “disinclination to travel” and you cannot expect a refund under the Package Travel Regulations. Nevertheless, it’s worth sharing concerns with your tour operator or travel agent in case they can offer flexibility. You probably won’t get your money back, but you may be able to change the dates, the destination or both.
What are my rights if my holiday is cancelled?
If you have booked a package holiday — a combination of a flight and accommodation bought from a tour operator with an Air Travel Organisers’ License (ATOL) — to any destination made inaccessible by the closure of Middle Eastern airspace, you are entitled to a full refund (but no compensation) under the Package Travel Regulations. This includes not only Gulf states such as the UAE and Qatar but also destinations further afield including India, the Far East and Australasia. However, if your destination is not subject to Foreign Office travel warnings, your tour operator can find you seats on an alternative flight, and if the replacement journey is not significantly different from that you purchased as part of your package, the right to a refund does not apply.
Is it generally safe to travel to Egypt?
A mosque in the city of HurghadaGetty Images
Broadly, yes, and the tourist resorts are far away from the conflict zone in Israel and Gaza. Sharm el-Sheikh is more than 200 miles away from the Gaza border; Hurghada even further. More generally, there is no travel advisory in place for popular tourist spots in Egypt such as Cairo, cities along the Nile such as Luxor and Aswan, and resorts by the Red Sea such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.
As with the other countries in the region, the Foreign Office warns of “ongoing hostilities”, adding that the situation “could escalate quickly and pose security risks”. Travel could be disrupted and there may be protests, so visitors are told to monitor local and international media for the latest information and to be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities if anything happens.
However, there are also some no-go areas. The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to the North Sinai Governorate, which includes the Rafah crossing, and within 20km of the Libyan border (except El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel).
It advises against all but essential travel to several other parts of the country, for example the northern part of South Sinai.
As with other countries, the Foreign Office has warned that terrorists are likely to attempt attacks in Egypt. The risk is heightened during public holidays and festivals, such as Christmas and Ramadan, and is particularly high around religious sites, large public gatherings and places frequented by foreigners. Stay vigilant and carry photo ID with you at all times.
In terms of safety on the ground, it pays to be careful. Protests take place frequently and foreigners taking part in political activities in the country could be detained or subjected to other measures.
The Foreign Office says: “Avoid large gatherings, demonstrations and protests as the situation could change quickly and without warning. Police have used water cannons, tear gas, birdshot and live ammunition as crowd control.”
At popular tourist spots, visitors can be harassed for money or to buy things. There’s also a risk of theft and mugging, even in taxis. Travelling as part of an escorted tour can help reduce the risks. If you are a victim of crime, you should contact the local tourist police who can help you make a report.
Public displays of affection can also be frowned upon.
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What advice is there about boarding a Red Sea excursion?
There have been a few high-profile tourist submarine and boat excursion incidents in the Red Sea. A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch in early 2025 recommended: “Prospective customers are advised only to book live-aboard dive holidays through reputable vendors who can provide assurance about the safety standards applicable to the dive boat. On arrival on board, customers should request that the crew provide a thorough safety briefing before departure.”
Customers should always check crews are trained in case of an emergency; that escape routes are marked clearly with emergency lighting and do not contain lockable doors; that lifesaving equipment is in date and easy to find; and that fire detection systems and working extinguishers are in place.
While this advice is specific to live-aboard dive holidays, it should be applied to any boat excursion worldwide. Always make sure to organise appropriate travel insurance before travelling.
Is Cairo safe?
The Foreign Office is not advising against travel to Cairo. However, it’s a big and busy city so visitors should stay vigilant for petty crime and harassment.
Is it safe to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh?
Sharm el-Sheikh is one of Egypt’s most popular holiday resorts, attracting around ten million tourists a year, according to official figures. The Foreign Office considers it safe to visit. Since it reopened to British tourists in October 2019, four years after a bomb exploded on a Russian plane carrying 224 passengers and crew, there have been extra safety checks. Security measures were increased at the Red Sea resort: x-ray scanners in hotels, security walls and high perimeter fences around the airport were installed.
Is it safe to travel to Hurghada?
The Foreign Office does not advise against travel to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, which is known for its great diving and water sports. As with Sharm el-Sheikh, there are extra security measures in place to protect tourists.
Can you drink alcohol in Egypt?
Egypt is an Islamic country. While attitudes are more relaxed in tourist resorts, customs can be very different elsewhere and more strict during Ramadan. Public drinking, for example, can lead to arrest — alcohol is only permitted in a licensed restaurant or bar.
Possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs can lead to long prison sentences or even the death penalty. Visitors should be aware that what is legal in the UK may not be legal in Egypt. In 2017, for example, a British woman was jailed for three years for taking tramadol tablets into the country. Tramadol, an opioid painkiller, is a prescription drug in the UK but is illegal in Egypt.
What about taking photos in Egypt?
Be aware of what you’re photographing. Taking pictures of military property (strictly prohibited), embassies, government buildings, churches and even infrastructure such as railway stations can lead to arrest. If you want to photograph any Egyptian citizens, you must have written permission from them; photographing children is not permitted.
Taking or sharing photographs that are perceived to be damaging to the country’s image is also forbidden. Similarly, making strongly negative comments about the Egyptian government or its politics, including on social media, can lead to you being detained.
What are Egypt’s entry requirements?
On El Montaza Bridge in AlexandriaGetty Images
For entry into Egypt, you’ll need at least six months’ validity on your passport. You’ll also need to apply for a tourist visa to visit most of the country. These can be obtained online before you travel (valid for up to three months) or on arrival at dedicated desks inside the airport (valid for up to 30 days), and cost US$25.
If you’re travelling to the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you can get a free entry permission stamp upon arrival for stays of less than 15 days. You’ll have to get a visa if you want to stay longer or visit other places.
Is Egypt safe for female travellers?
Women should take care when travelling in taxis in EgyptAlamy
In general, yes, it is safe for female travellers. However, there have been reported incidents of sexual assault and harassment in the country, including some affecting minors. Most of the reported incidents have taken place in the Red Sea region and, according to the Foreign Office, are often committed by someone the victim had already met, including hotel workers and excursion staff.
The Foreign Office advises: “Female travellers should exercise caution when travelling alone, particularly at night, in buses, taxis and microbuses. If you are travelling on public transport, including microbuses, avoid being the last passenger left on board.”
Is Egypt safe for LGBT travellers?
It can be problematic for LGBT travellers. While homosexuality is not technically illegal in Egypt, charges under “debauchery” laws have been used to prosecute LGBT people in the past, according to the Foreign Office. Some were arrested in 2017 on “debauchery” and “sexual deviance” charges after waving a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo, for example. Again, attitudes are often more relaxed in tourist areas, but public displays of affection are likely to cause issues.
