Egypt

Currency in Egypt: what to use and how to exchange

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP), roughly 47–50 per US$ in 2026 (check). Bring some US dollars or euros in clean, recent notes as a backup, withdraw EGP from bank ATMs, and change the rest at a bank or exchange office rather than a street kiosk. Cards work in hotels and big restaurants, not in markets, taxis or small shops.

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Updated Sep 20263 min read

GuideEgypt

Key facts

Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP), written LE or ج.م
Rough rate: About 47–50 EGP per US$1 (2026 estimate — check)
Best way to get cash: Bank ATM withdrawal, or exchange office for cash notes
Cards: Hotels, chain restaurants, big shops; rarely in markets, taxis or small cafés
Cash still needed: Yes — for baksheesh, taxis, markets, small sites and tips
Notes to avoid: Torn, inked or pre-2013 US dollar bills are often refused (check)
Airport exchange: Works, but rates are usually worse than in town (check)

Details

The pound is a managed currency and the rate has moved a lot in recent years, so treat any number you read as a band, not a fact. Check the rate on the day you travel and again before you change a large amount. Prices in Egypt are quoted in pounds; tourist sites, hotels and Nile cruises sometimes quote in US dollars, and you can usually pay in dollars at a worse effective rate.

Two cash routes work well. First, withdraw from an ATM attached to a bank branch during opening hours, so staff are nearby if the machine eats your card. Second, change clean cash notes at a bank or a licensed exchange office; you will be asked for your passport. Street changers and kiosks may offer a better-looking number but carry counterfeit and short-count risk.

Cards are accepted at hotels, the bigger restaurants, supermarkets and some ticket offices, but a Visa or Mastercard is close to useless at a fruit stall, a taxi rank or a baksheesh moment. Carry a few hundred pounds in small notes at all times. Keep a separate reserve of US dollars or euros for emergencies, and keep it clean and unfolded.

Details
Situation	Best option	Notes
Arriving at Cairo airport	Small exchange or one ATM withdrawal	Enough for the taxi and first day only (check)
Staying a week or more	Bank ATM plus exchange office	Withdraw in larger amounts to cut fees
Paying a hotel or cruise	Card or US dollars	Ask which currency gives the better rate
Markets, taxis, tips	EGP cash in small notes	EGP 20–50 notes are the useful size
Leftover pounds	Spend or change before you fly	Hard to exchange outside Egypt (check)

Tips

Tell your bank you are travelling, or the first withdrawal may be blocked.
Decline the ATM's own conversion offer and let your bank convert — it is usually cheaper.
Count your change; short-changing is common and rarely deliberate-looking.
Keep small notes separate from your main cash so you are not flashing a thick bundle.
Ask your hotel to break a large note before you head to a market.
Photograph your card numbers and keep the photos offline.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What currency is used in Egypt?

The Egyptian pound (EGP), divided into 100 piastres. It trades at roughly 47–50 pounds per US dollar in 2026 (check the rate before you travel). Prices are quoted in pounds, though some tourist hotels and cruises quote in US dollars.

Where is the best place to exchange money in Egypt?

A bank branch or a licensed exchange office in a city, where you show your passport and get a receipt. Airport counters are convenient but usually give a worse rate. Avoid street changers: the headline rate can look better, but counterfeit notes and short counts are a real risk.

Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Egypt?

Both. Cards cover hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets; cash covers taxis, markets, small sites, tips and baksheesh. Withdraw pounds from a bank ATM and keep a reserve of clean US dollars or euros for emergencies.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check