Short answer: Expected. Tipping, called baksheesh, is part of almost every interaction in Egypt and is expected for most services. Restaurants add a 12% service charge, but servers still expect a cash tip on top, so carry plenty of small notes.
Is service included?
Bars and restaurants add a 12% service charge (often described as a service tax), and 14% VAT may also be added because it is only sometimes included in menu prices. The service charge is not treated as the server's tip.
How much to tip in Egypt
| Who | Usual tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants (sit-down) | 5 to 10% on top | Leave an extra 5 to 10% in cash on top of the service charge; small informal places, round up. |
| Cafes and bars | Small tip | Small change or rounding up; no firm figure in our sources. |
| Taxis and rideshare | Round up | Agree the fare first in a street taxi; round up or tip in the app for Uber or Careem. |
| Hotel housekeeping | E£50 to 100 per day | Left daily; figures from a local operator, and amounts shift with inflation. |
| Hotel porters | E£50 to 100 per bag | Handed over straight away; amounts vary between guides. |
| Tour guides | Customary | Tipped at the end; one local operator suggests 30 to 50 US dollars per day for a solo traveller or couple, but figures vary widely. |
| Hairdressers and spas | Optional | A cash tip to the therapist or stylist is usual; no firm figure from independent sources. |
| Food delivery | Optional | No firm custom in our sources; small change is a kind gesture. |
Amounts are in the local currency (EGP). They are common customs, not rules: tip more for great service and less where it was poor.
How to tip
Cash is king. Use Egyptian pounds in small notes for most tips, since change is often not available and ATMs give large notes; US dollars are sometimes used for guides and drivers. Keep small change for toilet attendants, porters, mosque caretakers and guards at temples and tombs.
What to avoid
Do not assume the 12% service charge on the bill is the server's tip; also, you do not have to pay for services or photos you did not ask for.
Work out a tip
The tip calculator is set to Egypt and the local currency: enter the bill, pick a percentage and split it between the table.
Tipping with no cash
When you have no local cash, ask whether a tip can go on the card. More and more guides, drivers and performers show a QR code instead: point your phone camera at it and you can tip by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay without installing anything.
Sources
- National Geographic Traveller: A practical travel guide to Egypt
- Oxford Business Group: Facts for visitors, Egypt
- Pyramids Land Tours: Tipping in Egypt
Checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Customs change and vary between cities and venues.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Egypt?
Expected. Tipping, called baksheesh, is part of almost every interaction in Egypt and is expected for most services. Restaurants add a 12% service charge, but servers still expect a cash tip on top, so carry plenty of small notes.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in Egypt?
5 to 10% on top. Leave an extra 5 to 10% in cash on top of the service charge; small informal places, round up.
Is a service charge added to the bill in Egypt?
Bars and restaurants add a 12% service charge (often described as a service tax), and 14% VAT may also be added because it is only sometimes included in menu prices. The service charge is not treated as the server's tip.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Egypt?
Round up.
How much do you tip hotel housekeeping in Egypt?
E£50 to 100 per day.
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