Short answer: Many women travel alone in Egypt, but harassment is common enough that governments warn about it. The Government of Canada says foreign women are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Sit in the back of taxis, dress modestly, avoid demonstrations, and consider a small group tour for the first days.
Key facts
- Canada on harassment
- Women, particularly foreigners, are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse
- UK on taxis
- Female travellers should take care alone, especially at night and in taxis
- UK on assaults
- Most reported assaults happened in Red Sea resorts, often by someone the victim had just met
- Tourist police number
- 126 (UK government, checked 28 October 2026)
- Cairo Metro
- Most lines have women-only cars (Government of Canada)
- Dress advice
- Knee-length or longer dresses and long sleeves are preferable (Government of Canada); dress modestly (UK)
Is Egypt safe for a woman travelling alone?
It is manageable with preparation, but it is not free of risk. Both the UK and Canadian governments warn about harassment, and in the sections we read neither advises women not to travel. A UN survey shows how common harassment is for women in Egypt, so plan for it.
UNFPA Egypt, a United Nations agency, says the UN Women study found that over 99.3% of Egyptian girls and women surveyed reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. A figure like that counts every kind of unwanted attention, from stares to touching, over a whole life, so it does not tell you how likely a serious assault is on a short trip. Treat it as a reason to prepare, such as choosing your taxis and your transport carefully, and not as a reason to stay away. They do explain why both governments mention the subject.
Related tripsEgypt tour packages63 private trips from 2 to 15 days.What do the governments say?
The Government of Canada page, last updated 26 May 2026 and read on 28 October 2026, says women “particularly foreigners” are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. It adds that during demonstrations there is a serious risk of sexual assault, that large gatherings should be avoided and that women should not sit in the front seat of a taxi because it “could be misinterpreted by the driver.”
The UK Foreign Office says female travellers should take care alone, particularly at night and in taxis. It says most reported assaults against visitors happened in Red Sea resorts, often by someone the victim had just met, including hotel and excursion staff. Its precautions include not letting hotel staff into your room when you are alone and sharing your taxi details and live location with someone.
What does harassment actually look like?
The Government of Canada lists staring, catcalls and touching as the forms of attention women, especially foreigners, meet. The UK Foreign Office says sexual assaults have been reported to the British Embassy, including cases involving minors. Harassment affects some women more than others, and what happens to you will depend on where you go and how you travel. The government pages do not give rates for visitors, so we do not either.
Harassment affects some women more than others, and what happens to you will depend on where you go and how you travel. These sources do not give reliable rates, so we do not either.
What should I wear?
Dress modestly. The Government of Canada says knee-length or longer dresses and long sleeves are preferable for women, and the UK says to dress modestly, especially in rural areas, mosques and souqs. That means covering shoulders and knees in towns and villages, loose trousers or a long skirt, and a scarf in your bag for mosques. The UK adds that behaviour accepted in tourist resorts may not be accepted elsewhere, so swimwear belongs at the pool or beach and on board a Nile cruise ship, not in town.
Dress is not a guarantee against harassment, but both governments treat it as a sensible precaution. For more, see Egyptian customs and traditions.
How do I travel safely between places?
- Taxis: sit in the back seat, because Canada says the front seat could be misinterpreted by the driver. Many taxis have no working meter and the back seats often have no seat belts (Canada). Share your trip details and live location with someone (UK).
- Night travel: the UK advises against travelling alone by taxi where you can avoid it, and against driving outside main cities and resorts at night.
- Hotel-arranged drivers: ask your hotel to book a driver whose name you know, so you can share the details with someone at home.
- Cairo Metro: use the women-only cars. Canada says most lines have them, and that the metro can be overcrowded with no air conditioning.
- Microbuses: Canada says to avoid them because of hazardous driving habits.
Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations. The UK says the situation can change quickly and security forces have responded forcefully.
Is it better to join a tour?
A tour is a choice, not a requirement. Many women combine both styles, with a small group or a private guide for the first days and free time later.
A guide or driver spares you from negotiating a fare at every stop, which is where much of the day-to-day friction comes from. The UK also says attackers were often someone the victim had just met, including hotel and excursion staff, so choose providers who are named and booked in advance. It advises using reputable providers for services and excursions and researching them beforehand.
A private driver or guide for a day also keeps you with someone whose name and number you have shared. For planned trips with a guide, see day tours.
What about hotels and practical items?
The UK suggests not letting hotel staff into your room when you are alone and not sharing personal contact or social media details with staff or guides you have just met. It says hotel staff have reportedly discouraged victims from reporting incidents to the police, so if something happens, contact the tourist police on 126 yourself.
The UK also says to report a crime before you leave Egypt, because it is difficult to prosecute later if you do not.
What does the law say about harassment?
UNFPA Egypt says a law passed on 4 June 2014 criminalised sexual harassment for the first time in modern Egyptian history. It says verbal, physical, behavioural, phone and online harassment carry a prison sentence of 6 months to 5 years and fines. A law matters because you can report an incident to the tourist police on 126 or at a police station, and the UK says to do so before you leave Egypt, because prosecuting later is harder.
How do the Cairo Metro women-only cars work?
Wikipedia says the fourth and fifth cars, the middle two, have been reserved for women since 1989. The fifth car becomes mixed after 21:00. Blue signs mark where the cars stop on most lines, and pink signs on Lines 1 and 2. Women can still ride any other car. The metro runs from 05:00 to 01:00, with a later close of 02:00 during Ramadan. The Cairo Governorate portal reports that, after the Ministry of Transport raised fares in March 2026, metro tickets are priced by the number of stations.
Canada warns that pickpocketing and bag snatching occur most often in tourist locations and on the metro, so keep your bag closed and in front of you.
Which numbers should you save?
The UK lists police on 122, ambulance on 123, fire on 180 and the tourist police on 126. The Canadian page lists different numbers: police 112, medical help 113 and fire 110. Because they disagree, save the UK numbers and ask your hotel to confirm which work from a mobile phone. Both governments say to report a crime to the tourist police or a police station, and Canada says to ask for a copy of the police report.
What changes at demonstrations and on public holidays?
Canada says protests most often occur on Fridays after noon prayers, that women face a serious risk of sexual assault during demonstrations, and that risks to women increase during public holidays. It also says local law prohibits protests without a permit. If a crowd forms, move away from it.
What about alcohol and nightlife?
The UK says drinking alcohol is illegal other than in restaurants and bars, private homes and some tourist resorts, and that it can lead to arrest. It also says couples showing physical affection in public is frowned upon, though holding hands is generally fine.
How does Ramadan change the picture?
The UK says clothing that breaches local norms may cause more offence during Ramadan, and that eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight is culturally insensitive. Canada says Ramadan in 2027 is expected to begin on or around 7 February. The UK also tells visitors to check shop and restaurant hours.
Is the experience the same everywhere?
No. The sources describe different settings.
| Place | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Cities, markets and streets | Staring, catcalls and touching are the forms of attention the Canadian page lists for women, especially foreigners |
| Public transport | Metro can be overcrowded, with women-only cars on most lines; pickpocketing is most common there and in tourist areas (Canada) |
| Demonstrations and public holidays | Serious risk of sexual assault at demonstrations; risks increase around public holidays (Canada) |
| Taxis | Care alone, especially at night (UK); do not sit in the front seat (Canada) |
| Red Sea resorts | Most reported assaults on visitors, often by someone just met (UK) |
| Nile cruises and resorts | Behaviour accepted in tourist resorts may not be accepted elsewhere (UK) |
What should you do before you leave home?
- Save the tourist police number 126 and your hotel’s address on your phone. Canada says medical facilities are below Canadian standards, so pack a basic first-aid kit.
- If you carry prescription medicine, bring a GP letter. The UK says some medicines are controlled and may need permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health.
- Ask your hotel to confirm which emergency numbers work from a mobile phone.
- Arrange your first night’s transport from the airport through your hotel.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home and read our guide to tourist scams.
What about photography and strangers?
The UK says to get a citizen’s written permission before photographing them and that photographing children is prohibited. Photographing military property is illegal. It also warns that scammers and touts sometimes target foreign nationals in tourist areas, so decline unrequested help before it starts.
Keep readingEgypt souvenirs: what to buy, how to bargain and what you cannot exportBuy papyrus, cartouche jewellery, spices, perfume oils and scarves, but never anything sold as a genuine...Which mistakes do solo travellers make?
- Sitting in the front of a taxi, which Canada warns can be misinterpreted.
- Arguing over fares at every stop, when a fixed-fare app or a hired driver avoids it.
- Accepting a lift or an invitation from someone you have just met, when the UK says attackers were often people the victim had just met.
- Arriving without the tourist police number, 126, saved in your phone.
What does this article not tell you?
We found no official statistics on harassment of visitors, so we give no rates. Experiences vary by season, city and how busy a place is. If constant attention would wear you down, a small group tour for the first days is a reasonable way to start, and you can go solo later.
How should I respond to unwanted attention?
Most attention is verbal, and the simplest response is to keep walking and not engage. If someone follows you or touches you, move into a shop, a hotel lobby or a group of people, and ask staff or the tourist police for help. Trust your instincts and leave any hotel, restaurant or taxi that feels wrong.
The UK says not to let hotel staff into your room when you are alone, and to report a crime to the tourist police on 126. Canada says to report to the tourist police, who wear armbands, or a nearby police station, and to ask for a copy of the report.
