Let’s not beat around the bush: I (Léonie) did not feel safe in Egypt, and I wasn’t even solo traveling. I was with my boyfriend and a friend.
This article will be based on my personal experience as a young female adult. You need to know that I traveled to over 10 countries completely by myself. So, I do know how it is to travel solo and to feel safe when I am alone in a new country.
Of course, I am not saying that I don’t recommend Egypt. On the contrary, visiting the pyramids of Egypt is one of my favorite memories ever. What I am saying is that for your safety, I highly recommend going to Egypt with at least another person. This way you can both look out for each other. In this article, I will explain the main reasons to not go to Egypt by yourself, especially if you are a woman.
The culture
Egypt is a Muslim country. This means that they have a different culture than me, a French atheist Canadian. I am aware that we don’t share the same religion and since I decided to visit their country, it is only relevant that I respect their beliefs. For that matter, I made sure to be as discreet as possible and blend in as much as I could by wearing long sleeves, covering my shoulders, breasts and legs. This is even more important when visiting cultural and religious sites.
However, despite these efforts, I still didn’t feel safe the majority of the time. My skin tone and my hair would still be showing and making me obviously different. Especially since most of the women are veiled and I wasn’t. When I was walking in the streets, I would feel like an attraction. All eyes were on me but not in a comfortable and positive way.
The two guys I was with didn’t feel this way about standing out. It was easier for them to blend in and live their life. That’s why I especially recommend that women do not travel solo to Egypt. It’s a sad thing to say but in this situation, we are more vulnerable and an easier prey.
The people
I had some lovely interactions with Egyptians. My tour guide, the workers at my hostel and the staff in most of the restaurants were really nice. I never had a bad experience when I was a customer in an establishment.
However, 90% of the time I was outside these establishments, I didn’t enjoy my time in Egypt. Why, may you ask? Because, everywhere I was walking, I was stared down and would receive unpleasant comments (even if I was holding my boyfriend’s hand). It happened all the time when we were walking in the streets and exploring the city. As I said earlier, I always wore long pants and long-sleeved shirts. I don’t know if it’s because I was a young woman or maybe because my hair was showing, but I didn’t feel safe in the streets of Cairo.
Of course, once again this is MY experience, so it may be different for you. Let me just say that even if my boyfriend and my friend weren’t as uncomfortable walking in the streets and interacting with locals, they still didn’t feel safe walking alone at night. We were always together when we were outside our hostel, especially at night.
Safety tips
Never walk at night by yourself: If you plan on going out during the night, make sure you have someone with you. You are more vulnerable when it’s dark outside, and you don’t know the city. Always be careful!
How to stay safe in taxis: I have 2 recommendations for taxis.
- I highly suggest using a taxi app like Uber. You know the fixed price in advance, which avoids any scams, and have access to the driver’s details. Also, it makes them very unlikely to commit a crime, since they will be identified very easily.
- You can also organize a taxi pick up and drop off at the airport, for example, with your hotel/hostel. That is what I did, and they organized everything. This way, a driver is already waiting for you wherever you are. + If anything happens to you, your hotel/hostel will know you didn’t make your way back.
Buy padlocks for hostels: If you plan to stay in hostels, almost every single one of them will have lockers. They’re available for you to leave the most important stuff locked and secured. The thing is you have to bring your own locks. These are the ones I have: padlocks.
Small alarm: When I went solo traveling, I bought this little alarm. It might not be magic, but the sound being very strong, it surely scares the criminal, calls for help and/or will buy you some time to react. Here is one you can get on Amazon: small alarm.
Stay connected: Make sure to keep your loved ones informed about your itinerary and stay in touch with them regularly. I have an iPhone and I love the localization app. I share my localization with my parents, boyfriend and friends.
Trust your instincts: If a situation feels uncomfortable or unsafe, trust your gut and remove yourself from it. Your safety is the top priority.
Respect the local culture: I am repeating myself because it’s very important in Egypt. Dressing modestly and showing respect for religious sites will help you blend in and minimize unwanted attention.
My conclusion about how I felt in Egypt
Egypt is a country that has so much history. My only goal with this article was to prepare you for your visit by letting you know how it went for us. I want to say one last thing about my experience: I don’t think anything bad would have happened to me since I was with two other people. However, Cairo was the first city I didn’t feel comfortable in. I didn’t feel my usual self in Egypt, and I am forever grateful that I decided to explore this country with my boyfriend and my friend. It allowed me to share my experiences with other people and keep me safe!
