Cairo's Gratuity Guidelines: Tipping in the Heart of Egypt

Cairo's Gratuity Guidelines: Tipping in the Heart of Egypt

Traveling to Cairo is an incredible experience that should be taken advantage of! The city’s restaurant, café and shop scenes, as well as the impressive tourist sites, make this city one of the most admired cities of the world. But with a new culture, comes a different set of customs and social protocols. Tipping is an important part of Egyptian culture that you should learn and follow during your time in Cairo.


In this article, we are going to explore the best practices when it comes to tipping while in Cairo! We will look at standard rates and scenarios where tipping is expected, so that you can understand the culture and customs in the most important parts of the Heart of Egypt, and ensure that your trip goes perfectly.


Tipping in Restaurants


Tipping is expected in restaurants in Cairo, and most diners will round up their bill to the nearest whole number or 10 Egyptian pounds as a tip. For example, if the total bill came to 87 EGP, it’s typical to round up to 10 EGP. At a more expensive restaurant, a tip of 15-20% is expected.


Tipping Hotel Staff


If you stay in a hotel in Cairo, tipping is also expected. The standard rate for bellhops, room service and/or housekeeping is 10-15 EGP per instance. As an example, if you had a bellhop carry your suitcase up to your hotel room, you would tip 10-15 EGP at the end.


Tipping Taxi Drivers


It’s expected to tip taxi drivers for their service. 10 EGP tip is the standard rate, although if your driver was particularly helpful or friendly, you could tip more than the standard rate.


Tipping Cafe and Shop Employees


Tipping employees or servers at cafes, coffee shops, and stores is not expected in Cairo. However, if you wish to show gratitude to them, a small tip would be appreciated. For example, you could leave a 20-30 EGP tip at the end of your coffee or shopping spree.


Tipping Tour Guides


It’s common practice to tip tour guides after a successful tour ends. The standard rate for tour guides in Cairo is 10-20 EGP per hour, depending on the quality of the guide, but the level of tipping is totally up to you.


Overall, tipping is a way to show appreciation for service in Cairo. However, the amount that you tip varies depending on the type of service and your experience. It is expected to tip at a restaurant, hotel, and taxi, whereas leaving a small tip at a cafe or store is not necessary but appreciated. Lastly, tour guides should be given a standard rate of 10-20 EGP per hour, with the fee being determined by their quality of their service. Therefore, tipping in Cairo is a way to demonstrate your appreciation for service they have provided.

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