Cards work at hotels, larger restaurants and most dive centres, though a small surcharge on card payments is common. Cash in EGP is still essential for taxis, tips, small shops and the marine park entrance fee (around USD 5 per person per day, paid locally in cash on most trips). ATMs are common in Hurghada and Marsa Alam and generally the best real-world exchange rate you will get, card fees aside — check with your bank before you fly what it charges for foreign withdrawals.

Currency for Diving in Egypt: EGP, EUR or USD? (2026)

What Currency Should You Use for a Diving Holiday in Egypt?

Euros are widely accepted but the Egyptian pound is genuinely cheaper. A practical guide to currency, cash, cards and tipping for a Red Sea diving trip — and how we price your booking either way.

Egypt X Diving Team 30 August 2026 2 min read

Four currencies show up constantly around a Red Sea diving holiday — the Egyptian pound, the euro, the US dollar and, for UK visitors, sterling. Here is what actually matters in practice.

Are euros accepted in Egypt?

Widely, especially in tourist areas like Hurghada and Marsa Alam — hotels, dive centres and many restaurants will happily take euros or US dollars in cash. What you lose by paying in a foreign currency is the exchange rate: you are almost always charged a rounder, less favourable number than the day's real rate, which quietly costs you a few percent on every transaction.

What is Egypt's actual currency?

The Egyptian pound (EGP, ägyptisches Pfund). It is the cheapest way to pay for anything priced locally — taxis, markets, small restaurants, tips — and the currency your change will come back in even if you paid in euros or dollars.

Cash, card or both?

Cards work at hotels, larger restaurants and most dive centres, though a small surcharge on card payments is common.
Cash in EGP is still essential for taxis, tips, small shops and the marine park entrance fee (around USD 5 per person per day, paid locally in cash on most trips).
ATMs are common in Hurghada and Marsa Alam and generally the best real-world exchange rate you will get, card fees aside — check with your bank before you fly what it charges for foreign withdrawals.

How do we price your booking?

Our default pricing currency is USD, and prices are also shown in EUR, GBP, EGP and RUB using fixed reference rates so what you see at checkout does not shift with daily currency swings — every trip page shows the price in your selected currency. You can pay online or in cash on the day; if paying cash locally in EGP, ask your operator for the rate they are using so there are no surprises.

Tipping

Not obligatory and genuinely appreciated, and it is one of the few costs best paid in EGP rather than a foreign currency — it goes further for the crew and avoids the rounding losses of a tip left in euros. A guideline used by most divers: what you would leave a good waiter, per day, split between guide and boat crew.

Do prices include Egyptian VAT?

Yes — the prices shown on our trip pages are the total you pay, VAT included, with nothing added at checkout beyond what the trip page states.

Book knowing exactly what you will pay

Choose your currency at the top of any page and every price updates — browse the full catalogue in USD, EUR, GBP, EGP or RUB, with free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure and payment online or in cash on the day.