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 and small shops. The marine park entrance fee can be added at checkout on most of our trips; where it cannot, it is paid locally in cash. 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 and small shops. The marine park entrance fee can be added at checkout on most of our trips; where it cannot, it is paid locally in cash.
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 prices are set in euros (EUR), and you can switch the display to US dollars (USD) or pounds sterling (GBP) — every trip page shows the price in your selected currency, and the checkout names the currency your card will be charged in before you pay. Most trips are paid online; on trips where the operator allows it you can instead choose cash on the day, with a deposit online and the balance paid on the boat.

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?

No VAT is added at checkout: the price on the trip page is what you pay, plus only the optional extras you tick yourself (equipment, park fee, transfer surcharge). If that ever changes, VAT will be shown as a separate line before you pay.

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 EUR, USD or GBP, with free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.