What to Wear in Egypt: Temples, Mosques, Cruises and Red Sea

Egypt is warm, sunny and culturally conservative outside the beach resorts, so the best wardrobe is light, loose and breathable — linen or cotton trousers, midi or maxi skirts, loose shirts that cover your shoulders from the sun, and a light scarf in your daypack.

At ancient temples and on the Giza plateau there is no strict religious dress code, and you will see tourists in shorts and t-shirts. However, covering your shoulders and knees protects you from fierce desert sun and earns warmer interactions in local neighbourhoods. More importantly, wear sturdy closed-toe walking shoes or trainers: temple floors, tomb ramps and the sand around the pyramids are uneven and dusty.

When visiting historic mosques in Islamic Cairo or Coptic churches in Old Cairo, both men and women should have shoulders and knees covered, and women should carry a light scarf to drape loosely over their hair inside mosques. You will also slip your shoes off (or put on cloth shoe covers) at mosque entrances, so pack a pair of socks in your bag.

On a Nile cruise or at 5-star Cairo hotels, daytime on the sun deck is completely relaxed (swimwear is fine by the pool), while dinners in the main dining room are smart-casual — sundresses, linen shirts or chinos.

If you travel between November and February, pack a warm fleece or light down jacket: desert mornings for the Luxor hot-air balloon, early starts to Abu Simbel and evenings on the Nile are genuinely chilly.