Best Place to Exchange Money in Cairo

Where to change money in Cairo

Cairo is not short of places to swap cash. Egypt's tourist board says there are exchange desks in nearly every hotel and airport, but Wise warns that such handy spots tend to give weak rates and add fees, and that a 'no commission' sign often hides a poor rate. Compare any quote with the mid-market rate, and change larger sums at a bank.

• Banque Misr, Al Gezira branch, Building 6A, Hassan Sabry Street, Zamalek - On the bank's own branch list, with deposits, withdrawals and currency exchange given as its services. The list shows no opening hours, so check before you make a special trip.
• Banque Misr, Garden City branch, Building 6, Ibrahim Naguib Street, Garden City - Listed by the bank as an automatic bank services branch, so expect machines rather than a counter; currency exchange is among the services shown.

Changing money at the airport

Most British visitors need a visa, and the Foreign Office suggests an e-visa before you travel: the government portal is open to UK citizens, and a single-entry tourist visa costs 30 US dollars, paid by card. On arrival, kiosks in front of the immigration desks sell a paper visa for 30 dollars, cash only. Since 1 August 2026 Cairo airport has also sold a digital visa on arrival for 36 dollars (including a 6 dollar service charge), paid by card at self-service machines or online. Ignore the 25 dollar figure still on the tourist board's site.

Cairo Airport Company lists banking among its services without saying where counters or cash machines are, so we could not confirm them; change or withdraw only enough for the ride into town. The airport company warns that unofficial drivers target tourists in arrivals. White taxis have meters, older black-and-white cabs usually do not, and limousine desks charge set fares by destination and car class. Buses leave from the car park in front of Terminal 1. Uber picks up outside Gate 7 at Terminal 2 and in parking space B5 at Terminal 3, and asks you to book only in the app.

ATMs and cards in Cairo

Use a bank's cash machine. Which? warns that standalone machines often load extra charges onto withdrawals, and Wise says any local fee should appear on screen before you confirm. Wise also reported caps of roughly EGP 2,000 to 3,000 per withdrawal in 2024, so you may need more than one go.

Cards are fine in big hotels and malls, while markets such as Khan el-Khalili and small shops run on cash. If a terminal or machine offers to bill you in pounds, decline: Which? explains that the retailer then picks the rate, typically a poorer one. Local notes are capped: the Foreign Office says you may carry no more than EGP 5,000 into or out of Egypt, and foreign cash above 10,000 US dollars must be declared when you land.

Paying for transport in Cairo

Cairo Metro fares depend on how many stations you ride. Since 27 March 2026 a ticket on Lines 1, 2 and 3 has cost EGP 10 for up to 9 stations, EGP 12 for up to 16, EGP 15 for up to 23 and EGP 20 for 24 to 39 stations. In December 2025 every ticket booth and subscription office on Lines 1 and 2 gained a Visa payment machine, but keep small notes as a fallback.

Uber works in Cairo, and Uber Egypt says you can pay the driver in cash if no card is linked; the app shows an estimated fare before you book. Careem and DiDi also operate, Lonely Planet says. With a street cab, agree the price before getting in.

Good to know

• Tipping, or baksheesh, is part of daily life in Egypt, and Lonely Planet's advice is to keep small notes on you. TUI suggests a few pounds for hotel staff and EGP 20 to 50 a day for a tour guide.
• Look at a restaurant bill before adding anything: TUI puts a fair tip at 10 to 15 per cent, and about 10 per cent is typical where no service charge has been added.