What to Wear in Egypt: For Women and For Different Seasons

What to Wear When Traveling in Egypt As A Women

During your time in Egypt, it's important to know what to wear. This is because Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, and you'll see that both women and men cover up most of their body regardless of the weather.

Most importantly, as a woman you will need to cover your shoulders and knees, as Egyptian women don't usually wear shorts or short dresses, and covering up will both draw less attention, and is also more respectful. Traditional Egyptian clothing is usually long sleeved and with long trousers, for both genders, so this is what the Egyptian people are used to.

When visiting religious sites, you'll also have to cover your head, especially during festivals like Ramadan.

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What to Wear for the Different Seasons in Egypt

What to Wear When Traveling in Egypt As A Women

The first thing you'll want to keep in mind when you're dressing for your trip to Egypt will be the weather. When you are visiting Egypt will dictate the clothing you wear and the types of fabrics to choose for your clothing.

Regardless of the season it is important to bring supportive and comfortable footwear too — you'll be doing a lot of walking around the historical sights during your time in Egypt and you want to make sure that your feet are comfortable. Bringing sandals or slippers is a good idea if you're going on a Nile river cruise, or if you're planning on spending time at Egypt's beach resorts too.

Spring (March to May) and Summer (June to August)

Egypt's temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit or the high 30s in Celsius in the summer, so it's important to make sure that you're wearing loose-fitting clothing made of fabrics like linen and cotton which are best to take the heat. Women are expected to still dress respectfully (i.e. trousers over the knees and shirts covering the shoulders) even during the hottest days of summer.

Bringing a hat is a good idea, especially if you're planning on going on a Nile river cruise. We also recommend wearing sunscreen daily in Egypt, regardless of where you're going, because you will be outside exposed to the sun.

During the spring evenings, temperatures can drop a little more so you might want to bring a sweater just in case you get chilly after dinner.

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Fall (September to November) and Winter (December to February)

In the winter, temperatures can drop to about 18 degrees Celsius, or 65 degrees Fahrenheit, so you'll want to wear a little more to keep warm. This is especially the case if you're spending time in the desert or mountains where the temperatures can drop a lot more during the evenings.

We recommend layered clothing, such as fleece jumpers, so that you can add more layers to stay warm as needed throughout the day. A scarf can also be a good idea for winter evenings.

What to Wear at Religious Sites in Egypt

When visiting a mosque, a temple or an Orthodox Church, women will need to make sure that they are wearing long and loose-fitting trousers or skirts, as well as long sleeved shirts. An extra linen shirt to wear over the top of a t-shirt can be a good solution so that you don't have to be out in long sleeves all day, if you prefer to just put it on for your visit. You also will not be able to have a low neckline.

Women will have to cover their head while visiting a mosque or church, so packing a scarf to wear during your visit is a good idea. Although you can usually also borrow something to cover up on site, you might prefer to have something of your own.

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What to Wear at the Beach

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While at Egypt's beach destinations in the resorts, pretty much anything goes. You can wear shorts, sleeveless tops, and you'll see tourists wearing bikinis.

Just be mindful that if you head out of the resort and into the cities for dinner, for example, you might want to cover up a little more to avoid unwanted attention. We do not recommend leaving the resort in swimwear, just out of respect for Egyptian culture and habits.

What to Wear in the Desert

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In the desert, temperatures are high in the day and low in the evenings, and you'll be coming across a lot of dust and sand. This is why we recommend not wearing white if you can avoid it, as the dust will gather on your clothes.

Colors like beige or other lighter colors are better than black though, as black clothes can make you feel hotter during the day. Do bring some additional layers if you're spending the evening out in the desert, as you will be surprised how quickly the temperature can drop after the sun goes down at dinner.