Pharaohs, palaces, pyramids — Egypt may be famous for its ancient treasures, but don’t let costly exchange rates eat into your adventure. The right travel card can help you dodge these extra fees, keep on top of holiday spending, and make paying in Egyptian pounds (EGP) that little bit easier.

This guide compares the best travel cards for Egypt, including what they cost, what they're good at, and where they fall short. It also covers whether a travel card beats your everyday bank card, plus a few simple tips to help you spend smarter.

And because cash is still king in much of Egypt, you'll find out when it's worth reaching for your card and when it's better to keep a few EGP in your pocket.

💳 Learn more about the Wise card

What is a travel card?

A travel card is a prepaid payment card specifically designed for you globetrotters out there. It allows you to load foreign currencies (like EGP) directly onto it, and then spend and withdraw as you please. Fees are typically lower than those of regular debit or credit cards, thanks to no hidden markup or conversion costs.

They’re also a handy extra layer of security. By keeping your travel money separate from your main bank account, there's less risk to your everyday finances if your card is lost, stolen, or used fraudulently.

Some everyday debit cards are also solid options for travelling in Egypt. Though they don’t let you preload EGP like a traditional travel card, many still offer fee-free overseas spending and competitive exchange rates.

Best travel cards for Egypt compared

Let’s take a look at a handful of the best travel cards for Egypt, see how these rack up against the Wise debit card, and point out any key differences:

2% ATM fee after 5 free monthly withdrawals or £200 for ‘Standard’ and ‘Plus’ plans

1% fair usage fee after exchanging £1,000 per month

£2 monthly dormancy fee for 12 months of inactivity

£5 fee for replacement cards in the UK after the first one and £10 if your card is lost or stolen overseas

- £0 for the virtual card, one-time fee of £7 for the physical debit card

Free cash withdrawals up to £250/month (or equivalent), then 2.69% per withdrawal**

Fee-free spending if you have the local currency in your Wise account

Revolut Egyptian Pound card

Revolut’s debit card lets you send and spend like a local in 150+ currencies, including in the Land of the Pharaohs.

Plus, you’re free to withdraw EGP from any ATM that takes Visa or Mastercard. Just remember to stay within your plan limits each month. Revolut ‘Standard’ gets you fee-free withdrawals up to £200 a day (or 5 monthly withdrawals), while over in ‘Ultra’ you get free monthly withdrawals up to £2,000.

The card comes in both physical and virtual form. To keep things really safe, you can even create a single-use virtual card and use it when paying for different expenses.

Caxton Red Card

Frequent flyer? Caxton’s Red card might be a solid choice for you, even if you can’t preload EGP directly before your trip.

Though the card does come with a £8 monthly fee, expect no currency exchange markups, whether you’re spending or withdrawing. Simply load your pounds before you set off, use your card in Egypt, and Caxton will convert your hard earned cash into EGP instantly.

Load any amount between £50 and £12,000 on your card at one time, and withdraw up to £300 a day. Caxton also buys back any unused currency for the same rate you bought it.

Starling Personal Account card

Starling’s debit card lets you spend in Egypt like you would at home, thanks to the Mastercard exchange rate, with no added markups. Just keep your eyes peeled for that iconic logo.

Withdrawals are just as easy — take out a daily maximum of £300 in cash (or the equivalent in EGP) with no extra fees from Starling.

Available in virtual as well as physical form, the virtual card can be linked to the app’s ‘Spaces’ feature. It’s perfect for setting money aside in a holiday pot or 2, and for keeping track of spending.

Kroo debit card

The Kroo debit card also includes zero fees on spending both at home and in beautiful spots like Egypt. Shop and withdraw anywhere you see that trusty Visa sign.

Kroo uses Visa’s real-time exchange rate, so expect a good conversion into EGP, with no added markups. Plus a withdrawal limit of £300 a day.

Heading to Giza with the gang? Kroo’s app also offers a ‘Groups’ feature — handy for splitting, tracking, and settling up on all of your Egyptian expenses.

Chase debit card

Similar to Starling and Kroo, the Chase debit card lets you spend in local currency as soon as you’ve touched down in Egypt, without paying any foreign transaction fees. All thanks to the Mastercard exchange rate.

It’s the same story for ATM withdrawals — Chase won’t charge you a single penny for taking money out in Egypt, whether you’re exploring Alexandria or Aswan. Just remember the £500 daily withdrawal limit, and monthly limit of £1,500.

The Wise debit card isn't a traditional travel money card. Instead, it automatically converts your pounds into local currency when you spend, so there's no need to exchange your money beforehand. You can also use it to withdraw cash from ATMs abroad.

With the Wise account you can hold 40+ currencies.

💳 Learn more about the Wise card

Can I use my phone to pay in Egypt?

You can use your phone to pay contactless via Apple Pay and Google Pay in some areas of Egypt, like large hotels, malls and luxury restaurants. But cash is the only form of payment accepted up and down the country. So for smaller vendors, local markets, and taxis, it pays to have physical money on hand.

Do I need an eSIM for Egypt?

Buying and using a local SIM card is a clever way to help you avoid unnecessary fees while you’re away. But purchasing and activating a prepaid SIM card for Egypt, including eSIM options like Airalo and Holafly, is even better.

Pros and cons of taking a travel card to Egypt

A travel card can make holiday life feel a whole lot easier. But if you’re heading to Egypt, it’s worth having another payment method on standby.

Pros of travel cards in Egypt

Budget control: Cards like Wise and Revolut let you pre-load a set amount of EGP before you leave, which can help you reign in holiday spending by separating funds from your main bank account Better exchange rates: Travel cards typically offer exchange rates with no markups, unlike traditional banks Fee-free spending: Travel cards like Wise let you spend or withdraw in the local currency, rather than pounds, with no transaction or conversion fees More safety: If your physical travel card is lost or stolen, you can freeze it instantly through the Wise or Revolut app, and get a replacement just as quickly

Budget control: Cards like Wise and Revolut let you pre-load a set amount of EGP before you leave, which can help you reign in holiday spending by separating funds from your main bank account
Better exchange rates: Travel cards typically offer exchange rates with no markups, unlike traditional banks
Fee-free spending: Travel cards like Wise let you spend or withdraw in the local currency, rather than pounds, with no transaction or conversion fees
More safety: If your physical travel card is lost or stolen, you can freeze it instantly through the Wise or Revolut app, and get a replacement just as quickly

Cons of travel cards in Egypt

Cash is king: Outside of the major resorts in Cairo, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt relies solely on cash, especially smaller vendors in rural areas Tipping culture: Baksheesh (the Egyptian word for tips) and haggling is a way of life in Egypt. It means paying by travel card isn’t practical for small tips or bargaining in the bazaar ATM fees in Egypt: Your travel card may be fee-free, but local ATMs often charge a flat withdrawal fee

Cash is king: Outside of the major resorts in Cairo, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt relies solely on cash, especially smaller vendors in rural areas
Tipping culture: Baksheesh (the Egyptian word for tips) and haggling is a way of life in Egypt. It means paying by travel card isn’t practical for small tips or bargaining in the bazaar
ATM fees in Egypt: Your travel card may be fee-free, but local ATMs often charge a flat withdrawal fee

Travel tips for Egypt

All set? Take a quick look over these handy tips for anything you might’ve missed:

Climate: Plan your trip to Egypt between October and April for comfortable temperatures. Avoid the country completely during its peak summer months of June, July and August Egyptian phrases: Google Translate can be a lifesaver here, but learning a few Arabic phrases will go a long way with locals. To get you started: Al salam alaykom means hello and shukran means thank you ATMS in Egypt: You’ll have no trouble finding ATMs in major cities like Cairo and Alexandria, but in rural or remote areas, they can be harder to track down. So it pays to withdraw ahead of time and always have a little cash with you, just in case Security: Cairo, Luxor, Sharm El-Sheikh, and other major hotspots are generally safe and open for tourists, but avoid areas bordering Libya, Sudan, and the North Sinai Governorate. Always travel with valid insurance and keep track of official government warnings along the way Local scams and pickpockets: Egypt’s bargaining culture is fun to get stuck into, but be prepared for the more aggressive vendors and touts at many historical sites, as well as pickpockets. Never carry large amounts of cash around with you

Climate: Plan your trip to Egypt between October and April for comfortable temperatures. Avoid the country completely during its peak summer months of June, July and August
Egyptian phrases: Google Translate can be a lifesaver here, but learning a few Arabic phrases will go a long way with locals. To get you started: Al salam alaykom means hello and shukran means thank you
ATMS in Egypt: You’ll have no trouble finding ATMs in major cities like Cairo and Alexandria, but in rural or remote areas, they can be harder to track down. So it pays to withdraw ahead of time and always have a little cash with you, just in case
Security: Cairo, Luxor, Sharm El-Sheikh, and other major hotspots are generally safe and open for tourists, but avoid areas bordering Libya, Sudan, and the North Sinai Governorate. Always travel with valid insurance and keep track of official government warnings along the way
Local scams and pickpockets: Egypt’s bargaining culture is fun to get stuck into, but be prepared for the more aggressive vendors and touts at many historical sites, as well as pickpockets. Never carry large amounts of cash around with you

Additional FAQs about travel cards in Egypt

Is it better to take cash or card to Egypt?

In Egypt, go for the ‘best of both’ approach. Cash is essential for tipping, local bazaars, taxis, and at smaller restaurants. While travel cards, like the Wise debit card, are widely accepted at major hotels and larger supermarkets.

Should I buy Egyptian pounds (EGP) in the UK or Egypt?

It’s much better to get it in Egypt. UK exchange rates for EGP are pretty poor, meaning you’ll get a much stronger rate once you arrive.

Keep things fee-free by withdrawing your money from an ATM (in local currency or without conversion) using your Wise debit card, though some ATMs may still charge a withdrawal fee.

Look for ATMs connected to major local banks, like the National Bank of Egypt or Banque Misr. The other option is to load EGP straight onto your Wise card before you set off.

Is £5 a good tip in Egypt?

£5 is a pretty generous tip for daily services in Egypt, maybe even overkill in some situations. Take taxis, for example — on short journeys, simply round up your fare. When it comes to longer rides, add 10 to 15% on top, or 10 to 20 EGP, which is pretty standard.

How much money should I take to Egypt for a week?

The cost of living in Egypt is much lower than in the UK, so your money will stretch much further. Allocating between £210 and £1,050 per person (per week) should be more than enough, but a lot depends on your style of holiday.

Prefer to keep things cheap and cheerful? You could budget for as low as £30 a day if you stick to street food, hostels, and public transport. Mid-rangers are looking at £38 a day for more comfortable hotels, restaurant dining, guided tours, and souvenir shopping. Pushing the boat out? £75 to £150 per day will see you right for luxury accommodation, fine dining, and private guides.

Does Egypt accept GBP?

You may be able to use GBP at major hotels or with some tour operators, but it’s rare and will often work out more expensive. Spending in EGP is the way to go in Egypt, whether in cash or via your trusty travel card.

**Sources**

Revolut – Egyptian Pound Travel Card
Revolut – Fee-free Egyptian Pound ATM withdrawals
Caxton – Red Travel Money Card
Caxton – Spending limits
Starling – Travel money
Starling – Virtual cards
Kroo – Transaction limits
Kroo – Travelling with Kroo
Chase – Travel with Chase
Frommers – Planning a trip
AmigoSIM – How much does it cost to go to Egypt
Revolut – Can you use Euro in Egypt?

Sources last checked on: 10/07/26

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