Can you wear short skirts in Egypt?

Short, tight skirts and dresses are not a smart choice for your Egypt tours. Instead, pick flowy styles that, at a minimum, cover your knees. Maxi dresses and skirts are obviously the best choices, but you can do a couple of quick style tricks to make your shorter dresses more appropriate as well.



People Also Ask

A shirt/t-shirt with a pair of loose pants would be ideal. Capri pants, maxi dresses, or even shorts would work too, as long as the shorts are cut long (knee length). Dresses or skirts are fine… unless you are planning on riding a horse or camel!

MORE DETAILS

A skirt, much like a dress, is an essential item to pack for Egypt. Just make sure the skirt is long (the closer to your ankles the better) and breathable. Here's the skirt I packed during my trip — it was light, didn't take up much space and fit the occasion perfectly.

MORE DETAILS

Pants, t-shirts, and long-sleeve shirts are acceptable as clothes to wear in Egypt. Avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts to fit in with local customs. Men do not need a head-covering scarf to enter mosques.

MORE DETAILS

I even got a couple compliments from Egyptian women about how much they loved my outfit. Maxi dresses and skirts are a good idea too, and may be cooler than pairing shorter dresses with leggings. Look for styles with ankle-length skirts and t-shirt type tops to be appropriately covered (something like this one).

MORE DETAILS

Women are held to a more conservative dress standard than men in Egypt. While the expectations for travellers are less strict than for local women, you will draw less attention (and have a more immersive journey) if you pack clothes that cover from at least shoulder to below the knee.

MORE DETAILS

Pants, t-shirts, and long-sleeve shirts are acceptable as clothes to wear in Egypt. Avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts to fit in with local customs. Men do not need a head-covering scarf to enter mosques.

MORE DETAILS

Also, avoid packing anything in white. While standing in front of the pyramids in an all-white linen suit makes for a great photo, the desert dust will quickly turn those light-colored clothes a not-so-delightful shade of brown.

MORE DETAILS

While it's a must in some countries, this restriction does not apply to Egypt. No, you don't have to cover your ankles, or yourself from head to toe.

MORE DETAILS

Couples kissing on the street, even a kiss on the cheek might be unacceptable in some areas in Egypt. Handholding and shaking hands is ok in general, but strict Muslims don't shake hands with people of the opposite sex to avoid any physical contact.

MORE DETAILS

Obviously everything that we wear looks different on different bodies! We're all different and that's what makes us amazing. Whether your tall or short, flat-chested or not, a good rule of thumb for everyone is that the dress or skirt should not be more than two inches above the knee.

MORE DETAILS

Both men and women are free to wear shorts to visit the pyramids.

MORE DETAILS

In short, no. As a tourist you aren't expected to wear a hijab or any other hair or facial covering in Egypt. The only exception to this is if you're visiting a mosque – in that case, you do indeed need to respect the fact that you're entering a religious building and cover up.

MORE DETAILS

Go with a flowing maxi dress to stay cool during daytime events. Knee-length or longer dresses are fine to wear during the day. The flowy material of a maxi dress can help keep you cool in the desert heat, too. You could also try a midi dress or skirt.

MORE DETAILS

“General Rule of Thumb” Tips for What to Wear in Egypt as a Woman: Tops: Avoid tops that show cleavage or your stomach. Sorry, no crop tops! When wearing a tank top, bring a thin chambray shirt, linen shirt or long scarf with you in case you need to cover up to feel comfortable or get out of the sun.

MORE DETAILS

If you would like to cover your head with a scarf, and some women do, that's fine. However, you will not be judged or looked down upon for leaving your head uncovered during your Egypt tours. Usually, the tourists who choose to cover their hair are the ones with very light, blonde hair.

MORE DETAILS

Egyptian men do not often wear shorts, but they are perfectly fine for a male tourist to wear. Aside from beachside resort cities, it is not recommended for female tourists to ever wear shorts in Egypt. Before traveling to Egypt for the first time, many travelers ask us what clothes to bring.

MORE DETAILS

The best shoes to wear in Egypt are comfortable tennis shoes like Allbirds. You could also bring light hiking or comfortable close-toed sandal as shoes for Egypt travel. Casual yet presentable outerwear.

MORE DETAILS

But, as Egypt is an Islamic country it is to be expected. Remember, everyone is in the same boat. Wearing shorts, strappy tops, mini skirts, clothing that reveals too much flesh is a big NO. It will draw a lot of attention and, most importantly, it's seen as disrespectful to locals.

MORE DETAILS

Though, to be honest, I didn't expect I would wear them; assuming they would be too tight and show off my 'assets' too much to be considered appropriate. However, I quickly found out that jeans, even skinny jeans, are ok in Egypt; so long as you have a longer top to pair with them, like this one.

MORE DETAILS

In Egypt, it is technically illegal for unmarried couples to share a hotel room, and many hotels will require couples to provide proof of marriage upon check-in. However, some hotels in Cairo may be more lenient or discreet about enforcing these laws.

MORE DETAILS

The majority of local women you meet in Egypt will be wearing a hijab covering their head and hair. It is also common to see local Egyptian wearing niqabs which cover the woman's head, hair, and face except for the eyes. As a visitor, you are not required or pressured to wear either.

MORE DETAILS