Egypt sits outside the EU roaming zone. Without an eSIM you often pay per megabyte, exactly when you need maps, taxis and translation.
Coverage by region
Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh have good 4G, with 5G in parts of Cairo. Luxor and Aswan usually run stable 4G. On a Nile cruise the signal varies by riverbank, and in the desert towards Siwa or the White Desert it regularly drops. Download maps and tickets in advance.
How much data
- Week at a Red Sea resort: 3 GB
- Cairo, Luxor and Aswan tour: 5 to 10 GB
- Diving trip uploading video: 10 GB or more
Useful on the ground
An eSIM mostly helps with pricing confidence. You check exchange rates, book a ride in an app instead of negotiating roadside, and find your hotel again in busy districts.
Practical
Install at home on wifi and enable data roaming for the eSIM on arrival. Your home number stays reachable for SMS bank codes. Call through WhatsApp, which is widely used in Egypt.