Last Updated on August 28, 2020 by haveclotheswilltravel

Wondering what to pack for a trip to Egypt as a stylish woman? This post is breaking down how to dress in this fascinating country + sharing some of my packing tips for this trip & outfits!



Packing for a trip to Egypt can be a bit tricky if you’re a woman, especially if you’re a woman who likes to look stylish whilst traveling. This post is here to help! I’ll offer my packing tips for Egypt + a rundown of everything I wore + brought along on this trip. (I was in Egypt for a full week on this adventure.)

Intrepid Travel is holding a last-minute travel deal sale where group tour packages are up to $400 off.

Click here to see their tour packages for Egypt.

How to Dress as a Woman in Egypt

When packing for a trip to Egypt as a woman it’s important to remember that Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. Therefore, you should pack modest clothing that will work well in the hot temperatures of Egypt. By dressing modestly I mean, your shoulders, cleavage, and knees should be covered, and you should avoid tight, clingy clothing.

Now, it’s not the end of the world if any of these parts aren’t covered…it’s just not considered respectful to many of the people in this bustling country. It also might get you some unwanted attention (especially if you’re traveling solo) if you aren’t dressed modestly. You’ll notice in many of the highly touristic areas (Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, Karnak Temple, etc.), though, that not everyone will abide by this dress code.

It is not necessary to wear a hijab in Egypt. Many of the local women will be wearing them, but it is not expected for women who are touring to wear them. (Unless you want to, of course. The locals will really appreciate your attempt at wearing one!)

If you plan to tour any mosques, though, it is a good idea to carry a scarf with you so you can cover your head. I almost always wore a lightweight scarf anyways, as I liked the added security it provided, to make sure my cleavage was never accidentally showing.

(Obviously) Keep in Mind the Heat When Packing!

Egypt is generally always going to be warm, no matter what time of year you visit. Cairo’s temperatures will be a bit milder, but if you’re visiting Luxor…even in winter the average temps are in the upper 70s (Fahrenheit)! (I have an entire post dedicated to how to dress comfortably and stylishly for the heat in Luxor!)

I had visited Egypt in May. This is just when the temps are starting to get nearly unbearable. This had its perks, though, as many places were quieter, with not as many tourists. (Except in Cairo – the Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum were still bonkers busy despite the heat!)

Wearing lightweight, natural fabrics will be your best bet! This way you can still be covered but also comfortable. (Look for items that are 100% cotton, silk or linen.)

That being said, though, those items tend to be a bit pricier. Only about half of what I packed for this trip contained natural fibers. I did wear several dresses that contained synthetic fabrics – so, they were significantly less expensive – but were still perfectly comfortable (for me at least). I’ll talk more about exactly what I packed in a moment, though!

What I Packed for a Week+ in Egypt

*A good rule of thumb: Pack one change of clothing per day, and also have 1 or 2 additional outfits along that you can change into at night, after you’ve showered.

I had 7 full days in Egypt. (The 8th day I just woke up and hopped on a plane to Jordan.) Now, I like to wear dresses. I like the way they look, and I just feel more comfortable while wearing one. So, the vast majority of what I packed consisted of lightweight maxi dresses that had some kind of sleeve. (I also liked the added protection from the sun, as my sunscreen application throughout the day can be terrible!)

And, if you’re hoping to only pack a carry-on bag, this isn’t the packing list for you. Sorry. I am also a style blogger, so only packing a carry on rarely happens around here. (I also was heading to Jordan for 4 days after this, and did re-wear some of these outfits…if they weren’t too smelly!) *I used this checked bag to pack all of my clothing + toiletries in. Click here to see it.

However, if you want to dress comfortably yet stylishly and still respect the Egyptian culture by dressing modestly, this is the packing list for you! (Who doesn’t want to look stylish in their photos next to the pyramids?!)

Here is exactly what I packed for clothing, and I’ll share each outfit with its corresponding post below.

*Note: if you are visiting in winter, then you will want to adjust the packing list a bit, as the temps will be chillier than when I was there in May. I would swap out some dresses for more pants + button-up shirt combos. Here are also some suggestions for additional items to pack:

So, yeah, I packed quite a bit! I did, however, wear all of this while in Egypt and re-wore quite a bit of it while in Jordan too. And the reason there are more outfits than days is because a couple of these outfits were just for changing into for dinner after I showered from being in the heat all day. (We had also taken a Nile River Cruise where most people showered and looked nice for dinner. Most people also looked nice at Mena House in Cairo after exploring for the day.) I’ll list each outfit below:

My Outfits Worn in Egypt Egypt Outfit Idea for Dinner at Mena House Cairo Continue Reading What I Wore to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo Continue Reading "The Mummy" Brendan Fraser/Rick O'Connell Inspired Outfit for Egypt Continue Reading How to Dress Comfortably Yet Stylishly for the Heat in Luxor, Egypt Continue Reading Nile River Cruise Outfit Idea Continue Reading Outfit Idea for Visiting Abu Simbel Continue Reading What to Wear in Aswan (for the Ladies) Continue Reading What I Wore for Visiting Edfu & Kom Ombo Continue Reading What I Wore to the Pyramids of Giza Continue Reading the Nubian Village, and I also wore this for my plane ride to Jordan. It’s a comfortable outfit. However, out of all my outfits, this one felt a bit too clingy for my preference…at least this particular skirt. I have looser fitting maxi skirts that would have been better! I did, however, love wearing this white T. (I also wore it nonstop when we were in the Amazon, along with lightweight travel pants.)

Toiletries I Packed (and a Few Other Things)…

Again, I pack above and beyond for toiletries (even if they are all travel-sized)! This is also why I check a bag – there isn’t any way that’s all coming in a carryon bag with me. I’m high-maintenance – but, I still travel all the time. (There’s no changing me at this point!)

The majority of women would be able to pack half of this stuff and be OK – but, I’m being honest with what I all packed and used for this trip to Egypt. If you have any questions at all, fire away in the comments below! *Click here to see all of my posts from Egypt.

Intrepid Travel is holding a last-minute travel deal sale where group tour packages are up to $400 off.

Click here to see their tour packages for Egypt.

Travel Insurance

It’s a good idea, no matter where your adventure takes you, to have travel insurance. You never know what might happen! Whether you get sick before your trip and can’t go, or you become sick or injured while on your adventure – being covered with travel insurance is a must. Some credit card companies do provide this service (check with yours), or you can get a quote from companies such as RoamRight or World Nomads to find the best plan for you and your adventure. To get a free quote for a US resident, click here. If you are outside the US, get your free quote, here.

Visa Requirements

To check if your country requires a Visa for traveling to Egypt, click here.

Need New Passport Photos?

Is it time to renew your Passport? Take your photos in the comfort of your home with the My Passport Photos app. Click here to check it out.

*Disclosure: some of these links are affiliate links. Meaning, if you click a link and make a purchase, Have Clothes, Will Travel gets a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! I am also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

*c/o = courtesy of, meaning the company gave me the product to be used on my blog, and I did not pay for it. All opinions are my own, and I am not being compensated for a positive review.

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