Business Offices: 09:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, Sunday to Thursday
Banks: 08:00 to 14:00, Sunday to Thursday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 14:00, Sunday to Thursday
Shops: 09:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:00, Monday to Saturday

Sharm el-Sheikh crime rate is low and poses a very small threat, but you should always keep hold of your belongings and try to avoid flashing large amounts of cash around. Unfortunately, few hotels provide adequate-sized safes; try to limit the valuables you bring on holiday and make sure you have extensive insurance to cover any loss, theft or accident.

The Egyptian currency is known as the Egyptian pound (EGP). The pound is divided up into 100 piastres, with coins coming in denominations of: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 25 piastres and banknotes available in denominations of: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pounds.

There banks located throughout the city, which can be used to cash travellers cheques and exchange money. ATMs can also be found around the city as well as in many hotels, although hotel cash machines frequently prove to be unreliable. Credit cards can be used in the more upmarket bars and restaurants in central Sharm and cash advances on your credit cards can be obtained from Thomas Cook in Naama Bay.

On arrival in Egypt, the customs department choose some people at random to fill out a customs declaration form. If you are chosen, you must make sure that everything is accounted for and declared.

You are allowed to import up to 200g of tobacco, 1 litre of alcohol and 1 litre of eau de cologne. If you are bringing in gifts or goods for personal use, these must not exceed the value of 100 Egyptian pounds. All pornographic material is banned, along with any potential explosives and devices that could be used for illegal activities.

220V, 50Hz

Egyptians are famous for their hospitality and welcoming of guests. Their culture is however dominated by religion and the beliefs of Islam should be respected. The locals are very understanding of other religions, but these should not be flaunted in public.

People usually greet each other with a handshake; however it is not customary between a man and a woman to shake hands. Male friends will often hold hands as a sign of friendship.

Egyptian people do not feel the same way about personal space as people in many other countries, so be prepared for your space to be invaded when you are having a conversation or are seated on public transport. Egyptian people tend to stand extremely close to the person they are having a conversation with and will often touch your shoulder or grab your hand mid-conversation; there’s no need to be alarmed. Due to the Muslim culture, public scenes of affection with a partner are severely frowned upon and will insult the locals, so try to avoid these scenes at all costs.

Despite being very friendly and physical, Egyptians also tend to be very conservative, and if you are a woman travelling to the country, it is advisable to dress modestly when visiting religious buildings and when walking around the town.

Ramadan is the most important event in the Muslim calendar and this should be respected. If you are travelling to Sharm el-Sheikh during the month of Ramadan, try to avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public places. If you are forced to, try and be discreet.

If you are invited to someone’s home, you should always take your shoes off before entering and aim to dress reasonably smart. Make sure you compliment the host on their house, as this is expected, and make an effort to remember everybody’s name.

If you are invited out for a meal, do not sit down straight away; always wait to be told where to be seated. Never eat with your left hand and remember to show appreciation for the meal. Taking a second helping is considered very complimentary, and when you have finished, always leave a little bit on the side of your plate to symbolise that you are full.

Before travelling to Sharm, you must ensure that all of your vaccinations are up-to-date, especially those for typhoid, hepatitis A and polio.

Always make sure that you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and protect yourself from the sun. It is recommended that you drink bottled water and only eat thoroughly cooked food. If your body is not used to such intense heat, there could be an adverse reaction.

Medical insurance is a must if you are travelling to Sharm, as medical treatment can be very expensive. There are plenty of pharmacies, including some that are open 24 hours, which can be found throughout the city. In addition to the city’s pharmacies, there are numerous privately-run medical centres dotted around the city which can generally help out with most ailments, and many top hotels provide their own in-house doctor.

Emergency: 126
Sharm-el-Sheikh International Hospital: +202 69660893

Standard Arabic is the official language in Egypt, although Egyptian Arabic is the spoken language. English is spoken at the top hotels and by some businessmen, but it is not as widely used here as in other cities such as Cairo.

If you are travelling from anywhere outside of Saudi Arabia, you must have a tourist visa as well as a valid passport with at least six months of validity. You can get your tourist visa from any Egyptian consulate, although the price will depend on your country of origin. It is possible to apply for a multiple entry visa, which will allow you up to three arrivals and departures to and from the country in one trip.

When you arrive, it is possible to pay for your visa at immigration; have the money ready. It is vital that you remember to register with police authorities within one week of arriving in Egypt. This is for security reasons and will result in a hefty fine if you do not. Hotels and tour operators can register for you, but you should always double check with the police to prevent ending up with a fine.

Sharm el-Sheik’s main tourist office can be found in the centre of Sharm el-Sheik and can be contacted by telephone on: +202 762 704 062. The country’s main tourist information office can be found in Cairo at: Misr Travel Tower, Abbassia Square and can be contacted by telephone on: +202 854 509 284