Comparisons
Best eSIM for Egypt: what to check before you buy
A trip to Egypt is cities, a cruise and a lot of transfers. How that translates into days and gigabytes, and what no eSIM is going to solve.
Rubén Ortega 6 min Photo by Michael Starkie on Unsplash The typical trip to Egypt has a fairly recognisable shape: a few days in Cairo, a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and sometimes a few days on the Red Sea. That shape is what decides which plan fits.
The days, counting the cruise
Cruises are usually three or four nights and come inside the trip, so the plan has to cover the whole block. Count from the day you land to the day you fly back, both days in full.
The gigabytes, knowing where they go
In Cairo the phone works hard: maps, transport and messaging with guides. On the cruise you spend little because the signal comes and goes. On the Red Sea, little as well, because the hotels have wifi.
| Leg of the trip | Per day |
|---|---|
| Cairo | 400 to 800 MB |
| Nile cruise | 100 to 300 MB |
| Red Sea with a hotel | 200 to 400 MB |
What no eSIM solves
The restrictions on calls through messaging apps that the country has had do not depend on the card you carry: the traffic goes out over the local network either way. If you need to talk to home every day, agree it before you leave and have an alternative.
The rest of the destination's quirks are in the guide to internet in Egypt.
What to check on the page before paying
- That the duration covers the whole trip, cruise included.
- Which local network the plan uses, which is what decides the signal outside the cities.
- Whether the plan can be topped up, in case the cruise runs long or the itinerary changes.
- Whether it includes minutes, useful for calling a guide or a local hotel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Egypt?
The one that covers the whole trip, cruise included, with a few gigabytes a day. The bulk of the usage is in Cairo, not on the Nile.
How many gigabytes do I need for a week in Egypt?
Between 2 and 4 GB with normal use. The cruise uses little because the signal is patchy.
Will video calls work?
There have been restrictions on calls through apps in the country, and a foreign eSIM does not get around them, because the traffic goes over the local network.
Is there wifi on the Nile cruises?
There usually is and it is very thin, shared among all the passengers. It is not something to count on for working.
Do I need a plan for the Red Sea?
The hotels there have wifi and the coverage is good, so you spend little. The plan is still useful for excursions and transfers.
