Internet in Egypt for travellers: which eSIM to choose
Between Cairo, a Nile cruise and the Red Sea, your phone ends up doubling as map, guidebook and camera. Here's which plan fits each kind of trip, with the prices up front.
Which plan suits you, by trip length
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Short break | 1 GB · 7 days | €4.95 |
| One week, light use | 3 GB · 30 days | €10.95 |
| One or two weeks, normal use | 5 GB · 30 days | €12.95 |
| Long trip or heavy use | 10 GB · 30 days | €25.95 |
Prices include VAT and match the Egypt plan page. The largest plan we sell here is 20 GB, for €41.95.
Look at the validity as well as the GB: the 1 GB plan, 7 days; 3 to 20 GB, 30 days. Work it out in two minutes.
How many GB is enough?
On a trip like this you take a lot of photos, and automatic cloud backup is what eats through a plan without anyone noticing. Turn it off on mobile data and upload them in the evening on the hotel or boat Wi-Fi.
- Maps, messaging and checking opening times: a week uses very little.
- With social media and music every day: that's where 5 GB fits well.
- Video or video calls to show people back home how it's going: 10 GB is a better bet.
The ranges, with figures, are in how much data a trip uses.
Compared with an "unlimited" plan
Holafly sells an unlimited data plan for Egypt: €33.90 for 7 days and €90.50 for 30 days.
Our 5 GB plan for 30 days costs €12.95, and the 10 GB plan €25.95. With light or moderate use the difference is clear; if you'll use a lot every day, check the unlimited plan's daily allowance before you decide. The full table, duration by duration, is in Glowi vs Holafly in Egypt.
Holafly prices checked on esim.holafly.com on 18 September 2026.
Where your traffic exits
In Egypt, your traffic exits via the United Kingdom.
Some websites will see you as connecting from there: the language they greet you in or a search engine's local results may change. For maps, messaging, social media and video, nothing changes. It's on the plan page, before you buy.
The network is 5G, with whatever coverage each area has. In the desert and on some stretches of the Nile, as with any operator, there will be times without signal: keep your maps downloaded.
How to activate it
- Install it at home, on Wi-Fi. Installing uses no plan data and doesn't start the clock.
- When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- The days start counting from your first connection to an Egyptian network, not when you buy.
Steps for each phone model are in the installation guide; if you're not sure about your phone, check the compatibility checker.
Frequently asked questions about internet in Egypt
Do I keep my number and WhatsApp?
Yes. The eSIM is data only and your usual SIM stays in the phone with your number for calls and texts.
Does it work on a Nile cruise?
Yes, as long as the boat is within range of an Egyptian network. In the middle of the river or the desert there may be stretches without signal, as with any local SIM.
What if I run out of data?
At the moment you can't top up on the website: you buy another plan for the destination. We explain it in what happens when your data runs out.
Do I need to set anything else up?
Only data roaming on the eSIM line. On some Android phones you have to enter the APN by hand; the right one is on the plan page.
Our recommendation for a week in Egypt
The 5 GB plan for €12.95, valid for 30 days. For a trip with more video, 10 GB for €25.95.