Before heading to Egypt in May of this year, I did a lot of research into appropriate attire. After all, I am a woman, but more than that, I wasn’t sure what was considered “acceptable” in this Arabic country. Before arriving, I had images of scarves and robes, and to make matters even more intense, I was visiting the country during its holiest time of year, Ramadan.
After scouring blogs, social media and travel magazines, the consensus was that women should be in shirts that cover the chest, shoulders and of course stomach. Bottoms should reach below the knee (at least) and scarves are typically recommended. Did I mention that on our hottest day it was 113 degrees? I’m a Floridian, who was raised on playing sports out in the hot muggy summer sun, so I thought how bad could it be? But nothing prepared me for the heat in Africa.
Thinking I was doing the right thing, I packed not one tank top or pair of shorts, however, it wasn’t until we arrived to the Great Pyramids of Giza that I realized I was one of the few tourist who was abiding by these wardrobe “rules”. Girls in short shorts, rompers and tank tops filled the visitor groups. While in the moment, I fully regretted my decision as my clothes were slowly filling up with sweat in the hot desert sun; in retrospect I am thankful I was modest, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry. That being said, here is a list of recommended attire if you ever find yourself cruising down the River Nile.
- HATS – Egypt’s intense sun makes this item an absolute must! I purchased a woven panama hat prior to the trip and quite literally lived in it.
- LIGHT AND AIRY SHIRTS – If you’ve learned anything from my mistakes, it’s that you can wear shirts with no sleeves, but be respectful. Bring shirts that aren’t revealing but can allow you to breathe.
- SHORTS – While I wouldn’t recommend hoochie shorts, Bermuda style are perfect for this sort of trip.
- SCARVES – As mentioned previously, they’re not considered necessary everywhere (as I originally thought), but if you’re planning on visiting a mosque, you should plan on bringing and wearing one inside.
- COMFORTABLE SANDALS – Avoid heels, especially for touring. My recommendation would be shoes that wrap the foot or don’t come off easily – think gladiator not flip flop.
All of this should be taken with a grain of salt (after all, I am not an expert), even though after two weeks in the country the locals call Misr, I almost started to consider myself an Egyptologist. International affairs shift constantly so it’s important to do your research before traveling anywhere to ensure you’re being respectful of international customs and traditions.
