Luxor runs on cash for almost everything outside hotels and large restaurants. Tipping is expected for services: guides, drivers, boatmen, hotel staff, toilet attendants. The amount depends on the service and your own judgement, not on a fixed table. Carry small notes, agree transport costs before you start, and treat bargaining as normal in the souq and for horse carriages or taxis. There is no single correct figure for any of this, and anyone who gives you one is guessing.
Cash is the default in Luxor
Hotels, larger restaurants and some shops accept cards, but most of daily Luxor runs on cash. That includes taxi and carriage fares, boat crossings, tips, small food stops, site extras and the souq. If you rely only on a card you will keep hitting places that cannot take one.
Carry a stock of small notes. The single most common problem is not having anything small enough for a tip or a short ride, which forces an awkward negotiation. Change larger notes when you can, at a bank or a hotel reception, rather than assuming a driver or a small shop can break them.
The value of the Egyptian pound against your home currency changes, so check a current rate before you travel and again while you are there. This guide does not quote figures because they date quickly and vary by provider.
The one rule that covers most tipping
Tip people who have provided a service: a guide, a driver, a boatman, a room cleaner, a toilet attendant. Do not pay extra simply to enter a site or to be allowed to look at something. If someone demands money, you can decline.
Who commonly expects a tip
Where cash is needed and where cards work
Bargaining, and when not to
In the souq, for carriages, for taxis and for private boat crossings, the first price is an opening position. Bargaining is expected and is not rude. Decide what the trip or item is worth to you, make an offer, and be willing to walk away if the gap is too wide.
Do not bargain over tips. A tip is not a negotiation, and haggling down a guide or a boatman over a few notes sours the exchange. If you are unsure what is appropriate, give what feels proportionate to the time and effort involved, in a note small enough that you are comfortable.
Fixed prices apply in most shops with marked goods, in chain or hotel businesses, and at official ticket offices. There, bargaining will simply not work.
Getting money in Luxor
ATMs exist on the East Bank, particularly around the city centre and the Corniche, and at some larger hotels. They can run out of cash, reject foreign cards, or be out of service, so do not leave it to the last minute before a West Bank day.
Banks and exchange offices are the proper places to change money. Use them rather than informal changers. Keep your receipts, since you may need them if you change money back at the end of a trip.
The West Bank has fewer ATMs than the East Bank. If you are spending a full day there, take enough cash with you in the morning.
Where the money infrastructure sits
Questions
Do I need cash for the West Bank?+
Yes, carry cash. The West Bank has far fewer ATMs than the East Bank, and many small businesses there work in cash only. Take enough across with you for tickets, transport, food and tips before you get on the ferry.
Is tipping compulsory in Luxor?+
It is a strong social expectation for services, not a legal requirement. Guides, drivers, boatmen and hotel staff rely on it. The amount is your judgement, based on the service and how long it took. There is no official table, and any figure you see quoted is a rough convention at best.
Can I use cards in the souq?+
Mostly no. The souq and small shops generally run on cash, and you will get a better reception with small notes than with a card or a large bill. Cards work in larger hotels and some restaurants, but treat them as the exception on a shopping street.
Should I agree the taxi fare first?+
Yes. Agree the fare and the destination before the vehicle moves, especially for carriages and unmarked taxis. This avoids the most common source of dispute. If the price sounds wrong, you can decline and take another.
How do I handle money safely?+
Keep cash split between a few places rather than all in one wallet, and use a hotel safe for the bulk of it. Take only what you need for the day. For broader personal security advice, see the safety guide.
