Plan on two ways to pay. Cash, in small notes, covers taxis, tips, the souq and most small purchases. A bank card that works abroad covers the ticket offices at the main sites, which a Ministry official said in January 2024 take bank cards only, not cash. Change money at banks or official exchange offices, use ATMs at bank branches where you can, and keep within Egypt's limits: no more than EGP 5,000 in Egyptian pounds in or out, and foreign currency worth more than USD 10,000 declared on arrival (UK FCDO). Tipping is covered briefly below and in full in our tipping guide.
How much to tip, and whom: read our tipping and baksheesh guide →
Cash is the default in Luxor
Most of daily Luxor runs on cash: taxi and carriage fares, boat crossings, tips, small food stops and the souq. Hotels and some larger restaurants may take cards, but ask before you order or check in rather than assuming it. 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.
Cards: tickets, hotels and a backup
Plan to pay for monument tickets by card. A Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities official said in January 2024 that ticket sales at the Luxor sites take bank cards only, not cash (reported by Egypt Independent), and cashless lists published in 2023 named Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Luxor Museum among others. Bring a card that works abroad and a second card from a different account, and tell your bank you are travelling.
Before you travel
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.
ATMs and exchange
We have not surveyed Luxor's ATMs, so this guide does not say where they are or how many there are. Where you can, use a machine attached to a bank branch during opening hours, so a swallowed or declined card can be dealt with on the spot. Machines can run out of cash or reject a foreign card, so do not leave a withdrawal to the last minute before a day on the West Bank.
Change money at a bank or an official exchange office rather than with informal changers, and keep your receipts until you leave. Check the current exchange rate with your bank before you change; this guide quotes no rate because it moves.
Egypt limits the Egyptian pounds you can carry in or out to EGP 5,000, and foreign currency worth more than USD 10,000 must be declared on arrival; there is no limit on the foreign currency you can bring (UK FCDO entry requirements, checked 23 October 2026).
Tipping, briefly
Questions
Do I need cash for the West Bank?+
Yes, carry the cash you need for the day. Many small businesses work in cash only, and we have not checked where ATMs are on the West Bank, so withdraw or change money on the East Bank before you cross. Main site tickets are paid by card.
Is tipping compulsory in Luxor?+
It is a strong social expectation for services, not a legal requirement. There is no official table; our tipping guide covers who usually expects a tip and how to handle it without haggling.
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.
