Egypt eSIM
Stay connected across Egypt. Install before you fly.
- 4G on Vodafone
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices GBP7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
Egypt plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
Egypt eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, £2.87
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, £25.55, about £1.28 a gigabyte
Unlimited
From £10.69. Cheapest per day is 10 days at £1.98 a day
Network coverage in Egypt
Your Travelren eSIM runs on Vodafone Egypt, the country's largest mobile network, on 4G. Coverage is dependable in Cairo and Giza, including around the pyramids, in Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan, and in the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada, El Gouna, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab.
Keep reading
The Nile valley is well covered in the towns, but cruise boats pass stretches between them where signal drops. Coverage fades in the Western Desert, across the Sinai interior and along the desert road to Abu Simbel. One Egypt-specific catch: Egyptian networks have restricted WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls at times, even though messages, photos and voice notes go through normally.
- Networks
- Vodafone
- Speeds
- 4G
What works in Egypt
Works well
- Uber and Careem in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities
- Google Maps in Cairo's traffic and around Luxor's temples
- WhatsApp messages, photos and voice notes
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- Checking train times between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan
- Translation apps in markets such as Khan el-Khalili
Watch out for
- WhatsApp and FaceTime calls may not connect, though messages and voice notes work
- Signal gaps on stretches of Nile cruises and desert roads
- 4G only on these plans
- Data only: no Egyptian number
Arriving in Egypt
Cairo International (CAI) is the main gateway, with direct international flights also landing at Hurghada (HRG), Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) and Luxor (LXR). Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP).
Keep reading
Hotels, larger restaurants and malls accept cards, but tips, known as baksheesh, markets, taxis, street food and entry to some smaller sites need cash, and small notes are always in short supply, so break big ones when you can. Uber and Careem are the easiest way around Cairo, where traffic is heavy and agreeing a taxi fare is hard work. Many visitors take a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, where data is useful in port but patchy in between.
Installing your Egypt eSIM
Install your Egypt eSIM before you fly while on WiFi, using the QR code from your order email (iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM; Android: Settings, SIM manager, Add eSIM). No APN setup is required. When you land, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.
Keep reading
Before the trip, download your boarding passes, hotel confirmations and an offline map, and let family know that WhatsApp calls may not work, so texts and voice notes are the dependable way to reach you.
Common questions
Which network does the Travelren eSIM use in Egypt?
Vodafone Egypt, on 4G. It's the country's largest mobile network, covering Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts. The APN sets itself automatically, so it connects once data roaming is on for the eSIM.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Egypt?
Not reliably. Egyptian networks have restricted voice and video calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar apps at times, although text messages, photos and voice notes go through normally. If a call won't connect, send a voice note, or make a regular call on your home SIM, bearing in mind your carrier's roaming charges.
Will I have signal on a Nile cruise?
In and near the towns where boats stop, such as Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, yes. Between them, the boat passes stretches of farmland and desert where signal can drop for a while. Many boats offer WiFi, though it's often slow.
Does the eSIM work at the pyramids of Giza?
Yes. Coverage around the Giza plateau is generally good, so you can navigate, book a ride back into Cairo and share photos from the site. The main temples in Luxor, including Karnak, are covered too, although signal inside tombs is weak.
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How much does Telstra charge to roam in Egypt?
Egypt is in Zone 2 of Telstra's International Day Pass: A$10 a day with 2 GB of data a day, checked September 2026. AT&T's International Day Pass is US$12 a day. A Travelren plan is paid once for your trip.
When does my Egypt plan start?
When your phone first connects to Vodafone Egypt, not when you buy or install it. Set it up at home before the flight, and the plan's validity starts once you land in Cairo or at a Red Sea airport and connect.
Do I need cash in Egypt?
Yes. Tipping is part of daily life, from porters and guides to bathroom attendants, and markets, taxis and small shops expect Egyptian pounds. Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants. Keep a supply of small notes, as change is often hard to come by.
Can I use the eSIM in the Red Sea resorts?
Yes. Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Hurghada and El Gouna all have good 4G coverage in town and at the resorts. Signal becomes patchy inland, including in the Sinai mountains and the desert, so download maps before day trips.
Africa regional plan
Visiting more than just Egypt?
One Africa eSIM covers Egypt, South Africa and Botswana, plus 7 other countries.
£21.38
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your Egypt eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.